Chapter 73 The Promotion Trial Started


    After his return to Sun Sect, Austin lost himself in cultivation for several days.


    He had progressed in his refinement to the third stage of the Windmanding Skill.


    The first stage of this skill was called Feeling the Wind, while the second stage was called Knowing the


    Wind. These two steps were the fundamentals forter stages of this cultivation.


    Austin understood that to acquire a goodmand of these necessary skills, he would have to


    cultivate for an extended period persistently.


    Although he had started his cultivation at the third stage with the aid of the wind, it didn''t mean that he


    could stop his refinement for Feeling the Wind and Knowing the Wind.


    Instead, he had to make time to advance the cultivation of these two basic skills, because the extent to


    which he would be able to master the Windmanding Skill depended on how deeply he could


    Having taken advantage of the mighty power of his spiritual soul, Austin had cultivated the essential


    skills of Feeling the Wind and Knowing the Wind very well.


    Hence, his cultivation progressed quickly when he started the third stage cultivation for Using the Wind.


    Since he had practiced and pondered over this cultivation process for some days, Austin had vaguely


    understood certain knacks for Using the Wind.


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    In practicing this skill, he could move swiftly, like a ghost. Compared with his abilities before the


    practice, he now moved faster and far more flexibly.


    Apart from the cultivation of the Windmanding Skill for Using the Wind, Austin had spent part of


    his time in cultivating the Golden Sun Scripture, because a cultivator''s underlying strengths were


    reflected from his or her improvements in cultivation base of vital energy.


    During his cultivation of the Golden Sun Scripture, Austin discovered another phenomenon.


    He could absorb a great deal of vital energy from his surroundings every time he cultivated the Golden


    Sun Scripture.


    The amount of vital energy that he acquired during this cultivation was much higher than what he could


    during his cultivation of the Purple Yang Form.


    Austin would have reached a far higher realm had he absorbed such an enormous amount of vital


    energy while cultivating the Purple Yang Form.


    Recently, the little spot near his belly had increased in size during his cultivation. In the meantime, he


    had umted a growing amount of vital energy. In spite of this, no sign showed that his vital energy


    was reaching a higher level. Now, his vital energy was still at the sixth-level of the Energy Gathering


    Realm.


    Austin never expected that such a tremendous amount of vital energy was necessary to reach a higher


    realm when cultivating the Golden Sun Scripture.


    He thought that he could have reached the seventh-level of the Energy Gathering Realm had he kept


    on practicing the Purple Yang Form.


    At this thought, he felt a little regretful.


    However, Austin felt joyous that the life energy inside his body was growing stronger, although he had


    failed to reach a higher level in terms of vital energy.


    He estimated that based on the growing energy inside his body, he would be able to confront


    opponents who had reached the seventh or perhaps even the eighth level of the Energy Gathering


    Realm.


    One day, while Austin was reflecting on some obstacles that he had encountered in his cultivation


    process inside his little hut, he heard Evan''s impatient call.


    "Tin? Tin, are you here?"


    Austin let him in without being offended as he could hear that Evan was impatient.


    "Tin, I have reached the third-level of the Energy Gathering Realm after consuming your earth spirit


    fruits."


    As Evan blurted out these words, he appeared to be filled with great joy. Before he reached the third


    level, he had remained at the first-level of the Energy Gathering Realm for quite a long period. Now,


    after obtaining Austin''s cultivation resources, he had immediately reached the third-level of the Energy


    Gathering Realm.


    It was really amazing to have crossed two levels over a month. However, this didn''t show that Evan


    was gifted.


    In actuality, Evan should have reached the third-level of the Energy Gathering Realm in the past three


    or four years.


    He had remained at the first-level of the Energy Gathering Realm without making any breakthrough


    because hecked ess to resources for his cultivation. Nevertheless, Evan spared much time and


    energy for refinement in spite of great hardships. Over the past three or four years, he had worked very


    hard on his cultivation.


    Thus, he hadid a solid foundation for his cultivation. This time, he was lucky to have gotten some


    superior cultivation resources such as the Energy-boosting Elixir and the earth spirit fruits. As soon as


    he took advantage of these resources, the oues he had achieved through his persistent cultivation


    over the past years were suddenly brought into y. Atst, he reached the third-level of the Energy


    Gathering Realm.


    Austin was d to see that Evan had advanced in his cultivation. After all, Evan was his best friend.


    "Well, since you have reached the third-level of the Energy Gathering Realm, you can begin practicing


    the Raging Dragon Fist."


    "Ah... I will think about that," Evan stammered as he felt hesitant.


    After some contemtion, Austin understood why Evan had hesitated to cultivate that skill right away.


    He realized that to practice the Raging Dragon Fist, it was necessary to buy a lot of magical medicines.


    And this skill couldn''t be practiced without consuming these medicines.


