Chapter 107: Evaluation, Pursuing Xuan Yuan Qu, Exceptional Aptitude

Chapter 107: Evaluation, Pursuing Xuan Yuan Qu, Exceptional Aptitude

“You’re here! I’ve been wanting to ask—how is your master these days? Has he married and started a family? Where has he settled down?”

A barrage of questions left Su Chen speechless, his mouth slightly agape. He stared in surprise at the elegant lady before him, who had momentarily lost her composure, sensing an odd greenish hue radiating from her.

Noticing Su Chen’s stunned expression, Lady Qin lightly coughed, clearly realizing her lapse. After a brief silence, she continued, “You’ve just arrived in Big Feng City. Should I arrange lodging for you? Your master mentioned you’ll stay here—shall I find you an easy position? Oh, and he also said you’re unmarried. I could introduce you to some…”

Su Chen: “…”

The green glow intensified.

“Ahem, Mrs. Qin…”

“Call me Auntie Xue,” Qin Xue interrupted.

“Auntie Xue, I’ve already rented a place,” Su Chen said, struggling to withstand her enthusiasm.

“Alright then, but don’t hesitate to tell me if you face any difficulties,” she nodded, promptly resuming her inquiries about Hong Ming.

Su Chen answered truthfully. After listening, she sighed, “Still as stubborn and determined as ever.”

Though Su Chen remained silent, he detected genuine concern in her tone—akin to familial affection.

After a pause, Qin Xue met his gaze. “As your master’s disciple, I’ll assist you where I can. Regarding the Xuan Shui Sect recommendation, I’ll write you a letter. Bring it to the sect for evaluation by month’s end.”

She hesitated before adding, “Your master said you entered the martial cultivation path at eighteen, with less than half a year of training. Your talent is indeed remarkable. However, the Xuan Shui Sect’s evaluation is no easy feat. Prepare yourself accordingly.”

The Xuan Shui Sect, the premier sect in Qinzhou, maintained strict standards, particularly for innate talent. Without meeting their baseline requirements, admission was impossible.

Su Chen understood this well, though he remained indifferent about joining.

Qin Xue briefly explained the evaluation process, asked more about Hong Ming, then let him leave, reminding him of the evaluation date before he departed.

Hong Chen watched Su Chen leave, snorted coldly, and reported the matter to Hong Risheng, who dismissed it with a wave, instructing him to await news.

After leaving Sheng Manor, Su Chen visited an apothecary to purchase herbs. Purchasing in bulk, he arranged for delivery to his home. By the time he returned, dusk had settled.

For the next fortnight, Su Chen remained secluded, venturing out only to buy herbs and gather market insights. Big Feng City, a metropolitan hub, offered numerous apothecaries selling energy-replenishing herbs. Su Chen sampled nearly all, finding some rivaling Vital Energy Powder. However, higher-grade ingredients remained inaccessible through regular shops.

These herbs varied in price but were generally affordable. Calculating his profits, Su Chen realized even producing a hundred units of his unnamed medicine monthly would yield minimal returns. Like White Stone City, Big Feng’s herb trade was monopolized. Established suppliers rejected outsiders like himself, dashing his hopes of mass-producing the medicine.

Instead, he focused on Boiling Blood Powder, both for profit and to craft Krptonite Elixirs. Having used eight Vital Energy Pills previously, leaving two, he now relied on Boiling Blood Powder to advance his Progress Panel. Forty-five units pushed the needle 4.5 units, reaching a total of 6.5 with the remaining two pills. He’d crafted eighty units, leaving thirty-five.

“Not sure how much profit these thirty-five will bring. Crafting eighty cost me three thousand taels!”

From ten thousand taels to seven thousand—money flowed like water.

“Tomorrow is the Xuan Shui Sect’s evaluation. Auntie Xue warned against consuming any blood-qi elixirs the day before, or they’d disqualify me. Better skip the Boiling Blood Powder tonight.”

The next morning, Qin Xue sent a carriage for Su Chen, arriving at the Xuan Shui Sect’s foot. Others, around a dozen, awaited—none from noble families, all recommended candidates.

