C21 Passed

"To take me down?" Lin Yu, who had been covertly listening to the conversation in the restroom, was shocked to hear his own name. At that moment, he was torn between laughter and tears. How had he, a mere nobody, managed to provoke two renowned figures of the Outer Sect into collaborating against him? Could this be considered a bizarre peak in his life?

Wang Meng was momentarily taken aback when he heard the name Lin Yu, and it took him a second to process. "Which Lin Yu are we talking about?"

"Is there another Lin Yu in the Outer Sect?"

"That loser?" Wang Meng's voice was heavy with disbelief.

"Yes..."

"Are you certain you just want to 'fix' that loser?" Wang Meng was skeptical. Knowing Mo Yuntian had offered up a Spirit Gathering Pill, he had braced himself for some extreme demands. But this request was unexpectedly mild.

Teaching Lin Yu a lesson was hardly a challenge. Any novice, let alone a master like himself, could handle it with ease. That was hardly worth mentioning.

"It's not just any lesson," Mo Yuntian's eyes darkened with intent.

"You're suggesting..." Wang Meng mimed a throat-slitting motion, his hesitation palpable. In the Outer Sect, duels had often led to serious injuries or maiming, but a death would be a first. A misstep could lead to expulsion, never to return. Such a risk wasn't easily offset by a single Spirit Gathering Pill.

"Relax... I won't put you in a tough spot. Simply killing Lin Yu would be too merciful. If during the duel, you 'accidentally' rip off an arm, a leg, or leave him permanently bedridden, wouldn't that be far more entertaining than death?" Mo Yuntian's voice was chilling.

"No problem. Lin Yu is nothing but trash, not worth worrying over," Wang Meng replied coldly, a predatory glint in his eyes as he licked his lips. Here, anything short of killing was fair game. And leaving Lin Yu bedridden for life? That was easily within reach. Sure, Wang Meng might face some repercussions, but with the power boost from the Spirit Gathering Pill and a potential advancement to the Profound Rank, he was confident in his ability to contend with the top three and ascend to the Inner Sect. What was a small sacrifice in comparison to such a leap?

"Alright, I'll await Brother Wang's good news." Mo Yuntian tossed the Spirit Gathering Pill to Wang Meng and strode out. Wang Meng secreted it away, his face breaking into a sinister smile.

In the restroom, Lin Yu shuddered. Had he not overheard their scheme, he might have fallen prey to their plot.

Spirit Gathering Pill... I bet it tastes quite good. Lin Yu mused silently, only emerging once their footsteps had faded. By the time he returned to the Martial Training Field, Hong Lin had yet to arrive. Amidst the crowd, Lin Yu sensed a subtle but unmistakable murderous intent—it had to be Wang Meng.

A quarter of an hour later, Hong Lin made his belated entrance, his mood evidently sour. His tiger-like eyes swept over the crowd with a look of stern disappointment.

"What's going on?" someone murmured, only to quickly avert their gaze and fall silent under Hong Lin's intimidating stare.

"Let's start the assessment... Anyone in the Outer Sect who hasn't reached the fifth level of the Yellow Rank within three years, get out of Profound Heaven Sect," Hong Lin boomed, his voice resonating like a great bell, a testament to his formidable cultivation.

All eyes, some with smirks of anticipation, turned to Lin Yu, expecting him to be ousted.

With a grand gesture from Hong Lin, a complex Law Array emerged at the center of the Martial Training Field. To the onlookers, its core was shrouded in mist, its secrets obscured. Lin Yu, whose insight into Law Arrays was unparalleled, immediately recognized its function: to absorb the spiritual energy of those within and discern the strength of their cultivation.

"Interesting!" Lin Yu chuckled softly to himself.

"Who will step forward first?" Hong Lin's voice cut through the air, icy and sharp.

"I'll go..." After a brief pause, a figure stepped forward, entering the heart of the array. A brilliant light flared, and the words "Yellow Rank Level Six" materialized on the overhead screen.

"Passed..." declared Hong Lin.

"Yellow Rank Level Seven..."

"Passed..."

"Yellow Rank Level Five..."

"Passed..."

...

Every candidate who had completed their three-year initiation breezed through the Law Array, affirming their place within the Profound Heaven Sect's Outer Sect. As the crowd around Lin Yu thinned, he noticed the lull in examination activity and stepped forward.

"Mr. Yu, should we just skip the exam and head home?" The chubby friend tugged at Lin Yu's sleeve, his voice tinged with apprehension.

"Don't worry... I'll be right back," Lin Yu replied with a reassuring smile.

"But..." His friend's protest was cut short as Lin Yu strode away, leaving him to sigh in resignation. Mr. Yu was undoubtedly kind-hearted, but his lack of self-awareness was glaring. His futile confession to Mo Yunxi of the Inner Sect a month ago mirrored today's examination - a clear path to failure, yet he persisted. Wasn't this self-inflicted humiliation?

"Look, Lin Yu's up for his exam. Haha, I almost thought he'd bolted, knowing his lack of strength!"

"This is going to be entertaining. Lin Yu could be the first in a decade to fail the Outer Sect Assessment and be kicked out of the sect. Hahaha..."

"What do you mean 'could'? It's a sure thing... Just look at his cultivation level, Yellow Rank Level Five... Wait, Yellow Rank Level Five?"

The skeptic rubbed his eyes, hoping for clarity, but Lin Yu had already entered the Law Array, leaving only a hazy silhouette. The man tried to dismiss his doubts, convincing himself he must have seen it wrong. The crowd eagerly anticipated the outcome, their attention peaking like never before. Soon enough, the sky's light screen flashed the verdict: Yellow Rank Level Five!

"Hahaha... I told you Lin Yu wouldn't make it. Yellow Rank Level Five, just pack up and leave... Stop making a fool of yourself here... Hold on, Yellow Rank Level Five? Can that be right?" The speaker's laughter choked off as realization dawned. He stared at the words suspended in the air, his disbelief as palpable as if he'd seen a ghost.

The minimum requirement for the assessment: Fifth Level of Yellow Rank!

Did Lin Yu actually achieve it?

"Impossible, right? Could the Law Array be malfunctioning?" someone voiced their skepticism.

"It's highly unlikely. The Law Array was personally engraved by Xuan Zhen, the Sixth Elder of the Inner Sect!"

"But even a Law Array crafted by Elder Xuan Zhen could err. Otherwise, can anyone offer a logical explanation for how Lin Yu, that good-for-nothing, passed?" Doubt lingered among the crowd, which fell silent again. All eyes turned to Hong Lin on the elevated platform, awaiting his explanation.

Hong Lin himself was momentarily taken aback, clearly not anticipating this outcome. He scrutinized Lin Yu and confirmed that he indeed possessed the Fifth Level of Yellow Rank cultivation. They had previously viewed Lin Yu through a biased lens, failing to recognize his progress.

This kid must have stumbled upon some incredible fortune or consumed a potent Medicine Pill to advance two minor realms in a single month! Hong Lin speculated internally, his gaze tinged with disdain. He knew that those lacking in innate talent often resorted to Medicine Pills to boost their cultivation, resulting in a high level of power but an unstable foundation. Such individuals couldn't hold a candle to cultivators of the same realm, let alone those of lower realms. In Hong Lin's eyes, Lin Yu was now one of those cultivators.

Based on Hong Lin's assessment, Lin Yu, with his shaky foundation, would surely be no match for someone who had diligently cultivated on their own. Yet, he did not call him out. The rules stated that anyone at the Fifth Level of Yellow Rank could remain, with no stipulations regarding combat prowess. Reluctantly, Hong Lin conceded, "Lin Yu... has passed the assessment."