Passing the Assessment

The Red Giant Turtle opened its blood-filled maw and spat out a Crimson Flame as thick as an adult's arm, shooting straight at Shen Long.

With a light flap of its wings, the Silver Giant Goose rose into the air and circled overhead. A clap of thunder rang out as a silver lightning bolt as thick as a baby's arm struck down at Shen Long.

The White Centipede spat White Ice Spikes and scuttled swiftly toward Shen Long, the sharp claws beneath its belly glinting with a chilling light.

Shen Long released the Iron Tail Scorpion and had it tangle with the Red Giant Turtle.

He then brought out the Parent-Child Blades to attack the White Centipede.

Silver lightning struck the Blue Water Screen around Shen Long's body, sending ripples across its surface.

The four Child Blades shattered the incoming White Ice Spikes, then struck the White Centipede in succession, producing a series of metallic clashes.

A Giant Fireball shot over and smashed toward the White Centipede.

The White Centipede tried to dodge, but a thick Cyan Vine burst from the ground and wrapped around its body.

The claws beneath the White Centipede's belly slashed at the Cyan Vine, shredding it to pieces. At the same time, the Giant Fireball struck its body, and roaring flames immediately engulfed it.

Before the flames had dispersed, Giant Fireballs flew in one after another, crashing successively into the White Centipede.

A series of deafening explosions rang out, and the blaze surged higher.

The Mother Blade in Shen Long's hand lit up with dazzling yellow light. The four Child Blades also shone with yellow light before plunging into the sea of flames.

The power of a complete set of Dharma Artifacts was indeed formidable. Before long, the White Centipede was carved into eight pieces by the four Child Blades.

A shrill hiss sounded. Shen Long turned to see the Iron Tail Scorpion swallowed by surging flames.

It was clearly no match for the Red Giant Turtle. Meanwhile, the Silver Giant Goose circled constantly overhead, releasing silver lightning bolts to attack Shen Long.

Bolt after bolt of silver lightning struck the Blue Water Screen, causing its spiritual glow to dim.

The Red Giant Turtle moved swiftly toward the Iron Tail Scorpion, opening its blood-filled maw as though it intended to devour it.

A white ice spike roughly three feet long shot over. The Red Giant Turtle opened its mouth and spat out a thick Crimson Flame, reducing the white ice spike to nothing.

A Talisman flickering with yellow light shot over. Just as the Red Giant Turtle prepared to attack, the yellow talisman exploded and transformed into a Yellow Light Screen over thirty meters wide. Like an enormous yellow bowl, it inverted over the Red Giant Turtle and trapped it inside.

A First Rank Demon-Trapping Talisman cost two hundred Spirit Stones each.

The Red Giant Turtle spat out more than a dozen Crimson Flames the size of bowls, striking the Yellow Light Screen one after another. The Yellow Light Screen did not budge in the slightest.

Shen Long recalled the Iron Tail Scorpion into his Spirit Beast Bag. The four Child Blades shot toward the Silver Giant Goose, while he also released Crimson Fireballs and White Ice Spikes to attack it.

The Silver Giant Goose reacted quickly. With a light flap of its wings, it dodged the four incoming Child Blades, but a Crimson Fireball as large as a house soon came crashing toward it.

It opened its mouth and spat out a silver lightning bolt as thick as a baby's arm, striking the Crimson Fireball. The fireball exploded, scattering flames in every direction, its heat terrifyingly intense.

Before the flames had dissipated, another Giant Fireball came smashing over.

The Silver Giant Goose had to evade the four Child Blades while also avoiding the Giant Fireballs.

Shen Long took out a Qi Recovery Pill and swallowed it.

The pill melted as soon as it entered his mouth, and the pallor on his face gradually faded into a healthy flush.

Turtle-type Monster Beasts possessed strong defenses. Shen Long would not be able to take down the Red Giant Turtle anytime soon, so he used the Demon-Trapping Talisman to confine it and focused all his strength on the Silver Giant Goose.

More than half an hour later, the Silver Giant Goose's reactions slowed. It was only a First Rank Late Stage Demon Bird, after all, and its demon power was limited.

