Chapter 101: Today, Record Die

Zhang Yan stretched out his hand.

Zhang Xu was slightly taken aback, then quickly reacted. He bowed and said, “I will obey your order.”

After Zhang Xu left, Zhang Yan slowly closed his eyes and sensed the changes in his body.

The moment the jade scroll entered his hand, the mysterious energy that was subtly guiding him to refine his qi suddenly became clearer, no longer elusive.

After a while, he opened his eyes and gently placed the jade scroll on the table.

With the jade scroll present, his cultivation would definitely be much easier. He could use this to improve his understanding of the Qi and Spirit, and refine his qi more quickly.

This jade scroll was also the key to becoming an inner disciple. As long as he grasped the essence of this scripture and refined his qi to the first level, he would be able to enter the inner sect.

After returning to his meditation cushion, Zhang Yan adjusted his breathing and began to guide the Qi and Spirit to refine his qi.

Without the jade scroll, the energy of the Qi and Spirit was vague and hard to grasp, like trying to hold flowing water. With the jade scroll as a guide, it was like having a clear channel, allowing him to sense the Qi and Spirit more easily and guide it towards the cultivation method.

However, even with the jade scroll, refining qi wasn’t easy. This was his first time refining qi. Every time he guided the Qi and Spirit, it felt like walking through a thick fog, searching for a tiny spark of light.

After repeated attempts, he was exhausted. He stopped and found that it was almost evening.

After recuperating for a while, he began his daily training. He practiced the “Three Essences of the Azure Dragon,” the “Nine Transformations of the Heavenly Horse,” and the “Seven Strikes of the Heavenly Tiger,” three sets of martial arts that he had recently learned.

He practiced each set once, feeling a faint exhaustion throughout his body. He then sat down to meditate.

The purpose of meditating after practicing martial arts was to gather his focus and calm his mind. Although it didn’t directly aid in refining qi, it was still a method of cultivation that helped him control his emotions and maintain clarity.

It was late at night when he finished his meditation. He felt his eyelids getting heavy, so he got up and went to bed.

The next day, he woke up refreshed. He immediately began practicing his martial arts.

After practicing, he sat down and opened the jade scroll, continuing to refine his qi.

This time, it was a little easier than yesterday. After several attempts, he finally found a hint of clarity.

This clarity was very subtle, fleeting, and difficult to describe.

Zhang Yan felt like he had grasped something, but it was still vague and unclear.

He carefully recalled the sensation he had just felt and tried to recreate it. After repeated attempts, he finally managed to sense that clear energy again.

Although he had not yet refined his qi, he felt that he was very close to succeeding.

Feeling the slight change in his spiritual energy, Zhang Yan stopped and rested.

It was already past noon.

He looked at the jade scroll, then at the sky outside. After a moment of thought, he carefully put the jade scroll away and walked out of the room.

He went to the kitchen and found that the handyman disciples were preparing lunch. He took a steamed bun and ate it as he walked towards the martial arts field.

Today was the monthly assessment. He had heard that the assessment would be held at the martial arts field.

As he walked, he noticed that many disciples were heading in the same direction. They were all dressed in white, like him.

Zhang Yan recognized some of them. Some were outer disciples, while others were inner disciples.

The assessment was mainly for outer disciples, but inner disciples could also participate if they wanted to earn some contribution points.

Zhang Yan didn’t care about contribution points. He was participating to test himself and see how he compared to others.

When he arrived at the martial arts field, he saw that there were already many disciples gathered there. Most of them were outer disciples, but there were also some inner disciples and even some elders.

The outer disciples were divided into groups, and each group was taking the assessment in order. The inner disciples stood on the side, watching.

Zhang Yan joined the outer disciples.

The assessment was simple: challenge the assessment hall and defeat the wooden dummies.

There were ten wooden dummies in the assessment hall, arranged in a line. The first dummy was easy to defeat, but the difficulty increased with each subsequent dummy.

To pass the assessment, one had to defeat all ten dummies.

Zhang Yan stood in the queue, waiting for his turn.

After a while, it was his turn.

He stepped into the assessment hall and looked at the ten wooden dummies in front of him.

He didn’t hesitate. He took a deep breath and punched out.

The first wooden dummy was easily defeated.

He continued to move forward, defeating the wooden dummies one by one.

The difficulty of the wooden dummies increased significantly as he progressed. By the time he reached the eighth wooden dummy, he had to use his full strength.

He finally defeated the eighth wooden dummy.

He looked at the ninth wooden dummy. This one was much stronger than the previous ones.

He took a deep breath and adjusted his stance. He was going to give it his all.

He charged forward and attacked the ninth wooden dummy.

The battle was intense. Zhang Yan used all of his techniques, but the ninth wooden dummy was very strong.

After a fierce battle, he finally defeated the ninth wooden dummy.

