"More serious than expected?"
Fang Han's heart sank. He had this premonition when he saw the girl in purple, and now it seems that the premonition has come true.
"I have inquired in many places and compiled a lot of information. If it were in previous years, with your cultivation level of entering Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm at the age of eighteen, and passing the Beginner stage assessment of the Azure Profound Sect, you would be almost sure of it."
Fang Lingyuan raised his eyes and looked at Fang Han and said.
Fang Han listened quietly, knowing that there would be a turning point later.
Sure enough, Fang Lingyuan changed the subject and spoke in a serious tone, "But this year, it is completely different. This time Azure Profound Sect opened its gates, and the number of talents attracted far exceeded previous years."
"As far as I know, there will be thousands of talented children from all over the country participating in the assessment, many of whom have reached Inner Qi Realm, or even those who have reached Inner Qi Realm for a long time, but Azure Profound Sect only recruits a hundred people each time."
Fang Lingyuan couldn't hide the worry in his eyes.
"It can be said that this year is the most fiercely competitive Beginner stage assessment in the past ten years of the Azure Profound Sect. You are new to Ninth Grade. Compared with those geniuses who have been here for a long time, you have no advantage. Whether you can break through the siege in the assessment... is hard to say."
After listening to Fang Lingyuan's narration, Fang Han's heart sank even more.
Although he had been mentally prepared, hearing specific information, especially the number of competitors, still made him feel tremendous pressure.
Thousands of them, and they are all like him, not ordinary boys and girls, but disciples who are famous in their respective places and can be called geniuses.
The fierceness of this competition is far beyond imagination.
The room fell silent for a moment.
"Clan Head, I'm going to practice. There are still a few days until the exam. One more point of improvement will give you one more chance to pass the exam!"
After a moment, Fang Han raised his head, and all the hesitation and pressure in his eyes turned into calmness and determination.
After that, he said no more, went straight back to the bedroom, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes and concentrated, and guided Internal Qi to start operating.
It was as if he wanted to transform all the pressure he just heard into motivation for cultivation.
Fang Lingyuan watched Fang Han return to the bedroom, with a complex look flashing in his eyes, including relief and worry, which eventually turned into an almost inaudible sigh.
He stood up gently, walked out of the room, and carefully closed the door, leaving Fang Han in an absolutely quiet environment.
In the next few days, Fang Han stayed at home and devoted all his energy to cultivation.
Under Eightfold Root Bone Talent Amplification, Internal Qi is growing slowly but firmly. The "qi" in Sea of Qi Acupoint is much more solid than when it first entered Ninth Grade, and the sense of power brought by the operation is also more obvious.
However, the accumulation required from Ninth-rank early stage to Ninth-rank middle stage is far beyond imagination.
In the Inner Qi Realm's cultivation, each small level improvement requires a very long time of hard work and cannot be achieved overnight.
After several days of hard training, although I have made some progress, there is still a huge gap between Ninth-rank middle stage.
Time passed quickly in the focused practice, and in a blink of an eye, it was the day of the Azure Profound Sect's official assessment.
In the early morning, the sky is slightly bright and the chill has not faded.
Fang Han and Fang Lingyuan boarded the carriage early, drove out of the "Guest Cloud Inn" restaurant, and merged into a silent but mighty traffic flow.
Carriages with different decorations, but all showing a luxurious style, drove out from all over Azure Profound City, heading towards the mist-shrouded Azure Profound Mountain outside the city.
The horses' hooves stepped on the bluestone, making a dense and dull clicking sound, and the wheels rolled and rumbled, intertwining into a solemn and tense overture.
Fang Han sat quietly in the car, his fingertips caressing the Azure Edge Sword sheath lying across his lap unconsciously. The cold touch kept his mind clear.
"We're here!"
The carriage came to Blue Stone Plaza at the feet of Azure Profound Mountain. Fang Han got off the carriage and looked around, his eyes narrowed slightly.
I saw many cars, horses and people on the square.
After a cursory glance, the number of boys and girls getting off the various carriages should have exceeded two thousand, and the number was still increasing.
These boys and girls all have bright eyes and energetic auras. They are obviously outstanding children carefully cultivated by various families.
They either stood quietly alone, or chatted quietly with the elders who accompanied them. There was an invisible but heavy pressure in the air, which was the competitive atmosphere brought about by the gathering of countless young geniuses.
The people who came with them were mostly middle-aged or old men with a calm demeanor like Fang Lingyuan. Their eyes were open and closed, and they were obviously very powerful. They were all the mainstay of a certain force.
Some of them nodded slightly to each other, while others made eye contact for a moment and then looked away. The closeness of their relationship and the distance between them were reflected in these subtle details.
"Select a hundred people out of thousands..."
Fang Han whispered to himself.
Thousands of boys and girls who were considered geniuses in their respective fields participated in the assessment, but in the end only a hundred people were recruited.
The cruelty of the assessment can be imagined.
