"Spirit Gathering Realm Third Grade? No... you're... a Yin-Attracting Physique?"
Several breaths later, the Dark-Robed Disciple suddenly released Feng Ling's arm, speaking in a complicated tone.
Feng Ling nodded slightly. She had long since prepared a way to deal with a Formal Disciple personally conducting an examination.
During the initial stages of cultivation, someone with a Yin-Attracting Physique would advance rapidly even without Dual Cultivation. However, once they surpassed the Spirit Gathering Realm, they would be no different from ordinary people.
It could be considered a slightly special yet otherwise utterly ordinary physique.
"What a pity it isn't Pure Yin. Otherwise..."
The Dark-Robed Disciple hesitated, leaving his sentence unfinished.
Afterward, the Delicate Girl stepped forward for her examination. The Dark-Robed Disciple inspected her for a moment but found nothing suspicious.
Soon, it was Lin Fan's turn.
He stepped forward openly. The instant the Dark-Robed Disciple seized his arm, an extremely cold force seeped through his skin and into Lin Fan's body.
A moment later, the Dark-Robed Disciple released Lin Fan and said coldly, "You're not bad."
"Yes."
Lin Fan immediately nodded.
He knew that he had passed.
Soon, all the Menial Disciples had been examined. Aside from the spy exposed at the beginning, everyone else was completely free of suspicion.
"Remember, in the Blood Demon Sect, the most important thing is loyalty!"
Under everyone's gaze, the Dark-Robed Disciple slammed his palm viciously onto the head of the already idiotic youth. Brain matter instantly sprayed everywhere.
A fresh, living life died just like that, without the slightest surprise.
Seeing this cruel scene, Zhou Wanqing's delicate body trembled in fright. Fortunately, Lin Fan caught her.
"Also, the Monthly Test is canceled from now on. In half a year, there will be a Final Assessment. Whoever reaches the Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Grade first can become a Formal Disciple."
The Dark-Robed Disciple looked at the Menial Disciples and suddenly gave a sinister smile before continuing, "So, if you want to become Formal Disciples, hurry up."
There was a strange undertone in his voice.
It was as if he were saying: If you want to become Formal Disciples, hurry up and Dual Cultivate. Hurry up and absorb!
Lin Fan looked toward Wang Biao and the other veteran Menial Disciples. Sure enough, their eyes were all shining. They could hardly wait to take their Dual Cultivation partners back to their quarters and continue absorbing wildly.
"After killing a chicken to frighten the monkeys, he's drawn them a huge pie."
"And this method is practically identical to raising gu."
Lin Fan's heart turned cold.
"There are only six months left, Brother Lin. Don't hold back for my sake."
Zhou Wanqing spoke in a low voice.
"This silly girl..."
Lin Fan was caught between laughter and tears. He could only pat her shoulder as a form of response.
After entering the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, the atmosphere grew somewhat tense. The veteran Menial Disciples were consumed with thoughts of the Final Assessment half a year later.
The new Menial Disciples, meanwhile, kept recalling the cruel scene from earlier, all of them feeling inexplicably suffocated.
Lin Fan copied the books with meticulous care, his handwriting neat and orderly.
As long as he copied books, he could obtain more lifespan. With more lifespan, he could continue using his Pre-emptive Dao Fruit to preempt more Technique Proficiency and grow stronger.
In this chaotic and brutal environment, the stronger he was, the better—so long as he did not expose his background.
"If I hadn't hidden myself well, once my true cultivation was exposed, I would also have been executed as a spy, wouldn't I?"
Lin Fan stopped moving and sighed inwardly.
"At the Final Assessment six months from now, becoming a Formal Disciple won't be a problem."
"But is it really that simple?"
Lin Fan felt that something was wrong, but for a moment, he could not figure out what.
The feeling was terrible, driving him nearly frantic.
"There's another problem. I've cultivated the 'Basic Demonic Art' to perfection. If I want to keep growing stronger from here on, what should I do?"
Lin Fan only now remembered this matter.
By preempting the Technique Proficiency of the "Basic Demonic Art," he could continue becoming stronger. Preempting the Technique Proficiency of the "Blood Gathering Art," however, would only strengthen his ability to conceal his cultivation and could not increase his actual strength.
"Besides the 'Basic Demonic Art,' there must be more advanced cultivation arts. But do I have to wait until I become a Formal Disciple before I can obtain them?"
Lin Fan slightly furrowed his brows. If that were the case, wouldn't it mean that he could not use the panel to grow stronger during the next six months?
He regretted it a little now. He should not have so decisively burned the "Blood Swallowing Demonic Art" last night.
"Looks like I can only find an opportunity to visit the marketplace again."
Lin Fan soon came up with a plan.
Meanwhile, the Dark-Robed Disciple had already returned to report.
"Senior Brother, I personally conducted the examination and found only one spy from the Thousand Hands Sect."
The Dark-Robed Disciple removed his mask and spoke respectfully to the Golden Masked Man in the distance.
The vicious and overbearing man who had stood before the Menial Disciples now resembled an honest, obedient pug before the Golden Masked Man.
"You found only one spy. Do you believe that?"
