Liu Feng led the group across the square, heading north toward a mountain path.
"Senior Brother Liu, what did you mean earlier about those who fail the assessment being assigned to mundane outposts for menial work?"
As they walked, Lu Li quickened his pace to catch up with Liu Feng and asked quietly.
Liu Feng glanced at Lu Li and continued walking while explaining, "Junior Brother, you don't know. Our Qingyang Sect has external outposts in major cities throughout Liangzhou, mainly collecting intelligence or resources. They're part of the sect's external affairs department, and the people responsible for these matters are usually disciples who failed assessments in previous years."
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Senior Brother, for clearing that up." Lu Li finally understood.
"Junior Brother, mundane outposts don't have sect resource support. To obtain cultivation resources, you have to rely entirely on contribution exchanges. So don't easily give up the opportunity to become a formal disciple. Otherwise, Qi Refining Third Level will basically be the highest realm you'll achieve in this lifetime." Liu Feng kindly reminded him.
"I'll remember that." Lu Li said gratefully.
Approaching noon, the group finally reached the end of the path.
A gray-black cliff face stood before them, towering dozens of zhang high, spanning two or three li from left to right, higher in the middle and lower on both sides. Its front surface was smooth, looking like a massive ancient tomb.
On that smooth cliff face were carved the two crimson characters "Qingyang." Lu Li only glanced at them once and felt as if his entire being was about to be pulled in, quickly withdrawing his gaze.
At the base of the cliff, three old men were sitting cross-legged in a thatched hut, chatting with each other.
Lu Li recognized all three at a glance.
One was Second Elder Yu Tong, who had previously tested his spiritual roots.
One was Grand Elder Xiao Jue from Tianjue Peak.
The third person Lu Li didn't know by name, but he was the old daoist he had seen in Longxing Town-actually Third Elder Fang Buwei.
As they approached the thatched hut, Liu Feng had everyone wait outside while he entered, respectfully bowing and saying, "Reporting to Grand Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder, all disciples for this assessment have arrived."
The three exchanged glances, stood up, and Liu Feng quickly stepped aside.
Xiao Jue walked toward the group first, sweeping his gaze over them. Suddenly, his expression changed in shock. He walked three or four steps to stand before Lu Li. "Kid, you've actually reached Third Level?"
Lu Li was confused, thinking: Didn't I register at the Elder Hall when I signed up? Don't they know about me?
After a moment's thought, he understood.
Although he had stayed at Tianjue Peak for a month, Xiao Jue had never asked his name, always calling him "kid." He couldn't help but chuckle wryly. "This disciple took some pills and barely managed to reach Third Level."
"Tsk tsk, you really surprise this old man. Your cultivation speed isn't inferior even compared to my nominal disciple."
"Old brother, what are you sighing about?" Yu Tong from behind also walked up.
When he saw Lu Li, his expression instantly became colorful. "Holy crap, it's you!"
He immediately turned around and shouted at Fang Buwei behind him, "Third Brother, come here! Last time I told you, but you didn't believe me. Look for yourselves-is this kid a Nine Spiritual Roots?"
"Nine Spiritual Roots?"
Xiao Jue beside him was stunned, suddenly exclaiming, "Was this the kid you mentioned last time?"
He remembered that during that drinking session, the three of them had parted unhappily because of this matter, with Yu Tong drunk and even crashing into his own banana tree, breaking it.
"Who else could it be!" Yu Tong widened his eyes staring at Lu Li. "You're called Lu Li, right?"
Lu Li's face twitched. "Yes, Elder."
"You're really called Lu Li!" Xiao Jue looked utterly disbelieving, grabbing Lu Li's wrist to investigate. As he probed, his round, plump face instantly became extremely colorful. "Old man! Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, dark... How can there be such a chaotic spiritual root in this world!"
Just then, Fang Buwei also walked up.
When he saw Lu Li, he first frowned, then looked even more incredulous. "You... did you participate in the Awakening ceremony this old man held in Longxing Town?"
Although Lu Li's physique had changed dramatically, his sun-darkened skin and shrewd, monkey-like eyes made him somewhat familiar.
