Fantasy: Starting with a bowl, you can exchange it for endless cultivation.

On Gu Chen's side.

He was naturally unaware that he was being targeted by multiple parties.

Time flies, and twenty days have passed.

These twenty days.

Gu Chen stayed obediently in the inn, using the copper bowl to exchange for information and avoid risks at any time, so that the Treasure Medicine Pavilion and the Yang family outside had no way of finding his whereabouts.

On this day, the day he had agreed with the Treasure Medicine Pavilion to collect the elixir arrived.

Gu Chen went to the Treasure Medicine Pavilion and paid the remaining five thousand taels of silver.

Bring the thirty-four Yi Jin Dan pills that were ordered earlier.

Back at the inn.

Taking out the copper bowl, Gu Chen put all thirty-four Yi Jin Dan pills into it at once.

Thirty-four Grade 4 Innate Tendon-Changing Pills can be exchanged for 340 days of pure cultivation.

Gu Chen chose to exchange.

Instantly, terrifying cultivation power was poured into his body.

Then, it was transformed into innate green wood lightning by the cultivation technique he practiced, and began to temper and reshape his meridians.

The iron bars he had previously constructed were destroyed and broken inch by inch, and then reshaped.

The intense, tingling sensation made Gu Chen cry out involuntarily.

"Um!"

"oh!"

"what!"

Once all cultivation points have been transferred.

Gu Chen's iron tendons were all re-tempered and reshaped into copper tendons.

This allowed him to successfully enter the mid-stage of the fourth realm of the Innate Realm, at the Copper Tendon level.

His meridians had been modified by several spiritual herbs before, and now that they have been reshaped into copper tendons, the meridian characteristics brought to him by those herbs have not weakened, but rather strengthened.

With his current strength, even without relying on the Xuan Tie Body, he can fight against experts at the late stage or even the perfect stage of the fourth realm of the Innate Realm.

If he were to add the Xuan Tie Body, he would be able to fight even a strong person at the early stage of the fifth level of the Innate Realm.

Tomorrow is the day of the divine examination.

He just happened to break through the previous day.

The official appointment system of the Divine Dynasty was based on the system of appointing officials from other places.

In other words, those talents selected through the divine selection process of the Divine Dynasty who choose to serve in the Divine Dynasty's institutions can only take up their posts in other places and cannot serve in the local area.

For example, Gu Chen is a native of Huoyun Prefecture, so he can only take the Divine Examination in Huoyun Prefecture and then go to work in other prefectures.

He broke through to the Divine Examination the day before it was over. After the examination, he would be able to leave Huoyun Prefecture and take up a post in another place.

The divine examination is approaching.

Within the territory of Huoyun Prefecture, there are eleven cities and more than one hundred counties, and many people seeking knowledge have flocked to Huoyun Prefecture.

Within the Divine Dynasty, many top powers also sent special envoys.

The Divine Selection was a system for selecting talent in the Divine Dynasty. Those who stood out from the Divine Selection did not necessarily have to enter the Divine Dynasty to serve as officials.

You can choose to join another faction.

Therefore, every year during the divine rituals, every prefecture-level city where these rituals are held is overflowing with people.

Various factions and aristocratic families within the Divine Dynasty will come to select suitable talents to join their own forces.

The four major sects—Danzong, Tizong, Qizong, and Jianzong—have now dispatched their elders.

Let's see if we can recruit some outstanding talents for our sect.

at this time.

In the main hall of the Precious Medicine Pavilion.

Nie Ke and Fu Tongkui carefully served an elder sent by the Dan Sect.

His name was Xiao Lie, and he was one of the outer sect elders of the Dan Sect responsible for recruiting disciples.

"Are there any outstanding talents in alchemy among the candidates taking the Divine Examination this year at Huoyun Prefecture?" Xiao Lie asked Nie Ke.

"No, within the Fire Cloud Prefecture, anyone with even a little talent for alchemy has already been discovered by my Treasure Medicine Pavilion. We've had them pass the Pill Sect's assessment for registered disciples. As long as they can become a third-grade innate alchemist by the age of twenty-five, we will recommend them directly to the Pill Sect. They won't end up outside the palace," Nie Ke replied cautiously.

Xiao Lie nodded upon hearing this, then asked, "What about those geniuses with exceptional talent in cultivation? Are there any?"

The Dan Sect recruits disciples in two categories.

One type has a talent for alchemy.

It doesn't matter if one's talent for cultivation is lacking, as long as one has exceptional talent in alchemy.

Another type is those who are exceptionally talented in cultivation. Once they are specially recruited into the Pill Sect, they will receive the sect's full support and become the pillars of the sect in the future.

"Yang Wenbin, the son of the head of the Yang family, one of the three first-class families in Huoyun Prefecture, is only twenty years old and has already reached the late stage of the second innate realm. It will not be a problem for him to step into the fourth realm of the Traveler in the future. He should be able to rank first in this divine examination," Nie Ke said.

"A twenty-year-old at the late stage of the second realm of the Innate Realm?" Xiao Lie said upon hearing this, "His talent is quite good, we can keep an eye on him."

"Yes, his father is my senior brother, so I can try to advocate for the Dan Sect," Nie Ke explained.

