The Unfinished Hundred Day Assessment, Seven Peaks Grand Competition

As Senior Disciple Sister explained, Zhong Ming gradually learned of the various benefits afforded to Class A disciples.

The first was access to the first three floors of the Dragon Creek Peak Scripture Repository, including cultivation techniques and spells.

—Class B disciples, meanwhile, only had access to Dragon Creek Peak's primary cultivation technique and its accompanying spells.

Other cultivation insights and unusual spells had to be purchased with spirit stones and Merit Points.

Class C and D Disciples had it worst. Whether it was their primary cultivation technique or accompanying spells, they had to exchange spirit stones and Merit Points for them.

The second benefit was a flying sword. As a Class A disciple of Dragon Creek Peak, Zhong Ming would be provided with a mid-grade artifact free of charge.

The third was spirit stones and pills. As a Class A disciple, Zhong Ming would receive eighteen Origin Spirit Pills and thirty spirit stones every month.

The fourth was the right to recruit followers. A Class A rating allowed him to recruit four people.

The fifth was a cave residence with a spiritual spring.

Lastly, there were three hundred sect Merit Points every month.

Mo Shuying said, "Sect Merit Points can be exchanged for resources, spirit stones, and spells, but I don't recommend doing that. Our Seven Mysteries Sect has many special cultivation grounds, such as Dragon Creek Peak's Sword Pool, Molten Fire Peak's Flame Road, Darkstone Peak's Vitality Pool, Bamboo Grove Peak's Wind Chime Dao Rhyme... entering those places all requires Merit Points."

"If you cultivate in those special places for one day, it may be equivalent to cultivating elsewhere for half a month."

"So it is best for you to save your Merit Points and spend them on those special places."

The various benefits of Dragon Creek Peak made Zhong Ming truly feel the advantages of having the backing of a powerful force.

Wealth—thirty spirit stones and three hundred sect Merit Points each month; companions—followers; techniques—the first three floors of the Scripture Pavilion for free; land—a cave residence with a spiritual spring; and artifacts—a flying sword. Dragon Creek Peak had essentially provided Zhong Ming with everything.

They were truly nurturing him as a core disciple.

What excited Zhong Ming even more was that, from this day onward, it was no longer appropriate to call him one of the Commoner Disciples.

As a Class A disciple of Dragon Creek Peak, he not only possessed resources, but would also receive the sect's protection.

When he went out, other sects, families, and even government offices might come into conflict or contend with Zhong Ming, but their elders would generally not openly use their status to bully the young and attack him.

That would be a slap in Dragon Creek Peak's face—and an even greater slap in the face of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

Being rated Class A is like a fish leaping through the Dragon Gate for me right now.

Just as Zhong Ming rejoiced that he finally had someone at his back and no longer needed to live in fear, Mo Shuying, having finished explaining the benefits, suddenly turned stern.

"Zhong Ming, remember this. Dragon Creek Peak's benefits are excellent, but they do not come without requirements."

"Cultivation is not judged only by one's starting point, but even more by what comes afterward. So for now, you only have a Class A rating. You are not yet an Inner Sect Disciple of Dragon Creek Peak, and your Hundred Day Assessment is far from over."

"Even your current benefits are only guaranteed for three months."

"If you fail to meet the requirements after three months, you will still be an outer sect disciple."

"And if you slack off in your cultivation during these three months, or if others catch up to you, your current benefits will be reduced—or even revoked."

Those words made Zhong Ming's expression turn serious as well.

"Rest assured, Senior Sister. Cultivation concerns my own future. I will not grow lax."

After stating his resolve, Zhong Ming asked about the requirements for becoming an Inner Sect Disciple.

"Senior Disciple Sister, what must I do to become an Inner Sect Disciple?"

Hearing his question, Mo Shuying did not answer immediately. From Dragon Creek Peak, she gazed toward the other six mountains of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Only then did she speak with solemnity, her voice carrying a trace of a sigh. "The assessment for Inner Sect Disciples is not merely a matter internal to Dragon Creek Peak. You must compete with the other six peaks as well."

"For disciples who advance to Class A, the Seven Mysteries Sect creates two rankings. One is the individual ranking, also called the Young Dragon Ranking. The sect ranks you according to the time of your breakthroughs, your cultivation, combat strength, and your contributions to the sect. The Young Dragon Ranking has a total of seventy-seven positions."

"This ranking is settled once every month. Those at the top receive sect rewards, and the higher the rank, the more precious the reward."

At this point, Mo Shuying used him as an example.

