Chapter 1299: Assessment Complete

Over tens of thousands of years, he had assessed a full eight juniors with the Eyes of Clear Insight. Each one regarded him as a god, a sage, and dared not show the slightest disrespect. Upon seeing the Nine Nether Divine Pupil technique, they were even more astounded, treating it as a divine revelation, and cultivated strictly according to it, fearing that their own inadequate talent would defile such an exquisite method.

But this fellow, after a single glance, got himself stumped, and then... went off to sleep!

So calm, so soundly...

You're certain I can't solve it, aren't you!

Shaking his head in frustration, he finally sat down helplessly, looked at the technique before him, and sank into thought.

Though displeased, he knew that what the fellow said was not wrong at all. From these few questions alone, it was clear that his understanding of the Nine Nether Divine Pupil was no less than his own.

Without resolving it, he certainly couldn't cultivate blindly.

With doubts about the technique and lack of confidence, how could he advance boldly, dominate all, and charge toward higher realms?

After who knows how long, Zhang Xuan stretched and opened his eyes.

Since arriving at the Qianchong Empire, he hadn't had a moment's rest. On the road, he had been diligently cultivating and instructing Zhang Jiuxiao, and was already exhausted. Here, inside the mountain gate, with Kui Sheng watching over him, safety was not an issue. With his mind relaxed, he slept very soundly.

Three days and three nights?

Standing up, he stretched and silently calculated the time. Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be startled.

He thought he had only slept for about a day, but unexpectedly, he had slept for three days and three nights. Just thinking about it made him feel deeply embarrassed and very sorry.

Perhaps it was also due to the recent stress, having never rested properly; suddenly relaxing, with no concept of time in my mind, it passed so quickly.

"Did that guy solve my problem or not?"

Remembering something, he turned his head to look in the direction of Kui Sheng, and saw that this old man's body had already become ethereal, on the verge of vanishing at any moment. His eyes were red, his face indescribably weathered, as if he had exhausted all his essence, energy, and spirit, on the brink of collapse.

"What's wrong with you?"

His mouth twitched, Zhang Xuan was startled.

Before sleeping, he was fine; how did he become like this after waking up?

"You're finally awake..."

Kui Sheng's face flushed red: "I pondered your problem for three days... but I truly cannot answer it!"

He had thought that within three days, he could solve at least one... but in the end, he had overestimated himself; he simply couldn't succeed.

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

"If you can't figure it out, forget it. It's not a big deal! Just be careful when you cultivate in the future..." Thinking it was something serious, upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan comforted him.

"..." Kui Sheng's heart felt even more stifled.

Why did he feel like a student?

"The assessment time is three days. Should I go out now?"

He glanced around and found himself still in the folded space. Zhang Xuan looked over in confusion: "What about my points... what should I do?"

Everyone else had gone for the assessment, but he had slept for three days. What if he didn't pass?

"Wait a moment, I'll get you some points right now..."

Kui Sheng looked embarrassed.

He had been so focused on solving the other's problem that he had forgotten about this matter...

If a dignified hall master couldn't even become a student, then the Saint Child Hall had no reason to exist.

In the past, he had always helped the hall master candidates increase their scores bit by bit while they cultivated the Nine Nether God Eye, making it unnoticeable. This time, the blow had been too great, and he had forgotten about it.

He pointed a finger, and after a moment, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, your points are now enough to enter the elite class!"

"Thank you!"

Seeing the other's assurance, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and also understood.

The previous eight hall masters, although not like him who had fallen asleep as soon as he arrived, had studied the Nine Nether God Eye seriously, unaware of the passage of time, and probably hadn't had the time to earn points either.

For them to successfully become students, it must have been arranged by this first hall master of the Saint Child Hall.

The mountain gate assessment was all designed by him; getting some points was nothing!

"Work hard, and strive to break the seal on the hall master token as soon as possible, become the hall master, and pass down Confucius's will and the teacher's techniques from generation to generation!"

After saying this, Kui Sheng's eyes were filled with anticipation.

The person before him was different from all the previous hall master candidates who had taken the assessment. Perhaps he could truly forge a different path.

Modify the Nine Nether God Eye to be more perfect and carry it forward!

"Don't worry, I will!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The identity of hall master was very important to him; it would add significant leverage to openly marry Luo Ruoxi.

He could also obtain more resources to quickly break through to a Nine-Star Master Teacher.

Neither of these paths allowed him to give up.

"Hmm!"