    However, Evan was only a grunt disciple. Every month, he only got a few vital energy crystals, which


    were just enough to support his daily life.


    Hence, the magical medicines would be rather expensive for Evan, and he wouldn''t be able to afford


    them.


    Austin reached into his space ring and grabbed a thousand vital energy crystals. Then, he tossed them


    on the table. The shabby cottage was filled with ttering sounds as the vital energy crystals rolled on


    the table and crashed into each other.


    "Buy some magical medicines with these vital energy crystals. Ask me for more if they are not enough.


    You don''t have to be frugal when using materials for your cultivation. Use them as long as they are


    necessary," Austin spoke to Evan firmly.


    Evan was stunned when he saw the big stack of glittering vital energy crystals on the table.


    "Tin, have you made a great fortune?"


    Evan whispered as he walked closer to Austin. He was surprised and bewildered to see the enormous


    number of vital energy crystals.


    Previously, before Austin regained his consciousness, he and Evan had lived on Evan''s sry, which


    only amounted to three vital energy crystals every month. As a result, they had been poor for a long


    time and had learned to be frugal.


    However, since Austin''s recovery, Evan saw Austin spending vital energy crystalsvishly without


    batting an eye.


    Now, he could afford to gift Evan a thousand vital energy crystals. This really confused and shocked


    Evan. How could Austin have earned such a considerable amount of vital energy crystals? Baffled by


    this question, Evan couldn''t help asking," Tin, did you discover a treasure by ident? The next time


    you are so lucky, do remember to take me along."


    "Okay, I will ask you for help next time!"


    Austin replied. The corners of his mouth involuntarily twitched, as he saw Evan''s befuddled expression.


    "Really?"


    Evan questioned. Austin had not corrected Evan''s assumption that he had identally discovered a


    treasure.


    "Yes. But you need to cultivate the Raging Dragon Fist first. The promotion exercise is scheduled to be


    organized very soon. Now, you are at the third-level of the Energy Gathering Realm. Once you have a


    goodmand of the Raging Dragon Fist, the likelihood of you receiving a promotion will increase."


    "I am likely to be promoted to an outer disciple?"


    Since he joined Sun Sect, Evan had dreamed of bing an outer disciple.


    Once he was promoted to an outer disciple, his pay and status would be much higher than that of a


    grunt disciple.


    "In that case, I am going to practice the Raging Dragon Fist."


    Evan was impetuous and prompt. He always acted on his thoughts.


    After Austin''s returning to Sun Sect for ten days, Violet had alsoe out of the Illusion Bead.


    Judging from herplexion, Austin estimated that Violet''s wound had mostly healed, and he believed


    that she would recover fully after a certain period.


    To avoid being noticed, Austin had asked Violet to continue hiding inside the Illusion Bead.


    Human beings and demons had fought each other since ancient times.


    Sun Sect had always been proud of its heritage as an orthodox school. There would be unpleasant


    consequences if the stewards or elders of the sect discovered Violet.


    Although Violet was a demonic beast at the third level, most elders of Sun Sect had made significant


    achievements in the middle andter stages at the Earth Realm of vital energy. Theon, as head of the


    sect, had yielded substantive results in the Mysterious Realm of vital energy.


    Violet estimated that her strength was as mighty as human beings'' at the early stage of the Earth


    Realm.


    When the first rays of the sunlight pushed past the clouds and shone upon thend, the Martial Arts


    Performing Field at Sun Sect had been filled with shouts and screams. All of a sudden, the entire field


    had a lively atmosphere.


    When Austin and Evan arrived at the field, they found it was rather noisy. Looking ahead, they found it


    was swarming with people.


    Almost all grunt disciples had reported for the promotion exercise. What''s more, everyone present was


    in high spirits.


    If they were selected today, they would be promoted from their inferior status as grunt disciples.


    Evan was a little nervous about participating in the promotion exercise. He rubbed his fists and wiped


    his palms many times. It was natural for him to feel antsy, restless, and anxious.


    Recently, he had concentrated on practicing the Raging Dragon Fist day and night so wholeheartedly


    and attentively that he had forgotten to eat and sleep. Up till now, he had mastered the basic skills of


    Raging Dragon Fist, but he stillcked confidence.


    As Austin saw this part of Evan, he patted him on his shoulder and encouraged him not to be so


    nervous. Austin took him to an area near the Martial Arts Performing Field and found a ce for them


    to sit and wait for the selection.


    At this time, many people had found seats at the auditorium. As they waited, they spoke to each other


    casually.


    The people presentprised of intermediate managerial staff of the sect who were in charge of this


    promotion, most of them stewards.


    Nevertheless, Austin didn''t see Murray or Johnson. It seemed that they hadn''t been dispatched to take


    charge of this promotion exercise for grunt disciples.


    "Austin, have you enlisted for this promotion exercise?"


    Suddenly, a slender and beautiful person asked as she approached Austin. It was Denali.