Chapter 399: Inner Disciple Examination [Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes—Seeking Monthly Votes, Combined]

Another spring arrived.

They say momentum is like a bamboo split open—yet why does it still feel so hard?

At the start of the year.

Li Rui had Ning Zhongtian and others cut down a patch of bamboo from Changqing Mountain and turned it into furniture.

After next year's spring rain, the bamboo stood tall and graceful once more.

Li Rui gazed at the lush green bamboo in the courtyard, his mood quite pleasant.

He stretched lazily.

Then he walked into the room.

He tossed out a talisman, and it spontaneously burned to ash in midair.

The next instant.

A beautiful, curvaceous woman appeared in the room, gently pouring tea for Li Rui like a docile cat.

Li Rui took a sip.

A faint smile curled his lips.

Doppelgänger Talisman.

Not bad—after a year of talisman cultivation, he now mastered eight talismans, and this Doppelgänger Talisman was among the higher-grade ones.

Its only effect was illusion.

The woman before him was conjured by the Doppelgänger Talisman.

She had no combat power.

Her only use was probably saving the cost of a maid.

But for Li Rui, human nature was fickle—far less reliable than a Doppelgänger Talisman.

He was pondering.

Once his talisman cultivation reached mastery in a few years, he'd replace every servant in the Deputy Commander's residence.

The woman skillfully massaged his shoulders and pounded his legs.

Li Rui opened another book.

At that moment.

A knock came at the door.

When Li Rui stepped out, he saw Liu Tiezhu had already brought the visitor in.

"Lord Li."

The young disciple from Qingwei Sect looked unfamiliar.

Li Rui nodded: "Young friend, do you have something to say?"

The young disciple respectfully handed Li Rui a sealed invitation: "Lord Li, in three days our sect will hold the Inner Disciple Examination. We respectfully invite you to observe."

"Very well. I'll attend."

Li Rui accepted the invitation from the young disciple.

The young disciple then stepped back and left.

"Inner Disciple Examination."

Qingwei Sect had only recently been founded.

Thus, aside from Master Qingding's seven disciples as True Disciples,

there were only Outer Disciples and Servant Disciples.

This situation wouldn't last long—promoting a batch of Outer Disciples to Inner Disciples was inevitable.

Li Rui would certainly attend the observation.

A sect must be judged not only by its top combat strength but also by its promising disciples.

As an official appointed by the Yu Kingdom's court to oversee Qingwei Sect, he had a duty to monitor.

He wouldn't confront them over it.

But he must at least report the intelligence upward.

How to handle it? That was for the court's high officials to decide.

Liu Tiezhu listened nearby.

He blinked.

"Master, the competition for Inner Disciple status must be fierce."

Li Rui: "Fierce?"

"It's extreme."

In Qingwei Sect, becoming an Inner Disciple wasn't easy—it required not just cultivation level but also contributions to the sect.

Otherwise, why would Outer Disciples labor tirelessly every day?

Always remember: a sect exists because thousands support one.

Servant Disciples were like donkeys fed only scraps of greens, receiving almost nothing.

Outer Disciples fared slightly better—but not by much.

Only as Inner Disciples could one enjoy real privileges.

If conditions are so harsh, why do so many fight desperately to join?

Because to cultivate the Dao, one must join an immortal sect—otherwise, one has no chance in this life.

To cultivate the Dao, one must first offer.

Why else would an immortal sect grant you immortal arts?

One willingly gives, the other willingly takes.

Compared to them, Li Rui as an Elder lived an easy life.

He knew several Outer Disciples in Qingwei Sect were already Preternatural Martial Experts, tirelessly traveling for years to secure their path to immortality.

That's the advantage of leaning on a great tree.

With his court backing, Li Rui could enjoy Qingwei Sect's resources without paying any price.

How comfortable.

Three days later.

The Qingwei Sect Inner Disciple Examination began.

The Inner Disciple Examination selected outstanding Outer Disciples, so it wouldn't involve trivial checks like spirit root verification as the entrance exam did.

It was simple.

Just three steps.

First, combat trials.

Second, trials.

Third, merit evaluation.

Then total scores were calculated.

The first step, combat trials, were like martial arena matches—pure strength comparison. Qingwei Sect used random draws for seven rounds.