Satisfied, Kui Sheng nodded and waved his hand.

Zhang Xuan then felt his body shake, and the scene before him changed again.

Whoosh!

His body swayed, and a huge gate appeared before him. He stepped inside, and the next moment, he was already on the previous square.

"I'm back just like that?"

Blinking his eyes, Zhang Xuan looked around and indeed saw many of the students who had vied to enter the mountain gate three days ago. Some were happy, some dejected, each with a different expression.

Although they couldn't see the situation on the assessment jade tablet, they could still gauge how they had performed. As soon as they came out, they had a certain idea of whether they would pass.

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

"How did you do on the exam?"

"I don't know either, but... it should be fine!"

His eyes shining, Zhang Jiuxiao was full of gratitude.

"Oh? What did you test on?"

He was confident even among ten thousand selecting the top five hundred—what exactly had he tested?

"Sword techniques. I've reached the level of half-true understanding, and with the practice of the Three Lingxu Swords, though still weak and not considered formidable, among these students, I'm at the top..."

Zhang Jiuxiao said.

On the way from Qianchong Empire to here, the person before him had meticulously taught him the way of the sword, greatly increasing his understanding of it to the level of half-true understanding.

Combined with the Three Lingxu Swords, even Ma Minghai, previously renowned for his swordsmanship, was no match... Standing out among the many geniuses wasn't too difficult.

"That's good!"

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Having spent so much effort specifically instructing him, he wanted him to pass the assessment and become a student of the Saint Hall. If he failed, it wouldn't look good for him either!

"I've calculated my results; I should be able to become a student, but entering the elite class will be very difficult!"

Zhang Jiuxiao continued.

"Elite class?"

Hearing this name for the second time, Zhang Xuan looked over curiously.

"The elite class is the class that only the top geniuses of each cohort in the Saint Hall can enter. There are only fifty people! Those who enter are all geniuses among geniuses..."

A look of longing appeared in his eyes, Zhang Jiuxiao said.

"Only fifty?" Zhang Xuan clicked his tongue.

With five hundred admitted, the elite class only takes fifty—another ten-to-one selection.

From such stringent selection alone, one could see how outstanding those who enter this class must be.

"Yes, those who enter represent limitless future achievements. At the very least, they can become leaders of a faction. If I could enter, returning to the family later, my status might even surpass Zhang Qian's!"

Zhang Jiuxiao said.

"Don't sage clans determine status by bloodline?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

"It is determined by bloodline, but... it's not the only measure. Some collateral branches with impure bloodlines, relying on their own strength to achieve dazzling results, can also gain attention!"

Zhang Jiuxiao explained: "The status of the Saint Hall on the continent goes without saying. Being able to become a student of its elite class—not to mention future achievements, just the network alone is incomparable to others!"

"That's true!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

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

Being in the same class and building connections is itself a major advantage that others cannot match.

The regular class, in comparison, is much weaker.

"By the way, Teacher Zhang, roughly how many points do you have? Can you calculate? Is there a chance to enter the elite class?"

After saying this, Zhang Jiuxiao looked over with great curiosity.

He knew a lot about this person's abilities; if he went all out, entering the elite class should still be possible.

But then again, it was hard to say, after all, there were too many experts here.

Gathering the continent's youngest geniuses, standing out was no ordinary difficulty.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile: "I'm not too sure either!"

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 press further and smiled: "Actually, it doesn't matter if Teacher Zhang doesn't say. The results should be almost tallied now, and they'll be announced soon!"

With the assessment over, the results should be tallied soon.

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

"Mm!"

Zhang Xuan understood this too. The two found Ma Minghai and the others and walked over.

Ma Minghai and Sun Qian looked calm, seemingly with good results. The others looked less pleased, each full of worry, seemingly lacking confidence in their own results.

No wonder; there were too many geniuses in the Saint Hall. Although they were at the top in their families and empires, compared to the experts from various professions and alliances, they weren't that outstanding.

"I wonder how many of this group will be admitted..."

Seeing everyone so tense, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but sigh.

Thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge—becoming an expert is brutally harsh anywhere.

It doesn't happen overnight.

Take himself, for example; if he weren't so outstanding, he wouldn't have been able to come step by step from Tianxuan Empire to where he is today.

...

With the assessment over here, all participants filed out of the portal, and the assessment jade tablet in the Results Hall underwent its final refresh.

Many guiding envoys stood before it, looking up nervously, full of tension.