My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

He now stood alongside Senior Brother Luo Yuntian and Senior Brother Yue Shan as one of the Sect's undisputed True Inheritances, loved and respected by all its disciples.

The gap between them… It was simply too vast…

A wave of emotion washed over her.

…Back when they had first joined, she had actually harbored a few indescribable feelings for him.

But now, those feelings had long since vanished into thin air.

…She was keenly aware that she was likely not worthy to stand by his side…

So, when Qin Fang read her name and seemed to momentarily space out, she remained standing respectfully before him, not daring to entertain any improper thoughts.

…But when he came back to his senses and offered her a small smile and a nod,

her heart still inexplicably quickened, and a blush crept up to the tips of her ears.

But he quickly resumed reading the names and began the day's instruction…

As for Qin Fang, Xu Nianzhen was merely an "old acquaintance" he barely knew. Seeing her stirred a brief moment of nostalgia, but his mind quickly returned to a state of calm.

During his instruction, he treated her no differently than any other disciple.

Time passed. Before he knew it, summer had arrived, bringing with it scorching hot weather and a blazing sun that beat down on the land.

For a Martial Artist, however, the changing seasons had little effect once they reached the Huajin realm—let alone for someone of Qin Fang's current power.

His days fell into a steady rhythm.

After a long period of stillness, one naturally thinks of movement. Over the past half-year or so, Qin Fang had cultivated both his Nine-Layered Abyss Water Armor and Mirror Flower Water Moon to the stage of Great Success, and they were not far from Perfection.

'Perhaps it's time to go to Old Ox Back for another period of secluded cultivation?'

His Root Skill had progressed slowly over the past six months; it still hadn't even reached Minor Achievement.

As he was pondering this, his token received a Transmission from his martial uncle, summoning him to Guiyuan Valley.

Qin Fang was puzzled but set off immediately, soon arriving at the main hall of Guiyuan Valley.

And when he heard what Master Fan said, Qin Fang's eyes widened slightly.

"This year, I'm in charge of guiding the new disciples?"

He repeated, his voice laced with surprise.

"Mm-hmm."

Fan Zhengchu nodded with a smile. "Guiding new disciples has always been the duty of a Hall Master's True Inheritance. It was Luo Yuntian before, and then Yue Shan also led a few initiations. But Yue Shan is in the Northern Territory now, not within the Sect. As for the other True Inheritances, they're either out on adventures or in secluded cultivation. You're the only one who happens to be available, so naturally, the job falls to you."

Qin Fang: "…"

"Alright."

Qin Fang thought it over. Seeing no good reason to refuse, he accepted the assignment.

"Rest assured, guiding the new disciples is considered a contribution to the Sect. It even comes with over ten thousand contribution points."

Fan Zhengchu said with a smile.

Qin Fang nodded slightly. To be honest, ever since he had joined the Sect, he really hadn't paid any attention to the Martial Arts Examination.

"This is an Information Jade Scroll. Have a look. It contains the specific procedures and the ceremonial text. Familiarize yourself with it."

Fan Zhengchu handed a Jade Scroll to Qin Fang. Qin Fang accepted it, and with a single sweep of his Divine Sense, he had its contents committed to memory.

…With the power of his Divine Sense, he could memorize such a small amount of information in an instant.

"Three days from now, at noon, you are to go to the main gate to receive the new disciples. Take them to the Sect's main hall plaza and complete the initiation ceremony."

Fan Zhengchu instructed.

Qin Fang nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

The Martial Arts Examination would conclude in three days.

Seeing that Master Fan had no other instructions, Qin Fang figured there probably weren't any standout geniuses in this year's batch…

…But that was to be expected.

If geniuses appeared every year, they wouldn't be called geniuses, would they?

Time passed in the blink of an eye.

「Three days later.」

「Noon.」

Qin Fang appeared precisely on time before the sect gates.

He stood high in the air, looking down to see a long procession of carriages making its way from the Inner City and arriving before the main gate.

A few Inner Sect Disciples were already waiting at the entrance.

…These disciples would accompany him and the new initiates on the walk up the Heaven-Reaching Road to the Sect plaza.

The Black-Horned Dragon Horses—the same unicorn-like Exotic Species of horse Qin Fang had seen before—had already pulled the carriages into the plaza.

The new disciples stepped down from the carriages. Upon seeing the magnificent sect gates and the busy Outer Disciples in the distance, their eyes glinted with a mixture of shock, excitement, and yearning.

"So this is the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect?"

"It's… so magnificent…"

"I can't believe I actually made it into the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect…"

They murmured to one another, their voices a mixture of excitement and poorly concealed nervousness.

This was especially true when they saw the dozen or so expressionless Inner Sect Disciples standing at the entrance.

One by one, their excited conversations trailed off, and they all began to watch cautiously.

…But what were they supposed to do next?

While they were still wondering, a streak of light suddenly shot down from the sky, landing before the gate.

All the new disciples jumped in surprise, their eyes instinctively fixing on the spot.

They saw a young man in luxurious, deep-sleeved robes of silver with dark, intricate patterns. He was tall and slender with an exceedingly handsome face, blessed with a pair of peach blossom eyes whose gaze, though fluid, was as deep as the ocean.

…His mere presence was enough to command the attention of everyone there!

While the new disciples were still reeling in shock and confusion, the Inner Sect Disciples standing guard at the gate immediately spoke with deference.

"Senior Brother Qin."

It was, of course, Qin Fang.

Qin Fang gave a slight nod, and a disciple from the side quickly trotted forward, respectfully presenting a roster. "Senior Brother," he said in a low voice, "the names of all the new disciples are here."

Qin Fang nodded and took it.

He began to flip through it casually.