Some time later.
"Good job, Zhang Jing! I didn't expect you to understand the Visualization Method in just six days. You really surprised me! Hahaha~"
Coach Wang suddenly spoke up, laughing and slapping Zhang Jing's shoulder hard.
He did not expect that, among all the people in the seventh Temporary Institute he was in charge of, aside from those from the cultivation families, there would be someone who could master the Visualization Method within a week and earn a Grade-B rating!
That's right!
Coach Wang suddenly remembered that Zhang Jing seemed to live in one of the free stone houses.
This meant - the other was of ordinary background and did not have any prior knowledge of cultivation.
"What extraordinary talent!" He couldn't help but exclaim internally.
He was also an ordinary person when he took the examination, so Coach Wang had a clear understanding of how enormously gifted the boy in front of him was!
His talent was second only to those monstrous talents with Grade-A ratings.
But there were only a few of such monstrous talents, weren't there?
Subsequently, Coach Wang took out a jade slip and recorded Zhang Jing's name and the time it took him to master the Visualization Method.
"Junior Brother Zhang Jing, congratulations on passing the examination and joining the Dao Institute!"
"I have reported your information to the Supervision Pavilion of the Dao Institute. A senior brother will come tomorrow to take you to the Legacy Pavilion to choose a middle-grade legacy."
When he mentioned the middle-grade legacy, Coach Wang sounded a little envious.
In front of Coach Wang.
"Ju... Junior Brother?"
Zhang Jing's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at Coach Wang, unsure if he had misspoken.
"Brother Zhang, apart from the Institute head and the elders of each Pavilion, all the cultivators in the Dao Institute address each other as Senior and Junior Brothers," Deng An explained, walking over.
At that moment,
His gaze lingering on Zhang Jing was still filled with absolute shock and a complicated expression that was hard to describe.
He also admired Ji Bochang - how could his vision be so good?
This was like finding a Spirit Stone in dung but, crucially, he did manage to find one, and a high-grade one at that!
"So, that's how it is. Thank you, Brother Deng, for the information."
Zhang Jing quickly caught on and respectfully said to Coach Wang,
"Thank you, Brother, for your guidance. I'm immensely grateful."
"Haha, Junior Brother, you're too polite." Coach Wang dismissed with a wave of his hand, laughing heartily.
Then, as if something came to mind, Coach Wang kindly reminded, "Junior Brother Zhang, remember to choose a Cultivation Method with a high affinity when selecting a middle-grade legacy in the Legacy Pavilion tomorrow. This is the essence of cultivation."
"Senior Brother, don't we have [Pure Yuan Absorption Visualization Method]?" Zhang Jing asked with some confusion.
"Ahem, Junior Brother, that's just the most basic cultivation method. Its cultivation efficiency cannot compare to those graded cultivation methods at all. If you want to enter the Inner Court, you can't depend on basic cultivation methods to enhance your cultivation."
"To enter the Inner Court, there are age and cultivation requirements!"
Coach Wang said somberly.
Inner Court?!
Zhang Jing felt a jolt in his heart.
"I see, thank you Senior Brother for your guidance."
"Haha, Junior Brother, there's no need for that. Even if I didn't tell you this, I think the Senior Brothers in the Legacy Pavilion will probably remind you. I'm just trying to earn some good karma."
Coach Wang explained joyfully.
"Nevertheless, Senior Brother truly has good intentions. I will remember this kindness." Zhang Jing stated seriously.
Seemingly sensing Zhang Jing's sincerity, Coach Wang became solemn and said earnestly,
"Junior Brother Zhang is quite an extraordinary person. If you ever run into trouble on North Lake Sanlin Island, feel free to come to me. I'll definitely help if it's within my abilities."
"Thank you, Senior Brother~"
Deng An, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but feel envious.
"Alright, prepare to head back two Junior Brothers. After leaving the seventh Temporary Institute, you'll never come back."
"Understood, Senior Brother." Zhang Jing and Deng An replied in unison.
"Haha, go ahead, go ahead, I won't see you off."
Having said that, Coach Wang waved his hand.
And saw the door not far away automatically, slowly open on its own without any wind.
...
...
Creak--
Zhang Jing, carrying his luggage, pushed open the small stone door and slowly walked out.
He couldn't help but look back, his eyes full of emotion.
Although it was only for a few short days, this small stone house was initially the place where he started his cultivation journey, so it held immense significance.
