King of Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 592: Chapter 590: Golden Order Qualification

「Half a month later.」

Luo Tian and Mu Qingqing arrived at Wuji Sacred City!

This was a vast, boundless, and prosperous city, four times the size of a Martial City Spirit Hall!

The Wuji Saint Institute was established in the center of the Sacred City.

There were still two and a half months until the Wuji Saint Institute’s enrollment began, but the place was already a sea of people. Experts and prodigies from all major factions had gathered here.

“There are even more experts here than in the Martial City Spirit Hall we visited before!”

Luo Tian marveled.

In the Pale Ring, a third-rate faction would have at least one High Tier Celestial Pool Realm expert presiding over it—strong enough to easily annihilate the Mu Family of the Celestial Mountain Realm.

Above the third-rate factions were second-rate factions, the Ten Great Super Families, the Five Ancient Clans, and more!

Any random Martial Artist you met on the street could have an astonishingly powerful background.

Luo Tian felt his own insignificance and the lack of a powerful backer.

Entering the Wuji Saint Institute was his best option.

Luo Tian knew nothing about the Saint Institute’s assessment, so he did a little digging for information.

The Wuji Saint Institute had ten major divisions.

Each division had a Chuyang Tower, a Zhengyang Palace, and a Jiaoyang Hall.

“The assessment standard for Chuyang Tower is Middle Tier Earth Element Realm or higher, and under the age of thirty.”

“The standard for Zhengyang Palace is Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer or higher, and under the age of fifty.”

During each enrollment period, only Chuyang Tower and Zhengyang Palace accepted new students.

Jiaoyang Hall was for the core members of the Wuji Saint Institute. Those who could enter were all peerless prodigies with supreme talent. It never recruited externally; one could only be promoted from Zhengyang Palace.

Chuyang Tower, Zhengyang Palace, Jiaoyang Hall… This was the standard path of advancement within the Wuji Saint Institute.

“Given my situation, getting into Zhengyang Palace shouldn’t be much of a problem… Qingqing, you can try for Chuyang Tower,” Luo Tian said to Mu Qingqing.

Mu Qingqing’s grandfather had given Luo Tian two tokens, likely with this intention in mind.

After spending this time together, Luo Tian had confirmed that the Flowing Water Realm, where Mu Qingqing came from, was another sanctuary for the Human Race.

To have the chance to enter the Wuji Saint Institute right after leaving a sanctuary—what ordinary person could enjoy such treatment?

“Brother Luo, I heard that the Wuji Saint Institute’s assessment is extremely strict. Tens of thousands sign up each time, but only a few hundred successfully get in.”

Mu Qingqing wasn’t very confident.

She felt that almost everyone here had a higher Cultivation than her.

‘Can I really pass the assessment for the Wuji Saint Institute like this?’

Luo Tian subconsciously activated his Qi Observation Technique and saw that the Clear Qi Pillar above Mu Qingqing’s head was quite astonishing, emitting a faint, jade-green glow.

From a Qi Observing perspective, Mu Qingqing had a bright future ahead of her and was destined to meet many benefactors.

“Just give it a try. It’s not a big deal if you don’t get in,” Luo Tian said with a smile.

Mu Qingqing nodded and said seriously, “Brother Luo, I’m going to go cultivate.”

“Wait, take these. Soak in them when you bathe.”

Luo Tian took out two Jade Bottles filled with the Essence Blood of a Giant Lu Beast.

The Giant Lu Beast Essence Blood was equivalent to the Low Tier Celestial Pool Realm. Luo Tian could apply it directly to his skin, but Mu Qingqing needed to dilute it, preferably by soaking in it during a bath.

Afterward, Luo Tian also entered secluded cultivation, waiting for the day of the assessment to arrive.

Although he was confident he could enter the Wuji Saint Institute, his journey had taught him more about the Pale Ring. He became aware of his own insignificance and the discrimination he might face due to his origins.

This made Luo Tian even more determined to escape his current situation.

He wanted to perform better in the assessment. Perhaps there would be an unexpected reward, like a prize or catching the eye of the Saint Institute’s upper echelons.

‘Time is tight, but with two and a half months left, it’s not impossible for me to break through to the Celestial Pool Realm Second Layer.’

