Chapter 524 - 498: Sect Assessment

With an acquaintance like Tu Feiyuan, Zhaang Ye was able to process his Barbaric Beast materials much more quickly. After handling the first batch, Zhaang Ye made two more trips over the next two days to sell off all his Barbaric Beast materials, obtaining a total of over 5.7 million Low-grade Essence Stones.

During this time, Zhaang Ye also sold off eight smaller Spatial Storage Pouches, keeping only the one that belonged to Jiangqian Mountain. Spatial Storage Pouches were quite valuable; by selling the eight bags, Zhaang Ye gained another three million-plus Low-grade Essence Stones.

He had earned 5.7 million from selling the Barbaric Beast Materials and over three million from selling the Space Bags. Adding in the Essence Stones he had previously acquired, Zhaang Ye now possessed over ten million Essence Stones.

With the Barbaric Beast materials cleared out, the Fire Spirit Realm felt much emptier. So, Zhaang Ye immediately headed to the Sect’s seed shop to gather all kinds of Spirit Herb seeds.

The seeds of Spirit Herbs were extremely expensive. However, Zhaang Ye was wealthy now, so he paid the cost no mind. Thinking ’the more, the merrier,’ he bought over a hundred Spirit Herb seedlings and seeds in one go before returning to Rising Sun Peak, satisfied, to begin his life of farming and cultivating herbs.

While Zhaang Ye was engrossed in his farming, one person was restless and utterly dejected. This person was none other than Shi Shuanglong, the disciple of the Green Cloud Sect’s Fourth Elder.

After three years of bitter Cultivation, the Innate True Qi within Shi Shuanglong’s body had grown increasingly dense. He was now just a hair’s breadth away from the True Dao Realm. This rapid progress in his Cultivation should have been a joyous occasion, but after hearing the news about Zhaang Ye, Shi Shuanglong’s mood instantly soured, and he couldn’t sit still.

"Three years! In just three short years, he actually cultivated to the Realm of True Dao Third Layer! In the Inner Sect, even powerful figures like Badam, Jian Zhongxing, and Xue Piaohong were all defeated in a single blow! Zhaang Ye, that bastard who crawled out of the Land of Divine Abandonment, how could his Cultivation advance so quickly? How could his combat power be so terrifying?"

Shi Shuanglong stood in a stone chamber, his expression savage and his eyes bloodshot. He let out a low roar, like a Barbaric Beast trapped in a cage.

The reason for Shi Shuanglong’s foul mood was simple. On one hand, he was jealous of Zhaang Ye; seeing his Cultivation advance so quickly naturally infuriated him. The second reason was that he would soon enter the True Dao Realm and join the Inner Sect. Zhaang Ye was the Inner Sect Senior Brother, who held special privileges and could even discipline other Inner Sect Disciples. The very thought of Zhaang Ye being above him left Shi Shuanglong fuming.

Shi Shuanglong muttered to himself, "That bastard Zhaang Ye is getting stronger and stronger. This can’t go on! I have to find a way to deal with him! That’s right, the assessment for new disciples is coming up. I need to go find Master and see if he has a solution!"

Having made up his mind, Shi Shuanglong shot out of the Cultivation Room with a WHOOSH and went straight to an imposing palace. This extraordinary palace was the Cultivation abode of Shi Shuanglong’s master, the Green Cloud Sect’s Fourth Elder, Gu Hengshi.

When Gu Hengshi saw Shi Shuanglong enter, his eyes flashed, and he said slowly, "Very good, very good. It seems you have worked hard these past three years. You are now very close to the True Dao Realm."

"Our Green Cloud Sect’s rules state that once a disciple cultivates to the True Dao, they can become an Inner Sect Disciple. Shuanglong, you must press on and strive to enter the Inner Sect and become an Inner Sect Disciple as soon as possible."

Shi Shuanglong knelt respectfully and said, "Thank you for your praise, Master."

Gu Hengshi added slowly, "It seems you came to me for a reason. Speak. What is it?"

Shi Shuanglong said respectfully, "Master, do you remember Zhaang Ye? That person has become increasingly formidable. In just three short years, his Cultivation has reached the True Dao Third Layer. Not only has his Cultivation progressed rapidly, but his combat power is also incredible—even a disciple at the Late-stage True Dao Third Layer can’t withstand a single one of his moves..."

Gu Hengshi listened quietly with his eyes closed. After Shi Shuanglong finished, he slowly spoke in an extremely cold tone, "Shuanglong, you want to deal with Zhaang Ye?"

Shi Shuanglong gritted his teeth. "Yes! Master, not only is there a grudge between Zhaang Ye and me, but Junior Brother Gu’s death is also very likely connected to him. Master, we can’t let him off!"

Hearing Shi Shuanglong mention his son, a sharp glint flashed in Gu Hengshi’s eyes. After a moment of silence, he said flatly, "Fine. I am aware of the situation. You may go."

Shi Shuanglong was overjoyed, knowing his master had agreed to deal with Zhaang Ye. ’With Master’s power,’ he thought, ’just a few words or a subtle trick is all it will take to land Zhaang Ye in a world of hurt!’

The heavy palace doors slammed shut. Gu Hengshi’s dark figure sat silently within, like a stone statue. After a long while, he muttered to himself, "The assessment for Inner Sect Disciples includes completing a mission assigned by the Sect. This time, I think I’ll arrange a particularly thorny mission for Zhaang Ye.