Looking at the traces of time everywhere,
He suddenly wondered,
From the moment this little stone house was built until now, how many people has it witnessed stepping onto the Immortal Way?
Like him, once there would have been people unsure of their fate, staying in this stone house for free.
The next moment,
He turned around and walked towards Coach Wang, who was not far away.
"Haha, Junior Brother Zhang, are you somewhat reluctant?" Coach Wang joked.
"Senior brother speaks wisely," Zhang Jing responded with a smile.
"Perhaps this place will be extraordinary because of you, Junior Brother. We don't know yet," Coach Wang said with a deep gaze. "Let's go, your senior brother who'll pick you up is here."
"Brother, you surely know how to put it into words!"
"Haha, Junior Brother found out?"
Coach Wang awkwardly rubbed his nose and then led Zhang Jing towards the square beside the lecture hall.
Along the way.
Zhang Jing's figure carrying his luggage attracted many curious glances.
But when those glances fell on Coach Wang in front, they quickly shifted away.
For a moment, a variety of thoughts were bumping around in people's minds.
"Is he leaving?"
"What's happening? Could it be possible to abandon the exam early? But isn't it a bit too early to give up at this point?"
Of course, there were also those who understood.
At this moment, a shout of surprise resounded from a hut: "How! Can! This! Be!"
In another stone house.
A chubby boy, with his butt sticking out, was staring intently at the figure that was about to disappear from his sight. He couldn't help but feel sad.
Every sway of the luggage seemed like a heavy hammer, ruthlessly hitting his heart.
The chubby boy recognized who it was at first glance.
But he had advised that person not to give up.
"Sigh, cultivation is indeed difficult, I can't see any hope. Will I end up giving up like that brother?" the chubby boy sighed with sadness, his plump face squeezing into a '囧' expression.
At the square.
A man in a cyan robe had been waiting for a while.
Next to him, Deng An was standing quietly, standing tall. Expectation was evident on his face.
At this moment.
In the single-story courtyard area across the square.
Two people were watching Deng An without blinking, their feelings completely different.
Wu Mingyuan was envious to the point of seeing red, angry that it wasn't himself standing there; while Chu Lingyun was envying with a mix of excitement and anticipation.
Her Visualization Method had just reached the beginner level. Although it was a bit inferior compared to Deng An's, it too was assessed as Grade-B.
As the third person from the Temporary Institute No.7 to pass the assessment, she would be standing there tomorrow!
Time slowly passed.
'Why isn't Coach Wang there? Why are they not leaving yet?' The same doubts appeared in the minds of both Wu Mingyuan and Chu Lingyun simultaneously.
Just at this moment.
The figures of Coach Wang and Zhang Jing approaching the cyan-robed man slowly came into their sight.
Both of them were stunned.
They knew all too well what this move signified.
However, knowing and accepting were two different matters.
Moreover, the person in question was --- Zhang Jing!
"He actually passed...even before me, how is this possible?" Chu Lingyun blurted out, her face incredulous.
It took quite a while for her to come to terms with the reality, murmuring: "Such deep concealment. That Ji Bochang must have known. He probably just wanted to see me get laughed at."
Then, thinking about what she had promised Ji Bochang, she felt a bit excited.
"As Brother Zhang has received a Grade-B evaluation, I'll keep my word. After the assessment, I'll invite him to join us."
On the other hand—-
"I must be dreaming."
Wu Mingyuan murmured, his face a picture of desolation.
...
"Junior Brother Zhang Jing?"
Seeing the two approach, the man in the cyan robe showed a faint smile and asked directly, his tone certain.
"Yes, I'm Zhang Jing. Nice to meet you, senior brother. May I ask how to address you?" Zhang Jing responded confident yet respectful.
"My surname is Lu. Just call me Senior Brother Lu."
"Alright, Senior Brother Lu."
With that, Senior Brother Lu nodded his head, then turned to Coach Wang and joked:
"Junior Brother Wang, you told me yesterday that the results were poor, but today there are two Grade-B talents. You are really not being honest!"
"Haha, it's unexpected, all are unexpected, Senior Brother Lu." Coach Wang responded with a grin.
"You just act! With just these three, your Temporary Institute No.7 is already eligible to rank in the top six amongst the thirteen Temporary Institutes. Forget it, I won't say more. I will take the two junior brothers to the Legacy Pavilion first."
As his voice fell.
Senior Brother Lu flicked his sleeve and a palm-sized green spirit boat slowly floated out and grows larger in the breeze.