Chapter 246: Celestial Dao Palace Semi-Annual Assessment

Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Celestial Dao Palace Semi-Annual Assessment

The Martial Arts Arena of Miaohua Peak was one of sixteen such arenas in the Celestial Dao Palace.

It was also the largest Martial Arts Arena in the Celestial Dao Palace. Whenever the entire sect’s Grand Examination or the Celestial Dao Palace’s Grand Rite was held, this arena served as the main venue.

On the east and west sides of the Martial Arts Arena stood a stele tower.

One was the Trial Profound Stele, and the other was the Soul Testing Stele.

For disciples participating in the Grand Examination, the first event was the "Inquiry Stele Tower."

What did the "Inquiry Stele Tower" entail?

All disciples would line up and pass through the two stele towers to get a clear understanding of their own Cultivation and strength. The steles would display a precise judgment in the form of numbers. This data would also be recorded, so the next time they entered, they could compare their results and see how much they had progressed.

Take the Trial Profound Stele, for example. After entering the tower and standing before the stone stele, one would press both palms against it, and a set of data would appear.

For instance, it would show one’s current Cultivation Realm and Tier, the elemental attribute of their True Qi, and their Combat Power score. The time of their last visit and the previous data would also be displayed.

This allowed for an assessment of a disciple’s progress in the intervening time.

The Soul Testing Stele, on the other hand, tested the level of one’s Spiritual Power. It had a total of fifty blocks. The intensity of one’s Spiritual Power would cause a number of these blocks to light up. If twenty blocks shimmered with light, it meant one’s Spiritual Power had reached Level 20.

The second event of the examination was a Q&A session. Designated Stewards and Mentors would quiz the disciples on their knowledge and comprehension of their Cultivation Techniques, their understanding of Martial Techniques, or their proficiency in other areas like Arrays, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Talismans.

The third event was challenge matches.

In the Celestial Dao Palace, disciples were divided into the Inner Sect and the Outer Sect. Both the Inner and Outer Sects were further divided into ten ranks: A, B, C, D... Ren, and Gui.

Disciples of each rank received different Cultivation resources, and the points awarded for sect trial missions also varied. By accumulating enough points from these missions, disciples could exchange them for a special sect currency. This currency could then be used to purchase various items in the sect’s autonomous trade zone.

These items included everything from daily necessities and Cultivation resources to Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, Elixirs, Talismans, Spirit Stones, Martial Techniques, Cultivation Techniques, and weapons.

One could even use the currency to hire other disciples willing to sell their labor to help with chores like washing clothes or cleaning dormitories.

This third event was where lower-ranked disciples could challenge those of a higher rank. If they won, the lower-ranked disciple would take the place of the higher-ranked one.

The third event was also always the most exciting part of the Grand Examination.

The Martial Arts Arena had a full one hundred fighting stages, and throughout the entire day, not a single one was ever empty.

Ye Xiaohan’s talent was quite good, but in a sect like the Celestial Dao Palace, which teemed with prodigies, he was only considered slightly above average.

Although he had been introduced to the Celestial Dao Palace by Yan Ying, his initial assessment placed him only in the Xin Gate. After several years of Grand Examinations, he had only just entered the Inner Sect’s C Gate last October.

"Young Master, it’s almost your turn," Wang Xing reminded Ye Xiaohan, watching the line in front of the stele tower grow shorter.

Ye Xiaohan nodded and joined the back of the line.

Qi Wei and Wang Xing had also been able to enter the Celestial Dao Palace in their thirties thanks to Yan Ying’s recommendation, but they were only able to join the Outer Sect.

Thanks to the Spiritual Qi Revival of Heaven and Earth, both Qi Wei and Wang Xing had already completed their Foundation Establishment. They chose an ordinary Cultivation Technique from the Outer Sect and, through more than three years of hard work, had now stepped into the Heartbeat Realm.

For the two of them, reaching such a Cultivation Realm was already a heaven-sent opportunity, especially since their aptitude was ordinary and they were past the ideal age for Foundation Establishment.

As a result, even in the Outer Sect, they were ranked as Gui Gate disciples. They had no great ambitions for the Grand Examination and simply participated for the sake of it, never even taking part in the third event.

