C28 The Assessment Began

After a full day's journey, the group finally arrived at the Dragon Hidden Sect atop Kun Yun Mountain aboard the majestic Purple Phoenix Spirit Ship.

"Wow, it's so high up!"

"Is this the summit of Kun Yun Mountain? It's absolutely stunning."

"The entrance to the Dragon Hidden Sect is so impressive. I can only imagine how opulent the inside must be."

"It's no surprise that this is the Dragon Hidden Sect's stronghold. The Cosmic Spiritual Energy is incredibly rich here. You could probably advance to the next level without even needing Cultivation Spirit Medicine!"

As the ship touched down, everyone disembarked, their faces alight with excitement and awe. Their behavior might have seemed unseemly, but it was understandable. Despite being from noble families, they had never encountered such grandeur before, and the sight naturally overwhelmed them. Such personal emotions weren't easily controlled, not even by Ling Yunfan, the most mature among them, who was also visibly astonished by the breathtaking view.

While the group was still taking in the sights, Lianhuo raised his voice, "Those with Qualification Tokens, please proceed into the sect. You'll be guided through the examination details and then escorted to the test."

With that, Lianhuo and Fong Ruo, followed by Elder Yun, made their way inside. Ling Yunfan and the rest quickly fell in step behind them.

Inside, they were greeted by a scene reminiscent of a celestial peach garden, with peach blossoms fluttering all around. At the heart of the garden was a modestly sized fountain, its waters a clear aquamarine.

Elder Yun sat tranquilly before the fountain, sipping tea, surrounded by several disciples dressed similarly to Lianhuo.

"The Dragon Hidden Sect's Inner Sect Disciple Assessment consists of a single challenge: slay a demonic beast that is on the cusp of reaching Rank Two within the Kun Cloud Mountain Range and return with its carcass. Succeed, and you pass; fail to bring it back or perish, and you fail. You may opt to form a team of four for the hunt, but then you must collectively slay five demonic beasts to pass," Elder Yun explained, his voice emotionless as he set down his teacup.

Hearing the daunting criteria, many faces turned pale. A demonic beast nearly at Rank Two would be formidable, stronger than someone at Essence Gathering Level Three, and far surpassing Body Refining Level Two. Most present were at Essence Gathering Level Two, and even in a group, they doubted their ability to take down a beast so close to Rank Two.

However, there were some who seemed unfazed, perhaps holding a trump card of their own.

"A demonic beast on the cusp of Rank Two... I'm not sure if I can contend with it now. To defeat it, I may need to advance my cultivation level. But the Cosmic Spiritual Energy here isn't sufficient. I'll need a significant amount of Cultivation Spirit Medicine. I hope the Kun Cloud Mountain Range yields enough for a breakthrough; otherwise, it's going to be problematic," Ling Yunfan mused, his expression a mix of concern and resolve, unlike the sheer desperation of others.

Ye Tianwen and his companions shared a similar look, though they appeared somewhat more composed.

"Why the long face, Mr. Yunfan? Is it because you find this assessment overly challenging and are pondering your strategy?" Ye Tianwen approached Ling Yunfan, whose expression had darkened slightly, and inquired.

"Actually, with a solid strategy, we could take down a demonic beast that's nearly Rank Two. With your formidable strength, Mr. Yunfan, all we need to do is create the right opportunity for you."

"Exactly!"

Pann Shaohuang and Yuu Mo chimed in after Ye Tianwen's question.

Ling Yunfan's face, previously shadowed by concern, brightened back to its usual demeanor as he responded, "Alright, let's team up as a group of four and tackle this challenge together!"

"Agreed."

The three of them smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Starting now, an Array Barrier will manifest throughout the Kun Cloud Mountain Range to prevent the escape of demonic beasts or individuals. It will vanish automatically after ten days. At that point, you can present your Qualification Token to the sect, and upon my review, you'll have passed the test and become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Dragon Hidden Sect. You may now descend the mountain," Elder Yun announced, not long after laying out the rules.

With his words, numerous young disciples quickly formed groups of four and began their descent.

"We should head out too," Ling Yunfan suggested to Ye Tianwen and the others, and they set off down the Kun Cloud Mountain Range.

Ye Tianwen, Yuu Mo, and Pann Shaotian promptly followed suit.

As Ling Yunfan walked away, Elder Yun silently urged, "Yunfan, you must survive. Even if you can't slay the demonic beast, as long as you live, you can still become an Inner Sect Disciple. Survival is paramount above all else!"

Ling Yunfan was aware that he could become an Inner Sect Disciple without passing the assessment, but he had no desire for unearned rewards. He believed firmly in the principle that a proper process leads to good outcomes.

Thus, the assessment was a crucial trial for Ling Yunfan. Only by overcoming it could he embark on the path of the Martial Dao.

"To break through my cultivation more swiftly and confront the demonic beast nearing Rank Two, I must cultivate while traveling. It will drain my spiritual energy, but it's the only way," Ling Yunfan resolved as he descended the mountain with Ye Tianwen and the others. He then activated the God Devil Exterminating Spell, conjuring the image of a dragon head and phoenix shadow at his heels.

Upon reaching a forest, they found an abundance of Profound Rank Low Level Cultivation Spirit Medicine. They paused to harvest, and Ling Yunfan, spotting the herbs, promptly consumed them. Those useful for healing or restoring spiritual force were stored in his Universe Bag. Not wanting to stray too far, they gathered for two hours before regrouping.

"Tianwen, why just the two of you? Weren't we supposed to meet here after two hours? Where's Yuu Mo?" Ling Yunfan inquired upon returning to their initial resting spot, finding only two of his companions there.

"We're not sure. Yuu Mo seems to have wandered off, but this area is vast, making it hard to pinpoint his aura. Perhaps he stumbled upon a wealth of Heaven Earth Spirit Medicine and lost track of time," replied one of them.

"That's a possibility," agreed Shaotian.

With Ling Yunfan's concern growing, he suggested, "We can't just sit and wait. We're a team of four and must stick together. Let's split up and look for him. If we can't find Yuu Mo within three hours, we'll regroup and continue our search for both Yuu Mo and the half-Rank Two demonic beast."

Having made his statement, Ling Yunfan strode ahead.

Within the group, Ling Yunfan was unanimously recognized as the leader. His words carried weight, prompting the others to follow his lead without question. Besides, Pann Shaotian and Ye Tianwen had been eager to search for Yuu Mo for quite some time. Their lingering at this spot was merely out of necessity—to await Ling Yunfan's return and the final decision he would bring.