The First Stage Cleared, Setting Out

Lin Lin stepped into the Hall of Affairs in Hundred Flowers Valley. Though dawn had only just broken, the place was already bustling.

There were disciples handing in assignments, senior sect members posting tasks, and people like Lin Lin who had come to take the assessment and prepare for promotion to Elite Disciple.

Before awakening his Past Life Wisdom, Lin Lin had come to the Hall of Affairs countless times out of boredom to observe scenes like this.

Thus, he was not surprised in the slightest. He turned and headed straight toward the assessment area on the left.

Before a desk, a middle-aged man wearing a white robe patterned with willow leaves—the attire denoting an Elder of Affairs—was intently reading a book beneath the faint light spilling from the sky.

From the title, Martial World Flower Seeking Manual, and the few lines Lin Lin could see, it was not hard to tell that this was a martial arts fantasy novel with a hint of eroticism.

Well, according to this world's worldview, perhaps it was not really fantasy. It occupied a position similar to urban novels from Lin Lin's previous life, making it realistic fiction.

From the identity plaque on the desk, Lin Lin learned that this Elder of Affairs reading a novel was named Zhang Zhou.

"Senior Zhang Zhou, this disciple Lin Lin has come to take the Elite Disciple promotion assessment."

"Here are my Official Disciple identification token and Required Courses graduation certificate. Please examine them, Senior."

Lin Lin did not interrupt the Elder of Affairs's enjoyment of his book. He waited until the man had finished a passage and turned his gaze toward him before speaking.

Zhang Zhou gave Lin Lin an approving glance, feeling that this junior disciple was quite sensible.

He set down his book and raised a hand to accept the various documents Lin Lin offered.

After confirming Lin Lin's identity, Zhang Zhou smiled. "So you're Lin Yue's boy. I heard that half a year ago, you were punished and sent to Yin Wind Gorge to reflect on your mistakes. Now you're already here for the Elite Disciple promotion assessment. It seems you've improved greatly."

"Since you've prepared all the documents, I'll be straightforward as well."

As he spoke, he pointed a finger at Lin Lin from afar. An invisible force burst forth.

Lin Lin instinctively raised his hand, drew his sword, and thrust forward. A cold gleam flashed.

Clang!

The sound of metal ringing out filled the air. Lin Lin felt the longsword in his hand tremble as a tremendous force traveled down the blade and rebounded back at him.

He circulated his Inner Breath and resisted with all his strength, barely neutralizing the entire rebounding force.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhou smiled. "Not bad. Your internal martial arts foundation is solid, and your reaction speed is quick. You've passed the first stage."

As he spoke, he took out three rolled-up sheets of parchment and said with a smile, "Choose one of these tasks. Once you complete it, I can issue you proof that you've passed the Elite Disciple promotion assessment. After that, you can register with the Elder of Teaching Skills as an Elite Disciple."

Lin Lin gave Zhang Zhou a thoughtful look. This man truly had a decisive personality.

The finger force released by that strike could be received with the internal martial arts cultivation and reaction speed of someone at the standard Acupoint Opening Realm, having opened thirty-six acupoints.

If one could receive it, it meant that the disciple's fundamentals were up to standard, allowing them to proceed to the second stage of the assessment.

If they could not receive that strike, there was no need to waste time. They could go back and continue cultivating, then try again another day.

Since Lin Lin had received the strike, he could accept a practical task for promotion to Elite Disciple. Once he completed it, he could truly advance.

Opening the three parchments Zhang Zhou displayed, Lin Lin saw three tasks.

'Go to Black Stone Town outside Yuanfeng County and eliminate the Mountain Bandits. After defeating the enemy, obtain the bandit leader's head and a jointly signed letter of thanks from the local gentry as proof to submit the task.'

'A large number of people have disappeared near the border between Heyun Province and FuLiu Province. Go investigate the details of the incident. You may resolve the matter yourself. If you find clues but cannot overcome the enemy, you may return to the sect and submit the task.'

'Mo Chun, an Outer Sect Disciple who graduated many years ago, has been killed. Go investigate the truth of the matter. If it is within your ability, kill the murderer. If you are not strong enough, you may submit crucial clues and return to the sect to report back, which will count as completing the task.'

Besides the task descriptions, the parchments also contained some intelligence reports.

These had all been specially assessed by the sect's intelligence department. Their difficulty was suitable for disciples with Second-Rate combat strength, and they also provided suggestions for avoiding danger. They were just right for testing a disciple's abilities.

"Teacher Cui, who taught Geography and Culture Class, once explained the precautions for choosing tasks."

"Tasks such as eliminating Mountain Bandits test a disciple's combat strength. Generally speaking, one needs the strength of someone who has opened fifty or sixty acupoints and is close to the True Qi Condensation Realm to complete them quickly and easily. They are suited to disciples with great combat strength who do not want too much trouble or excessive thinking."

"Tasks involving investigating clues test a disciple's ability to investigate leads and process information. Their combat difficulty is generally low, but if one lacks the judgment to know when to stop, it is easy to draw out a big fish hidden beneath the surface clues and encounter an enemy one cannot defeat."

"Tasks of revenge test a disciple's tracking ability and their luck as well. With good luck, one can quickly find the murderer. With bad luck, one might lose the trail and fail the task."

Lin Lin's mind raced as he analyzed the task information, and he quickly made his choice.

"Senior Zhang, I'll choose this one."

Lin Lin handed Zhang Zhou the parchment recording the investigation into the mass disappearances, confirming the assessment task he intended to undertake.

With Lin Lin's current combat strength, the first task of eliminating Mountain Bandits was not impossible, but it would be relatively difficult.

As for avenging a Fellow disciple in the third task, Lin Lin had never learned any tracking techniques. In this era without surveillance, he would not even know where to begin.

The second task was much simpler.

A large number of missing people meant that the enemy's operation was extensive and had left behind many traces and clues. The fact that they were acting secretly meant that their strength was not especially great. The clans and relatives of those victims would become Lin Lin's assistance in this task.

Under such circumstances, Lin Lin felt that completing this task would be relatively easy.

"Alright, I'll record that you've accepted this task. Be careful, kid. If you encounter danger, run immediately. Don't try to act tough."

"There are plenty of tasks, but you only have one life. If you can't complete this one, you can try again next time."

In the end, Zhang Zhou cautioned Lin Lin and issued him a permit to leave the sect, along with a voucher to borrow a horse.

Outer Sect Disciples were little more than servants within the sect. Even if they achieved modest success in martial arts after years of cultivation and graduated to establish themselves outside the sect, they were still merely cash crops supplying the sect with benefits.

Only Official Disciples with outstanding talent and comprehension were truly worth valuing. Every one of them who grew into strength became a foundation and pillar of the sect.

Before their promotion to Elite Disciples, the sect had spent considerable resources and effort cultivating Official Disciples. Only after they became Elite Disciples would these new members of the sect begin to repay it.

That was why Zhang Zhou treated Lin Lin with much greater care.

"Thank you for your advice, Senior. This disciple Lin Lin will set out now."

Lin Lin cupped his hands in salute. After thanking Zhang Zhou, he turned and strode out of the Hall of Affairs.