The Assessment Ends

Beneath the moonlight, at Qingyang City's main gate, a young man slowly approached, leading a fine horse.

"Still too late." Bai Jing watched a shooting star streak across the distance and sighed inwardly.

He had still missed the day's final Immortal Boat.

"I can only rest up for a day." He entered the city and found an inn to stay the night.

Of course, he had completed all five missions in less than two days.

He had originally planned to return that night, accept more missions, and set off again. Yet his final mission had delayed him somewhat, so he had no choice but to remain for another night.

Bai Jing lay on the bed and rested briefly before getting up to cultivate again.

His cultivation might now surpass that of most assessment disciples, but in a month's time, they would certainly catch up to him.

Thus, he did not dare slacken.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Bai Jing went outside the city and sat cross-legged in an uninhabited area, quietly awaiting the Morning Glow Spiritual Tide.

"Fortunately, this kind of vital essence isn't affected by the weather and appears every day."

He glanced at the damp ground. It was obvious that a light rain had fallen the previous night.

After absorbing the morning glow, Bai Jing returned to the city for breakfast. Everything went smoothly afterward, and half an hour later, he boarded an Immortal Boat bound for home.

"Junior Brothers, once you return, you must spread the word among the others. Right now is the best time to earn Ascension Coins. Don't wait until the missions become more difficult before thinking about earning resources. By then, it'll be too late."

An older cultivator in Daoist robes looked at the scattered disciples on the deck and spoke worriedly.

"Yes, Immortal Elder." Several disciples secretly rejoiced. It seemed their choice had been correct; doing missions early on was more worthwhile than cultivation.

Bai Jing remained silent. He could see through it—this was currently a resting period, and few disciples were taking missions, so the Immortal Elder's Immortal Boat business had declined considerably.

That was why he was urging the disciples.

There might be some truth in his words, but he was more concerned about his own business.

"This child's talent and character are both quite decent. If he is polished a little more, even if he cannot become a fine jade, he will still be a promising talent."

Above the clouds, Lin Changsheng watched the departing Immortal Boat as he reviewed Bai Jing's records.

He had given Grade A Ratings to all five of Bai Jing's missions.

It was not because he had later seen Bai Jing's impressive talent in formations and become biased. Rather, Bai Jing had truly completed those missions beautifully.

"But he is in such a hurry to earn Ascension Coins. Could it be because he wants to exchange them for another formation?" Lin Changsheng guessed inwardly.

As he thought this, Lin Changsheng took a step forward and instantly caught up to the Immortal Boat.

After returning to the base, Bai Jing did not pause in the slightest and headed straight for the Ascension Tower.

After turning in his missions, he sprinted toward the Mission Hall.

Time waited for no one. He had to obtain the Lightness Skill Mastery before the first assessment ended.

And so, as Bai Jing continued his daily routine of missions, time quietly slipped away.

Before he knew it, the assessment was nearing its end.

Boom!

Inside a pavilion in District Six, a young man's aura grew stronger and stronger. As light flashed, his spleen reached completion, and he entered the Third Stage of Qi and Blood!

"I've finally advanced!" Chen Ping let out a long breath, a smile spreading across his face.

"Most assessment disciples are only at the Second Stage of Qi and Blood. Some are even still at the first stage. Across the entire base, there are fewer than two hundred people like me!" He revealed a proud expression.

A place among the top two hundred meant a secure admission into Shangqing Mountain.

"That one!" He stepped onto the balcony and looked toward a thatched cottage in the distance, his gaze gradually turning solemn.

During this time, Chen Ping had gotten to know every genius among the assessment disciples.

Only that person surpassed them all and could be called the foremost among them!

"Li Huai'an! He has probably already entered the Fourth Stage of Qi and Blood." Chen Ping murmured.

"Chen Ping!"

At that moment, someone called out from outside the pavilion.

Chen Ping went downstairs and saw a rather thin man—Chu Ming.

Chu Ming had once been somewhat plump, but he had changed after meeting Ling Qinghe. Now, he even looked a little handsome.

"Come on! Shangqing Mountain has released the rankings. They're the ratings for the missions we completed!"

