Reading, Stage 4: Minor Accomplishment!

Seven Mysteries Sect, Dragon Stream Peak, the academy at the foot of the mountain.

At this moment, a group of fourteen- and fifteen-year-old youths looked around, their hearts filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"So this is an immortal sect. It's so beautiful."

"The Seven Mysteries Sect is one of Jade Lake City's three great sects. Once we become disciples of a major sect, we'll be impressive from now on..."

"I heard our Dragon Stream Peak is famed throughout the world for its swordsmanship..."

Having had their Spiritual Roots tested and been recruited into the Seven Mysteries Sect, these young acolytes were at the height of their enthusiasm. Filled with beautiful expectations for the future, they chattered away excitedly.

Just as they were looking around and discussing among themselves, with a whoosh, a figure abruptly appeared before them.

It was a woman—peerlessly graceful, yet somewhat haughty.

"Ring!"

The instant she appeared, a crisp sword cry rang out from nowhere.

At the same time, a fierce aura radiated from the woman.

"Buzz..."

Oppressed by that dangerous, razor-sharp aura, the youths who had been looking about moments ago found their breathing catch and their bodies suddenly stiffen.

The utter killing intent and chill silenced everyone at once.

This sight made the woman standing before them nod in satisfaction.

"My name is Mo Shuying. I am Dragon Stream Peak's current chief disciple, and all of your Senior Disciple Sister."

At those words, everyone bowed together.

"Greetings, Senior Disciple Sister."

Unfortunately, the ingratiating address did not soften Mo Shuying's expression.

"Don't call me so intimately." After sweeping her gaze over the crowd, Mo Shuying said with a touch of arrogance and pity, "The Seven Mysteries Sect does not accept trash, and Dragon Stream Peak even less so. You are not yet disciples of Dragon Stream Peak."

"Before formally entering the sect, you will have a Hundred Day Assessment Period. Only by advancing to early Qi Condensation within one hundred days will you officially join Dragon Stream Peak."

"Also, remember this well: the time you take to advance to early Qi Condensation will determine your treatment. If you enter within seven days, you will be Class A Geniuses and receive Dragon Stream Peak's most meticulous nurturing. If you enter within eighteen days, you will be graded Class B, which also makes you outstanding disciples of Dragon Stream Peak."

"If you enter within thirty-three days, you will be Class C—ordinary. After thirty-three days, you will be Class D: failed."

At this point, the pity on Mo Shuying's face deepened. "Originally, only those who failed and received Class D would become Dragon Stream Peak's menial disciples."

"Those rated Class C could cultivate peacefully on Dragon Stream Peak."

"But Dark Moon has emerged, and you should have heard the news of Demons and Monsters appearing in droves."

Everyone did know about this.

Some who were well-informed had even heard that this was why the Seven Mysteries Sect had expanded its recruitment. Otherwise, many people present would not have qualified to join the Seven Mysteries Sect at all.

Recalling this matter, some sighed with emotion, while the expressions of the clever ones changed drastically.

Something's wrong. The Seven Mysteries Sect isn't a charity. It wouldn't suddenly take in so many disciples out of kindness...

They had already sensed that something was amiss.

And Mo Shuying's next words utterly killed the hope still hanging in their hearts.

"To counter the assaults of Demons and Monsters, every sect within the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty has signed a contract with the Immortal Dynasty... Disciples rated Class C or Class D must join the Demon Suppressing Division after cultivating for one year, fight Demons and Monsters, and defend humanity's territory."

"I can tell you plainly that the Demon Suppressing Division's casualty rate is very high... If you don't want to die, then cultivate with everything you have."

Mo Shuying placed heavy emphasis on the word "die."

Her words sent a chill through everyone's bodies and hearts.

No one had expected that after entering the Seven Mysteries Sect, they would still have to face a life-and-death crisis.

Someone could not help saying, "This isn't fair! Why don't the ones rated Class A and Class B have to go? Aren't they more talented and stronger?"

"Exactly! They consume so many resources. This is precisely when they should contribute."

The crowd's clamorous objections did not anger Mo Shuying. She merely said calmly, "Fairness? Heh. When has there ever been true fairness in this world?"

