Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 131 Striving for First Place and the Assessment Begins (Please Subscribe)
"Xin'er, your opponent in the first round is Jin Mo from a collateral branch of the Jin family. He is at the seventh level of Qi Refining. You don't need to use the Hundred Swords Formation. Just use the Golden Light Talisman Sword Formation to deal with him!"

"If there are no unexpected events in the second round, continue using the rune sword array. We will use the personal sword array in the third round!"

"In addition, this is a high-grade Qi-unifying pill of the first rank with two-stage patterns that I have refined. You can take it as soon as possible after your competition to restore your cultivation."

In the Maple Leaf Courtyard, Wang Yu solemnly explained the competition to Zhou Ling and Wang Xin.

In her opinion, neither Zhou Ling nor Wang Xin would have much of a problem in terms of technique; on the contrary, she should be careful in this duel.

Zhou Ling, in particular, was relatively weak due to his lower cultivation level, so he faced opponents who were mostly from the upper region and were relatively strong.

"Mother, can Brother Ling use this Golden Light Sword Talisman Array?"

Wang Xin asked with a smile.

She wasn't too worried about her own situation; instead, she was more concerned about Zhou Ling's predicament.

“Ling Ge’er isn’t a formation master. Using this Golden Light Sword Rune Formation is too slow to activate, so it doesn’t offer any advantage,” Wang Yu shook his head.

His gaze then turned to Zhou Ling, "Your opponents this time are all quite strong, so be careful."

"Yes, Aunt Wang!" Zhou Ling replied respectfully.

I discussed this with He Zijian and his sister yesterday, and he also learned a lot about the other disciples being assessed.

Everyone has different cards to play, so he dared not be careless.

Putting aside other things, He Lingyun's Haoyang Bird, Wang Xin's rune sword array and personal sword array are not things that ordinary rogue disciples can withstand.

However, he now has quite a few methods, and with the addition of the Two-Dan Pattern Qi-Harmony Pill provided by Aunt Wang, the recovery speed will be accelerated even further.

This can be considered as making up for the shortcoming of low cultivation level.

Of course, his cultivation level is relatively low. Although he is only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, his spiritual power, after being tempered by flames, is pure and profound, and is no less than that of an ordinary seventh level Qi Refining cultivator.

Of course, the gap between them and cultivators like He Zijian, who are at the ninth level of Qi Refining and whose spiritual energy is equally pure and abundant, is still obvious.

Looking at Zhou Ling and Wang Xin, Wang Yu continued to analyze some of the opponents' situations with them.

Her analysis, from her perspective, is distinctly different from that of He Zijian and the others.

This also greatly benefited Zhou Ling.

"Since Xuan Yuan Dao Academy only admits two students, you must strive to be number one in both the skills assessment and the combat assessment."

Finally, Wang Yu spoke seriously.

Given the methods she used to prepare for her daughter, she has a very good chance of making it into the top four.

After all, with the help of this portable Hundred Swords Formation, Wang Xin already has a great chance of winning against ordinary opponents.

With the addition of other formations and techniques, it's entirely possible to make it into the top four.

As for Zhou Ling, although his cultivation level is low, he cultivates the "Five Elements Qianyang True Technique," and his spiritual power is inexhaustible. He will definitely not suffer a loss when facing a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Moreover, his extensive combat experience completely exceeded her expectations.

Therefore, she wanted to set higher goals for them.

To avoid any slackening during the assessment.

"Mother, we can strive for first place!"

Wang Xin asked in a low voice.

She had always been among the top students in her training since childhood, but she hadn't paid much attention to whether she was number one.

Zhou Ling looked at Wang Yu in surprise, not expecting that Wang Yu would have such high expectations of them!
"Just do your best!"

Wang Yu said seriously.

"Don't worry, Aunt Wang, we will do our best!"

Zhou Ling said decisively.

Defeating He Zijian in the [Illusion Simulation] greatly boosted his confidence.

With this level of fighting strength, it's hard to say whether he can take first place, but he's confident he can make it into the top four.

······.

At dusk, when I returned home, Li Ru had already prepared a table full of delicious dishes.

As the assessment date approaches, Zhou Ling's daily meals have been upgraded to a higher standard.

It was all spiritual food, and all of it contained a considerable amount of spiritual energy.

The ingredients alone for one meal would cost several spirit stones.

Fortunately, the distillery is doing well these days.

They can afford this expense.

"Mother, there's no need to prepare these spiritual foods every day!"

Zhou Ling said while gnawing on a spirit chicken leg.

"Ling'er, just focus on preparing for the assessment, don't worry about anything else!"

Li Ru served him another large bowl of spirit chicken soup, and said with a smile.

"This is a basket of spirit eggs sent over by Old Xu. Old Xu heard from somewhere that Ling'er is no match for that An family disciple."

"It seems that some casinos outside have even opened betting odds, all believing that the other side will definitely beat Ling'er."

"Old Xu and the others were not convinced, so they pooled together some spirit stones and bet on Ling'er to win!"

