98: Chapter 98 Qualification

In reality, the three trials of Dragon Abyss Palace began the moment they set foot on the island.

The first trial, Heart-Questioning, took place on the ship, while the second trial, Aptitude testing, began once they entered the rooms.

Inside these rooms were objects specifically designed to measure Aptitude, which could condense into Qi and be displayed within this Nine Fire God Mirror, categorized into nine Ranks, with the first Rank being the highest and the ninth Rank being the lowest.

At this moment, the Nine Fire God Mirror in the hall displayed the Aptitude of all the new examinees from the four seas: East, South, West, and North.

Before the ancient mirror, ripples slightly emerged.

The wisp of "Qi" representing Jiang Hanzhou appeared as a pale gold, suffused with a hint of warm, jade-like color.

It was solid and restrained, like a pearl hidden in a deep pool; although it did not soar into the sky, it possessed a steady and resilient Foundation that flowed ceaselessly within.

Above the mirror surface, two archaic characters appeared—Third Rank.

"Third Rank..." An Elder with white hair and beard, whose complexion was as ruddy as an infant's, stroked his beard and pondered, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. "This boy's bone age is no more than seventeen, yet his blood and Qi Foundation is so profound, far surpassing his peers. What is even rarer is that this 'Qi' balances hardness and softness, with a hidden, precious light within; his dao bone Foundation must be extremely well-tempered. Although it is only Third Rank, his potential likely cannot be fully described by just the surface Rank."

Beside him, a middle-aged female cultivator wearing water-blue dao robes with a gentle temperament nodded slightly:

"When Junior Brother Master Xue Mu gifted him the summoning token that day, he said this boy was an uncut jade. Now it seems his judgment was not off. It is just... why is it only Third Rank?"

Her gaze turned to Master Xue Mu, who stood quietly before the mirror in a green robe.

Master Xue Mu stood with his hands behind his back, looking at that wisp of pale golden jade Qi above Jiang Hanzhou's room in the mirror; there was no look of surprise on his face, but rather a faint smile.

"Senior Sister Yuheng, you do not know," he said in a calm voice. "The Aptitude measured by the Nine Fire God Mirror does not merely refer to bone structure and Comprehension Ability, but is a comprehensive assessment of the current life level, potential Foundation, and the degree of interaction with Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence. This boy comes from an ordinary background, without the nourishment of a noble family's Foundation, and without top-tier Cultivation Technique to temper him from a young age; he has reached this day entirely through his own Opportunity and hard work. To have this Third Rank assessment is already surpassing countless peers who rely on resources to build themselves up."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the other dozen or so wisps of Qi on the mirror surface:

"Look at this group from the East Sea. Aside from that girl from the Teng family who is Second Rank, the others mostly hover around the Fourth and Fifth Ranks, with some even at the Sixth Rank. This Jiang Hanzhou, being able to Rank in the Third Rank despite his humble background, means his Heart-Nature, Opportunity, and even his mysterious Luck cannot be underestimated. The path of cultivation is long; while bone structure and Aptitude are certainly important, Heart-Nature and Opportunity are often what determine how far a person can go."

The middle-aged female cultivator known as "Yuheng" seemed thoughtful and nodded slowly.

At this moment, on one side of the mirror, a wisp of "Qi" as clear as autumn water, azure blue with dots of silver, caught everyone's attention.

That aura was pure and piercing, faintly resonating with the vast water imagery reflected in the mirror, and its brightness and solidity were clearly a notch above Jiang Hanzhou's pale golden jade Qi.

Above it was marked—Second Rank.

The Elder holding the mirror let his gaze fall upon the corresponding room scene in the mirror, where the Blue-clothed Woman with her face covered in a light veil, Teng Yuzhi, resided.

"The Teng family has produced a good seedling this generation." The Elder's eyes showed appreciation. "Although the 'Mysterious Yin Spirit Body' is not a top-tier Dao body, it is extremely compatible with the Azure Sea Tide Birth Art. Cultivating in this East Sea region will yield twice the result with half the effort. Second Rank Aptitude is well-deserved. If her Heart-Nature passes, she may very well be able to challenge for a position as a true disciple in the future."

