"He Yiming, Qi Cultivation seventh level, Pet Beast, Battle Ape, Qi Cultivation seventh level."
"Qin Cai Xin, Qi Cultivation sixth level, Pet Beast, Tree Bear, Qi Cultivation seventh level."
"Ziran, Qi Cultivation sixth level, Pet Beast, Fire Spirit Sparrow, Qi Cultivation seventh level."
Inner Sect examination registration site!
Elder Yu, dressed in a blue robe, personally arrived at the scene to check the cultivation of the disciples registering.
Everyone’s cultivation realm seemed quite normal.
Until... Lin Jing arrived.
He walked up to the registration desk, and Elder Yu knowingly asked, "Name."
Elder Yu scanned with his divine sense and said, "Lin Jing, Qi Cultivation third level, Pet Beast, Pine Leaf Mouse, Qi Cultivation seventh level!"
As soon as he spoke, many outer sect disciples began murmuring.
"Wasn’t that Pine Leaf Mouse at Qi Cultivation fourth level not long ago? It’s already at the seventh level, so fast!"
"The key isn’t that the Pet Beast has reached the seventh level, but that the Beast Master is only at the third level?"
A Beast Master at early Qi Cultivation with a Pet Beast at late Qi Cultivation is quite rare in the outer sect...
Of course, no one dared to underestimate Lin Jing and Pine Leaf Mouse, the crumbled Mechanical Bamboo Dragon was the best testament to them.
Hearing the discussions of other disciples, the Pine Leaf Mouse, perched on Lin Jing’s shoulder with its eyes closed, shook its head.
If it hadn’t allocated all its energy to training, it might’ve reached Foundation Establishment by now!
Pine Leaf Mouse’s slowed cultivation was also upon Lin Jing’s advice.
The Foundation Establishment for Qi Cultivation cultivators is about forming the Dao foundation and enhancing one’s physique.
For ordinary bodies, Foundation Establishment is one of the few chances to develop a postnatal spirit body.
Cultivators with innate bodies need to choose suitable resources during Foundation Establishment to continue enhancing their physique.
Similarly, spirit beasts and demon beasts need to optimize and strengthen their bloodlines during Foundation Establishment, ideally completing a bloodline evolution.
Pine Leaf Mouse doesn’t have a strong innate bloodline, so the Foundation Establishment process is crucial; the Glazed Immortal Pupil only granted it divine techniques, without enhancing its bloodline species.
Inappropriate advancement without perfect Foundation Establishment conditions brings disadvantages.
Foundation Establishment... is about laying an invincible foundation!
With time on his side, Lin Jing believed accumulating resources slowly and breaking through gradually was ideal.
After completing the registration, Lin Jing stepped aside, and then Senior Brother Ziran approached him.
"Junior Brother Lin Jing, your progress is quite rapid," Senior Brother Ziran greeted with a smile.
"The rapid one is Pine Leaf Mouse, I’m turtle-paced," Lin Jing replied.
"You’re too modest, Junior Brother. Fortunately, this time the twist of Demon Hunting Hall disciples spices things up; otherwise, the examination would be too unchallenging for you," Senior Brother Ziran smiled.
"Really?" Lin Jing wasn’t concerned about the Demon Hunting Hall disciples; if they didn’t bother him, he wouldn’t bother them either. With so few disciples, demon beast points were crucial.
"Of course, the disciples of the Demon Hunting Hall are tough; knowing the high mortality rate, they still join with determination, making it seem like everyone has a deep grudge, needing power urgently for revenge against Nascent Soul old monsters—honestly, I’m glad not to test with them."
Just as they spoke of the Demon Hunting Hall, its members arrived and registered one by one.
Their cultivation wasn’t particularly outstanding, but outer sect disciples knew their true strength.
"I need revenge," muttered Senior Brother He Yiming, who was grievously injured by a Demon Hunting Hall disciple. Having recovered, he luckily advanced to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, a blessing in disguise.
"I still find Junior Brother Lin Jing more enigmatic..." thought Senior Sister Cai Xin.
She hadn’t figured out how to counter the red Flying Leaf Technique that could change direction.
"Registration is complete! A total of 20 disciples will participate in the Inner Sect examination this time."
"Next, Elder Li and I will accompany you to the outskirts of the Great Wilderness and serve as your examiners. Your task is to survive for three days using all means possible!"
Elder Yu explained the examination content, which wasn’t vastly different from previous years. However, the disciple competition could earn more points, likely an alteration requested by Elder Li.
"Alright, all disciples participating in the Inner Sect examination, please board now." At this time, a massive flying boat was hovering in the sky, though upon closer inspection, it was somewhat different from a flying boat.
It looked more like a fish-shaped demon beast... no, perhaps calling it a mechanical beast would be more fitting; it was unmistakably one of Elder Yu’s creations.
Elder Li Hai stood on the mechanical fish, addressing the disciples below with an impassive tone.
Before long, the 20 disciples had all boarded the mechanical fish.
The mechanical fish started flying towards the wilderness at the edge of Beast Taming Sect.
Tension began to mount among the 20 disciples on the mechanical creation; whether acquaintances or strangers, they were now competitors, assessing each other and recalling each other’s signature techniques.
"We will soon reach the skies over the Great Wilderness. Before the test, I must remind you again."
"Pace yourself in the Inner Sect examination; do not attempt things beyond your ability. It won’t earn you extra points but could drastically reduce them!"
"Aside from me and Elder Li, some Inner Peak elders might also observe the examination process with their divine sense, so do your best and prioritize your own and your pet beast’s safety in critical situations. If elders notice, they will immediately rescue you. However, elder intervention means immediate elimination—do you understand?" Elder Yu said.
"We understand!" The multitude of outer sect disciples responded in unison, bowing.
"Such matters shouldn’t be stated so plainly; protecting them this well, how can you test their true capabilities?" Elder Li huffed coldly beside him.
"Real training and examinations require unexpected events to show true skill!"
Many disciples felt Elder Li could speak so bluntly without feeling the pressure—they didn’t find cultivation easy!
But whether it was Elder Li’s jinx or not, suddenly, the sky echoed with a "boom," shaking the mechanical fish, as everyone looked up to see a large hole in the sky suffused with a brown glow.
"What is that?" The outer sect disciples and pet beasts all looked towards the large hole in the sky.
Leaning against the edge of the mechanical fish, Lin Jing and Pine Leaf Mouse, who were admiring the scenery below, raised their heads, their expressions changing.
Because, as the hole appeared for a moment, a thick beam of light shot down, targeting none other than the mechanical fish, more specifically, right at Lin Jing!
"What on earth?!" Seeing the beam of light crashing down, Lin Jing and Pine Leaf Mouse tried to dodge, but it seemed like they were locked in place.
"Oh no, it’s headed towards us."
Lin Jing’s vision went black as Pine Leaf Mouse reached its paw towards the storage bag, but nothing could handle this situation inside...
"Could the Yin Corpse Sect possibly be coming to capture us? No, this is still within the sect, how audacious!"
They experienced a moment of confusion as their sight was engulfed by light.