Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life-Chapter 218: The Outer Sect Assessment Begins

The tenth day, early morning.

Hundred Refinements Peak, the place with the strongest fire energy and most abundant earth fire among all the peaks of the Cloud Hidden Sect, was usually the training ground for disciples from the Artifact Forging Hall and the Formation Hall.

Today, it was even more bustling and noisy.

The huge white jade plaza had long been filled with figures of all kinds.

Thousands of menial disciples wearing gray robes gathered here like an ant colony. Some looked nervous, muttering under their breath; some gathered in small groups of three or five, encouraging each other; others simply sat cross-legged on the ground, trying to sharpen their not-so-sharp spears at the last moment.

Su Ming wore a washed-out, faded standard gray robe of the Repair Hall, with no extra accessories, blending into the crowd, completely inconspicuous.

But he wanted to keep a low profile, yet someone wouldn't allow it.

"Brother Su! Over here! Over here!"

A voice as loud and grating as a broken gong forcefully overpowered the surrounding noise.

In the southeast corner of the plaza, Wang Defa's massive frame was struggling to push through the crowd, holding up an old, slightly tattered banner with four crookedly written characters—"Repair Hall Glory."

Behind him, Old Wang, Li Hou, Zhang Asheng, and that group of core Repair Hall members trained by Su Ming stood neatly in a row.

Each of them held a formation plate in their hands, their proud works repaired using the "Su Standard," now held across their chests like weapons in an honor guard.

"..." Su Ming's footsteps paused for a moment, and he really wanted to turn around and leave.

"Master, can I pretend I don't know them?" Su Ming groaned inwardly.

"Too late," Lin Yu laughed uncontrollably inside the ring. "This is called showing off! Look at the people's gazes around you, so 'admiring.'"

Indeed, they were "admiring."

The surrounding menial disciples all looked sideways, their eyes filled with... indescribably complex emotions.

"That's Su Ming from the Repair Hall? I heard that 'standardization' thing was his idea?"

"He doesn't look like much, so skinny, how much spiritual energy could he have?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! He has Elder Ma backing him! And I heard he can even get in touch with Senior Brother Luo Feng from Formation Peak."

The whispers buzzed like flies. Among them were many tinged with jealousy and malicious speculation.

Su Ming took a deep breath, adjusted his facial expression, put on a gentle and humble smile, and walked towards Wang Defa.

"Steward Wang, brothers, you're too kind," Su Ming said, cupping his hands in salute.

"Of course!" Wang Defa's face glowed red as he patted Su Ming's shoulder. "Brother Su, today you're the face of our Repair Hall! Those grandsons from the Vessel Hall are watching over there. You have to fight hard for me!"

Following Wang Defa's pointing finger, Su Ming saw the other side of the plaza.

A group of Vessel Hall disciples wearing fiery red short jackets were gathered there. The leading middle-aged steward stared coldly in their direction. Seeing Su Ming look over, the steward snorted coldly and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Su Ming's expression remained unchanged. He just nodded slightly in acknowledgment, as if he hadn't understood the provocation.

"Childish," Lin Yu commented.

Right then, the noisy plaza suddenly quieted for a moment.

In the sky, two streams of light pierced through the clouds, landing directly on the main seats of the viewing platform.

As the light dispersed, the figures of a boy and a girl were revealed.

The boy carried a sword case on his back, his demeanor steady and composed; the girl was as delicate as carved jade, lively and adorable.

It was Qingfeng and Mingyue.

They didn't go to the high and mighty main viewing platform but landed directly in the area where Su Ming was.

"Senior Brother Su Ming!"

Mingyue's clear voice sounded exceptionally loud in the silent crowd. She skipped over, completely ignoring the countless gazes of admiration or awe around her, and directly stuffed a small porcelain bottle into Su Ming's hand.

"This is 'Mind-Clearing Spirit-Calming Pill.' It's only second-tier, but it's very useful for easing nervousness! Go for it, Senior Brother!"

Qingfeng was as cool as ever. He gave Su Ming a slight nod. Although he didn't speak, his deliberate arrival to show support said everything.

Boom!

The crowd instantly erupted.

"Are those... the two Junior Masters, Qingfeng and Mingyue?!"

"Heavens, they actually came personally to cheer for a menial disciple?"

"What background does this Su Ming have? I thought he had no connections?"

Countless gazes focused on Su Ming once more. If the previous looks were merely curiosity and scrutiny, now these gazes carried substantial weight—jealousy, wariness, and a forced seriousness that couldn't be ignored.

Holding the porcelain bottle that still carried a trace of body warmth, Su Ming gave a bitter smile.

Great, now he was completely the target of everyone's attention.

"A tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind," Su Ming sighed softly.

"What's there to fear?" Lin Yu's voice carried a touch of pride. "Since you're destined to be the tallest tree, then plant your roots deep and thicken your bark. If anyone dares to try and blow you down, let them break their axe on you."

Dang—!

A long, deep, and heavy bell toll spread from the top of Hundred Refinements Peak, suppressing all the noise in the plaza.

Everyone's heart shook. They instinctively held their breath and looked up at the high platform directly ahead.

There, in the previously empty void, a cluster of crimson red flames suddenly ignited.

The flames twisted and rose, transforming in an instant into a middle-aged man wearing crimson red Daoist robes, with a square face and imposing aura.

He stood with his hands behind his back. Not a trace of spiritual energy leaked from his body, but merely standing there gave people the terrifying oppressive feeling of facing an erupting volcano.

The chief examiner of the outer sect assessment, Formation Peak steward, Zhang Lie.

Also the "Zhang Yama" rumored to have a fiery temper and close ties to Elder Luo's faction.

Zhang Lie's gaze swept slowly over the thousands of examinees in the plaza like two torches.

When his line of sight swept past the corner where the Repair Hall was, it paused on Su Ming for an extremely brief moment.

In that instant, Su Ming felt as if the surrounding air was burning, a stinging pain spreading across his skin.

But he didn't avert his gaze. He just calmly lowered his eyelids, assuming a fully respectful posture.

"Hmph."

A cold snort sounded clearly in everyone's ears.

Zhang Lie waved his large sleeve, his voice booming like rolling thunder:

"The path of cultivation is like rowing a boat against the current—if you don't advance, you retreat! Today's assessment only accepts the top one hundred! The rest, leave!"

"First stage, Touchstone of the Dao Foundation!"

As his words fell, the plaza ground rumbled.

Hundreds of black stone pillars covered in runes slowly rose from underground, covering the entire plaza like a forest.

"Within ten breaths, inject spiritual energy into the stone pillar. Those who light up three sections or more, pass! Otherwise, get lost!"

Simple, brutal.

No unnecessary words.

The atmosphere on-site instantly became tense to the extreme.

Su Ming looked at the cold black stone pillar before him and softly let out a sigh.

"Master, time to get to work."

"Mhm, go on. Remember, hold back a little. Don't blow up the pillar. That thing looks pretty expensive; you'd have to pay for it."

The corner of Su Ming's mouth twitched. He extended his right hand and placed it on the cold surface of the stone pillar.