The Supreme Emperor Art of the Primordial Beginning, Boundless Myriad Qi, Source of the Dao, True Ruler of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Sovereign of the Cosmos!

"Fellow junior brothers and sisters, please calm down, please calm down. Chengming is a rather introverted child who doesn't like to draw attention to himself. I only let him spend a few more years building up his character. As for switching to another peak..."

He chuckled. "That will still depend on his own wishes. But I think Chengming is a good child who respects his teachers and values the Dao. He won't change masters lightly."

The elders stared at Ren Wencai's smug face, their teeth aching with anger, yet they were powerless to do anything about it.

Just then, Elder Gongsun Zhi, who had been responsible for performing the Mirroring Sword Art, returned to the High Platform.

The elders immediately crowded around him, hoping to learn from the man himself just how genuine Gu Chengming's Sword Intent had been.

"Senior Brother Gongsun, what was that kid's Sword Intent really like?"

"Exactly. It looked incredibly imposing, but was his foundation actually solid?"

Yet faced with their questions, Gongsun Zhi behaved strangely.

He opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but swallowed his words before they could leave his lips.

Under the puzzled gazes of the elders on the High Platform, Elder Gongsun struggled for a long while, then finally let out a long sigh. He cupped his hands toward Ren Wencai and said in a distant, faint tone:

"Elder Ren, this disciple of yours is truly one of a kind."

All the elders exchanged glances.

Why was it this again?

Old Zhao had worn that same long face earlier, and now Old Zhi was doing it too.

What exactly had Gu Chengming done during the assessment?

P.S. This chapter is six thousand words, combined from three parts.

There are another four thousand words coming. They'll be a little late.

The sun slanted westward, and the Golden Crow sank toward the horizon.

As the last rays of sunlight fell upon the Sword Seeking Platform, the entrance Disciple Assessment finally drew to a close.

Compared with the first two stages, there was truly little to say about this third stage, the cultivation assessment.

First Realm Level Five. His Spiritual Power was pure, but had yet to reach perfection; he was still a hair's breadth from Level Six.

Among disciples who had been in the sect for several years, this was merely average—one might even call it mediocre.

By the sect's strict standards, his cultivation rating was only "Grade C-Plus."

However, Huiyuan Gate's evaluation system didn't look solely at a disciple's cultivation level.

Elder Zhou, who was responsible for tallying the scores, held the Jade Slip recording Gu Chengming's results. His brows furrowed, then relaxed.

His Dao Heart was Grade A-Plus, one in ten thousand; his swordsmanship was Grade A-Plus, touching upon the realm of intent.

Those two "Grade A-Plus" ratings had hauled up the rather shabby "Grade C-Plus."

At last, Elder Zhou made a sweeping stroke of his brush.

Overall rating: Grade A-Mid.

The Golden List hung high, its spiritual light shimmering.

The names of several thousand disciples were densely arranged across it, and Gu Chengming's name had forced its way into the top ten, ranking seventh.

On the High Platform, Elder Zhou, who was presiding over the proceedings, cleared his throat. His voice seemed to ring right beside everyone's ears:

"The assessment is complete, and the rankings are final."

"According to sect regulations, anyone who makes the top ten will receive double their original monthly allowance, three additional Spirit Gathering Pills each month, one day of access to the second floor of the Scripture Repository, and priority in choosing an Inner Sect Elder to guide their cultivation."

Spirit Gathering Pills were precious aids to cultivation, especially for Outer Sect Disciples. The second floor of the Scripture Repository held numerous advanced Cultivation Methods, and under normal circumstances, only Inner Sect Disciples were allowed to enter.

Gu Chengming felt a stir in his heart as he listened.

But before Elder Zhou had finished speaking, his tone shifted:

"Yet in the struggle for the Great Dao, those who do not advance fall behind. The sect provides resources to spur you to strive forward, not to let you grow complacent."

"Therefore, this ranking is not set in stone."

"Starting tomorrow, any disciple outside the top ten may challenge someone on the list. The winner will take their place and receive their ranking and full rewards."

Elder Zhou paused, his tone softening with generosity:

"As for the loser, though they will lose their place, they will have proved that they once had the makings of a champion. The sect will not cut off their path; they may keep half of the additional rewards until the next Monthly Minor Competition."

At this last part of the rules, Gu Chengming raised his brows slightly.

He could still get half the rewards if he lost?

That was rather unexpected.

Huiyuan Gate was surprisingly considerate. They'd even left the losers a meal to eat—one could call it a rather generous "safety net."

But...

After the Sect Master finished announcing the rules, the people around Gu Chengming seemed to look at him differently.

Most of the top ten were disciples at First Realm Level Eight or Nine, with deep foundations and a wealth of methods. They wouldn't be easy to deal with.

Gu Chengming alone, though his Dao Heart was firm and his Sword Intent terrifying, had a glaring weakness in his cultivation level.

He suddenly felt as if he'd been had.

As Elder Zhou announced the assessment's conclusion, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Quite a few disciples wanted to approach and strike up a conversation, but rumors circulating through the sect held them back. Most simply bowed to him from a distance.

