Chapter 1318: Assessment Complete

For tens of thousands of years, he had assessed eight descendants of the Eye of Discernment. Each of them revered him as a god, a saint, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. Upon seeing the Nine Serenities Divine Pupil Art, they were even more astonished, as if it were a divine creation. They strictly followed its cultivation, fearing their own talent might be insufficient and thus tarnish such an exquisite art.

This guy, however, took one look, completely stumped him, and then... went to sleep!

So nonchalant, so soundly asleep...

You're acting as if you're certain I can't solve this!

Shaking his head in frustration, he finally sat down helplessly, gazing at the cultivation art before him, deep in thought.

Although displeased, he knew that what this guy said was not wrong in the slightest. These few questions alone demonstrated that his understanding of the Nine Serenities Divine Pupil was no weaker than his own.

Without resolving these issues, one certainly couldn't cultivate blindly.

If one harbored doubts about the cultivation art and lacked confidence, how could they bravely advance, become unrivaled, and break through to higher realms?

After an unknown period, Zhang Xuan stretched and opened his eyes.

Ever since arriving at the Qianchong Empire, he hadn't rested. On the way, he had diligently cultivated and guided Zhang Jiuxiao, so he was already extremely tired. As this was inside the mountain gate and Kui Sheng was looking after him, there would be no safety issues. With his mind relaxed, he slept very soundly.

"Three days and three nights?"

He stood up, stretched, and silently calculated the time in his mind. Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be startled.

He had thought he only slept for about a day, but he hadn't expected to sleep for three days and three nights in one go. The thought filled him with embarrassment and made him feel quite awkward.

Perhaps it was because he had been under too much stress recently and hadn't rested well. The sudden relaxation, without a concept of time in his mind, made the time pass so quickly.

"Did that guy solve my problems?"

Remembering something, he turned to look in Kui Sheng's direction. He saw that the old man's body was already so translucent it looked like it could disappear at any moment. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face showed an indescribable weariness, as if he had completely exhausted his essence, energy, and spirit, and could collapse at any moment.

"What happened to you?"

His mouth twitched, and Zhang Xuan was startled.

Before he slept, he was fine. Why did he look like this after waking up?

"You're finally awake..."

Kui Sheng's face flushed. "Your questions, I've pondered for three days... I really can't answer them!"

He had originally thought that solving even one question within three days would be acceptable... But in the end, he had overestimated himself; he simply couldn't succeed.

The deeper he thought about these questions, the more his confidence in the cultivation art wavered. Now, he even doubted whether the path he had taken previously was correct.

"If you can't figure it out, just forget it, it's not a big deal!" Zhang Xuan said, offering comfort. "Just pay attention when you cultivate later..." He had thought it was something serious.

"..." Kui Sheng felt even more choked up inside.

Why did he feel like he was the student?

"The assessment lasts three days. Shouldn't I be leaving now?"

He looked around, realizing he was still within the folded space. Zhang Xuan looked over in confusion. "What about my points...?"

Everyone else went to take the assessment, but he slept for three days. What if he didn't pass?

"Wait a moment," Kui Sheng said. "I'll get you some points now..."

Kui Sheng looked embarrassed.

He had been pondering how to solve the other party's problems and had completely forgotten about this matter...

A dignified Hall Master, if he couldn't even become a student, then there would be no need for the Saint Son Hall to exist.

Previously, when Hall Master candidates were cultivating the Nine Serenities Divine Pupil, he would subtly help them increase their scores so no one would notice. This time, he was too shaken and forgot about it.

He pointed a finger, and a moment later, he sighed in relief.

"All right," he said. "Your points are enough to enter the elite class!"

"Thank you!"

Seeing the other party's assurance, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and understood at the same time.

The previous eight Hall Masters, although they didn't sleep soundly right after arriving like him, had diligently studied the Nine Serenities Divine Pupil. Regardless of how long it took, they likely had no time to earn points either.

For them to successfully become students, it must have been orchestrated by the first Hall Master of the Saint Son Hall.

The Mountain Gate Assessment was designed by him, so giving out some points was nothing!

"Work hard," Kui Sheng urged, "and strive to break the seal on the Hall Master Token as soon as possible, become the Hall Master, and pass down Master Kong's insights and your teacher's cultivation art from generation to generation!"

As he instructed, Kui Sheng's eyes held anticipation.

This one before him was different from all previous Hall Masters he had assessed. Perhaps he could truly forge a different path.

Modifying the Nine Serenities Divine Pupil to be even more perfect and greatly advancing it!

"Don't worry, I will!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

The identity of Hall Master was very important to him. It could greatly increase his leverage to legitimately marry Luo Ruoxi.

Furthermore, he could obtain more resources and quickly strive to become a 9-star master teacher.

Whichever reason, he could not give up.

"Mm!"

Nodding with satisfaction, Kui Sheng waved his hand.

Zhang Xuan immediately felt his body sway, and the scene before him changed again.

Whoosh!

His body flickered, and a huge portal appeared before him. He stepped inside, and the next moment, he was already on the previous plaza.

"I'm back already?"

