Chapter 8: The Assessment Begins

  "No, I'll go give them some food! Now that the night weather has turned a bit chilly, if that seriously injured person doesn't eat something to replenish himself, he might not make it through tonight!"

  "Alright, those people are all asleep now, sneak over and we'll keep watch for you!"

  One of them immediately took out three pieces of pastry and a jug of water from the package, cautiously glanced in the direction of the handsome child in the distance, and then carefully walked towards Yang Chen's father and son.

  "Doll, take these to eat, hurry up and have something with your father!" The man walked over to Yang Chen's side, looked vigilantly into the distance again, and urged Yang Chen.

  "Two eggs, quickly, thank you."

  Yang Chen hastily nodded his head and said with a grateful face: "Thank you so much, uncle!"

  "Don't be polite, you guys hurry up and eat! I'll leave first!" The man handed the things to Yang Chen's hands and immediately rushed back.

  "Dad, hurry up and eat! There's so much food, I won't be able to finish it!" Yang Chen hastily put the pastry to his father's mouth, saying with a smiling face.

  Yang Chen's father smiled slightly and nodded, opening his mouth to take a small bite of the cookie.

  Yang Chen waited until his father had finished eating and fallen asleep, then turned around to glance at the people around him, finding that everyone was already asleep. He secretly took out the painting from his own bosom and placed it in his father's bosom.

  As expected, a wisp of white mist floated out of the painting and directly into his father's body. Immediately, he saw that his father, who had been frowning in his sleep, gradually relaxed his brow, clearly indicating that his injuries had healed.

  Yang Chen looked at his father, who had returned to normal, and a smile appeared on his face. After a moment of contemplation, he cautiously glanced around and picked up the painting, turning to walk away in another direction.

  A moment later, Yang Chen walked back and lay down beside his father, falling asleep. The painting was no longer on Yang Chen's body at this time.

  Yang Chen knew that he would be participating in the assessment tomorrow, and if this painting were to be found on him, it would definitely be taken away by others. So Yang Chen had just left to find a secluded spot to hide the painting.

  The next day.

  August 15th!

  At dawn when the sun's rays just shone on Yang Chen's place, Yang Chen and his father slowly opened their eyes.

  Yang Chen's father opened his eyes and felt that all the injuries he had suffered yesterday had healed, and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

  "The people from Tiandao Gate have arrived!"

  No one knew who shouted, but it drew everyone's attention and interrupted Yang Chen's father's thoughts.

  At this moment, only three rays of light were seen crossing the sky, and then three people wearing Taoist robes slowly fell in front of everyone.

  The first person was a middle-aged man, about seven feet tall, with ears that reached his shoulders, a face like jade, wearing a blue Taoist robe, exuding an air of elegance and refinement that made people want to worship him at first sight.

  Two young men standing behind the middle-aged man, wearing yellow robes, looked at the middle-aged man with respect, apparently much lower in status than the middle-aged man.

  "All children who are taking the test, come here!" The middle-aged man at the front scanned the crowd with a glance and shouted in a calm tone.

  All the children immediately hurriedly walked towards the middle-aged man, and Yang Chen also hurriedly ran to that side under his father's indication, making a respectful bow.

  A middle-aged man glanced at everyone and asked directly: "Who is calling for Liu Feng?"

  "Greetings, noble sir! I am indeed Liu Feng!"

  The handsome child who had ordered the beating of Yang Chen's father and son yesterday walked out of the children with a smile on his face, and respectfully said to the middle-aged man, and the proud color on his face also converged.

  The middle-aged man looked up and down at Liu Feng, nodded his head in satisfaction, and said: "Not bad, you are indeed a disciple who has been appreciated by the Sect Master. You don't need to take part in the assessment, follow me directly to meet the Sect Master!"

  Liu Feng was overjoyed, and under everyone's envious gaze, he walked to the middle-aged man's side. The proud look on his face reappeared, and it became even more pronounced. He looked down on the crowd with disdain, acting as if he were invincible. Especially when he saw Yang Chen, he raised an eyebrow, revealing a provocative expression.

  Yang Chen looked at Liu Feng's appearance, and the scene of his father being beaten up yesterday flashed back in his mind. He clenched his fists, making a silent vow to himself that he must succeed in finding a master and get the chance to take revenge!

  "Alright, I'll take Liu Feng to meet the Sect Master first. You two are in charge of testing the other children!" The middle-aged man said to the two behind him, then he took out his flying sword, grabbed Liu Feng beside him and stepped onto the flying sword, flying towards the mountain top.

  Two Taoist priests watched as a middle-aged man and Liu Feng departed, then turned their heads to look at the many children.

  "Every year, there are some people who haven't received the wooden plaque but still come here to try their luck. Now I'm telling you, those without the wooden plaque, leave immediately!" The young man said calmly to the crowd: "If I find out that someone is here without a wooden plaque and just trying to join in on the fun, they will be dealt with according to the contempt of Tian Dao Men!"

  Some of the children trembled all over and then looked in the direction of their parents.

  Everyone's expression tightened, they glanced at each other, and helplessly beckoned their children over with a wave of their hand.

  As some children left, Yang Chen counted the remaining number of people and found that including himself, there were still 31 people.

  The young man looked at the relatives of the children who had just left and said with a slightly cold face: "You'd better leave quickly!"

  He then turned to the children in front of him and said, "Line up properly and follow me. I'm taking you to the testing grounds now!" He then turned around and walked away with another young man towards a distant place.

  Many children quickly lined up in a row and followed two young men towards the direction of Tianyun Mountain.

  Yang Chen turned his head and took a look at his father, finding that his father was smiling encouragingly at him. He nodded in response to the gesture and hastily followed the team towards Tianyun Mountain.

  After walking for about half a time, the crowd arrived at the foot of Tiandao Gate Mountain and stopped in front of a steep cliff.

  "The most important thing in cultivation is innate talent. The child who was just taken away by Elder Wu is a good example, his innate talent is extremely high, so he doesn't need to take the assessment!" The young man said: "Now, according to the order of your queue, one by one come forward, hand over the wooden plaque to me, and then I will re-examine you!"

  The child standing in the first place, with legs slightly trembling, walked over carefully and took out a token from his bosom, respectfully handing it over to the young man with both hands.