Last time, on the second floor of the Golden Pavilion, Leo taught Cassia the ancient magic technique's skills without hiding anything from her. She just wanted to return the favor.
Back then, when she had pulled out the storage ring, she had seen that there was a trace of envy in Leo's eyes. Now that there was an opportunity, naturally she would help him fight for it. Whether or not he would succeed would depend on Leo himself.
To make this bet, she needed Ninth Uncle to use his own weapon as the stake. Cassia felt a bit regretful, but with the support of the City Lord and Sterling Family, they could eventually find a new weapon for Ninth Uncle. Furthermore, it wasn't like Leo was going to lose for sure! Leo had already surprised them before.
The Heaven Mixing dan would significantly enhance Leo's cultivation progress and combat abilities. Consider the remarkable improvements the bone cleansing dan provided; the heaven mixing dan's effects would be even more substantial. Cassia was going to be a core disciple, so she would naturally be given good dan medicines. As for Leo, even if he won first place, he would only be an inner sect disciple. With so many inner sect disciples, if one wanted to get a Heaven Mixing dan or a similar dan, it would not be easy.
"How can this be? In order to help me win some stuff, how could you let Ninth Uncle take the risk…"
Leo wanted to say more, but was stopped by Cassia. She smiled and said, "Right now, the bet has already been made. The elders in the judging area are all witnesses. To ensure Ninth Uncle doesn't lose his weapon, it's crucial that you strive to secure first place."
As they talked, the two had already reached the sword testing hall. Looking around, Cassia said, "I won't talk any longer. I'm going back first. I believe you can do it. Don't disappoint mine and Ninth Uncle's trust.
Seeing Cassia float away, Leo could only bitterly laugh and shake his head. This time, Cassia gave him quite a bit of pressure. Although his goal before was to take first place, now there was a reason that he must take first place, which wasn't for the sake of the betting stakes but so that he could not have to owe other favors.
"Alright, everyone who passed the first round is all present. Then now we will begin the second round of the assessment!" Elder Tren stood on a tall stone platform, looking down at the crowd of martial artists beneath him.
Leo scanned the entire area with his eyesight. There were a lot of martial artists in the crowd. There were, roughly speaking, a thousand or so individuals present. At least ten thousand teenage martial artists from Stellaria City and the neighboring areas had traveled to take part. Ninety percent had failed after the first attempt. It was evident how tough it was to join the Zephyr Blade Sect.
However, this was also in part due to the difficulty of the assessment being raised this time. The martial artists that could pass the first trial were almost all body refining third level or higher. Only a tiny percentage of body refining second-level level with innate divine strength had been able to barely reach the 1000 jin threshold.
"The second trial's content is mental strength. For every martial artist, strength is important, but mental strength is similarly important. On the martial path, there will inevitably be setbacks and temptations. If a person's mental strength isn't strong enough, they go astray and lose their heart's martial path. In severe cases, one could even fall into the devil's path, and fall beyond redemption.
"Surely you all have already seen my stone platform here. This used to be the Sword Testing Hall's sword testing site, but now I have already planted an array. When the array starts up, the assessment will have begun. Other than passing the assessment, or stopping the array, there is no way for you to break out with your own power. The way to pass this round is to successfully pass through all of the mental strength trials. Failing the assessment means an immediate failure.
When Elder Tren had finished declaring the method to pass the trial, the countless martial artists below the platform suddenly burst into an uproar.
"This is a joke, right? How could we possibly pass through all of the mental strength trials?"
"Previously, wasn't it as long as you passed through fifty percent, then you could pass?"
"For the over a thousand people in here, there's probably one, maybe a half, that will be able to pass through all of it right?"
…
"It's over, it's over… older brother Leo, I definitely don't have any hope." Alden immediately held his hands over his ears and shook his head. His mental strength was his weakest point. Now that he actually needed to pass through all of it, he had absolutely zero confidence.
"What are you afraid of." Leo patted his shoulder and said, "As long as you can stick to your heart's martial path, then a mere mental strength assessment will pose no problem."
Alden bitterly smiled: "That's easy for you to say. I don't have the same kind of heart's martial path as you do. It would be better for me to just head back to Azure Peak Village and go look for Little Red."
Leo didn't say anything and thought for a while. Then he smiled and said, "I'll teach you a way. The higher a martial artist's level is, the stronger their body's constitution will be. Keke, then, your ability to endure will become stronger. And also, you will be able to live longer, and naturally, you will be able to enjoy more pleasure. Just think about it that way, and you'll naturally have no problem."
Hearing this, Alden's eyes lit up. This was a good method. It was indeed Brother Leo who could come up with this idea so quickly.
At this moment, Elder Tren's voice echoed once more as he announced, "All participating martial artists, please step onto the stone platform now." After a stick of incense, the assessment will begin! Those that do not come onto the platform will have abstained."
After they heard his words, the crowd of martial artists began to move onto the platform. Although they were continuously complaining about the requirements for this time's assessment, no one was willing to just give up. While participating in the assessment, there was still a sliver of a chance. If they gave up, then there wouldn't be any hope. They could only hope that they would be able to endure through it.
Leo and Alden also began to go onto the stone platform. En route, Leo saw Cassia and Freya. The two girls were also watching him. The former was giving him an encouraging look, while the latter was smiling sweetly.
Returning a smile to the two girls, Leo then turned his head, preparing to enter the second round of the assessment. He asked himself if his heart's martial path was firm, and thus he did not fear this mental strength test.
The sword testing platform was very broad. Although there were over a thousand people on it at once, it didn't feel too crowded, and there was still a bit of free space.
Leo randomly found a spot to sit cross-legged, closed his eyes, calmed himself, and waited for the assessment to begin.
Alden picked a spot near Leo, not too far behind him, and learned from Leo's manner, closing his eyes and sitting down; however, who knows what his mind was thinking about.
In a short while, the crowd of martial artists found places, and the entire Sword Testing Hall suddenly became quiet. In front of the judging area, a stick of incense was slowly burning. While the incense burned, Elder Tren nodded to a deacon next to the sword testing platform, signaling the start of the trials.
That deacon flipped a switch, enveloping all of the Sword Testing Platform's array and immediately starting it!
Leo, who was adjusting his state, suddenly felt a flower in front of him. He had actually already arrived in the middle of a forest, which also had a bit of a familiar feel to it.
After thinking for a moment, Leo came to an understanding. This was actually the place where he had been almost killed by Harold, the wilderness forest where he had cultivated.
Just as Leo realized, suddenly a wolf's howl reached his ear. Leo immediately turned his head and saw an extraordinarily large wolf actually appear not too far away from him!