The days slipped by, each one heavier than the last. Laughter faded, idle chatter thinned, and even the most carefree disciples had begun to train with anxious focus.
Dong. Dong. Dong.
The heavy toll of the sect's ceremonial bell echoed through the mountain range, each reverberation like a slow heartbeat from the heavens.
Disciples paused wherever they were. Swords halted mid-swing. Conversations broke off mid-laugh. Even the wind seemed to hush.
It was time.
Xue Mo rose from the stone floor of his modest cave dwelling. He adjusted the folds of his robe and stepped into the daylight, joining the throngs of disciples heading for the assessment plaza.
The outer sect swelled with over 3,000 disciples. Most were familiar faces, boys and girls who had trained beside Lin Feng for years. Their faces were a mix of confidence, nervousness, or fear. The murmurs were constant:
"Will I pass?" "I heard Elder Ming himself will be present." "Someone said those who don't meet the standard will be expelled on the spot."
Xue Mo walked calmly, shoulders relaxed. Few turned to look at him, and those who did quickly looked away.
"That's Lin Feng, right? Still here after six years?" "He used to run laps around the mountain every morning. Never saw him break past Qi 4, though." "He's probably gone after this."
The central plaza was vast, a circular arena carved into the mountain stone. Disciples filed in and sorted themselves in clusters. The inner sect disciples stood on raised platforms, clad in forest green robes with silver sashes.
Xue Mo sat on the edge of one tiered platform, cross-legged and meditative.
As the sun rose higher, tension tightened like a coiled spring.
Two hours later, silence fell.
Seven streaks of golden light descended, illuminating the plaza like falling stars.
When they landed, they revealed five men and two women. Each radiated pressure, their black robes embroidered in gold and bearing the Azure Sky Sect's crest.
Foundation Establishment Realm. Direct disciples.
Behind them, a swirl of golden light condensed midair. A vortex opened above the crowd, crackling with power.
The golden light poured in and took form. Crimson robes. Long gray hair. An elder with a presence like a mountain.
"Golden River Elder!" came the unified cry.
Xue Mo looked up. So Elder Ming had come personally.
---
"Let it begin," Elder Ming said, voice quiet yet carrying to every corner of the plaza.
"Any disciple not present is hereby expelled."
The crowd rippled in fear. Several disciples rushed in late, breathless and pale.
The direct disciples moved to their designated stations.
One raised his hand. "Sort yourselves by your years in the sect. One year here. Three years here. Six years, to me."
Xue Mo stood and made his way to the group for six-year disciples. Over two hundred were gathered there. They were fewer in number than the newer recruits but not by much.
Sweat clung to brows. Fidgeting hands, clenched jaws, silent prayers. No one here wanted to fail.
Beside him, a short, round youth mopped his forehead with a cloth soaked in sweat.
"Ahhh... it's too hot today, isn't it? Why is it always hot on assessment days?"
Xue Mo glanced sideways. The boy grinned.
"Name's Luo Tan. I sweat like this even in winter. You're Lin Feng, right?"
Xue Mo nodded once.
Luo Tan chuckled. "Heard about you. You're a legend among footwork maniacs. Used to carry stones up the waterfall path, right?"
"It was necessary."
"Yeah? You still look too calm. I was scared to death but with my heaven defying physique, I broke through brother. I'm now in Qi cultivation 6."
Another disciple nearby whispered, "Keep it down. They'll hear us."
One of the direct disciples, a cold-eyed man in his thirties, stepped forward.
"Identity tokens. Inject Qi. Now."
The disciples obeyed.
Golden lights appeared in the air above each disciple, displaying their information.
[Name: Lin Feng] [Years in Sect: 6] [Current Cultivation: Qi Condensation Level 6]
Gasps.
Whispers began.
"Isn't that the trash disciple?" "He made it?" "No way!"
But the token did not lie. The cultivation was real.
The direct disciple studying their group narrowed his eyes briefly at Xue Mo, but said nothing.
Suddenly—
"You lied!"
A golden tendril shot out and wrapped around a trembling youth.
"You're only at Qi 3. You used someone else's token."
"No, please! I only—"
CRACK.
The disciple's dantian was shattered, and he collapsed screaming.
Chaos broke out. A dozen more disciples were caught. Some had faked their years in the sect. Others had boosted their Qi with forbidden methods.
Golden chains erupted across the arena. Cries filled the air.
Xue Mo stood quietly amid the turmoil. He watched a direct disciple cripple someone who had tried to pass themselves off as six-year disciples.
Luo Tan flinched. "Bloody hell... they're not playing around this time."
Soon, it was over.
One hundred and thirteen disciples lay sprawled or were dragged off by sect enforcers.
Those who remained exhaled in relief.
The crowd began to relax slightly. Even the direct disciples stood at ease.
That was when Elder Ming raised his hand.
The plaza fell silent.
"This year's assessment," he began slowly, "was originally meant to end here."
A pause. Tension returned.
"However, the recent fluctuations in the southern forest and the emergence of spiritual beasts beyond expectations require a change."
Eyes widened.
"You will be tested further. Not with paper. Not with words."
He gestured behind him. An enormous spiritual formation shimmered into view.
"You are to enter the Southern Forest. You will remain there for up to Four weeks. Your task: collect as many beast cores as possible."
Gasps and mutters broke out.
"The number of cores you return with will determine your final standing."
Luo Tan paled. "We're fighting beasts now?!"
Elder Ming continued, unfazed. "You may form teams, but only those who contribute cores will be ranked. Any who flee or fail to return before the deadline will be considered to have forfeited their place in the sect."
Silence.
Then the murmur began.
Xue Mo lowered his gaze, thoughtful. A forest hunt. Real combat. It was no longer in a controlled or watched area.
And that meant...
He could take care of certain things.