Spirit Eye's Signal

After just one day of assessment, Li Mo had fully understood why the Enlightenment Hall grouped first and second-year disciples together.

Since entering the Lingmu Sect's Enlightenment Hall in May for the Dragon Boat Festival, the first-year disciples had only cultivated for about ten months.

During this time, they also had to learn various basic common knowledge and didn't receive many cultivation resources. As a result, the vast majority were only at the second layer of Qi Refining, with some even still at the first layer.

With such cultivation, their Magical Power would be depleted after releasing a few low-level beginner spells.

Let alone those who hadn't even mastered spells.

If the first-year disciples were grouped separately, outsiders seeing them randomly casting spells, or even punching and kicking each other like villagers fighting, would be a disgrace to the sect's reputation.

However, with the current arrangement, the biggest losers were not the rogue disciples, but the disciples from aristocratic families who had a relatively better foundation.

They could have achieved respectable results among the first-year disciples, but now they could only compete with rogue disciples with poor foundations by relying on luck. Many skilled disciples from aristocratic families were defeated in the first day's combat assessment, while some rogue disciples with low cultivation were fortunate enough to win.

After the meal.

Li Mo, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang came to the Divine Tree Plaza again and watched the graduation assessment for the third-year group for a while.

Later, Li Mo, due to his damaged spiritual sense, returned to his room to rest early.

The second day.

Li Mo's mental state had slightly improved. At least he no longer had to worry about fainting at any moment.

However, he noticed that his Magical Power recovery speed was significantly slower than usual and had not fully recovered yet, which was clearly due to the damage to his spiritual sense.

Seeing this, Ma Ling actually showed a look of joy.

"That's great! I didn't dare to tell you yesterday, but I heard that people who injure their soul will slowly become crazy. Seeing you recovering now, it seems there's no problem."

Li Mo initially looked speechless, but then he took it seriously.

What she said was not unfounded.

From a medical perspective, severe Wind Shock could indeed damage the mind, leading to gradual dementia and madness. This indicated that although the lightning tribulation in the Misty Dreamscape was an opportunity, it also carried immense risks.

He really needed to study the various methods of crossing tribulations recorded in the Mystic Box carefully.

Li Mo had a vague guess that after each lightning tribulation in the Misty Dreamscape, he would expel something related from his body.

This should be a form of purification and rejection.

To others, it might seem like an epiphany, but it was definitely not an epiphany.

After all, an epiphany was the instantaneous integration and sublimation of one's past experiences, not this bizarre act of spitting out unrelated things from one's mouth.

This seemed to be related to the nature of the Misty Dreamscape.

As the saying goes, "What you think about during the day, you dream about at night."

The items obtained after the lightning tribulation seemed to develop in this direction, rather than being random products. This suggested that the 'storage device' in the Misty Dreamscape must have many options. It was likely something from ancient times, something incomprehensible to current cultivators. This was related to the Misty Dreamscape, or rather, the operating mechanism of the Mystic Box.

This was the result Li Mo had deduced by thinking as broadly as possible.

Unfortunately, he had too few clues and insufficient knowledge, so he could only think this far for now.

With various thoughts in his mind, Li Mo, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang met up and went to the hall of the sect hall to look at today's combat assessment list.

Ma Ling and Niu Li, as yesterday's losers, naturally did not appear again.

Yang Guang's luck was still good.

His opponent was Yang Zhiman, the scholar Yang who had reprimanded Shi Yazhou and stood up for Zhao Huaxue, but was later bullied by the aristocratic disciple Ye Xunhuan. However, Li Mo was not present at the time.

Li Mo's opponent was a disciple named Zhao Liang.

"Zhao Liang?"

"Never heard of him."

"I haven't heard of him either. Maybe he's a second-year disciple."

Li Mo's expression became slightly solemn.

After breakfast, the four arrived at the Divine Tree Plaza. It was still bustling with activity. It was said that the third-year disciples fought until midnight to complete the first round of competition.

Yang Guang was both excited and nervous.

"If I win one more match, I can get into the top two hundred!"

Ma Ling looked at Li Mo with some worry. Seeing that Li Mo didn't say anything, if he lost this match, he would have to participate in the so-called losers' bracket. However, in his current condition, unable to fight in close combat, unable to use his spiritual sense, and with a reduced Magical Power recovery speed, there was no point in participating further. He could just concede.

