Strength Assessment: Second-Rate

Over the past three months, Lin Lin had sparred with Zhang Fei for two to three hours every day.

They would not stop until nightfall.

Today, however, because Lin Lin had already achieved a stage victory and needed to prepare for his future promotion to Elite Disciple, they ended early.

Sheathing his sword, Lin Lin glanced at his current Attribute Panel as he walked back.

Name: Lin Lin

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Age: 13 years, 191 days, 16 hours, 56 minutes, 14 seconds

Qi and Blood: 1343/10387

Inner Force: 1156/7590

Mental Strength: 1231/4340

Health: 99/100

Satiety: 21/100

Meridian Durability: 18/31

Constitution: 340

Inner Breath: 240

Strength: 603

Agility: 415

Endurance: 317

Total Meridians Level: Level 338

Total Acupoints Level: Level 42

Skills:

Hundred Flowers in Disarray
Category: Swordsmanship
Level: Ordinary Martial Art
Peak Perfection 0/0

Hundred Flowers True Qi
Category: Inner Power
Level: Ordinary Martial Art
Transcendent Mastery 3560/5000

Hundred Flowers Bloom
Category: Hidden Weapons
Level: Ordinary Martial Art
Miraculous Mastery 1862/3000

Lotus Steps
Category: Movement Technique
Level: Ordinary Martial Art
Peak Perfection 0/0

Azure Wave Palm
Category: Palm Technique
Level: Ordinary Martial Art
Miraculous Mastery 11/3000

Boulder Skill
Category: Body Protection
Level: Ordinary Martial Art
Transcendent Mastery 458/5000

Sword Intent
Category: Concept
Mastery 633/1000

Medicine
Category: Life Skill
Beginner 50/100

Cooking
Category: Life Skill
Beginner 39/100

Compared to his panel from three months ago, Lin Lin's overall attributes had made another tremendous leap.

He had already opened forty-two acupoints. Not only had his physique and bones grown stronger, but his perception and reaction speed had also undergone earth-shaking transformations.

His maximum Qi and Blood had surpassed ten thousand, while his Inner Force had reached a maximum of over seven thousand. His basic attributes, such as Constitution, Strength, and Agility, had likewise reached dozens of times that of an ordinary person.

Beyond that, Lin Lin had also made tremendous progress in martial arts.

His Inner Power Cultivation Method was nearing major completion, and he had already completed more than half of his cultivation in the Aperture Opening Realm.

His swordsmanship and movement technique had both reached Peak Perfection through sparring with his mother, Zhang Fei. Although his supplementary Hidden Weapons, unarmed techniques, and Hardening Martial Arts had not improved as dramatically as his swordsmanship and movement technique, they had still reached a level where he could use them with complete proficiency.

Under such circumstances, the Martial Arts System Lin Lin had built was now fully formed and capable of handling any complex combat situation.

Even Sword Intent, that mysterious conceptual ability, had been tempered and improved through his constant sword practice and real combat over the past three months. It had now reached a mature level.

It was not only his panel attributes that had improved. Over the past three months, Lin Lin's ability to control this power had also transformed and risen to a new level.

This could be seen from the fact that he had just defeated his mother in a sparring match, even though she had suppressed her strength.

"Mother, what level would I be considered in the martial world now?"

Lin Lin suddenly spoke, voicing a doubt that had long lingered in his heart.

He could directly see his own progress through the Attribute Panel and judge that his overall strength had already reached a level beyond the ordinary. Yet he had no concept at all of where such strength stood in this world.

"After True Qi Condensation, one may be considered first-rate in the martial world. Little Lin, your cultivation is in the latter half of the Aperture Opening Realm, so you can be considered second-rate."

"The world is chaotic these days. Even farmers practice a few Scattered Hands techniques for self-defense. Against ordinary adults scattered about, you could slaughter them at will with your current swordsmanship and martial arts."

"If they formed a Military Formation, with around five or six hundred men, you could still strike them head-on and break them with your current combat power."

"But if there are any more than that, you will need to avoid their edge for the time being and endure."

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Fei gave an accurate assessment of Lin Lin's combat strength based on her many years of experience in the martial world.

Her words fully affirmed Lin Lin's strength and would give him sufficient confidence, but they could also easily breed arrogance.

Therefore, after evaluating Lin Lin's strength, Zhang Fei cautioned him again.

"Little Lin, in only half a year, you have cultivated from the Surging Qi and Blood Realm of a Third-Rate fighter to the latter half of the Aperture Opening Realm, where you are close to first-rate. Such talent can be called that of a martial arts prodigy. It is only because you were immature and playful in the past that you delayed your cultivation."

"But if you continue improving at this rate, surpassing your mother will only be a matter of time. You may even become one of those Legendary Experts who stand at the peak of the martial world—but that is only if you live long enough to see that day."

"Mother tells you this only so that you may clearly understand your own strength, not so that you can rely on it to run rampant outside. Remember, there is always someone stronger, and a higher sky beyond the sky. How can you know whether seemingly ordinary crowds hide experts you cannot possibly defeat?"

"Thus, when traveling outside, you must maintain a humble and cautious heart. That is the way to protect yourself for the long term."

Lin Lin nodded to show that he understood.

Although he knew his martial arts talent was quite good, he had never believed himself to be the very best.

He had attained his current strength in half a year. What level had those with greater talent, longer cultivation, and better cultivation resources reached by now?

The road ahead was long. He had to keep his feet on the ground.

The conversation between mother and son ended there. After resting for a while,

Lin Lin began preparing the things he would need for tomorrow's assessment. He directed several servants as they busied themselves for a time, until everything was properly prepared.

Then came dinner. Afterward, Lin Lin followed his usual routine and cultivated his inner power.

Within his body, his Inner Breath, now carrying a faintly majestic force, circulated through his meridians and acupoints, nourishing all the meridians in his body and one acupoint that had yet to be opened. Once his Meridian Durability was exhausted, Lin Lin drifted into sleep.

He slept dreamlessly. At the first faint light of dawn, Lin Lin had already washed and dressed.

With the assistance of two maids, Lin Lin was soon properly groomed. He glanced into the bronze mirror.

The youth in the mirror wore an azure robe. His features were handsome, and his eyes were bright and spirited.

After leaving the environment of Yin Wind Gorge, his inner power cultivation had improved day by day. The rough, dark skin had faded away, leaving his complexion fair and smooth. The faint upward curve of his lips carried a confident smile, and his masculine bearing already possessed some of the charm of a graceful young gentleman.

From the expressions on Xia Fei's cheeks and those of the other maid beside him, it was clear that Lin Lin was even more charming now than he had been a few months ago.

"Let's go. Time to advance to Elite Disciple!"

Turning around, Lin Lin took the many items he had prepared and strode out of the house.

Before long, he arrived at a building near the Mountain Gate in the front section of Hundred Flowers Valley.

The large words Hall of Affairs displayed before the building made it easy to see that this was where Hundred Flowers Valley assigned missions to its disciples and recorded Sect Contribution.

The promotion to Elite Disciple would also take place here.