NOVPUBStarting to practice the Great Heavenly Eye Technique, Ding Huan finally understands what the Heavenly Eye is.
What is called the Heavenly Eye is merely a general term for many special eyes.
Like the Spiritual Eye, Dao Eye, Illusion Eye, Divine Eye, etc., they all belong to the category of Heavenly Eyes.
Although their names differ and their formation methods vary, they can ultimately reach the same height.
This tier starts with the Spiritual Eye, progressing from level one to nine.
Once reaching the ninth level of the Spiritual Eye, it upgrades to the Heavenly Eye, which also spans from level one to nine.
The ultimate form of the Heavenly Eye will upgrade to the Holy Eye, and the Holy Eye similarly runs from level one to nine.
His Eye of the Great Wilderness belongs to the category of Illusion Eye. Previously, he had passively accepted the upgrade of the Eye of the Great Wilderness, thus it's currently only at the first level of the Heavenly Eye.
Upgrading from the Spiritual Eye to the Heavenly Eye is the most arduous, requiring top-level Dao Rhythm treasures and special methods.
Similarly, upgrading from the Heavenly Eye to the Holy Eye is difficult, requiring even more precious and rare treasures.
Theoretically, his Eye of the Great Wilderness should have a difficult time upgrading further after reaching the ninth level of the Spiritual Eye.
Even if it upgrades to the first level of the Heavenly Eye as his cultivation progresses, it might occur when he truly steps into the realm of the Immortal Emperor.
Now, at just the third level of the Immortal King realm, he is already at the first level of the Heavenly Eye, implying some incident caused the upgrade of his Eye of the Great Wilderness.
Ding Huan pondered that it very likely happened because he burned his own body in the Gray Sea, then gradually burned his Divine Soul inch by inch.
This is the principle of breaking and rebuilding, reborn through Nirvana.
Indeed, gains and losses are immensely hard to define.
Upon reaching the first level of the Heavenly Eye, he can follow the Great Heavenly Eye Technique's practice method to sequentially upgrade further. But to advance to the Holy Eye at the ninth level of the Heavenly Eye, he will need to find treasures and ways to accomplish the breakthrough.
But that's a concern for the future.
Since Ding Huan is at the Immortal King tier, relying on the Great Heavenly Eye Technique, within merely a few days, his Eye of the Great Wilderness advanced to the fourth level of the Heavenly Eye.
At this moment, Ding Huan's Heavenly Eye can easily see through the fourth to fifth level shielding immortal arrays.
For the Heavenly Eye, its most significant use is not breaking through arrays but probing things even Divine Will cannot penetrate.
Ten days later, Ding Huan tidied up his room, messed up while practicing the Great Heavenly Eye Technique, and headed to the Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy.
The time for his first round of assessment had arrived.
Upon arriving at the Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy, Ding Huan looked at the massive crowd, feeling a sense of awe: this academy is really good at making money.
Those taking the assessment this time might not be ten thousand but seven or eight thousand at least.
Such assessments at the Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy are definitely held frequently.
From just one assessment, they've collected piles of Immortal Crystals.
With so many people taking part in the assessment, no wonder they have to conduct it at the academy; other places wouldn't accommodate the crowd.
Ding Huan could sense the participants' cultivation levels generally ranged between Luo Tian Immortal.
Some were Da Luo Immortals, but early-stage Da Luo Immortals like Ding Huan were very rare.
Now Ding Huan felt a bit regretful; he should have hidden his cultivation at the peak of Da Luo Immortal earlier, and now he could join the assessment as a Luo Tian Immortal.
Here, if his cultivation suddenly jumped from Da Yi Immortal peak to Luo Tian Immortal level, it would certainly spark investigations by keen individuals.
He took out his competition array token, indicating the sixth examination hall, with no other information or seat number.
Following the crowd, Ding Huan walked into the Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy, scanning with his Divine Will.
Previously, he couldn't see clearly from outside, but entering revealed the true vastness inside.
No need to mention the various trial Dao fields; even mountain peaks numbered seven or eight.
The Immortal Spiritual Energy inside was not only abundant but also much purer than outside.
Various trial Dao fields were covered with restrictions, only faint sounds of divine skill explosions echoed inside.
Some students occasionally visible under Divine Will had much stronger energy and spirit compared to typical loose cultivators, proving a solid foundation due to cultivation here.
Entering the academy led to a huge plaza.
All assessment participants gathered in this grand plaza awaiting instructions.
Ding Huan didn't recognize anyone here, but from the surrounding discussions, he discerned certain clues.
Most came to partake in the academy assessment aiming to become a Daoist. The main reason being if a Daoist's class students performed well, the Daoist would have a chance to earn a promotion quota.
This differs from sects. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Joining a sect is easy, but promotion quotas in sects are fixed.
Such quotas mostly go to seasoned members, scarcely involving newcomers.
It's akin to the difference between a secure job and competing for positions.
"Greetings, Daoist friend!" A somewhat rugged-looking person approached Ding Huan, heartily clapping his arm.
Honestly, if not for the sight of this person's chest, Ding Huan would absolutely assume she was a man.
Not only did she look rugged, but spoke in a neutral, slightly hoarse voice with bold movements.
