Easily Passing

The elder moved swiftly with purposeful strides, leading them directly towards a glorious temple adorned with glistening fire runes. 

As they walked, Miao Ying took the opportunity to observe his surroundings, unable to fully suppress his awe.

The interior of the Blazing Sun Sect far exceeded the magnificence apparent from the outside. The air itself thrummed with potent qi, so refreshing and invigorating to breathe in. The architecture of the buildings seemed to tug at one's very soul with their grandeur. 

And the cultivators Miao Ying spotted were clearly of a superior caliber, their strength detectable even with his currently limited soul sense.

Fellow disciples glanced curiously at Miao Ying as he passed, but none dared question his presence while accompanied by a Houtian elder.

Soon enough, they reached the magnificent temple, its classical designs and mesmerizing scent drawing Miao Ying in.

Upon reaching the stunning temple, Miao Ying followed the elder inside. Classical designs graced the interior and a mesmerizing fragrance drifted through the air. 

At the far end stood an exotic totem inscribed with esoteric runes beyond Miao Ying's current understanding. Beside it was another elder, a beautiful woman whose aura spoke of her formidable cultivation.

A handful of disciples were also present, scattered about the hall. Miao Ying could sense they were all around the 2nd stage of Qi Establishment, the same level as those he had recently rescued.

The disciples took note of Miao Ying's arrival, amusement tugging at the corners of their mouths. Each one was immensely proud of the dedication and effort that had earned them a place in the acclaimed Blazing Sun Sect. In their eyes, someone attempting to circumvent the standard entrance exam by taking this special assessment was laughable.

"Another fool to be put in his place?" one murmured.

"Think this one can even pass the crystal talent evaluation?" another scoffed.

"Just look at those shabby clothes. What an amusing spectacle this will be!"

Miao Ying heard their taunts but paid them no heed. They were merely ignorant fools, unaware of what he was truly capable of. 

The proctor elder guided Miao Ying over to the female elder and the crystal ball totem at the far end of the hall.

"Fuse your soul force into the crystal," the female elder explained indifferently. "It will reveal the heights your innate talent may one day carry you to. White indicates you lack the potential to surpass the Body Refinement realm. Green sets your limit at the 7th stage of Qi Establishment, and blue at the 6th stage of Houtian. Should your talent be exceptional enough to trigger an orange glow, it means you have the potential to one day ascend to the legendary Xiantian realm."

Her explanation ignited another round of murmurs from the spectating disciples.

"Watch, he's going to crack under the pressure. Xiantian? What a joke. Only true prodigies like Senior Brother Lin have a shot at that."

"Agreed. Even the esteemed Senior Brother Chetian has expressed his doubts about reaching such a realm."

Miao Ying allowed himself a small, internal smile at their baseless derision and the elders' casual disdain. It was an understandable attitude, given the monumental difficulty of breaching the Xiantian realm.

Advancing to Xiantian wasn't simply a matter of absorbing ambient qi or blindly following the teachings of one's sect. It required a profound, personal enlightenment - a true understanding of the fundamental workings of the world itself. 

Only by grasping and internalizing a Dao, one of the foundational Laws underpinning all of existence, could a cultivator form a Dao Seed within their dantian and ascend to Xiantian. 

Perceiving these esoteric Dao Laws was a feat reserved solely for the most extraordinary of geniuses. No ordinary cultivator could ever hope to wrap their minds around such intricate concepts.

In the past, Miao Ying could only dream of possessing the talent to reach such heights. Now though, bolstered by his unshakable confidence, he calmly placed his hand atop the crystal ball without hesitation. The crystal was cool and smooth against his skin. 

Miao Ying carefully released a sliver of his prodigious soul force into it, allowing the transfer to last only a second before cutting it off.

He had no intention of painting an oversized target on his own back by revealing the full extent of his talent. Drawing too much attention without sufficient backing in the cultivation world was a recipe for disaster - that was a painful lesson Miao Ying had witnessed play out all too many times before.

For a single second, the hall was blanketed in tense silence. Then, the crystal ball trembled violently, drawing startled looks from the elders.

"Hm?" They narrowed their eyes and exchanged meaningful glances. The disciples' whispered conversations abruptly cut off.

Before anyone could react further, a dazzling stream of light erupted from the crystal ball and surged into the great totem behind it. The light rapidly shifted from white to green to blue, then flared a brilliant orange. Not even a heartbeat later, an intense red radiance exploded outwards, bathing the entire hall in its overwhelming glow.

"Red?!" The disciples erupted into frenzied exclamations. "That signifies the potential to reach the late stages of Xiantian, the 7th stage and beyond!"

"Not just that! A red of this vibrancy... he might even have a chance at reaching the legendary peak of the realm!"

The elders' brows furrowed as they traded loaded looks. This was not a result they could afford to dismiss.

The proctor elder turned to Miao Ying; his expression carefully schooled. "Your talent is indeed exceptional. However, innate potential is not the only factor in determining your future within our sect. There remain two more trials for you to face. The first shall test your current combat strength, while the second will push the limits of your martial prowess and force you to demonstrate your staying power. Only by excelling in all three may you earn a place among us."

Miao Ying nodded; his expression composed. "I am ready."

The proctor elder turned and pointed to one of the stunned disciples. "You, Junior Brother Kie, step forward. The two of you shall face off in a test of skill. To emerge victorious, Miao Ying must either withstand your assault for thirty seconds without being struck or hold his own through an exchange of three blows while at no more than a slight disadvantage."

Miao Ying's eyebrows twitched at the elder's words, a hint of his thoughts showing through his placid facade. 

The gulf between the power granted by ambient energy versus qi essence was a massive one. The might of a cultivator who had formed their Qi Sea and could actively manipulate qi was dozens of times greater than even the most powerful Body Refiner.

And his opponent appeared to be at the 2nd stage of Qi Establishment. It was a daunting gap to overcome. 

Still, the sect wouldn't be having him face a challenger so far beyond his supposed level if they expected him to actually win. This was merely another test, to see how he performed when at an overwhelming disadvantage.

'At least they aren't completely detached from reality,' Miao Ying mused to himself. 'I suppose that's about the best I can expect from a sect as obsessed with individual strength as this one.'

The disciple Elder Mong had called upon, Kie, stepped forward and bowed deeply. "As you command, Elder."

The other disciples began to regain their composure, muttering among themselves once more. "Hmph. Innate talent only carries one so far. In the end, it is true martial skill that determines a cultivator's worth."

"Indeed. Now we'll see how long this upstart lasts against a proper chosen disciple of our sect."

Miao Ying and Kie moved to face each other in the center of the hall. 

Kie's initial shock at Miao Ying's talent evaluation had faded, replaced by a cold gleam in his eyes and a victorious curl to his lips. He was filled with a deep sense of pride at the effort and dedication that had earned him a place in the Blazing Sun Sect. To see another granted a chance at entering based solely on some nebulous innate potential, without having proven themselves through the same arduous process, grated at his nerves.

The elders watched the proceedings intently, their interest piqued despite their aloof demeanors. 

The disciples stared with barely concealed anticipation, waiting for the decisive moment when this impertinent Body Refiner would be put in his place.

Miao Ying and Kie clasped their hands and bowed shallowly to each other. 

"Please provide guidance," they intoned, the standard words ringing with a biting undercurrent of mockery from Kie.