Winter passed and spring arrived. This year, Peng Jinhua planted two new types of Spirit Grass that would hum in harmony under the moonlight.

This type of purely ornamental, Low Grade Spirit Grass, which could neither be used in medicine nor for Talisman Making, wasn’t worth much. The Spirit Plant Hall cultivated dozens of new varieties every year.

Bai Zichen had originally thought about clearing this plot of land and planting more practical Spirit Rice and Spirit Grass.

But the Spirit Field was less than half an acre in total. Even if it were filled with Spirit Rice, he wouldn’t harvest more than a few Spirit Stones in a year. It was better to keep these Exotic Flowers and Spirit Herbs to lift his spirits.

Inside the White Jade Tower, two Inner Sect Disciples sat facing each other.

"Junior Brother Bai, you’ve been in the Inner Sect for half a year now. How come you’ve never attended a single gathering? The Inner Sect is different from the Outer Sect; there are only a dozen or so of us, and we’re all future pillars of the Sect. As disciples from the same cohort, we should naturally interact more so we can look out for each other in the future."

Chen Wei held her teacup. Compared to the plump, fair-skinned girl she was a few years ago, her features hadn’t changed much.

"It seems we’re fated to be connected. Back then at the Five Mountains Temple, the three of us triggered a phenomenon. Senior Brother Su became a True Disciple three years ago, and now I’ve ended up in the same cohort as you."

When Inner Sect Disciples were assigned posts outside, they started as Stewards, unlike Outer Sect Disciples who had to begin from the lowest position of Firework Daoist.

And if disciples of the same cohort helped each other, they could form a considerable force after a decade or so.

Within the Sect, factions divided by disciple cohorts had gradually become more popular in recent years.

"Senior Sister Chen will also be promoted to True Disciple soon. I offer my congratulations in advance."

Bai Zichen rarely left his Cave Mansion, but since Chen Wei had personally come to visit today, he couldn’t very well avoid her.

He had also heard that after returning from the Five Mountains Temple, Su Li was promoted to a True Disciple in just over a year. Chen Wei, on the other hand, despite being granted a personal audience with each of the two Core Formation Ancestors, had remained an Inner Sect Disciple without making a breakthrough.

But this was Chen Wei’s last year as an Inner Sect Disciple, and her promotion to True Disciple would happen within the next few months.

Bai Zichen swept his Divine Sense over her. ’Qi Refining Seventh Layer, same as me. No wonder there hasn’t been any news.’

Chen Wei hadn’t been an outstanding disciple in the Qingfeng Sect initially. The spot to comprehend the Stele only fell to her because someone else had a sudden epiphany and went into seclusion.

It was only after she obtained the inheritance for refining the Acquired Thunder God Pearl that she returned and was handpicked by Ancestor Yangg, skipping the Sect’s minor competition to become an Inner Sect Disciple directly.

In a way, Chen Wei’s situation was somewhat similar to Bai Zichen’s.

However, she was a Qingfeng Sect disciple to begin with and had been handpicked by a Core Formation Ancestor, so naturally, no one dared to object.

When Bai Zichen said Chen Wei would soon become a True Disciple, it was an obvious conclusion. For a disciple favored by two Core Formation Ancestors, as long as she met the minimum Cultivation standard, becoming a True Disciple was a given. How could they possibly make things difficult for her with an assessment?

He had already heard most of Chen Wei’s story from Su Lie, and the function of that Acquired Thunder God Pearl had also been uncovered.

The Acquired Thunder God Pearl could draw down Celestial Thunder, absorb and refine it. When a Perfect Core Formation Cultivator faced the final step of the Celestial Tribulation to reach the Nascent Soul stage, this Magical Treasure could reduce the tribulation’s power by thirty percent.

On this point alone, the Qingfeng Sect would pile resources on Chen Wei to get her to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Although the inheritance for refining the Acquired Thunder God Pearl was immediately sent to the two Ancestors, having Chen Wei, who possessed a Thunderfall Body, refine it once to gain experience would allow the Core Formation Ancestors to avoid many pitfalls.