Blinking his eyes, Zhang Xuan looked around. Indeed, he saw many students who had vied to enter the mountain gate three days ago. Some were joyful, some were dejected; each had a different expression.

Although they couldn't see the assessment tablet, they still knew how well they had performed. As soon as they came out, they had a certain guess in their hearts about whether they would pass or not.

Just as he was about to look for the people he came with, the portal before him flickered, and a figure walked out. It was none other than Zhang Jiuxiao.

"How was your assessment?"

"I don't know for sure," Zhang Jiuxiao replied, his eyes shining. "But it should... be fine!"

"Oh? What did you get assessed on?"

Among ten thousand candidates, only the top five hundred would be chosen. Zhang Xuan wondered what exactly he had been assessed on for him to be so confident.

"Swordsmanship," Zhang Jiuxiao said. "I reached the semi-true comprehension level. Coupled with cultivating the Three Swords of Ethereal Void, although it's still weak and not very powerful, among these students, it's considered top-tier..."

On the way from the Qianchong Empire, Zhang Xuan had thoroughly taught him the Way of the Sword, which greatly increased his understanding and allowed him to reach the level of semi-true comprehension.

Combined with the Three Swords of Ethereal Void, even Ma Minghai, previously famous for his swordsmanship, was no match for him... Standing out among numerous geniuses wasn't too difficult.

"That's good!"

Spending so much effort to specifically guide him was precisely to help him pass the assessment and become a student of the Saint Son Hall. If he failed, it wouldn't look good for Zhang Xuan.

"I've estimated my results," Zhang Jiuxiao continued. "I should be able to become a student, but getting into the elite class will be difficult!"

"Elite class?"

Hearing this name for the second time, Zhang Xuan looked over with some curiosity.

"The elite class is the class that only the top geniuses of each batch in the Saint Son Hall can enter," Zhang Jiuxiao explained, his eyes filled with longing. "There are only fifty people in total! Those who can enter are all geniuses among geniuses..."

"Only fifty?" Zhang Xuan gasped.

Five hundred students are admitted, but the elite class only takes fifty, which is another one-in-ten selection.

Just from such a strict selection process, one can see how excellent those who can enter this class must be.

"Yes," Zhang Jiuxiao confirmed. "Those who can enter represent unlimited future achievements. At the very least, they can become influential figures in a major power. If I can enter, when I return to the family later, my status might even be higher than Zhang Qian's!"

"Don't Sage Clans determine status by bloodline?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

"It is determined by bloodline," Zhang Jiuxiao explained, "but... it's not the only criterion. Some collateral branches with impure bloodlines, relying on their own strength and achieving dazzling results, can also gain importance!"

"The status of the Saint Son Hall on the continent goes without saying," Zhang Jiuxiao explained. "Becoming a student of its elite class, regardless of future achievements, just in terms of connections, is incomparable to others!"

"That's true!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Those who can enter the Saint Son Hall's elite class are almost all top figures from various major powers. Even if they don't become palace masters, hall masters, or similar in the future, at the very least, they can become elders!

Being in the same class as them and building connections is a huge advantage in itself, something others can't compare to.

The regular classes, by comparison, are much weaker.

"By the way, Teacher Zhang," Zhang Jiuxiao asked, full of curiosity, "how many points do you have roughly? Can you estimate it? Is there a chance you could enter the elite class?"

He knew a lot about Zhang Xuan's abilities. If he exerted his full strength, entering the elite class should still be possible.

However, it was hard to say for sure, after all, there were simply too many experts here.

It gathered the youngest geniuses from the entire continent. Wanting to stand out was extraordinarily difficult.

"Well..." Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile. "I'm not quite sure myself!"

Although Kui Sheng had told him he could enter the elite class, he didn't know exactly how many points were needed.

"Not sure?"

Seeing that he didn't want to say, Zhang Jiuxiao didn't ask further. He smiled. "Actually, it's fine if Teacher Zhang doesn't say. The results should be almost tallied now, and they will be announced soon!"

The assessment had ended, and the results should be tallied very soon.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, who passed and who didn't would be known today.

"Mm!"

Zhang Xuan understood this point as well. The two of them found Ma Minghai and the others and walked over.

Ma Minghai and Sun Qian's expressions were normal; it seemed their results were good. The others, however, looked somewhat unwell, each filled with worry, seemingly having no confidence in their own results.

No wonder. There were simply too many geniuses in the Saint Son Hall. Although they were considered peak figures in their families and empires, compared to experts from various professions and alliances, they weren't so outstanding.

"I wonder how many of this group will be admitted..." Zhang Xuan mused, seeing their anxious expressions.

It was like thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge; to become an expert, anywhere, it was extraordinarily cruel.

It wasn't something achieved overnight.

Just like himself, if he weren't so outstanding, he wouldn't have been able to progress step by step from Tianxuan Kingdom to reach his current level.

With the assessment concluded, all those who participated filed out of the portal one after another. On the assessment tablet in the Achievement Hall, there was a final refresh.

Numerous welcoming envoys each stood before it, anxiously looking up, filled with tension.