He understood clearly that for this stage, Qin Tang's evaluation wasn't just based on the number of techniques copied or the frequency of errors.
Another crucial criterion was the total duration one spent writing—from the moment the brush was picked up until the moment it was set down.
Just as Qin Tang had said earlier, the test of this stage was “focus.”
Once someone began copying a technique, stopping for any reason meant that their focus had been broken.
Li Fan immersed himself completely, his mind free of distraction, absorbed in the act of transcription.
He forcibly suppressed all feelings of physical and mental fatigue.
He had no idea how much time had passed.
"Whew, now that was a proper good nap!" Qin Tang's voice suddenly rang out beside them.
He stretched lazily, and the paper and brush before Li Fan vanished.
"Time's up. Let's see how you all performed."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Truly getting worse with each passing year." Qin Tang squinted slightly, as if inspecting something, then shook his head repeatedly.
"Eh, wait a moment...
“How interesting."
He shot a glance in Li Fan's direction, a faint smile playing on his lips.
But Qin Tang didn't say anything further, quickly withdrawing his gaze.
"The first trial is now concluded. Everyone may rest tomorrow. The second trial will begin the day after."
He clapped his hands, and Li Fan felt the world shift around him.
In the blink of an eye, he was back inside the tall building where they had previously slept.
Qin Tang's figure did not reappear with them.
The cultivators finally relaxed.
They grew animated, talking excitedly amongst themselves.
"This is truly a massive opportunity. I managed to memorize fifteen techniques while copying. Most were Golden Core techniques, with a few Nascent Soul techniques among them."
"I memorized quite a few myself."
"What's the use of memorizing so many? Let's worry about making it out alive first."
"Don't say that. Given my own capabilities, if nothing unexpected happens, my path will end at Foundation Establishment. To have the fortune of glimpsing the profundities of forming a Nascent Soul... even if I die tomorrow, I would have no regrets!"
"You speak my thoughts exactly, Fellow Daoist."
"Fine words can't persuade a fool hell-bent on dying. Hmph!"
Amidst the arguments, some cultivators began eyeing the belongings left behind by those who had lost their lives that fateful night.
Unfortunately, after searching around, they all wore expressions of disappointment.
Li Fan overheard a cold laugh from someone not far away: "Don't bother. I checked that night. After they were killed by Qin Tang, their storage rings, artifacts, and the like were all gone. Not a single thing remained."
Hearing this, Li Fan shook his head and was about to head back for a proper rest when his gaze inadvertently fell upon one of the corpses.
He froze.