The moment Lin Mo returned to his corner, the training ground erupted into a chaotic storm of whispers and gasps. Even the stern elder in charge of the assessment rubbed his eyes repeatedly, as if doubting his own vision.
"Fourth Level… that's real, right?"
"He was still at the First Level yesterday! I saw him being bullied by Zhao Hai just last week!"
"Is this some kind of trick? No one's spiritual root can change that fast!"
Amidst the commotion, Zhao Hai finally snapped out of his shock. His face turned red with rage and embarrassment—he'd spent a month struggling to break through to the Sixth Level, and this "trash" had leaped three tiers in a single night? It was a direct slap in his face.
He strode forward again, his boots thudding on the stone ground, and blocked Lin Mo's path. His arrogance was still there, but now it was laced with panic.
"Lin Mo! What sorcery did you use?!" Zhao Hai roared, his voice cracking. "The sect rules prohibit illegal cultivation techniques! Hand over whatever you've been hiding!"
Lin Mo lifted his gaze, his dark eyes calm and unwavering. He didn't rise to the provocation—instead, he tilted his head slightly, his tone flat and indifferent.
"Sorcery?" he repeated. "The Spirit Testing Stone only measures true cultivation. If I'm at the Fourth Level, that's my strength. If you can't accept it… that's your problem."
The crowd murmured in agreement. The Spirit Testing Stone was a sacred artifact of Azure Cloud Sect; it could never be faked. Zhao Hai's accusation sounded more like sour grapes than justice.
An elder stepped forward, his eyes sharp as he sized up Lin Mo. "Lin Mo, explain yourself. How did you make such a breakthrough?"
Lin Mo kept his explanation simple—he'd prepared for this moment. "I've been meditating in seclusion for the past month, relying on my own willpower to temper my body and absorb spiritual energy. The broken pseudo-spiritual root was never the real issue; I was just holding myself back."
It was a half-truth, but it sounded plausible. Many outer sect disciples struggled with self-doubt, and framing his breakthrough as a triumph of willpower made it easier for everyone to accept.
The elder frowned, then nodded slowly. "Willpower is the foundation of cultivation. Since you've made such progress, you've passed the assessment. As for the rewards—you'll receive three medium-grade spirit stones and a volume of advanced body-tempering techniques."
The crowd let out a collective gasp. Three medium-grade spirit stones was unheard of for an outer sect disciple's monthly assessment! And the advanced body-tempering technique was a rare resource usually reserved for inner sect disciples.
Zhao Hai's face paled even further. He'd expected to humiliate Lin Mo and claim the top reward for himself, but now Lin Mo was the one getting all the glory.
"Unfair!" he shouted. "He must have cheated! Let him test again!"
The elder turned to glare at him. "Zhao Hai, the Spirit Testing Stone has spoken. Do you question the authority of the sect? Or are you jealous that you can't match a disciple who's been written off as trash?"
The words stung. Zhao Hai's allies—Wang Hu and the others—slunk back, avoiding his gaze. They'd all mocked Lin Mo mercilessly, and now they were stuck in an awkward silence.
Lin Mo didn't spare Zhao Hai another glance. He accepted the spirit stones and the technique scroll from the elder, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the scroll. The Steady Immortal System pinged in his mind instantly.
[Ding! Host has obtained Advanced Body-Tempering Technique. Skill level: Novice. Steady Points +100.]
100 Steady Points—enough to unlock a new passive ability, he realized. But for now, he kept his focus on the present.
After the assessment, the outer sect disciples dispersed, but Lin Mo's name was on everyone's lips. As he walked back to his dilapidated bamboo hut, he heard whispers following him everywhere.
"Did you see his calmness? He didn't even flinch when Zhao Hai attacked him!"
"He's no longer the trash of the outer sect. He's the one to watch now."
"Wait until the inner sect assessment—he'll shock everyone there too!"
Lin Mo pushed open the door to his hut and sat cross-legged on his straw mat. He opened the Advanced Body-Tempering Technique scroll and began to read. The words flowed into his mind easily, his Qi Refining cultivation base allowing him to absorb the knowledge at an accelerated pace.
[Ding! Host is comprehending Advanced Body-Tempering Technique. Steady Points +50 per hour.]
As he studied, he checked his system panel again.
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Host: Lin Mo
Cultivation Base: 4th Level of Qi Refining (320/1000)
Spiritual Root: Broken Pseudo-Spiritual Root
Steady Points: 450
Skills: Basic Body-Tempering Technique (Mastery), Advanced Body-Tempering Technique (Novice)
System Store: Unlocked
—————————
450 Steady Points. He could use 300 to repair his pseudo-spiritual root, but he decided to hold off. His current cultivation was still too low—if he fixed his root now, he'd attract too much attention. Instead, he'd use the points to strengthen his body and unlock new skills.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
Lin Mo opened his eyes, frowning slightly. No one ever came to his hut—they avoided him like the plague.
"Come in," he said.
The door creaked open, and a young boy with a thin frame and timid eyes stepped inside. It was Xiao Ning, the only outer sect disciple who'd ever been kind to Lin Mo. He'd been bullied for years too, and the two had shared silent solidarity.
Xiao Ning clutched a cloth bag tightly, his face flushed with excitement.
"Lin Mo… congratulations!" he said, holding out the bag. "I made you some spirit fruit cakes. You must be tired after the assessment!"
Lin Mo stared at the cakes, then at Xiao Ning's eager face. A faint smile tugged at his lips—the first genuine smile he'd worn since activating the system.
"Thank you," he said, taking the bag.
Xiao Ning beamed. "Everyone in the outer sect is talking about you! Zhao Hai is so angry he's locked himself in his room! And the elder said you're going to be promoted to inner sect soon—wait until then, no one will dare to bully you!"
Lin Mo nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. Promotion to inner sect was inevitable, but he had a bigger goal. The Steady Immortal System's name promised immortality—and immortality required power, far beyond the inner sect of Azure Cloud Sect.
He'd take it step by step. First, solidify his cultivation. Then, repair his spiritual root. Next, conquer the inner sect. And finally, step into the wider world of cultivation, where legends were made.
Xiao Ning chattered on for a few more minutes, then excused himself, afraid to disturb Lin Mo's cultivation.
Alone again, Lin Mo took a bite of the spirit fruit cake. It was sweet and nourishing, a small pleasure in his arduous journey.
He closed his eyes and began to cultivate, the Advanced Body-Tempering Technique guiding his spiritual energy to temper his muscles and bones. The Steady Points ticked up steadily, and his body grew stronger with each passing minute.
Outside, the sun set over Azure Cloud Sect, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The training ground was quiet now, but the name "Lin Mo" had already been etched into the memories of every outer sect disciple.
The Steady Immortal's rise had only just begun.