"It's been an hour, will Lu Qinghe die inside?"
"It shouldn't be the case. If he's unable to, and retreats to a certain range, the puppets will no longer chase him, unless he's clueless and struggles persistently."
"However, I'm afraid that Lu Qinghe, in order to achieve results, will take undue risks..."
As time passed, whispers once again sounded in the crowd.
However, due to the earlier reprimand by Lu Qingyun, their words didn't dare to be too overbearing.
"Lu Qingyun, I think your elder brother might be in trouble. It might be better to give up directly and let Senior Brother Guzhen enter the main hall to rescue him..."
Zhu Huaiyou looked at Lu Qingyun and said seemingly kindly.
"No need to worry. I trust my brother!"
Lu Qingyun glared at Zhu Huaiyou, indifferent.
"Is that so? It seems that Sister Lu Qingyun is full of confidence. Well, then, let's wait and see what results Lu Qinghe will achieve next."
With the warning from Senior Brother Guzhen, Zhu Huaiyou didn't want to be too pushy.
"Senior Brother Lu Qinghe... is he going to be okay?"
Han Ya'i waited for a while and also felt somewhat uneasy.
"Let's just wait and see."
Lu Qingyun thought of the scene when he clashed with Lu Qinghe...
That kind of response, that kind of speed, that kind of swordsmanship, when facing the assessment puppets of the Blue Moon Lake, which were sluggish and invulnerable, he wasn't weaker than any Eighth Layer of True Refinement practitioner.
"Elder Brother..."
A disciple behind Guzhen waited for a long time, and seeing that Lu Qinghe hadn't come out of the main hall, couldn't help but say, "At the Fifth Layer of True Refinement, it's impossible to hold on for so long. Could it be..."
Guzhen looked at the confident Lu Qingyun, pondered for a moment, and finally said, "Wait a little longer."
"A few more people are waiting to be assessed..."
"Wait for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
Guzhen waved his hand, suppressing the thoughts of the disciple who had made the suggestion.
"Yes."
The male disciple promised and said no more.
"Snap!"
At this moment, the doors of the palace finally opened.
A figure emerged from the spacious hall.
Lu Qinghe.
"He's come out."
"Finally came out."
"He didn't die?"
In an instant, the many members of the Blue Moon Lake and disciples of the Wuxian Sect who were whispering and murmuring, all turned their eyes toward the palace, including the ancient town.
Lu Qinghe, who walked out of the palace, looked a little fatigued due to mental exhaustion, but surprisingly, he didn't have a single injury on his body.
As if he had not experienced a life-and-death battle in the palace, but had instead participated in a rigorous training session.
"Hehe, at the fifth level of True Refinement, he managed to come out unscathed. Could it be that he slept for an hour in the Assessment Hall?" Seeing this scene, Long Yu couldn't help but laugh, and his smile clearly showed that the situation was already determined.
Zhuhuaiyou also had a smile on her face, and she looked at Lu Qingyun with a hint of sarcasm.
Other disciples, more or less, did the same, just concealed their emotions.
"Lu Qinghe, how many puppet cores did you collect?" The ancient town's expression became slightly serious.
Obviously, he also felt that he had been deceived.
The appearance of Lu Qinghe didn't seem like he had fought to the death with a level six puppet.
"It's not less than some people." Lu Qinghe had no intention of teasing them and reached out to take out a bunch of puppet cores.
Seeing the not less than ten puppet cores in Lu Qinghe's hand, the ancient town's expression eased a bit, "Twelve puppet cores? Not bad, to be able to achieve such a classic result at the fifth level of True Refinement is extraordinary. It seems that you do have remarkable capabilities."
The ancient town was fair and impartial. If Lu Qinghe did not waste time in the palace, he could accept it.
"Just twelve..." This achievement, Long Yu seemed somewhat surprised but also felt it was reasonable, "Although not a small number, it is still not up to the standard of an outstanding member, can you compare with me, Long Yu."
Saying this, a look of pride inadvertently appeared on his face.
Confidence returned to him once again.
"Don't rush." Lu Qinghe cast a glance at the chatterbox Long Yu, and once again reached into his pocket to take out another puppet core...
"This is..." The ancient town's eyes lit up, and after a quick glance, a smile appeared on his face, "Thirteen cores, added to the previous twelve, makes twenty-five. At the fifth level of True Refinement, capturing twenty-five puppet cores is equivalent to slaying twenty-five level six True Refinement experts. Such strength is truly extraordinary. I'm now quite looking forward to your future growth."
"Twenty-five...Lu Qinghe actually obtained twenty-five puppet cores! Equivalent to defeating twenty-five level six True Refinement experts..."
Han Ya said that she had already thought highly of Lu Qinghe, thinking that he had cultivation not inferior to hers, which was why she had shown him favor in front of the Hall of Destiny...
But now it seemed that his cultivation was obviously not just equal to hers, but surpassed hers!
Far surpassed!
To be able to obtain twenty-five puppet cores, this achievement was no less than that of any level seven True Refinement expert.
"This Lu Qinghe..."
The other assessors at this time also stopped talking.
