Chapter 107: Advancement to the Grand Temple (Second Update)

  The efficiency of Shengnv Qinglian's handling of affairs is quite good.

  Just as the three of them were talking, a blue awn transformed from a talisman flew over with a whoosh and landed in the hands of Qinglian Holy Maiden. It was Lan'er, the trusted aide under Qinglian Holy Maiden's command, who had completed her task and returned.

  "Lin Xi, this is your Luck Deed. Take a look, are the merits correct?"

  Qinglian Holy Girl said, handing the Lude card to Lin Xi.

  "That's right. A total of 2,240 merit points. Sister, thank you!"

  Lin Xi spoke from the heart.

  Having many friends and a strong backing makes things easy to handle anywhere. The same goes for the Xian Dao sects.

  Lin Xi's Luck Value was not reduced by a single point. If it weren't for Qinglian Saintess, this matter might not have been resolved so quickly. The over 800 points of Luck Value that Lin Xi had deducted also might not have been recovered.

  "You've thanked me many times already, no need to thank me again."

  Qinglian Shengnu smiled and turned her head, looking at Shangguan Yaoyue:

  "Yao Xue, aren't you here to exchange something? It's your turn, go quickly."

  Lin Xi's current contribution value in the Lucky Card is twice hers. Of course, she doesn't need her help. Shangguan Yaoyue puffed out her chest, looking a bit sulky:

  "Got it."

  Only Shangguan Yaoyue could look so listless in front of Qinglian Holy Girl, and Qinglian Holy Girl seemed to not mind at all.

  When Shangguan Yaoyue went forward to exchange things, only Lin Xi and Qinglian Shengnu were left.

  "Lin Xi, has Xiao Ya told you about her background?"

  The Holy Maiden of the Clear Lotus smiled.

  "What's your origin?"

  Lin Xi was taken aback.

  "It seems she hasn't told you yet."

  Qinglian Holy Girl just looked at Lin Xi's appearance and knew the answer, shaking her head:

  "Yao Xue is quite hidden indeed. However, since she doesn't say anything herself, I won't bother either."

  Lin Xixin's heart moved, and she glanced at Shangguan Yaoyue, who was exchanging something not far away, with a thoughtful expression. The meaning of the Qinglian Saintess, Shangguan Yaoyue seemed to have a big background.

  "No wonder Qinglian Shengnu would take a liking to Xue'er and even assign her a sect mission. So that's how it is."

  Lin Xi seemed to be thinking of something.

  There's no such thing as a free lunch. Qinglian Shengnu has a good temperament, but it's also impossible for her to be so kind and generous as to help a nominal disciple without any purpose.

  There are so many registered disciples on Mount Shenxiu, even if they really want to help, they can't.

  The Xian family has no unprovoked favors or help.

  If Lin Xi hadn't gotten to know Shangguan Yaoyue and given the Dragon Egg that increased lifespan to Qinglian Holy Maiden, she might not have looked at him differently and spoken so many words to him.

  "Right, since you know Yaoke, that doesn't count as an outsider. Moreover, I've accepted your favor and obtained a dragon egg. I'd like to invite you and Yaoke to visit me at Qinglian Peak. Perhaps there's something puzzling you, and I can help clarify it for you."

  The lotus saintess spoke with profound meaning.

  This invitation conveys kindness and also expresses Qinglian Holy Girl's intention to make friends.

  Lin Xi naturally wouldn't refuse, and besides, there was a powerful seal separating the inner and outer sects of Shen Xiao Sect. Lin Xi really wanted to take a look inside the inner sect, broaden his horizons.

  In addition, Lin Xixin also had some doubts in her heart and wanted to ask Qinglian Holy Girl for guidance.

  "It's settled then, but before that, I still want to go to the Grand Promotion Hall and become an official disciple first. In Shenyue Mountain, being a registered disciple is still quite inconvenient."

  Lin Xidao.

  "Hehe."

  Qinglian Holy Girl smiled:

  "Of course, there's no problem. However, if you're thinking of advancing to a formal disciple, I have some advice that might be useful to you."

  Lin Xi's eyes lit up:

  "Please instruct me, elder sister."

  Qinglian Holy Girl's status is extraordinary, her vision and insight are not something that Lin Xi can compare to. With her guidance, even if it's just a simple thing, for Lin Xi, it would probably be an extraordinary gain.

  "I just saw the Hundred Pulse Pill on you, which should be used for breaking through the boundary. You're only at the 10th level of martial arts, yet you have such a dense true energy, it's truly unimaginable. However, if it's just to advance to official disciple, there's no need to go through so much trouble. The Grand Hall advancement exam only tests true energy, and with your true energy, it's more than enough."

  The Way of the Holy Lotus

  "Ah!"

  Lin Xi was shocked, if it wasn't for Qinglian Shengnu saying so, he wouldn't have known.

  That's the difference between having someone to guide you and not having anyone to guide you.

  If someone had pointed this out to Lin Xi earlier, he might have been able to receive the formal disciple's task a long time ago, rather than just being able to receive the Black Dragon Gate task.

  Of course, the "Hundred Pulse Pill" reward from the Black Dragon Gate is still a must-have for Lin Xi. It's something that he absolutely needs to get. However, if he becomes an official disciple of the sect earlier, Lin Xi will be able to enjoy the treatment of an official disciple earlier as well.

