Chapter 493 - 245: Assessment Results Revealed, Jiang Che’s Strength Exposed, Elder Xuan Cheng’s Investigation
Chapter 493: Chapter 245: Assessment Results Revealed, Jiang Che’s Strength Exposed, Elder Xuan Cheng’s Investigation
The gap was just too wide!
"First up, Liu Yunfei!"
As Elder Xuan Cheng called his name, Liu Yunfei strode forward with his head held high to the stone tablet.
He took a deep breath, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.
For this very moment, he had shouldered a massive debt of four thousand points!
"Hah!"
Liu Yunfei let out a low shout. The True Qi in his body circulated wildly as he poured it into the stone tablet without reservation.
BOOM!
A powerful wave of gray energy erupted, and the stone tablet burst with brilliant light!
"Mid-stage of the Eighth Layer!!"
"WHOA—"
The entire arena was instantly in an uproar.
"Mid-stage of the Eighth Layer?! My god, he’s that strong?!"
"As expected of a genius from a Central State Noble Family. With that kind of progress, even among the Direct Disciples, he’d rank near the top, right?"
Hearing the gasps of amazement around him, a look of joy and pride finally appeared on Liu Yunfei’s tense face.
Elder Xuan Cheng also gave a slight nod, a trace of approval in his eyes. "Not bad. Your foundation is solid. To reach the Eighth Layer in one year makes you a standout, even among past generations of Inner Sect Disciples."
Liu Yunfei bowed respectfully and stepped aside, his heart surging with emotion.
’It was worth it! It was all worth it!’
’Even though I spent four thousand points on medicine, as long as I take first place in this Celestial Strategy Guard selection, the Sect will reward me with five thousand points! Not only can I pay off my debt, but I’ll even make a profit of one thousand!’
’More importantly, I’ll enter the Peak Master’s field of vision and receive the best possible training!’
He swept his gaze across the crowd smugly. When his eyes passed over Jiang Che, they carried a hint of condescending arrogance.
However, his smugness didn’t last long.
"Next, Long Yu’er!"
The woman from Penglai Island floated onto the stage, still dressed in white gauze, looking cool and otherworldly.
She reached out and lightly pressed her hand against the stone tablet.
VMMM—
Light flared, and it was also the Eighth Layer!
Liu Yunfei’s heart clenched, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
’The Eighth Layer, too?!’
He stared intently at the stone tablet, but then he saw that Long Yu’er’s light was slightly weaker than his. She had only just recently entered the Eighth Layer. He finally let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if his whole back was soaked through.
’That was close... so close!’
’If she’d had a few more days to cultivate, I probably would have lost!’
’But in the end, I still won! First place is mine!’
Liu Yunfei wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart finally settling.
Then.
"Next, Bao Da!"
Hearing his name, Bao Da took a deep breath and walked nervously onto the stage.
He placed his hand on the stone tablet, fully circulating the True Qi from his recent breakthrough.
VMM!
The stone tablet trembled and lit up.
"Sixth Layer!"
"Pass!" Elder Xuan Cheng nodded. Although he had just scraped by, it was still barely in line with his expectations.
"YES!!!"
Bao Da pumped his fist excitedly, his face flushed red with emotion.
Below the stage, Lin Xiao and Su Xiaoxiao looked on in shock.
"He... he actually passed?" Su Xiaoxiao said in disbelief. "He was clearly stuck at the Peak of the Fifth Layer just a few days ago! Did he have a last-minute breakthrough last night?!"
A trace of envy, and even a hint of jealousy, flashed in Lin Xiao’s eyes. "He’s... so lucky."
After stepping down from the stage, Bao Da went straight to Jiang Che’s side, looking like he was about to say something in his excitement, but Jiang Che stopped him with a single look.
Lin Xiao and Su Xiaoxiao, watching from a distance, found this scene odd.
’Bao Da is an Inner Sect Disciple now. Why is he still so friendly with a guy like Jiang Che, who’s destined for the Outer Sect?’
’To put it bluntly, they’re destined to be in two different worlds from now on. They’ll never cross paths again. This kind of behavior... it’s really a bit naive.’
The two of them shook their heads and stopped paying attention.
Soon, it was their turn.
"Lin Xiao, Fourth Layer, fail."
"Su Xiaoxiao, Fourth Layer, fail."
Elder Xuan Cheng’s cold voice, like the stroke of a Judge’s brush, mercilessly sealed their fate.
The two of them, faces pale as sheets, supported each other as they walked off the stage, their eyes filled with despair.
"Sister Lin... what do we do?" Su Xiaoxiao asked, her voice choked with tears.
Lin Xiao bit her lip, her gaze subconsciously shifting toward Feng Wuji in the Direct Disciples’ area.
"If we go to the Outer Sect... our lives will be ruined."
Su Xiaoxiao’s voice trembled. "What if... we go find that Feng Wuji? The conditions are harsh, and we’d have to sign a servitude contract... but at least we could stay in the Inner Sect..."
As if sensing their gazes, Feng Wuji looked over, his eyes full of amusement.
Looking into his eyes, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but shudder.
The thought of being ordered around at his whim, perhaps even becoming his plaything, and having to hand over half of her points...
That kind of life would be worse than death!
A pained and conflicted look flashed in her eyes. "Let’s... let’s just wait and see..."
The assessment continued.
As one name after another was called, disciple after disciple was eliminated.
Among them was Qin Wuya, who, like Jiang Che, hailed from Cangzhou.
Despite his extremely hard work over the past year, he ultimately stalled at the Fourth Layer.
Elder Xuan Cheng’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
’This is just terrible.’
’Of all the disciples from this Celestial Strategy Guard selection, aside from Liu Yunfei, Long Yu’er, and that Bao Da, is there really not a single one worth looking at?’
’Only three people passed. This is... just pathetic!’
’As expected, the Direct Disciples are still more reliable!’
He sighed inwardly, his opinion of this batch of "outsiders" having dropped to rock bottom.
Finally, he turned to the last page of the Name List.
"Next... Jiang Che!"
This name didn’t cause much of a stir.
Although he had once been the center of attention during the Celestial Strategy Guard selection, after failing two assessments since entering the Sect, everyone had long since stopped wasting their energy on him.