Guarding the River of Time-Chapter 307 - 298: Clash of Children of Destiny, Collision of the Celestial Mandate

Chapter 307: Chapter 298: Clash of Children of Destiny, Collision of the Celestial Mandate

"Is everyone here?"

The man in the Daoist robe stood on the high platform, hands clasped behind his back, looking down at the three men below with a smile.

His voice, like a spring breeze, swept across the plaza, even calming the turbulent auras within the three of them.

Xiao Huo, Wang Lin, and Zhang Xiaofan, upon seeing the middle-aged man in the Daoist robe, were momentarily stunned. With just one glance, they could tell from the aura of nobility emanating from him that he was undoubtedly a high-ranking figure in the Heaven Shepherd Alliance, an eminent person.

Their guess was correct; this person was none other than Celestial Master Zhang Taixuan from the Heaven Shepherd Alliance.

Zhang Taixuan, a legendary figure, was once the Celestial Master of the Upper-Rank Immortal Realm, the Great Woe Immortal Realm. After the Heaven Shepherd Alliance conquered the Great Woe Immortal Realm, he was successfully incorporated.

However, it was not so much that Zhang Taixuan was incorporated, but rather that he voluntarily submitted. With keen insight, he realized the future growth potential of the Heaven Shepherd Alliance, understanding that it was the rightful bearer of the Celestial Mandate.

The now-powerful Heaven Shepherd Alliance has proven his vision correct.

Now, Zhang Taixuan is highly valued by several Alliance Leaders. His prestige in the Ancient Wilderness Immortal Realm is also higher; he founded the largest Dao academy there single-handedly. He did not disappoint, having nurtured many young prodigies for the Ancient Wilderness Immortal Realm and the Heaven Shepherd Alliance, living up to the title of "Celestial Master."

Now, Zhang Xiaofan being able to stand on this stage is partly due to the guidance he received from Zhang Taixuan during his wanderings across the Ten Thousand Realms, discovering his potential—an example of a living testament!

...

Seeing his former benefactor, Zhang Xiaofan clasped his fists and bowed in respect.

Zhang Taixuan simply nodded, without responding in words; he values fairness and justice above all. Even though Zhang Xiaofan was uplifted by him, he could not favor him in any way.

.....

"I will first give a brief self-introduction."

"My name is ’Zhang Taixuan,’ and I will serve as the chief examiner for this assessment."

Zhang Taixuan introduced himself to the three people.

...

After he finished speaking, all three clasped their fists and bowed, saying, "Greetings to Celestial Master Zhang."

"Alright, let’s not delay."

"I will first announce the assessment projects."

"The assessment is divided into three items."

"The first item, strength assessment."

"The second item, talent assessment."

"The third item, heart assessment."

Having said that, Zhang Taixuan took out a black-yellow Compass from his sleeve. With the movement of his fingers, three Light Sect portals appeared on the plaza.

"The first item, strength assessment."

"You have ten minutes to adjust yourselves to perfection."

"Then, enter the Light Sect portal, and the assessment will begin."

After he spoke, the three of them sat cross-legged immediately and began adjusting.

A few minutes later, Wang Lin, who was the first to adjust, walked into the Light Sect portal with large strides.

Soon after, Xiao Huo closely followed behind.

Zhang Xiaofan remained adjusting until the last second, stepping into the Light Sect portal just in time.

.....

This strength assessment is different from the ordinary combat assessment.

They will face a ’Cloned Body’ of their own, far stronger than themselves. This ’Cloned Puppet’ is essentially them.

The puppet perfectly inherits all their strengths and avoids all their weaknesses, even perfectly inheriting their combat mentality, and its strength surpasses theirs by a large margin.

The assessment standard is very harsh, even to the point of being perverse!

They must defeat the opponent within ten hours to pass!

It’s worth noting that in such a level of assessment, maintaining undefeated for one hour is already top-notch.

However, to become the master of a Lower-Rank Immortal Realm, one must have extraordinary combat skills that surpass boundaries.

The time passed by second by second.

At the fifth hour, Wang Lin was the first to walk out, covered in wounds, his clothes stained red, his aura extremely weak.

Seeing this, Zhang Taixuan slightly raised his eyebrows.

This Wang Lin is not simple.

At the seventh hour, Xiao Huo dragged his blood-soaked body, limping out of the Light Sect portal, his aura even weaker.

By the seventh hour, with only one hour remaining until the end.

Finally, with time ended, Zhang Xiaofan was thrown out from the Light Sect portal, lying in a pool of blood, his life force like a flickering candle flame, on the brink of extinction.

The first assessment ended.

Wang Lin passed in five hours, Xiao Huo in seven hours, while Zhang Xiaofan did not pass.

On reflection, although Zhang Xiaofan did not pass, he has already surpassed countless cultivators of the same realm. Managing to hold on for ten hours without defeat is already top-notch.

But unfortunately, being top-notch is not perfection. This combat assessment requires perfection.

Zhang Taixuan waved his hand, and three Elixir Pills landed in the palms of the three men.

"Quickly consume them and prepare for the next assessment."

Upon consuming the Elixir Pills, the three, who a moment ago had weak auras, in just one second, were instantly restored to their peaks!

Xiao Huo was also shocked by the effect of this Elixir Pill, as he himself is an Alchemy Master, yet he has never seen such powerful Elixir Pills!

It seems... the Alchemy Masters in the Heaven Shepherd Alliance are the true top-tier Alchemy Masters; compared with them, he is as naive as a schoolchild!

.....

"Xiao Huo and Wang Lin passed the first assessment."

"Zhang Xiaofan did not pass."

"However, you may continue to participate in the next two assessments, even if your scores no longer count."

Zhang Taixuan waved his hand, and three new Light Sect portals appeared in front of the three of them.

"The second item, talent assessment."

After speaking, once they adjusted themselves, they entered the Light Sect portals.

In the talent assessment, the hierarchy from high to low is: chaotic color, purple, gold, red, blue, white, black.

As long as the Light Sect portal lights up ’red,’ it is considered a pass.

One hour later, the three Light Sect portals simultaneously changed colors to: gold, gold, and blue.

Xiao Huo and Wang Lin both had golden talent.

Zhang Xiaofan was blue.

Seeing two golden talents appear, Zhang Taixuan was quite astonished.

Because in the All Heavens and Myriad Realms, 99.99% are black talent, white talent can already be considered a prodigy, and blue talent is among the elite of prodigies.

Red is already considered top-tier prodigy talent.

....

Seeing that he failed both assessments, Zhang Xiaofan sighed. In fact, he had anticipated this outcome.

"The last item."

"Heart assessment."

After speaking, the Light Sect portals transformed into three meditation cushions.

"Sit upright on the meditation cushion and meditate with your eyes closed."

In the next second, the three of them each sat on a meditation cushion, closed their eyes, and began to meditate.

....

Several hours later.

One of the meditation cushions showed an unusual movement.

Zhang Taixuan’s pupils suddenly contracted.

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