The sun rose over Azure Cloud Sect two days later, gilding the peaks of the inner sect's snow-capped mountains. For outer sect disciples, the inner sect assessment was the ultimate goal—a chance to escape the squalor of the outer peaks and step into the realm of true cultivators.
For Lin Mo, it was a mere formality. But it was also the first step onto the bigger stage the Steady Immortal System had carved out for him.
He walked along the stone path that connected the outer sect to the inner sect, his gray robe now crisp and clean (he'd used a portion of his spirit stones to buy a simple cleansing potion). The crowd that lined the path stared at him with a mix of awe and wariness—word of his 4th Level Qi Refining breakthrough had spread like wildfire through the outer sect.
"Look, it's Lin Mo! The guy who jumped three levels in a day!"
"Is he really going to take the inner sect assessment? I heard the minimum requirement is 3rd Level!"
"He's already 4th Level. He'll breeze through it."
Lin Mo ignored the whispers, his gaze fixed on the towering stone gates of the inner sect. The gates were carved with intricate runes that glowed with a faint blue light—spiritual barriers that only genuine cultivators could pass.
At the entrance, a row of inner sect elders sat on stone benches, their robes embroidered with the sect's azure cloud emblem. Among them, Lin Mo spotted the elder who'd awarded him the spirit stones and technique scroll—Elder Qing. His eyes were sharp, as if he could see straight through Lin Mo's cultivation.
The assessment process was straightforward: each disciple placed their hand on a secondary Spirit Testing Stone, and the stone would confirm if they met the 3rd Level requirement. Those who passed would be escorted to the inner sect's training grounds; those who failed would return to the outer peaks.
Most outer sect disciples lined up nervously, their hands trembling as they touched the stone. One by one, the stone lit up—3rd Level, 2nd Level, 1st Level… the majority barely scraping by.
When it was Lin Mo's turn, the entire line fell silent.
Elder Qing looked up from his scroll, a faint smile tugging at his beard. "Step forward, Lin Mo."
Lin Mo walked to the stone, his hand hovering over its cold surface. The crowd held their breath, remembering the chaos of the monthly assessment two days prior.
He pressed his palm down.
Boom!
A burst of bright golden light erupted from the stone, far more intense than the 4th Level light from before. The runes on the stone shimmered wildly, as if celebrating his cultivation.
4th Level of Qi Refining. Clear and unshakable.
"Pass," Elder Qing said, his voice loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear. "Escort him to the inner sect training grounds."
Two inner sect disciples stepped forward, their expressions respectful. They'd heard of Lin Mo's feat, and no longer treated him like a lowly outer sect disciple.
As Lin Mo walked into the inner sect, he felt a pair of eyes burning into his back. He turned his head, and his gaze locked with a young man standing on a balcony above the entrance.
The young man was dressed in a snow-white inner sect robe, his hair tied back with a jade hairpin. His face was handsome, but his eyes were cold and dismissive—like a predator looking at a gnat.
Lin Mo recognized him. Li Chen, the top disciple of the inner sect, a 7th Level Qi Refining cultivator, and the grandson of the sect's grand elder.
Li Chen didn't smile. He simply nodded at Lin Mo, a silent challenge hanging in the air.
Lin Mo kept walking, his expression calm. He knew Li Chen would be a obstacle eventually—but for now, he had more important things to do.
The inner sect training grounds were a world apart from the outer peaks. The ground was paved with white jade, and ancient trees towered overhead, their leaves rustling with spiritual energy. Dozens of inner sect disciples practiced here, their movements precise and powerful, their auras far stronger than any outer sect disciple's.
Lin Mo's arrival drew stares. Most inner sect disciples knew of him—the "trash who turned it around" from the outer sect.
A group of three inner sect disciples approached them, their leader a burly man with a scar across his cheek.
"Lin Mo?" the man said, sneering. "The outer sect's new wonder boy? You think you can just waltz into the inner sect and call yourself a cultivator?"
Lin Mo's hand tightened around his sword hilt—a basic iron sword he'd bought with his spirit stones. "I passed the assessment. That's all that matters."
The scarred man laughed. "Passed? The inner sect isn't the outer sect. Here, strength is all that counts. 4th Level is nothing. I'm a 5th Level cultivator myself."
He stepped forward, his fist coiling with spiritual energy. "Let's see if your 'monstrous growth' is real. Or if you're just a fluke."
