After binding with a genius, I became an immortal by exploiting loopholes.

Ten days later, the second assessment will be conducted.

On Yuxin Peak Square, the remaining two hundred or so fairy seedlings stood solemnly, the atmosphere so heavy it was suffocating.

On the high platform, Elder Chen stood with a stern expression, while several disciples held the roster and the Nine Palaces Spirit Appraisal Instrument, standing solemnly to one side.

"Those whose names are called, come forward."

Elder Chen's voice was devoid of any emotion, "This assessment will be based on the 'progress in root bone' and will be a comprehensive evaluation. Those who rank in the bottom thirty will either have to leave the sect or go to the Service Peak."

"Zhou Wu, with sixty percent of the Yi Jin Jing completed and the Xi Sui Jing not yet opened, has a weak foundation. Overall: Ding Xia."

"Wu Nian, with 80% completion of Yi Jin Jing and slight progress in Xi Sui Jing, has a decent foundation. Overall: C-level."

"Zheng Hao, you have achieved the perfect Yi Jin Jing and completed the first stage of Xi Sui Jing..."

As each name was read out, some people turned pale and staggered back, while others barely managed to steady themselves but were already drenched in sweat.

Soon, it was Lu Qingchen's turn to be in his room.

"Wang Ming, step forward."

Wang Ming took a deep breath, stepped forward, and placed his hand on the spirit mirror.

He is a mid-grade cultivator with four spiritual roots. He has been cultivating diligently these days, and his Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Technique) has already reached perfection, while his Xi Sui Jing (Marrow Cleansing Technique) has progressed by more than 30%.

The light flickered for a moment, displaying: [Marrow Cleansing: 32%; Foundation: Solid; Overall Evaluation: Lower Grade B.]

Wang Ming breathed a sigh of relief and stepped aside.

While this result isn't top-tier among the more than two hundred promising young talents, it's still firmly within the safe zone.

"Li Si, step forward."

Li Sisi has a superior spiritual root and better aptitude than Wang Ming, so his marrow cleansing progress has been faster lately.

The Spirit Appraisal Instrument glowed: [Marrow Cleansing: 68%; Foundation: Solid; Overall Rating: Medium.]

Li Si's face lit up with joy, and he quickly retreated.

"Sun Han, step forward."

Sun Han practically shuffled forward, his hands trembling violently.

He was a low-grade Five Elemental Root. Although he had a weak earth-attribute spiritual body, his spiritual root was still there. He had practiced desperately these past few days, but he had only barely reached the threshold of the Lesser Completion of the Tendon-Changing Technique.

The light from the spirit-seeking instrument dimmed, flickering for a long time before revealing the words: 【Yi Jin: 45%; Foundation: Weak; Preliminary Assessment: Lower Ding.】

"Step back, await further instructions," the disciple in charge said coldly.

Sun Han's face turned deathly pale, and he staggered back to the group, his body ice-cold.

Ding Xia, pending – these two words mean he is on the verge of elimination, just waiting for the final ranking.

After Sun Han, it was Lu Qingchen's turn.

"Lu Qingchen, step forward." The voice of the disciple in charge, Gu Jingwubo, rang out again.

In the crowd, Wang Hao leaned against a pillar at the edge of the square, watching the assessment with a bored expression.

He didn't have to come, but since Yuxin Peak was under martial law today, he was transferred here as an outer sect steward to maintain order.

As his gaze swept over the tense faces of the young immortals, he couldn't help but recall that he had gone through the same thing back then.

When Lu Qingchen's name was called out, Wang Hao raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced into the crowd.

That kid who bribed him with three spirit stones and begged to go to Mingfa Peak to "experience the Daoist charm"?

He remembers it clearly.

With five low-grade spiritual roots, it took him fifty days to complete the initial stage of the Tendon Transformation Technique after entering the sect. This speed is considered fast among mixed spiritual roots, but compared to the entire Yuxin Peak... Wang Hao shook his head, not holding out much hope.

Li Si and Wang Ming watched nervously, their palms sweating.

