"All disciples who passed this Dao Academy assessment, assemble before the Inheritance Pavilion within one hour! Make haste!"
A mighty Dao voice suddenly rang out, spreading swiftly in all directions from the Inheritance Pavilion.
Within the courtyards, Cultivation Chambers, and even cave abodes.
Pairs of eyes abruptly opened, their expressions ranging from excitement to apprehension and bewilderment.
The Seventh Temporary Academy.
Instructor Wang sat on a meditation cushion, his eyes half closed.
His voice expounding the Dao echoed continuously through the Lecture Hall.
Yet at this moment, it stopped short.
Instructor Wang cast a complicated glance toward the Inheritance Pavilion and could not help saying, "So soon? This intake... has far too many geniuses. I wonder how Junior Brother Zhang's cultivation is coming along. With his talent, he should have a chance of making the top twenty, surely."
After collecting himself.
His gaze swept over the faces of the forty-odd people below the platform, and he said mildly:
"You have three days left. If you still cannot reach the introductory level of the Visualization Method after three days, then you have no destiny with our Dragon Lake Dao Academy. Resign yourselves to returning home as mortals."
At his words, everyone below the platform looked despairing and dejected, and sobs rose one after another.
Inside the cultivation room.
As he swallowed the final Spirit-Nurturing Pill, a sudden flush spread across Zhang Jing's face.
An immense surge of spiritual qi erupted like a flood.
Whoosh-
The illusory river within Zhang Jing flowed faster and faster, ceaselessly refining spiritual qi into pitch-black spiritual power.
Strands of spiritual power spread through his dantian, surging rapidly.
As though they would boil over at any moment.
The Origin-Gathering Spiritual Light repeatedly contracted and blossomed. Wherever its radiance passed, the spiritual power settled, but its aura grew increasingly heavy and oppressive.
At a certain instant.
As though it had reached its limit.
The spiritual power erupted into a boil, then began merging little by little under immense pressure.
"Qi Refining Second Layer!"
A trace of excitement appeared on Zhang Jing's face, and his aura abruptly surged.
Then he drew a deep breath-
His expression returned to calm, and he continued cultivating the Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary without haste or agitation.
Only once the changes within his dantian were complete and his spiritual power had stabilized did Zhang Jing slowly open his eyes and carefully sense the changes brought by the qi refining second layer.
His spiritual power was richer, its fluctuations stronger, and his spiritual sense and body had likewise been strengthened considerably.
To verify the effects.
Zhang Jing controlled his spiritual sense to trace the law technique Dao patterns of the Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique and infused spiritual power into them.
In just three to five breaths, a ceaselessly vibrating edge appeared in his hand, its terrifying sharpness penetrating straight through his skin and deep into his marrow.
Just as I thought!
Understanding flashed through Zhang Jing's eyes.
It was clearly the same law technique, yet the stronger spiritual sense and spiritual power of the qi refining second layer made the power it displayed as different as heaven and earth.
Looking at the Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique in his hand, Zhang Jing smiled faintly, then summoned the Five-Law Spirit River.
In an instant, a broader, more turbulent spirit river abruptly appeared around Zhang Jing. Five strangely shaped Law Technique Fish swam freely within it.
With a thought.
Zhang Jing slowly placed the Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique in his hand into the spirit river, and in the blink of an eye, it became a visibly larger Law Technique Fish.
"So the Five-Law Spirit River's capacity really did increase with my cultivation... Can it hold eight law techniques now?"
With a thought, the Jade Talisman slowly appeared before him.
Seeing the somewhat disorganized skill information on it, Zhang Jing could not help raising an eyebrow. "Looks like I need to sort these skills into categories and organize them first."
Then, under his control, the Jade Talisman began to flicker.
Before long.
Dao Seed: [Low-Tier Dharma Seed: Mind's Eye (cannot be upgraded)] Cultivation methods: [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary · Level 2 (71/400)] Skill trait: Five-Law Spirit River (intermediate) [Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method · Level 2 (161/300)] Skill trait: Origin-Gathering Spiritual Light (low) [Azure Sparrow Qi-Gathering Formula · Not yet initiated (0/50)] Low-grade law techniques: [Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique · Level 3 (2/120)] Skill trait: Sharpness (low) [Ice-Light Incantation · Level 3 (8/120)] Skill trait: Repeated Radiance (low) [Wave-Treading Aerial Traversal Technique · Level 1 (33/40)] Skill trait: Frost Breath (low) Special: [Nether Flood Dragon Void-Devouring Dao Implication · Incomplete (cannot be upgraded)]
"I've learned quite a few law techniques and skills."
A hint of a smile crept into the corners of Zhang Jing's eyes.
Besides-
He swept one hand over the Storage Bag at his waist.
Instantly, a Flying Sword wrapped in dark spiritual light appeared before him, then darted ceaselessly around the room, emanating waves of keen, formidable power.