Dong!

Zhou Zheng was the disciple in the first combat assessment of the day, which attracted quite a crowd.

His opponent was a female cultivator from the second year. To the great surprise of Li Mo, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang, both of them simultaneously summoned their magical artifacts upon entering the arena.

Zhou Zheng's artifact was a folding fan. With a fierce flick, the fan would shoot out a transparent wind blade.

The female cultivator's artifact was a bronze gong. With a strike of a small hammer, it would emit a sonic attack. The power of the artifacts seemed to be evenly matched.

At the same time, in the intervals between activating their artifacts, they released different spells to attack each other while simultaneously dodging each other's attacks.

It had to be said.

Zhou Zheng's Wind-Clearing Physique was truly wondrous.

His Magical Power cultivation reached the middle stage of Qi Refining third layer. This second-year female cultivator was at the middle stage of Qi Refining fourth layer, but with the enhancements of the Wind-Clearing Physique, Zhou Zheng surprisingly appeared to be evenly matched with her.

Ma Ling whispered, "Look quickly, that female cultivator has been recovering her Magical Power with Spirit Stones since the fight began."

Yang Guang pondered and nodded upon hearing this.

"Zhou Zheng also consumed a pill just now!"

The two battled for a full quarter of an incense stick's time, even deploying Spirit Talismans during the fight. This was rare for first-year disciples. In the end, Zhou Zheng's strength failed him, and he was defeated by the second-year female disciple.

"Tsk tsk."

Niu Li exclaimed, "He can be considered to have lost gloriously. It's good to have a Master."

Others below the stage also discussed.

Subsequently, many powerhouses who were highly anticipated by the first-year disciples were defeated by the second-year disciples.

Until Jiang Sheng entered the arena.

After a few rounds of probing attacks, Jiang Sheng in the barrier let out a loud shout.

A firebird about two feet long soared into the sky, spreading its wings and pouncing towards the second-year female disciple. The female disciple dodged while casting defensive spells.

The firebird made a sharp turn and nimbly flew up again, opening its mouth and spitting out two fireballs. This disrupted the female disciple's dodging space, and it pounced again.

Boom!

Astonishing flames erupted.

The female disciple's defensive spell was incredible; it barely withstood the firebird's self-destruction. But from a distance, Jiang Sheng shouted loudly, and a flame spear appeared in his hand.

This was not a magic artifact, but a spell.

The fire spear was thrown, its trajectory incredibly fast, disappearing almost instantly. The female disciple let out a terrified scream and was teleported out of the barrier by an escape talisman amidst the flames.

"Is this Jiang Sheng with the Three Yang Physique?"

"The Jiang Family's True Yang Secret Technique is indeed extraordinary!"

Many observing second-year disciples showed expressions of astonishment after witnessing this scene.

With his powerful fire-attribute spells, and without either side deploying magic artifacts, Jiang Sheng had forcefully defeated the second-year female disciple. This immediately boosted the morale of the first-year aristocratic disciples, greatly inspiring them.

Although this second-year female disciple's strength was not outstanding, only at the peak of the Qi Refining third layer, everyone believed that Jiang Sheng definitely had hidden means.

At the very least, he must have magic artifacts on him.

Jiang Sheng, returning victorious, was warmly congratulated by the aristocratic disciples.

Even Li Mo, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang below the stage couldn't help but marvel at Jiang Sheng, speculating that he might have reached the Qi Refining fourth layer, but hadn't fully circulated his Magical Power yet.

Li Mo glanced at the female cultivator with the auspicious cloud bun hairstyle, who was affectionately close to Jiang Sheng. He guessed she was Chen Lan from the Chen family, a disciple from a prominent aristocratic family he had never met, who was fond of Jiang Sheng.

"By the way, why didn't I see that Miss from the Ye Family?"

"You mean Ye Yimeng, right?"

Yang Guang said with a smug smile, "I saw her yesterday. When it was her turn to appear, Hall Master Ye personally escorted her over. You were all engrossed in watching the third-year group at the time and missed it. Tsk tsk, what a shame."

Li Mo frowned.

"Is she even more powerful than Jiang Sheng?"

