Chapter 12: Investable Person!

"The next item?" Li Xun's curiosity was piqued. "What is the next test?"

The white-robed disciple pondered for a moment, then glanced deeply at Li Xun and pointed to a stone pillar in the chamber. "Senior Brother, you need to strike the pillar with your true essence without using any weapons. Let's see how deep a mark you can leave."

"So that's it," Li Xun understood immediately.

At the Qi Condensation Stage, practitioners could project their true essence outside their bodies. 

When using weapons, the sharpness of the true essence would be amplified many times over. 

However, without weapons, the destructive power of true essence would decrease significantly. 

This test was to gauge the inner disciples' control over their true essence. 

If one could condense their true essence to the extreme, its lethality would rival that of imperial weapons!

Li Xun formed his fingers into a sword.

A sharp sword beam condensed, emitting a chilling light, dazzling and unstoppable. 

Even the nearby white-robed disciple felt a stinging pain as if his skin was being sliced. 

He pursed his lips and softly reminded, "Senior Brother, it's okay to hold back a bit."

"Alright." Li Xun nodded and restrained five percent of his strength.

Then, he swung his sword finger downward. 

Buzz!

The sword beam pierced through the air with a sharp whistle, seemingly slicing through the void. 

Boom!

A loud crash echoed.

The entire chamber shook violently, and smoke and dust billowed.

After a long time, the dust settled.

The white-robed disciple stood in shock.

"Ah...this..." He stared blankly at the stone pillar, which was almost a meter high but now reduced to just three feet.

The cut surface was extremely smooth, with no visible traces of the cut.

Moreover, on the wall behind the pillar, there was a sword mark several inches deep.

It must be noted that this chamber was constructed from cold iron stone, making it impossible for ordinary Qi Condensation Stage disciples to leave any mark. 

But Li Xun had not only left a mark but had also cut several inches deep. 

This was simply unbelievable!

"Gulp!"

The white-robed disciple swallowed hard. 

He looked at Li Xun, then at the stone pillar, and finally at the wall, deeply shaken.

What kind of monster was this Senior Brother?

Was this really the result of holding back a bit?

If he went all out, what would it look like?

Would he dismantle the entire chamber?

"Is there any more testing?" Li Xun asked, hands behind his back, looking at the white-robed disciple.

"No...no more." The white-robed disciple forced a smile and continued, "Senior Brother, please wait in the front hall for a moment. I'll prepare the inner disciple's attire and your identity jade token."

"Alright." Li Xun nodded and returned to the main hall.

He didn't have to wait long.

The white-robed disciple quickly came over with a box. He handed the box to Li Xun, saying, "Senior Brother, these are your clothes."

He then handed over a jade token. "This is your identity token. With this, you can freely enter and exit the sect's protective formation."

"Thank you," Li Xun said, accepting the box and the token. He examined them closely.

The inner disciple attire was identical to what the junior disciple wore, white with gold trim, looking elegant and prestigious. 

The identity token was made of top-quality warm jade, smooth to the touch, with divine light flowing within, clearly not an ordinary item.

In the future, when traveling, hanging this token on his waist would immediately identify him as an inner disciple of Profound Sun Sect.

"Senior Brother, with this token, you can go to the Scripture Pavilion and choose two lower-grade Xuan-level techniques. Don't forget," the white-robed disciple reminded him. 

"Also, the token contains the address of your new residence. Make sure to check it out."

"Understood. Thank you," Li Xun nodded, storing both the box and the token. 

He cupped his hands and said, "Farewell."

"Safe travels, Senior Brother!" The white-robed disciple was exceedingly respectful, accompanying Li Xun out of the hall before stopping.

Watching Li Xun's departing figure, the white-robed disciple clicked his tongue in wonder, muttering, "This Senior Brother reached the peak of the Qi Condensation Stage before taking the assessment. He must be a person of great perseverance, with limitless future potential. What a missed opportunity to form a good relationship today!"

"Sigh!" He sighed softly and turned to re-enter the hall. 

But as he lifted his foot, he froze, suddenly realizing something.

"If I remember correctly, outer disciples can only stay in the outer sect for five years!"

"Which means...that Senior Brother reached the peak of the Qi Condensation Stage in no more than five years??"

He quickly turned around, looking outside, but Li Xun was already gone.

On the mountain path of Zichen Peak, Li Xun held the identity token, examining it. 

It contained the location of his new residence, but since Qi Condensation Stage practitioners didn't have spiritual sense, he couldn't probe the contents directly.

However, there was a simple solution: pressing the token to his forehead.

Li Xun did so and quickly found the location of his new home. 

"Not bad, it's quite close to Zichen Peak," he noted, satisfied, and put the token away. 

He planned to visit his new home and inform Lu Changhe since he was his only friend in Profound Sun Sect. 

Inviting him to see the new place was only right.

Just as he was about to head to his new residence, he caught a glimpse of a white light passing by him.

"Hmm?"

"Wait!"

"Was that...?"

Li Xun abruptly turned, looking back, his pupils contracting with sudden joy.

"An investable person!"