The younger generations who followed them looked at Lu Qinghe with a hint of awe in their eyes.
"Darn it... Twenty-five..."
Long Yu's face darkened.
Twenty-five!
Not only far surpassed his fifteen cores, Lu Qinghe, at age twenty, had already qualified to be listed as an outstanding member just like him...
"Lu Qinghe, you are very impressive. At the fifth level of True Refinement, to have achieved twenty-five puppet cores is extremely rare even in our Blue Moon Lake. You are fully qualified to become an outstanding member of our Blue Moon Lake. Now, I..." The ancient town was about to make the final announcement on this matter, but at this moment, Lu Qinghe suddenly said, "Wait, I still have more."
"More?"
At this, not only the ancient town but everyone present was stunned, and Long Yu and Zhuhuaiyou's faces became extremely unsightly.
"This guy...did it on purpose..."
Lan Qingyun reproached with dissatisfaction, but there was a hint of a smile on her pretty face.
"Lu Qinghe, you have more?" Lu Qinghe nodded and took out another puppet core from his body.
"Ten... Ten of them... A total of thirty-five! You actually obtained thirty-five puppet cores!"
"Hiss!"
Seeing Lu Qinghe unhesitatingly produce another handful of puppet cores, many people gasped in astonishment.
It's worth knowing that even for a Level Seven Refiner, it's not easy to obtain ten puppet cores. And yet, now, Lu Qinghe has produced as many as thirty-five puppet cores...
Is he truly only a Level Five Refiner?
"Good! Good! Good! Lu Qinghe, I will remember your achievement! A Level Five Refiner actually obtained thirty-five puppet cores..."
The look on the face of the ancient town showed undisguised appreciation and respect.
The position of Lu Qinghe in his mind had undergone a complete 180-degree transformation.
"What else?"
Just as he was about to finish his sentence, Lu Qinghe spoke again in a calm tone.
"What else!?"
"Yes."
Lu Qinghe nodded and produced another handful.
"Fifteen... Fifty in total..."
Many people already thought that their hearts had been severely shaken.
"Anything else."
Lu Qinghe spoke again.
At that moment, the glances everyone directed at him were tinged with resentment.
Can't you just produce them all at once?
Lu Qinghe paid no attention to the resentful glances of those disciples and, with composure, pulled out another handful of puppet cores...
"Thirteen more... Sixty-three in total..."
This time, the ancient town was more discreet and did not immediately announce Lu Qinghe's final score. Instead, their gaze fell on the position of his clothes pockets and said, "Is there any more? If there is, take them all out at once."
"There's no more."
Lu Qinghe responded truthfully.
"Really none left?"
"Really..."
Lu Qinghe nodded.
After all, he was only a Level Five Refiner.
"Phew!"
Seeing Lu Qinghe's repeated confirmation, the ancient town finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Not only him, even Zhu Huaiyou, Long Yu, and others were no exception.
However, they soon realized...
Lu Qinghe actually produced sixty-three puppet cores in one go!
Sixty-three!
Fifteen!
The difference between the two was simply like night and day.
It's ridiculous that not long ago, they were still looking down on Lu Qinghe and Lu Qingyun, and now, the truth was revealed, and they were utterly ashamed.
"Good! Good! Good!"
The ancient town came to his senses and said three "good" in a row, showing undisguised joy. "Lu Qinghe, well done! I actually misjudged you!"
"You exaggerate."
"Twenty. Twenty years old. If you had come for the assessment earlier, your score of sixty-three puppet cores would have definitely startled the real higher-ups of our Blue Moon Lake. But now, it's also remarkable. You will directly become a senior member of our Blue Moon Lake during the assessment, not only can you get the corresponding points for puppet cores, but also an additional reward of ten thousand points!"
"Ten thousand points!"
This number made all the members of the Blue Moon Lake present feel a pang of jealousy, as they looked at Lu Qinghe with naked envy.
"Our Blue Moon Lake has always spared no effort in cultivating and supporting geniuses, Lu Qinghe, you deserve this reward."
After speaking, he turned to Lu Qingyun and said, "Lu Qingyun, both of you are talented individuals. You have made a meritorious recommendation, and I will immediately issue you ten thousand points and, also, although at the age of sixteen, you have already cultivated to the Ninth Level Refiner, showing exceptional talent. I will suggest to those senior brothers to elevate your privileges to the level of an official servant, I believe the order will come soon, so wait for the good news."
"Official servant."
A hint of joy appeared on Lu Qingyun's face, "Thank you, Senior Brother Guzhen."
Others looked at her with even more envy.
It's worth noting that even for a top-ten ranked strongman on a mountain peak, obtaining the rank of official servant is not an easy task.
"Lu Qinghe, keep it up. I'm waiting for the day when you shine brightly in the Blue Moon Lake. Just wait for it."
After the senior brother of the ancient town gave some encouragement, his gaze fell on others once again.
"Next..."
When Lu Qinghe arrived at the front of the palace, he did not immediately accept the congratulations of Lu Qingyun and Hanyai, but instead looked at Longyu and Zhuhaiyou.
"Longyu, do you think my results are acceptable?"