After nearly six months of intense practice, Han Li finally stood before Doctor Mo to undergo his assessment. Zhang Tie stood beside Han Li, awkward and at a loss—no wonder, as Han Li had already learned from him that over the past half year, Zhang Tie had made no progress in mastering this set of formulas. Han Li knew Zhang Tie’s dedication to practicing this formula was no less than his own. Though he lacked Han Li's relentless intensity, Zhang Tie had certainly put in considerable effort and could truly be said to have worked diligently and faithfully. Yet surprisingly, the formula seemed to have absolutely no effect on Zhang Tie—no matter how hard he tried, there was not even a trace of improvement. It appeared that this particular formula simply did not resonate with him. Han Li himself felt uneasy and uncertain, lacking confidence in his own performance. He knew that Zhang Tie was almost certain to fail the test, while although Han Li had achieved some results, they were still far from sufficient compared to Zhang Tie’s efforts. Despite his tireless practice, the result was only that the strange energy circulating within him had grown stronger—though only a little. If previously it had been as thin as a hair strand, now it flowed like a cotton thread in width. Yet whether this improvement would be enough to pass Doctor Mo's test remained uncertain. Thus, Han Li found his heart racing and fluttering, full of anxiety. “Are you ready? Show me your practice results,” said Doctor Mo, sitting calmly in his chair and observing both men with quiet disapproval. “Yes, we are ready,” the two replied, speaking stiffly. Doctor Mo slowly rose from his seat and placed the book he had carried throughout the session on the table. “Extend your hands.” “Demonstrate your internal energy flow.” With one hand, Doctor Mo grasped Zhang Tie’s right wrist pulse point and with the other placed it gently on his dantian—the area beneath the navel. After a full cup of tea’s worth of time, he withdrew both hands, studied Zhang Tie carefully from head to toe with an expression of unchanging composure. Zhang Tie was flushed with embarrassment, hurriedly placing his hands behind him and lowering his head, unwilling to meet Doctor Mo’s eyes. He knew that Doctor Mo had clearly noticed his lack of progress in mastering the formula—there would likely be no favorable reception ahead. “It’s your turn,” said Doctor Mo. Surprisingly, there was not a single hint of criticism toward Zhang Tie—only a faint note of disappointment. After a glance, he moved to stand before Han Li. Doctor Mo again grasped Han Li’s right wrist pulse point firmly. “How cold! So cold, like a piece of ice—not at all the hand of a living person,” said Han Li mentally, feeling slightly agitated. Doctor Mo's hands were dry and covered with calluses, causing a mild prickling sensation when pressed against Han Li’s skin—this was Han Li’s first impression of being held by Doctor Mo. Perhaps stimulated by this contact, Han Li’s internal energy began to circulate without his conscious effort. It flowed along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, passed through various points throughout his body, moving from the dantian up toward the head and then down to the limbs before returning once more to the dantian. As soon as this circulation began, the slight discomfort on Han Li’s skin disappeared immediately. “Oh!” Doctor Mo gasped aloud—clearly sensing the energy circulating within Han Li. “Quick! Run through the formula again,” said Doctor Mo, though he tried hard to restrain his excitement and avoid appearing overly delighted. Yet the passionate expression in his eyes still surprised Han Li. “Slow down,” added Doctor Mo with a new urgency in his voice—he now placed one hand gently on Han Li’s dantian. “Let me observe carefully.” Han Li noticed that Doctor Mo's hands were slightly trembling, indicating his deep excitement. So he followed instructions and allowed the energy to circulate once more. “Excellent! Excellent! This is exactly what I was looking for! Without a doubt! Not mistaken at all! Hahaha…” After a thorough examination, Doctor Mo could no longer contain himself—he burst into loud laughter. He clutched Han Li’s shoulders tightly, his eyes widened as he stared intently at him, like viewing a rare and precious treasure, with an almost feverish intensity in his gaze. Han Li was constantly immersed in the rhythm of Doctor Mo’s laughter, feeling discomfort from the firm grip on his shoulders and growing increasingly afraid when he saw the enthusiastic expressions on Doctor Mo’s face. “Good. Very good,” said Doctor Mo, noticing Han Li’s visible apprehension that he had momentarily lost control of himself—he immediately paused the laughter. “From now on, continue to work as diligently as you have today—you are officially my direct disciple,” he declared, releasing his hands and patting Han Li gently on the shoulder for encouragement. Doctor Mo regained his usual calm demeanor—seeming as though all the earlier enthusiastic gestures had never happened. Yet in his occasional glances toward Han Li, one could sense that he remained deeply excited. “As for you…” Doctor Mo shifted his gaze back to Zhang Tie. Zhang Tie had been stunned by what had just occurred and only now came fully awake when Doctor Mo turned his attention to him. Thinking about the serious reality of failing this assessment and being sent down from the mountain, Zhang Tie’s eyes reflected a sense of urgent appeal. “You simply lack the aptitude,” said Doctor Mo, shaking his head in disbelief. “Over such an extended period, you haven’t achieved any progress—being your disciple seems quite difficult.” Zhang Tie’s heart sank with every movement of Doctor Mo’s head. From Doctor Mo’s words, both could clearly sense that he intended to make no formal offer to accept Zhang Tie as a disciple. But then suddenly, Doctor Mo seemed to have remembered something significant. His gaze toward Zhang Tie grew curious and thoughtful. “However,” he said, “I reviewed your foundation—there is another set of techniques that may be better suited for you. Would you like to learn them from me?” Upon hearing this, Zhang Tie could hardly imagine hesitation—he immediately agreed without further thought. “Excellent! Outstanding!” Doctor Mo said with renewed enthusiasm. “Now both of you go—tomorrow I will teach you the new techniques.” It was clear that Doctor Mo’s spirits were high. He again used the phrases “good” and “excellent,” expressing his satisfaction. Han Li and Zhang Tie exchanged glances, both recognizing how the testing process had unfolded—full of twists and turns—and how unexpectedly, both had successfully passed the evaluation. Both felt deeply grateful and encouraged by this outcome.