Passing the Assessment

Passing the Assessment

Before long, the doors to the assessment grounds opened, and two inner sect disciples walked out. One of them said to the people waiting in line, "The inner sect disciple assessment begins now. Come forward one by one to register, then enter the assessment hall and wait for the elder to arrive. Remember, no noise."

The people at the front began registering. Before long, it was Ye Yun's turn. The inner sect senior brother handling registration handed Ye Yun a sheet of paper and a pen. "Write down your name, cultivation, and martial arts."

Ye Yun accepted the paper and pen and wrote down his information.

"That will do. Go inside and wait."

Upon entering the assessment hall, the first thing Ye Yun saw was a massive bronze cauldron. It stood over three meters tall, dark blue-green from top to bottom, and looked incomparably heavy.

On one side of the hall, the people who had entered before Ye Yun were already lined up, waiting for the elder to arrive. He walked over and took his place at the end of the line.

Very soon, everyone taking the assessment that day had arrived. There were nineteen people in total.

Before long, the assessment elder strode over.

The assessment elder standing before them looked to be around fifty or sixty. His eyes were bright and keen as he surveyed the crowd.

"I won't waste words. The first trial will test your strength and physical toughness. Lift the cauldron you see before you and carry it ten steps, and you will pass. Let me remind you: this cauldron weighs roughly forty thousand jin. If you fail, you will lose your qualification to become an inner sect disciple. If you wish to take the assessment again, you must wait three months. Begin."

After saying that, the assessment elder accepted everyone's information from the person beside him. Starting from the first sheet, he called out, "First, Yang Hu."

A scrawny youth walked out from the crowd. He went before the bronze cauldron, wrapped both arms around one of its legs, and tried to lift it. His face flushed bright red and the veins on his forehead bulged, yet the bronze cauldron did not budge in the slightest.

"Yang Hu has failed the assessment. Next, Ling Chen," the assessment elder said expressionlessly.

Yang Hu could only withdraw in dejection. Glancing at Ling Chen, who had already stepped forward, he secretly hoped Ling Chen would fail as well.

Ling Chen did not begin immediately. Instead, he looked toward the assessment elder and asked, "Elder, may I use true qi?"

The elder said nothing, merely nodding faintly.

Having received permission, Ling Chen turned and walked before the bronze cauldron. He stepped beneath it, braced the bottom with both hands, and let out a low shout. Using his strength and true qi at once, he slowly raised the bronze cauldron and walked forward. One step, two steps... ten steps. Only after hearing the elder announce that he had passed did he set the cauldron down.

Seeing someone successfully pass the assessment, everyone's spirits lifted somewhat.

Only Yang Hu at the side wore an indignant expression, muttering about why he had not thought to use true qi. But it was already too late for regret.

The assessment continued, and before long, it was Ye Yun's turn.

"Next, Ye Yun."

Hearing his name, Ye Yun walked straight toward the bronze cauldron. Following the example of those before him, he braced both hands against the bottom of the cauldron, gathered all the strength in his body, and lifted it as he advanced step by step. After passing the assessment, he set it down.

For Ye Yun, this assessment was not difficult. Back in the Body Tempering Realm, he already possessed the strength of ten thousand jin. When he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm, he had been tempered by the spiritual qi of heaven and earth once more. Now, his raw strength alone had reached thirty thousand jin.

Before long, the three people after Ye Yun finished their assessments as well. Of the nineteen people, thirteen passed. Worth mentioning was that a girl named He Yue was among those who passed.

Those who had passed followed the assessment elder to the rear of the hall. Behind it was an open-air field. Before them lay a lake roughly twenty meters wide and thirty meters long. Wooden posts of varying heights stood in the lake, while on the opposite bank sat a table with ten flags on it.

"The second trial tests your speed. Retrieve a flag from the opposite side within three minutes, and you will pass." After explaining the rules of the second trial, the assessment elder called out, "First, He Yue."

