I have a martial arts panel.

Chapter 235 Strategies for High-Level Assessment

Hearing Zheng Yiqing say this, Xu Ning's interest was piqued.

When Xu Ning was in Yuanbei, he did not have any interaction with other alchemists.

Since Xu Ning's own improvement in alchemy skills was all thanks to the help of the martial arts panel, there was no need for him to have in-depth exchanges with other alchemists.

Moreover, the alchemists in Yuanbei are all of relatively limited skill levels, and even if Xu Ning wanted to find someone to exchange ideas with, they wouldn't be on the same level.

Hearing Zheng Yiqing say this, Xu Ning felt that his trip to see Leng Ran might also allow him to get in touch with the alchemist circle in Wansheng Prefecture.

"Brother Xu, you went to seek out Senior Leng Ran, presumably hoping to follow him and improve your alchemy skills, right?"

Zheng Yiqing had an expression that said he understood Xu Ning's thoughts.

"Yes."

Xu Ning stopped explaining and followed Zheng Yiqing's lead, saying, "Originally, I just wanted Senior Leng Ran to give me some pointers, but I didn't expect Senior Leng Ran to actually take on disciples."

"In that case, shall we travel together to find a master?"

Zheng Yiqing extended an invitation.

"That's good, but with me on the list, Brother Zheng, you'll have one more competitor."

Xu Ning said with a smile.

Zheng Yiqing waved his hand: "Senior Leng Ran does not limit the number of disciples she recruits. As long as you can pass the assessment, you can become a disciple."

"A disciple in name only..."

After listening, Xu Ning asked again, "Then how does one become a true disciple?"

"A true disciple?"

Zheng Yiqing shook her head slightly: "Difficult, extremely difficult. Senior Leng Ran only accepts disciples once every ten years, and each time she may only accept one or two true disciples. Those who can be selected as her true disciples basically have to have the level of a Grand Alchemist before entering the sect."

"Oh?"

Xu Ning then realized that he had underestimated Senior Leng Ran.

This senior Leng Ran's alchemy skills are probably among the top even among great alchemists.

"No wonder the former sect leader of the Yanlu Sect entrusted the sect's treasury to Leng Ran..."

Xu Ning thought to himself, "This is probably because Leng Ran has a high status and great influence in alchemy. Otherwise, if it were someone else, they probably wouldn't be able to protect the Yanlu Sect's treasury. Like Senior Wan Ye before, he was hunted down and had to flee Wansheng Prefecture just for taking a sect token."

"There is a significant difference between a disciple who is only registered and a disciple who is a true disciple."

Zheng Yiqing didn't notice Xu Ning's thoughts. He continued, "Nominal disciples can only study under Senior Leng Ran for ten years. After that, they must leave the Bamboo Grove. Only true disciples can stay under Senior Leng Ran's side and learn alchemy from him for a long time."

"I don't want to think about it too much. Being able to become a disciple and observe Senior Leng Ran's alchemy up close for ten years is enough."

Zheng Yiqing had no ambition to become a true disciple, nor did she think Xu Ning had a chance to become Leng Ran's true disciple.

After all, Zheng Yiqing had never heard of Xu Ning's name in the alchemist circle of Guqing Prefecture.

"Thank you so much, Brother Zheng, for clearing up my doubts."

Xu Ning learned about Leng Ran from Zheng Yiqing and thanked him.

At this moment, the delicious food was served, and Xu Ning invited Zheng Yiqing to enjoy it together.

During this time, Grey-White also tasted the precious ingredients after cooking, but it wasn't very interested in them.

Afterwards, Xu Ning and Zheng Yiqing went to the bamboo forest together.

Because Xu Ning needed to accommodate Zheng Yiqing's pace, this trip would take nearly ten days.

……

Finally, after a long journey, the two arrived at the bamboo forest where Leng Ran was.

Looking around, Xu Ning realized that what was called a bamboo forest was more like a sea of ​​bamboo.

The green shadows sway endlessly in the breeze.

A gust of wind blows, and a vast expanse of emerald green waves appears.

"arrive!"

Looking at the familiar scene before him, Zheng Yiqing couldn't help but feel excited.

He had already been eliminated twice, and this time he came with a do-or-die mentality.

"Who goes there?"

The two had only walked a few steps along the path through the bamboo forest when a figure suddenly flashed in the bamboo sea.

A man dressed in white, holding a bamboo sword, stood in front of the two.

"Grandmaster of the Dao Realm..."

Xu Ning had already realized that the white-robed man with the bamboo sword in front of him was a Grandmaster of the Fusion Realm, at the same level as himself.

"We are here to participate in Senior Leng Ran's disciple assessment."

Upon seeing the man in white, Zheng Yiqing was not surprised at all. This was not his first time here, and he was always subjected to this kind of questioning every time he came.

"Will you participate in the assessment...?"

Upon hearing this, the man in white relaxed his serious expression somewhat.

"The same to you?"

He specifically asked Xu Ning a question.

The man in white also sensed Xu Ning's strength as a Grandmaster of the Dao Realm.

"Too."

Xu Ning did not directly state his purpose.

Xu Ning felt that he should not make the matter of taking the treasure from the Yanlu Sect public; he needed to see Leng Ran in person before he could tell her.

"You can go in, but not this monster."

