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

Startled, Li Si and Wang Ming smiled when they saw the surging spiritual energy around Lu Qingchen.

"Great!" Li Si clapped his hands and said, "Now we only need Wang Ming!"

Wang Ming gritted his teeth, his eyes growing increasingly determined: "Tomorrow, I will definitely succeed tomorrow!"

On the ninety-ninth day, Wang Ming sat from dawn till dusk, and finally succeeded in drawing qi into his body just before midnight.

When he opened his eyes, they were red-rimmed, and his voice was hoarse: "It's done... I've done it too..."

Li Si and Lu Qingchen exchanged a glance and both smiled.

Outside the window, the moonlight was as clear as water.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the 100-day period, and the final test that will determine their fate.

None of the three felt sleepy in the side room.

Li Si leaned against the headboard, staring blankly at the roof beam.

Wang Ming sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating the meager spiritual energy within his body over and over again, as if trying to confirm something.

Lu Qingchen stood by the window, looking at the hazy moonlight outside, lost in thought.

"After tomorrow, we will be formal disciples."

Wang Ming suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of unreality, "Outer sect disciples receive a monthly stipend, cultivation techniques, and can even attend lectures at Mingfa Peak... I never dreamed this day would come."

Li Si snorted: "Stop dreaming and focus on cultivation. Being an outer disciple isn't easy. If your cultivation progress slows down in the future, you'll still be kicked out."

"I know."

Wang Ming shrank back slightly, then laughed again, "But at least we've crossed the first hurdle, haven't we?"

Li Si didn't reply, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Lu Qingchen turned around and looked at his two roommates who had been sharing a room for a hundred days, feeling a strange sense of emotion.

A hundred days ago, they were still worrying about Yi Jin Jing, concerned about Xi Sui Jing, and doing their best for that slim chance of Qi entering the body.

Now, all three of them have come to this point.

"Get some rest," he said. "You have an assessment tomorrow."

"I can't sleep," Wang Ming said honestly.

"Then don't sleep, stabilize your spiritual energy again."

Li Si sat up abruptly. "Tomorrow's assessment isn't just about whether you've mastered Qi; it's also about how solid your foundation is. Don't let anyone find fault with you."

Wang Ming nodded quickly and closed his eyes again.

The room fell silent, with only the three of them breathing heavily.

Lu Qingchen also sat down cross-legged and immersed himself in introspection.

Within his dantian, a faint wisp of spiritual energy flowed quietly, small yet pure.

He tried circulating his spiritual energy for one cycle, and the energy flowed slowly along his meridians without any stagnation or obstruction, as smoothly as a stream flowing through a riverbed.

He opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Tomorrow will be a new beginning.

......

The following morning, more than one hundred Immortal Seedlings stood solemnly in Yuxin Peak Square.

Compared to 100 days ago, the number of people has decreased by nearly 70%.

Those geniuses who had mastered Qi cultivation had long since left Yuxin Peak and gone to Mingfa Peak to listen to lectures.

Those who remain here today are either mediocre and slow to progress, or like Lu Qingchen, who barely finished by the deadline.

The square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Some people had calm expressions, some clenched their fists, some closed their eyes to rest, and some had pale lips and sweaty palms.

On the high platform, Elder Chen sat in the center, with three disciples standing behind him, holding a roster and a spirit mirror.

The bronze mirror was about three feet tall, its surface like water, with a faint, shimmering light.

"The 100-day assessment concludes today."

Elder Chen's voice was not loud, but it clearly carried throughout the entire hall: "Those whose names are called, come forward for examination. Those who can guide their Qi into their bodies will be registered into the outer sect; those who fail will be sent to the Service Peak or sent back to their place of origin."

The square was completely silent; even breathing was suppressed to a minimum.

"Zhou Wu".

Zhou Wu stepped forward in response, but his steps were somewhat slow.

He had been cultivating desperately for the past few months, but his spiritual root was limited, and he felt increasingly powerless as he progressed.

He barely slept last night, repeatedly circulating his still-developing fetal breath, but it always dissipated at the last moment.

When he walked up to the mirror, his face was pale, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his fingers trembled slightly.

He placed his hands on the mirror, and the bronze mirror shone with a white light, but it flickered erratically, like a candle flame in the wind, its brightness unpredictable.

Finally, the light faded, and the mirror became dark.

"Failed to induce airflow into the body, disqualified."

Zhou Wu swayed, as if all his strength had been drained away.

He gave a stiff bow and stepped back into the queue on the right.

His shoulders slumped, like a skeleton with its bones removed.

Those standing on the right will either choose to go to the Peak of Service or be sent back to their place of origin—but no matter which path they choose, the path to immortality is cut off.

"Wu Nian".

A thin boy walked up, his hands trembling violently.

The bronze mirror lit up for a moment, then went out.

"Failed to induce airflow into the body, disqualified."

Wu Nian stood there, stunned, as if she hadn't understood the meaning of those words.

The disciple in charge stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, which brought him back to his senses. He staggered to the right and tears streamed down his face silently.

"Zheng Hao".

The bronze mirror lit up, the white light steady, not intense, but truly bright.

"Guide the Qi into the body, and you may be admitted to the outer gate."

Zheng Hao breathed a sigh of relief, quickly walked to the left side of the line, and a smile of relief appeared on his face.

One by one, the names were read out.

Some were happy, some remained silent.

Zhao Ming passed, the white light stabilized, he let out a long breath, and winked at the crowd.

Liu Yuan failed. The bronze mirror lit up for only a moment before going out. He stood on the right, head down, shoulders swaying slightly.

Chen Ergou stood beside him, expressionless, his eyes vacant, like a dry well.

Those who pass stand on the left, and those who fail stand on the right.

The two sides are only a few feet apart, yet they seem like an insurmountable chasm.

"Wang Ming".

Wang Ming took a deep breath and walked onto the platform.

He placed his hands on the mirror, and the bronze mirror trembled slightly, a white light shining forth, warm and steady, rippling gently like water.

"Guide the Qi into the body, and you may be admitted to the outer gate."

Wang Ming's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, and when he stepped aside, his eyes were already slightly red.

"Li Si".

Li Si stepped forward steadily and placed his hands on the mirror.

The white light was even brighter than Wang Ming's, and a faint glimmer of light flowed in the center of the mirror.

"Guide the Qi into the body, and you may be admitted to the outer gate."

Li Si remained expressionless and nodded slightly to Wang Ming and Lu Qingchen as he withdrew.

"Lu Qingchen".

Lu Qingchen calmly stepped forward.

He could feel several gazes falling on him—Wang Hao leaned against a pillar at the edge of the square, squinting his eyes, his nonchalant expression long gone.

Elder Chen watched him silently, his gaze calm yet sharp.

Some of the immortal seedlings who had previously tried to curry favor with him were now holding their breath, wanting to see if this low-grade Five Elemental Root could pass the test.

He placed his hands on the cold mirror surface.

The bronze mirror remained still for a moment, then emitted a soft white light.

The light was not strong, even fainter than Wang Ming's, but it was exceptionally pure, without a trace of impurity, like a clear mountain spring, crystal clear.

On the edge of the mirror, words appeared: [First layer of Qi Refining, Spiritual Power Purity Grade B+...]