Others might not have known, but Lin Xuan was well aware that his talent was originally Third-class. The fact that it had now risen to a Fourth-class Talent truly shocked him. It was just as Lin Hua and the others had said: with enough tempering, he could activate his bloodline and raise his Talent Level!
This was a truly Heaven-Defying bloodline; the very thought of it was thrilling. The reason ordinary people lost out to geniuses was that they were behind from the very start, right at the starting line of talent. A single day of cultivation for them was equivalent to a week, or even half a month, for someone with poor talent. How could anyone possibly close a gap like that?
'If I keep cultivating like this, reaching Fifth-class Talent… or even Sixth-class Talent, won't be a problem at all!' Having raised his level after just that short period of tempering was undoubtedly exciting for Lin Xuan.
The talent test soon concluded. Of the more than one thousand participants, over three hundred were weeded out. This meant that these three hundred-plus people had wasted two Primordial Stones for nothing, a loss that made their hearts ache.
"This was just the initial assessment. I didn't think we'd even need to test, but who knew so many people would try to pass themselves off as something they're not? It's utterly laughable!" Steward Liang snorted, but then his expression softened slightly. "The results of this test are acceptable. The number of disciples with Fourth-class Talent is not bad—twenty-three of them."
Out of the remaining seven hundred or so people, only twenty-three possessed a Fourth-class Talent, and only Huang Ming had a Fifth-class Talent.
As the saying goes, a higher-ranking official can crush those beneath him. It was much the same here; a single higher Talent Level was enough to crush countless others. The disparity in numbers made this clear, but it was also to be expected.
Steward Liang scanned the crowd and announced, "Next is the second assessment: a test of strength! The Body Refining Stage is all about forging a powerful Physique. Only then can you be considered a true Body Refining Stage Cultivator. You will strike this Stone Stele with your maximum power. Anyone who scores less than eight hundred pounds will be eliminated. Remember, you only have two attempts!"
A standard of eight hundred pounds was quite astonishing. With Lin Xuan's previous strength, he would have had no way of reaching that level. If it weren't for his recent period of cultivation, he really wouldn't have been able to make the cut.
"First up, Huang Ming!" Steward Liang said.
Huang Ming hadn't even needed to take the talent test, as his abilities were common knowledge. This strength test, however, was essential. And by having him go first, it placed an invisible but significant pressure on the rest of the crowd.
Huang Ming walked up to the Stone Stele and loosened his wrists slightly. His gaze sharpened as he mobilized the Elemental Power throughout his body, gathering it in his fist. With a low roar, he smashed it heavily against the Stone Stele!
DONG!
A heavy sound echoed as the entire Stone Stele was engulfed by a wave of air. When Huang Ming withdrew his fist, an astonishing number had appeared on the Stone Stele: 1,300 pounds!
"Heavens, to reach thirteen hundred pounds at the Eighth Layer of Body Refining Stage… Isn't that a little too terrifying?"
"Someone with high talent is just different. He's so much stronger than us…"
...
This result was enough to shut many people up. To reach such a number at the Eighth Layer of Body Refining Stage was absolutely astounding. At the very least, it was a level none of them could reach, neither in strength nor in Cultivation.
Huang Ming shot them a disdainful glance, then turned and walked back without throwing a second punch. His score was more than enough to pass the assessment, and a higher number would be pointless. He was already first, anyway.
"Young Master, you only used eighty percent of your strength. If you had gone all out, the result would have been truly astonishing." The attendant chuckled slyly, not at all surprised by his young master's performance.
Huang Ming sneered, "My goal is the Inner Hall, not to be compared with these people!"
Their conversation wasn't concealed in the slightest, causing the crowd to gasp collectively. That was only eighty percent of his strength? If he used his full power, wouldn't he reach fifteen hundred pounds?
'So thirteen hundred pounds is only eighty percent of his strength…?' Lin Xuan frowned. He thought of Lin Xue's talent and wondered how many pounds she could strike with.
