That challenge, you know, it was officially on. Lin Feng had basically just looked Chen Wu — the guy who totally tried to kill him, by the way — straight in the eye and been like, "Bring it." And, holy crap, the whole sect was absolutely losing their minds over it. I mean, everyone knew Lin Feng was a joke, a total waste of space with a shattered spiritual root, just a servant-disciple. So, obviously, this was going to be a show. A disaster, probably, and everyone was here for it.
But Lin Feng? Honestly, he didn't give a damn. He had way bigger stuff going on. That night, back in his little shack, he was pushing that Cosmic Dust Refinement Technique even harder than before. It wasn't just about absorbing energy anymore; he was actually starting to get it, you know? Like, really understand it. The Cosmic Origin Pearl wasn't just some big battery; it was like this massive cosmic library, slowly giving him access to all these ancient insights. The Azure Cloud Sect's techniques? They looked like something you'd learn in kindergarten compared to this stuff. He could feel this subtle change in his meridians, this new energy flow that was just so much more efficient, so much more powerful. He wasn't just getting ready for a fight, he was getting ready to put on a performance.
Mei Hua, though, she was a whole other story. She'd been watching Lin Feng from a distance, and her brow was all furrowed, like, super confused. She saw that quiet confidence, that advice he'd given her that made her own cultivation just… boom, take off. She knew he wasn't the same person. Not even close. The way he'd stood up to Chen Wu, the sheer audacity of it, it was… kinda fascinating. And yeah, a little scary. She was worried for him, for sure, but there was also this massive curiosity. What in the world was he hiding? Just how strong had he become? She actually found herself hoping, against all common sense, that he wouldn't get completely annihilated.
Then, the day of the monthly assessment rolled around, and the main training grounds were absolutely packed. Disciples of every rank were there, buzzing with this wild energy. The elders were up on this raised platform, looking all serious and judge-y. The air was thick with anticipation and, let's be honest, a good bit of "I can't wait to see this guy fail" energy, especially when it came to Lin Feng's turn.
Chen Wu, the main villain, was practically radiating arrogance. He was strutting around like he owned the place, surrounded by his little posse, puffing out his chest like a pigeon. He was making sure everyone knew he was gonna teach "the waste" a serious lesson. At one point, he even caught Lin Feng's eye and gave him this slow, mocking grin, tracing a finger across his own throat. Lin Feng just looked back at him, his face calm, almost bored. Seriously, the dude looked like he was waiting for the bus, not his own public humiliation.
The assessment started with the usual boring stuff: basic spiritual energy control, some martial arts forms, and then a test to show off your cultivation level. Disciples went one by one, doing their thing. Some were decent, some were kinda meh, but nobody really blew anyone's mind.
Finally, the elder in charge cleared his throat. "Next up, Lin Feng!"
A gasp went through the crowd. Murmurs just erupted. People were craning their necks, desperate for the train wreck. Lin Feng, the biggest joke in the whole sect, was actually going to participate. I mean, can you believe it?
Lin Feng walked forward, his steps slow and super deliberate. He wasn't swaggering like Chen Wu, and he wasn't looking all nervous like the other low-level disciples. He just… walked. His tattered servant robes flapped a bit in the breeze. He stood right in the middle of the training grounds, facing the elders, facing everyone. His expression was completely calm. Like he was just about to order a coffee, you know?
He took a deep breath. This wasn't just some boring old assessment. This was his stage. This was where the Ascendant Sovereign was gonna start his big comeback.