Time was almost up, and the word "assessment" had lost its meaning for Lu Ding.
Now, he was simply using these wooden dummies to hone his practical combat experience.
His skill, That Which Is Called Forgetting Form, had long since been activated.
Empowered by the state of Unity of Heaven and Humanity, he unleashed slash after slash in an impenetrable barrage, their power growing ever more terrifying, their angles treacherous.
Lu Ding's practical combat experience was improving rapidly.
His extraordinary state caught the attention of the Bureau 749 administrators monitoring the assessment venue behind the scenes.
"Unity of Heaven and Humanity! This kid actually entered the state of Unity of Heaven and Humanity!!!"
"He opened his apertures yesterday and joined Bureau 749 yesterday. He came straight to the assessment without even choosing a cultivation method. Having such terrifying combat strength was already inconceivable, and now he's entered Unity of Heaven and Humanity too! Then he'll get a perfect score, claim an Aperture Opening Pill, break straight through into the second cultivation realm, Illuminating the Jade Pivot, and collect his cultivation method afterward!"
"Good grief, this kid's buffs are maxed out!!!!"
"If everyone else's combat strength is one right now, this kid's is at least thirty. Once he finishes gaining insights through Unity of Heaven and Humanity, his innate slashes will become even stronger, and his combat strength could soar again to a hundred. Tonight, he'll go back, claim an Aperture Opening Pill, and jump an entire major realm, taking his combat strength straight to a thousand. Add a cultivation method on top of that, and he still has a second innate talent that hasn't manifested."
"How is anyone else supposed to catch up?"
"He changes by the day. Today, the others can still glimpse his back. When Lu Ding shows up again tomorrow, they won't even get a mouthful of his exhaust."
"In a single day, he's traveled a road many people couldn't finish in ten years."
"And he's still only a trainee investigator."
"Hahahahahahahaha..."
In the observation room, the Bureau 749 administrators laughed heartily.
A youngster stronger than the average full investigator was actually just a trainee investigator. It was like a high school student attending elementary school.
Wasn't that a dimensionality-reduction strike?
Yet nothing could be done about it. The ironclad requirement was there: ten missions or ten monsters. This was a rule laid down by their founder, Elder Qian, and no one could change it.
Wouldn't that be a vicious wolf charging into a flock of sheep and slaughtering at will?
At the thought, the administrators couldn't stop laughing.
As the assessment ended,
Lu Ding deactivated That Which Is Called Forgetting Form. His score on the large screen now led the rest by a staggering margin.
Seeing him leave the state of Unity of Heaven and Humanity, the observers felt it was something of a pity. If only it could have lasted longer.
They had no idea that Lu Ding could enter the Unity of Heaven and Humanity that others dreamed of whenever he pleased.
The wooden dummies dissipated.
The score categories lit up on the screen.
Lu Ding was the only one with a perfect score. Ten people received an excellent rating, Liu Yun among them, while Chu Hao received an average rating.
In his original condition, getting an excellent rating would have been no problem at all. But with his vine armor broken, his defense was nowhere near what it had been. On top of that, he had never specifically practiced dodging before, so he was rather constrained when fighting.
Now, Chu Hao could barely lift his head.
He felt humiliated, but there was nothing he could do.
He had personally experienced Lu Ding's combat strength just now. Even from far away, his body had still felt as though it were being sliced.
It was so terrifying that he couldn't muster even a shred of resentment.
He could only steal a glance out of the corner of his eye, only to discover that Lu Ding had never once looked his way from beginning to end.
He let out a long breath, yet felt desolate.
Yes, to him, I'm nothing but a prancing clown.
As everyone left the venue, Lu Ding also collected his reward: an Aperture Opening Pill.
It was blue-green all over, sealed in wax inside a small box.
Looking at the Aperture Opening Pill, Lu Ding recalled the information he had seen on the Bureau 749 app.
