Zhang Menglong spent the next period of time analyzing the mirror he brought back from the Ancient Cave Heaven. The craftsmanship of this thing was incredibly complex, taking him a whole week to understand its principles.

Afterward, he began replicating this item. Although it’s impossible to completely and perfectly reproduce it, it’s now sufficient for the cultivators of the Nine Nether Sunset Art to clearly see the paths through which the power of fate flows within their bodies.

Zhang Menglong also gave it a name: Destiny Peeping Mirror. To avoid attracting attention, Zhang Menglong integrated its design with the president of the Shamate Clan, so to outsiders, it merely seemed like an ordinary badge.

Throughout this week, Zhang Menglong secretly provided extra lessons to all the apprentice disciples, gradually letting them understand what kind of energy the power of fate is. In fact, a third of them already felt the presence of this power!

This is merely the beginning, yet it meets the threshold for cultivating the Nine Nether Sunset Art. Combined with the Destiny Peeping Mirror, they should have no difficulty reaching considerable proficiency within three years.

Typically, Sunset Sect has many mentor-level figures to teach them. These mentors are almost Dao Realm cultivators, teaching only the basic cultivation techniques and martial arts of the sect.

Of course, in the Sunset Sect, even the most foundational cultivation techniques and martial arts cannot be compared to those of a typical Ninth Grade Empire. Every apprentice disciple has made substantial progress during this time.

Under usual circumstances, anyone who advances to the Divine Cultivation Realm within three years will definitely pass the assessment to become an outer sect disciple. As for those in Divine Breath’s Ninth Grade, they stand more than an 80% chance.

This year, however, since everyone cultivated in the Ancient Cave Heaven for three years under such high energy levels, many have already reached Divine Breath’s Ninth Grade, so the assessment threshold may be raised.

Zhang Menglong is hesitant to violate the sect’s rules by teaching apprentice disciples anything beyond what the mentors impart. However, he has substantial insights and even improvements for the basic cultivation techniques and martial arts.

He generously shared these insights with the apprentice disciples, enabling them to progress at an astonishing pace!

Even the instructors noticed that their teaching couldn’t keep up with the learning speed. Anything taught was immediately understood and learned at speeds far exceeding previous apprentice disciples.

The instructors were puzzled, finally attributing it to this batch of apprentice disciples’ extraordinary gift.

...

Three years flew by quickly, and it was time for the apprentice disciples’ assessment.

This time, a Sunset Sect elder responsible for the assessment, who Zhang Menglong once met during the admission assessment sitting beside Qi Congyun, calling him "Senior Brother Qi".

He introduced the assessment rules, offering two types of assessments: internal and external.

The internal assessment involves one-on-one matches randomly among apprentice disciples, with winners promoted to outer sect disciples and losers eliminated.

This method has a 50% elimination rate, considered conservative, favored by those confident in their abilities.

The external assessment is more varied, with two types: personal assessment involving exploration of certain areas or capturing notorious fugitives; difficulty varies and offers a higher advancement chance but higher failure death rate.

The second type, collective assessment, results in either the entire group passing or failing together!

To date, no one has opted for this due to the unwillingness to tie one’s future with others, risking it due to others’ mistakes.

"Which assessment will you choose?" asked the elder after explaining the rules.

"Of course, collective assessment!" Zhang Menglong decided without hesitation, aiming to bring everyone into the Sunset Sect’s outer sect.

Having invested so much time and effort into training them, it wouldn’t make sense for anyone to fail the assessment.

"Alright, collective assessment... collective assessment?" The elder finally reacted, incredulously looking at Zhang Menglong, surprised at his choice.

"Gu Xiao, think carefully. Choosing collective assessment ties everyone’s fate together, with your strong gift having no impact if it fails; you’d be expelled from Sunset Sect."

"I understand," Zhang Menglong nodded. "I wish for everyone to advance together and hope for collective progress."

"What do you think?" the elder asked the other apprentice disciples.

"Senior Gu Xiao’s intention represents all of us!" During this time, everyone wholeheartedly respected Zhang Menglong.

"I don’t know how you managed to brainwash them," the elder shook his head, "but be prepared; the collective assessment is incredibly challenging, potentially involving many uncontrollable factors. It’s still possible to change your mind."

"Thank you, Elder, we’ve made up our minds." Zhang Menglong confirmed.

"Alright, if that’s the case, I won’t dissuade you," the elder said. "This task lasts three months, involving Sunset Sect’s protection of a Sixth Grade Empire caught in war. You must help win this war!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was slightly stunned despite psychological preparation, surprised by the difficulty level.

With only 8,000 people, they must alter the large-scale war’s outcome. It seemed an impossible task!

Considering this world’s empire size, wars potentially involved hundreds of billions, even trillions!

In a Sixth Grade Empire, typically even cannon fodder’s strength is Divine Breath’s Fifth Grade and higher, most being Divine Breath Seventh or Eighth Grade. Amid such a meat grinder, even Divine Cultivation Realm martial artists face slim survival chances.

"Just this?"

"Just this?" the elder was also stunned, "Do you know how difficult this task is? Initially planned for a hundred-member Inner Sect team, even then, the difficulty level is extremely high."

"Are you capable?" Zhang Menglong asked turning back.

"Yes! A man can’t say he isn’t capable!"

"Wipe them out completely?"

"Hundreds of billions? That’s about enough for us to showcase our abilities!"