'Eighty points! His completion score is actually as high as eighty!'
Compared to her own seventy points, even though it was only a ten-point difference, they were in completely different leagues.
Remembering how she had mocked Mo Qi, Fang Min's cheeks burned as if she had just been slapped hard across the face.
'Trash? Idiot? A toad?'
'How utterly ironic!'
Mo Qi was taken aback by everyone's enthusiasm. At the same time, it gave him a clearer understanding of how quickly people's attitudes could change.
He accepted their congratulatory gifts one by one, nodding with a smile. 'Well, they're free, so why not? Who would refuse a free gift?'
"I'd say... you're celebrating a little too soon, aren't you?" a voice, neither cold nor warm, drifted over.
Wang Hao walked up to Mo Qi and glanced at the crowd. "I'd advise you all to get one thing straight before you start kissing up," he said. "It's true Mo Qi got a completion score of eighty, but don't forget, he has no talent for cultivation. He can't even condense True Essence."
"So what if his physique is strong? He can endure pain? His reactions are fast? He has a high Spiritual Energy Affinity? What's the use if you can't cultivate? How strong can a physique possibly get? At best, he might be considered a Martial Arts expert among mortals, but in the world of the Martial Dao, he's still rock bottom."
Wang Hao's words jolted the crowd. That's right, how could they have forgotten?
At the start of the Martial Dao are the Three Refinements: Refining Essence, Qi Refining, and Refining the Divine Being.
Refining Essence is the stage of tempering the body and building a foundation. It is a Cultivator's first step on the Martial Dao, and it is absolutely crucial.
But no matter how crucial, it is still just the first minor stage at the beginning of the Martial Dao.
In Mo Qi's case, with no talent for cultivation and no ability to condense True Essence, he could train until he died and still only reach the Refining Essence Ninth Heaven. He could never step into the Qi Refining Realm.
Even if his physique far surpassed others—so much so that Wang Hao himself, a Qi Refining Ninth Heaven cultivator, felt inadequate in comparison—if they were to truly fight, Wang Hao was confident he could kill Mo Qi in a single blow.
This was because of the fundamental difference between the Refining Essence and Qi Refining Realms.
The offensive methods in the Refining Essence Realm are too one-dimensional, consisting of nothing more than powerful strikes relying on brute force.
But Qi Refining is different. A Cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm has already opened a Dantian and can release their True Essence externally. Both their offense and defense undergo a qualitative leap.
Simply put, to shatter the same stone, Mo Qi would need to exert twenty thousand catties of brute force, whereas Wang Hao would only need a thousand catties of strength augmented by a wisp of True Essence.
For example, Wang Hao's physical body might only be able to withstand an attack of five thousand catties, but with True Essence Protection, even a force of fifty thousand catties might not be enough to kill him.
And that's not even mentioning the Refining God Realm and beyond. The gap would only grow wider.
The crowd's enthusiasm vanished in an instant at Wang Hao's words. The few who had just offered gifts were so full of regret they could kick themselves, wishing they could slap their own faces.
'Why did I have to be so quick to act!'
Fang Min, who had been on the verge of collapse, suddenly revived, her face lighting up with glee.
'So what if he has an eighty-point completion score? He's still trash! It's ridiculous! How could I have felt a moment of regret because of him? I wasn't wrong!'
"Inspector Elder, I'm afraid someone like him can't become an Official Disciple, can he?" Wang Hao asked with a cold smile.
Ordinarily, it wouldn't matter what score Mo Qi received. Even if he only had a one-point completion score, as long as he passed the test, he should have become an Official Disciple.
But the crucial issue was his Spirit Root Talent: zero!
If someone like that was accepted as an Official Disciple, it would surely set tongues wagging.
"Wang Hao, it is not your place to tell me what to do!" the Inspector Elder declared. "Since Mo Qi has passed the test, he will become an Official Disciple in accordance with the rules. And not just that—he will be directly promoted to a Core Disciple."
