The morning bell of Purple Sky Peak pierced the sea of clouds. Dressed in the blue-patterned robes of core disciples, Han Li and Zi Ling walked side by side toward the Martial Arts Arena. The mountain wind lifted their hems, revealing the faint glow of the Crystal-Spike Formation Flags and Star-Illusion Maze Formation Flags at their waists-today was the day of the core disciple assessment.
Dozens of core disciples had already gathered outside the Martial Arts Arena. As the two arrived, everyone cast awed glances their way. Han Li swept his spiritual sense over the crowd and suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the northwest corner: Elder Mo Canglan had come as well. He was murmuring to a gray-robed steward, occasionally glancing at Han Li.
"He's keeping an eye on the assessment," Zi Ling whispered, gently swaying a Star-Illusion Flag between her fingers. "Perhaps people from the Blood Lotus Cult are here too."
Han Li nodded, crystal-core spiritual power condensing around his sword-shaped fingers in a silvery-white glow. "When soldiers come, we'll send generals to meet them. Let's pass the assessment first, then settle accounts with them."
At the center of the Martial Arts Arena, the Star-River Sand Table hovered like a silver chessboard, spiritual light simulating star power flowing within it. Three Core Formation Early Stage puppets stood to its east, south, and west, their spiritual power fluctuations no different from those of real people.
"The first trial: formation deployment upon the star river." Elder Li, head of the Formation Pavilion and overseer of the assessment, spoke in a voice like a great bell. "Use three hundred spirit stones to lay a medium-sized Trapping Formation and trap all three puppets. You have one incense stick's time!"
Han Li stepped forward and took three hundred middle-grade spirit stones from his