The more rounds one won, the higher the score.

Cheating in the first step was difficult.

Cheating was rampant in the second and third steps.

The so-called trials meant entering the Ten Thousand Mountains to slay demonic beasts.

Scores were based on the strength and number of beasts slain.

Li Rui knew many well-off disciples had secretly summoned family reinforcements.

As for the final step, merit evaluation—

let's just say this:

Rumor had it that the female disciples at the door of the Merit Hall's peak master had been lining up for days.

Do you think cultivating the Dao means just grinding away in solitude?

Wrong.

It's still about human relationships and social maneuvering.

Li Rui understood this perfectly.

At this moment,

he stood beside Sang Kong on a high platform beside the grand plaza of Shenhua Peak.

From here, they had a full view of the plaza.

Below, over a hundred Qingwei disciples were locked in fierce combat.

"Some promising talents."

Sang Kong watched the disciples below.

He was now a Tongxuan Realm martial artist, his aura vastly stronger than before.

Yet he remained unassuming, still seeking tea with Li Rui as always, unchanged.

This wasn't merely approachability.

The top three ranks were called Earth Immortal Ranks.

The term "immortal" wasn't used lightly—it wasn't just because their power far surpassed ordinary martial artists; Li Rui knew they had clearly embarked on the Immortal Path.

In the cultivation world, they are called body cultivators.

Body cultivators rely less on spiritual energy, which is why they became mainstream.

There is a clear distinction between immortals and mortals.

Just look at Chunxu Zi—he knows Sang Kong treats Li Rui so well only because of the Great Witch's face.

Li Rui: "Indeed."

Due to the abundant spiritual energy in Qingwei Sect, many who once had obscured spiritual roots have begun to emerge.

The immortal arts have already made progress.

On the square, fireballs appeared one moment, ice spikes the next—the scene was spectacular.

It differs greatly from martial arts duels.

Various spells left spectators dazzled.

Of course, some cultivators with weaker spells were defeated by opponents with higher martial arts.

And there were quite a few.

Sang Kong squinted: "Immortal arts are indeed powerful."

He knew these cultivators had trained for only a few years yet could match veteran masters—he was secretly astonished.

And like Li Rui, he was secretly cultivating immortal arts.

Of course.

His progress paled in comparison to Li Rui's.

Like Li Rui, his main purpose for coming to Qingwei Sect, besides surveillance, was to study its immortal arts closely.

The two stood on the high platform, watching closely.

There was a minor incident during this time.

A total of one hundred people participated in the contest.

Someone was bound to get a bye.

Yet by coincidence, the same person received multiple byes.

More astonishingly, this person eventually reached the finals, where he fought a woman clad in snow-white robes and narrowly lost.

He became the runner-up.

A textbook protagonist.

Li Rui quietly noted the young man's name: Zhang Fan.

After the contest ended,

came the second round of trials.

Chunxu Zi and another middle-aged Daoist summoned a large flag, which surged hundreds of times in size under the wind, eventually becoming a vessel large enough to hold over a hundred people.

The flag rose with the wind and drifted deep into the Ten Thousand Mountains.

【122】 Li Rui and Sang Kong, as guests of honor, also sat atop the flag.

Li Rui and Sang Kong, as guests of honor, also sat atop the large banner.

Both wore expressions of envy.

Especially Sang Kong—he believed himself no weaker than Chunxu Zi in combat, but in other skills, he was vastly inferior.

No wonder body cultivators are often looked down upon by immortals.

After all, cultivation isn't just about fighting.

The flag flew through the air at incredible speed.

In just a short while,

they had traveled over a hundred li.

When Chunxu Zi judged the distance sufficient, he guided the flag to land.

He spoke slowly: "The trial lasts three days. Do not leave this area by more than a hundred li—consequences will be your own responsibility."

Chunxu Zi finished coldly.

The Qingwei Sect disciples then dispersed.

Chunxu Zi and the other Daoist greeted Li Rui and Sang Kong.

Then they went their separate ways.

They were there to ensure the outer disciples didn't suffer excessive casualties.

As for Li Rui and Sang Kong,

they were here to assist, but certainly wouldn't exert themselves as much as Chunxu Zi and the other.

