At the Mountain Gate in Spirit Province, the square teemed with people.
Underworld Grand Artisans and True Disciples, formidable figures in their own territories on ordinary days, had gathered in a rare assembly. They discussed the hot topics of recent days, exchanged insights, and debated the Dao, creating a lively scene.
But today, every other topic had to give way to the posting of the assessment results. What everyone cared about was the outcome about to be revealed.
It was now early June. Who had passed the preliminary Grand Artisan assessment and who would be eliminated was about to become clear.
"I wonder what the Grandmaster Artisans thought of the work I submitted. This wait is killing me."
"Yes, I keep having an ominous feeling..."
"Fellow Daoist, you look so calm and composed. Could you be absolutely confident?"
"Not at all. I simply know my own limits. I only came to this Grand Artisan assessment to broaden my horizons. Relax, fellow Daoist. Who hasn't failed an assessment at some point?"
"..."
Not everyone could win a Grandmaster Artisan's appreciation as Li Chen had, have their work praised to their face for its novelty, and learn their score immediately.
Every assessment drew over a thousand participants, yet only a few dozen Grandmaster Artisans were responsible for reviewing their work. Moreover, every stage of the judging required the utmost care. To make the scores convincing, they had to provide reasons that all parties could accept.
But now that the results were being publicly posted, everyone would learn their outcome at the same time. The many days of waiting had finally borne fruit.
"They're out! They're out!"
Suddenly, someone cried out repeatedly.
Brilliant light flooded the sky. Everyone gathered in the square looked up to see the vast heavens shrouded in mirages projected