I Can Devour Spirits

At the mouth of the canyon, the crowd began to disperse gradually.

The attendants from the Internal History Department stepped into the crowd with record books in hand, starting to verify the Sect Cloud Scrolls and Assessment Forms of those who passed the first round of examination.

It was only at this moment that Duan Rong understood why no one checked them when they first entered the canyon.

Because seventy percent of the registered disciples would be eliminated, wouldn’t checking them at that time just be a waste of effort?

Soon, an elderly attendant stepped onto the altar and approached Duan Rong, bowing respectfully and smiling, ”Senior brother, please show your Sect Cloud Scroll.”

This old attendant had graying temples, clearly an elder in the sect, but he treated Duan Rong with great respect, his eyes filled with smiles. This was naturally because Duan Rong was the top performer in this Divine Soul assessment, almost stepping onto the altar with just one more step.

His future achievements are boundless. With such talent, entering the Elder Hall someday may not be difficult.

There were only eleven people who crossed the red line on the altar.

After verifying each one and recording them, the elderly attendant performed a courtesy gesture and left.

But his task was by no means light. He must return and organize the personnel to compile detailed information on these eleven individuals, to be delivered to the Elder Hall as soon as possible, especially the information of a person named Duan Rong, ensuring it is thorough and complete.

After the elderly attendant left, Duan Rong stood at the edge of the altar, gazing at the massive divine statue to the south of Deep Valley.

Such a gigantic statue, still maintaining its true essence, was almost identical to the image of the Unmoving Bright King in his mind.

Duan Rong knew clearly that the difficulty of carving such a mountain-sized statue was far greater than that of a smaller one.

There must be a clear plan, divided into several groups, each responsible for a part.

Moreover, each group must have a clear-headed organizer leading a team of skilled artisans to implement the plan.

But even so, this massive mandala connecting heaven and earth probably requires several years of effort to complete.

Using the mountain as a base to carve a lifelike and true-to-form statue is truly an immeasurable grand project.

If this were in the past, it might be considered one of the world’s eight wonders.

Duan Rong stood there, marveling at the grandeur of the colossal mandala before his eyes.

Just then, a figure slowly walked to the side of Duan Rong.

Duan Rong turned his head, seeing this person who was not tall, quite thin, but had a face lit up like a blooming flower, slightly clasping his fists towards Duan Rong before saying, ”I am Liu Shushan. May I ask your name, brother?”

Duan Rong recognized him at a glance; he was one of the people at the canyon mouth, the one closest to the altar besides himself.

Moreover, he didn’t faint at the last moment, proving that he, too, didn’t take that final step.

Duan Rong turned around, clasping his fists in return, ”I am Duan Rong.”

As soon as Duan Rong turned, his expression changed slightly.

He saw others on the altar, some standing sullenly in corners, while others talked and laughed, forming friendships...

Earlier, he was standing alone at the edge of the altar, idly gazing at the divine statue, naturally appearing unapproachable, so no one came to converse.

When Liu Shushan approached, he was prepared to receive a cold reception but unexpectedly found Duan Rong’s demeanor quite amicable, and they quickly started chatting.

As they chatted, they discovered that Liu Shushan was from Ruyang Prefecture.

Ruyang Prefecture borders the southeast of Yuanyang Prefecture, and Duan Rong had been there several times while escorting for Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

The more they chatted, the more congenial they became.

A few others wanted to approach Duan Rong but hesitated after seeing how engrossed he was in conversation with Liu Shushan.

As Duan Rong and Liu Shushan chatted on the altar, noise persisted around them.

The eleven of them didn’t have to participate in the second round of examination, so the elderly attendant left after recording them.

But the people beneath the altar all had to participate in the second round, so the attendants from the Internal History Department, after verifying them, had to number and stamp the Assessment Forms for the second round preparation.

When Xiao Yu, Ximen Kankan, and Shen Mizi were holding their stamped forms at the altar mouth waiting for Duan Rong, Liu Shushan was still beside the stone railing, talking endlessly with him.

Duan Rong felt his mouth dry, but Liu Shushan continued, full of energy.

Duan Rong glanced towards Xiao Yu and the others at the altar mouth, his expression showing a subtle hint of impatience.

Liu Shushan immediately noticed, glancing slightly to see Xiao Yu and the others, who were looking at him with peculiar expressions.

With an awkward smile, Liu Shushan, realizing he had been overly enthusiastic, quickly bade farewell to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong then walked slowly towards Xiao Yu and the others.

Xiao Yu glanced at Liu Shushan’s receding figure, then asked Duan Rong, ”Who is that person?”

Before Duan Rong could answer, Ximen Kankan interjected, ”Skinny and short, like a little monkey, all fidgety...”

Ximen Kankan mimicked Liu Shushan’s excited gesturing, making Xiao Yu and Shen Mizi laugh.

Duan Rong chuckled too, saying, ”He’s called Liu Shushan, from Ruyang Prefecture.”

As Duan Rong said this, he looked at Xiao Yu.

Because Xiao Yu had spent more years in Yuan Shun Escort Agency, having been to Ruyang Prefecture countless times.