"Legend says the Ten Thousand Mountains were once the cultivation ground of an ancient powerhouse, which is why Zijin Palace and Qingwei Sect both favor this place."

Sang Kong and Li Rui walked through the forest, speaking.

Li Rui's eyes flickered.

He had heard this claim before.

Moreover, he had previously found two immortal cultivation caves near the Ten Thousand Mountains, which corroborated this.

Not to mention anything else,

setting up arrays to gather spiritual energy in the Ten Thousand Mountains is indeed easier than elsewhere.

Though the natural spiritual energy has become somewhat more abundant than before,

it varies by location.

Some places have more, others less.

Places with more are chosen as cultivation grounds and cave dwellings.

Zijin Palace chose this place for that reason.

Sang Kong looked relaxed, glancing east and west: "Hey, over there, they're fighting."

He wore the expression of someone enjoying a show.

He watched with interest as several Qingwei Sect disciples surrounded and attacked a beast.

As he watched, he said:

"I heard a few days ago, several disciples of True Person Qingding teamed up and swept through this area."

"Chunxu Zi and the other are certainly capable—nothing will go wrong."

Li Rui nodded.

According to the latest intelligence from the White Baby Dragon, Zijin Palace had indeed become much quieter than before.

But Qingwei Sect would not delay its inner sect examination because of Zijin Palace.

Compromising with a sect already destroyed would be shameful.

Li Rui had stayed on Changqing Peak without descending for years, but now he was moving about because his strength had surged.

His current state was peculiar.

Although he had not yet taken the final step into Tongxuan,

his soul had fully matured, his Dao embryo was half-transformed, and with his cultivation of immortal arts, he could now defend himself against Tongxuan experts.

He couldn't remain in seclusion forever.

Otherwise, the imperial court would find it hard to tolerate.

He still had to attend the necessary appearances.

Ultimately, it was his strength that gave him confidence—these years of seclusion in Qingwei Sect had brought great progress.

In one part of the Ten Thousand Mountains,

Blood Shadow Ancestor stood on a mountaintop, squinting at the forest where figures were faintly visible.

"How prepared are you?"

He looked at the black-robed man beside him.

"Ancestor, everything is ready."

The black-robed man spoke gravely.

Blood Shadow Ancestor's lips curled slightly: "Good."

He had long ordered the Beast Tamer to station beasts near Qingwei Sect. Today, he received word that Qingwei Sect's disciples were leaving the mountain—likely for a trial.

How could he pass up such a perfect opportunity?

Cold light intensified in Blood Shadow Ancestor's eyes.

He was no fool.

Qingwei Sect had suppressed them multiple times, inflicting heavy losses.

He well knew that Qingwei Sect's bold mass departure might be a trap to lure them out.

There were surely experts lying in wait.

Charging in now would be suicide.

He would never do such a thing.

He had other plans.

Just as he was about to leave, the black-robed man bowed again: "By the way, Ancestor, you told me to watch that Yu Kingdom official named Li Rui—he's descended the mountain too."

"Excellent!"

Blood Shadow Ancestor's eyes lit up.

He had been watching Li Rui all along.

But Li Rui, like those ascetics who sealed themselves away for decades, had stayed in Qingwei Sect for years.

Not to mention going down the mountain.

Even descending his own Changqing Peak was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

Qingwei Sect was guarded by the Great True Person Qingding.

He naturally dared not go.

He could only secretly spy from afar.

Now, he had finally found his chance.

Blood Shadow Elder narrowed his eyes.

Though today the Purple Gold Palace would not truly strike at Qingwei Sect, with his strength, he could easily sneak in, subdue Li Rui in one blow, and leave immediately.

Unless Qingding Great True Person himself arrived, no one could stop him.

This was the confidence befitting a Heaven's Phenomenon cultivator.

"Good, I understand."

A flicker of excitement passed through Blood Shadow Elder's eyes, then he shot toward the trial grounds.

Fierce battles erupted across the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Teams of Qingwei Sect disciples hunted demonic beasts.

Some succeeded; others failed.

A few of those who failed lost their lives outright.

All these scenes fell before Chunxu Zi's eyes, yet he felt only boundless indifference, as if those dead disciples meant nothing to him.

"Brother, do you really think the Purple Gold Palace's remnants will come?"