The sect’s annual recruitment was a grand event, drawing thousands, though only a few hundred were accepted, including clan descendants.

“Please hand over your recommendation letters first,” announced a gaunt man in black robes after half an hour.

After inspections, he said, “Follow me.”

Su Chen and the group ascended the mountain, arriving at a courtyard. The man turned, scanning the crowd. “Evaluation begins shortly. Leave now if you’ve taken any elixirs to avoid implicating your recommender.”

No one moved. He dismissed them to wait, later returning with a box. “Three at a time. Collect a pill before entering.”

Lines formed. Su Chen, midway, observed three entering every quarter-hour. Soon, his turn came.

Inside the hall, three middle-aged men sat. One instructed, “Swallow the pill, then sit.”

Su Chen complied, faint pain rippling through his bones. After fifteen minutes, a voice rang, “Now, drip one drop of blood into the bowl.”

He stared at the murky water, sliced his finger with a dagger—nothing. Grimacing, he bit his thumb, letting a drop fall. Instantly, it dispersed like ink in water, splitting into six droplets.

Outside, all awaited anxiously, eyes on the gaunt man. He scanned a slip, “Bi Kui?”

“I am Bi Kui!” a refined youth bowed, heart pounding.

All gazes turned, filled with envy. Su Chen understood—he’d failed. His six droplets indicated average talent, insufficient for the elitist Xuan Shui Sect.

“You’ve passed,” the steward nodded.

“Thank you, Steward Yu!” Bi Kui’s suppressed grin failed to hide his joy.

“Welcome, Senior Brother Bi. Xiao Hai, show him to Brocade Pavilion.”

After Bi Kui left, Steward Yu’s smile vanished. “You know the rules. Pay a thousand taels each.”

Silver notes exchanged hands. Su Chen hesitated but complied.

While prioritizing innate talent, the sect also valued aptitude. Those confident could attempt the Xuan Yuan Qu’s aptitude test.

Su Chen cared little for the test but was curious about the sect’s renowned technique—Xuan Yuan Qu. A foundational cultivator’s manual, it spanned from Train Strength to Blood Shifting, a rarity even in Qinzhou.

Soon, the stewards distributed manuals detailing the Xuan Yuan Qu’s basics.

“Remember, you only have one hour,” the steward intoned. “If you fail to comprehend the technique within this time, abandon all hope.” His voice carried a detached air, though his eyes gleamed with amusement at the anxious faces before him.

The candidates nodded, hastily flipping open their manuals. The steward settled into a chair, watching their frantic efforts with quiet disdain. Another batch of fools unwilling to face reality, he mused. They overestimate themselves, never considering their true worth. Do they really think the Xuan Yuan Qu is so easily mastered?

Since the founding of Xuan Shui Sect, only a handful of disciples had entered through sheer innate talent. These people were no different—desperate, arrogant, and destined to fail. Yet he couldn’t deny his fondness for such fools. Their stubbornness always lined his pockets nicely. Who doesn’t appreciate a steady stream of income?

Su Chen flipped through the Xuan Yuan Qu several times before the Progress Panel finally displayed its name. Without hesitation, he spent one hundred ounces of gold to activate Easy Mode:

[Easy Mode Activated: Swallow saliva one hundred times to master the introductory layer of Xuan Yuan Qu.]

“Swallowing saliva? That’s simple enough!” he thought, a grin spreading as he began.

Time dripped away.

From the Tranquil Grove came murmurs of a quiet argument.

“Bi Kui’s Vital Force aligns closely with Muddy Veil Academy’s teachings. He belongs to us—there’s no need for further debate,” Hong Zhen Dong declared, cutting off the bickering. The four academies had clashed over the sole candidate who passed the trials. With the sect’s strict “better empty than inferior” policy, their quotas remained unfilled, fueling the scramble for Bi Kui.

His cultivation style, neutral and adaptable, allowed coexistence with other techniques—at least temporarily. Even if conflicts arose later, his talent could overcome them through visceral reformation. Such a prospect naturally ignited fierce competition.

