15: Chapter 15 Saint-Rank Talent

As these words fell, the entire scene fell into sudden silence.

The wind stopped; all sounds ceased; it was as if everything in heaven and earth had lost its color in that moment.

High upon the platform, Sect Master Ling Jiuxiao, who was always as steady as a mountain and unflappable, felt his pupils constrict like needles.

He stared blankly at Chu Changsheng; the face that usually wore a calm, faint smile was now fracturing inch by inch, replaced by undisguised shock and trembling.

After a long while, he finally awoke as if from a dream and could not help but shake his head and laugh—a laugh that held thirty percent helplessness and seventy percent bitterness, like swallowing an unripe fruit, leaving an indescribable taste in his mouth.

"Grand Elder Chu," his voice was low but every word was earnest, "is this... isn't this a bit too much?"

He raised his hand to point at the lonely, dejected figure before the Spirit Testing Platform, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes:

"In the current world of cultivation, King-Grade talent is already exceptionally rare, one in ten thousand."

"Emperor-tier potential—that is a legend, a myth, a miracle encountered once in an eternity."

"This child, Chi Yang, has Heaven-Grade superior talent; it is already a heaven-sent blessing."

"Could you... perhaps make an exception?"

Chu Changsheng's expression was indifferent, like a cold pool that had not rippled for an eternity.

His fingertips gently caressed the warm, smooth jade pendant in his hand, his movements slow and composed.

When he spoke, his voice was not loud, but it was like pearls falling onto a jade plate, each word clearly striking the heart of everyone present:

"Sect Master, it is not that I am being harsh."

"The Legacy of Changsheng Peak inherently goes against common logic."

"Without Emperor-tier potential, forcing a succession will not only fail to carry the Legacy forward but will instead mislead the Disciple and sever their path of Dao."

He paused, his tone flat yet unquestionable:

"This matter will not be changed."

Ling Jiuxiao fell silent, leaving only a long sigh.

He knew Chu Changsheng too well.

This Grand Elder was usually as light as a cloud and as gentle as the breeze, appearing as if nothing concerned him, but once it involved the Legacy of Changsheng Peak, he was as stubborn as a boulder; not even the strength of nine bulls and two tigers could budge him in the slightest.

However—

The other Peak Masters on the high platform, however, instantly had burning flames ignite in their eyes.

Chu Changsheng had refused, which meant...

Almost simultaneously, they cast their scorching, heated gazes directly at that lonely figure.

The anticipation and longing in these gazes were almost overflowing from their eyes, burning through the Void Realm.

Li Chiyun could not hold back any longer and was the first to step forward.

His face was filled with a warm, enthusiastic smile, his voice loud as a bell, carrying a persuasive power that could not be refused:

"Young friend Chi Yang! Although Grand Elder Chu's Changsheng Peak is good, it is not your only destination!"

"Look at my Chiyun Peak—we take fire as our soul, flame as our Dao! With your Heaven-Grade superior talent, if you can join my sect, it would be like adding fuel to a raging fire, like the blazing sun in the sky!"

"On the future Dao of Fire, there will surely be a place for you! To shake the eight directions with your might, to become a generation's Fire God—that is not impossible!"

Yan Qingcheng also arrived gracefully.

Her rainbow-colored feathered garment shimmered with seven-colored light under the sun; she parted her red lips slightly, her smile as gentle as the spring breeze of March, softly brushing against everyone's hearts:

"Young friend, do not be disheartened. Although Luoxia Peak is not as mysterious as Changsheng Peak, it possesses the deepest foundations in the Xuantian Sect."

"The Peak holds a Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique called the 'Luoxia Profound Canon', which is a perfect match for your Heaven-Grade talent."

"If you are willing to come, I will pass on everything I know to help you soar ninety thousand miles straight up!"

"One day, above the firmament of this cultivation world, there will surely be a brilliant ray of rosy light from you, illuminating the ages!"

Chen Qingfeng wore a green robe, looking elegant and otherworldly.

He smiled slightly, and Sword Intent seemed to flow around him, ethereal and distant:

"Young friend Chi Yang, my Qingfeng Peak only cultivates the sword. The stone tablets of insight left by the predecessors of the sword Dao within the Peak are like stars in the sky, shining brilliantly."

"If you are willing to hold your sword and ask the Dao, with your talent, comprehending that supreme Sword Intent is merely a matter of time."

"By then—with one strike of your sword, the light will chill nineteen continents, and becoming famous throughout the four seas and eight wildernesses will be no difficulty at all!"

Zhao Xuanlong laughed loudly, his laughter heroic and shaking the surroundings.

"Young friend! Xuanlong Peak has a unique secret method that is a match made in heaven for your talent!"

"As long as you come, I will lead you to comprehend the true meaning of the Dao and step onto the broad, smooth path to becoming an extraordinary saint! In the future, you will be free to roam these Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!"

For a moment, the several Peak Masters each displayed their strengths, their words earnest, their gazes fervent, wishing they could immediately recruit this Prodigy, fearing that being a step late would mean someone else would snatch him first.

Chi Yang slowly raised his head.

In his eyes, the disappointment had not yet completely faded, but a touch of being acknowledged rose quietly, like a single point of starlight lighting up in the dark night.

He took a deep breath and bowed deeply toward the direction of Chu Changsheng—the angle of his bow carried respect, but also a trace of faint regret.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior, this Junior... understands."

He turned around.

His gaze slowly swept across the several Peak Masters and finally landed on Li Chiyun.

He took a step forward, bowed in salute, his voice sincere and firm, with no more hesitation:

"Disciple Chi Yang is willing to join Chiyun Peak; I implore the Peak Master to accept me!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Li Chiyun was overjoyed, saying the word "Good" three times; the smile on his face was almost overflowing, filling every wrinkle.