Before Lin Mo could respond, a cold voice cut through the air.
"Han Feng, back off."
Li Chen had descended from the balcony, his white robe fluttering in the wind. He stood between Lin Mo and the scarred man, his gaze fixed on Han Feng.
"Senior Brother Li," Han Feng said, his arrogance fading. "I was just testing this outer sect boy—"
"Testing is for equals," Li Chen interrupted. "He's not your equal. Yet."
He turned to Lin Mo, his eyes cold. "The inner sect has rules. No unnecessary bloodshed. But if you dare to disrespect the inner sect… I won't stop them from beating you within an inch of your life."
It was a warning. Clear and unmistakeable.
Lin Mo nodded. "I understand."
Li Chen studied him for a long moment, then turned and walked away. Han Feng and his friends scowled, but they didn't dare follow.
As the group dispersed, Lin Mo checked his system panel.
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Host: Lin Mo
Cultivation Base: 4th Level of Qi Refining (450/1000)
Spiritual Root: Broken Pseudo-Spiritual Root
Steady Points: 550
Skills: Basic Body-Tempering Technique (Mastery), Advanced Body-Tempering Technique (Novice)
System Store: Unlocked
—————————
550 Steady Points. He was 100 points away from unlocking a new skill.
But first, he needed to solidify his position in the inner sect. The monthly inner sect assessment was just the start—soon, there would be the inner sect ranking battles. And in those battles, Li Chen would be waiting.
That night, Lin Mo sat cross-legged in a small courtyard the sect had assigned him. The courtyard was simple—one room, a stone table, a view of the mountains—but it was clean and quiet.
He activated the Advanced Body-Tempering Technique, channeling spiritual energy through his muscles. His bones crackled softly, his skin growing tougher with each passing minute.
[Ding! Steady Points +60/hour. Advanced Body-Tempering Technique progress: 12%.]
As he cultivated, the system pinged again.
[Ding! Host has accumulated 550 Steady Points. Unlock new skill?]
Yes.
A new menu appeared in his mind:
Skill Options (Steady Point Cost: 500)
1. Steady Strike (Active): Infuse your attack with steady spiritual energy. Deals 150% damage. Ignores 20% of enemy defense. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
2. Steady Aura (Passive): Increases your spiritual energy absorption rate by 30%. Reduces damage from enemy skills by 10%.
3. Steady Recovery (Passive): Heals 5% of your max health per minute when not in combat.
Lin Mo didn't hesitate.
Unlock Steady Strike.
[Ding! Skill unlocked: Steady Strike. Steady Points remaining: 50.]
A surge of power flowed through his arm. He flexed his hand, and his fist glowed with a faint white light—steady, unyielding.
The next morning, Lin Mo joined the inner sect's daily training session. The training grounds were packed, and Elder Qing was leading the session, teaching a new technique: the Cloud Step.
"Cloud Step allows you to move swiftly through the air," Elder Qing said, demonstrating. "A must for any inner sect disciple who hopes to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage."
Most inner sect disciples struggled to master the first step of Cloud Step—leaping ten feet into the air. Lin Mo watched, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the movement.
When it was time for practice, he stepped forward.
Elder Qing raised an eyebrow. "Lin Mo, you've only just joined the inner sect. Take it slow."
Lin Mo nodded, but he didn't take it slow.
He channeled spiritual energy into his legs, then leaped.
He soared into the air, higher than any other disciple—twenty feet, thirty feet, forty feet. He hovered there for a full ten seconds, his body perfectly steady, before landing softly on the jade ground.
The entire training ground fell silent.
Li Chen, who was standing nearby, froze. His eyes widened in shock.
Cloud Step was a advanced technique. To master it on the first try… it was unheard of.
Elder Qing clapped his hands slowly. "Impressive. Truly impressive. Lin Mo, you have a natural talent for movement techniques."
Lin Mo bowed. "It's nothing."
But it was something. It was the Steady Immortal System's influence—his steady cultivation, his steady body, made steady progress in every skill he touched.
That afternoon, a message arrived at Lin Mo's courtyard.
It was an invitation to the inner sect's weekly ranking battle—a 1v1 battle where disciples could challenge anyone on the ranking board.
And at the top of the board, Li Chen's name glowed bright.
Lin Mo read the invitation, then smiled.
He knew what he had to do.