C12 Inner Sect Assessment

As dawn broke over the distant eastern horizon, the Outer Sect of the Astral Conclave came alive with a cacophony of voices and a surge of excitement.

Today marked a significant occasion, with nearly every disciple of the Outer Sect emerging en masse, their numbers resembling a bustling colony of ants as they made their way to the Outer Sect Plaza.

It was the day of the Inner Sect Assessment!

This annual event was always a grand affair, especially considering that the Outer Sect disciples outnumbered those of the Inner Sect and the core disciples combined. It was a day when extraordinary minds gathered.

—

Ye Xuan awoke on his bed, his eyes snapping open to reveal a fleeting spark of brilliance. He let out a sigh, releasing the stale air from his lungs. His cultivation had been ongoing since the previous night, and his vital force had now reached a stable level. Moreover, he had successfully mastered the twofold art of Prismatic Force.

He stretched lazily, his bones cracking in response. With a light push against the bed's edge, he flipped through the air before gracefully touching down on the floor.

Straightening his slightly disheveled clothes, Ye Xuan showed no signs of fatigue from his night of cultivation. On the contrary, his complexion was radiant, and he was the picture of vitality.

For cultivators like him, cultivation was akin to the most restful sleep.

The buzz from outside his room caught his attention, and Ye Xuan's eyebrows lifted slightly. Today was the Inner Sect Assessment, which explained the lively atmosphere.

Opening the door, he was greeted by the warm yet intense morning light that flooded in, enveloping him in its comforting glow. The warmth allowed Ye Xuan to unwind a bit more.

He stepped out quietly and closed the door behind him, eyeing the throng of people all moving in the same direction. Ye Xuan's brow furrowed slightly; he was not fond of such crowded environments.

He waited until the crowd thinned before making his way to the Outer Sect Plaza.

Upon reaching the plaza, Ye Xuan, despite his mental preparation, was taken aback by the sheer number of people. The term 'sea of humanity' was no overstatement for the scene before him.

At first glance, the plaza was swarming with people, packed together like a colony of ants. The square was so crowded that the disciples were shoulder to shoulder, jostling each other!

Ye Xuan couldn't help but smirk, thinking to himself, "You all, who aren't even being assessed, seem more eager than those of us who are."

Thankfully, there was a dedicated examination lane for the disciples who were to be tested. Without it, they might have been stuck outside, blocked by those merely there to spectate. To enter the lane, one needed the strength of at least the third level of the Whispering Souls Realm. And at the end of the lane, elders were stationed to scrutinize entrants, ensuring that no one could sneak through without the proper qualifications.

Navigating through the crowd with ease, Ye Xuan soon reached the entrance of the passage. By chance, Mu Hua was there as well. Spotting him, Ye Xuan waved and greeted, "Senior Brother Mu Hua."

"Ye Xuan, I knew you'd come," Mu Hua said with a beaming smile, clearly delighted.

"Senior Brother Mu Hua, let's head in together," Ye Xuan suggested, eyeing the disciples already making their way through the passage.

Understanding that now was not the time for idle talk, Mu Hua joined Ye Xuan, and they proceeded together. As they walked side by side, Mu Hua inquired, "Ye Xuan, your cultivation level must be at the fourth level of the Whispering Souls by now, right?"

"Yes," Ye Xuan confirmed with a slight nod. His breakthrough had occurred just the day before, and although he had spent the night stabilizing his cultivation, his aura was still somewhat fluctuating. It was no surprise that Mu Hua had noticed.

Even though Mu Hua had already sensed Ye Xuan's level, hearing the confirmation left him momentarily taken aback, almost in disbelief. Just days before, Ye Xuan had been at the first level of the Whispering Souls. Now, after a mere visit home, his cultivation had soared as if propelled by a rocket to the fourth level. Mu Hua couldn't help but think that he, too, would gladly return to such a home if he had the chance!

Although both Mu Hua and Ye Xuan were at the fourth level of the Whispering Souls Realm, Mu Hua could faintly sense a slight, almost imperceptible hint of danger emanating from Ye Xuan. This sensation was fleeting, as if it had never existed, but Mu Hua was certain his instincts were not mistaken.

Nevertheless, Mu Hua chose not to inquire further. Everyone has their own secrets, and prying too deeply would only serve to irritate others.

The passage they walked through was relatively short, and after a brief conversation, they reached its end. There, they found a peculiar door, thirty feet tall and about ten feet wide, adorned with unusual patterns that occasionally shimmered with a soft glow, adding to its enigmatic aura.

Ye Xuan recognized the patterns on the door. Having practiced necromancy, he understood that the door was created by the transformations of the Spirit Circle and the magic circle.

This door was clearly meant to test whether the disciples had the requisite strength to advance through the passage.

Flanking the door stood two elders clad in black robes, their piercing, eagle-like gazes fixed on the disciples passing the test, their expressions stern and imposing.

"Those two are the elders responsible for overseeing this area," Mu Hua murmured to Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan briefly met the elders' gaze before diverting his attention, sensing that they possessed considerable strength.

"Hmm?" As Ye Xuan averted his gaze, the elders seemed to detect something and glanced his way before redirecting their attention.

"Their vigilance is impressive," Ye Xuan thought, somewhat taken aback. He had only given them a cursory glance, yet they had still perceived him.

The elders exchanged a look and one of them, Chitong, spoke with a hint of uncertainty, "Longbrow, it felt as though someone used soul perception on us just now, but then it abruptly withdrew." The elder on the right spoke to his companion, his white eyebrows drooping to the sides as a breeze caused them to flutter.

"Yes, I sensed it too," replied Longbrow, the elder on the left. "But by the time I tried to investigate, the soul perception had vanished." His eyes were a distinctive red, reminiscent of someone consumed by rage, exuding an intimidating presence even without a word.

They had faintly sensed a relatively weak soul perception, prompting them to look around, and that's when they caught sight of a few others. Consequently, they failed to realize that it was Ye Xuan who had sensed them.

Ye Xuan and Mu Hua strode through the testing gate together, and a dazzling burst of light shone above them. This signified that both of them had reached at least the third level of the Whispering Souls Profound Level, qualifying them to pass. If no light emanated from the test gate, it indicated that an individual's strength had not attained the third level of the Whispering Souls Profound Level, and thus, they were not permitted to pass. The subsequent tests required a minimum strength above the third level of the Whispering Souls Profound Level to proceed. Furthermore, the third level was merely a preliminary threshold, and it was likely that many would be eliminated in the later tests.

Following Ye Xuan and Mu Hua, several others managed to pass the test in succession. Nonetheless, there were always those who attempted to slip through by blending in. When the gate lit up for others, some tried to sneak in right behind them, only to be swiftly apprehended by the two elders and tossed aside in the corridor. The individual left in a state of disarray, slinking away under the scrutiny of onlookers. At that moment, a few people in the corridor also decided to withdraw.

Once the incense in the small furnace next to Elder Longbrow had burned out, the two elders lifted their hands and shut the testing gate. This act signified the end of the preliminary period, and the commencement of the true assessment was imminent.