The Inspector Elder's words sent the crowd into an uproar. The Official Disciples of the Void Sect were also divided by rank.
Generally, those in the Refining Essence Realm were classified as Outer Sect Disciples, those in the Qi Refining Realm as Inner Sect Disciples, and those in the Refining God Realm as Elite Disciples.
Above the Elite Disciples were the Core Disciples, who held an even higher status.
Core Disciples were not chosen based on their Cultivation Realm, but solely on their talent. Only the most gifted could be promoted to a Core Disciple.
Wang Hao ranked among the top ten of the younger generation and was the Third Elder's own grandson. Yet even he was not qualified to become a Core Disciple.
If Mo Qi became a Core Disciple, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to him?
"Elder, your word isn't final on this matter," Wang Hao said, holding a Communication Token. "I've already reported it to the Sect Leader and the other Elders. They will be the ones to decide."
"Hmph!" The Inspector Elder was furious. Wang Hao's move was a clear case of overstepping his authority and a direct challenge to his power.
"It seems Old Third has spoiled you rotten! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll be shitting on my head tomorrow!"
With a great wave of his sleeve, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy seemed to boil, coalescing into a gigantic palm that shot toward Wang Hao.
Wang Hao's face paled in terror. He tried to flee but was pinned in place by an immense pressure descending from the sky, rendering him immobile.
Just as the palm was about to crash down, an old man suddenly appeared in front of Wang Hao and shattered it with a single punch.
"Second Senior Brother," the green-robed elder said with a smile, "it's been many years. Your temper is as fiery as ever."
He was Wang Hao's grandfather, Wang Xinglong, the Third Elder of the Void Sect.
"Grandfather, you're finally here! He tried to kill me!" Wang Hao cried, hiding behind Wang Xinglong and pointing at the Inspector Elder, wanting his grandfather to take his side.
Wang Xinglong shot him a glare. "Show some respect! Get to the side!"
Then, his expression shifted to an apologetic smile as he cupped his fists toward the Inspector Elder. "Second Senior Brother, please don't take offense. Hao'er is young and I've spoiled him rotten. Please forgive his lack of manners."
Only then did Mo Qi realize that the Inspector Elder was, in fact, the Second Elder of the Void Sect.
At that moment, three more powerful figures appeared in the hall.
There were two men and one woman, led by a middle-aged man in a Daoist robe.
"Disciples pay their respects to the Sect Leader."
All the disciples bowed to the middle-aged man, Mo Qi included, for he was the Sect Leader of the Void Sect, Yun Xuzi.
"Greetings, Sect Leader." The Inspector Elder also cupped his fists in a salute.
"There's no need for such formalities," Yun Xuzi said. "Which of you is Mo Qi?"
All eyes instantly fell on Mo Qi. His expression remained unchanged as he stepped forward, met Yun Xuzi's gaze directly, and said in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, I am Mo Qi."
Yun Xuzi sized Mo Qi up, able to tell that the young man's composure was genuine.
"You are unable to cultivate?" Yun Xuzi asked.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, I can cultivate. I am just temporarily unable to condense True Essence."
Wang Hao couldn't resist sneering, "What do you mean, 'temporarily'? You dare lie in front of the Sect Leader? You scored zero! You have no talent for cultivation!"
"Silence! How dare you speak so insolently before the Sect Leader!" the Inspector Elder rebuked.
Wang Xinglong glanced at the Inspector Elder and said coolly, "Second Senior Brother, Hao'er is merely exposing the boy's lie. How is that insolent? Besides, Old Fourth is here. He's in charge of the Punishment Hall. Why don't you ask him if Hao'er has done anything wrong?"
"While Wang Hao's interruption was disrespectful, his intention was correct. He is not at fault," said a gaunt, gloomy-eyed old man from behind Yun Xuzi.
This was Xu He, the Void Sect's Fourth Elder. He oversaw the Punishment Hall and had a deep friendship with Wang Xinglong.
