"Next!"

A commanding voice came from within the room.

Evelyn Ross took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The Cortez Sect retained an ancient architectural style.

The Bone Assessment Hall was a single-story building with gray bricks and tiles, its interior simple yet solemn.

An elder with white hair and beard sat on a meditation cushion.

He wore traditional training attire, his demeanor ethereal and detached.

Elder Xavier had presided over the Bone Assessment Hall for decades.

Countless gifted disciples had been discovered by him and recommended to the sect leader and core elders.

Since the sect leader took a disciple and announced the First Senior Sister surpassed even himself, Elder Xavier's burden had lightened.

Unless he encountered a true prodigy, disciples of ordinary aptitude could only remain as outer disciples.

He sipped his tea leisurely and glanced toward the door.

Seeing Evelyn, he paused. "Parents are not allowed inside."

He looked behind her. "Where is the child?"

Evelyn felt slightly awkward. "I am here for the bone assessment."

"Nonsense!"

Elder Xavier laughed in exasperation. "Your bones are already set. What is there to assess? I have never assessed an adult!"

Evelyn's expression was serious. "I wish to become a disciple."

Elder Xavier studied her carefully, then suddenly recognized her. "You are Grace Nan?"

Evelyn was startled. "You know me?"

"Of course!" Elder Xavier was both amused and annoyed. "An outer disciple of the Cortez Sect, personally approved by me. How could I not know?"

Evelyn frowned.

So her sister had already tried to join the Cortez Sect. The Nan family had indeed made arrangements long ago.

Elder Xavier recalled, "Your parents brought you here when you were four or five. I assessed your bones then. Your aptitude was average, so I refused. Yet you came back every year after that!"

He shook his head helplessly. "Your parents begged and pleaded, insisting you join the Cortez Sect. There are so many martial arts schools outside. Why were they so fixated on this one?"

The Cortez Sect was not an ordinary martial arts school.

It was one of the few orthodox ancient martial arts lineages left in the country.

In the age of firearms, ancient martial arts had long declined.

The Cortez Sect survived due to its profound heritage and top-tier martial status.

Joining the Cortez Sect meant dedicating one's life to martial arts. It was not a trivial matter.

Yet Grace Nan's parents were unusually persistent.

They offered gifts, blocked doors, even knelt for long periods, demanding their daughter pass the assessment.

Elder Xavier, forced into a corner, finally granted her outer disciple status.

After all, outer disciples were mostly merchants who handled the sect's operations.

Inner disciples could never be accepted without true merit.

Only then did Grace Nan's parents relent.

Elder Xavier looked at her. "After you became an outer disciple, your parents finally calmed down. But I heard you performed poorly among the outer disciples. You couldn't endure hardship. Last time, there were even rumors you wanted to quit. Why are you here again?"

Evelyn's gaze sharpened.

Her sister had a resilient personality. How could she not endure hardship?

There must be more to this.

Now was not the time to investigate. She met Elder Xavier's eyes directly. "I wish to become an inner disciple."

Elder Xavier sighed. "I know you are fixated on this, but bone structure is determined by heaven. Grace, go back. Just train with the outer disciples to strengthen your body. Don't waste your time."

Evelyn stepped forward. "I have trained diligently these past few years. I feel I have made significant progress. My skills have greatly improved. Please assess me once more!"

Elder Xavier's face darkened. "Aptitude cannot be changed through effort! You come every year. Do you think I don't know your limits? Leave quickly. There are children waiting behind you!"

Evelyn stood her ground. "The bone assessment has no age restrictions. I queued according to the rules. This is within sect regulations. Why won't you assess me? Right now, you are the one wasting time, not me."

Elder Xavier was furious. "Grace, you are being deliberately unreasonable! If you don't leave now, I will have you expelled. Your outer disciple status will be revoked too!"

Ethan Valentine heard the commotion and hurried in.

He tried to smooth things over. "Elder Xavier, please don't be angry. This is my friend…"

Elder Xavier's expression softened slightly, but he still snorted coldly. "Then take your friend and leave. Don't delay important matters!"

Seeing Evelyn showed no intention of backing down, Ethan could only smile apologetically. "Elder Xavier, since she's already here, could you please assess her? As a favor to me."

As the Second Senior Brother, Ethan might succeed the sect leader in the future.

This was a face Elder Xavier could not refuse.

He snorted reluctantly. "Fine. Make it quick."

Evelyn immediately stepped forward.

Elder Xavier placed his hand on her wrist.

His expression changed abruptly.