The might of this Flying Sword actually far surpassed that of the black-clothed man back then.
"Now that my cultivation has improved, the Flying Sword really is easier to control, and its power almost matches the Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique enhanced by [Sharpness]."
Zhang Jing nodded in satisfaction.
This meant he could now rely primarily on his law artifact as his regular means of fighting enemies.
The Five-Law Spirit River would serve as support and a means of turning the tide, storing different types of law techniques according to the situation.
Combined, the two were enough for Zhang Jing to handle the vast majority of situations.
Yet just then.
A mighty Dao voice suddenly thundered beside his ears.
Zhang Jing froze for a moment, then immediately reacted.
"Looks like the Dao Academy is announcing how we'll compete for the assessment rankings. Counting the days, it really is about time."
He rose and headed outside.
Before he reached the Inheritance Pavilion.
Zhang Jing spotted the stone pillars standing in the square from afar. Tall and imposing, they gave him an oppressive feeling just looking at them.
By the time he approached the Inheritance Pavilion, that oppressive feeling had grown even stronger.
His gaze unconsciously shifted away from the stone pillars.
Only then did Zhang Jing notice that nearly a hundred people had already crowded before the Inheritance Pavilion, men and women alike, all with youthful faces. More people were still streaming over from the distance.
Around the perimeter, a dozen or so blue-robed Outer Court disciples stood scattered about, seemingly watching the spectacle.
"Brother Zhang, over here."
A call suddenly came from nearby.
Zhang Jing looked toward the voice and found Ji Bochang waving at him.
"Brother Ji, you're here so early?"
Zhang Jing walked lightly over to him and asked in some surprise.
"Ah, I just happened to be nearby. Right, Brother Zhang, I've got some good news for you," Ji Bochang said excitedly.
"What good news?"
"Didn't you hold off on joining a Mission Team because their cut of the Dao Merit was too high? I pestered Senior Sister for ages and finally got her to relent. As long as you make the top twenty in this assessment, she'll recommend you to the Five-Colored Squad, and their cut of your Dao Merit can be lowered to five percent."
"Thank you, Brother Ji."
Zhang Jing smiled as he spoke, feeling inexplicably touched.
Although his goal this time was the top ten in the assessment, Ji Bochang did not know that.
For him to go this far without knowing was truly rare.
"Oh, Brother Zhang, once you join the Five-Colored Squad, don't mention the cut to anyone," Ji Bochang cautioned.
"All right."
Zhang Jing agreed.
As the two spoke, more and more people gathered.
No one directed them, yet the crowd spontaneously divided into three distinct groups, front, middle, and rear, with boundaries as clear as the Jing and Wei rivers.
Conversations rose and fell, forming a clamorous tide of voices.
"Do you know why the Dao Academy told us to gather here?" someone at the back asked quietly.
"You know?"
"Naturally." When someone asked, the speaker's voice unconsciously rose. "See those twenty-nine people standing right at the front? They're the geniuses who received Grade B evaluations this time!"
"What does that have to do with the Dao Academy gathering us here?"
"Haven't you noticed how rarely those Grade B geniuses appear before us? Remember, they live in the same area as we do."
"Hiss-you're right!"
No sooner had they spoken than they sensed the entire square suddenly fall silent.
Everyone looked in unison toward the man and woman who had newly appeared at the very front.
First Grade! Monstrous talents!
The same words surfaced in everyone's minds.
Looking at those two figures, even the Outer Court disciples who had been watching the spectacle unconsciously grew serious.
Within the crowd.
Zhang Jing likewise looked toward the two figures at the very front, his expression as still as an ancient well, leaving no clue to his thoughts.
"Two First-Grade Prodigies..."
Ji Bochang's gaze was complicated. His lips moved, but he did not know what to say.
The next moment, a mighty voice broke the silence over the square.
"It seems everyone is here."
As the voice rang out, two Purple Robe figures floated slowly down from the tops of the stone pillars, finally stopping above the crowd.
Zhang Jing looked up, then found one of the Purple Robe figures somewhat familiar.
Was that... Senior Brother Liu?
Although the man had changed clothes, Zhang Jing still recognized him.
Senior Brother Liu spoke with a solemn expression:
"I will now announce the contents of the second stage of this Dragon Lake Dao Academy assessment."
"In light of the many junior brothers who have perished and had their Dao extinguished while carrying out Demon-Suppression Missions in recent years, we of the Inheritance Pavilion's Inner Academy have unanimously decided that the second stage will take the form of sparring through spell combat to determine the final rankings of this assessment. Let this remind you all that you must never lack the resolve to defend your Dao."
"In three days, here," the other Purple Robe man said.
"As for ranking rewards, the top ten will receive fifty Dao Merit a month, tenth through twentieth will receive twenty Dao Merit a month, and twentieth through thirtieth will receive five Dao Merit a month, distributed for one year."