He was exhausted, but he didn’t stop. He looked at the tenth wooden dummy.

The tenth wooden dummy was the strongest of all. It was said that only inner disciples could defeat it.

Zhang Yan took a deep breath and prepared himself. He was going to try his best.

He charged forward and attacked the tenth wooden dummy.

The battle was even more intense than the previous one. Zhang Yan used every technique he knew, but the tenth wooden dummy was incredibly strong.

After a long and difficult battle, he finally defeated the tenth wooden dummy.

He was completely exhausted. He stumbled out of the assessment hall, panting heavily.

The outer disciples who were watching were all amazed. Zhang Yan was the first outer disciple to defeat all ten wooden dummies.

Even some of the inner disciples were surprised.

An elder walked up to Zhang Yan and said with a smile, “Well done, young man. You have excellent potential. If you refine your qi to the first level, you will definitely become an inner disciple.”

Zhang Yan bowed and said, “Thank you, Elder.”

The elder nodded and said, “Take a rest. You deserve it.”

Zhang Yan found a place to sit down and rest. He was tired, but he was also excited. He had successfully completed the assessment.

After resting for a while, he got up and left the martial arts field.

He returned to his room and sat down on his meditation cushion.

He took out the jade scroll and opened it.

He began to refine his qi again.

This time, with the experience he had gained, he found it easier to sense the clear energy.

After several attempts, he finally managed to refine his qi.

He felt a warm current flowing through his body. This was the energy of the Qi and Spirit, refined and transformed into his own energy.

He had succeeded! He had refined his qi!

He was now a true cultivator.

He was so excited that he couldn’t help but smile.

He closed the jade scroll and put it away.

He got up and walked out of the room. He wanted to share his joy with someone.

He went to Zhang Xu’s room and knocked on the door.

Zhang Xu opened the door and looked at him with surprise. “Brother Zhang, what are you doing here?”

Zhang Yan smiled and said, “I have something to tell you.”

Zhang Xu saw the excitement in Zhang Yan’s eyes and asked, “What is it?”

Zhang Yan said, “I have refined my qi!”

Zhang Xu was stunned. He looked at Zhang Yan in disbelief. “You… you refined your qi?”

Zhang Yan nodded.

Zhang Xu was overjoyed. He grabbed Zhang Yan’s hand and said, “That’s great! You’re amazing!”

Zhang Yan smiled.

Zhang Xu said, “Let’s go and tell Master!”

Zhang Yan nodded.

They went to Master’s room and knocked on the door.

Master opened the door and looked at them with a smile. “What is it?”

Zhang Xu said, “Master, Brother Zhang has refined his qi!”

Master was surprised. He looked at Zhang Yan with a smile and said, “Is that true?”

Zhang Yan nodded and bowed. “Yes, Master. I have refined my qi.”

Master was very happy. He patted Zhang Yan on the shoulder and said, “Good, very good! You are indeed a genius!”

Zhang Yan smiled.

Master said, “Now that you have refined your qi, you can officially become an inner disciple. I will arrange for you to enter the inner sect tomorrow.”

Zhang Yan bowed and said, “Thank you, Master.”

Master nodded and said, “Alright, you can go now.”

Zhang Yan and Zhang Xu bowed and left Master’s room.

As they walked back to their rooms, Zhang Xu said, “Brother Zhang, you’re amazing! You refined your qi so quickly!”

Zhang Yan smiled and said, “It was thanks to the jade scroll and Master’s guidance.”

Zhang Xu said, “Still, it’s amazing. I’ve been trying to refine my qi for a long time, but I still haven’t succeeded.”

Zhang Yan said, “Don’t worry, you will succeed eventually. Just keep practicing.”

Zhang Xu nodded.

They returned to their rooms. Zhang Yan was still very excited. He had finally become a true cultivator.

He looked forward to entering the inner sect and learning more advanced cultivation techniques.

The next day, Zhang Yan went to the inner sect with Master.

The inner sect was much larger and more beautiful than the outer sect. There were many exquisite buildings and lush gardens.

Master took Zhang Yan to the main hall of the inner sect.

In the main hall, there was a kind elder sitting on a chair.

Master bowed to the elder and said, “Elder, this is Zhang Yan. He has refined his qi and is ready to become an inner disciple.”

The elder looked at Zhang Yan and smiled. “Welcome to the inner sect, young man.”

Zhang Yan bowed and said, “Thank you, Elder.”

The elder said, “From now on, you are an inner disciple of our sect. You can choose your own cultivation method and master. We have many excellent masters and cultivation methods here.”

Zhang Yan was excited. He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time.

He looked around the main hall, eager to explore the inner sect and begin his cultivation journey.

He knew that this was just the beginning. There was still a long way to go, but he was ready to face any challenges and become a powerful cultivator.