Zhou Shan shook his head as he drank the spirit wine.

"Sigh, it's not easy for Old Xu and the others to earn spirit stones!" Li Ru shook his head as well.

"Dad, why don't we add some too!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling immediately perked up.

He has spent a lot of spirit stones on buying magic swords, pills and the like these days.

He was worried about not having a way to earn more spirit stones.

If you bet on yourself to win, you should be able to make some money.

"No, these are black market gambling dens. If you get caught, it might affect your eligibility for the assessment!"

Zhou Shan thwarted Zhou Ling's opportunistic idea.

"All right!"

Zhou Ling thought about it and realized that her father made sense.

There's no need for me to lose sight of the bigger picture for a small gain.

"Ling'er, don't think too much about it. Just do your best!"

"No matter what the result is, we believe in you!"

Li Ru's eyes revealed concern.

Zhou Ling smiled and nodded.

After finishing his meal, he went back to his room to cultivate.

However, with the assessment approaching soon, Zhou Ling found it difficult to relax.

After much thought, I felt somewhat anxious and uncertain.

This assessment was undoubtedly the best opportunity for him to change his fate.

If you fail, you can only continue cultivating at the Lingxia Sect.

Future achievements will likely be limited.

Therefore, no matter what, I must seize this opportunity.

In terms of skills assessment, I have a significant advantage with the assistance of the Five Elements Spirit Flame.

In terms of magical combat, we cannot be careless.

After all, those he was facing were mostly scions of powerful families, with considerable strength and skill.

Moreover, with this elimination system, if you lose by accident, you're out.

After thinking for a long time, Zhou Ling still couldn't calm down, so he simply poured himself a cup of spiritual tea and drank it while reviewing the information of the disciples who were participating in the assessment.

Especially those disciples who are very likely to encounter him.

······.

June 7th, dawn was breaking.

A sudden downpour last night swept away the heat of the past few days.

The air is exceptionally fresh right now.

Breathing in the fresh, moist air, Zhou Ling felt a surge of energy.

Today is the day of the assessment for the six major academies.

The assessment took place in the square of Lingxia Mountain, the main peak of the Lingxia Sect.

The Zhou family is some distance from Lingxia Mountain.

After having breakfast early in the morning, the family boarded the hired carriage and headed towards Lingxia Mountain.

After a stick of incense had burned, they arrived at Lingxia Mountain.

The towering, continuous mountain peaks stand majestically, extremely magnificent and vast, and brimming with spiritual energy.

The various halls and pavilions of Lingxia Sect are built against the mountain, with ancient trees reaching the sky, red walls and yellow tiles, showing their grandeur.

At the mountaintop stands a grand hall shrouded in wisps of mist, both mysterious and solemn.

Passing through the majestic mountain gate, at the end of a straight bluestone path lies the square of the Lingxia Sect.

In the morning sunlight, the white jade-paved ground shimmered with a warm glow.

In the center of the square.

There are separate assessment platforms standing there.

Similar to the previous assessment for first-grade magicians.

Although it was still early, there were already quite a few people in the square.

Many disciples who looked to be around his age were pacing back and forth, seemingly even more nervous than he was.

"Brother Zhou, Sister Ru, you've arrived so early!"

At this moment, Wang Yu and Wang Xin walked over.

"Uncle Zhou! Aunt Ru!"

Wang Xin also joined Zhou Shan and his wife in exchanging greetings.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wang Yu looked at Zhou Ling and smiled, "Don't be nervous, just show what you've learned!"

"Although there are 128 participants this time, less than half of them will be able to pass the first-class certification of the Tiangong Division."

"Besides, you're a member of the Heavenly Crafts Guard; they're the ones who should be worried!"

“Yes, Aunt Wang!” Zhou Ling nodded.

Before long, six cultivators dressed in different styles walked up from the judges' panel.

Immediately, everyone in the square was drawn to them.

Zhou Ling followed the gazes of the people and recognized two of the six.

They were Steward Qin and the beautiful Inspector Lu from the Heavenly Crafts Bureau.

The other four people, three men and one woman, all possessed powerful auras.

"They are all instructors from the four major academies, and they are responsible for scoring this assessment!"

"The middle-aged man in the gray robe is Instructor Hu from Xuan Yuan Dao Academy. He is a second-grade weapon refiner and alchemist."

Wang Yu quietly introduced the situation to Zhou Ling and the others.

Zhou Ling's gaze involuntarily fell upon the middle-aged man in the black robe. He had a square face, a slightly overweight body, and his eyes were slightly narrowed.

"The assessment will begin in one incense stick's time. Disciples, please proceed to your respective assessment platforms according to the jade tokens in your hands!"

On the judges' panel, a young man dressed in a black robe spoke slowly.

The clear voice was heard very clearly by everyone in the square.

"Xin'er, be careful!"

Zhou Ling encouraged Wang Xin.

Wang Xin nodded, and then the two of them walked to the assessment platform respectively.