Luo Tian began his Cultivation, circulating the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique.

「A month and a half later.」

Luo Tian had used up all the resources he had on hand.

He left his residence to purchase a large amount of precious materials suitable for Low Tier Celestial Pool Realm cultivation, even selling off his remaining Giant Lu Beast Essence Blood.

The substance had been remarkably effective at first, but its potency had greatly diminished after repeated use, making it far less useful to him now.

After leaving the Martial City, Luo Tian was suddenly poor, with only three hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins left.

This was the price of rapidly increasing one’s Cultivation in a short period.

Luo Tian didn’t dwell on it for long and returned to his residence to continue his secluded cultivation.

…

「Another month and a half later.」

It was the day of the Wuji Saint Institute’s enrollment!

Countless figures rushed toward the Wuji Saint Institute.

The tavern had emptied out early in the morning, leaving it deserted and quiet.

“Brother Luo, the assessment is today!”

Mu Qingqing called from outside his door.

But the door remained tightly shut, with not a single sound coming from within.

Mu Qingqing had no choice but to wait.

「Two hours later.」

Mu Qingqing was getting anxious, so she went to find a tavern attendant.

“We have no authority to open a guest’s room without permission.”

The attendant shook his head, unwilling to get involved.

“But we have to get to the Saint Institute’s assessment,” Mu Qingqing said, her beautiful face downcast.

Hearing this, the attendant couldn’t help but sneer.

Mu Qingqing’s Cultivation was very low, about the same as his own.

‘If someone like her could get into the Wuji Saint Institute, then so could I. Why would I be stuck working as an attendant here?’

Suddenly,

BOOM! RUMBLE!

A terrifying aura erupted from behind the closed door. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi trembled and was instantly drawn away completely.

The attendant froze in place, feeling the Primordial Pool in his body begin to boil uncontrollably.

A few breaths later, the door opened, and Luo Tian walked out.

‘So young,’ the tavern attendant thought, stunned.

‘A Celestial Level Martial Artist this young has a great chance of being accepted into the Wuji Saint Institute!’

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t run my mouth just now, or I’d be finished.’

“Breaking through to the next Realm took a little time. Let’s go.”

Luo Tian left with Mu Qingqing.

“Safe travels, esteemed guests.”

The attendant bowed ninety degrees to see them off.

…

“Brother Luo, you broke through again?”

Mu Qingqing asked, blinking her wide eyes.

Luo Tian grunted in acknowledgment.

Perhaps the pressure of his new environment and the approaching assessment deadline had squeezed out his potential.

He had successfully broken through to the Celestial Pool Realm Second Layer.

It had only been half a year since he had reached the Peak of Celestial Pool Realm First Layer.

“Not bad. You’ve broken through as well,” Luo Tian praised her.

Mu Qingqing was now at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer.

Before long, Luo Tian and Mu Qingqing saw the Wuji Saint Institute!

It felt as if they had arrived at an Imperial Palace—majestic, magnificent, and heavily guarded!

The gate was a full hundred meters high. On a wall to the side, the two ancient and imposing characters for “Wuji” were inscribed.

Outside the gates, numerous experts were waiting. They were all senior figures who had come to escort the younger generation.

Luo Tian swept his gaze over them and was inwardly astonished. ‘There are just too many experts in the Pale Ring.’

Luo Tian and Mu Qingqing stepped forward.

“Proof of qualification!”

A Guard stopped Luo Tian.

“What proof of qualification?”

Luo Tian didn’t understand what the Guard meant.

“Hahaha, Luo Tian! It seems you really didn’t know. Not just anyone can participate in the Wuji Saint Institute’s assessment.”

A loud laugh came from behind him as a cold-faced man approached.

At first, the cold-faced man had been skeptical of what Li Quan had said.

But seeing this scene, he was completely convinced. Luo Tian was just a clueless bumpkin who didn’t know anything.

“I am from the Rong Family of the Nanshan Realm.”

The cold-faced man stepped forward and presented a letter. Inside the envelope was a Silver Token.

“You may enter.”

The Guard returned the Silver Token to the cold-faced man.

