Chapter 1

Taking a deep breath, Lu Ping slowly finished his cultivation, integrating the newly advanced bloodline spirit power back into his bloodline. He threw away the used spirit stone and felt the strong, steady heartbeat, as if he could hear the sound of blood flowing through his veins.

Suddenly, a pair of eyes opened in the darkness, like two bright stars in the deep night sky, shining brilliantly. Lu Ping smiled faintly as he looked around the room. Indeed, after breaking through to the seventh level of Blood Refinement, his eyes had gained the ability to see in the dark, though this ability was still quite weak. He could just about see everything clearly in the small room.

After fetching a bucket of water and washing away the dark red impurities squeezed out from his bloodline and body, Lu Ping lay down on the wooden bed. He could finally have a good night's sleep.

Lu Ping had been in this world for sixteen years and had never felt any discomfort. Especially after learning about the wonders of this world, he was even more curious.

At the age of six, despite his ordinary talent, Lu Ping successfully awakened his true spirit bloodline, which surprised the island's resident immortal. He was then admitted as a disciple of the True Spirit Academy.

For ten years, Lu Ping diligently studied everything in this world. Despite his ordinary talent, he worked hard to cultivate and finally succeeded in breaking through to the seventh level of Blood Refinement.

As for his bloodline, even the immortals did not know the reason, and he certainly did not know either.

The next morning, after three bell rings, the True Spirit Academy was instantly filled with noise. The fifty people of the Second Level, Seventh Squad quickly came out of their courtyards and rushed to the seventh platform of the Sunlight Peak. They moved like wild horses, and if a martial arts expert saw them, they would be stunned.

Their speed might not match that of the top lightness experts, but with thousands of people on the mountain, all possessing such lightness skills, it was hard to imagine what those martial arts experts would think. If these people were to enter the world, the martial arts world would surely be in chaos!

Lu Ping moved at a steady pace, moving freely among the crowd. When he reached the seventh platform, he saw two figures already there, presumably the eldest and second eldest brothers. Both had reached the ninth level of Blood Refinement, just one step away from the Blood Fusion Foundation Stage, which would make them inner disciples of the True Spirit Sect.

As everyone was about to reach the platform, three more figures surpassed the crowd and leaped onto the platform. They were the third, fourth, and fifth eldest brothers, who had reached the eighth level of Blood Refinement.

Seeing everyone arrive, the eldest brother, Yao Yong, shouted, "Form ranks!" Everyone rushed to their usual positions, and in an instant, the formation was neatly arranged. Lu Ping stood in the second row, second from the left, making him the twelfth disciple in the formation.

Yao Yong shouted again, "Begin the Blood Fusion Bone Melting Fist!"

Everyone started with the opening move, striking a punch and shouting in unison, "Ha!"

The Blood Fusion Bone Melting Fist had seventy-two moves. The first thirty-six moves refined the body and stimulated the true spirit bloodline power, while the last thirty-six moves protected and attacked, serving as a life-saving skill.

After completing the set of moves, Lu Ping felt his body warm up. Indeed, the effect of reaching the seventh level was evident. In the past, after performing the Blood Fusion Bone Melting Fist, he would be slightly sweating and panting. Now, it was just a warm-up.

Lu Ping looked at the eldest brother, Yao Yong, who shouted again, "Welcome the immortal!"

Outside the Sunlight Peak, a red light flashed, and three figures appeared on the stone platform in front of the platform.

All the disciples below bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings, Immortal Liu!"

The middle-aged cultivator standing in the middle, with a stern appearance, waved his hand lightly and said, "Rise. Your cultivation has been diligent, but the Second Level disciples' assessment is about to begin. If you do not want to become outer disciples, you must continue to work hard!"

After Immortal Liu's words, the expressions of the disciples in the formation varied. The first three rows remained relatively calm, while the last two rows began to whisper, with some anxious, some disappointed, and some despairing.

Immortal Liu glanced at the last two rows, and they immediately fell silent. He gave a faint "hmm" and looked at the first three rows. When he saw Lu Ping, he smiled and said, "Good, Lu Ping, you have broken through to the seventh level?"

Immortal Liu's words immediately caused a stir among the quiet crowd. Even the eldest brothers in the first row turned to look at Lu Ping.

Lu Ping remained calm, without any tension or excitement, and bowed respectfully, saying, "All thanks to the guidance of the immortal. I was fortunate to break through last night."

"Good, good! Three months from now, after the Second Level disciples' assessment, you can participate in the promotion competition for Second Level disciples."

The True Spirit Academy's disciple assessment was to eliminate those who did not meet the progress requirements, while the promotion competition was for outstanding disciples at each level. The winners would receive substantial rewards and significant cultivation improvements. Both were designed to motivate the disciples to work hard.

The True Spirit Academy determined status by strength, and the competition was intense. Each formation's cultivation resources depended on their annual success and elimination rates, and the guiding immortals of each formation could also receive rewards from the sect. Therefore, when Immortal Liu saw Lu Ping's breakthrough, he was quite pleased.

Reaching the seventh level of Blood Refinement, Lu Ping had the strength to be among the top ten in the formation. This undoubtedly increased the Seventh Formation's chances in the promotion competition.

"Our True Spirit Academy determines status by strength. Lu Ping has broken through to the seventh level, becoming the tenth disciple in our Seventh Formation to reach this level. According to the rules, Lu Ping becomes the tenth disciple."

Lu Ping had experienced such situations a few times before. He silently moved to the far right of the first row, clearly feeling the gazes of the others behind him, some angry, some envious, some jealous...

The original tenth disciple, Li Cheng, glared at Lu Ping and moved to the far left of the second row. The original eleventh disciple, Zhang Zicheng, sighed and moved two steps to the right, taking Lu Ping's original position.

Lu Ping ignored all these expressions, standing in his new position without a word.

Immortal Liu looked at Lu Ping and smiled, "According to tradition, when a disciple's cultivation improves, they can challenge their senior disciples to occupy a higher position and gain better cultivation resources."

The four disciples at the seventh level of Blood Refinement on the left side all looked at Lu Ping. Lu Ping bowed to Immortal Liu and said, "I have just broken through and need to consolidate my cultivation. I am not a match for the senior disciples, so I will forgo the challenge."

Everyone thought, "Indeed!"

Every time Lu Ping's cultivation improved, he never challenged his senior disciples. If it weren't for the annual formation ranking competition, Lu Ping would likely be the last-ranked disciple at his level.

Lu Ping not provoking trouble did not mean trouble would not find him. However, after a few new disciples failed in their challenges, everyone realized that Lu Ping was not as easy to provoke as they thought, and the challenges decreased.

Lu Ping's ranking at the sixth level of Blood Refinement was mostly due to others failing in their challenges and being pushed up.

"Thus, Lu Ping is our Seventh Formation's tenth senior disciple!" Immortal Liu declared.

"Greetings, Tenth Senior Brother!"

"Greetings, Tenth Junior Brother!"

After Lu Ping returned the bow, Immortal Liu said solemnly, "Good! With the formalities over, all disciples begin your meditation and cultivation!"

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