Chapter 38 Promotion Assessment

Under the stunned gaze of all the students, Ye Yuan slipped away, leaving behind Feng Ruoqing's slightly resentful eyes.

But Ye Yuan couldn't care less; he was simply too sleepy.

He still had to fight through the night—how could he do that without catching up on sleep?

As for being an assistant, Ye Yuan had only agreed casually. At this point, he had no choice but to agree.

Feng Ruoqing was a genuine Liquid Realm martial artist; if she didn't want Ye Yuan to leave, he absolutely couldn't, even with his Flash Step.

Returning to his quarters, Ye Yuan slept until dusk before waking up groggily.

He tossed a top-grade Rejuvenation Pill into his mouth, and with the recovery from sleep, his yuan energy was soon mostly restored.

This Rejuvenation Pill was one Ye Yuan had refined before leaving, and it came in handy now.

After recovering his yuan energy, Ye Yuan continued using the Six-Pointed Star Array to refine super-grade Vitality Pills.

This was a massive project. Tens of thousands of high-grade Vitality Pills, even refining six at a time, would yield several thousand super-grade Vitality Pills.

And so, Ye Yuan slept during the day and refined pills at night.

Two days later, at dusk, Ye Yuan had just woken up and was about to refine the last batch of super-grade Vitality Pills when an unexpected guest arrived—the host of the life-and-death duel, Hu Yan Yong.

Ye Yuan was called out by Lü'er, who mysteriously closed the door, making things seem a bit odd.

"Haha, hello Teacher Hu Yan. What brings you here? I've got things to do, so let's keep it brief?" Ye Yuan laughed casually.

Hu Yan Yong was an easygoing man and wasn't offended by Ye Yuan's attitude, but he asked with some curiosity, "Since I'm here, won't you invite me in for a seat?"

Ye Yuan stood guard at the door, showing no intention of inviting him in. If Hu Yan Yong saw that he could casually refine super-grade Vitality Pills, it wouldn't just be the Dan Wu Academy—the entire Qin Kingdom would be in an uproar.

"Well... it's a mess inside, Teacher Hu Yan, better not come in. Another day when I've tidied up, I'll invite you over for a proper cup of tea," Ye Yuan prevaricated.

Ye Yuan had heard of Hu Yan Yong—though usually cold, he was a fair and upright man, so Ye Yuan didn't worry about him forcing his way in.

Hu Yan Yong naturally knew Ye Yuan was up to something inside, but the student's quarters were private, and he couldn't barge in, so he had to give up.

"Alright, I'll wait for your invitation."

Ye Yuan had only been polite, but Hu Yan Yong took him up on it.

Everyone said Hu Yan Yong was devoted to martial arts and indifferent to others—what had gotten into him today?

"I came to tell you that your strength should now be enough to enter the Xuan level. You can go for the promotion assessment," Hu Yan Yong stated his purpose.

At Dan Wu Academy, classification wasn't based on realm but on actual combat strength.

When students felt their strength was sufficient, they could go to the Illusory Spirit Tower for a promotion assessment. Once passed, they would advance a level, and Hu Yan Yong was the instructor in charge of these assessments.

In fact, most of the Di-level students at Dan Wu Academy were there through connections, with limited potential, just coasting along. The true elites were all at Xuan level and above.

Ye Yuan had previously been one of those coasting along.

Fei Qingping was originally outstanding among the Huang level, and after breaking through to Yuan Qi Fifth Layer, he had the strength to challenge the Xuan-level assessment.

But if that were all, Hu Yan Yong wouldn't have personally come to urge Ye Yuan to take the assessment.

Challenging the Illusory Spirit Tower was the student's own business; he wasn't about to push them.

During the life-and-death duel, Hu Yan Yong had developed a strong interest in Ye Yuan, this sudden standout.

Clearly, Ye Yuan harbored many secrets. Of course, that wasn't a big deal—everyone who achieved something had secrets.

Long Tang, first on the Martial List, and Zuo Bugui, second, all had their own fortunes. The academy didn't interfere with that; it needed strong students.

Although Ye Yuan was only at Yuan Qi Third Layer, he had killed Fei Qingping, who was at Yuan Qi Fifth Layer, in the life-and-death duel.

Most importantly, Hu Yan Yong felt that Ye Yuan hadn't used his full strength in the duel, and he was eager to see where Ye Yuan's limits truly lay.

The Illusory Spirit Tower assessment was clearly a good place to test Ye Yuan's real strength.

At Dan Wu Academy, once students reached the promotion standard, they couldn't wait to take the assessment. But Hu Yan Yong heard that Ye Yuan had been sleeping through classes these past few days with no intention of taking the assessment, so he came personally to fetch him.

"Ah? Promotion assessment? That sounds good. When can I take it?" Ye Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then readily agreed.

Ye Yuan had been focused on improving his strength these days and had forgotten about the promotion assessment.

A mediocre person attracts no envy; Ye Yuan wasn't afraid of showing his edge.

As a reborn Alchemy Emperor, Ye Yuan had no need to be timid in this small Dan Wu Academy. He also wanted to see where his current limits lay.

Ye Yuan's answer surprised Hu Yan Yong, who had thought Ye Yuan had some reason for not rushing the assessment.

"Anytime," Hu Yan Yong said.

"Alright, I'll go to the Illusory Spirit Tower tomorrow morning," Ye Yuan said after a moment's thought.

Hu Yan Yong nodded and turned to leave.

"Teacher Hu Yan, wait," Ye Yuan suddenly remembered something and called out.

"What else?"

"I'd like my maid to take the entrance exam. Could you arrange that, Teacher Hu Yan?"

Lü'er had been with Ye Yuan at Dan Wu Academy for a few days, but Ye Yuan had been busy and hadn't had time to arrange things for her. Meeting Hu Yan Yong today, asking him to arrange the exam didn't seem too much.

According to Dan Wu Academy's rules, no matter how prominent one's status, bringing attendants into the academy was not allowed. Lü'er could stay temporarily for a few days, but the academy would eventually take issue if it went on too long.

"That little girl just now? At such a young age, she's already at Yuan Qi Third Layer—barely qualified to take the exam. Alright, bring her along tomorrow," Hu Yan Yong nodded.

With his cultivation, Hu Yan Yong naturally saw Lü'er's strength at a glance.

Lü'er was a year younger than Ye Yuan; reaching Yuan Qi Third Layer was just passable, so Hu Yan Yong didn't think much of it.

But if he knew that Lü'er had gone from zero to Yuan Qi Third Layer in less than a month, who knows what he would think.

In fact, even Ye Yuan was astonished by Lü'er's cultivation speed.

She reached Yuan Qi First Layer in one night, and five days later, with the help of Ye Yuan's Explosive Yuan Pill, she smoothly broke through to Yuan Qi Second Layer.

Then last night, after taking consecutive super-grade Vitality Pills, Lü'er broke through again to Yuan Qi Third Layer, almost catching up to Ye Yuan.

If this cultivation speed got out, it would be absolutely shocking.

Although pills played a part, Lü'er's monstrous talent was even more important. In front of Lü'er, the so-called geniuses of the Qin Kingdom paled in comparison.

Of course, there was also the Thousand Illusion Ice Soul technique Ye Yuan taught her, which seemed tailor-made for Lü'er, making her cultivation smooth sailing.

Lü'er was naturally intelligent; the martial skills Ye Yuan taught her these days she quickly mastered, as if she were born for cultivation.

Lü'er's current strength was definitely not inferior to an average Yuan Qi Fourth Layer martial artist, so passing the entrance exam should be no problem.

Master and maid taking the exam together—that was something to look forward to.