C21 Under the Assessment Peak There Were Mountains and Seas

Wealth: 15,390.

State: Acquired Blood to Spirit Transmutation.

Physical Body: Mortal.

Skull: 1/29 [+].

Limbs: 0/51 [+].

Skeletal Frame: 0/126 [+].

Martial Arts: Level 3 Soul Stealing Palm, Level 2 Water Serpent Style, Level 2 Flesh Puppet, Level 1 Grimwalker.

Meng Yang glanced at the identity information in his left pupil and his face immediately fell.

Seeing the "Skull" at 1/29, his expression turned as sour as it could.

To refine a single Martial Bone required 5,000 wealth value, meaning 29 would total a staggering 145,000 wealth value.

And that was just for the upper limbs. Including the lower limbs and the Skeletal Frame, the wealth value needed was astronomical.

The thought alone made Meng Yang's teeth hurt and his head throb.

Moreover, once martial arts reached Level 3, the proficiency and wealth value needed were practically one and the same.

Before Level 3, 100 wealth value could add 1,000 proficiency, but after Level 3, it required 1,000 wealth value.

It was the kind of expense that could drain a man's life, leaving no room for resistance.

Soul Stealing Palm Level 3: Proficiency 3,688/20,000 [+], showing initial success.

Flesh Puppet Level 2: Proficiency 2,421/15,000 [+], just beginning to grasp the basics.

Water Serpent Style Level 2: Proficiency 3,122/15,000 [+], just beginning to grasp the basics.

Grimwalker Level 1: Proficiency 1/10,000 [+], at the entry level.

After checking the information in his right pupil, Meng Yang suppressed the urge to vomit blood, grimaced, retrieved his martial arts token, and left the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Back in his courtyard, he dashed into his room like a madman.

He frantically clicked on the plus sign to increase the Grimwalker's proficiency.

He only stopped when the Grimwalker advanced to the second level, an action that had his blood pressure soaring.

Looking at his wealth value again, he saw a meager 5,390 points remaining.

Meng Yang clenched his jaw, stared with resigned eyes, and clicked on the skull and Flesh Puppet.

With a determined effort to control the trembling on his face, he fiercely focused on the information that appeared in his pupil.

Ding! 5,000 wealth value consumed. Second Martial Bone successfully tempered.

Ding! 390 wealth value consumed. Flesh puppet proficiency increased by 3,900 points.

Meng Yang, feeling a tingling sensation emanating from his bones, panted heavily and declared, "My goal was to rank in the top ten. This time, if I don't secure a spot in the top three, I, Meng Yang, will not consider myself worthy."

The voice that seemed to squeeze through clenched teeth jolted Meng Yang upright in bed. As he whispered the barely audible incantation of Grimwalker, his body, ghost-like, instantly appeared ten meters away. Standing still, he could even glimpse the fading afterimage of himself.

"The second level of Grimwalker, Wraithwalk, is truly formidable. I, Meng Yang, am resolute in claiming one of the top three spots in this assessment."

No sooner had he spoken than Meng Yang's figure vanished again. Amidst the rise and fall of his afterimages, he was nowhere to be seen.

...

The dawn chorus began its mournful song as the morning sun broke over the horizon. As the first rays of sunrise painted the eastern sky, twelve thunderous bell tones echoed across the Lin family's domain.

At the base of Assessment Peak, behind the mountains, a throng of disciples had gathered for the examination, nearly a thousand in number. Most of these disciples were at the Bone Tempering and Mortal Shedding Realm.

Of course, there were also many who had come to try their luck, those merely at the Blood to Spirit Transmutation stage. They all shared a common belief: emerging from Assessment Peak was akin to a fish leaping through the dragon's gate, where the rising waters lift all boats.

With this in mind, they could not afford to be complacent. They surveyed their peers, contemplating strategies to distinguish themselves in the upcoming challenge. After all, the disciples who managed to break into the top ten would receive bountiful rewards.

And the prize for first place? It was enough to drive one mad: a top-grade yellow level martial arts manual. Cultivation might draw upon cosmic energy to strengthen the body, but the true purpose of martial arts was to transform the spiritual energy within one's blood and Qi into a force of sheer destruction.

Martial arts serve to transform the spiritual energy within one's blood into a formidable force of destruction. Without martial arts, someone of the same realm would be no match for their counterpart, akin to an egg striking a stone. The rarity of martial arts is such that even the most venerable families, with centuries of heritage, possess only a handful. This scarcity is precisely why these families send their heirs to join sects, as only these organizations can provide an extensive array of martial arts.

It's worth noting that martial arts are categorized into various levels. From highest to lowest, they are ranked as Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. Within each major level, there are four sub-levels: low, medium, high, and supreme grade. Even within a sect, a martial art of the Yellow level and top grade is highly coveted and fiercely competed for.

The prestige and rewards associated with being the top contender in the Lin family's assessment are enough to drive anyone to madness. "Look, isn't that Yang Feng over there?" "Hmph, I've been saying that Yang Feng will surely take part in this year's assessment. At just sixteen, he's already fully tempered his Martial Bones. It's almost certain that he'll claim the title of champion in the Lin family's assessment this year. The rest of us stand no chance."

In the midst of the crowd, a young man with a youthful complexion and piercing eyes stood apart, his eyes closed, resembling a solitary plum blossom on a cold night. A few attractive girls stood behind him, stealing glances and whispering among themselves, their cheeks flushed with excitement. This young man was Yang Feng, a name that carried significant renown within the Lin family. His striking features were impossible to overlook.

However, some disagreed with the prevailing sentiment. "You're mistaken. Yang Feng, despite his exceptional talent, is still young and lacks the maturity to outdo his elders. Moreover, during the assessment, the Exalted One permits participants to form their own teams. Yang Feng's pride could very well cost him the top spot. In my opinion, Qu Yang stands a better chance of claiming first place..." No sooner had these words been spoken than the crowd's attention shifted to a white-clad youth surrounded by a throng of disciples. He greeted everyone with a warm smile and treated all with respect.

Qu Yang, who was barely known a few months ago, had suddenly risen to prominence, defeating an opponent at the Bone Tempering and Mortal Shedding Stage in front of a crowd. It was clear he had concealed his true strength until now. While it's difficult to predict who will take first place, one thing is certain: this year's assessment promises to be quite the spectacle.

Several months ago, Qu Yang was still an unknown figure, but somehow, he suddenly rose to prominence. He even defeated opponents in the Bone Tempering and Mortal Shedding realms in front of many people, which clearly indicates he must have been concealing his true strength. Although I can't predict who will come out on top, I have a feeling this year's assessment will be quite the spectacle to watch..."

"Silence!"

Just then, a commanding voice echoed from the grand hall at the base of Assessment Peak.

The noisy chatter among the crowd ceased abruptly, and all the disciples turned their attention toward the source of the command.

Meng Yang also looked in that direction, but his gaze was not on the person who had spoken. Instead, he was captivated by another—a woman of unparalleled beauty.

This woman, around twenty years of age, was clad in a purple palace dress that perfectly complemented her slender and delicate figure. Her presence was so striking that it was difficult for onlookers to divert their gaze.

​