"Yes, Elder." Lu Li bowed respectfully.
"This old man remembers you didn't awaken last time, right?" Hearing Lu Li say this, Fang Buwei immediately frowned.
"It's like this. On our way back from the Awakening ceremony, we were captured by the evil daoist Zhang Song..." Lu Li roughly explained what happened, though he didn't mention obtaining the pill formula.
No one noticed that when Lu Li mentioned being abducted by Zhang Song into Qingliang Temple, Liu Xinyu's eyes flashed with hatred.
After hearing this, the three elders all expressed heartfelt admiration, feeling Lu Li had great fortune and destiny.
Although the three were extremely curious about how Lu Li, with his Nine Spiritual Roots, could cultivate so quickly to Qi Refining Third Level, they didn't press for detailed answers.
After some sighs of amazement, they finally moved to the main topic.
Xiao Jue took out eleven brocade pouches and had everyone come forward to draw one. After everyone had taken a pouch, he said:
"Listen carefully, all of you. You only have ten days. Inside each pouch is your assessment task. Everyone's task is different. You need to successfully bring back the task item to pass. Otherwise, you fail the assessment."
"Additionally, besides the task, there's a jade pendant inside. If you encounter life-threatening danger inside or after completing your task, you can crush the jade pendant. Then you'll naturally be teleported out."
"If you crush the jade pendant without completing the task, you'll be directly judged as failed upon exiting. Remember this!"
There was actually life-threatening danger?
Everyone's expressions changed, though they all breathed sighs of relief upon hearing about the life-saving jade pendant. They all indicated they remembered.
Xiao Jue nodded and continued, "Although it seems somewhat unlikely, this old man still has to mention it. According to sect records, our founding patriarch, Qingyang Zhenren, entered this secret realm and never came out again. And the Great Profound Scripture the patriarch cultivated was also taken inside."
"The Great Profound Scripture is a secret inheritance from the upper sect. Its cultivation speed far surpasses our sect's Qingyang Formula."
"And according to accounts from previous assessment disciples, deep in the secret realm is a cave mansion called Qingyang Mansion, which likely has something to do with the patriarch."
"So... if possible, after completing your tasks, try to explore Qingyang Mansion. Whoever can investigate the patriarch's whereabouts or bring back the Great Profound Scripture will definitely receive massive contribution rewards from our sect."
Great Profound Scripture!
Cultivation speed far surpassing Qingyang Formula?
Hearing this, Lu Li immediately showed interest. Even with True Essence Pill assistance, his speed of refining Spiritual Qi still couldn't keep up with his absorption rate. If there really was a higher-level technique, he had to strive for it.
The others' expressions were similar to Lu Li's. Hearing about a higher-level technique, they all secretly resolved to explore Qingyang Mansion.
Seeing this.
Xiao Jue nodded with satisfaction, said 'Follow me!' and turned to walk toward the thatched hut. Yu Tong and Fang Buwei followed closely behind.
Only after passing through the thatched hut did everyone discover there was actually a cave at the base of the cliff. However, about two zhang into the cave entrance, their path was blocked by a swirling purple mist.
Xiao Jue and the other two elders stood dispersed about one zhang away from the purple mist.
Then the three exchanged glances and simultaneously summoned a purple jade pendant each. The pendants floated before them, and as the three continuously formed hand seals, the pendants began to erupt with dazzling light. Strange, peculiar runes buzzed and revolved around each pendant.
"Activate!"
Suddenly, Xiao Jue gave a cold shout. The runes coiling around the jade plate before his chest transformed into streams of light shooting toward the purple mist one zhang away.
Yu Tong and Fang Buwei did the same. Two streams of light followed closely.
Instantly, the three turned pale, their auras weakening.
Whoosh, whoosh-!
Suddenly, the purple mist ahead began spinning rapidly, eventually transforming into a purple vortex. Gusts of powerful wind swept outward from the cave.
"Now's the time to enter! What are you waiting for!" Xiao Jue shouted loudly.
Everyone exchanged glances, seeming somewhat fearful of the vortex.
Seeing this, Lu Li frowned slightly, gritted his teeth, and was the first to walk in.