Sun Han barely managed to lift his head from the shock of the impending defeat, staring intently at Lu Qingchen's retreating figure.

Lu Qingchen calmly stepped forward and placed his hand on the cold spirit-detecting instrument.

He deliberately concealed his aura, but the effects of the cultivation transformation and marrow cleansing brought by the Dao Stele were still evident under the instrument.

hum-

The spirit-detecting instrument trembled slightly, and then its light shone!

The five colors representing the five elements are clearly visible. Although they are not dazzling, each color is quite pure. In particular, the blue light representing the wood element appears exceptionally warm and even, showing an excellent nourishing state.

The text on the light screen quickly appeared: [Marrow Cleansing: 41% complete; Foundation: Solid; Preliminary Assessment: Lower Grade B]

The square fell silent for a moment, then erupted into chaos.

"What? Forty percent of the marrow cleansing has been completed? I'm not seeing things, am I?"

"Lower Grade B? He's only a low-grade Five Elemental Root, and he's been rated Lower Grade B?"

"That can't be... I only have a mid-grade C-level spiritual root, what makes him think he can do that?"

Whispers rose and fell, mixed with disbelief and astonishment.

Those immortal seedlings who had once struggled at the bottom like Lu Qingchen stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

Wang Hao leaned against the pillar, his previously nonchalant expression freezing on his face.

He subconsciously straightened up, squinted at the words on the spirit mirror, and the nonchalance on his face vanished instantly.

"Marrow cleansing completed forty percent... Lower level B?"

Wang Hao muttered to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear, "A low-grade five-elemental-root?"

He recalled the day Lu Qingchen came to his door, handing him three spirit stones, saying he wanted to go to Mingfa Peak to "experience the Daoist charm".

He accepted the spirit stones and stood with the boy in the Cuiwei Herb Garden for half an hour, just to get rid of this ignorant and arrogant pedant.

But now, this "poor scholar" stands before the Spirit Appraisal Instrument, having undergone 40% marrow cleansing, and is rated as a lower-class scholar—better than his performance in the same examination group back then.

Wang Hao's Adam's apple bobbed, he took a soft breath, and leaned back against the pillar.

How did someone with five spiritual roots of low grade achieve this?

Did standing in the Cuiwei Medicinal Garden for half an hour that day really transform him completely?

Li Si and Wang Ming exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

They knew that Lu Qingchen had made great progress recently, but they never expected that he would quietly complete the forty-year marrow cleansing!

Li Sisi has a superior spiritual root, and even after risking his life these past few days, he has only managed to cleanse his marrow to the 60th degree.

Wang Ming has four spiritual roots of medium grade, and his marrow cleansing is just over 40%.

A low-grade five-elemental-root cultivator's marrow cleansing progress is not much behind theirs!

Sun Han stood in the waiting area, his lips trembling and his eyes red-rimmed.

He stared intently at Lu Qingchen's retreating figure, his heart churning with indescribable emotions—shock was a natural reaction.

Both of them possessed the lowest grade of the five spiritual roots, yet he hadn't even reached the threshold of marrow cleansing, while Lu Qingchen had already completed forty percent of marrow cleansing. The difference was so great that he wondered if he had been sleepwalking these past few days.

There is envy, too.

He wished he were the one standing before the spirit mirror, the one being talked about by everyone; he wished he could be like Lu Qingchen, suddenly enlightened, and rush forward without any obstacles.

But more than anything, it was an indescribable emotion—gratification? Perhaps.

Seeing that Lu Qingchen had finally made it through, he was happy for his roommate.

But amidst the joy, a bitter feeling welled up in my heart.

Lu Qingchen has passed, but what about me?

Ding Xia, pending!

These two words were like two knives, cutting into his heart again and again.

He didn't know where he would go after the assessment, or whether he would be able to continue cultivating after leaving Yuxin Peak...

Sun Han bit her lower lip hard, swallowing back the sob that was about to escape her lips.

On the high platform, Elder Chen opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the data from the spirit-measuring instrument. He lingered for a long time on the "43% completion of marrow cleansing," a clear look of surprise flashing in his eyes.