A somewhat delicate-looking yet exceedingly aloof young woman walked to the lakeside.

He Yue took a deep breath, sprinted a short distance, then kicked off fiercely with both feet and swept out like a flying swallow cleaving the sky. In a flicker of light and shadow, she used the wooden posts to charge swiftly forward. Her figure was graceful and nimble, as though she were dancing upon the lake. In less than a minute, she reached the opposite bank and took a flag, then rushed back at the same speed.

"Two minutes and ten seconds. Assessment passed." When the assessment elder announced her result, everyone was somewhat surprised. Ye Yun silently calculated as well. At his speed, he would likely need around two minutes, perhaps a little faster than He Yue.

The second person began the assessment, but unfortunately, he did not succeed, taking four minutes to complete it.

The third and fourth also failed. The fifth passed, and Ye Yun was sixth.

Ye Yun came to the lakeside and breathed in and out softly. With a leap, he landed on the nearest wooden post. Then his movement technique circulated as he raced toward the opposite shore. His figure drifted like a phantom, coming and going without a sound, like a ghost. When he returned from the opposite bank and reached the finish, he heard the assessment elder say, "Ye Yun, two minutes and three seconds. Assessment passed. Next, continue."

This result was within Ye Yun's expectations. If he could cultivate Treading Snow Without Trace to great mastery, he should be able to complete the assessment within one minute.

The assessment continued. By the time the second trial ended, only six people remained. The assessment elder wasted no words and led them outside a room. "The third trial tests your actual combat ability. Inside this room is a low-grade level-two demonic beast, a White Jade Rhino. Your task is to withstand ten exchanges under its attacks, and you will pass. However, this trial carries the risk of death. Anyone unwilling to take it may step forward now."

The moment his words fell, one disciple stepped out, his face pale as death.

"Are you sure you want to withdraw?" the elder asked.

The disciple said nothing. He merely lowered his head, not daring to face the elder's question.

Seeing this, the elder said angrily, "You are afraid of nothing more than a mere level-two demonic beast. Then why cultivate the martial path? How will you roam the martial world in the future? You must know that the most terrifying thing in the martial world is not demonic beasts, but the human heart. Those steeped in evil are a hundred times, a thousand times more terrifying than demonic beasts."

After speaking, the elder ignored him and turned to Ye Yun. "Do you dare go first?"

Ye Yun replied, "This disciple is willing to give it a try."

"Good. Then begin."

Ye Yun entered the room and saw, beyond an iron gate ahead, a massive White Jade Rhino. Its eyes were like bronze bells, its entire body seemed clad in white jade armor, and a single sharp horn jutted out from the front of its head.

As Ye Yun entered, the iron gate confining the White Jade Rhino slowly opened. The White Jade Rhino had been lying on the ground, but the instant it saw Ye Yun, it was filled with hostility and let out an ear-splitting roar at him.

Yet the instant the iron gate fully opened, Ye Yun seized the initiative. With a flicker, he appeared before the White Jade Rhino.

His left hand clenched into a fist as he gathered strength, hidden force converging in his hand. When he was only about half a meter away from the White Jade Rhino, his fist shot out in an instant and struck its forehead.

Bang!

The hard floor cracked and caved in from the impact. The White Jade Rhino's massive body was suddenly smashed down, blood pouring from its seven orifices as its limbs twitched.

One punch killed the White Jade Rhino instantly.

Everyone watching outside was stunned. Just a moment ago, they had been wondering whether Ye Yun could break through the White Jade Rhino's defenses. The next second, reality slapped them across the face.

Seeing Ye Yun walk out of the room, the assessment elder praised, "Ye Yun, you have passed the third trial. Little fellow, congratulations on becoming an inner sect disciple. This old man hopes to see your name on the Inner Sect Top 100 Ranking soon."

Please, mighty seniors, give me a hand and add this to your collection. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

(End of Chapter)