"Superior grade, five-star Moon Embracing bone frame, 150 points."
Amidst the shock and surprise of the crowd, Elder Zhao announced the points Lie Hua had obtained.
"What?! 150 points!"
"Wasn't the highest possible score 100?"
"It seems they had to increase the limit at the last possible moment."
The shock of the peerless five-star bone frame hadn't faded away when another surprise came in the form of the points.
Previously, the highest points Elder Zhao mentioned one could get was 100 points if one had a four-star bone frame. However, with the appearance of a five-star bone frame, Elder Zhao had to increase the upper limit of the points one could obtain. Otherwise, it would be unfair for monstrous geniuses like Lie Hua, who had a five-star bone frame.
The probability of a five-star bone frame appearing in the assessment was so rare that Elder Zhao had dismissed the possibility and announced the upper limit of 100 points for four-star bone frames.
In fact, even the availability of four-star bone frames in the assessment was minuscule. Geniuses with four-star and five-star bone frames were usually directly admitted as inner disciples by the sect and didn't need to take part in such low-level assessments. For reasons unknown, a five-star bone frame appeared in this year's assessment.
"We will continue the assessment," Elder Zhao said loudly and continued to call disciples from the group chosen from various cities.
Many were tested with low-grade three-star bone frames, some even had intermediate-grade three-star bone frames, and there was no lack of superior three-star bone frames either.
After Gao Zhu, from the previous round, three other disciples with superior three-star bone frames appeared—Wang Min, Mu Tai, and Xiao Guo.
The group of elders sitting above the platform grinned. They felt their time hadn't been wasted by coming to see the assessment.
"Now that the talent assessment has come to an end, we will start the test of comprehension," Elder Zhao announced.
As Elder Zhao mentioned the next test, many nominal disciples' faces turned dark while others became excited.
The comprehension of a martial artist had a direct relation to the bone frame one possessed. Therefore, those with slightly better bone frames were happy, while those with below-average bone frames felt helpless.
While it wasn't a concrete fact that bone frame directly correlated with comprehension—there were many exceptions—the majority of sects and other powers in the cultivation world tended to believe in this connection.
"Comprehension for martial artists is the most important aspect of their life. It follows them from being a low-level nobody in the Qi Training Realm to the realm of an Emperor. The higher the realm one reaches, the more its value increases," Elder Zhao explained to the disciples before announcing the rules of the test.
"The test for comprehension will be simple. Each of you will be given a low-grade human-rank martial technique. The number of layers you can master within the time of an incense stick will decide your points."
Murmurs echoed throughout the area when Elder Zhao announced the rules. But they weren't surprised. Every year, the assessment tested nominal disciples with the same criteria: a test of potential (bone frame), a test of talent (comprehension), and a test of combat prowess.
Almost all the disciples knew about the tests, except for Li Yun. At this moment, an excited expression was etched on his face as he grinned like an idiot.
'This is the test where I will make up for my loss from the last test, and nobody can stop me from achieving that,' he thought.
He was confident that he could excel in this test, and his confidence stemmed not only from his system but also from his own comprehension abilities.
He had mastered the Cloud Sutra to the fifth layer—the highest layer for a no-rank cultivation technique. However, that feat paled in comparison to his mastery of alchemy. At just ten years old, he had comprehended everything his mother taught him about alchemy, making her proud.
Therefore, a low-grade human-rank martial technique would be nothing to him, especially with his five-times multiplier for comprehension.
'I will aim for the highest points in this test,' Li Yun's eyes shone with determination.
"We will start with the highest potential to the lowest," Elder Zhao said, calling the first person onto the stage. "Li Hua."
Since she had the highest points in the last test, she was the default number one for this test.
Li Hua came to the platform once again as her name was called. At that moment, another elder made his entry. An old man with a long white beard down to his stomach flew down to the platform. He had a calm expression and was rubbing his long beard as he turned to look at Li Hua.
"Take this martial technique," he said, throwing her a book which she elegantly caught.
"Since you use a light sword, I have given you a sword technique called Wind Blade," the elder continued.
Li Hua nodded in understanding.
"Since a martial art of human rank has only six layers, whether it is a martial technique or a cultivation technique, the number of layers you master within an incense stick's time will determine your points," Elder Zhao explained to her and all the disciples in the assessment.
He added, "The points given will be 30 points for the 1st layer, 60 points for the 2nd layer, 90 points for the 3rd layer, 120 points for the 4th layer, 150 points for the 5th layer, and 200 points for the 6th layer."
The disciples nodded in understanding.
"You may start now," Elder Zhao signaled for Li Hua to begin.
Lie Hua nodded and began checking the contents of the martial technique—Wind Blade. She carefully examined each movement before closing her eyes to comprehend them fully.
The sword technique consisted of a total of 72 movements, with each layer containing 12 distinct movements.
After a moment of meditation, she took out her sword and began shadow practicing.
One movement, two movements, three movements... twelve movements. She executed each one with impeccable clarity and perfection.
She continued like this for some time until Elder Zhao's shout stopped her.
"Stop!"
Lie Hua halted immediately.
"Now, show us how many layers you have mastered," Elder Zhao requested.