From Joy of Life, the Tian Gang is reversed

Chapter 518 Inner Sect Examination Qualification: A Mission with Major Problems
Feathered Immortal Sect, Woxian Academy

Although this place is named "Woxian" (Sleeping Immortal) and is used for outer disciples to live and cultivate, it is not a simple dwelling.

There were rows of independent courtyards built against the mountain, nestled among the pines and cypresses. Each courtyard was full of spiritual energy, far superior to the polluted world of the mortal realm.

In the early morning, Li Chengqian opened the window and looked at the distant mountains shrouded in mist. He felt refreshed and invigorated with every breath.

For the past month, he has kept a low profile, devoting almost all his time to cultivation.

There's no way around it, he has to work hard. The level of this world is obviously much higher, and he doesn't have any cheat codes, unlike in other worlds where he has the ability to deal damage.

Fortunately, there is the Taiyin Refining Form Technique.

Having gained experience from several worlds, his understanding of the Taiyin Refining Technique has deepened. This technique also demonstrates strong adaptability in this world, focusing on tempering the physical body, purifying blood and qi, and refining the spirit. In addition, the Feathered Ascension Sect is not stingy with its outer disciples, providing them with basic food supplies consisting of spirit rice and blood dishes made from the meat of ferocious beasts, which contain abundant essence and qi, enough to support disciples in the Physical Body Realm to cultivate at a high intensity.

In just one month, with the help of the Taiyin Refining Technique and a large amount of resources, his strength had increased from the eighth level of Divine Might to the ninth level of Spiritual Connection.

Upon reaching the ninth level of the Spirit Realm, the brain of this body is further developed, the mind is sharp, and one can introspect, perceive the subtle details, and have perfect control over one's own blood and strength. In addition, with the enhancement of the body by the Taiyin Refining Technique, his strength at this time far exceeds that of ordinary cultivators who have just entered the Spirit Realm.

Just as he was about to advance to the Divine Transformation realm in one fell swoop, he got stuck.

As he prepared to break through, he sensed a familiar yet dangerous aura.

He was actually quite familiar with this feeling; it was the suppression of the world's rules. His soul had not yet fully adapted to this world and needed further refinement before it could completely integrate into it. The Taiyin Refining Technique could not help much with this; he needed the world's orthodox methods for cultivating the spirit, such as the Yuan Chen Spirit Technique.

To obtain the Yuan Chen Spiritual Technique, one needs to advance further within the Feathered Immortal Sect and become an inner disciple.

"To become an inner disciple, you need to get the chance to take the exam, and then you waste time completing sect tasks. It's really a pain in the ass!"

He originally hoped to ascend to the highest level in one step and directly become a true disciple of the Divine Power Realm, but he did not expect to be stuck at this step.

Although it is possible to succeed by forcibly advancing through the Taiyin Refining Technique, there are too many monsters in this world. What if the flaw is discovered?

After much thought, I've decided to take it one step at a time.

"Brother Chengqian, I never imagined that you would reach the ninth level in just one month. Congratulations!"

Just then, three young men and women walked over. Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Brother Wenyuan, you are as dashing as ever!"

Entering the Feathered Ascension Sect is not just about arduous cultivation; social interactions are indispensable, and making friends with like-minded people is also an important part. Even if you don't make connections, others will seek you out. Li Chengqian comes from the Yuehua Li family, which is not top-tier in the Step-Immortal Academy Square, but it is still considered above average among tens of thousands of outer disciples. He knows a few of the powerful and wealthy scions of the Great Li Dynasty, and has good relationships with a few of them. For example, the three people who came to see him are all powerful and wealthy people from the Great Li Dynasty.

The speaker was Xu Wenyuan, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenhai. Tall and imposing, with a forthright personality, he wielded a long, fine iron spear. His cultivation was at the peak of the eighth level of the Divine Valor Realm. His family guarded the East Sea of ​​the Great Li Dynasty, clashing with overseas rogue cultivators and even demons. Their family's martial arts were fierce and powerful. A bright-eyed, white-toothed girl named Su Muyu, a princess, was also a Divine Valor Realm cultivator, but she was more skilled in lightness techniques and hidden weapon techniques. The last one, who looked somewhat scholarly, was Yuan Zhi, the youngest grandson of the Prime Minister of the Great Li Dynasty. He was at the seventh level of the Inner Strength Realm of the Physical Body, but possessed vast knowledge, knowing everything about the rules of the Feathered Ascension Sect, various missions, elixirs, magical artifacts, and even some of the sect's prominent figures.

All four came from Dali. At first, Li Chengqian was not familiar with him. However, after seeing Li Chengqian's strength in the main hall of the Immortal Academy that day, he took the initiative to befriend him. Gradually, they naturally formed a small circle, often exchanging cultivation experiences and resources. This was also Li Chengqian's method of integrating into this world.

"Hey, the three of you came together today, you must have something on your mind!"

