Chapter 326: Assessment Ends
Inside the main hall of the Immortal Spirit Sanctum, Xiao Chen sat upright in the first seat, holding a glossy jade slip in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.
The candlelight flickered inside the hall, illuminating his solemn expression. The one-year period had arrived, and this jade slip recorded exactly the final results of this inner disciple assessment.
He raised his eyes, looked at Li Hanzhou standing at the side of the hall, and asked in a deep voice: "Can you confirm without error the contents of this jade slip?"
Li Hanzhou's expression was solemn as he cupped his hands and said: "In reply to the Sect Master, I have checked it repeatedly and can confirm with one hundred percent certainty that there are no errors!"
Xiao Chen nodded, and his gaze returned to the jade slip once again.
Inside the jade slip, spiritual light flowed, detailing the performance and achievements of every inner disciple over this past year.
"First Place: Zhang Zijian."
"Practicing medicine to save the world for a year, his footprints covered the north and south of Qing State."
"Anyone treated by him, regardless of stubborn illnesses or chronic ailments, was cured upon administration of the medicine."
"Because his medical skills were divine, yet he never used cultivation methods, he was revered by mortals as a Living Immortal."
"In the end, three thousand and seventy people voluntarily followed him to migrate to the Ling Realm."
Xiao Chen's gaze stayed on these words for a moment. He remembered this Zhang Zijian, the favored disciple of the Pill Hall leader, who always had a gentle and jade-like appearance in daily life. He did not expect that in this assessment, he could actually achieve such results.
As his fingertip lightly brushed, the contents on the jade slip continued to unfold. From second place to one hundredth place, every disciple's performance was recorded in detail:
"Second Place: Li Qingyao."
"Established a merchant guild in a mortal city north of Qing State and promoted new types of looms, increasing mortal weaving efficiency fivefold."
"Finally attracted two thousand eight hundred people to voluntarily migrate."
"Third Place: Wang Tieshan."
"Improved farming tools, doubling grain production."
"Finally attracted two thousand five hundred people to follow."
Every disciple's results were not much different, and the number of mortals they attracted to migrate was all over a thousand.
Some disciples used farming arts to help mortals harvest, some used artisan skills to improve people's livelihoods, and others used education to enlighten and open minds...
Xiao Chen looked at these records, a trace of relief flashing in his eyes. These were all the pillar talents of the Immortal Spirit Sanctum's future.
However, when Xiao Chen flipped to the last page of the jade slip, his gaze suddenly focused intently.
Ye Fan (Pending).
In the span of a year, he moved between the borders of Qing State and Ling State, successively overthrowing three human dynasties and establishing a new, unified dynasty.
He promoted "Equal Land and Tax Exemption," abolished aristocratic privileges, and established the law that "Princes who break the law are guilty the same as commoners," and was revered by mortals as the Holy Emperor.
After informing the mortals about the migration, three million seven hundred thousand mortals voluntarily followed him to the Ling Realm to open up wastelands!
Xiao Chen's fingers paused slightly.
Three million seven hundred thousand...
This number was almost more than a thousand times the results of the other disciples!
Xiao Chen's gaze stayed on that line of text for a long time, thoughts surging in his eyes. He remembered this Ye Fan was a disciple who only entered the inner gate through the outer gate competition last year.
Usually, he did not reveal his abilities, but unexpectedly, he possessed such capability.
"Regarding the matter of Ye Fan..."
Xiao Chen spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation.
Li Hanzhou understood his meaning and immediately stepped forward, beginning to recount Ye Fan's experiences over this past year in detail.
His voice was steady and powerful, echoing within the hall.
The candlelight in the hall flickered, illuminating the varied expressions of everyone present.
After the narration was finished, Li Hanzhou stepped forward again and explained in a deep voice: "Sect Master, there is more to this matter. The reason Ye Fan took action was because a ghost cultivator was hiding within that mortal dynasty, secretly practicing evil arts using the flesh and blood of death row prisoners."
"If Ye Fan had not killed this scoundrel in time, I am afraid more mortals would have suffered."
He paused, his voice even more sincere: "Even though among these three million seven hundred thousand mortals, most followed because they yearned for Ye Fan's identity as a cultivator, there must be a portion who sincerely revere his character."
"I saw it with my own eyes; the look of reverence revealed in the eyes of those mortals when they mentioned Ye Fan was absolutely not fake."
Li Hanzhou clasped his hands and bowed deeply: "Please consider carefully, Sect Master Brother. With Ye Fan's talent, he ought to be first in this assessment."
The hall fell into silence.
Suddenly, Jiang Che, who was standing to the side, also spoke up: "Sect Master Brother, Ye Fan was able to overthrow three dynasties with a mortal body and establish a new system; he is indeed a rare talent."
Ji Lingxiu also said softly: "Although he violated the rules to take action, it was ultimately to save people. If we deprive him of his results because of this, it would be unfair."
Han Yu did not speak, but looked at Xiao Chen thoughtfully. Based on his understanding of this eldest senior brother, this matter should have already been decided in his heart.
Sure enough, Xiao Chen sat in the first seat, his slender fingers gently tapping the armrest.
The armrest made of black jade emitted a crisp sound, exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
His gaze swept over everyone's faces one by one, finally stopping on that jade slip, his expression indistinguishable.
After a long time, a soft sigh echoed in the hall: "My mind is made up."
Everyone was stunned, but they heard Xiao Chen not directly announce the result, instead saying indifferently: "Tomorrow, the assessment rankings will be officially announced. Let us disperse for today."
Everyone looked at each other, not understanding what their eldest senior brother was planning.
But seeing Xiao Chen's resolute expression, they had no choice but to cup their hands and leave together.
Just as everyone was exiting the main hall one by one, Xiao Chen suddenly spoke again: "Xingcai, you stay."
Chen Xingcai, who was standing in the corner watching the excitement and was on tiptoe preparing to sneak away, blinked her lively eyes upon hearing this, pointing at her own nose: "Me?"
A hint of a smile appeared on Xiao Chen's face: "Yes, it's you."
Afterwards, waiting for everyone to disperse, the hall doors slowly closed, and Xiao Chen's gaze fell upon Chen Xingcai, full of meaning.
Chen Xingcai suddenly had a bad premonition.
...
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