"As one of Seven Sects, Azure Profound Sect has an extremely transcendent status. Once he joins, he will leap over the dragon's gate, but on the other hand, the competition pressure is also extremely high."
Fang Lingyuan heard this and said with a serious expression.
While he was talking, several figures wearing Azure Profound Sect's unique cyan moiré clothing came slowly from the direction of the mountain gate.
The leader is an old man with white hair, who should be Elder from the sect.
His face was solemn and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle. When he scanned the whole place, his invisible pressure quickly silenced the noisy square.
Behind him were more than a dozen young disciples, both men and women, all of whom were full of energy and energy. Their auras were not weaker than those of Fang Lin Yuan at the Seventh Grade Internal Qi level.
Their actions were in perfect harmony and order, silently demonstrating the sect's heritage and magnanimity.
"Quiet!"
The white-haired Elder voice was not high-pitched, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"All those who participate in this Beginner stage assessment, and their respective recommenders, follow me into the mountain and go to Martial Practice Plaza for identity verification and registration. Unrelated persons are not allowed to enter without permission. Please wait here!"
Give the order and no one dares to object.
Thousands of boys and girls, accompanied by their teachers or Lineage elders, followed Azure Profound Sect disciples silently and orderly into the Azure Profound Sect.
Fang Han and Fang Lingyuan move forward with the flow of people.
"Do you still need to recommend a force?"
Fang Han asked strangely.
Fang Lingyuan whispered to Fang Han, "When Azure Profound Sect recruits disciples, the first priority is innocence and loyalty, and only outstanding disciples are selected from all the forces that are attached to it. Only in this way can the disciples' sense of belonging to the sect be ensured, and this bond can also be used to firmly control the forces under his command."
"The recommending forces need to vouch for their children. If the children pass the assessment, the recommending forces will receive corresponding reductions and exemptions for the resources Attendant they provide to the sect every year. This is an honor and benefit, but the opposite is true..."
He paused and his voice became a little deeper.
"If the recommended disciples betray the sect in the future, or actually act as internal collaborators for other forces, the recommending forces will be jointly and severally punished, ranging from resource punishment to... direct annihilation. Therefore, when recommending disciples from each family, it is better to walk on thin ice and be cautious."
Fang Han understands in his heart that this is an extremely clever means of motivation and control.
This can create a close relationship between the sect and the dependent forces, in which both prosper and suffer.
After burning a stick of incense, my eyes suddenly opened up, and a square paved with white jade appeared in front of my eyes.
At the end of the square is a majestic and majestic hall. A huge plaque hangs above the door of the hall, with two simple characters "Yanwu" written on it, iron paintings and silver hooks, full of Daoist charm.
At this time, dozens of registration desks have been set up in sequence in the square. Behind each desk is a Azure Profound Sect Deacon, with a disciple beside him responsible for maintaining order and guiding the flow of people.
The white-haired Elder stood in front of the square and said loudly, "The recommender, along with the recommended children, must register in front of the case in order. They must truthfully state the origin of the children and the recommended power. Check Identity Token, and there must be no mistakes!"
At the beginning of the process, the team was divided into dozens of teams, and dozens of teams moved forward slowly.
Fang Han saw that in front of the former plan, an old man was respectfully handing Deacon a red copper token. The token was engraved with a complex fire emblem and a certain Lineage emblem.
Deacon took the token, carefully inspected it, took out a thick roster for comparison, and then asked a nervous young man next to the old man several questions: name, age, relationship with the recommended Lineage, etc., and recorded them one by one.
The old man smiled apologetically and added in a low voice:
"Master Deacon clearly knows that this is the direct grandson of the third wife of my Huo Clan branch. He was raised in the family since he was a child and his family is clean..."
Deacon finished recording with an expressionless face and waved his hand to indicate the next group.
The team moved forward slowly, and teenagers and girls continued to complete the registration. Some looked happy, while others became more nervous due to Deacon's strict questioning.
Fang Han glanced across the square and saw a few figures with particularly outstanding auras among the crowd.
A Black-Clad Youth with a long sword in his arms and a stern look on his face exudes a sharp aura.
A girl in a goose-yellow dress, with a pretty face but lively eyes, has an extraordinary air as she looks around.
Further away, he caught a glimpse of the purple-gauze-masked girl whom he had met a few days ago at the restaurant martial arts arena. She stood quietly next to an old woman, with a cold temperament.
Finally, it's Fang Han's turn.
Fang Lingyuan took a step forward and took out a dark cyan token from his arms. The token was engraved with the square Lineage emblem - a sharp sword surrounded by towering mountains.
He respectfully handed over the token. "Liangshui City Fang Clan, Fang Lingyuan, recommend Fang Han, a member of the clan, to participate in this assessment."
After the case, Deacon took the token, carefully checked the material and texture, and compared it with the record left by the Fang Clan on the roster for a moment.
He nodded, turned his eyes to Fang Han behind Fang Lingyuan, and spoke in a routine manner, his voice was calm but with unquestionable majesty.
"Name."
"Fang Han."