With that, the two became streaks of escaping light and headed straight into the Inheritance Pavilion.
The square fell silent at first.
Then.
Boom-
The voices began to boil.
Among those standing at the back, some looked bewildered, while others wore expressions of despair.
"What spell combat? I don't know any law techniques! How am I supposed to fight?"
"We haven't even achieved qi induction yet. Are we supposed to use our fists?"
"Why did they only mention rewards for the top thirty? What about everyone below them?"
"That means there aren't any rewards..."
"Wait, you just said those Grade B geniuses hardly ever show themselves around us. Could it have something to do with this?" someone suddenly recalled what they had just heard and asked in surprise.
"Exactly. They knew long ago, so they've all been cultivating in seclusion to compete for the rankings."
"This isn't fair!"
"Heh, what kind of fairness do you want? Those rewards weren't meant for us in the first place. Apparently, plenty of the Outer Court's Mission Teams will be there that day. Our purpose in participating is to perform as well as possible and try to catch some Mission Team's attention."
Elsewhere.
"I didn't expect it to be spell combat after all. Now it'll come down to a head-on clash of cultivation, law techniques, and law artifacts," Ji Bochang said somewhat helplessly upon hearing this.
"Brother Ji, whatever the format, wouldn't it ultimately come down to those things? Spell combat is simply more direct."
Zhang Jing said calmly.
For him, having already broken through to the Qi Refining Second Layer, with both offensive and defensive Law Artifacts at hand, as well as the Five-Law Spirit River, this counted as good news.
"Ah... you're right, Brother Zhang. There are still three days left. Hopefully I can break through to the Qi Refining Second Layer."
Ji Bochang sighed, then took his leave. "Brother Zhang, I'll head back to cultivate now. Farewell."
"Farewell."
With that, Zhang Jing likewise headed back.
Meanwhile.
At Zhangji Pharmacy in Yong'an City.
"It's been almost a month. Jing has never been away from us for so long. Ah... I wonder how he's doing now. Is he used to the food there? Is he comfortable sleeping in their beds? Could he be getting bullied?"
Mother Zhang spoke as she wiped away her tears.
Hearing this, Father Zhang, who stood beside her, drew her into his arms and comforted her. "My dear, don't worry anymore. Jing has grown up."
"How could I not worry?"
As they spoke.
Knock, knock-
Someone knocked on the pharmacy's front door.
"Coming," Father Zhang called, then hurried over to open it.
Mother Zhang also hastily wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve.
"Physician Zhang, our proprietor sent me to ask you when you can move out."
"I'm truly sorry. Our Jing will be back in another three to five days. Once he returns, we'll definitely move out right away."
Mother Zhang walked out and saw Father Zhang speaking respectfully to a middle-aged man in a brocade robe.
Hearing this, the middle-aged man said with some impatience, "Physician Zhang, I hope you'll keep your word and move out as soon as your son returns. Our proprietor is in a great hurry."
"Understood. Rest assured."
At this, the middle-aged man nodded, turned, and left the pharmacy.
Behind him, Father Zhang and Mother Zhang exchanged a glance and could not help breathing a sigh of relief.
A short while later.
Shopkeeper Liu from next door slipped in quietly. Meeting Father Zhang's gaze, he sighed.
"Ah, Physician Zhang, have they come to press you again?"
"Yes." Father Zhang nodded helplessly.
"Damn it, they've been pressing me too. If you hadn't kept stalling, Physician Zhang, the rest of us would probably have been driven out long ago."
"If that Hundred Medicines Pavilion proprietor didn't know an Immortal Elder, making him someone we really can't afford to cross-damn it, thinking he can buy my shop for that pittance of silver! Let him go dream his grand spring-and-autumn dreams!"
Shopkeeper Liu cursed and grumbled.
"All right, Shopkeeper Liu. Be careful-disaster comes out of the mouth," Father Zhang said with a reassuring smile.
"By the way, Physician Zhang, where exactly did your Zhang Jing go? He's been gone a whole month now."
Father Zhang was about to say something, but Mother Zhang gave him a meaningful look.
Then Mother Zhang said with a smile, "Shopkeeper Liu, our Zhang Jing went to visit relatives in a neighboring commandery. He'll be back soon."
"So that's it."
Only after Shopkeeper Liu had left did Father Zhang ask in puzzlement:
"My dear, why did you-"
"Husband, you're being foolish. If you tell them just like that, they're bound to ask Jing all sorts of questions when he returns. Wouldn't that be rubbing salt in his wounds?"
Mother Zhang rolled her eyes at Father Zhang.
"So that's it, so that's it! You really have thought things through, my dear!" Father Zhang said in sudden realization.
P.S. Thanks to [Mozong Wuhen] and [Ganxie] for your generous tips, QAQ~
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