"If, during the three months of the Hundred Day Assessment, you take first place every time, you can even make the sect do one thing for you. For instance, it could use precious treasures to raise your Spiritual Root grade from third-grade to second-grade."

Since she did not believe Zhong Ming could truly accomplish that, Mo Shuying's tone was quite casual when she said it.

Yet Zhong Ming showed little reaction on his face. Still, the hand hidden in his sleeve suddenly clenched tight.

Zhong Ming naturally knew that his mediocre Spiritual Root caused many people to believe his cultivation speed was slow.

And he acknowledged that... with a Third-grade Spiritual Root, he truly was not particularly compatible with Spiritual Energy.

Although he had offset that weakness through a cultivation technique that had reached the second realm ahead of time, along with the Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique that had reached the third realm.

But if there were an opportunity to make up for his flaw and become a genius in terms of Spiritual Root, Zhong Ming was naturally willing to take it.

He was not someone who would stubbornly endure hardship for no reason.

Still, Spiritual Roots were decreed by heaven. Mo Shuying's claim that the sect could accomplish such a thing left Zhong Ming both surprised and uneasy.

"Raising a Spiritual Root... can the sect really do something like that?"

Mo Shuying smiled at that. "In the cultivation world, nothing is impossible."

"Of course, our Seven Mysteries Sect can only raise a Spiritual Root from third-grade to second-grade, and doing so requires an enormous amount of resources... even for the sect, it is a costly expenditure."

"Because the cost is too great, this method normally would not be used on ordinary disciples... you should not place too much hope in it."

Mo Shuying did not believe Zhong Ming had any chance of taking first place on the Young Dragon Ranking three times in a row.

Even doing it once would be difficult.

She also understood that giving someone hope, only to snuff it out afterward, was an exceptionally cruel thing.

Thus, she was already somewhat regretting having told Zhong Ming about it.

To make Zhong Ming put the matter aside, after offering him a little reassurance, she immediately began speaking of the sect's other ranking.

"Besides the Young Dragon Ranking, the Seven Mysteries Sect also has the Seven Peaks Point Ranking, which ranks the overall strength and contributions of the seven peaks."

"During the Hundred Day Assessment, the sect holds a grand competition at the end of every month for newcomers like you. Performance in that competition can largely determine the rankings on both lists."

"The individual ranking determines the resources you receive."

"The Seven Peaks ranking is similar, except the rewards are distributed to all disciples of the seven peaks."

At this point, Mo Shuying's expression grew more solemn.

"On the day the Hundred Day Assessment ends, the Seven Mysteries Sect will also allocate Inner Sect Disciple positions according to the Seven Peaks Point Ranking."

"The peak in first place gets seven Inner Sect Disciple positions, second place gets six, third place gets five... while the last-place peak gets only one."

"Furthermore, the disciple who leads their peak to first place in points, or a peerless genius who takes first place in the individual ranking, will both be directly designated as True Disciples by the Seven Mysteries Sect."

Mo Shuying had said much, but after giving it some thought, Zhong Ming realized that, as a righteous and renowned sect, the Seven Mysteries Sect assessed its disciples in every aspect.

"One ranking assesses overall strength, while the other assesses individual strength... clearly, the elites the Seven Mysteries Sect intends to cultivate must not only possess outstanding individual strength, but also be able to lead their own peak to the highest ranks."

Zhong Ming approved of this assessment system. Unlike disciples of the Demonic Sect, who were all wary of one another, disciples of righteous sects emphasized mutual assistance.

Because the Seven Peaks ranking concerned everyone's collective interests, this method of assessment could greatly strengthen the cohesion within each peak.

"Moreover, the sect's assessment is not rigid. The final examination gives lone wanderers a chance as well... if their individual strength is truly extraordinary, they can still seize the top spot through overwhelming power."

As Zhong Ming interpreted these matters in his own way, Mo Shuying continued, "As a prospective core disciple of Dragon Creek Peak, Dragon Creek Peak's honor and disgrace are closely tied to you. I hope you will give your all in the upcoming Hundred Day Assessment."

Hearing this, Zhong Ming immediately focused himself and cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Senior Sister. Since I have joined Dragon Creek Peak, this is my home. I will give my all and lead Dragon Creek Peak to first place."

Zhong Ming was rather confident in his own strength.

Moreover, he still had more than twenty days ahead of him. That was enough time for his strength to rise another level, and so Zhong Ming believed Dragon Creek Peak had a chance to claim first place.

He had to make it happen.

I must seize this chance to raise my Third-grade Spiritual Root to second-grade!