"Age."
"Eighteen."
"Relationship with recommendation power."
"Fang Clan side branch disciple."
Deacon writes like flying and records information quickly.
After recording, he looked at Fang Lingyuan and said in a serious tone, "Fang Clan Head, are you sure you want to recommend Fang Han? Bear the corresponding consequences?"
"The recommendation is confirmed. If Fang Han makes a mistake in the future, Fang Clan is willing to bear all the consequences."
Fang Lingyuan looked solemn and said in a deep voice.
"Hmm."
Only then did disciple Deacon finally put down his seal and handed a jade plate with numbers engraved on it to Fang Han.
"This is your test card, keep it, next one!"
Fang Han took the jade token with warm tentacles and saw a number "four hundred and twenty-one" engraved on it.
He held the jade sign tightly, looked at each other with Fang Lingyuan, and the two silently retreated to the side among the people who had completed registration, waiting for the follow-up arrangements.
Dozens of places registered at the same time, and within an hour, thousands of boys and girls were all registered.
Martial Practice Plaza, which was originally slightly noisy, has returned to a kind of oppressive silence.
All the boys and girls participating in the assessment, as well as the representatives of various forces who came with them, focused their attention on the white-haired Elder and dozens of the Azure Profound Sect Deacon in front of the square, waiting for the assessment to begin.
"Azure Profound Sect Beginner stage assessment begins now!"
"The assessment is divided into three parts: bone age test, cultivation level test, and martial arts observation. Those who read the test card number should come forward to accept the test without delay!"
The leader had a solemn face and white hair, Elder, his eyes were like lightning, and he slowly swept across the entire venue, his voice clearly reaching every corner.
As soon as he finished speaking, the dozens of Deacon and numerous disciples behind him quickly took action and divided dozens of assessment areas in the square.
Each area is headed by a Deacon, assisted by several disciples, and the assessment is conducted at the same time.
"Area 1, test cards from 1 to 100, come forward!"
"District 2, card test 101 to zero 200..."
As a disciple sang loudly, the boys and girls who had their numbers read out walked out of the crowd nervously, confidently, or uneasily and headed towards the designated assessment area.
The atmosphere in the entire square instantly became tense to the extreme.
Fang Han held the jade sign in the handshake, the number was 421, and the location was relatively forward in the fourth area.
He came to Area 5 and observed the assessment process of the person at the front.
The first item is bone age test.
The assisting disciples were skilled in handling and pressing several key joints of the subject to determine his true age.
The younger you are, the more bonus points you will get, and if you are over 18, you will be eliminated directly.
Occasionally, there were one or two people over 18 years old who tried to get away with it, but were pointed out on the spot that their bone age did not match. Their faces turned pale, and they were "invited" out of the square under the livid look of their recommender.
The second item is to test your cultivation level.
Deacon, who is in charge, personally takes action and detects a ray of Internal Qi, which enters the subject's body and wanders around to explore the situation inside the body, thereby accurately judging his level of cultivation.
This inspection is extremely strict, and any attempt to hide or disguise one's realm will be invisible under Deacon's profound Internal Qi inspection.
The first two tests are quite fast, but the third test of observing martial arts is more time-consuming.
Deacon will ask the examiner to practice the martial arts he currently has the highest degree of mastery to judge his understanding and actual combat potential.
For a moment, strong winds roared across the square, Sword Qi swords flashed, and the sound of shouts could be heard endlessly.
During the assessment process, several figures attracted everyone's attention and became the center of attention.
"Bone age is eighteen, cultivation level Eighth-rank early stage, inferior swordsmanship Perfection Realm."
Li Feng, the stern young man in black with a long sword in his arms, is the same age as Fang Han, both eighteen years old.
But his cultivation level has reached Eighth-rank early stage, and he has even mastered a low-grade sword technique to the Perfection Realm.
"Skeleton age seventeen, cultivation level Ninth-rank late stage, inferior footwork Greater Accomplishment!"
The pretty girl in a goose-yellow dress, Huang Ling'er, is seventeen years old, one year younger than the eighteen-year-old age limit.
But his cultivation level has reached Ninth-rank late stage, and he has even mastered an inferior footwork to Greater Accomplishment.
"Bone age is eighteen, cultivation base is Eighth-rank early stage, Medium Grade Sword Technique Proficiency Realm."
The purple gauze masked girl Yun Qianyue who was in the same restaurant as Fang Han not only reached Eighth-rank early stage in cultivation, she also practiced Medium Grade Sword Technique to the level of the Proficiency Realm.
In terms of power, it even surpasses Black-Clad Youth Li Feng, because a Medium Grade Sword Technique that reaches Proficiency Realm has surpassed Perfection Realm in terms of power.
It elicited a gasp of air.
In addition to them, there are also quite a few boys and girls who have shown cultivation levels of Ninth-rank middle stage or even later stages.
Although not as conspicuous as the previous three, his strength is obviously beyond that of the current Fang Han, which makes Fang Han feel more pressure.