While feeling immense pressure, Fang Han couldn’t help but be profoundly shaken.

Liangshui City was too small. So small that he had once believed his accomplishments were extraordinary among the younger generation.

Only by being here, seeing the true geniuses gathered from an entire commandery, did he realize there were always greater heights to reach.

His eightfold Root Bone Talent was impressive, but among the geniuses present, there were undoubtedly some who surpassed him.

After all, these were the geniuses produced by an entire commandery.

Time trickled by as they waited. Numbers were called out one by one, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.

"Exam Token 421, step forward!"

Finally, it was Fang Han’s turn. He took a deep breath and stepped forward.

A male disciple with an ordinary face was assisting. He motioned for Fang Han to stand still, then carefully palpated several key points on his body, including his shoulder blades, wrist bones, and spine.

The pressure from his fingertips was perfectly controlled, moving with a unique rhythm.

"Reporting to Steward Liu, bone age is eighteen. Confirmed."

After a moment, the male disciple looked up at the presiding Steward and reported.

Steward Liu, who was presiding over the assessment, was a man with a lean face. He gave a slight nod upon hearing the report. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

He walked over to Fang Han, raised his right hand, and sent a wisp of Inner Qi probing into his body.

The wisp of Inner Qi was gentle yet irresistible. Fang Han’s own Inner Qi, at the Early Stage of Ninth Grade, was instantly routed. He couldn’t muster the slightest resistance, forced to let the foreign Qi wander freely through his body.

After a thorough inspection inside Fang Han’s body, the wisp of Inner Qi withdrew.

Steward Liu withdrew his hand, his tone flat and devoid of emotion. "Cultivation: Early Stage of Ninth Grade. Inner Qi accumulation is at the initial phase of this realm."

Examinees at the Early Stage of Eighth Grade or the Late Stage of Ninth Grade were guaranteed to pass, so a detailed inspection of their Inner Qi volume wasn’t necessary; simply recording their Cultivation Realm was sufficient.

However, for someone like Fang Han, who was at the Early Stage of Ninth Grade and on the cusp of acceptance or rejection, it was necessary to not only determine his Cultivation Realm but also to assess and record the state of his Inner Qi accumulation within that realm.

This would be used for comparison against other examinees at the Early Stage of Ninth Grade to make the final decision on their admission.

Steward Liu looked at Fang Han and said matter-of-factly, "Demonstrate the Martial Technique you have comprehended the most."

Fang Han clasped his hands in a salute, took a few steps back, and assumed a stance.

SHIIING—!

The Cyan Blade Sword flew from its sheath, and the glint of the blade flared!

In an instant, a fierce gust of wind seemed to sweep across the plaza. His Sword Techniques were swift and sharp, their trajectories cunning and unpredictable, accompanied by a piercing sound that tore through the air.

The blade flashed like lightning.

This was none other than the Xunfeng Swordsmanship, which he had mastered to the Great Success Realm!

"Great Success in a Low Grade Swordsmanship."

Seeing that Fang Han had cultivated a Low Grade Sword Technique to the Great Success Realm, Steward Liu’s expression remained unchanged.

Fang Han’s level of Swordsmanship would have been considered stunning in Liangshui City, but in the eyes of the worldly Steward, it was still merely ordinary.

He swiftly jotted a few notes in the register he was holding, then said indifferently,

"That’s enough. You can step back and wait."

Fang Han sheathed his sword, gave a clasped-fist salute, and silently returned to Fang Lingyuan’s side.

Anxiety welled up within him.

’Was my performance good enough for this assessment? Will I be able to pass and successfully join the Qingxuan Sect?’

He truly had no idea.

"Don’t overthink it. Just wait for the results."

Fang Lingyuan’s voice sounded from the side, his tone calm.

However, the slight tightening of the knuckles on the hands he held behind his back revealed that his inner state was far from the calm he projected.

When it came to nervousness, he was no less tense than Fang Han.

Judging from how the assessment had unfolded so far, even though Fang Han had reached the Early Stage of Ninth Grade, there was absolutely no guarantee he would pass and be accepted into the Qingxuan Sect.

The competition was just as fierce as he had heard—if not more so.

The sun gradually slanted to the west, stretching the shadows of the people on the Martial Arts Plaza.

When the last examinee finished their demonstration, the entire plaza fell into a silence of waiting for the final verdict.

All the assessment data had been compiled and handed over to the leading White Hair Elder.

After whispering with the other Stewards for a moment, he slowly walked to the front of the plaza, his gaze sweeping over the dark mass of the crowd below.

"The assessment is over. The results require a comprehensive evaluation. In three days, the list of accepted applicants will be posted outside the mountain gate."

His voice, breaking the silence, reached every person’s ears clearly.

"At that time, those whose names are on the list may enter the mountain gate with their Exam Token to register. Those not on the list must return their Exam Tokens."

After the concise announcement, the White Hair Elder said no more, turned, and left with the other Stewards, his figure disappearing in the direction of the great hall at the end of the plaza.

As for the young men and women in the plaza who had completed the assessment, along with their chaperones, disciples were on hand to guide them out of the Qingxuan Sect.

Upon hearing the announcement, a small number of the youths, their faces full of composure and confidence, exchanged a few quick words with their elders before turning to leave.

They were clearly certain they would pass.

The vast majority, however, wore faces of unconcealable anxiety. They spoke in hushed tones with the elders beside them, their feet dragging as they made their way toward the mountain gate.

The wait of the next three days would be an ordeal for them.

Fang Han was one of them.

Following the crowd, Fang Han and Fang Lingyuan silently walked out of the imposing mountain gate of the Qingxuan Sect.

Looking back, the sunset’s afterglow traced the enormous mountain gate in dark gold, making the halls and pavilions beyond seem all the more mysterious and remote.

"Let’s go. We’ll go back and wait for the news."

Fang Lingyuan’s voice pulled Fang Han’s thoughts back to the present.

He nodded, took one last look at the scenery of Celestial Profound Mountain, and turned to board the carriage.

The wheels rumbled over the bluestone road, heading back to Qingxuan City.

The carriage was silent, with only the bustling sounds of the city outside accentuating the turbulent thoughts swirling beneath the two men’s quiet demeanor.

In three days, they would know if he had successfully leaped the dragon gate.

...

On the first day after the assessment ended, Fang Han was preparing to cultivate as usual, but was stopped by Fang Lingyuan.

"The path of Cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation. The assessment is over, and the result cannot be changed."

"Qingxuan City is one of the largest cities in the commandery, far more prosperous than Liangshui City could ever hope to be. Come out for a walk with me. Broadening your horizons is also a form of cultivation."

Fang Lingyuan’s tone was calm, his face holding a gentle smile characteristic of an elder.

Fang Han pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

He also knew that Cultivation required balance and that some proper relaxation was needed.

The two left the "Keyunlai" restaurant and merged into the endless stream of people in Qingxuan City.

The moment they stepped onto the main thoroughfare, a wave of clamor many times greater than that of Liangshui City washed over them.

The streets were wide enough for several carriages to travel abreast, flanked by a dense array of shops with upturned eaves, intricate bracket sets, and beautifully carved beams and painted rafters—an incredibly grand sight.

The shouts of street vendors, the rumble of carriage wheels on bluestone, the chatter of Martial Artists and travelers from every corner of the land... all of it wove together into a vibrant urban symphony.