Chapter 129: Chapter 129

But this year is different.

Because "Enlightenment Peak is participating in the annual examination again after many years," almost all the elders of the Eternal Immortal Sect have come.

The team from Enlightenment Peak has become the focus of everyone’s attention.

Immortal Performance Peak Master Lin Xing said to Mei Jinqiu,

"These disciples from Enlightenment Peak have only been in the sect for three months, so I’m afraid their results in this annual examination won’t be great."

Mei Jinqiu nodded in agreement,

"Judging by the look in those youngsters’ eyes, they’re not bad. It doesn’t matter if their scores are low, as long as they have the right spirit."

"They might end up at the bottom, let’s hope this won’t damage their mentality." Lin Xing glanced at the front of the Enlightenment Peak team, "Fan Wubing seems quite calm and collected."

Mei Jinqiu had no particular expectations for the new disciples from Enlightenment Peak; the results were predictable. But as for this Fan Wubing... upon reflection, he had never been seen fighting alone before. Previously in the Peach Branch Small Profound Realm, he was fighting in coordination with Luo Qingyao.

After the Peach Blossom Spring, he had heard from Jiang Maodian and others that Fan Wubing was very strong.

But, precisely where does his strength lie?

Mei Jinqiu smiled and asked,

"How many levels do you think he’ll climb in the tower?"

Lin Xing thought carefully,

"According to the description from Peach Blossom Spring, his strength is around the Eighth-Layer Golden Core. That’s quite outstanding among the third cohort students. Now, three months later, and with the experiences from the Peach Blossom Spring, his strength might already be at the Ninth-Layer Golden Core. Corresponding to tower climbing, it’s at a level of ten. I’m quite optimistic about him, so I’ll add one more level, making it eleven levels."

"Eleven levels, huh." Mei Jinqiu smiled.

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, what do you think? How many levels can he reach?"

Mei Jinqiu squinted his eyes,

"Twelve levels? You’re quite optimistic about him?" Lin Xing was a bit surprised, "In nearly fifty years, only two disciples have reached the twelfth level while at the Ninth-Layer Golden Core. Wei Changkong barely reached the threshold of the twelfth level when he was at the Ninth-Layer Golden Core."

"Is Lin Xing Junior Brother forgetting someone?"

"Sect Leader Senior Brother is referring to... Fu Ming?"

"I remember she reached the fourteenth level when she was at the Ninth-Layer Golden Core. The beasts at the fourteenth level are at the Third-Layer Nascent Soul level."

In the Cultivation Realm, talented cultivators have always had their ways to fight across levels.

However, it’s typically within the same major realm.

It’s common for an Early Stage Golden Core to challenge a Second-Layer or Third-Layer Golden Core, both of which are still in the early stages of the Golden Core.

Crossing early, middle, and late-stage battles is already rare.

And challenging a higher major realm... is extremely rare.

There is a fundamental difference between Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

Nascent Soul possesses a critical ability that a Golden Core cannot have — the transformation of the Dantian.

In Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core, the Dantian is just a "field," that small.

But the Dantian of a Nascent Soul can transform! Although it is called a Dantian, it often can be a Dan Lake, Dan Mountain, Dan Sea, or even a small world.

Therefore, the power of Nascent Soul far surpasses that of Golden Core.

Back then, Fu Ming, at the Ninth-Layer Golden Core, could challenge Nascent Soul levels and climb to the fourteenth level, guarded by beasts equivalent to Third-Layer Nascent Soul.

Lin Xing paused for a moment, then said,

"Fu Ming is Fu Ming, and Fan Wubing is Fan Wubing. Fu Ming could reach the fourteenth level because she is a dragon. As for Fan Wubing... he looks like an ordinary human. I still think the eleventh level is his limit, the twelfth level... is tough."

"I still believe he can reach the twelfth level."

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you truly have a fondness for him."

"If you were in my position and met him, you would certainly be more fond of him than I am."

"Hahaha... maybe." Lin Xing thought of something, "By the way, has Manman’s condition improved?"

Mei Jinqiu furrowed his brow,

"No improvement. I have already notified Canglang Country, someone will come soon to take Manman back."

"Yes. Only the Valley of the Water Spirit in Canglang Country can alleviate her condition."

"Sigh... Speaking of which, Fan Wubing also has a chronic illness like her. But his master didn’t specify; we only know it occurs once every five years. According to the calculations, it will be due in January next year."

"In his case. Compared to us, Fu Ming is definitely the most concerned and will surely rush back in time. We don’t have to worry too much."

The two of them didn’t say much more.

The tower climbing began with the first cohort students.

Fan Wubing said to the disciples of Enlightenment Peak,

"Don’t be nervous, relax your mindset. During this period, you’ve had ample combat experience with beasts, so control your rhythm now. Always remember where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Combat is not about mindlessly casting Divine Techniques or swinging weapons; the three stages of observation, posture, and triggering, none can be missing. Follow the plan from last night, understood?"

"Understood, Senior Brother!" The ten first cohort students were full of spirit.

"Li Chuan, you’re a Sword Cultivator but don’t yet have a Lifebound Flying Sword. You need to pay attention to..." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Fan Wubing instructed each of them one by one.

In the end, Luo Qingyao said expectantly,

Fan Wubing looked at her and pondered for a long time,

"Um... in your case, just don’t go overboard."

With Luo Qingyao there, the highest achievement for the other first cohort students could only be "second place."

After all, when the first cohort students were still struggling with Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, she was already at the Eighth-Layer Golden Core. This level of cultivation was quite outstanding even among the fourth cohort students, and hanging around with the first cohort was simply bullying.

Let those little guys harshly feel the disparity in the world.

The endpoint you might struggle to reach in a lifetime is merely someone else’s starting point, and after climbing to the end, you might not even see the starting point of others.