Chapter 523: Assessment Halted

Ye Xuan was exasperated. "I want you to stay here not because I’m getting rid of you, but because I want you to build up a Demon Race faction for me in the Endless Mountain Range."

Ever since he’d learned about the Endless Mountain Range, Ye Xuan’s mind had been buzzing with ideas. The Endless Mountain Range was the main stronghold of the Demon Race, teeming with innumerable Demon Beasts.

Meanwhile, Jin Lin had been languishing in his Spirit Pet Bag with nothing to do. Rather than let that continue, it would be far better to let him develop freely in the Endless Mountain Range—it might even yield some great rewards.

After all, when facing the Profound Mystery Sect, Jin Lin was of no use even if he was by his side. His status as a Profound Beast Demon King came with far too many limitations.

Only then did Jin Lin’s expression brighten. Hearing that Ye Xuan wanted him to build up a faction, a hint of excitement immediately appeared in his eyes.

Back in the Floating Light Secret Realm, he had commanded innumerable followers and been the very picture of majesty. And before he was sealed? He had been a supreme existence in the world; when he gave an order, none dared to disobey.

Now, after Ye Xuan had brought him out of the Floating Light Secret Realm, he had come to the outside world only to be stuck in the Spirit Pet Bag every day, so bored he felt like he was about to grow mold.

"My lord, not to brag, but when it comes to building a faction? This old Jin is the best there is. Why, back in the day, when I roamed the world..."

"Alright, alright..." Ye Xuan waved him off, a headache coming on. Jin Lin was about to start his long-winded bragging again. "Are you going to do it or not?"

Jin Lin’s eyes darted about. "Ahem, my lord, well, it’s not impossible. It’s just that... your subordinate’s current strength is a bit inadequate. You heard it yourself—the Endless Mountain Range is full of Demon Kings and their factions. I’m afraid that with my power, I won’t be able to command enough respect."

Jin Lin looked as though he were unequal to the task.

"Weren’t you just telling me how you roamed the world unopposed?" Ye Xuan said with a half-smile.

"Ahem, well, that’s all ancient history. As for now, you can see for yourself..."

Jin Lin rubbed his hands together expectantly.

How could Ye Xuan not understand what he was implying? "Revert to your true form."

"Hehe."

Jin Lin let out an excited chuckle. WHOOSH! His body suddenly swelled to a colossal size, resuming his Qilin-like form. As he did, rows of Restrictions materialized on his body.

Through continuous study, Ye Xuan had come to understand more about the Restrictions on Jin Lin. Moreover, after his Soul Power broke through to the Sixth Grade, his ability to control those Restrictions had grown much more proficient.

「Half an hour later.」

Ye Xuan had once again undone a portion of the dense web of Restrictions covering Jin Lin’s body.

A terrifying aura erupted from within Jin Lin, and its horrifying pressure bore down on Ye Xuan like a great mountain.

’Just what was Jin Lin’s original strength?’

Ye Xuan was inwardly shocked.

There were hundreds of densely packed Restrictions on Jin Lin’s body, yet all Ye Xuan had undone were a dozen or so of the most superficial ones. This alone was enough to make Jin Lin’s power surge to the peak of a Tier Seven Profound Beast Demon King.

He could even sense that by undoing just a few more, Jin Lin would very likely break through to the realm of a Tier Eight Profound Beast Demon Emperor in one fell swoop.

A Tier Eight Profound Beast Demon Emperor was no ordinary figure to any power on the continent.

With a portion of his Restrictions undone, Jin Lin was indescribably excited. However, after sensing his current level of strength, his expression immediately fell.

"My lord, you’re being too stingy, undoing such a tiny amount. You heard them! Even that insignificant Wolf Emperor Hall has a Tier Eight Demon Emperor-level Demon Beast. For a mere Tier Seven Profound Beast Demon King like me to try and develop in the Endless Mountain Range, isn’t my strength a little lacking?"

Jin Lin spoke with a look of anticipation, "So, my lord, how about you undo a few more?"

"It’s not out of the question, but we’ll talk after you’ve shown me some results."

It wasn’t that Ye Xuan was unwilling to undo the remaining Restrictions for Jin Lin, but rather that with his current strength, this was all he could manage.

Jin Lin’s face immediately fell. "My lord, this..."

"If you’re not satisfied, I don’t mind sealing up the Restrictions I just undid again."

Ye Xuan cut him off, his tone indifferent.

"Ahem, satisfied! Of course I’m satisfied!" Jin Lin’s expression did a complete one-eighty as he declared heroically, "My lord, the Restrictions you’ve undone are more than enough! It’s just a mere Demon Emperor, right? Why, back in the day when I roamed the world..."

Jin Lin started rambling on again.

Ye Xuan was speechless. This Jin Lin was nothing like a Profound Beast; he was hardly any different from the slyest of humans.

After they settled on a method of contact and other details, Jin Lin, having received his orders from Ye Xuan, immediately shot out of the cave in a fit of excitement and disappeared from sight.

Watching Jin Lin’s disappearing figure, Ye Xuan shook his head. He had no idea what kind of results Jin Lin would manage to achieve.

Ye Xuan didn’t bother to dwell on it, instead sitting down cross-legged and beginning to refine the Demon Heaven Armor and the Demon-Imprisoning Chain.

After killing Lv Feng, Ye Xuan had obtained many treasures, but the ones that excited him most were the Demon Heaven Armor and the Demon-Imprisoning Chain.

