Chapter 230: Assessment

Dao Comprehension Valley can increase disciples' comprehension, allowing them to quickly grasp the intent of that Great Dao.

There is also a place for tempering Dao intent, which can make the Dao intent purer.

There is also a place for tempering that lets disciples master Dao techniques more quickly.

These are accessible only after becoming a white-clad disciple.

According to the jade slip's introduction, in the Ninth Dao Academy there are thirty thousand gray-clad disciples, and at least one hundred thousand white-clad disciples!

Such a large gap exists because all gray-clad disciples must meet the academy's assessment standards within three years; if they pass, they are promoted to white-clad disciples, otherwise they are sent back.

Each assessment basically eliminates one-third of the disciples; over time, gray-clad disciples naturally become few.

Upon becoming a white-clad disciple, one no longer has such an assessment mechanism but another kind; this point is not explained in the jade slip.

Sitting cross-legged in the wooden house, Wang Ping's eyes were calm as he carefully recalled the assessment details. The academy's assessment for gray-clad disciples has an average score.

Comprehension, Dao intent, will, aptitude, Dao techniques, and combat power—six categories, each on a ten-point scale; only an average score above six allows promotion to white-clad disciple, yet even so, each assessment still eliminates one-third of the disciples.

Thus, even the most basic gray-clad disciple assessment remains difficult.

Just then, Wang Ping's expression shifted; his divine sense had already detected a cultivator approaching outside. After sensing the person's arrival, Wang Ping felt puzzled, wondering what they had come for this time.

Creak!

Wang Ping pushed open the wooden door and stepped out; the white-clad disciple who had just delivered the jade slip to him came over again.

Wang Ping took the initiative to ask: "I don't know, fellow cultivator, since you've returned again, what instructions do you have?"

That white-clad disciple remained expressionless, though his tone was not as harsh, appearing all business, and said:

"Forgot to tell you, cultivators who came up from the Lower Realm have their assessment period extended to ten years, starting today; in ten years' time, you can cultivate in peace during this period. By the way, I'm Liu Yi; if you have any matters, you can go find the gray-clad steward."

Having said that, Liu Yi left again.

Wang Ping hadn't expected that cultivators from the Lower Realm also had this convenience; that's fine, over the next ten years he has many things to do.

The materials he needs are already ready in the Lower Realm; next, he will create a technique for Golden Core and soul fusion, which is not difficult—Wang Ping estimates he needs only one year.

After all, in this part, cultivation world techniques are largely similar.

Over the next ten years, he must comprehend Gravity Technique to the Dao Manifestation Realm, then fuse it with the Heaven-Overturning Seal, and finally integrate that into Yellow Divine Light.

Wang Ping originally wanted the Silver Stone Gate to bring him back into that great mountain to gather some stones and re-refine the Heaven-Overturning Seal, but the Silver Stone Gate told him that to re-refine stones into the seal, he must develop his Dao techniques to the Innate Realm.

For that, Wang Ping could only set aside that idea.

Swish! Wang Ping flicked his finger, releasing a burst of spiritual power that activated the formation in this wooden house, then he threw out a small third-tier formation to wrap himself in.

Having just arrived here, Wang Ping felt it best to be cautious; after doing all that, he took the Heaven-Overturning Seal out of his dantian, a treasure he hadn't used in a long time.

Gazing at the crystal-clear Heaven-Overturning Seal, a flicker of memory crossed Wang Ping's eyes; back when he was at Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, the seal had given him great aid, but after entering Golden Core, its help to him had diminished by more than half.

He wondered what changes would occur if the runes required for Gravity Technique were engraved upon it.

The academy is vast, with many people; the news that a genius from the Lower Realm had entered the Ninth Dao Academy caused no ripple.

The cultivator named Liu Yi, after leaving again, has not come back since.

Wang Ping also never left his small wooden house; in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed, and disciples continually come and go in the small wooden houses around him.

Among gray-clad disciples, time is most pressing; even if a disciple noticed the strangeness of the small wooden house, they wouldn't have much inclination to investigate.

Everyone is a genius drawn from various places of the Spirit Realm's human lands; who would willingly remain a gray-clad disciple? Thus, throughout the academy, the cultivation of gray-clad disciples is the most urgent.

One day ten years later, the gray-clad disciples' assessment began again, and many who had been cultivating in the wooden houses came out in droves.

Creak!

In a corner, Wang Ping, who had been in seclusion for ten years, finally walked out.

During those ten years he never stepped out of the wooden house; according to academy rules, if one is in seclusion, those benefits can accumulate.

That is why Wang Ping could enter seclusion with such peace of mind.

