7: Chapter 7 Talent Test, Slapped Away

"Silence!"

A majestic voice came from the front, mixed with a trace of Spiritual Qi fluctuation, making the previously noisy scene suddenly quiet.

Everyone looked up and saw a grey-robed Elder walking out from the front, his sharp gaze sweeping over them.

"This Sect is widely recruiting Disciples this time, with the aim of selecting some elite Disciples. Anyone over twenty years old who has not yet entered the Body Tempering realm can roll back home!"

Hearing this undeniable voice, the previously quiet environment became noisy once again.

"What's going on? There was no such rule before. Why is this year different from usual?"

"It's over, I'm already over twenty. I came for nothing. Father, Mother, your son is sorry!" A young man who didn't meet the criteria knelt on the ground, wailing.

"Hmph! Still haven't entered Cultivation at twenty. Truly a good-for-nothing. It would just be a waste of time even if he entered the Sect." A richly dressed, arrogant young man next to him glanced at him with disdain.

"What did you say!" Someone couldn't stand it and wanted to go argue.

His companion quickly pulled him back. "Don't go over there. Do you know who he is? Liu Yong, the Young City Lord of White Jade City, the number one Genius in the area. Do you want to die?"

The man was startled, lowered his head in humiliation, and secretly clenched his fists, expressing his unwillingness.

"Tsk, good-for-nothing." Seeing the other party back down, Liu Yong's expression became even more arrogant.

Suddenly, a massive pressure swept across the entire scene. "The first test for entry: within the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, under this Elder's pressure, those who step onto the stairs will be considered to have passed."

Upon hearing this, everyone gritted their teeth and struggled to walk towards the stairs.

Leading the way was Liu Yong. Although he was slow, he wasn't as strained as the others. Soon, he had already reached the stairs.

The grey-robed Elder nodded slightly, a rare hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Not bad, truly worthy of being City Lord Liu's son."

Liu Yong was overjoyed. "Many thanks for the Elder's praise!"

Among the crowd, Jiang Xuan acted like everyone else, pretending to be very strained, stumbling and staggering onto the stairs.

After one stick of incense, the grey-robed Elder waved his hand, and the pressure dissipated. Only a few hundred people remained; out of tens of thousands, only a few hundred had stepped onto the stairs. This was the cruelty of the Cultivation world.

"Next, you will follow this Elder into the Sect for the second test. Those who pass will become Outer Sect Disciples of my Hegemon Sect." With that, a black token appeared in his hand, which he offered into the air.

Immediately, a protective barrier appeared in the space, followed by an opening appearing before the people.

The grey-robed Elder put away the token and waved his hand. "Let's go, follow me inside."

Among the crowd, Jiang Xuan watched with curiosity. Was this the Sect's protective array?

Upon entering the Sect, a pure Spiritual Qi immediately enveloped him. "Such dense Spiritual Qi, at least twice as concentrated as the outside world."

Jiang Xuan was delighted. "Hehe, not bad, not bad. After today, it will all belong to my Jiang Family."

"The second test is to test talent. Do you see this stone?"

"Put your hands on it. As long as it glows, you can become an Outer Sect Disciple." The grey-robed Elder pointed to a colorful stone nearby and said indifferently.

Jiang Xuan looked at the colorful stone. This should be the Nine-Colored Stone, specifically used to test talent. The more colors, the higher the talent.

"Those who can make the stone glow two colors will be Inner Sect Disciples of this Sect. As for three colors, they can become personal Disciples of this Sect Master!"

"Whoa!" A buzz of discussion immediately arose among the crowd.

"Hiss~ A personal Disciple of the Sect Master, huh? I wonder who will be that lucky one."

"I hope it's me. Heaven bless me, bless me to test three colors." Someone clasped their hands together, praying to the sky.

People are like that; before the results are out, everyone hopes to be the unique one.

"Next, line up and come up one by one."

Immediately, the first young man whose name was called came to the platform, looking nervous. He tremblingly placed his hands on the Nine-Colored Stone. After a long time, there was no movement.

"Disqualified, next." The grey-robed Elder shook his head.

"No, I don't believe it!" The young man cried out in despair, unable to believe he had no talent at all. He was dragged away like a dead dog by several Hegemon Sect Disciples.

"Disqualified, next."

"Disqualified..."

After several consecutive disqualifications, the grey-robed Elder was extremely disappointed. "Hmph! A bunch of good-for-nothings."

"Next, Liu Yong."

Finally, it was my turn. Liu Yong's face was excited. He had already tested his talent at the City Lord's mansion; it was a third-grade talent. Coming to the Hegemon Sect was just a formality.

He got excited just thinking about the astonished expressions of everyone later. "Hehehe."

Sure enough, when he placed his hand on the stone, three different colors of light instantly lit up.

Everyone around was amazed, looking at Liu Yong with envy and admiration.

"Tsk, truly worthy of being the number one Genius of White Jade City, three colors! That's a third-grade talent."

"Now no one will dare to provoke him. The Young City Lord of White Jade City combined with being a personal Disciple of the Hegemon Sect Master, this status is extraordinary."

Listening to the surrounding exclamations, Liu Yong felt an indescribable thrill throughout his body. He closed his eyes, raised his head high, and enjoyed the moment that belonged only to him.

Even the grey-robed Elder changed his previous gloomy mood and laughed loudly, "Hahahaha, good, good, good! City Lord Liu has a good son!"

Hearing the grey-robed Elder's voice, Liu Yong became even more elated. Just as he was immersed in this wonderful feeling, an untimely voice interrupted him.

"Hey, idiot, are you done testing? If you are, stop blocking the way."

"Hmm?" Liu Yong frowned. He was enjoying himself; who was so tactless as to interrupt him?

He opened his eyes and saw a face so handsome it seemed to reach the sky staring at him, looking impatient.

A trace of jealousy flashed in Liu Yong's eyes. "Damn it, he's actually handsomer than this Young City Lord. If he doesn't have any talent later, I'll scratch his face."

As soon as he entered the Sect, Jiang Xuan had already taken off his mask. Since he was already inside, there was no need to hide anymore.

Then, Liu Yong suddenly thought of something. He looked left and right, pointed at himself, and asked Jiang Xuan uncertainly, "Were you just talking to me?"

Jiang Xuan was utterly speechless internally. He had just wanted to test his talent and then start fighting, but this guy stood there with an enjoying expression and wouldn't come down. Wasn't this wasting his time?

Thinking of this, he got angry. "Besides you and me, is there anyone else here? Stop talking nonsense and get down quickly! Seeing you annoys me."

Liu Yong instantly flew into a rage, trembling all over. He pointed at Jiang Xuan with his finger and said furiously, "You dare to curse me, you..."

Before Liu Yong could finish his sentence, a large hand suddenly appeared in his vision, growing larger and larger. "Slap!" A crisp slapping sound echoed throughout the scene.

"Pfft!" Liu Yong immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flying far away, the blood forming a bright red parabola along its trajectory.

Jiang Xuan shook his wrist. "So long-winded, you had to make me slap you down."

The scene immediately fell into a deathly silence.