"If he succeeds, then it’s his good fortune. If he dies during the mission, or simply fails to complete it, that’s just his bad fate. He will have no one to blame but himself!"

...

Time flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye. On the sixth day after returning to the Sect, Zhaang Ye was in the Fire Spirit Realm watching the Fire Spirits plant the Spirit Herbs when, suddenly, three clear bell chimes echoed from within the Inner Sect.

After the bells stopped, an aged voice announced, "All new disciples, please report to the Inner Sect Steward Hall within three Hours to undergo the Sect’s assessment."

In the Green Cloud Sect, new disciples had to undergo an assessment after three years. Those who passed could leave the Sect, accept various missions, and earn money for their Cultivation. However, those who failed would be abandoned by the Sect, unable to hold onto the status they had worked so hard to achieve.

For example, an Inner Sect Disciple who failed the assessment would be demoted to an Outer Disciple. An Outer Disciple who failed the Sect’s assessment would be demoted to a Preparatory Outer Disciple. Reaching this stage meant not only a drastic reduction in identity, status, and benefits, but also complete ruin to one’s reputation, a disgrace they would carry for the rest of their lives.

Zhaang Ye understood the importance of the assessment. Upon hearing the bells, he immediately exited the Fire Spirit Realm and hurried toward the Inner Sect Steward Hall.

When he arrived at the Inner Sect Steward Hall, twenty to thirty young experts were already standing outside. The Cultivation of most of these young experts was at the Mid-stage True Dao First Layer, with only two or three having reached the Late-stage True Dao First Layer.

Upon seeing Zhaang Ye appear, the young experts were momentarily stunned. Then, they all bowed to him in unison and chorused, "Greetings, Senior Brother!"

"Hm?"

Zhaang Ye noticed their extremely respectful attitudes, their gazes filled with reverence and admiration. Having lived two lives, Zhaang Ye was incredibly experienced. With just a moment of thought, he realized the news of him defeating Badam, Jian Zhongxing, and Xue Piaohong in a single move must have spread.

New Inner Sect Disciples were often bullied by the senior disciples, much like how veterans in the military bully new recruits. By defeating Badam, Jian Zhongxing, and Xue Piaohong—three top disciples from the senior batch—Zhaang Ye had struck a major blow to their prestige, naturally earning the respect and admiration of these new disciples.

Zhaang Ye nodded to the young experts, then stepped aside and stood quietly with his eyes closed. After a while, Mo Luo, Ye Cangtian, Red Cliff Celestial Ape, Netherworld Green Blood, Fengyun Sheng, Huaa Jianxiong, Blood Chongyang, Lie Xuefeng, and Bizhi Orchid—all of whom had entered the Inner Sect at the same time as Zhaang Ye—appeared one by one outside the Steward Hall.

The moment young experts like Mo Luo and Ye Cangtian arrived outside the Steward Hall, their eyes immediately landed on Zhaang Ye. Feeling the powerful aura emanating from him, the faces of all nine young experts changed.

The three young experts—Mo Luo, Ye Cangtian, and Red Cliff Celestial Ape—had reached the Late-stage True Dao First Layer after three years of secluded Cultivation. Before coming here, they had planned to challenge Zhaang Ye. But now, sensing the immense aura radiating from him, all three simultaneously abandoned the thought.

Three Hours passed quickly. Zhaang Ye felt a slight stir in the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi and snapped his eyes open to see three Inner Sect Stewards in purple robes descending from the sky and landing before the crowd.

One of the purple-robed Stewards slowly said, "I am Ling Jiu, the Inner Sect’s Second Steward. Beside me are the Third Steward and Fourth Steward. Now, listen to the rules for the Sect assessment."

The Third Steward stepped forward and announced slowly, "Our Green Cloud Sect’s assessment has three parts. First is a Cultivation assessment; reaching the Mid-stage True Dao First Layer is considered a pass. Second is a test of combat ability. You must slay a Barbaric Beast and return with it to pass. Third, you must complete a mission assigned by the Sect. Fulfilling the mission’s requirements means you have passed the entire assessment."

With the rules of the Sect assessment announced, the test officially began.

As the Inner Sect Senior Brother, Zhaang Ye was the first to be assessed. Under the watchful eyes of the Stewards, Zhaang Ye took a deep breath and released his Top Three Flowers.

The moment the Top Three Flowers appeared, a terrifying aura instantly enveloped the area. In the face of this pressure, all the Inner Sect Disciples’ legs began to tremble involuntarily. Mo Luo, Ye Cangtian, and Red Cliff Celestial Ape were secretly relieved they hadn’t challenged Zhaang Ye; the consequences would have been disastrous.

"His Cultivation has reached the Mid-stage True Dao Third Layer, and he has even comprehended the Wind Realm! Excellent, excellent, excellent!" The Third Steward praised repeatedly upon seeing the cyan flower above Zhaang Ye’s head.

A strange look flashed in the Second Steward’s eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Zhaang Ye, as a new disciple, you have advanced to the Mid-stage True Dao Third Layer in just three short years, breaking the Sect’s record. You’ve done exceptionally well! As a reward, you are exempt from the second assessment. You need only draw a lot and complete the assigned Sect mission to be considered as having passed!"

As he spoke, he took a black box from his Spatial Storage Pouch. "This box blocks Spiritual Sense," he said. "Inside are dozens of Jade Slips. Just draw one at random and complete the mission specified on it."

Zhaang Ye nodded, reached in, and pulled out a Jade Slip.

---(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)