  "Moreover, I saw you appear in the Fude Grand Hall. You should be here to exchange for elixirs and such. My advice is that it's best if you don't exchange anything for now. Because once you officially become a sect disciple, what you'll urgently need first isn't elixirs and such, but rather a book of supreme Daoist techniques."

  The Holy Maiden of Clear Lotus spoke slowly:

  "In addition, for newly promoted formal disciples, when selecting the first type of ultimate skill for the first time, the sect also has a preferential policy, which is to halve the required merit points for the selected ultimate skill. For some top-level skills, this sectarian preferential treatment reduces not just a small amount of merit points. You may think that 2240 merit points are still a lot now, but when you really need them, you will find that merit points are never enough!"

  Lin Xi suddenly looked confused and said sincerely:

  "Thanks for your guidance, sister."

  These things are common sense for Qinglian Holy Girl, but not for Lin Xi. Some details that are hard to notice in peacetime are crucial. They can only be revealed at critical moments.

  If it weren't for Qinglian Shengnu's guidance today, Lin Xi might have already used up all the merit points in the Lude Card. By then, when he really needed to exchange for a skill, there would be no more merit points left in the Lude Card, and it would be too late for regrets.

  The Holy Maiden of the Clear Lotus simply nodded and didn't say anything.

  Soon, Shangguan Yaoyue finished exchanging them. What she exchanged were all elixirs, which was the thing that the disciples of the Immortal Path exchanged for the most.

  Lin Xi listened to Qinglian Shengnu's words and roughly understood. Shangguan Yaoyue might have a very deep background, the divine sect's refining air first and second heavy ultimate skills, may not be placed in her eyes.

  But no matter what Shangguan Yaoyue's background is, it has nothing to do with Lin Xi. What should be told to him doesn't need to be asked, Shangguan Yaoyue will say it herself. What shouldn't be told to him, Lin Xi won't ask either.

  Soon, the three of them arrived at a "Promotion Hall" on the outskirts of Shen Xiao Mountain.

  This is a grand hall made of brass, with a majestic atmosphere. The disciples entering and exiting are relatively few. The gate is open, and several promoted assessment disciples stand proudly inside the great hall.

  However, seeing Qinglian Holy Girl arrive, several disciples in charge of promotion assessment changed their expressions and welcomed her at the door.

  "See you later, Sister!"

  Five or six disciples who were promoted to the Grand Temple for assessment, one by one, bowed down and showed great respect.

  The status of the Holy Girl is extraordinary and cannot be compared by these assessment disciples.

  "No need for formalities. I'm just accompanying a junior fellow who's here for promotion today. He's the main character of the day."

  Qinglian Holy Girl said, looking at Lin Xi beside her.

  Several assessment disciples observed his words and expressions, immediately understanding:

  "It turns out that my junior brother is going to take a promotion exam. Please follow me."

  Immediately, one of the assessment disciples welcomed Lin Xi to the side. The attitude was polite and enthusiastic, with four or five assessment disciples surrounding Lin Xi. This treatment was simply incomparable to the cold reception Lin Xi received in other grand halls.

  This is the principle of "having someone in the court makes things easier". If it weren't for Qinglian Shengnu's protection, Lin Xi might not have received such treatment.

  Soon, Lin Xi passed a series of tests and came to the final and most crucial link.

  In the center of the grand hall, a boulder as tall as a person stood upright.

  Lin Xi and several assessment disciples stood on either side of him.

  "Junior brother, this is a Power Stone. In a moment, you will input your true energy into it. When the black light appears, that means you have passed the test. From now on, you will leave behind the identity of a registered disciple and become an official disciple."

  A disciple pointed at the huge rock in front of him.

  Gongli Stone is the most crucial test in the Jinsheng Temple. Everything relies on real strength, and no one can pretend to be something they're not. Even if Qinglian Holy Girl wants to help, Lin Xi cannot pass the Gongli Stone's test and become a formal disciple.

  This level of assessment is impartial and just, in order to completely eliminate the favoritism and corruption of the sect's assessment. Everything is decided by one's actual strength!

  The grand hall fell silent, even Yu Xue held her breath and showed a concerned expression. She hadn't forgotten that Lin Xi was still at the tenth level of martial arts cultivation.

  "Hum!"

  Lin Xi stretched out his palm and pressed it onto the power stone, then a majestic true energy surged into the practice stone. The huge boulder, as tall as a person, began to shake violently, and then emitted a white light.

  At first, it was very weak, but gradually, with Lin Xi's input of Gong Li, it became brighter and brighter. Finally, it emitted a dazzling light, dazzling the eyes. However, no black light was emitted.

  "Not enough!"

  Lin Xi's eyes narrowed slightly, his eyelids closed, and then his entire body's energy surged into the practice stone with a loud rumble.

  "Hum!"

  The heavy Practicing Stone shook violently, then under the gaze of everyone in the great hall, it changed from white to black, emitting a fierce black glow.

  In the grand hall, everyone started to feel uneasy, but later on, they gradually felt that something was off. One by one, they were stunned, and even Qinglian Holy Maiden raised an eyebrow, revealing a look of astonishment upon witnessing this scene.

  Lin Xi closed his eyes and didn't know what was happening outside. He waited for a long time, but he didn't hear the voice from outside saying "the assessment is passed".

  Thought it was just a lack of power, still needs input. Didn't think much of it, continued to push the power to its peak!