The Special Assessment Begins

Three days had elapsed, and the Azure Feather Immortal Sect had concluded the recruitment assessment for its ordinary disciples.

Today, however, marked the highly anticipated assessment for inner disciples.

“My congratulations to all junior brothers and sisters; you are all elite cultivators, qualified to directly undertake the inner disciple assessment.”

“Now, you have two choices. First, you may opt for the normal inner disciple challenge. Succeeding will grant you the standard treatment of an inner disciple, though you will need to await the Grand Competition three years hence to choose which Spirit Peak to join.”

“Alternatively, you may choose to challenge the special assessment. Passing it will directly earn you the privilege of joining a Spirit Peak.”

No sooner had the leading deacon’s pronouncement ended than the thousand newly initiated disciples, all cultivating at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm or higher, erupted in a clamor of excitement.

” Is this truly happening? To directly join a Spirit Peak? Doesn’t that mean we could ascend to personal discipleship in just three years?’ “

” ‘Hahahaha, a golden opportunity has arrived for this genius! “

” Calm yourselves,’ a more subdued voice interjected. ‘This is indeed a tempting reward, but this special assessment is bound to be incredibly difficult. “

” To bypass three years of waiting and immediately join a Spirit Peak… “

The Azure Feather Immortal Sect’s promotion rules began with the entrance assessment.

Passing the initial entry test was sufficient to become an ordinary disciple of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, though those blessed with exceptional talent would be directly inducted as inner disciples.

Whether an inner or ordinary disciple, all were eligible to compete in the sect’s Grand Competition three years hence, offering a chance for promotion or even a leap across ranks for the truly prodigious.

Above inner disciples stood the Spirit Peak disciples, and soaring above them, the revered personal disciples.

An assessment that allowed direct promotion to Spirit Peak disciples was a first in the Azure Feather Immortal Sect’s illustrious history.

Just as everyone was discussing animatedly, a seemingly ordinary disciple in the throng allowed a sinister smile to creep across their lips.

‘Jiejiejie, your luck is truly good, kid. You actually caught up with this special assessment. If you can directly become a Spirit Peak disciple, it can save a lot of time.’

‘Hmph hmph hmph, needless to say, don’t you see who I, Zhen Aoyu, am!’

‘But do not be careless. If they offer such conditions, this assessment definitely won’t be simple.’

‘Hmph, I built my foundation upon the twelfth layer of Qi Condensation, coupled with the Absolute Resentment Heavenly Art.

Unless that special assessment is designed for someone who built their foundation on the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation!

Otherwise, with my strength, wouldn’t passing the special assessment be utterly effortless? Which of these ants can possibly stop me?’

‘Still, it’s better to be careful. What you did in the mortal world has been exposed. If you’re discovered in the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, even I can’t save you.’

‘Less chatter, of course I know that.’

This ordinary-looking youth was Zhen Aoyu, who was fleeing a pursuit order from the cultivation world.

He had leveraged the Absolute Resentment Heavenly Art’s transformative arts to alter his facial features, and, under the assumed name Aotianyu, had successfully navigated the Azure Feather Immortal Sect’s assessment.

The Absolute Resentment Heavenly Art, as the protagonist’s cultivation technique in the original work, came with an inherent disguise technique so profound that it was an unparalleled, heaven-defying existence, capable of eluding even the scrutiny of Nascent Soul Venerables.

In the original work, Zhen Aoyu also successfully seized countless opportunities with this disguise technique.

“Time for consideration is up. Those who choose to proceed with the normal inner disciple assessment, stand to my left. Those who choose to participate in the special assessment, stand to my right.”

A short while later, the leading deacon’s voice resonated once more.

After a few minutes, the vast majority opted for the left, possessing a clear and pragmatic understanding of their own capabilities.

Even passing the ordinary inner assessment would be difficult for them, let alone the clearly more challenging special assessment.

Out of a thousand people, only a hundred stood to the right. These were the elites among this batch of disciples, and naturally included the smirking Zhen Aoyu.

Of course, there were also some who wished to take a gamble, hoping to transform a mere bicycle into a powerful motorcycle (TL Note: A Chinese idiom signifying a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, akin to ‘going for broke’ or ‘hitting the jackpot’). Even so, the number barely reached a hundred.