"Besides, those rated Class A and Class B will also go to the battlefield. It's just that they have better talent and greater strength, so they can play a larger role when fighting Demons and Monsters."

"Therefore, the various sects and the Immortal Dynasty permit them to cultivate for a while longer."

At this, Mo Shuying sneered.

"Also, if you are rated Class A or Class B, aside from being able to cultivate for more time, you may select some people from among those rated Class C and Class D as followers."

"Those followers will not need to go to the battlefield immediately."

"..."

Mo Shuying's final sentence left the crowd deeply silent.

After learning that disciples rated Class A and Class B could recruit followers, and that those followers would not need to go to the battlefield right away, those of mediocre talent no longer quite dared to speak ill of the exceptionally talented.

At the same time, this matter made the young acolytes in the academy truly feel how greatly the Seven Mysteries Sect valued geniuses—and how little it cared for ordinary disciples.

This also stirred up a fire in some of the acolytes' hearts—they wanted to cultivate desperately and obtain a Class A or Class B rating.

Yet while some had resolved to cultivate, others were filled with despair.

At that moment, a fair, plump youth who looked like the son of a merchant anxiously said to a youth beside him who possessed a strong Scholarly Demeanor, "It's over. I have a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root. I simply can't break through to early Qi Condensation within eighteen days. Zhong Ming, I can only rely on you. You have a Third-grade Spiritual Root. If you're rated Class A or Class B, you must pull me along."

"Pfft..."

The moment Dong Hai finished speaking, before Zhong Ming could reply, laughter sounded from beside them.

The sound made both Dong Hai and Zhong Ming look over.

They discovered that the one who had snickered was a girl dressed in red, lively and rather spoiled-looking.

Beside her stood a youth who resembled her by seventy percent, though he was much taller.

Whether youth or girl, both possessed a noble air entirely unlike Dong Hai's—Dong Hai gave the impression of wealth, while these two gave the impression of nobility, nobility beyond measure.

Fortunately, the youth seemed quite amiable. Noticing Dong Hai and Zhong Ming looking over, he awkwardly apologized. "Sorry. My little sister was somewhat discourteous just now."

His words made the girl somewhat displeased.

"Hmph, I'm not wrong. These two completely don't understand the difficulty of receiving a Class A or Class B rating. Forget a Third-grade Spiritual Root—even with a Second-Class Spiritual Root, without enough spirit stones to support it, it still isn't guaranteed at all..."

"Xiao Yu!"

After reprimanding his younger sister, the noble youth named Jiang Yue cupped his hands toward Zhong Ming and Dong Hai again and sincerely apologized.

"My apologies. My little sister..."

"It's fine. She has a point. Earning a Class A or Class B rating truly isn't easy."

Zhong Ming's easygoing, steady bearing surprised Jiang Yue somewhat.

After a brief moment of surprise, he invited Zhong Ming.

"Brother Zhong, after we receive the cultivation method, we can cultivate together and exchange insights."

Before Zhong Ming could decline, Jiang Yue continued, "As an apology, I'll share some of my family's cultivation insights with Brother Zhong."

"..."

Zhong Ming did not care about a simple exchange, but inherited family insights were another matter.

Thus, Zhong Ming cupped his hands, saying gratefully, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Jiang."

"Haha, no need to be so polite. It will help me as well. Cultivation values wealth, companions, methods, and land. Companions are fellow seekers of the Dao..."

Because Jiang Yue was so amiable, his conversation with Zhong Ming was fairly pleasant.

While they spoke, people kept asking Mo Shuying various questions.

"Senior Disciple Sister, once Class A or Class B ratings are assigned, are they set in stone?"

Mo Shuying said, "Not at all. Dragon Stream Peak's assessments are conducted at every moment. Even I, the chief disciple—if you can defeat me, you can pull me down and take my seat yourself."

"The same applies to your initial ratings. If someone performs well, it is possible for their rating to rise."

At this point, however, Mo Shuying's expression turned stern. "But I do not advise you to pin your hopes on that. The Great Dao must be fought for; one step ahead means every step ahead."