Now he knows that the Spirit Realm is divided into great years and small years; the great year is the Spirit Realm's timekeeping, the small year is the human race's timekeeping.

The Spirit Realm is too vast; a day is too long, so to conveniently record time within their own clan, here in the Spirit Realm human lands one day equals five days in the Lower Realm—a fivefold difference, equivalent to one-tenth of a great year.

That is to say, Wang Ping stayed ten years in the Spirit Realm human lands; according to the great year's calculation, he had only spent one year in the Spirit Realm, equivalent to fifty years in the Lower Realm!

The reason for this is that, before reaching Soul Transformation, cultivators have short lifespans—especially for mortals, who may die after just a few years—so in the Spirit Realm, all beings below Soul Transformation use the small year for counting.

"Disciples who meet the three-year assessment period, hurry to the Assessment Peak to undergo assessment!"

A grand voice boomed in Wang Ping's ears!

The jade slip at Assessment Peak specifically introduces this, but Wang Ping couldn't be bothered to read it; just follow the crowd.

In the academy, only yellow-clad disciples and above can fly; undoubtedly this is also a method to motivate disciples to strive in cultivation.

Following the crowd, half an hour later Wang Ping arrived at the lower left side of the mountain peak, where there stood a huge, astonishing golden hall.

The entire hall's appearance gives a feeling of immense oppression.

"This is the Assessment Hall! It's said the entire hall was polished from the bones of fifth-tier demonic beasts, so it constantly exudes the pressure of a fifth-tier ferocious beast." Someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"Hmm! I've heard that too; apparently it's also an invisible trial—the closer one gets to the hall, the stronger that pressure becomes, and it's said that in each assessment some cultivators can't even enter the Assessment Hall and are directly eliminated."

"That brutal?"

"Really or fake?"

Around Wang Ping, many Golden Core cultivators immediately began to discuss heatedly.

Just then, a cultivator wearing yellow Dao robes shot up into the air and shouted loudly: "Shut up! No clamor before the Assessment Hall! Hmph! If you can't withstand the pressure of a dead fifth-tier demonic beast, what's the point of cultivating a measly immortal? Get out of the academy at once!"

That yellow-clad disciple spoke bluntly, but Wang Ping thought he was right; the path of cultivation is inherently defying heaven, and if someone cannot endure the pressure of a dead fifth-level demonic beast, such a cultivator truly has no prospect in cultivation.

All gray-clad disciples must line up to receive a jade talisman, then enter the Assessment Hall; Wang Ping glanced around and discovered that this time there were probably over twenty thousand gray-clad disciples taking the assessment.

They were divided into several long queues; Wang Ping waited a quarter of an hour, took the jade talisman, and headed straight for the golden hall, feeling the pressure slightly as he passed that yellow-clad disciple.

So strong!

Wang Ping's heart trembled; the opponent was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, yet the pressure he felt was as strong as that when facing a Nascent Soul cultivator!

This is merely a yellow-clad disciple! Who knows how strong the gold-clad and purple-clad ones above him are?

That cultivator spoke correctly; as one drew nearer to the Golden Examination Hall, the pressure grew stronger, but for Wang Ping it had no effect at all.

He calmly entered the hall; stepping inside, Wang Ping only felt his vision blur, and when he cleared his sight he found himself standing in a white space.

Wang Ping instantly understood; earlier he had wondered why so many disciples entered without making a sound—it was because upon stepping into the Golden Hall they had already been teleported away.

This space held about a hundred cultivators; ahead were five great doors, labeled Comprehension, Dao Intent, Dao Law, Combat Power, and Will!

All the cultivators gathered before the five doors; only when Wang Ping approached did they notice that before each light gate stood a light mirror displaying the challenger's status.

"Jin Yueyi truly lives up to being the top genius of this generation of the Golden Family; at just thirty he has reached late Golden Core, and even his Dao Law has attained the second layer of actual realm in the Dao Manifestation Realm—it is said he may well cultivate to the third layer of artistic conception before breaking through to Nascent Soul."

Before Wang Ping, a grey-clad disciple exclaimed in awe.

"Jin Yueyi? I've never heard of him, but judging by his mastery of Dao techniques it's indeed amazing; still, reaching the third layer of artistic conception is difficult—he may not manage it." Another grey-clad disciple said.

Wang Ping stood at the back, silently listening to the grey-clad disciples' discussion; he already knew about the three levels of the Dao Manifestation Realm they were mentioning.

In the Golden Core Realm, the cultivation of one's natal Dao technique becomes ever more profound; when it transforms into an innate Dao technique, it becomes even more astonishing.

The third realm of Dao technique, the innate realm Dao technique, comprises nine layers.