The Golden Masked Man let out a scornful laugh and continued, "When you see one cockroach in your household, it means there are already hundreds or thousands lurking in the dark."
"Senior Brother, I understand what you mean, but what good method is there for finding the other spies?"
The Dark-Robed Disciple asked cautiously.
Any spy capable of infiltrating the Blood Demon Sect certainly possessed some extraordinary ability. Even after personally conducting the examination, he had only found a few. Could it be that he should kill all the Menial Disciples?
He did not care, but if he did that and the higher-ups blamed him, who would take responsibility?
"It's simple. List the suspicious targets and test them one by one."
"Senior Brother, you mean..."
The Dark-Robed Disciple's eyes lit up.
Two days later, Lin Fan found another opportunity to visit the marketplace.
He had not held out much hope, but after walking around half the marketplace, he discovered a cultivation manual at one of the stalls.
"Intermediate Demonic Arts. Price: thirty Contribution Points."
When he saw the words on the manual's cover, Lin Fan was startled.
Could this cultivation art be connected to the "Basic Demonic Art" cultivated by the Menial Disciples?
Curious, Lin Fan immediately asked the stall owner, "May I ask, what connection does this manual have with the 'Basic Demonic Art' cultivated by the Menial Disciples in the sect?"
The stall owner was a tall woman dressed in a Dark Robe.
A black veil covered her face. Her skin was white and delicate, her waist slender and willowy, and her voice especially pleasant to the ear.
"The 'Basic Demonic Art' cultivated by the Menial Disciples is itself an abridged version of the 'Intermediate Demonic Arts.'"
Hearing this, Lin Fan suddenly understood.
Under normal circumstances, after becoming a Formal Disciple, he should cultivate this "Intermediate Demonic Arts."
But Lin Fan could not wait that long.
Moreover, since someone had brought this manual out for sale, it meant that the Blood Demon Sect tacitly allowed Menial Disciples to obtain this cultivation art in advance with Contribution Points.
"Twenty Contribution Points. I'll take it."
Lin Fan's eyes shifted slightly as he tested the waters.
"Thirty. Not a single point less."
The woman glanced at Lin Fan and refused to budge.
She had seen many Menial Disciples seek out more comprehensive "Intermediate Demonic Arts" at the expense of practicality so they could become Formal Disciples sooner. In the end, they not only wasted their Contribution Points but also squandered a great deal of time.
Of course, she had no obligation to warn them. Why not quietly fleece these Menial Disciples?
"I only have twenty-five Contribution Points. It's everything I own."
"If that won't do, then forget it."
Lin Fan deliberately gritted his teeth and put on a pained expression.
He was not short of Contribution Points for the moment. Before descending the mountain, he had transferred some of the Contribution Points from Wu Hai's token onto his own.
However, if a Menial Disciple suddenly took out so many Contribution Points and paid without hesitation, it would certainly attract attention.
He was not worried about being targeted by ordinary Menial Disciples. But if Formal Disciples set their sights on him, it would absolutely cost him his life!
There was no harm in being cautious!
"Deal."
Seeing Lin Fan act as though he was about to leave, the woman thought for a moment before hurriedly agreeing.
The transaction was completed soon afterward, and Lin Fan obtained the "Intermediate Demonic Arts" as he wished.
He did not leave in a hurry. Instead, he wandered around the marketplace a few more times. After confirming that no one was following him, he found an empty corner and began examining the manual's contents.
"As expected, this manual contains all the contents of the 'Basic Demonic Art.'"
Lin Fan nodded inwardly. The beautiful female stall owner had not deceived him.
Would you like to consume thirty years of lifespan to preempt the Intermediate Demonic Arts to the entry level?
Just after he finished examining it, a line of text appeared in Lin Fan's eyes.
"It's here."
Lin Fan's eyes lit up. "I agree to the preemption."
The next moment, part of the insights into the "Intermediate Demonic Arts" surged into his mind.
At the same time, the scene appeared once again. The youth stretched his legs, the movements between them faster, more cunning, and more fierce than before.
His leg techniques grew faster and faster, like lightning. They even stirred a resonance with the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
"The stronger the leg techniques, the faster the refinement and absorption of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy!"
Lin Fan's heart trembled.
Following the youth's movements, Lin Fan began practicing the leg techniques as well.
His movements changed from merely proficient to exceptionally fluid. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy gathered invisibly around him.
Lin Fan's whole body felt warm. Inside his dantian, the six or seven strands of Internal Force originally as thick as hemp ropes quickly grew to eight or nine strands.
After completing one round of practice, Lin Fan summoned the panel and checked his latest changes.
Name: Lin Fan Lifespan: 383 Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit Realm: Spirit Gathering Realm Sixth Grade Cultivation Arts: Intermediate Demonic Arts (Entry), Blood Gathering Art (Entry)
"The Basic Demonic Art in the Cultivation Arts column changed into the Intermediate Demonic Arts? And the Technique Proficiency that was previously at perfection also became entry level?"
Lin Fan was stunned, his mind filled with enormous question marks.
But he quickly understood. The "Basic Demonic Art" was originally only a part of the "Intermediate Demonic Arts." Although they appeared to be two manuals, they were actually one and the same. Therefore, the change in the Cultivation Arts column was perfectly normal.
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