Ch 164: The Demon Race’s Actions!
Lu Qing’an flew on the wind, his thoughts churning. Through his conversation with Du Feng, he had learned the timing of the Search Demon Formation’s deployment. Barring unforeseen circumstances, after Old Master Long and the others set up the Search Demon Formation, they would promise one to Bai Lu, and Bai Lu would very likely agree to give the formation to Du Feng.
Therefore, Du Feng would agree to help Bai Lu.
In the world of adults, only the lure of profit would make someone take such a risk.
Once the Search Demon Formation falls into Du Feng’s hands after a year, even if the Wang Family’s Demon Race hasn’t attacked the Xianjian Sect yet, Du Feng will quickly detect them. At that time, the conflict between the sect and the Demon Race will inevitably erupt.
When the two sides clash, innocents will surely be harmed, so his time is running out.
“Within a year, I must improve my cultivation as much as possible and enter a High-Level Life Extension Secret Realm once,” Lu Qing’an silently decided in his heart. Du Feng promised that as long as he made it into the top 100 in the Alchemy Competition six months later, he could fulfill one wish—this is his chance to enter the Secret Realm.
The Alchemy Competition will begin in six months, and the war is likely to occur within this year; therefore, the overall problem is not significant.
Coupled with Xu Qingying’s intuitive abilities and Zhen Yongfu’s lucky boosts, as long as they are by his side, his safety is naturally assured.
Soon after, Lu Qing’an flew to the halfway point up the Xianjian Sect Main Peak and met up with Zhen Yongfu.
Xu Qingying was standing beside Zhen Yongfu at that moment. Seeing his arrival, she immediately greeted him with a radiant smile.
“I’ve finally seen you,” Xu Qingying said, a sweet smile on her pretty face. Standing before Lu Qing’an, she looked up at his face, her eyes full of only him.
“It’s only been a short time,” Lu Qing’an said, a faint smile on his face as Xu Qingying’s beautiful eyes fixed on him.
Xu Qingying said, “It’s not a short time at all! I’ve been looking forward to seeing you every day.”
She didn’t care how straightforward her words were, blurting out what was in her heart.
Zhen Yongfu laughed from the side, “I really envy you two.”
“Let’s not talk about it. Let’s go and take the assessment to become Core Disciples,” Lu Qing’an changed the subject, his expression calm as he walked towards the Grand Hall ahead.
This was a majestic Grand Hall called the “Assessment Hall”.
The Grand Hall was tall and imposing, rarely visited, and the surroundings were as quiet as a deserted sunset wasteland.
The three of them entered, finding the Grand Hall vast and empty, except for a White-Haired Elder lying on a recliner at the far end, seemingly taking a nap and snoring loudly.
The snoring was extremely loud, like thunder, echoing in the Grand Hall.
Lu Qing’an, Xu Qingying, and Zhen Yongfu exchanged glances. They could all perceive each other’s powerful Universe Realm Peak cultivation aura; this strength was, not long ago, on par with Sect Leader Liu Lingxuan of the Xianjian Sect.
From the Elder’s appearance and clothing, they could also roughly assess his personality traits.
Relatively simple and casual, he should be a man of temperament.
Xu Qingying stepped forward a distance and bowed, “Senior, we have come for the assessment.”
She had some understanding of the White-Haired Elder, but only from the intelligence she had gathered.
He was a top expert of the Xianjian Sect, only slightly weaker than her Master, Liu Lingxuan. He was known for being free and easy, yet a little lazy and fond of sleeping.
To have a leisurely life, he had obtained the position of overseeing the Assessment Hall. After all, hardly an Inner Sect Disciple came to take the assessment to become a Core Disciple even once a month. Being the examiner here was arguably the most leisurely job.
Xu Qingying’s voice was moderate, echoing in the Grand Hall; however, the Elder, sound asleep, showed no sign of waking up.
Xu Qingying glanced at Lu Qing’an and Zhen Yongfu.
Zhen Yongfu also bowed, raising his voice slightly, “Senior!”
His voice was twice as loud as Xu Qingying’s, yet even so, he still failed to wake the Elder.
This left Zhen Yongfu and Xu Qingying speechless. Did he not hear them, or was he pretending not to?
Logically, a strong person of this level should have awakened upon their approach. He had absolutely no defensive awareness.
Thus, both looked to Lu Qing’an, wondering if he had any ideas.
Lu Qing’an stared at the Elder for a moment, then calmly said, “Sect Leader, you’ve arrived?”
“Ah?! She’s here?!”