"Mission ratings?" Chen Ping was somewhat puzzled.

"That's right. I heard that every mission receives a grade, divided into A, B, and C. And once the next assessment begins, every mission completed with a Grade A Rating will earn rewards!"

"Ratings, rewards!" Chen Ping's eyes lit up. This would allow geniuses like them to completely widen the gap between themselves and the mediocre!

"Let's go." He spoke at once, then stopped halfway there. "Right, where's Xu Shan? Didn't you call him?"

"Xu Shan?" Chu Ming revealed a disdainful expression. "He has cultivated for over a month and still hasn't broken through to the Third Stage. Why call him?"

"He still hasn't broken through?" Chen Ping was first stunned, then shook his head and said,

"Looks like someone has already begun falling behind."

In a plaza within the base's inner district, an enormous Golden Ranking hung in the air, densely covered in names.

"Name: Bai Jing

Mission One: First Stage of Qi and Blood difficulty, Rating: A

Mission Two: Second Stage of Qi and Blood difficulty, Rating: A

Mission Three: Second Stage of Qi and Blood difficulty, Rating: A"

Bai Jing squeezed through the crowd and found his name in the middle of the Golden Ranking.

He felt neither joy nor sorrow. On the Golden Ranking, the vast majority had received three Grade A Ratings.

Perhaps that was also because the missions had been easy.

But he did not know that his first mission should originally have received a Grade B Rating.

Of course, while most people were proud, some were dejected because they had received Grade B Ratings.

There were even those with Grade C Ratings. Every one of them felt ashamed, their faces flushed red.

"Brother Bai!" Someone patted Bai Jing on the shoulder. He turned around and discovered it was Xu Shan.

"Brother Xu, it has been many days. How have you been?" He smiled.

Xu Shan's expression stiffened. He forced out a smile and said, "Not bad."

Bai Jing noticed the change in his expression and immediately guessed that he must have encountered difficulties in cultivation.

However, Bai Jing could offer no help and could only say, "Brother Xu, I presume you also received three Grade A Ratings?"

"Of course. These three little missions are easy enough for anyone with hands. I'm only worried about what comes next." Xu Shan nodded at first, then revealed a troubled expression.

Everyone said the later assessments would be difficult, yet his cultivation had fallen behind. He had still not entered the Third Stage, so it was inevitable that he felt discouraged and fearful.

"Take it one step at a time. Other than a handful of monstrous prodigies, no one can say they have everything in the bag," Bai Jing comforted him.

"That's true. Forget about it. Since the two of us have run into each other, how about we go to the Immortal cafeteria later for a meal and a cup of tea?" Xu Shan nodded, then asked.

"No, I still have something to do." Bai Jing gave a bitter smile.

"All right." Xu Shan did not press him.

Boom!

Just then, specks of Golden Light suddenly appeared, forming into a person.

He stood atop the Golden Ranking like an immortal lord descending upon the mortal world, a terrifying pressure pouring down.

Everyone lowered their heads against their will, vaguely overcome by the urge to kneel and prostrate themselves.

Bai Jing's back turned cold, and sweat beaded across his forehead. He felt as though he were facing a prehistoric beast, his heart trembling in terror.

It was as though they were creatures from entirely different dimensions.

He stood in three dimensions, while the other party was undoubtedly in four!

"Three days from now, the details of the next assessment mission will be announced here!"

A voice like exploding thunder resounded in everyone's ears, forcing their waists to bend nearly ninety degrees.

Only after the Golden Light dispersed did that earth-shaking pressure vanish.

All the assessment disciples let out long breaths, each one drenched in cold sweat.

"Is the second mission assessment about to begin?"

Then the plaza erupted into commotion as the disciples began discussing it animatedly.

Xu Shan had wanted to speak with Chu Ming and the others, only to find that they responded to him halfheartedly. His gaze dimmed for a moment.

Meanwhile, Bai Jing had already quietly departed for the Hall of Divine Communication.

Before long, he obtained the Lightness Skill Mastery he had been yearning for—the Silver Thread Flying Spider!