Ge Ju stood in a grand hall of the Lie Feng Sect. This hall spanned several hundred square meters. Within it, aside from the hundred candidates, many disciples of the Lie Feng Sect were gathered to observe. The Lie Feng Sect recruited disciples once every year, so the surrounding disciples appeared quite curious.
From the town at the foot of the Lie Feng Sect's mountain, Ge Ju had learned that the sect had over three thousand disciples. However, only about thirty-odd individuals passed the assessment and entered the sect each year. At this rate, it would take a century to recruit enough to reach three thousand disciples. Ge Ju was very surprised at the time, wondering if this sect would truly take a hundred years to reach its target disciple count.
Later, through his investigations, Ge Ju discovered that elders or senior disciples of the Lie Feng Sect would sometimes take on disciples when they went out on their travels. It was through this method that they accumulated such a large number of disciples.
Ge Ju stood quietly, awaiting the final test.
A Lie Feng Sect elder emerged, holding a stone in his hand.
This Lie Feng Sect elder placed the stone on a table. The stone was roughly the size of a basketball.
Among the observing Lie Feng Sect disciples, a hushed discussion arose as the elder approached.
"It's Elder Zhang, he's presiding this time."
"But in this round, it doesn't matter which elder presides."
"Alright, stop talking. Elder Zhang is about to give his address."
As expected, Elder Zhang, standing above, called out, "Silence!"
Elder Zhang's voice contained spiritual energy, making it sound as if it were resonating directly in their ears.
The Lie Feng Sect disciples who had been conversing immediately fell silent.
Elder Zhang then began to speak, "Greetings, and congratulations to all of you for reaching the final trial. This final trial is simple. It is to test your cultivation aptitude. Those with talent may join the Lie Feng Sect. Those without, please return home! Without further ado, let us begin. Candidates, one by one, place your hands on this Talent Stone. The color and brightness of this Talent Stone will represent your potential. Now, come forward one by one and place your hands on the Talent Stone. One at a time, do not rush."
During the assessments over the past few days, these candidates had learned which tests required urgency and which did not. This particular assessment clearly did not.
The first candidate stepped forward and placed his hand on the Talent Stone.
The Talent Stone showed no reaction whatsoever.
Elder Zhang called out, "No spiritual root, disqualified."
The candidate dejectedly left.
Next, the second candidate stepped up to touch the Talent Stone.
The Talent Stone still showed no reaction.
The second candidate also left with disappointment.
It was not until the third person that the Talent Stone finally responded.
A faint glow emanated from the Talent Stone.
Elder Zhang observed the glow and then stated, "Unranked Water Spiritual Root. Disqualified."
The candidate, unwilling to accept this, retorted, "Didn't you say those with talent can join the Lie Feng Sect? My Water Spiritual Root is also a form of talent."
Elder Zhang scoffed, "Unranked is considered talent?"
Two Lie Feng Sect disciples promptly came forward and carried the man away.
The fourth candidate was also unranked.
By the fifth candidate, the brightness of the Talent Stone had significantly increased.
Elder Zhang's expression remained placid. "First-grade Gold Spiritual Root. You may become an outer disciple."
The fifth candidate leaped with joy.
The sixth person stepped up, and again, there was no reaction.
...
Ge Ju did not rush forward. After all, his talent would not disappear. His gaze was currently fixed on the Talent Stone. However, his focus differed from the other candidates. While they were observing the stone's brightness, he was studying the stone itself.
Ge Ju thought to himself: One of the orders from above was for us explorers to keep an eye out for items that could test cultivation talent. I didn't expect to encounter one so soon. How is this Talent Stone made? I must find out more about it.
Ge Ju was unsure if his own talent would measure up to even first grade. If he were to test now and be found unranked, he would be immediately expelled from the mountain. Therefore, he needed to make good use of this time.
Ge Ju surveyed his surroundings. After the talent testing began, the observing Lie Feng Sect disciples also started to murmur amongst themselves.
Ge Ju scanned the crowd and spotted a particularly talkative Lie Feng Sect disciple, towards whom he slowly approached.
The few Lie Feng Sect disciples who were conversing looked at Ge Ju, the candidate, with confusion as he drew near.
As Ge Ju approached, he said, "Greetings, esteemed seniors."
The Lie Feng Sect disciples, seeing Ge Ju approach, replied, "This candidate, we are not your seniors."
"Exactly, aren't you being a bit too arrogant?"
Ge Ju was unfazed by their words. "Alas, I was just wondering about that Talent Stone, what exactly it is. And where it comes from."
Although the Lie Feng Sect disciples were reluctant to engage with Ge Ju, they began to explain.
"Ah! Hahaha, mortals are indeed mortals. To not even know of the Talent Stone."
"Don't worry too much about it. After all, mortals have no chance to encounter things like Talent Stones."
"Then, we shall tell you, mortal. For us cultivators, creating this Talent Stone is quite simple. Just find a large spirit stone, carve formations onto it, and it becomes a Talent Stone. That formation is also very simple, it's a talent-testing formation. Of course, ordinary sects cannot carve such formations. Only Formation Masters who specialize in formations can do it. Our Lie Feng Sect spent three thousand spirit stones to purchase the schematic for the Talent Stone formation. Yes, we combined the schematic with large spirit stones to create this Talent Stone."
From the Lie Feng Sect disciple's explanation, Ge Ju understood that the Lie Feng Sect's strength surpassed that of the Qing Feng Sect. After all, the Dragon Country had not found any Talent Stones among the spoils from the Qing Feng Sect. The spirit stones they did recover were only worth three thousand spirit stones.
After the Lie Feng Sect disciple finished speaking, he noticed Ge Ju still lost in thought. He became annoyed. "I say, mortal, are you listening to me?"
Ge Ju immediately replied, "My apologies, I was simply too shocked. It's almost my turn, I must go test my talent."
There were not many candidates left to test. With fewer than a dozen remaining, and Ge Ju joining the line, it was soon his turn.
Ge Ju placed his hand on the Talent Stone, and it began to glow.
Elder Zhang looked at the Talent Stone and said, "This is..."