Though cultivators aren't meticulous, it's rare for a female cultivator to approach a male stranger as a buddy.
"Ding Huan," Ding Huan replied honestly.
"My name is Qu Shanshan, from the Qu Family of Eternal Day Immortal City," Qu Shanshan nonchalantly disclosed her background.
Qu Family? Ding Huan involuntarily thought of Qu Yi.
Qu Shanshan seemed indifferent to Ding Huan's silence, continuing, "Your cultivation makes it tough to apply for a Daoist role."
"I'm just trying my luck, what if they favor me?" Ding Huan smiled.
Hearing Ding Huan's response, Qu Shanshan laughed heartily, pointing at him: "That also requires you to pass the interview first! Did you know there are three rounds of assessments before the interview?"
Qu Shanshan laughed uninhibitedly, attracting immediate attention.
Upon seeing it was Qu Shanshan, everyone returned to their usual activities, clearly used to her antics.
"I know."
"You know, yet you still came?"
"Trying my luck."
Qu Shanshan was defeated by Ding Huan's words:
"You seem too naive. Here's the deal: if you don't pass the assessment, come find me.
I'll introduce you to something. It'll ensure your cultivation reaching Luo Tian Immortal is no problem."
"Thank you very much."
While thanking, Ding Huan didn't take out his Communication Bead to exchange contact information.
"Here, exchange contact information." Qu Shanshan proactively handed her Communication Bead to Ding Huan.
Ding Huan gazed at her in astonishment – this woman means what she says? Not joking?
After exchanging contact information with Qu Shanshan, she became even friendlier:
"The Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy recruits Daoists two to four times annually. I tell you, I attend every single time.
Every time I come, I make some progress, plus I've made many friends here…"
Ding Huan remained silent, realizing she comes here mainly to make friends.
But, does she truly forge friendships this way?
Why does he feel like they aren't really friends?
Ding Huan helplessly rubbed his hair, desiring to move elsewhere, yet that seemed somewhat impolite.
Fortunately, a voice echoed from the plaza: "All Daoists participating in the Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy assessment, enter the examination hall now.
Finding seats and getting seated within half a stick of incense's time. Failing to find and sit within the time will result in elimination."
Ding Huan hadn't anticipated that before the written test, there would be a little assessment to find a seat.
Nonetheless, the lowest cultivation here is Da Luo Immortal, and knowing the examination hall number, finding a seat shouldn't take half a stick of incense.
Ding Huan didn't rush; within just two minutes, he stood outside the sixth examination hall.
Entering the hall, he scanned with his Divine Will.
Expecting to spot his seat easily, he quickly realized the space was surrounded by a Divine Will-shielding restrictive array.
Divine Will entry felt like plunging into quicksand, struggling with each inch moved.
People behind were squeezing in, so Ding Huan just walked into the hall.
Immediately amplifying his Divine Will, within moments, he broke through the restrictions, found his seat, and swiftly seated himself.
The seat had not only his name but also the Dao Rhythm matching his array token.
This essentially was a test, assessing the strength of Divine Will.
Weak Divine Will would struggle to break through this restrictive array.
Ding Huan wasn't the first to sit down but among the earliest.
Numerous cultivators with weaker Divine Wills were getting frantic.
The prior assessments didn't mention pre-written test Divine Will evaluation.
Half a stick of incense passed quickly, those who hadn't found seats were immediately escorted out.
The restrictive Immortal array blocking Divine Will in the exam hall was lifted. Ding Huan scanned the hall, finding it half-empty, with the other half having paid ten thousand top-grade Immortal Crystals yet losing the chance to even participate in the assessment.
This Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy is somewhat excessive; paying ten thousand top-grade Immortal Crystals, combined with accommodation and other expenses reaching hundreds of thousands, for just a written test.
Ding Huan silently mourned for those eliminated candidates for 0.1 seconds.
A middle-aged woman stepped onto the stage at the front of the exam hall:
"Dear colleagues, the Eternal Desolation Divine Power Academy written test assessment is about to begin, lasting for one hour.
When the assessment time is up, leave your written test paper and exit the hall without unnecessary delay, or you'll be considered disqualified. The assessment starts now."
Ding Huan looked down at his desk's pattern, a Teleportation Array pattern.
As the woman's words faded, a written test paper appeared in front of him.
Simultaneously, a restrictive array rose around his seat, preventing anyone from peeking at others' papers.
Ding Huan casually picked up the pen already provided on the desk, his gaze falling onto the test paper.
The first question: How should a Fire Attribute disciple cultivate in a Wood Attribute space?
The second question: Utilizing only Golden Blood Vine, Fog Flame Crystal, Void Flying Silver, and Hundred Crack Stone, how to arrange array flags to raise a second-level Gathering Spirit Immortal Array to third-level, adding defense?
...
At the fastest possible speed, Ding Huan scanned through the test questions. He anticipated basic cultivation knowledge would be assessed.
Unexpectedly, these questions focused entirely on practical methods, encompassing not only Daoist skills but also array patterns, talismanic practices, and alchemy.
Truly, this Daoist assessment isn't within reach of ordinary cultivators.