"She is quite powerful, but she doesn't seem as exaggerated as Jiang Sheng. She probably doesn't have a special spiritual physique. I feel her Magical Power is very profound. She used several low-tier and mid-tier elementary spells, but her Magical Power didn't seem to deplete at all."

Upon hearing this, Li Mo decided to pay close attention to this mysterious young lady from the Ye Family today.

Soon, it was Li Mo's turn to enter the arena.

Zhao Liang was a ruthless character who looked somewhat gloomy, with an arrogant and disdainful expression on his face. He indifferently sized up Li Mo, and Li Mo sized him up in return.

As soon as the referee announced the start of the match, both of them made their move.

Li Mo once again cast the Summon Thunder Slave spell and immediately became exhausted, staggering back a few steps. But to his surprise, Zhao Liang produced a flying knife and slashed at the Thunder Slave in mid-air.

Boom!

The Thunder Slave nimbly dodged the flying knife's attack and continued to charge towards Zhao Liang.

Seeing this, Zhao Liang sneered, formed hand seals, and commanded the flying knife to rise into the air again. However, it swung towards Li Mo. At the same time, he lightly leaped backward, casting the Light Body Technique on himself, allowing him to achieve a brief hovering effect like a falling leaf.

Li Mo took a deep breath, seemingly trying to muster his strength.

Then, a flash of lightning appeared in his hand, and he cast the Palm Lightning spell. However, the lightning flickered erratically, its state extremely unstable.

"Five breaths are the limit, no more."

Seeing the flying knife approaching like a guillotine descending from the sky, Li Mo shouted, evading it with his martial arts movement technique. The intense exertion caused the veins on his forehead to bulge, and his lips turned pale.

Li Mo knew this fight couldn't be dragged out.

He briefly considered whether to target the flying knife or Zhao Liang with his Palm Lightning, and finally charged towards Zhao Liang. He took a deep breath and, holding the Palm Lightning, charged at Zhao Liang at full speed.

He fought with all his might, aiming for a decisive victory in one blow.

Zhao Liang seemed to see through Li Mo's intentions, and the arc of his sneer deepened.

Seeing Li Mo and the Thunder Slave closing in on him from the left and right, Zhao Liang formed hand seals, and a sandstorm suddenly swirled around him. Li Mo stumbled, losing his direction and his target. He reacted instinctively, intending to first escape the sandstorm area to reassess the situation, pushing his weakened body to its absolute limit.

He hadn't even taken two steps when he suddenly felt the space around him distort, and he was teleported out of the barrier.

Li Mo, regaining his senses, stared blankly at the arena within the barrier.

He then realized that he had just been ambushed by the opponent's flying knife.

Zhao Liang was still standing in the center of the arena. The sandstorm dissipated almost instantly. After retracting his flying knife, he pointed his right index and middle fingers towards Li Mo's direction, tapping his own eyes.

Still with that signature arrogant smile, Zhao Liang then turned and left the arena.

"Spirit Eye?"

Li Mo's expression was a little grim, and he also felt grateful to the other party.

In that critical moment, he had actually forgotten this signature spell of the Lingmu Sect. Otherwise, even if he had lost later, he should have been able to detect the flying knife ambush in the sandstorm.

However, he had indeed reached his limit. Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang, with quick eyes and hands, rushed forward to support him.

"Amazing!"

Wang Feng walked over with Zhu Yidan, looking at Li Mo with some surprise.

Li Mo gave a wry smile.

"You lost so quickly, don't mock me."

Wang Feng, however, said, "That was Zhao Liang! I heard he's already at the sixth level of Qi Refining, one of the most powerful rogue disciples among the second-year students. I even spent ten Spirit Stones before to learn an intermediate-level beginner wind-attribute spell from him. You forcing him to use the Sandstorm Technique is already quite impressive."

"Sixth level of Qi Refining?"

Li Mo clicked his tongue, realizing why the other party was so powerful, and simultaneously mocked himself for having such unrealistic fantasies for so long just now.

At the same time, he envied Wang Feng.

That guy was really generous with his spending, willing to spend ten Spirit Stones to learn an intermediate-level beginner spell. The price he had negotiated with Shen Yun back then was eight Spirit Stones, and later he only spent twelve Spirit Stones to learn an advanced-level beginner spell from Tian Fen.

He didn't know whether to call Wang Feng a sucker or to marvel at his own good luck.