Immortal Arts Hall

Bluestone paths crisscrossed the entire courtyard, dividing it into a pleasing arrangement of scattered compounds.

A stream flowed beside the paths, spanned by three stone bridges—arched bridges with vermilion-painted railings.

Deep within the courtyard stood the imposing main hall, the "Immortal Arts Hall," its roof covered in dark tiles and its eaves sweeping upward.

More than ten side halls and pavilions stood on either side of the main hall.

In the courtyard's northwest corner stood a tower dozens of stories high: the Star-Seizing Tower.

Covered corridors connected the various buildings, making travel between them quite convenient.

Following the guidance of his jade token, Dong Lin arrived at the site of the academic assessment.

His timing was fairly good. Only two disciples remained ahead of him for assessment.

In less than half an hour, it was Dong Lin's turn.

The examiners were a middle-aged man in green robes and a plainly dressed middle-aged female cultivator.

When Dong Lin presented his identity jade token, the male examiner looked at him twice in careful surprise.

"You're an outer sect disciple who only began cultivating at the start of this year?!"

"Reporting to the two examiners, this disciple indeed entered the sect and began cultivating at the start of this year."

"That has been less than five months, yet you've already reached the completion of early-stage Qi Refining? Even among disciples from previous years, that would make you one of the best."

"Such cultivation speed is astonishing. Unfortunately, you began cultivating rather late. If you had started two years earlier, an elder would surely have made an exception and accepted you as a direct inner sect disciple."

The female cultivator at his side nodded regretfully as well.

"Chief Steward Xuan of Outer Sect Division Two has certainly struck it lucky this time!"

"Let's follow the procedure. Circulate the Spirit Infusion Art of the Breath-and-Spirit Absorption Art once."

Dong Lin immediately walked to the cushion in the middle of the grounds and sat down. Calming his mind, he began circulating the Breath-and-Spirit Absorption Art.

After reaching the introductory stage of the Breath-and-Spirit Absorption Art, one could use a minor technique to guide spiritual energy through the meridians and cover the entire body, providing protection.

This technique was precisely the focus of this assessment.

By observing the speed, strength, and completeness of the user's technique, one could determine whether a disciple's cultivation was stable and how well they had mastered their cultivation art.

In fewer than five breaths, Dong Lin successfully guided the spiritual energy in his dantian through each meridian according to the cultivation art, activating a thin, transparent spiritual energy shield.

Seeing this, the two examiners nodded in satisfaction.

"Mhm, that will do. At your level, you can certainly be exceptionally promoted to an inner sect disciple."

"Let this assessment be rated Grade A directly. This bottle of high-grade Yellow-Rank Qi-Gathering Pills is the reward for a Grade A completion evaluation. Take it."

The female examiner took out a bottle of pills, wrapped it in spiritual power, and slowly sent it floating before Dong Lin.

Dong Lin reached out and tucked it into his robes.

"I'll explain things to Chief Steward Xuan. You may return first."

"Thank you, Examiners." Maintaining the circulation of his spiritual energy, Dong Lin rose to his feet and clasped his hands in thanks to the two examiners.

After returning to his residence, Dong Lin received an invitation from Chief Steward Xuan.

Ordinarily, Dong Lin lived in the inner sect and had made no friends.

Thus, although Dong Lin was a newly admitted disciple of Outer Sect Division Two, he had never participated in any of its tasks and was unfamiliar with the division. Aside from Chief Steward Xuan, he barely knew anyone.

No one in Outer Sect Division Two had assigned Dong Lin any routine duties either.

Generally, after outer sect disciples broke through Qi Refining, they were required to handle certain routine affairs for the sect.

However, perhaps due to Chief Steward Xuan's care, Dong Lin had not been assigned any tasks.

The sect had happened to seal the mountain, and there were far fewer internal affairs to deal with than before. Naturally, none of the trouble fell upon Dong Lin.

When he arrived once more before the hall of Outer Sect Division Two, Chief Steward Xuan was already waiting at the entrance with a beaming smile.

"As expected of Deacon Dong's son. I've been run ragged lately by all the matters following the mountain's sealing, yet Xiao Lin, you've brought me such a tremendous surprise!"