The next moment, Lu Qing’an and the others saw the sound asleep Elder spring to his feet with incredible speed, quickly checking near the Grand Hall entrance.
No matter how he searched, he couldn’t find Liu Lingxuan’s figure. After carefully sensing his surroundings, he couldn’t sense her aura either.
“Hmm?” The Elder stared at Lu Qing’an and the others, frowning before asking, “Who said that little girl arrived just now?”
Lu Qing’an bowed, “Senior, what are you talking about? We just arrived, and you woke up.”
Lu Qing’an had heard from Xu Qingying that the Elder often avoided Liu Lingxuan, so he tried using Liu Lingxuan’s name, unexpectedly succeeding in waking the Elder.
“That’s right, it’s that voice! You brat, were you the one who said it?” The Elder narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Lu Qing’an.
Lu Qing’an shook his head, “With respect, Senior, my Master, Du Feng, sent me to find you and ask you to oversee our assessment.”
“Du Feng’s disciple? So it’s you. Your cultivation has progressed quite quickly, hasn’t it?” The Elder walked towards Lu Qing’an barefoot, also glancing at Zhen Yongfu and Xu Qingying. When he saw Xu Qingying, he frowned slightly.
He knew Xu Qingying was Liu Lingxuan’s direct disciple. Thus, he muttered something under his breath, which Lu Qing’an and the others couldn’t hear clearly.
“Xuji Realm fourth level, Xuji Realm fifth level, Xuji Realm first level. Let me warn you beforehand, this assessment has a certain level of danger. The two of you have higher cultivation and are relatively safe. You, brat, are only at the Xuji Realm first level, so be careful,” the Elder said, staring at Zhen Yongfu.
Zhen Yongfu was aware of the assessment. The previous assessments were fine; however, personally facing the Demon Race assessment might be dangerous.
“Senior, rest assured; I will be as careful as possible.”
The Elder nodded, then introduced himself, “My full name is Song Chi. You can call me Old Master Song. Come with me.”
Seeing that the Elder didn’t pursue the matter further, Lu Qing’an smiled and nodded, following Song Chi towards a corner of the Grand Hall.
They arrived at the assessment area.
This was a spacious area with several formations assisting the assessment, as well as a special spatial treasure of Immortal Grade 8, High Grade.
Presumably, the captive Demon Race were trapped inside this treasure.
“First, I’ll assess whether you truly possess Xuji Realm combat power. Try your best to demonstrate your strongest combat power. If your combat power doesn’t match your cultivation, it means your foundation is unstable, and I won’t let you pass the assessment. Moreover, if your combat power is too low, I won’t let you proceed to the next stage.”
Song Chi came to the first assessment formation, leaning against a nearby stone pillar out of habit, and even digging his nose while speaking, appearing extremely relaxed and eccentric.
Seeing this, Lu Qing’an became even more curious about this Universe Realm Peak expert.
Zhen Yongfu was called upon first by Song Chi and stepped forward for the assessment.
Following Song Chi’s instructions, he entered an array space. In less than two breaths, he emerged from the array space.
A light screen appeared above the formation, displaying Zhen Yongfu’s combat power.
“Hmm? Able to exert the combat power of the Xuji Realm eighth level?” Song Chi stared at Zhen Yongfu in surprise. “Are you sure you just broke through to the Xuji Realm?”
Zhen Yongfu smiled and nodded.
“Then you’re not simple, are you? What’s your name? Wait, I forgot to register you.” Song Chi slapped his head, took out a yellowed book from his Storage Ring, and gestured for Zhen Yongfu to hand over his Inner Sect Disciple Token. He carefully asked Zhen Yongfu a few questions before recording his combat power.
He registered Lu Qing’an and Xu Qingying in turn before allowing Zhen Yongfu to proceed to the next assessment.
Before Zhen Yongfu could begin the second assessment, two more people entered the Grand Hall.
Lu Qing’an and the others looked at the newcomers. Seeing who they were, Lu Qing’an and the others frowned slightly. The newcomers were actually Wang Xiaohong.
The person accompanying Wang Xiaohong this time was a young man at the Xuji Realm peak, wearing a red brocade robe and looking extremely extraordinary.
Lu Qing’an’s gaze also shifted to the man in the red brocade robe. With just one glance, he determined that this young man was no ordinary person.
“Senior Song, I’ve brought my cousin for the assessment,” Wang Xiaohong also saw Lu Qing’an and the others, showing some surprise but quickly ignoring them. He had important matters to attend to.
His gaze fell on the spatial treasure containing numerous Demon Race members.