Hong Xuan Qing of Azure Purity Hall interjected, “Let him join us instead. His Vital Force resonates with ours. He might cultivate seamlessly without reformation, saving valuable time.” She’d been the first to voice her claim.

Hong Xuan Cheng of Flowing Currents Court chuckled. “Brothers and sisters, have you forgotten Bi Kui already chose Flowing Currents Court as his favored academy?”

Silence fell. Hong Xuan Qing and Hong Zhen Dong exchanged glances, recognizing the veiled threat. Bi Kui’s preference left them powerless.

“Hmph. Another victory for you,” Hong Zhen Dong sighed, conceding. Hong Xuan Qing said nothing but her eyes betrayed regret.

Footsteps echoed outside—measured, deliberate. A figure entered, bowing. “Masters, an update.”

“What now?” Hong Zhen Dong snapped, still sour.

“A candidate mastered Xuan Yuan Qu in fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteen minutes?!” The room erupted in stunned silence.

Hong Xuan Qing mused, "That merits top-tier comprehension."

“His records?” she asked. The messenger produced Su Chen’s file:

Su Chen, Age 18

Physique: Mid-upper (6 drops)

Cultivation: Suspected mastery of ≥3 techniques

Vital Force: Tainted

Awakening Aptitude: Upper-Mid

The four exchanged frowns. His physique and aptitude met the minimum requirements, but his tainted Vital Force raised serious concerns.

Hong Xuan Cheng broke the silence. “Who wants him?”

“His Vital Force clashes with Azure Purity Hall’s principles,” Hong Xuan Qing replied. “Let the others take him.”

Hong Zhen Dong nodded. "Muddy Veil tolerates impurity, but his physique struggles with visceral reformation. Flowing Currents Court suits him better—your techniques emphasize comprehension aptitude."

Hong Xuan Cheng turned to Hong Ting. She sighed, “You know I only accept female disciples.”

The room tensed. Hong Xuan Cheng finally spoke. “Ask him to reform his Vital Force. If he agrees, he’ll serve as an attendant for a year. Prove himself, and Flowing Currents Court will accept him.”

The messenger left. The others stared, surprised. An attendant? A glorified servant. Few would accept such a demotion.

“He lacks ideal Vital Force and physique,” Hong Xuan Cheng explained. “But his aptitude warrants a year’s observation.”

Su Chen learned the terms from the steward, who detailed the attendant role. Shock gave way to resentment.

After revealing my aptitude, this is all I’m worth? He’d climbed Xuan Shui Sect for Hong Ming’s sake, not out of ambition. Now they demanded he dismantle his cultivation and grovel as a servant? Ludicrous.

A year here, and he’d reach Bone Tempering alone. Why beg for scraps?

Meeting the steward’s gaze, he asked calmly, “May I attempt the second comprehension trial?”

The steward blinked. Su Chen’s composure—unshaken since hearing the terms—piqued his curiosity.

“Pay up,” he replied.

Grudgingly, Su Chen handed over a thousand ounces, receiving the first layer’s manual. Unlike the introductory version, this lacked Momentum Attunement techniques—yet its difficulty remained.

After scanning it, Su Chen activated Easy Mode:

[Easy Mode Activated: Swallow saliva 200 times to master the first layer of Xuan Yuan Qu.]

Even without Momentum Attunement, Progress Panel’s power let him bypass limits. Yet he halted at 99% completion. A faint droplet shimmered between his brows—a sign of breakthrough.

The steward’s stoicism cracked. Half an hour to reach this level? With Momentum Attunement, he’d have succeeded outright.

“Stay,” he ordered Su Chen, hurrying to the elders.

Meanwhile, Hong Xuan Cheng rose. “He’ll refuse. Let’s adjourn.”

Hong Zhen Dong agreed, but as they exited, the steward burst in.

“Half an hour,” he blurted. “He mastered the first layer completely.”

The four exchanged stunned looks. Even mid-tier physique candidates with such innate talent would be deemed sect treasures.

Hong Xuan Cheng turned back first. “If none of you want him, Muddy Veil will take him.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end