Chapter 18

Disciples participating in the assessment gradually appeared, but it was predetermined that the latter half would not have the资格 to participate in the second round.

However, they had no reason to be disappointed. If the first round was so slow, the second round would be even less hopeful, after all, only the top ten would receive rewards.

The success rate of this assessment was still over ninety-nine percent. Those who unfortunately died or were severely injured were those who tried to pass by cheating.

Nearly a thousand people participated in the assessment, and after the first round, more than four hundred remained. Zichen was one of these four hundred, and he was quite inconspicuous. Miaokong beside him was even less noticeable.

These two inconspicuous figures made Lin Xue stand out even more.

"Good, very good."

On the square, there was also a platform. The Grand Elder stood in the center of the platform, looking down at the hundreds of people below with a satisfied smile.

Several other elders stood on either side, each with a chair behind them, but the Grand Elder did not sit, so they also stood.

"You have passed the first round of the assessment. From now on, you are inner disciples of the Lingwu Sect and will enjoy the benefits of inner disciples."

As the Grand Elder finished speaking, cheers erupted from the crowd.

The benefits of inner disciples were much better than those of outer disciples. Just the fact that they could receive a True Qi Pill for free every year was enough to make outer disciples envious. In addition, they could earn contribution points to exchange for True Qi Pills.

These were the privileges of inner disciples. A five-hundred-year-old Snow Ginseng, if exchanged by an inner disciple for contribution points, could be exchanged for at least ten True Qi Pills. However, if Zichen were to exchange it, he could get at most five.

This was because Zichen was privately exchanging with inner disciples.

After the cheers, the main event followed. The battles would determine the top ten, who would receive rich rewards. Additionally, one more core disciple would be selected from these ten.

Everyone with the资格 to participate was rubbing their hands in anticipation, their fighting spirit soaring.

"Next, it's time for the battles, which will also be a test of your strength. We old fellows will conduct a fair and just assessment to evaluate your potential and select the most promising among you."

The Grand Elder spoke from above, while the enthusiastic inner disciples stood below.

In the distance, a group of elders were tallying the names and preparing the battle arrangements.

The grouping work took half an hour, and the Grand Elder also delivered a passionate speech for half an hour, stirring the blood of those below.

"Good, now the battles begin. Those whose names are called should respond loudly and step forward." With these words, his speech came to an end, and he sat down, followed by the other elders.

"Kexue!"

"Here!" Kexue was taken aback but quickly responded loudly, not expecting his name to be called first.

"Wuling."

"Here!"

Another disciple in a green robe stepped forward.

"Kexue vs. Wuling."

"Wang Meng vs. Yihongsheng."

"Wu Sheng vs. Wang Huachu."

"Miaokong vs. Liu Guandou."

"Tongxuan vs. Lin Xue."

"Zichen vs. Guan Yun."

As the names were called out, the battles began one after another. However, the first round of battles was not very exciting. The outer disciples watched with interest, but the inner disciples lost their enthusiasm.

Their eyes were fixed on a few individuals in the arena.

These were Wang Meng, who arrived first, and Wu Sheng, who arrived second.

"Wang Xiong, isn't that kid your brother? Not bad, at the sixth level of True Qi, he has a good chance of being first," a disciple in white said to Wang Xiong.

"Of course," Wang Xiong replied confidently.

"Great, if your brother enters the core, you'll also benefit. Don't forget us, your fellow disciples, when that happens," another inner disciple said.

"Don't worry," Wang Xiong replied proudly.

This batch of disciples had only a few who were capable, with Wang Meng being the most outstanding. If there were no surprises, Wang Meng would be the first and would easily become a core disciple.

At this point, some inner disciples saw the potential and began to curry favor with Wang Xiong.

"Don't worry, we're all fellow disciples," Wang Xiong said proudly. In the past, Wang Meng relied on him, but today, he finally relied on Wang Meng, and he felt no jealousy, only happiness. However, when his gaze fell on Zichen, he snorted.

"Hmph, it's him."

"What's wrong, Senior Brother?" Wang Xiong's cold expression naturally drew the attention of the other inner disciples, who followed his gaze and saw Zichen.

"Isn't that kid with Lin Xue? Do you know him?" someone asked.

"We have some conflicts," Wang Xiong said coldly.

"Conflicts? Don't worry, as long as he enters the inner sect, I guarantee he won't last three days," one of the inner disciples said coldly.

"What's his name?"

"Zichen."

At this moment, Zichen had already reached the battle area, facing Guan Yun, a rough-looking young man.

"Your scrawny body, you might as well surrender early. I don't want to punch you into pieces," Guan Yun said loudly, seeing Zichen's thin frame.

"Enough talk, let's fight," Zichen said indifferently.

"Haha, then you're just waiting to be knocked out," Guan Yun laughed, his feet moving in the Flowing Cloud Step, and he swung his iron-like fists at Zichen.