Trial Profound Stele. Ye Xiaohan. Cultivation: Golden Core Realm Tier Seven. Attributes: Wood Element, Yin Yang Companionship. Combat Power: 96. Defense Value: 93. Sword Dao: Uninitiated. Saber Dao: Uninitiated. Spear Dao: Uninitiated...

Six months prior. Cultivation: Golden Core Realm Tier Five. Attributes: Wood Element, Yin Yang Companionship. Combat Power: 96. Sword Dao: Uninitiated...

This Combat Power and Defense Value were judged relative to others at the same Cultivation Realm and were merely estimated reference values. After all, in a real battle, opportunities are fleeting, and one’s on-the-spot performance and state of mind are what truly matter.

A Combat Power of 96 was already considered very high, but this estimated value had no upper limit. Some could even reach scores of several hundred. For every one hundred points, a person could fight across one Tier.

For example, if Ye Xiaohan’s Combat Power was three hundred, he could contend with a Golden Core Realm Tier Nine expert. If that Tier Nine opponent’s Combat Power was only in the eighties or nineties, Ye Xiaohan would even have a chance of defeating him.

At the Soul Testing Stele, Ye Xiaohan’s result was Spiritual Power Level 17. For a Golden Core Realm Cultivator to have Level 17 Spiritual Power was already beyond the vast majority of his peers.

Most Golden Core Realm Cultivators only had Spiritual Power between Level 9 and Level 10. Even those at Level 11 were exceedingly rare.

Next, Ye Xiaohan participated in the second event’s assessment. After being questioned by a circle of a dozen or so Stewards and Mentors, he received a comprehensive score of "A".

If no one challenged him in the third event, he would remain in the C Gate for the next six months.

However, just as he finished the second event, he saw his name appear on one of the fighting stages.

Pang Mengyang of D Gate challenges Ye Xiaohan of C Gate.

Being challenged in the third event was quite normal. Seeing that someone had challenged him, Ye Xiaohan didn’t pay it much mind and immediately walked toward that stage.

"Young Master, this person doesn’t seem to have good intentions. You should be careful," Wang Xing cautioned from beside him.

"It’s fine. The worst that can happen is I lose and go to D Gate. Besides, isn’t Cultivation the same no matter where you are?" Ye Xiaohan said nonchalantly.

He then stepped onto the fighting stage. On it stood a disciple who looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in the long robes of the D Gate. He held a Sword, and his gaze was thick with provocation.

"Ye Xiaohan of C Gate accepts the challenge!" Ye Xiaohan said, cupping his fists.

"Ye Xiaohan, starting today, you can crawl your way back to Gui Gate," Pang Mengyang said coldly.

"You’ll have to beat me first!" Ye Xiaohan replied simply, drawing his Long Sword and assuming an opening stance.

Pang Mengyang snorted coldly and leaped into the air, his Long Sword thrusting toward Ye Xiaohan.

Seeing this fierce Sword Qi, Ye Xiaohan couldn’t help but frown, hastily swinging his Sword to parry.

"That... That Pang Mengyang is too despicable, isn’t he? When did he learn the Celestial Decision Sword?"

"Isn’t the Celestial Decision Sword something only A Gate disciples can practice? How does a D Gate disciple like Pang Mengyang know it?"

At the edge of the stage, several disciples immediately began to discuss this in hushed voices.

Between opponents of the same Cultivation Realm, the level of their Martial Technique could be the deciding factor.

At this point, how could Ye Xiaohan not realize there might be a conspiracy involving his opponent?

’Still, on this stage, he couldn’t afford to think too much about it. He had to fight first and figure it out later.’

"Spiritual Awareness Sword!"

Ye Xiaohan decisively used his most practiced Sword Technique. His Long Sword cut through the air, and the two streams of Sword Qi collided, creating a ripple in the air.

Both retreated several steps, and Ye Xiaohan felt a faint ache in the webbing between his thumb and forefinger.

"Ye Xiaohan, you’re nothing special after all!" Pang Mengyang said tauntingly.

"Again!" Ye Xiaohan roared, taking the initiative and lunging at Pang Mengyang with his Sword...