The Inner Hall's criteria for selecting disciples varied. Part of the reason Lin Xue was able to join so easily was because she was a woman. Being female was a bonus, as female Cultivators were relatively few, especially those with high talent.
"Seven hundred pounds... seven hundred and eighty pounds. Failed! Next!"
"Six hundred and fifty-six pounds... seven hundred and forty pounds. Failed! Next!"
...
Starting from this round, even more people were eliminated, and the numbers dropped sharply. Eight hundred pounds was a clear threshold; those with low Cultivation absolutely could not reach it, and even those with higher Cultivation would struggle to do so without sufficient tempering.
One by one, they were eliminated, their faces long with disappointment. Their dreams of joining Qingcheng Mansion were shattered. It wasn't so easy to become an official disciple.
"Next, Lin Longyun," Steward Liang called out the next person to be tested.
Lin Xuan stepped out from the line. His appearance caused no stir; he seemed ordinary, and no one recognized him. His only noteworthy trait was his Fourth-class Talent, which placed him among the top ranks of the remaining crowd.
'Of course, I have to use a different name to hide my circumstances. If anyone investigated the name Lin Xuan, my background would be too easily exposed.'
Lin Xuan walked up to the Stone Stele and took a deep breath. He focused all his body's Elemental Power into his palm and, with all his might, struck the Stone Stele hard!
Wave Cloud Palm!
As he unleashed the Earth Level Martial Technique, layers of air waves erupted from his palm, causing the entire Stone Stele to tremble slightly. Then, an astonishing number appeared: 1,100 pounds!
The moment this result appeared, the crowd burst into an uproar. For someone with a Fourth-class Talent at the Seventh Layer of Body Refining Stage to reach this level was quite astonishing.
Huang Ming glanced at Lin Xuan indifferently, paying him no mind. To him, this result posed no threat whatsoever.
"1,100 pounds, not bad! Will you be making a second attempt?" Steward Liang's eyes lit up. Normally, someone at the Seventh Layer of Body Refining Stage would be doing well to hit 900 pounds, yet Lin Xuan had exceeded that by 200. If he recruited a good disciple, his own reward would not be small.
"I will make a second attempt."
Lin Xuan's answer made Huang Ming frown. 'Does he think he can surpass my score?' A gap of 200 pounds was not so easily overcome.
But surpassing Huang Ming was indeed Lin Xuan's true intention! He wanted to make a statement. 'If I want to get more resources, I have to get more attention! If I'm too mediocre, Qingcheng Mansion won't invest a single shred of its resources in me.'
The next moment, the Soul Pearl inside Lin Xuan's body trembled slightly, and Lin Hua's soul instantly possessed him. In that instant, his entire aura changed. This subtle shift caused Steward Liang, who was standing nearby, to frown. He felt a powerful pressure, a pressure so immense it made even his own heart palpitate!
As Lin Hua's soul merged with him, Lin Xuan once again felt that immense power. His perception and acuity rose sharply, and he even became acutely aware of the Spiritual Power flowing between Heaven and Earth.
The greatest strength of the Spirit Pill Stage was the ability to command the Power of Heaven and Earth. Thus, after merging with the soul, he had also gained this perception, allowing him to experience and comprehend the Power of Heaven and Earth ahead of time!
More than that, his perception of the Martial Technique had also changed. It was the same Wave Cloud Palm, but Lin Hua's understanding of it was far more thorough, his mastery more profound.
"Wave Cloud Palm!"
Lin Xuan let out a low roar and once again slapped his palm heavily against the Stone Stele. This palm strike looked ordinary, kicking up no waves of air at all. It lacked the grand display of the previous strike and appeared completely mundane. It felt as if he hadn't used any Elemental Power, attacking with pure physical strength alone.
DONG!!
The sound was like the tolling of a great bell. The entire Stone Stele began to vibrate even more violently, and fine cracks even started to appear along its edges!
At that moment, when the crowd saw the number on the Stone Stele, their breathing stopped—
2,000 pounds!