Both treasures were Tier Seven Alchemy Profound Soldiers, and when used together, their power was immense.

Once he refined these two treasures, Ye Xuan’s strength would undoubtedly increase by a huge margin.

Nothing else needed to be said. The Demon Heaven Armor alone, combined with his Nine Transformations Sacred Body and Earth Martial Soul, would be enough to give Ye Xuan—a mere Tier Five Third Layer Martial Sect—a Defense Power even greater than that of a typical Tier Seven Martial King.

As for the Demon-Imprisoning Chain, it was a binding weapon. When used in conjunction with the Zhenyuan Stone and his Sword of Domination, it too would raise Ye Xuan’s attack power by a significant amount.

However, since both were Alchemy Profound Soldiers, they were significantly more difficult to refine than ordinary treasures.

A full half an hour passed before Ye Xuan finally finished refining the two weapons.

WHOOSH!

The sinister black Demon Heaven Armor covered his body, making him look like a black Demon God.

With a single thought, the black Demon Heaven Armor swiftly receded beneath Ye Xuan’s clothes and vanished from sight.

"All students, hear my command! Due to special circumstances, the survival assessment must end immediately. Please crush the talismans on your person. An instructor will arrive shortly to retrieve you."

Just then, a rumbling boom echoed across the sky, swiftly approaching and then gradually fading into the distance.

’Looks like the assessment is over.’

Having long expected this, Ye Xuan immediately crushed the talisman on his person.

About a quarter of an hour later, an Alchemy Flying Ship appeared above Ye Xuan’s head.

Without waiting for an instructor to come down for him, Ye Xuan unfurled the Void-Treading Wings on his back and flew up into the Alchemy Flying Ship himself.

Inside the Alchemy Flying Ship, a number of students had already gathered—about twenty of them—all chattering among themselves.

"What happened?"

"Why did the assessment end so suddenly?"

"What’s going on?"

Every student’s face was a mask of shock and surprise as they chattered among themselves.

"I felt it just now. It seemed like a powerful Demon King appeared and was fighting with the instructors."

"I felt it too. That must be the reason."

"So how will our assessment be graded? I haven’t found a single Crystal Stone yet! I was planning to go all-out in the later stages. With this interruption, this is just..."

The students who had witnessed the instructors fighting the Demon King shared what they saw, sparking even more discussion.

Many of the students who hadn’t found any Crystal Stones were extremely apprehensive.

"Xuan Ye, are you alright?"

Ye Xuan hadn’t joined the discussion and was about to find a seat when he heard a concerned voice. It was Dongfang Zisi.

"I’m fine."

Ye Xuan smiled and sat down next to Dongfang Zisi, and the two began to chat.

The Alchemy Flying Ship set off again. Ye Xuan’s arrival didn’t attract much attention from the other students, as nearly everyone was preoccupied with how the assessment would be graded.

Only one student’s eyes went wide the moment he saw Ye Xuan, a trace of horror flashing in their depths.

’Xuan Ye... H-how is he not dead? Impossible! Senior Brother Lv Feng had a Qi Blood Stone to track him. After so much time, he must have found Xuan Ye. But how could he...’

This person was none other than Chen Jin, one of Lv Feng’s accomplices.

Now that Ye Xuan was unharmed and the survival assessment was over, it was clear their mission had failed. If the sect were to find out, he would be in for a world of trouble.

’Damn it, how could this happen?’

Chen Jin’s fists clenched as he gritted his teeth.

However, he was only a messenger. The actual task of killing Ye Xuan had fallen to Lv Feng. All he could do was worry helplessly, as there was nothing else he could do.

"Hm?"

While talking with Dongfang Zisi, Ye Xuan sensed a disturbance from behind him. He couldn’t help but turn to look, and his gaze instantly met Chen Jin’s.

Chen Jin jumped in fright. ’Oh no,’ he thought, his mind in turmoil. He forced a calm smile for Ye Xuan, but it couldn’t hide the panic behind it.

Ye Xuan smiled and nodded back. The moment he turned away, however, his eyes turned ice-cold.

’It seems the Profound Mystery Sect has quite a few disciples in Gale Light Academy.’

A flicker of killing intent flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes.

Ye Xuan had clearly seen Chen Jin’s panic. It only took a moment’s thought for him to guess Chen Jin’s identity.

However, under the current circumstances, it was obviously not the right time for Ye Xuan to make a move.

"Ye Xuan, what’s wrong?" Dongfang Zisi asked, looking at him with confusion.

"Nothing," Ye Xuan smiled and resumed his conversation with Dongfang Zisi.

In a corner of the Alchemy Flying Ship, Chen Jin was not nearly as composed as Ye Xuan.

’Did he realize who I am?’ Chen Jin’s mind was a chaotic mess. ’Probably not. Right, Xuan Ye is still alive, which means Senior Brother Lv Feng hasn’t found him yet. Besides, if he really knew I was from the Profound Mystery Sect, why would he smile at me?’

After a moment of wild speculation, Chen Jin’s heart gradually began to calm down.

As the Alchemy Flying Ship continued on its way, more students came aboard. About two hours later, the entire ship was filled with students.

Just then, Elder Dong and a group of others walked in and began to count the students.

"Thirty-two!"

After finishing the headcount on the Alchemy Flying Ship, the expressions on the faces of Elder Dong and the others turned extremely grim.