The Aperture Opening Pill was an exceptionally precious pill specifically for the Aperture Opening Realm. It contained a vast quantity of pure, gentle medicinal power that could help qi refiners open all the apertures in their bodies and enter the Illuminating the Jade Pivot Realm directly.
The first cultivation realm, the Aperture Opening Realm, held that the human body had 365 apertures, corresponding to the number of the celestial cycle. Opening every aperture in the body brought one into accord with the Way of Heaven and Earth. This was aperture opening, laying the foundation for cultivation.
After aperture opening came Illuminating the Jade Pivot. Qi vortices condensed within the 365 apertures, drawing in the spiritual qi of Heaven and Earth to store within the body for use and nourish the flesh.
After Illuminating the Jade Pivot came the Spirit Sea. The 365 apertures united and merged into a sea. Those with resources supplemented it with heavenly materials and earthly treasures to expand and replenish their spirit sea. Those without could only rely on slow, painstaking effort. Once they reached their own limit, they could break through the Spirit Sea and enter the Divine Palace Realm.
These were the three foundational realms. Only with a solid foundation could a towering building rise from level ground.
To cultivate these three realms well, comprehension and resources were both indispensable.
When Lu Ding had read this, he had felt fortunate. Thank goodness he had joined Bureau 749. Otherwise, where would he have found resources on his own?
No wonder they said the poor studied letters while the rich practiced martial arts, and cultivation required wealth, methods, companions, and a suitable place. If he truly had to handle everything alone, he would probably be at a complete loss.
How could it possibly have been as convenient as it was now, getting an Aperture Opening Pill to pop for fun without doing anything?
In the future, he could also exchange contribution points for heavenly materials and earthly treasures from Bureau 749's stores to cultivate.
Even going out on missions would mean containing monsters for his own rewards, with contribution points to earn as well.
Joining Bureau 749 had truly been the right decision!
Deng Guofu, who was handing out the rewards, had already taken quite a liking to Lu Ding after witnessing his talent and learning how he handled things. Seeing him fall silent and stand there lost in thought, looking rather dazed, only made him like the boy more.
In his mind, he even bestowed a flattering label on Lu Ding.
A pure, childlike heart.
Deng Guofu couldn't hide the smile on his face. "Lu Ding, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Thank you, sir."
Lu Ding came back to himself and offered his thanks.
The staff member beside them smiled too.
"This is Director Deng, head of logistics at our 749 Yunhai Branch."
Hearing the word "logistics," one shouldn't assume he merely handled food, drink, and bodily necessities and look down on him.
In a cultivation novel, he would be the elder of the Scripture Repository. Every cultivation method, resource, and pill exchange at the trainee institute had to pass through his hands.
He might well be some formidable expert.
Realizing this too, Lu Ding hastily corrected himself. "Thank you, Director Deng."
"Young comrade, you learn quickly! Hahahahaha."
Director Deng teased him.
Lu Ding laughed along, feeling that the old man was very gentle, much like the orphanage director who had raised him.
He also closely resembled the grandfatherly neighborhood office director who was nearing retirement.
These people had all left bold, vivid strokes across the first nineteen years of his life.
"You haven't chosen a cultivation method yet, have you?"
Deng Guofu asked gently.
"I haven't had the chance yet. I was planning to go choose one once I finished here."
"Perfect, then. I'm heading back to the Logistics Department too. Let's go together. I can offer you a little advice."
That advice was no small thing. There were so many cultivation methods available to trainee investigators that, choosing alone, he might well pick a poor one.
Others didn't get this treatment. But then, Lu Ding had performed so exceptionally.
Failing to offer even appropriate conveniences would truly leave a person bitterly disappointed.
Without bothering about the unfinished business here, Elder Deng led Lu Ding away.
Along the way, the two chatted animatedly.
Lu Ding also gave Elder Deng a rough account of the first nineteen years of his life. The old man patted his shoulder. "You're a real man."