Inviting the three into the house and having them sit facing each other, Xu Wenyuan smiled and said, "Brother Chengqian, you're right. This time, it is indeed an important matter. The sect has issued a notice for the mission of exterminating demons underground, with extremely generous rewards! Not only can you exchange merit points for pills and magic weapons, but most importantly, if you can kill enough underground demons and accumulate battle merits, you can directly obtain the qualification for the inner disciple assessment!"

"The qualification for the inner disciple assessment?!" Li Chengqian's heart stirred, and he nodded slightly.

He didn't care about the so-called rewards; what he cared about was the qualification to be assessed as an inner disciple.

Yuan Zhen continued, "This mission will be led by several senior disciples from the inner sect. They will go to an entrance to an underground crevice controlled by the sect to clear out the underground demons who have been causing trouble recently and are trying to break through the seal. There are certainly dangers, but compared to other missions to obtain the qualification for the inner sect assessment, this mission has a clear process and a clear objective. As long as you are strong enough and know how to avoid danger, the chances of success are not small."

“Not bad,” Su Muyu said softly, but his tone revealed a hint of excitement. “The underground environment is complex and dark, but I have the ability to locate by listening to the wind, which can come in handy. Brother Wenyuan’s spear is advantageous for head-on combat, Yuanzhi is familiar with the habits and weaknesses of demons, and Brother Chengqian, your swordsmanship is fierce and your cultivation is the highest—exactly the core we need. If the four of us join forces, we can give it a try and perhaps accumulate enough merit.” “There’s a problem!” Li Chengqian, after hearing the details of the mission, did not agree with his statement. “Underground demon extermination missions are normal; they happen every day. How can a mission of this level allow us to accumulate enough merit to qualify for the inner sect assessment?!”

As a seasoned cunning man who has lived through many lifetimes, he never overestimates his luck. Clearing out the underground demons is a routine operation for the Feathered Immortal Sect. There are battle merits and rewards, but why would they so easily get the opportunity to be assessed?

Every task that grants an assessment opportunity is a troublesome one, requiring a true disciple to lead the team. This time, it's unusual that a few inner disciples were able to gain enough battle merits.

"This……"

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's words, the group hesitated.

"So, should we go or not?!" Su Muyu asked hesitantly.

“I’m definitely going,” Li Chengqian said. “But you and Yuanzhi should skip it. I feel there will definitely be danger this time. As for Wenyuan, you can decide for yourself.”

"Go, why wouldn't we go?!" Xu Wenyuan replied without hesitation, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Since we've entered the path of immortality, we must strive for it. If we don't, how will we have a chance?"

Li Chengqian nodded and did not try to persuade him further.

As for the other two, they both hesitated.

After all, although Su Muyu and Xu Wenyuan were both at the Divine Might Realm, Su Muyu was significantly weaker than Xu Wenyuan in both methods and strength. As for Yuan Zhi, he was even weaker. But this opportunity…

"Cultivation should be done with courage and diligence, but it is also necessary to assess the situation when necessary. This mission is obviously problematic. Your strength is insufficient, and Wen Yuan and I are underground. We may not be able to help you. The key to the inner disciple assessment is not the qualification, but the assessment itself. Even if you obtain the qualification, are you confident that you will definitely pass?"

Li Chengqian offered another word of advice.

Yuanzhi finally nodded. “Brother Chengqian is right. This mission is indeed unusual. I am only at the seventh level of the Physical Body Realm. Even if I am qualified, it will be difficult to pass the test. I should take some more time to prepare.”

Hearing this, Su Muyu stopped insisting and gave up on the mission.

When Li Chengqian and Xu Wenyuan arrived at the mission hall, the hall was already crowded with people, even more bustling than the square of Taxian Academy that day.

With tens of thousands of outer disciples and countless others eager to advance to the inner sect, this task, which explicitly rewards inner sect assessment qualifications, naturally attracted a great deal of attention.

Li Chengqian and his companion finally managed to squeeze to the front, verified their cultivation levels, and received the mission jade token. The jade token was slightly cool, and the mission information and meeting point were simply engraved on it.

The next morning, Li Chengqian and Xu Wenyuan arrived at the meeting point. Looking at the outer disciples who were much the same as those in the main hall yesterday, they thought to themselves, "There's no limit to the number of people. Sure enough, there's something wrong with this mission."

As they were pondering this, a slight commotion suddenly arose in the crowd, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples to spread, and many people's eyes involuntarily turned in the same direction.

As if sensing something, Li Chengqian also looked in that direction.

A solitary, aloof white figure slowly approached.

She was still dressed in that spotless white robe, her face still youthful yet cold as ice; it was Fang Qingxue.

She seemed completely unaffected by her surroundings and others, walking straight to the edge of the crowd, standing alone, her gaze calmly fixed on the deep crevice at the valley entrance, as if all the noise, scrutiny, and even the inner disciples around her were irrelevant to her.

"She's here too?" Xu Wenyuan exclaimed in a low voice, his tone filled with surprise.

Li Chengqian's expression darkened completely.

Sure enough, this mission didn't just have a problem, it had a huge problem!
(End of this chapter)