"Once you receive a Class A or Class B rating, your benefits and treatment will be more than ten times those of Class C and Class D. Even for people of equal talent, a gap of more than tenfold in resources can pull your cultivation realms far apart."

"Therefore, the Hundred Day Assessment is important to you—extremely important. All of you would do best to cultivate with the mindset that this one assessment will decide your life and death."

"Yes!"

Seeing that everyone understood the gravity of the situation and knew that the Hundred Day Assessment's rating concerned their lives and deaths, Mo Shuying nodded in satisfaction.

Then, she used her magic power to suspend a special True Intent Diagram in midair.

"Rustle..."

It was a Mountain Stream Diagram, yet if one focused on it, one would inexplicably feel that the winding, flowing stream possessed an indescribable charm.

"This is Dragon Stream Peak's core cultivation method, the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique. Focus and observe it carefully. You have the time of one incense stick—and only the time of one incense stick!"

At those words, everyone immediately held their breath, concentrated their minds, and carefully studied the True Intent Diagram.

However, after giving it a cursory look in their tense state, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They found that memorizing the flow of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique was not too difficult.

It was not because everyone possessed exceptional memories, but because this True Intent Diagram was exceedingly wondrous.

If they stared at the Mountain Stream Diagram long enough, they would feel as if the mountain stream had come alive.

It even seemed to fly out of the painting and flow through their bodies and hearts.

As the mountain stream flowed within their bodies, it seemed to deeply imprint its traces upon their bodies and minds.

This meant they did not need to deliberately memorize it. So long as they witnessed it and gazed directly upon it, they could commit the Mountain Stream Diagram to heart.

Some with strong comprehension did not even need the time it took to drink a cup of tea to completely record the Mountain Stream Diagram.

Zhong Ming was the same.

Yet after recording the mountain stream's course, Zhong Ming still felt unsatisfied.

Seeing this, after hesitating for a moment, he activated his special ability—Intent Reading.

Yes, Zhong Ming possessed a special ability.

And that ability was not Intent Reading, but Heaven Rewards Diligence—or rather, one reaped what one sowed.

He had possessed this trait ever since transmigrating into this world.

And during the several months since his transmigration, Zhong Ming had not been idle.

After learning that he could improve simply by studying, and adhering to the principle that being proficient in one thing was better than knowing a hundred things superficially, Zhong Ming chose one ability and devoted himself to researching it.

The ability he chose to study in depth was called—reading.

This is a world with the immortal Dao. Cultivating immortality places greater value on comprehension than on the physical body. Reading can increase knowledge and broaden one's horizons; it can also clarify one's heart and reveal one's nature. It is the ability most suited to cultivating immortality.

Over several months of diligent, arduous reading, Zhong Ming raised the skill of reading to Stage 4: Minor Accomplishment.

—For Zhong Ming, or rather, in this world, skills and cultivation methods all had proficiency, or levels.

They could broadly be divided into Stage 1: Novice, which only meant one had barely learned it and could not use it proficiently.

Stage 2: Proficient. At this stage, a practitioner had mastered the cultivation method or skill proficiently and could use it in daily life.

Stage 3: Masterful, also called perfection born of practice. At this stage, a practitioner had become supremely proficient in a cultivation method or craft and formed their own style—the old oil seller dripping oil through the hole of a coin was precisely this realm.

At the same time, the first three stages were also realms where practice made perfect. That was to say, anyone who practiced with focus had a chance to reach them; at most, it merely took longer.

The later stages, however, could not be achieved through hard practice alone. They also required a little talent and a little opportunity.

Without sufficient talent or fortune, this bottleneck could wear a person down for years, decades, or even an entire lifetime.

Relying on Heaven Rewards Diligence, Zhong Ming had cultivated reading to the fourth stage.

And Stage 4: Minor Accomplishment was a realm where one broke free of convention and gained one's own understanding.

Those who reached such a realm could already be called experts in their current field.

Zhong Ming

Cultivation Realm: Mortal

Skill Traits: Scholarly Demeanor (obtained at Stage 2: Proficient), Calm Heart (obtained at Stage 3: Masterful), Intent Reading (obtained at Stage 4: Minor Accomplishment)