Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Preliminary Assessment
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Because Fang Lin’s residence had been destroyed and Lu Xiaoqing’s door had been kicked down by Sun Hao, Meng Wuyou had arranged for Fang and Lu to stay elsewhere until their houses were repaired.
Of course, they did not live together.
Following the drama of that one night, Fang Lin’s reputation among the Pill
Apprentices increased appreciation. His alleged ambiguous relationship with
Lu Xiaoqing, his beating of Sun Hao, and his casual dissolution of Kang Lu and Wu Zhen’s conspiracy became well-known even amongst members of the Martial Sect, who frequently mentioned Fang Lin’s name.
However, many people were cynical about Fang Lin offending Kang Lu, especially within the Pill Sect. Although many Pill Apprentices admired Fang Lin, few dared to befriend him.
Fang Lin was happy for the tranquility, peacefully practicing at his temporary residence. However, due to the lack of a Pill Furnace to practice pill refining, he could not use the Qi Nurturing Pill to enhance his practice, hence his current rate of cultivation was significantly slower than when he was under Xu Shangao’s tutelage.
Initially, Fang Lin was worried that Kang Lu might cause more trouble, but nothing happened over the next three months. It seemed as though Kang Lu had calmed down since that night.
Upon reflection, Fang Lin realized that it wasn’t that Kang Lu did not want to suppress him but due to the annual advancement examination approaching. Even if Kang Lu was confident, he still needed to be prepared, as the difficulty of the examination differed every year. No matter how formidable Kang Lu might be, he too had the potential of failure.
Not just Kang Lu, but almost all of the Pill Apprentices were preparing for the annual promotion examination. The Herb Garden was packed with Pill Apprentices studying plants day and night.
Even Lu Xiaoqing, during the last three months, devoted most of her time to the upcoming examination. Although she knew that she couldn’t advance this year, she remained diligent in her efforts. Regardless of whether she would ascend this year, her goal was to see how much she needed to improve in order to become a full-fledged disciple.
In contrast, there was not a second person among the Pill Apprentices as free and easy as Fang Lin. Fang Lin was infrequently seen in the crowded Herb Garden.
With regards to Fang Lin’s laziness, the majority of the Pill Apprentices simply couldn’t comprehend. They seemed to think that Fang Lin wouldn’t be Fang Lin if he weren’t lazy.
Fang Lin had thought about visiting the Herb Garden, not necessarily to learn anything, but just to keep up appearances.
However, upon his arrival at the Herb Garden and seeing it filled with Pill Apprentices, Fang Lin immediately left. He didn’t fancy pushing and shoving his way through the crowd. That would just be self-inflicted suffering.
Three months might seem long or short, but despite diligent practice, Fang Lin failed to raise his level to the Fifth Level of Human Origin and remained at the Fourth Level.
However, he was stronger than most at the Fourth Level of Human Origin because he had broken through one of the seventy-two meridians.
The night Sun Hao was violently beaten by Fang Lin and was unable to fight back was partly due to Sun Hao being drunk, but also because Fang Lin’s inner strength was stronger.
Even if Sun Hao was sober, he would still stand no chance against Fang Lin.
By year-end, the promotion examination, which could shape every Pill Apprentice’s future, finally began. Each of the Pill Apprentices was extremely anxious on the eve of the examination, especially those who had hopes of being promoted; their emotions were rather mixed.
Life went on as usual for Fang Lin – he ate and slept as per normal. The examination seemed to have nothing to do with him.
On the day of the examination, all Three Thousand Pill Apprentices gathered at the Pill Array and awaited instructions.
All three thousand disciples gathered solemnly. The intensity and focus were palpable; no one dared to speak, not even Kang Lu who was sitting at the front. His eyes were closed, and his face displayed deep contemplation.
Fang Lin, sitting among them, was looking around without any trace of nervousness. His behavior was especially conspicuous among the three thousand disciples, making several elders on the stone stage frown.
There were four elders on the stone stage: Meng Wuyou, Mu Yan, and Zhao Dengming.
Apart from them, there was also a friendly-looking old man who seemed to be a bit older than Meng Wuyou.
“This Fang Lin is too careless. Although he has some talent, I’m afraid he might not be able to reach the mid-level standard this year.” Zhao Dengming said, frowning at Fang Lin’s lazy posture below.
Due to the incident during the last Pill Array lecture, Zhao Dengming had lost face. He had originally not wanted to preside over the promotion examination this time, but he couldn’t refuse when the sect leader had delegated this task to him.
However, having been humiliated during the last incident, Zhao Dengming detested Fang Lin and naturally couldn’t say anything good about him.
Mu Yan’s face was devoid of expression, and she showed no reaction to Zhao Dengming’s words, as if she hadn’t heard them at all.
Meng Wuyou glanced at Zhao Dengming disapprovingly. “Elder Zhao, the examination hasn’t started yet. It’s biased to make such remarks now.”
Zhao Dengming’s expression cooled slightly, and he simply huffed without further comment.
The old man chuckled, “We’re all here to preside over the examination together, it should be harmonious. Let’s not argue.”
Nobody replied to the old man. After clearing his throat a few times, he looked down at the crowd with clouded eyes.
“Silence!” His voice echoed like a large bell around the Pill Array, resonating in the ears of all Pill Apprentices.
Immediately, all the Pill Apprentices looked up, their attention fixed on the four elders on the stone stage.
“My surname is Zhou. Alongside the other three elders, I will preside over this year’s advancement examination. To all disciples, bow down to the Four Saints of the Pill Sect!” Said Zhou, the old man with a smile.
At this, a bustling noise filled the area.
All the Pill Apprentices stood up and bowed to the statues of the Four Saints of the Pill Sect.
After the salute, everyone sat back down.
“This year’s examination, similar to previous years, will require your utmost focus. Do not slack off. If anyone violates the examination’s rules, the three elders and I will not let it go!” Zhou spoke with an air of authority, his usually smiling face turning stern.
Once Zhou wrapped up, Mu Yan continued, “The examination consists of three parts; each part has a hundred questions, totaling to three hundred questions. Answering two hundred and seventy questions correctly will be considered as passing. All disciples, come forward and draw your examination sequence number. When your number is called, proceed to the secret chamber to complete the examination.”
Meng Wuyou, Zhao Dengming, and Zhou each placed a large wooden box on the stone stage, whereupon the three thousand disciples lined up to draw their sequence numbers.
Fang Lin drew a piece of paper with the number nine hundred and seventy-three written on it.
Lu Xiaoqing looked over at him, commenting, “You’re so far back. I’m number sixty-three..”