Chunxu Zi floated in midair, gazing at a middle-aged Daoist beside him.

The middle-aged Daoist slightly narrowed his eyes:

"Those who wish to be caught, will be."

Chunxu Zi fell silent.

Great True Person Qingding had descended to this realm long ago—three hundred years already.

In these six decades of endless time,

He had taken seven disciples.

The middle-aged Daoist beside him was his second disciple.

Legend said he had once been a fisherman, until Qingding Great True Person enlightened him and set him on the path of cultivation.

Spiritual energy in the world was thin.

But it still existed.

Qingding Great True Person used great power to carve out a cultivation ground, allowing his seven brothers to train—this training lasted a hundred years.

Now, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was reviving faster.

Only then, at Gu Changsheng's invitation, did Qingding Great True Person leave the mountains, bringing the formerly hidden Qingwei Sect into the world.

His second elder brother had cultivated for two hundred years; his cultivation base was unfathomable.

Since he had once been a fisherman, his greatest skill was naturally fishing.

Chunxu Zi gazed down at the scene below.

If the outer disciples lacked the ability and were killed by demonic beasts, he would not lift a finger.

The Daoist path teaches fate: if you die, it means your fate is poor, and you had no immortal affinity.

That's all.

Unless the Purple Gold Palace remnants struck, he would not interfere in the slightest.

"It seems he won't act."

Chunxu Zi glanced at the sky.

In another two hours,

The trial would end, and many Qingwei Sect disciples had already begun returning to the assembly point.

"Perhaps."

The middle-aged Daoist chuckled.

Just as Chunxu Zi prepared to descend and lead the outer disciples back to the sect,

Sudden change!

The ground first trembled slightly, then skeletal demonic beasts erupted from beneath, some nearly decayed to dust.

Seeing this,

Chunxu Zi's pupils shrank sharply.

"Soul-Calling Art!"

Soul-Calling Art was a heretical technique capable of controlling corpses.

Chunxu Zi flew into rage, teeth clenched: "Blood Shadow!"

He recognized it at once.

Clearly, Blood Shadow Elder had secretly laid a great array beneath the trial grounds, summoning every ancient demonic beast skeleton buried deep underground.

What did the Ten Thousand Mountains have the most of?

Wasn't it demonic beasts?

In an instant, countless thousands of skeletons were revived.

To these powerful cultivators, such skeletons meant nothing.

But Qingwei Sect's outer disciples were not all experts—many were still low in realm, though high in potential.

If too many died,

Qingwei Sect would become a laughingstock across the world.

He could not possibly allow such a thing to happen.

"Brother!"

Chunxu Zi roared at the middle-aged Daoist behind him.

The middle-aged Daoist moved faster than he did.

Golden light erupted around him.

A golden fishing rod, dozens of zhang long, appeared before him.

"Go!"

The fishing rod treasure was launched.

As the line swept through, vast swaths of skeletons shattered into dust.

Divine authority blazed forth!

Elsewhere,

Li Rui and Sang Kong, strolling through the forest, turned pale.

In an instant,

They were surrounded by skeletons.

Sang Kong snorted, even leaving his waist weapon sheathed, and punched straight ahead.

BOOM!

The devastating fist wind reduced dozens of zhang worth of skeletons to fragments.

Yet it lacked the effortless ease of the middle-aged Daoist's strike.

Li Rui reacted just as swiftly.

He casually smashed the few skeletons near him.

Sang Kong sighed: "Brother Li, let's get some exercise."

Qingwei Sect was in trouble; they couldn't simply ignore it.

After all, they were staying on their land—they couldn't show zero respect.

As the saying goes,

Leave a little room in life, for future encounters.

But just as Li Rui and Sang Kong prepared to lend aid—

The ground suddenly bulged.

A figure burst from underground, a giant hand reaching straight for Li Rui.

The man moved too fast.

Even Sang Kong could not react in time.

"Blood Shadow!"

Sang Kong recognized the man's identity and flew into a rage.

Yet he could only watch helplessly as Li Rui was about to be crushed by Blood Shadow Elder's palm.

Finally,

Blood Shadow Elder's ferocious palm struck true.

Li Rui's body exploded violently.

Yet it turned out to be nothing but a talisman!

(End of Chapter)