That let Gu Chengming breathe a little easier.

He politely turned down Jiang Lu's suggestion that they celebrate, then walked back alone along the Mountain Path.

Just as Gu Chengming was about to turn onto a secluded path, a familiar figure was already standing there, though he had no idea when the man had arrived.

The man stood with his hands behind his back. The Mountain Wind stirred his robes, lending him an otherworldly air, like an immortal who had left the mortal world behind.

"Elder Ren."

Gu Chengming bowed.

Ren Wencai turned around, wearing his usual smile.

He gave Gu Chengming a once-over and was clearly very pleased.

"You did well today."

"It was all thanks to Elder Ren's careful guidance. This disciple wouldn't dare take credit."

"Come now, there's no need for such formalities between us."

Ren Wencai waved a hand, then added:

"Still, don't let this make you arrogant. Though you made a stunning impression today, you've also become a target for everyone."

"You heard the rules. In the days ahead, I'm afraid plenty of people will come looking for trouble."

Ren Wencai paused. His tone grew earnest and heartfelt.

"Your fellow disciples mean no harm, but it's only natural for young people to be competitive and eager to prove themselves. Your cultivation is still shallow. If you can't handle them, there's no shame in yielding when appropriate. Winning and losing are part of any contest. If you lose that half of the rewards, then so be it. Don't let it damage your Dao Heart."

Gu Chengming was slightly taken aback.

He had thought Ren Wencai would use this opportunity to put pressure on him, telling him to hold on to his place in the top ten and bring honor to their peak.

He hadn't expected Elder Ren to be worried that he'd feel too much pressure, and even to offer him a way out in advance.

"This disciple understands."

Gu Chengming's tone grew more sincere as well.

"This disciple will keep Elder Ren's advice in mind and act within his means."

"Good. I'm glad you understand."

As he spoke, Ren Wencai turned his wrist, and a green Jade Token appeared in his palm.

"As you cultivate in the Outer Sect, if you run into any difficulties in your practice or find yourself short on resources, just bring this token to me."

His words were measured and tactful.

He hadn't directly mentioned taking Gu Chengming as his disciple, lest he seem too eager and lower himself in the process.

First, he would build a connection and lend a hand.

If Xiao Gu achieved something in the future, this Past Connection would naturally pay off.

Looking at the Jade Token in front of him, Gu Chengming understood perfectly.

Elder Ren was a man who knew how to handle things.

Even in his previous life, it had been rare to meet a senior who willingly showed goodwill without attaching too many strings.

Gu Chengming accepted the Jade Token with both hands and bowed deeply once more. His tone was more heartfelt now.

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Ren. This disciple will not disappoint your expectations."

Ren Wencai's smile deepened at the sight.

"Go on. You've had a long day. Head back and get some rest. As for the challenges in a few days... don't worry too much. Just do your best."

Ren Wencai patted Gu Chengming on the shoulder, left him with a few words of encouragement, then turned and walked away beneath the moonlight, hands behind his back.

Gu Chengming held the token, still warm from Ren Wencai's hand, and watched him go. He only looked away once the man's silhouette had disappeared into the night.

Though Elder Ren didn't expect much from him, the resources were real enough.

It would be a shame not to fight for them.

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight flowed like silk.

Gu Chengming pushed open the gate to his small courtyard. The old hinges gave a familiar creak.

As soon as he stepped inside, a line of text appeared before him.

[Huiyuan Sword Art said, "Wonderful. He wasn't hurt and didn't make me worry. What a good child."]

Huiyuan Mom? When did she get here?

Gu Chengming felt a little odd. Why was Huiyuan Sword Art getting more and more doting?

By comparison, the other fellow seemed more than a little out of its mind.

[Hundred Bones Ming said, "Gu Chengming, do you think there's a chance that everything it experienced in the Illusion Realm was actually real?"]

Gu Chengming couldn't be bothered to answer it.

[Hundred Bones Ming continued to chatter. "That Great Terror between life and death, that sudden enlightenment after Break and Then Stand—it had a flood of insights every time it narrowly escaped death or broke through in a desperate situation in the Illusion Realm."]

["If it could record those insights, why couldn't it become an Achievement Emperor?"]

Gu Chengming took a sip of tea and thought that he'd often had dreams like that in his previous life, too.

In the dream, he'd felt his ideas pouring out, and he'd come up with a masterpiece worthy of the Nobel Prize in Literature, its plot full of twists and turns, its logic airtight.

Then he'd woken up, excitedly put pen to paper, and halfway through had wondered what the heck he was writing.

He guessed Hundred Bones Ming was in much the same state right now. In other words, it hadn't woken up yet.

But Hundred Bones Ming only grew more excited as it thought about it.

[Hundred Bones Ming seemed to have an epiphany.] ```

[It felt this was a heaven-sent opportunity that must not be missed.]

[Hundred Bones Ming entered seclusion.]

Gu Chengming's hand froze in midair, teacup in hand.

"?"

No, wait—you're actually doing this?

Hold on, you even went into seclusion?