"OK."

The next day.

Huoyun Prefecture, in the largest central square in the city center.

All forces gathered together.

The five great families and four major sects of the Divine Dynasty all sent representatives to observe the upcoming Divine Examination.

In addition to the government officials who organized the event, important figures from various departments and institutions of the Divine Dynasty, such as the Night Watch, the Surveillance Bureau, the Divine Garment Bureau, and the Divine Guard, also attended.

It's all for the purpose of adding fresh blood to their own organization.

The organizers of the divine examination were Feng Dilun, a special envoy from the county seat, and Tong Chuan, the prefect of Huoyun Prefecture and a sixth-rank official.

The two were now seated in the examiner's seat.

Beside the two was an eunuch from the "Heavenly Factory," who came from the imperial court to represent the one on the dragon throne and ensure that the divine examination was conducted fairly, justly, and openly.

The divine test has three stages.

The first hurdle is the mental one.

The second hurdle is the physical challenge.

The third hurdle is the talent hurdle.

Generally, those who want to enter the Divine Dynasty's military institutions only need to pass two exams to become officials and serve as local administrators, such as town magistrates or county magistrates.

Only then will they take the third test, the final test.

The "Talent Examination" refers to knowledge in civil administration, testing one's ability to govern, manage, and develop a region effectively.

It falls under the category of civil servants.

Gu Chen was not interested in this.

He plans to only take the first and second tests.

His goal is to join the Night Watch.

The Night Watch was one of the most powerful institutions in the Divine Dynasty.

Their status was no less than that of officials of the same rank in the Divine Dynasty.

Its authority is higher than that of the Inspection Bureau and the Divine Garment Bureau.

The first hurdle of the divine test is the hurdle of the heart.

It tests loyalty.

Although the Divine Dynasty was powerful, it was surrounded by formidable enemies.

To the east of the Divine Dynasty lies an endless sea, upon which lie the thirty-six island nations of the East China Sea, who have always coveted the fertile land of the Divine Dynasty.

To the west were numerous nomadic tribes that frequently raided the borders of the Divine Dynasty.

To the north and south lie the Ten Thousand Mountains, inhabited by countless demons. Every few decades, they launch a beast tide, invading the divine dynasty and devouring countless people.

To the north are barbarian tribes who have been at war with the Divine Dynasty for many years. Although they have suffered more defeats than victories, they are ambitious and must be guarded against.

Within the territory of the Divine Dynasty, cults frequently appear, and evil spirits and demons are born and wreak havoc.

Various factors can lead to the emergence of spies who infiltrate and lie in wait within the Divine Dynasty.

The first hurdle in the divine examination is to check whether you are an undercover agent sent by these forces.

More than 300 candidates participated in the Huoyunfu Divine Examination this year.

All participants must pass the psychological test before proceeding to the next two stages.

Psychological assessment.

The process is as follows: the examiner gives you a "heart-questioning stone" to hold in your hand, and then asks you questions. By examining the heart-questioning stone and sensing your spiritual fluctuations, the examiner can determine whether you are genuine or not.

If you lie, the Heart-Questioning Stone will reflect it, and your spiritual fluctuations will also show abnormalities.

It can be detected instantly.

More than 300 candidates were divided into ten groups and assessed simultaneously.

Ten examiners, each holding one of the ten "Asking the Heart Stones," conducted the assessment, with each examiner responsible for one group.

The assessments were conducted quickly, with an average of about 15 minutes allotted for three people.

Gu Chen's group.

He arrived very quickly.

He has now shed his disguise and is participating in the assessment in his true form.

The Divine Dynasty's assessment is very strict; if you come wearing a human skin mask, it may backfire.

The examiner gave the Heart-Questioning Stone to Gu Chen.

"You are candidate number sixty-four, Gu Chen, right?" The examiner looked at Gu Chen.

"Yes," Gu Chen replied.

"I'm going to start asking you questions now." The examiner stared into his eyes.

"Are you a native of Huoyun Prefecture in the Divine Dynasty?" the examiner asked.

"Yes!" Gu Chen replied. Although he was a transmigrator, the original owner of this body was a native of Cangshan County in Huoyun Prefecture, so he was considered one of them.

The Heart-Questioning Stone in his hand did not light up.

His mental fluctuations were normal, so he passed the test.

The examiner then asked him the next question.

"Are you an undercover agent or spy for any cult within the Divine Dynasty?"

"no!"

The Heart-Questioning Stone didn't react, you've passed!

"Are you a spy for the barbarians, the demons, the thirty-six island nations, or the nomadic royal tribes of the West? Have you accepted their offer of defection?"

"No, no, I have never been in contact with these forces," Gu Chen replied.

The Heart-Questioning Stone did not react; you have passed the test.

One last question.

"What is your purpose in participating in the divine examination?"

"The way to acquire higher-level cultivation techniques is to find a powerful backer or powerful figure, so that you can reach a higher realm in the future," Gu Chen replied.

The Heart-Questioning Stone didn't react; you've passed.

"You've passed the test of the heart. Go wait to the side. The second test will begin in a moment." The examiner took the Heart-Questioning Stone from Gu Chen's hand.