“Luo Tian, from now on, we’ll be in two different worlds,” the cold-faced man said with smug satisfaction.

‘Luo Tian’s talent is better than mine, but he doesn’t even have the qualification to take the assessment. How pitiful!’

‘Hmm? That token…’

Luo Tian’s eyes were fixed on the Silver Token that the Guard had carefully inspected.

Its design was very similar to the Golden Token that Mu Qingqing’s grandfather had given him.

“Is this the proof of qualification?”

Luo Tian took out two Golden Tokens.

The Guard’s eyes widened instantly, and his breathing grew a little heavier.

“Sir, you have a Golden Order qualification?”

The Guard struggled to remain calm.

“What? A Golden Order qualification!”

“It seems only the Five Ancient Clans and the Ten Great Super Families can obtain a Golden Order qualification! What faction do these two come from?”

The many senior experts in the surroundings all turned to look, their faces filled with astonishment.

A Golden Order qualification was extremely rare and came with special privileges, namely, slightly lowered assessment requirements.

“You two may enter!”

The Guard returned the Golden Tokens with both hands, his voice humble and subservient.

“Thank you.”

Luo Tian and Mu Qingqing walked inside.

The cold-faced man, who had been swaggering ahead, suddenly noticed Luo Tian and Mu Qingqing had entered and showed a look of surprise.

“How did you two sneak in?” the cold-faced man shouted.

‘Just a moment ago, Luo Tian clearly couldn’t produce proof of qualification and was stopped by the guard outside.’

“None of your business,” Luo Tian said coolly.

“Lord Guard, I want to report someone! They snuck in!”

The cold-faced man yelled to the guards at the gate.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Four Guards immediately flew over.

“Where are they?”

The leader of the group had a stern expression.

If someone had really snuck in, they would all be severely punished!

“It’s them.”

The cold-faced man pointed at Luo Tian and Mu Qingqing.

The four Guards’ expressions stiffened. They then stared at the cold-faced man, their looks seeming to ask, ‘Are you messing with me?’

“How insolent!”

The lead Guard bellowed angrily.

He was the one who had personally inspected Luo Tian.

“They really did sneak in…” the cold-faced man insisted, unwilling to give up.

“Shut up! These two are holders of the Golden Order qualification! If you spout any more nonsense, we’ll revoke your qualification,” the Guard shouted sternly.

This time, the cold-faced man didn’t dare say another word.

‘What’s a Golden Order qualification?’

He seemed to have heard of it but couldn’t quite remember.

“Consider yourself lucky.”

The cold-faced man huffed, not daring to cause any more trouble.

The group walked quickly and arrived at the “Assessment Institute.”

“Luo Tian, stop following me. You go that way.”

The cold-faced man shot Luo Tian a cold glance.

Upon entering the Assessment Institute, they found themselves in a garden with a corridor on the left and right sides.

The cold-faced man headed down the right corridor.

“Let’s go.”

Luo Tian had no favorable impression of the cold-faced man, so he took Mu Qingqing down the left corridor.

“Idiot!”

The cold-faced man cursed, the corners of his mouth curling up.

Luo Tian passed through the corridor and arrived at a large hall where very few people were present.

‘Maybe I’m a bit late, and most people have already started the assessment.’

“Hold on. Her Cultivation is too low. She cannot enter here.”

At the entrance, a middle-aged man stopped Mu Qingqing and then gave Luo Tian a suspicious look.

‘Oh? Could this be the assessment site for Zhengyang Palace?’ Luo Tian wondered.

The assessment standard for Zhengyang Palace was Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer or higher, and under the age of fifty.

Mu Qingqing was supposed to be taking the Chuyang Tower assessment.

“Could I trouble you to take her to the Chuyang Tower assessment?”

Luo Tian asked the middle-aged man, worried that Mu Qingqing might get lost.

The middle-aged man was about to refuse, but his expression changed slightly when he saw the Golden Token in Mu Qingqing’s hand.

“Very well. Leave her to me.”

The middle-aged man agreed and led Mu Qingqing away.

Before leaving, he glanced at Luo Tian’s back.

‘His Cultivation barely meets the standard, but he’s so young… is he here for the Mentor qualification assessment?’