Chapter 164: The Assessment Begins
The crowd of students fell silent after Elder Zheng's declaration. The allure of 30,000 credits and a chance at a mystic-level technique was too tempting to resist, even if it came with considerable risk.
One student finally broke the silence. "Elder, how exactly will this assessment be conducted?"
The others perked up, their attention riveted to Elder Zheng. The rules of the assessment would dictate their strategies and chances of success.
Elder Zheng smiled faintly. "The Tianyun Mountain Range is vast and teeming with danger. Within a 400-mile radius of Tianyun Valley, we've cleared out the most formidable beasts, but many Purple Mansion Realm and some Condensation Qi Realm beasts remain."
He paused to let the murmurs settle before continuing. "The assessment is simple. Hunt beast cores, collect rare herbs, and any valuable resources you find. You will be judged on the quantity and quality of what you gather. Ten days from now, we'll meet back here, and we'll determine the rankings."
A wave of relief swept over some students. The rules seemed straightforward enough.
Elder Zheng added, "Remember, the first-place winner will have the most beast cores or the highest-quality resources. Second and third will follow the same criteria."
The straightforwardness of the rules did little to quell the unease of weaker students. Collecting beast cores meant they'd have to defeat Purple Mansion Realm beasts—a daunting task for many who had only recently advanced to that level.
Elder Zheng sensed their hesitation and added, "Don't lose hope. Throughout our history, there have been students who lacked strength but found rare opportunities. One even stumbled upon a Tier 4 herb, which secured them a top-three spot."
This mention of luck revitalized some students' spirits, though it also sparked a more dangerous idea in others.
"Furthermore," Elder Zheng continued, his tone turning cold, "you may also compete amongst yourselves. If you find yourself lacking, you can take from others. However, you are forbidden from killing fellow students. Our enforcement teams will monitor the situation. Anyone caught violating this rule will face severe punishment."
The announcement that students could steal from one another sent a ripple of tension through the crowd.
Some students immediately began to calculate how to exploit this rule. In the corner of the assembly, a blue-haired youth wearing a flowing azure robe smirked. His aura exuded confidence and a faint air of superiority.
"This will be easy," he said, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Who could possibly rival me?"
"Of course, Brother Lü Yang," one of his companions chimed in. "You're the strongest in this cohort. A Purple Mansion Ninth-Level cultivator? Who else stands a chance?"
Another student laughed, "With the Thousand Waters Sword Art, Brother Lü Yang is invincible. This assessment is as good as won."
Not far away, another student—towering at nearly two meters and exuding raw physical power—boomed with laughter. "No one knows how to hunt better than the Lu family! I, Lu Youye, will claim first place without question."
His declaration drew murmurs of agreement, as the Lu family was renowned for their expertise in beast taming and hunting.
In contrast, Mu Feng, Bai Ziyue, and Mu Kuang stood off to the side, their faces calm but their eyes sharp.
"Brother Feng," Bai Ziyue said, grinning, "feels like we're back in the wilderness of An Nan Ridge, doesn't it?"
"Indeed," Mu Kuang added, flexing his fists. "It's been too long since I've had a good fight with a beast. I can't wait."
Mu Feng smiled faintly, his ambitions hidden beneath a composed exterior. If he were to compete, it would only be for first place.
Into the Wilds
Elder Zheng raised his voice. "Head to the edge of Tianyun Valley. I will meet you there."
With that, he took off into the sky, a streak of blue light vanishing toward the valley's far end. The students erupted into action, over a thousand of them surging forward like a tidal wave.
After an hour of running, the group reached the great black wall at the valley's edge. The wall was a towering structure, over 30 meters high and 10 meters thick, extending for miles to block the path into the Tianyun Mountain Range. Beyond the wall lay a vast expanse of verdant wilderness, ancient forests stretching as far as the eye could see.
Standing guard at the gate were dozens of disciplinary enforcers, each riding on the back of a giant blue eagle—a Purple Mansion Realm flying beast. The majestic creatures stood over three meters long, their talons gleaming like blades.
At their forefront was Kong Yan, clad in a pristine white robe embroidered with the word "Enforcer."
Elder Zheng addressed the crowd once more. "This wall marks the boundary of your assessment zone. Do not venture beyond the 400-mile limit, or your life will be forfeit. We will mark the boundaries clearly.
"Additionally, do not try to deceive us by bringing in beast cores or herbs from outside this assessment. Our enforcers can distinguish between items obtained during this period and those brought in beforehand."
His voice turned stern. "Remember, no killing of fellow students. Break this rule, and you'll face the academy's full wrath."
With a final shout of "Begin!" the gates swung open, and the students poured into the wilderness.
Watching from Above
As the students disappeared into the forest, a group of elders stood atop the wall, their gazes following the dispersing students.
"Who do you think will take the top spots this time?" asked Chen Feng, the academy's principal, a faint smile on his face.
"There are many strong contenders," said a black-robed elder, his tone cheerful. "This year's cohort has a surprising number of eighth- and ninth-level Purple Mansion cultivators."
"I'd wager on Lü Yang," another elder said. "The Thousand Waters Sword Art at minor mastery, combined with his strength, makes him a formidable candidate."
"Don't count out Lu Youye from the Lu family," another added. "They excel at hunting beasts, and his physical prowess is exceptional."
"What about Wei Qing from Tianfeng Kingdom? He's a cut above most of the cohort."
As the elders speculated, one of them turned to Wu Yi, a recruiting elder from the southern regions.
"Elder Wu, I hear you brought in two prodigies from the south this year—Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue. What are their chances of reaching the top three?"
Before Wu Yi could answer, a sharp voice interjected.
"Hmph. I'd be surprised if those two made it into the top ten."
All eyes turned to the speaker, a cold-faced elder whose expression betrayed his disdain for the southern recruits. The tension in the air thickened as Wu Yi's brows furrowed in response. The true test of talent was about to unfold.