Only by cultivating the Dao technique of the Dao Manifestation Realm to the third layer—this level of intention—can one reach seven or more layers upon transformation.

In worldly Dao law, the power of a third‑level innate Dao technique usually depends on how many layers a cultivator can achieve while nurturing Dao technique in the Golden Core Realm.

During this process, it is quite possible that due to aptitude, an originally supreme‑power Dao technique becomes weakened.

For example, a five‑realm Dao technique that reaches the seventh layer in the Innate Realm—if a cultivator in the Golden Core Realm only grasps that technique to the second layer of actual realm in the Dao Manifestation Realm,

then upon entering Nascent Soul, the technique that emerges will attain only the sixth layer, or even the fifth layer's power.

If at this time a cultivator practices a Dao technique that has only four realms, possessing only four layers in the Innate Realm, but he masters it to the third layer of artistic conception while in the Golden Core Realm,

then after breaking through to Nascent Soul he will push that technique to a level even its creator never reached.

If two cultivators fight, it is highly likely that the one who practices the fourth Dao technique will win.

Therefore, in the Golden Core Realm choosing a Dao technique is crucial; in the Spirit World most cultivators opt for five‑realm Dao techniques, the heavenly prodigies choose six‑realm, and as for seven‑realm Dao techniques, very few cultivate them.

Wang Ping lacks any fifth‑realm Dao technique; he possesses ten four‑realm Dao techniques, but his natal Dao technique is the Five‑Colored Divine Light. According to his conception, each light must contain a spirit object paired with a Dao technique; if he masters five Dao techniques to the Dao Manifestation Realm, his Five‑Colored Divine Light becomes a secret technique of that realm.

If he only grasps the first layer (void) of the Dao Manifestation Realm, then after breaking through to Nascent Soul his Five‑Colored Divine Light will have the power of three layers of the Innate Realm.

Of course, Wang Ping will certainly not waste it that way.

He will surely master his Dao techniques to the third layer of artistic conception; this is extremely difficult, and Wang Ping knows that ordinary cultivators find it already immensely hard to master even one technique to that level, let alone five.

The reason Wang Ping has this confidence is that he can perceive the runes on his spiritual root, thereby comprehending Dao Intent.

Half of Dao technique cultivation depends on the comprehension of Dao Intent.

Once the Dao Intent problem is solved, the other problems can be gradually overcome.

And in the Golden Core Realm, Wang Ping, who possesses a thousand‑year lifespan, has plenty of time.

Just as Wang Ping was pondering, a sudden shout rang out: "Someone has passed the third layer of the Combat Power Gate! In late Golden Core they possess the combat power to slay an ordinary Golden Core Great Perfection!"

"Tch! What's that? Only by reaching Nascent Soul level can one steadily advance to White‑clad Disciple!" a cultivator scoffed.

The surrounding cultivators hearing this rolled their eyes; with that combat power one would be directly promoted to Yellow‑clad Disciple!

Wang Ping observed a full circle and discovered some patterns: the Comprehension Gate seems to involve grasping runes; the more runes understood within the time of an incense stick, the higher the score.

The Dao Intent Gate appears to be a matter of pitting one's own Dao Intent against something; the farther one walks, the higher the score.

As for the Dao Technique Gate, it tests one's comprehension of Dao technique; this gate is clearly linked to the Dao Intent Gate. After observing for so long, Wang Ping found that passing the Dao Intent Gate basically guarantees passing the Dao Technique Gate, and vice versa.

Of course, anything can go wrong; during this period Wang Ping has already seen several unlucky fellows who passed one of the two gates but failed the other.

As for the Combat Power Gate, it is simply slaying monsters; the Will Gate is likewise resisting pressure—sitting cross‑legged on the ground, the longer one endures, the higher the score.

The examination proceeds quickly; before Wang Ping the crowd of over a hundred dwindles rapidly, yet behind him there are still many people waiting.

Soon Wang Ping was assigned to the Dao Intent Gate; he aimed the jade talisman in his hand at the light gate, and when the gate opened he calmly walked inside.

After Wang Ping entered, a cold voice sounded:

"Under the pressure of Fire Dao Intent, walking a hundred meters counts as passing; thereafter each ten meters adds one point. Notice: grey‑clad disciples' first examination, points are converted to disciple points at a ten‑to‑one ratio. May all grey‑clad disciples strive for the highest score."

Wang Ping's eyes flashed; he understood the ten‑fold conversion of points to disciple points. This is something only white‑clad disciples possess.

In the Dao Academy it can be exchanged for Dao techniques, spirit crystals, spirit treasures, spirit medicines, spirit fruits, and blessed‑land cultivation time.

It can be said that in the Dao Academy, points are currency.