Zichen quickly retreated.

There were many battles on the square, but only a few drew attention. One of them was Zichen. In addition to Wang Xiong and his group, Su Mengyao and Chen Feng in the distance were also watching.

"This kid is too ordinary. How could he be with Xue'er? I heard you went to the outer sect last time just for this kid?" Chen Feng said indifferently, watching Zichen dodge.

"Are you spying on me?" Su Mengyao said unhappily.

"Junior Sister, you're a celebrity in the Lingwu Sect. Wherever you go, you cause a stir. No need for spying. Besides, the Lingwu Sect will be mine in the future. How could I not know everything?" Chen Feng smiled, his smile as warm as the spring breeze, extremely charming.

"But this kid is so mismatched with Xue'er. He's like a pile of cow dung, not even as good as a toad. How could he match Xue'er?" Chen Feng's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"Don't do anything rash. This is Xue'er's choice. Besides, what does it have to do with you?" Su Mengyao's voice was calm, but her slightly furrowed brows betrayed her confusion. Clearly, she was also puzzled as to why Lin Xue would choose such an ordinary kid.

Ordinary appearance, ordinary strength.

From the start of the battle, Zichen had been dodging, occasionally attacking twice but being repelled by Guan Yun.

The first round of battles was nearing its end.

Wang Meng was the first to win, defeating his opponent in one move. Wu Sheng was the second, also defeating his opponent in one move.

Miaokong, who had mastered the essence of the Flowing Cloud Step, dodged an attack and then took advantage of the opening to strike, winning the battle.

Next was Lin Xue, and Kexue also won.

As this battle was nearing its end, Zichen stumbled and then punched, winning by a stroke of luck.

"Damn, what kind of world is this? I was winning, and suddenly I lost," Guan Yun cursed, having been in control the entire time.

"With your weak strength, you dare to step on my head. Zichen, you better pray you don't meet me, or I'll beat you into a pig's head," Kexue said quietly as he passed Zichen.

"Be careful. If you face me, I might accidentally kill you," Wang Meng also sneered as he passed Zichen.

Although the battles were not to the death, accidents could happen, and occasionally, cultivators were killed.

"Cheer up."

"Zichen, cheer up."

Miaokong and Lin Xue also came over.

The first round of battles ended, and the four hundred plus were reduced to about two hundred. Soon, another round of battles began.

It was still an elimination system, with one round determining the winner.

"Boom!"

Wang Meng sent a green-robed disciple flying with a palm strike.

At the sixth level of True Qi, plus a second-tier combat technique, he won easily.

"Bang!"

Wu Sheng also defeated another opponent.

In this assessment, these two were the most prominent. If there were no surprises, the first place would be one of them.

However, from the current situation, the first place was likely to be Wang Meng, as he was at the sixth level of True Qi, while Wu Sheng was at the fifth level. Of course, it was possible that Wu Sheng was hiding his true strength.

Throughout the battles, he remained calm, even when facing Wang Meng's provocative gaze.

Miaokong continued to use his footwork to win easily, and Lin Xue, who possessed the second-tier combat technique Thousand Illusion Palm, attacked with both real and illusory strikes, making it impossible to distinguish between them.

After a series of battles, Zichen won by a narrow margin.

It was not yet time to reveal his true strength.

The third round of battles began, with only a hundred plus remaining.

The strong remained strong, and Zichen continued to win by luck.

"Boo!"

When Zichen won the third round by luck again, the crowd began to boo. To them, Zichen's strength was truly ordinary, and he only won because his opponents were careless, giving him a chance.

The boos grew louder. The battles continued amid the boos until the final twenty remained.

Night fell, and it was getting late.

"The battles for today are over. We will continue tomorrow," the Grand Elder announced from the platform, ending the day's battles.

Some outer disciples returned in disappointment, while those who passed the assessment, including Zichen, would become inner disciples from today, enjoying the benefits of inner disciples.

"Very unusual."

Su Mengyao also left, but she remembered Zichen. One could be lucky once, but not always. With her peak eighth-level True Qi strength and keen eyes, she saw Zichen's extraordinary qualities.

In addition to Su Mengyao, many inner disciples also saw Zichen's unusual qualities.

Only the outer disciples, who could not see through the subtleties, continued to boo.

Although unusual, no one paid much attention to Zichen because two people stood out today: Wang Meng and Wu Sheng.

Everyone knew Wang Meng was Wang Xiong's brother and had a second-tier combat technique, which was understandable. However, Wu Sheng was a stranger, and no one knew his background, yet he knew a second-tier combat technique and even a second-tier footwork technique.

During the day's battles, Zichen and the others' accommodations had already been arranged.

In the room, there were several sets of clothes and a white jade token with "Lingwu Sect" on one side and Zichen's name on the other.

From now on, Zichen was an inner disciple.