A new female deacon then stepped forward, leading the hundred participants of the special assessment into the secluded realm meticulously designed by Xia Yi.

“All of you merely need to reach the finish line within the stipulated time to pass the assessment.

The final ranking will be determined by your arrival time at the finish line and the points gained along the way.

Those with higher ranks will have the opportunity to be promoted to personal disciples.”

As the female deacon finished explaining the rules, the hundred participants instantly erupted in a frenzy.

” Personal disciples!? “

” Does that mean an elder is watching this special assessment? “

” Heaven truly smiles upon me! This prince is indeed a chosen son of destiny. This top spot is undeniably mine! “

****

Just as everyone was excitedly anticipating the surprise of becoming a personal disciple upon passing, the female deacon’s voice rang out again, her subsequent words swiftly doused the fervent excitement of the crowd.

” ‘However, should any of you fail to reach the finish line within the allotted time, or be eliminated midway, you shall only be inducted into the Azure Feather Immortal Sect as ordinary disciples.’ “

No one questioned what the female deacon said.

With such generous rewards for this special assessment, its corresponding risks would naturally be higher.

This was fair, for no reward in this world came without its inherent risks.

” You can still withdraw now and participate in the ordinary assessment. You only have ten breaths of time to consider. “

As these words were spoken, more than twenty people immediately withdrew.

After ten breaths, fewer than forty souls remained who still chose to participate in the challenge.

These forty people all boasted late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, with a select few even having attained the half-step Golden Core realm.

Only Aotianyu, Zhen Aoyu’s disguise, a paltry weakling at early-stage Foundation Establishment, stood out like a sore thumb among these formidable cultivators.

” Time’s up. Then I wish you good luck. The countdown begins! “

No sooner had her declaration ended than a colossal incense stick flared to life.

The remaining forty-odd people scrambled forth, vying for the lead as they surged towards the starting point.

Looking at the myriad floating stones drifting before their eyes, some were about to take out their flying swords to cross directly.

To their astonishment, they discovered their storage rings had been sealed.

Even the talismans, amulets, formation plates, and other items on their bodies had been ‘confiscated’ and vanished from their persons the moment they stepped onto the starting point.

Everyone present was an exceptional talent, and they quickly realized this was one of the special assessment rules: they could only pass the assessment relying on their own inherent strength.

” Haha! This humble one shall take the lead! “

As most people were still observing, a booming, coarse voice rang out.

A bald, burly man rushed out from the crowd and was the first to leap towards a floating stone, landing securely upon it.

” Hahahaha, this humble one knew all along that this first stage was naught but a bluff, a mere ploy to waste time. This first place is as good as mine… “

Seeing the bald strongman land on the floating stone without incident, a few more people could no longer contain their impatience and jumped onto floating stones.

Just as the bald strongman was about to jump to the next floating stone, he abruptly found his shoes firmly adhered to something.

His leap was for naught, as he stumbled and landed face-first in a most undignified manner.

His gaze sharpened, and he discovered that the floating stone was covered with a layer of super adhesive disguised as solid ground—the 502 Super Cultivation Version (TL Note: A reference to ‘502 super glue,’ a common cyanoacrylate adhesive, here in a cultivation-enhanced form.).

” What sane individual would douse a floor with Super Glue?! “

He was now like a mouse trapped on a flypaper, utterly immobilized.

If it were merely the cultivation version of 502, even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like the bald strongman could eventually resolve it.

However, the floating stone he was on began to slowly flip over.

The sudden tilting posture made the stuck bald man stagger in surprise.

Before he could even attempt to free himself from the 502, the floating stone’s rotation abruptly intensified.

The entire floating stone became a whirling blur; if cultivation had washing machines, he resembled clothes caught in a spin cycle, and one that was accelerating ever faster.

Then, a gut-wrenching tearing sound ripped through the air, causing those at the starting point to wince, and the bald man, flung into the distance, transformed into a streaking meteor, vanishing into the secret realm’s farthest reaches.

A collective silence descended upon the onlookers.