Shen Long cast spells too quickly. Before the Silver Giant Goose could even dodge one Giant Fireball, Shen Long had already released three more.

Just as the Silver Giant Goose evaded the four Child Blades, a Giant Fireball shot over and struck its body.

With a thunderous boom, surging flames engulfed the Silver Giant Goose.

Before the flames had dispersed, the second and third Giant Fireballs flew in one after the other and smashed into the Silver Giant Goose.

Shen Long's face was pale, and he had little spiritual power left. Having fought through nine levels in succession had consumed a great deal of spiritual power. He swallowed another Qi Recovery Pill, and a faint flush returned to his face.

He released several Giant Fireballs, which smashed successively into the Silver Giant Goose. A huge series of explosions sounded, and an enormous crimson fire light flared in the sky.

The four Child Blades blazed with yellow light as they plunged into the sea of flames. A shrill bird cry rang out, and the Silver Giant Goose fell from the sky, its body charred black.

Before it could hit the ground, its corpse dissolved into specks of spiritual light.

At this point, the Red Giant Turtle had yet to break free.

With the White Centipede and Silver Giant Goose dealt with, the remaining Red Giant Turtle was no match for Shen Long at all.

Less than half an hour later, Shen Long had dealt with the Red Giant Turtle.

A dazzling cyan light flared beneath his feet. He hurriedly put away the Parent-Child Blades as the cyan light swallowed his body.

When the cyan light faded, Shen Long found himself in a spacious, brightly lit hall. A group of Spirit Control Sect cultivators stood nearby, while a middle-aged man of average build sat behind a cyan wooden table.

"Congratulations on passing the assessment. However, if you wish to join our Spirit Control Sect, you must still undergo an inspection."

The middle-aged man spoke.

"An inspection?"

Shen Long was slightly stunned.

"We will merely ask you a few questions. If you fail the inspection, at worst you will be unable to join our Spirit Control Sect. But if you are a spy sent by the Barbarian Race, today will be the day you die."

The middle-aged man's tone was icy.

"Please inspect me, Senior. This junior will fully cooperate."

Shen Long said.

The middle-aged man took out a small pale-gold mirror and infused it with spiritual power. The mirror's surface lit up brightly and sprayed forth a golden glow, enveloping Shen Long.

"Where are you from? What spiritual root do you possess? Have you ever harmed innocents or violated respectable women? Have you had contact with Barbarian Race cultivators? Why do you wish to join the Spirit Control Sect?"

The middle-aged man fired off question after question.

Shen Long answered them one by one. He did not mention fighting Xu Lei over the Spirit Control Token, yet the golden mirror in the middle-aged man's hand showed no abnormalities.

"No problems. Congratulations. From now on, you are a disciple of our Spirit Control Sect. Disciple Huang, take him to complete the procedures. Only after returning to the General Headquarters and paying respects to Grandmaster will he truly count as a disciple of our Spirit Control Sect."

The middle-aged man instructed.

Shen Long quietly let out a breath of relief. He had thought concealing his struggle with Xu Lei over the Spirit Control Token would be discovered. It seemed the Spirit Control Sect cared more about whether one had come into contact with Barbarian Race cultivators.

A refined-looking young man in yellow answered and led Shen Long into a secret chamber.

The yellow-shirted youth took out a square cyan token and handed it to Shen Long. "Junior Brother Shen, this is your Identity Plaque. Drip a drop of Essence Blood onto it to recognize it as your master. Only you will be able to activate this Identity Plaque, and it also serves as proof of identity for entering and leaving the General Headquarters. Keep it safe. If you lose it, you will need to have it replaced."

Shen Long thanked him, accepted the Cyan Token, bit open his right index finger in front of him, and dripped a drop of Essence Blood onto the cyan plaque.

The Cyan Token swiftly absorbed the Essence Blood and lit up with cyan light.

"May I ask how I should address you, Senior Brother? I hope Senior Brother will look after me in the future."

Shen Long said politely, taking out twenty Spirit Stones and offering them to the yellow-shirted youth.