Speaking of which, Chen Wei’s Thunderfall Body was also a type of Spirit Body.

Unfortunately, aside from attracting lightning strikes, it had no other discovered uses.

A disciple of ordinary talent like Chen Wei had practically secured a future in Foundation Establishment. Countless people, not just Outer Sect Disciples but even those in the Inner Sect, were extremely envious.

"What’s so special about me becoming a True Disciple just in the nick of time? From what I can tell of Junior Brother Bai’s Cultivation, you must be close to the Late-Stage Qi Refining, aren’t you?"

Chen Wei said softly with narrowed eyes, her attitude completely unchanged by the fact that she had caught an Ancestor’s eye and gained a special status.

It had been some time since Bai Zichen’s breakthrough, and the Magical Power throughout his body had stabilized. Coupled with his Divine Sense, his control over his Magical Power was perfect, with no leakage whatsoever.

Chen Wei was at the same Cultivation level as him and only vaguely sensed that Bai Zichen’s Magical Power was much stronger than that of a typical Qi Refining Sixth Layer disciple; she didn’t realize he had already reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

After all, reaching Late-Stage Qi Refining at his age was somewhat unheard of in the Qingfeng Sect. No one would normally even consider the possibility.

Bai Zichen just laughed and didn’t respond directly, instead asking Chen Wei the reason for her visit.

It turned out that besides Chen Wei applying to become a True Disciple, two other Inner Sect Disciples were due to leave as their five-year term was up.

One had passed the age limit of twenty-five, and the other, though not yet of age, felt he would certainly fail the rigorous assessments for becoming a True Disciple and hadn’t caught the favor of a Core Formation Ancestor, so he decided to give up.

So, a few of them discussed it and decided to hold a small banquet for the Inner Sect Disciples of their cohort to get together.

With Chen Wei extending the invitation in person, Bai Zichen found it hard to refuse. After confirming the time was at the end of the month, he nodded and agreed.

"By the way, Senior Sister Chen, as a newcomer, I don’t know much about True Disciples. I hope you can enlighten me about the assessments."

Bai Zichen only knew that to become a True Disciple, besides meeting the basic requirements for Cultivation and age, there were several strict assessments to ensure that every chosen candidate had a high probability of reaching Foundation Establishment.

But he really didn’t know the specific process.

At Su Lie’s level as a servant disciple, no matter how capable he was, he couldn’t inquire about information at this level.

"Junior Brother Bai, you really should start learning about it. It’ll be your turn in a few years... Under the normal process, once you submit your application to become a True Disciple, the Transmission Hall will check if you meet the requirements and then issue a True Inheritance mission."

"This True Inheritance mission is issued personally by the Transmission Hall Master and is tailored to each disciple’s individual circumstances. I remember very clearly that Senior Brother Su’s mission that year was to capture a live Giant Tooth Bear Beast within seven days, and he wasn’t allowed to hire help or buy one from someone else."

A flicker of fear showed in Chen Wei’s eyes. The Giant Tooth Bear Beast was a Tier One Peak Demon Beast. It had tough skin and thick flesh, possessed immense Divine Power, and could send an ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator flying with a single slap.

Su Li had only managed to pass after a bloody battle.

"The second trial is an assessment of your character by the Law Enforcement Hall. I don’t know the specific details, but not many disciples fail this one."

"The final trial is Combat. Once you pass the first two trials, any Inner Sect Disciple can challenge you, and you have no right to refuse. Only by defeating all challengers can you be considered to have passed all three trials and ascend to the rank of True Disciple."

’The third trial only says you have to defeat the challengers, not that you have to defeat all Inner Sect Disciples... So, if no one challenges you, does that also count as a success?’

Bai Zichen understood the hidden meaning. You either had to be unmatched in combat, overwhelming your peers, or you had to be a master of politics, persuading all the other Inner Sect Disciples not to challenge you. Either way, you would pass.

"That’s right."

Chen Wei’s eyes curved into crescents. When it was her turn, no one would be foolish enough to risk offending a Core Formation Ancestor by challenging her.