Xuan Qing patted Dong Lin on the shoulder, carefully looked him over from head to toe, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad. A tiger father has no dog son. Back when your father, Xiao Tian, entered the sect, his cultivation also advanced at a tremendous pace. What a pity..."

As Xuan Qing spoke, he stroked his white beard and sighed.

"Only by becoming an inner sect disciple can one truly be considered a member of the Heaven Sect.

The outer sect is merely a testing ground where the sect selects qualified disciples. Inner sect disciples are the true core of our Heaven Sect!

The inner sect resources I specially approved for you earlier did not include the Dao Xuan Heart Sutra unique to inner sect disciples.

This Dao Xuan Heart Sutra is standard for every inner sect disciple.

Only after you have reached the introductory stage of this Dao Xuan Heart Sutra can you officially be re-evaluated as an inner sect disciple."

With a turn of his hand, Xuan Qing produced an ancient-looking booklet.

"Officially re-evaluated? Then I'm not yet considered a true inner sect disciple?"

Dong Lin asked in confusion.

"That's right. All disciples who enter the inner sect are initially assessed as Apprentice Inner Disciples, receiving the lowest tier of resources and benefits.

Only after reaching the introductory stage of this Dao Xuan Heart Sutra can you successfully prove your talent to the sect and become a Yellow-Rank Inner Disciple.

Our sect's inner sect has five official ranks. Beginning with apprentice, they are Yellow Rank, Black Rank, Earth Rank, Heaven Rank, and Divine Rank.

Each rank corresponds to a different standing within the sect and a different level of resources and benefits.

Even this old man, after tempering myself in the outer sect for several decades, barely rose to the Earth Rank.

This Dao Xuan Heart Sutra is not easy to begin learning. You must devote some time to it. Remember, this art must not be passed on to outsiders. It is our sect's exclusive secret technique."

"This disciple understands." Dong Lin accepted the Dao Xuan Heart Sutra and nodded to Chief Steward Xuan.

"If you successfully reach Foundation Establishment before eighteen, you can be directly promoted to a Black-Rank Inner Disciple of the Heaven Sect.

Work hard, Xiao Lin. Your aptitude is acceptable, but you began cultivating too late. You have a little over three years left. What we cultivators contend for is precisely this fleeting opportunity.

The treatment offered at every rank within the sect differs as greatly as heaven and earth.

Your father and I worked together in the sect for over fifty years. We had such a deep friendship, yet I did not even know he and Lan Zhi had a child.

He hid it from me for more than ten years. If not for his accident, I would never have known that he had raised a child outside the sect.

He truly treated me as an outsider."

Chief Steward Xuan spoke with some indignation.

"All right, Xiao Lin. If you encounter any problems in cultivation, come find me.

There are many suspicious aspects to your father's matter. I will investigate it thoroughly."

"Thank you for your concern, Chief Steward Xuan."

"Go report to the Merit Affairs Hall later. I have already completed the procedures for you.

The sect's requirements for inner sect disciples are not low. See whether there are any long-term assignments suitable for you.

If you can cultivate some long-term work that offsets the points required for the sect's mandatory missions, such as artifact forging or pill refining, you can avoid being assigned compulsory tasks.

Now that the mountain has just been sealed, the distribution of sect resources may tighten somewhat. Only by displaying your talent to the sect will resources be directed toward you."

"I understand. Thank you for your care, Chief Steward Xuan. This disciple will go report in first."

"Go."

Dong Lin left the outer sect and headed for the Merit Affairs Hall to report.

Although he was a disciple of Outer Sect Division Two, he had not contributed anything to the division over the past few months.

Nor had he ever interacted with Chief Steward Xuan.

I never expected the previous owner's father to have had such a deep friendship with Chief Steward Xuan.

Ever since I entered the sect, he has taken great care of me. Perhaps to Chief Steward Xuan, this is merely a little care and investment for the orphaned son of a close friend, but I truly owe him a great favor.

Dong Lin shook his head and stopped thinking about it. Since he was here, he would make the best of it.

Since he had come to this place, he would cultivate properly.

The path of immortal cultivation was truly captivating.