The man in white stared at the gray-white mark on Xu Ning's shoulder.

Seeing this, Xu Ning did not argue.

"Grey White, wait for me outside the bamboo grove."

Xu Ning said to Gray White.

He wasn't worried about Gray's safety; if Gray really encountered danger, he could simply hide inside the monster map.

Moreover, this area around the bamboo forest is Leng Ran's territory, and under normal circumstances, no bad guys would dare to cause trouble in this area.

"Brother, once you've finished your important business, just come find me outside."

Gray was also sensible; it transformed into a silver shadow and left the bamboo forest.

"Go in."

The man in white glanced at Xu Ning a few more times.

"This year's assessment quota is 150 people, and there are already more than 100 people here. Hurry up and get over there."

The man in white reminded him.

Thank you.

Zheng Yiqing and Xu Ning spoke at the same time.

Then, the figure of the man in white disappeared into the bamboo forest once again.

"Is this person a disciple of the Danzhulin Sect?"

Xu Ning inquired.

"No, he is a follower of Senior Leng Ran."

Zheng Yiqing said, "Although Senior Leng Ran recruited disciples, she did not establish a sect. In order to maintain the safety and stability of the Bamboo Forest, she recruited a group of followers. These followers were responsible for handling Senior Leng Ran's miscellaneous affairs, and Senior Leng Ran provided them with the pills needed for cultivation."

"For example, recently, the Bamboo Grove was recruiting new disciples, and these followers are responsible for screening the candidates who came here for examination. Only those who have reached the Tongyin Realm and have the desire to become disciples are allowed to enter."

Zheng Yiqing continued, "For a master alchemist of Senior Leng Ran's caliber to become her follower, one must undergo rigorous selection. After all, following Senior Leng Ran ensures not only a plentiful supply of pills, but also high-quality and effective ones, which significantly accelerates one's progress."

"So that's how it is..."

Xu Ning understood and nodded.

"Let's hurry up and grab a spot first."

Zheng Yiqing urged.

Xu Ning quickly followed.

As Xu Ning wandered through the bamboo forest, he saw other followers dressed in white.

We also saw some harmless monsters moving through the forest.

These demonic beasts, unlike the gray-white and green-shadowed ones, clearly lacked the ferocity of demonic beasts. Instead, they resembled domesticated pets, obviously raised specifically by the Bamboo Forest.

"Sure enough, most people have already arrived."

Zheng Yiqing led Xu Ning into the assessment venue.

It was a clearing in a bamboo grove, paved with blue bricks, with 150 tables neatly arranged on the ground.

Next to each table, there were people sitting cross-legged.

The vast majority of them were high-level Void Realm martial artists, with only a handful being early-level Dao Realm grandmasters.

At the edge of the open space, several people dressed in white were waiting.

When Zheng Yiqing and Xu Ning arrived, some people turned their gazes toward them, while most others closed their eyes to rest and await the upcoming assessment.

"Find a table and sit down; that's it, your spot is secured."

Zheng Yiqing whispered, "The assessment will begin once all 150 examinees have arrived."

"understood."

Xu Ning responded.

He had already planned to take the assessment first, and then explain his purpose to Leng Ran in person later.

Through this assessment, I can also observe the level of ordinary alchemists in Wansheng Prefecture.

Afterwards, Zheng Yiqing and Xu Ning found two empty, connected tables in the corner and sat down.

Zheng Yiqing closed her eyes and adjusted her mindset.

Xu Ning was quite relaxed and looked at the decorations on the table.

On the table in front of him was a half-meter-high and half-meter-wide alchemy furnace, along with the special type of wood needed for the alchemy process.

Not everyone who studies alchemical texts can directly use elemental power to break down medicinal properties; some people must use fire to extract the medicinal properties from the raw materials.

"Everyone's desk has the same decorations. This way, the assessment can minimize external interference."

Xu Ning understood his intentions.

Take Xu Ning as an example; his Daoist alchemy furnace can enhance the success rate and quality of pill refining.

Although its effect on refining Dao Realm pills, which have higher requirements and are more difficult, is limited, its function cannot be completely ignored.

After observing all the examinees, Xu Ning sat down like the others.

Several hours passed, and although Xu Ning did not open his eyes, he could still sense that people were constantly arriving.

"One hundred and fifty people, almost everyone has arrived..."

Xu Ning opened her eyes again and found that it was already dark.

Of course, the weakest person present was at least at the Tongyin Realm, so this had no effect on them.

"Gao Zhice has actually come!"

"Gao Zhice? This person is Gao Zhice?"

"He's also here to participate in Senior Leng Ran's disciple assessment?"

"It seems he's the true disciple for this assessment!"

"..."

Suddenly, the quiet testing area erupted into a flurry of discussion.

A handsome man dressed in a blue robe, exuding an extraordinary air, walked step by step into the assessment area.

He paid no attention to the comments of others and went straight to an empty seat to sit down.

Then, with a wave of his long sleeves, he sat down to rest.

"A brilliant strategy..."

Xu Ning stared at the man for a few more moments.

Although he didn't know Gao Zhice before, he could infer from the behavior of others that Gao Zhice was very famous in the alchemist circle of Guqing Prefecture.

Thank you to Boss Liang for the donation!

(End of this chapter)