The assessment results were posted three days later.
The wooden board was already surrounded when Li Chen arrived.
It stood near the outer disciple hall, leaning slightly to one side, its surface rough and uneven. Names had been carved into it in neat rows, each stroke shallow but clear. There were no explanations, no numbers, no praise or criticism.
Only rankings.
Outer disciples crowded around it, shoulder to shoulder. Some stood on tiptoe. Others pushed forward impatiently, afraid their eyes might miss their own name.
Voices overlapped in low murmurs.
"I'm forty-six… barely made it."
"Damn it, I dropped compared to last time."
"Who's this Li Chen? I don't remember him."
Li Chen stopped a short distance away.
He did not move closer.
From where he stood, he could not see the board clearly, but he could see the reactions. That was enough.
Some faces were pale. Some relieved. Some stiff with forced smiles.
Zhang Wei suddenly appeared from the crowd, breathing hard, hair slightly messy as if he had forced his way out.
"Li Chen," he said quickly, grabbing his sleeve. "You're… you're ranked twenty-eight."
Li Chen blinked once. "Twenty-eight?"
Zhang Wei nodded vigorously. "I checked twice. Didn't dare believe it the first time."
Li Chen let out a slow breath.
Twenty-eight.
Lower than he expected.
Higher than he needed.
"That's good," Li Chen said.
Zhang Wei stared at him. "Good? That's insanely good. There are over two hundred outer disciples. You beat more than one hundred and seventy of them."
Li Chen smiled faintly. "So did you pass?"
Zhang Wei's excitement faltered slightly. "Barely. Sixty-three."
"That's enough."
Zhang Wei laughed bitterly. "You always say things like that."
Li Chen did not answer.
He turned and glanced toward the board from afar. He could make out some familiar names.
Sun Hao.
Eleventh.
As expected.
Several other disciples who had entered earlier ranked above him. Their foundations were deeper, their experience greater.
Li Chen's name sat quietly among them, neither at the edge nor at the center.
Perfect.
By noon, the crowd dispersed.
Outer disciples were summoned again to the stone square. The same middle-aged cultivator stood at the front, expression unchanged.
"Assessment rankings have been recorded," he said. "Rewards will now be distributed."
A small stir ran through the crowd.
"Top fifty may apply for extended cultivation hours in the outer cultivation hall."
More whispers.
"Top thirty will receive one low-grade spirit stone per month."
This time, the murmurs were louder.
Even one low-grade spirit stone was precious for an outer disciple. Many would go months without touching one.
Li Chen felt several gazes turn toward him.
He kept his head lowered.
Names were called one by one.
When Li Chen stepped forward, the cultivator glanced at him briefly, then handed him a small cloth pouch.
"One spirit stone," he said. "Use it wisely."
"Yes," Li Chen replied.
The stone was cool through the pouch, faintly vibrating with contained qi.
[System Notice]
[New Resource Detected]
[Analysis Available]
Li Chen resisted the urge to check further.
He returned to his place without expression.
After the distribution, the cultivator added one more announcement.
"Based on assessment results, certain outer disciples will be reassigned to new duties. Names will be posted by evening."
That caught Li Chen's attention.
Reassignment meant change.
Change could be good.
Or dangerous.
That afternoon, Li Chen returned to the outer quarters.
Zhang Wei followed closely. "You're calm like nothing happened," he muttered. "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to sleep."
Li Chen glanced at him. "You'll get used to it."
"Used to what?"
"Waiting."
Zhang Wei frowned, not understanding, but said nothing more.
In the quiet of the room, Li Chen finally took out the spirit stone.
It was no larger than a fingernail, irregular in shape, translucent with faint cloudy patterns inside. When he focused, he could feel the qi within, dense compared to the thin air of the outer sect.
[System Analysis]
[Low-Grade Spirit Stone]
[Qi Density: Moderate]
[Recommendation: Gradual Absorption]
Li Chen nodded internally.
He placed the stone between his palms and began cultivating.
Breath steady.
Mind clear.
He did not draw greedily. Only a thin thread of qi flowed out, merging with his own circulation.
The effect was immediate.
The warmth in his dantian thickened, becoming more cohesive. His meridians accepted it without resistance.
[Qi Stability: 23% → 24%]
Li Chen stopped.
He opened his eyes and withdrew his hands.
The stone still pulsed faintly. Most of its qi remained.
Enough.
Too much progress at once would undo weeks of careful restraint.
That evening, a notice was posted.
Li Chen found his name quickly.
Li Chen — Western Storage Hall.
Resource organization.
Zhang Wei groaned when he saw it. "That's unfair. That's an easy job."
Li Chen shook his head. "It's visible."
Zhang Wei froze. "Ah."
He understood.
Storage halls were close to resources. Close to supervisors. Close to records.
People noticed what happened there.
The next morning, Li Chen reported to the Western Storage Hall.
The building was larger than expected, carved partly into the mountain. Wooden shelves lined the interior, stacked with boxes, jars, and sealed pouches. A faint scent of herbs and minerals filled the air.
Several outer disciples were already there.
All from the top fifty.
A senior disciple in dark robes stood near the entrance, arms crossed.
"I'm Liu Shan," he said. "I oversee this hall. Do your work properly. No mistakes."
"Yes," everyone replied.
Li Chen was assigned to organizing low-grade materials. Spirit stones, talismans, basic herbs.
He worked carefully, memorizing locations, quantities, patterns.
[System Notice]
[Environmental Data Recorded]
[Resource Exposure Increased]
Li Chen kept his expression neutral.
During a short break, Sun Hao appeared.
He leaned against a pillar, eyes scanning the room before settling on Li Chen.
"Didn't expect to see you here," Sun Hao said.
Li Chen bowed slightly. "Senior Sun."
Sun Hao waved his hand. "No need. We're both outer disciples."
He studied Li Chen openly. "Twenty-eight. That's impressive."
"Luck," Li Chen replied.
Sun Hao smiled faintly. "Luck fades. Ability remains."
Li Chen met his gaze calmly. "I'll remember that."
Sun Hao held his gaze for a moment longer, then turned away.
[System Notice]
[Social Pressure Increased]
[Risk Level: Moderate]
That night, Li Chen returned to the small cliff.
He cultivated under the moonlight, spirit stone resting beside him, untouched.
Late Stage Body Refinement felt solid now. His strength no longer fluctuated. His qi circulated smoothly, like a restrained current.
He could feel it.
The boundary beyond.
Foundation Establishment.
Still distant.
But no longer invisible.
[System Analysis]
[Cross-Realm Combat Potential: Limited]
[Condition: Stability Above 35% Required]
Limited.
Li Chen accepted that.
He did not need to leap realms.
He only needed to stay ahead by one step.
He opened his eyes and looked down at Qingyun Sect, lanterns glowing softly along the paths.
Names on a board would be forgotten.
Rankings would change.
But foundations, once laid properly, did not crumble easily.
Li Chen closed his eyes and continued cultivating, breath steady, mind calm.
Quietly.
Patiently.
Exactly the way he intended to move forward.