"Hmph! Everyone knows you two are thick as thieves," the Inspector Elder retorted angrily. "Mo Qi is telling the truth. How can you call it a lie?"
"Enough!"
Yun Xuzi raised a hand, putting a stop to the farce.
He stared at Mo Qi and asked, "You cannot condense True Essence at this time?"
"That is correct." Mo Qi didn't deny it.
Yun Xuzi sighed internally. 'What a pity.' A completion score of eighty hadn't been seen in many years.
He didn't take Mo Qi's claim of it being 'temporary' seriously. Talent wasn't something that could be changed on a whim.
"What are your thoughts, everyone?"
The Inspector Elder spoke first. "There is nothing to discuss. We will follow the rules. Mo Qi not only passed the test, but he did so with an eighty-point completion score. He should be made a Core Disciple."
"I disagree!" Wang Xinglong was the first to object. "Zero Spirit Root Talent! We wouldn't even accept such trash as an Outer Sect Disciple, let alone a Core Disciple! That eighty-point completion score is a damn joke!"
The Inspector Elder shot back, "The rules are the rules! I don't care what Mo Qi's Spirit Root Talent is. He passed the entrance trial with an eighty-point completion score, and that means he should be a Core Disciple!"
"Heh," Xu He sneered cryptically. "A Core Disciple whose potential caps out at the Refining Essence Ninth Heaven? Second Senior Brother, do you really think that's appropriate?"
"That..." The Inspector Elder was at a loss for words. "Without rules, there can be no order. I stand by my original judgment. This is my duty as Inspector Elder. If you think I am wrong, then this position is yours for the taking."
The Inspector Elder's words stunned everyone. They had never imagined he would go to such lengths for a good-for-nothing who couldn't even cultivate, even threatening to resign from his post.
A warmth spread through Mo Qi's chest. The Inspector Elder's words reminded him of Uncle Niu, who had always stood before him, shielding him from every storm.
Ever since Uncle Niu had passed away, no other elder had treated him so well.
He desperately wanted to urge the Inspector Elder to take back his words, but in this situation, it wasn't his place to speak.
"Second Senior Brother, now you're just being unreasonable," Wang Xinglong said with a frown.
The Inspector Elder just snorted and fell silent, turning his gaze to Yun Xuzi, awaiting his decision.
"Junior Sister Ruan, what are your thoughts?" Yun Xuzi asked, turning to a beautiful woman behind him.
The woman was dressed in a pale yellow gown. With full hips, a slender waist, and crescent-moon eyebrows, her lightly made-up face was both beautiful and mature.
She was Ruan Mengwu, the Void Sect's only female Elder, ranked fifth among them.
"I am inclined to support Second Senior Brother," Ruan Mengwu said with a light laugh, "but Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Brother also have valid points. I find myself in a difficult position."
She clearly didn't want to offend anyone, straddling the fence and saying nothing of substance.
This put Yun Xuzi in a difficult spot. The Inspector Elder was clearly threatening to walk away if he didn't get his way, while Wang Xinglong and Xu He were equally unwilling to compromise.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, this disciple has something to say," Wang Hao suddenly spoke up.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"The position of Core Disciple is exceptionally important. They are the face of our Void Sect, the highest standard for the new generation. Every one of them is a peerless, heaven-blessed prodigy. If Mo Qi wants to become a Core Disciple, I believe he should first have to prove himself, shouldn't he?"
Yun Xuzi nodded. "That is reasonable."
"Isn't an eighty-point completion score proof enough?" the Inspector Elder shot back.
Wang Hao smiled, radiating confidence. "It is precisely because that eighty-point score is so controversial that Mo Qi needs to provide further proof."
"What are you trying to say?"
"My age is similar to Mo Qi's. If he can defeat me, it will prove his talent is greater than mine, and he'll be qualified to be a Core Disciple. On the other hand, if he can't even defeat me, a mere Inner Sect Disciple, then classifying him as a Core Disciple would be impossible to justify, wouldn't it?"