Once on the assessment platform, Zhou Ling quickly found his seat and took it.

The setup on the stone platform in front is similar to that of the last first-grade mage assessment.

This time, however, no earth fire was introduced; instead, each person had a rune on their jade platform.

This is a Tier 1 high-grade fire rune, which is of better quality than earth fire.

It is also relatively fairer.

After all, the power of ground fire varies depending on the individual's skill level.

If you use talisman fire, you're basically on the same starting line.

Zhou Ling quickly inspected the tools on the jade platform.

Soon after, as the ancient and melodious bell rang, the assessment officially began.

A faint white light shield rose around Zhou Ling.

The sealed object on the jade platform was thus opened.

Besides the spirit brush, spirit paper, and spirit ink, there are two other utensils inside.

A triangular alchemy furnace and a jade sword.

The materials appear to be of excellent quality.

Zhou Ling first picked up the animal skin paper containing the test questions, which listed the inscriptions to be refined in this test.

"A first-grade superior fire-wood inscription and a golden light inscription!"

Setting down the animal skin paper, Zhou Ling murmured.

The Fire and Wood Inscription consists of two inscriptions with twenty-three characters each: the Fire Condensation Inscription and the Wood Qi Inscription.

The Golden Light Inscription consists of two sets of twenty-four inscriptions: the Golden Light Inscription and the Escape Light Inscription.

Clearly, the latter is far more difficult than the former.

After all, the difficulty increases significantly with each additional inscription.

Moreover, there is a rare light-escaping inscription.

Of course, this golden inscription is the so-called bonus assessment.

Choosing to draw the Golden Light Inscription will result in a higher score than drawing the Fire and Wood Inscription.

However, this is contingent on successfully refining it.

This type of twenty-four-pattern composite inscription is a rare type of inscription, and it must be successfully refined within a specified time.

It is undoubtedly very difficult.

Zhou Ling glanced around and noticed that almost all the disciples taking the test had picked up their alchemy furnaces.

Although the scoring points for Firewood Inscription are lower, the difficulty is also significantly lower.

Moreover, if successfully refined, the quality will be good, and the score may not be lower than that of the Golden Inscription.

"Aunt Wang said that to ensure a top-three finish in the assessment, we should choose the bonus mark!"

Without giving it much thought, Zhou Ling began to carefully observe the golden inscription.

[You are observing the Golden Light Inscription. Intermediate Observation +1, Golden Light Inscription Proficiency +3]

[You are analyzing the Golden Light Inscription. Intermediate Analysis +1, Golden Light Inscription Proficiency +3]

Before long, Zhou Ling had a general understanding of the key points of drawing the golden inscription.

The two inscription nodes are quite difficult to draw.

Zhou Ling pondered for a moment, then picked up his magic brush and began to draw.

Before long, wisps of green smoke appeared on the spirit paper.

My first attempt at drawing failed!
However, Zhou Ling remained calm as he carefully observed the patterns on the spirit paper.

[You are observing the Golden Light Inscription. Intermediate Observation +1, Golden Light Inscription Proficiency +3]

[You are analyzing the Golden Light Inscription. Intermediate Analysis +1, Golden Light Inscription Proficiency +3]

He quickly devised a way to improve it.

Meanwhile, on the assessment platform, most of the other disciples participating in the assessment were still exploring the materials of the two tools.

Zhou Ling, however, had already begun drawing. After all, he possessed two talents for observation and analysis, and he could immediately discern the material composition of the two artifacts.

This is also a huge advantage for him.

This speed also attracted the attention of the judges.

"Senior Brother Hu, that little fellow is Zhou Ling, whom I mentioned to you. He's quite young, yet he's already mastered a second-grade spirit flame!"

"And it's an extremely rare Five Elements Spirit Flame!"

Lu Yunxi whispered to the middle-aged man in black robes beside her.

"Oh, but to start drawing so quickly is far too hasty!"

Frowning as he looked at Zhou Ling, Instructor Hu asked in confusion.

It is important to know that when creating an inscription, a good grasp of the materials is crucial.

If you don't observe the equipment carefully, even a slight mistake will lead to failure.

After all, observation equipment is also part of the assessment.

"This?" Lu Yunxi blinked, her expression also somewhat puzzled. Could this little guy be so careless?

Surely they wouldn't treat these specially crafted tools as ordinary tools?

If that's the case, then even with the aid of spirit flames, attempting to inscribe the mark would likely still fail.

"This little guy might have his own way of observing!" Lu Yunxi could only say with a wry smile.

Besides participating in the evaluation and assessment of the six major academies, she also had a major task: to recommend candidates for the Tiangong Division's onboarding assessment.

She had a deep impression of Zhou Ling because of the Five Elements Spirit Flame.

In addition, Steward Qin strongly recommended it.

Therefore, Zhou Ling is also a key person she pays close attention to.

Seeing Zhou Ling's skillful use of the pen, Instructor Hu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Let's take a look first!"

(End of this chapter)