"Not bad," another Elder, burly and with an aura like a mountain, chimed in. "This girl's aura is pure, and her Sword Intent is hidden rather than released; she is good material for sword cultivation. My Heavenly Sword Peak is lacking such seedlings."

"Hmph, Junior Brother Li, you always want to snatch the good ones for Heavenly Sword Peak the moment you see them." Another Elder with a thin face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's snorted. "This girl's aura is compatible with water; it is clearly more suitable for my Bibo Pool lineage."

The several Elders actually seemed to be faintly vying for her.

Master Xue Mu saw this and shook his head with a laugh. "Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, please calm down. The Aptitude assessment is only a reference; whether she can ultimately enter your Dharma Eye still depends on her performance in the third trial, 'Combat'. Those with poor Heart-Nature or weak practical combat skills, even with Second Rank Aptitude, will find it hard to achieve greatness."

Upon hearing this, the group calmed down slightly, but their gazes looking at Teng Yuzhi's wisp of azure-blue silver Qi remained fiery.

Above the mirror surface, a total of seventy-nine wisps of "Qi" from the four seas were scattered at different heights, displaying various colors.

Aside from Teng Yuzhi's Second Rank, there were several other wisps of aura that were quite eye-catching.

From the West Sea direction, there was a wisp of aura that was crimson like flame and pulsed incessantly, also rated as Second Rank. Its owner was a youth wearing a fiery red martial outfit with a flame pattern between his brows; he looked arrogant, and his blood and Qi were as vigorous as a furnace.

In the North Sea, there was a wisp of profound black, heavy aura that seemed capable of absorbing all light, also Second Rank, belonging to a tall, silent youth with bronze-colored skin.

In the South Sea, there was a youth dressed like a scholar with a righteous and calm aura; his Qi was cyan-white, mellow and long-lasting, also Second Rank.

Among the four seas, those possessing Second Rank Aptitude were but a mere five or six people.

The rest were mostly Third or Fourth Rank, with Fifth and Sixth Rank also being common, and there were even two wisps of dim, floaty aura ranked at the Seventh Rank.

"This generation does have a few good seedlings."

Sitting at the head, an Elder in hempen clothes who had been resting with his eyes closed spoke slowly.

His voice was not loud, but it carried an indescribable majesty, and the low discussions in the hall immediately ceased.

The Elder in hempen clothes opened his eyes; they were a pair of eyes that looked murky, yet deep within them, it seemed as if a galaxy was flowing. His gaze swept across the bronze ancient mirror and finally landed on the phantom image of the two characters "Combat" floating above the mirror surface.

"Aptitude has been revealed, and Heart-Nature has been initially tested. However, the Foundation of Dragon Abyss Palace's existence lies in the word 'Combat'." The Elder in hempen clothes spoke in a calm voice, yet every word carried the weight of a thousand jun. "The East Sea is vast, and crises lurk everywhere. Demons and monsters surround us, and evil cultivators lie in wait. Without the ability to protect the Dao, even with heaven-defying Aptitude, one is merely fodder for others, like flowers in a mirror or the moon in the water."

"What the Nine Fire God Mirror reflects is only the future. The true result must be tempered in blood and fire."

He paused and looked at the Elders below:

"Three days later, the Prison Combat will begin. At that time, whether one is a Dragon or a worm will be revealed. If you have any favorites, you might as well wait and see. But remember, the Palace rules are paramount; the final decision on who stays and who leaves will be based on their performance in the examination, and no favoritism is allowed."

"We respectfully obey the Mirror-Holding Elder's decree." The Elders all bowed and replied in unison.

The Elder in hempen clothes was the Mirror-Holding Elder in charge of the "Nine Fire God Mirror" at Dragon Abyss Palace; his status was transcendent, and his words were the final verdict.

Master Xue Mu smiled slightly, his gaze once again sweeping over Jiang Hanzhou's wisp of pale golden jade Qi.

"Third Rank... that is enough."