Ning's sudden question startled Ling Huang.
He didn't expect Ning had the guts to directly ask the question to him, the examiner.
Still, it's not like he could answer the question so Ling Huang coughed a little and spoke, "Fourth, you can pass this question if you want."
"No, I think I recognize this plant." Ning carefully touched the plant.
Thick and quite sticky, multiple veins, gave off a dark aura. These characteristics were of...
"Master, this is a Violetspirit Thistle," Ning finally concluded.
Ling Huang heard the answer and took a breath as if contemplating the answer.
Then, there was a pause, too long of a pause if you will. Ning had a striking suspicion that this master of his was doing this all for the theatrics. His master do be like that sometimes...
..
.
As the silence grew uncomfortable, Ling Huang glanced at Ning and the plant before suddenly smiling, "You are right!"
Ning also breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn't help but complain.
If I was right, say it sooner, you old man.
...
"Congratulations, you managed to identify 36 types of ingredients out of 50. I am surprised that you were able to discern that the last plant was Violetspirit thistle, not Bluespirit thistle. Especially since Bluespirit thistle is a widely known plant with these characteristics."
Ning slowly unwrapped the blindfold, his thoughts turning.
If he had to be honest, Ning himself did not have full confidence in identifying the spirit plant.
On the surface level, the spirit plant resembled both the Bluespirit thistle and Violetspirit thistle. The difference between the two was extremely minute without the visuals.
So, Ning took a gamble.
The mere fact that an easily recognizable plant like the Bluespirit thistle was the final spirit plant to be identified rang alarm bells in his mind. Upon discovering this, he simply took a leap of faith.
After all, the power of cliches was over 9000 in this world.
It would not be without the cliché of something that resembles one thing by 99% but is another thing altogether.
So, he harvested the power of cliche in such a way. Nonetheless, it paid off.
"It's thanks to the Master's teaching," Ning spoke, his eyes still adjusting to the sudden light.
"Well, I guess that's true," Ling Huang said, caressing his beard with slight pride. He truly seemed to think that...
Looking at this posture, Ning could see why his seniors turned out the way they did. It was this old man's bad influence.
"Well, enough of that. Since you have passed my test with flying colors, it's time for your reward."
Ning perked up upon hearing that. Those words were music to his ears.
"Let me see, what would be good for you..." Ling Huang searched his space pouch for a reward.
Meanwhile, Ning was anticipating some good stuff. Something a Foundation Establishment cultivator would take out would obviously not be too shabby, right?
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So, gimme goodies...
"Tell me, fourth. Are you cultivating the Pure Qi Sutra?" Ling Huang suddenly asked.
"Yes, Master," Ning narrowed his eyes.
"From the purity of your Qi, you must have reached the second floor of the technique. Very good!" Ling Huang's eyes glowed golden as he scrutinized Ning.
Ning felt uneasy seeing that glow.
"...um, Master?"
"If that's the case, then there are two rewards you can choose from. The first is a barrier-breaking pill that could easily help you reach the fourth stage of Qi condensation."
Ning was surprised listening to this. The barrier-breaking pill was one of the most difficult pills to acquire since it has the ability to increase the chance of breaking through to the next realm.
Until now, Ning had not really faced stagnation, so he did not need the barrier-breaking pill currently. But that didn't mean he would not face the barrier later on. This pill can be used in the future, and even if he did not want it, he could sell it for a large amount of spirit stones.
But Ning didn't hastily choose it. Since the first reward was already this good, it only raised his expectations for the next reward.
"The other reward you can choose is this." Ling Huang threw something at Ning.
"?"
Ning looked at the token that had a big 'Ling' written on it and was confused. This was the personal token of Ling Huang.
"You should know that the Pure Qi Sutra is the fundamental cultivation technique of our sect. But even though many have practiced this technique, it's rare for someone to reach the third floor of the technique during the early stage of Qi condensation. In this entire sect, I think only the sect master reached the third floor before advancing his cultivation."
Ning nodded, not interrupting the explanation.
"To progress in your understanding in the shortest time, the only way is by observing the path of the predecessor to look for the breakthrough." Ling Huang spoke in a single breath. "Normally, I would not have suggested others take this path."
"But you are different."
"You have reached the second floor of the technique based on your own understanding, so you will not get tainted by another's understanding and stagnate. So, the reward I want to give you is also related to this."
Ning's eyes shone upon hearing this, so he asked, "Master means I would learn from the sect master-"
Before Ning could finish the sentence, his forehead was flicked. Pain...
Flicking the fourth, Ling Huang berated, "Why would the sect master waste time on such a small matter?"
"So, the solution is?" Rubbing his forehead, Ning asked, tear-eyed. This master of his had strong fingers it seems.
"It's not like there was no genius that had reached the highest floor, so I can give you the opportunity to view the understanding they have left behind. If you take my token to the Luo Family in Redhorn Town, you can see the report left by that genius."
"But I have to warn you, unlike this barrier-breaking pill, ultimately the amount you can benefit from it depends on yourself. Whether you can gain enlightenment from that report will depend on your comprehension. So, choose your reward."
Hearing both of the rewards, Ning closed his eyes and thought for a while.
...
Ling Huang also looked at his fourth disciple with a hint of appreciation. The reward he was giving out was a level higher than he gave out to his other disciples.
The main reason was undoubtedly due to the sudden rise in difficulty of the test, the other was that he appreciated this new disciple of his.
Ning was the first one of his disciples to take the initiative to show that he was already versed in the art of alchemy even though he didn't know it yet.
The poisons that Fourth had shown him to assess and possibly improve upon already touched the domain of alchemy though only at the mortal level. Perhaps due to this, fourth had such a perception of alchemy that he showed when they met.
So, since Ling Huang appreciated his fourth disciple, he naturally had to show it by raising the bars to obscene levels.
After all, he was a supporter of tough love. Only with this, he could raise his apprentices to success and let them reach their limits.
Yep, this is all for my disciples, my personal taste has nothing to do with it.
'Now, I need to see your choice.' Ling Huang's golden eyes bore upon Ning.
...
A reward that has a fixed value or a reward that could either be of high or low value depending on oneself...
Both the rewards were good, very good.
But ultimately, Ning already knew what he needed most right now.
"Master, I choose the token," Ning spoke firmly.
Ning wanted to reach the highest floor of the Pure Qi Sutra and receive the marrow-washing effect no matter the cost. He had decided to take this path the moment he laid eyes on the Pure Qi Sutra.
The reason was simple: it bolstered his foundation.
Ning cared a lot about his foundation, so much so that if he had not decided to try to comprehend the sutra to the highest level, his cultivation would have probably broken through the fourth stage and progressed significantly.
In fact, he has been suppressing his cultivation for a while now and focused all his attention on comprehending the technique. He was only a step away from the third floor, and this opportunity was perfect for him.
"Good! It seems you still have a broad vision."
Ling Huang smiled.
If fourth had selected the barrier-breaking pill, he would not have shown it outwardly; he would indeed have been a bit disappointed. But now, it seems that the fourth still had a broader vision.
"In that case, you should depart quickly. The sooner you can reach the next floor, the sooner you can advance in your cultivation."
"Yes, master."