He strode forward and pulled Chi Yang up—the movement was so fast that it was as if he feared he would go back on his word.

He hurriedly took out a token as red as fire from his Storage Pouch and solemnly handed it to Chi Yang.

On the token, the emblem of Chiyun Peak was lifelike, and a faint warmth radiated from it, burning like fire.

"From this day forward, you are my, Li Chiyun's, closed-door Disciple!" Li Chiyun's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "As your master, I will surely do my utmost, exhausting everything I have learned in my life, to help you reach the Peak and make you the eternal pride of the Xuantian Sect!"

Chi Yang accepted the token with both hands.

The scorching temperature passed through his palms, straight to the bottom of his heart, quietly smoothing out that trace of disappointment from just now, turning it into a warm current.

A chorus of congratulations immediately rang out all around, the waves of sound rising and falling, surging in like a tide.

In everyone's eyes, there was nothing but envy and exclamation—it was a pity not to be able to enter Changsheng Peak, but to be able to become a Personal Disciple of the Chiyun Peak Master, was this not also a heaven-sent great fortune?

On the high platform, Ling Jiuxiao stroked his beard and chuckled, turning his head to look at the indifferent figure beside him, his tone carrying a bit of teasing:

"Grand Elder Chu certainly has a sharp eye; even such a Prodigy cannot enter your Dharma Eye. It's just..."

He paused, his smile deepening, "Does your Changsheng Peak really intend to remain empty forever?"

Chu Changsheng continued to fiddle with the jade pendant in his hand, his expression leisurely, as if everything that had just happened was merely clouds and smoke that had nothing to do with him, disappearing as soon as they blew past.

He said indifferently: "The Dao of Changsheng Peak does not suit him. Forcing it would only harm him."

As his voice fell, his gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep past the Spirit Testing Platform, scanning that quiet, gold-gilded figure in the queue.

Sunlight sprinkled down, plating a faint halo around her; although her aura was restrained, it was hard to hide that innate air of nobility, like an orchid in a deep valley—though no one saw it, it bloomed with its own beauty.

The corners of Chu Changsheng's lips curled into a barely perceptible arc.

"The true... good seedling..." he whispered, his voice as light as a sigh in the wind, vanishing in an instant, "is still to come."

Ling Jiuxiao followed his gaze and could not help but be startled: "Is the one Grand Elder Chu is referring to that young lady? Seeing her extraordinary bearing, could it be... she is also Heaven-Grade?"

Chu Changsheng did not answer.

He only turned the jade pendant at his fingertips more leisurely, more profoundly.

On the Spirit Testing Platform, light still rose and fell.

Another Earth-Grade talent lit up and was joyfully accepted into Luoxia Peak.

The test continued to proceed in a tense and orderly manner.

Everyone's emotions fluctuated, like riding a roller coaster, one wave had not yet subsided before another rose.

However—

Just when everyone thought that the Peak of the day was that Heaven-Grade Superior talent—

Boom!!!

On the last Spirit Testing Platform, a golden light, like a blazing sun breaking through the clouds, suddenly shot up into the sky!

This light was so intense, so fierce, so brilliant that it instantly suppressed the light of all other Spirit Testing Platforms, making them dim, as if fireflies compared to the bright moon, or dust compared to the stars!

Within the golden light, countless mysterious runes jumped and flickered, like ancient stars awakening, whispering, and chanting.

A vast, ancient, and incomparably powerful aura swept out like a tide, enveloping the entire scene!

This aura pressed down on their bodies and weighed on their hearts, shaking everyone's souls, making them almost want to prostrate themselves on the ground!

"Gold... Gold?!!!"

Great Elder Murong Han suddenly widened his eyes, his pupils violently constricting, his voice trembling until it was almost broken, carrying irrepressible shock and excitement:

"This... could this be... the legendary... Saint... Saint Grade talent?!!!"

The entire scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A deathly silence.

Time seemed to be suddenly gripped by an invisible hand at this moment, forcibly frozen.

Everyone solidified into statues—only that golden light shooting into the sky burned fiercely and danced crazily in their terrified pupils!

Within the light.

A youth wearing luxurious brocade robes slowly walked down from the Spirit Testing Platform.

On his robes, golden threads and silver lines embroidered soaring Dragons and flying Phoenixes; under the radiance of the light, they were lifelike, as if they would break out of the clothes at any moment, fly straight up to the Nine Heavens, and soar across the universe.

His face was so handsome it was almost demonic—sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a nose like a hanging gallbladder, thin lips slightly pursed, naturally carrying an arrogance that surpassed all living beings.

And the most intimidating thing was his eyes.

These eyes were arrogant, cold, and looked down upon the world.

When they swept over everyone, it was as if all things in this world, all living beings, and even heaven and earth itself, were not worthy of being seen by him.

He walked over just like that.

Bathing in the afterglow of the Saint Grade talent light, his steps were composed, his sleeves fluttering, like an Emperor descending to the mortal world, like a deity arriving in the world.

"Saint... Saint Grade talent has appeared!!!"

In the crowd, someone let out a scream that was hoarse to the extreme.

This scream was like splashing a ladle of cold water into a boiling wok—

Boom!!!

The entire scene instantly exploded!

"Heavens!!! It really is Saint Grade!!!"

"A Saint Grade talent that is hard to encounter in ten thousand years!!! It actually... actually appeared in my Xuantian Sect!!!"

"Who is this kid?! Which family's Disciple is he?! Whose descendant is he!!!"

The boiling waves of sound almost overturned the firmament and tore the clouds apart!

Everyone's gazes were crazily focused on that youth—in these eyes, there was awe, exclamation, fanaticism, and even more, an excitement and agitation at witnessing history unfold, almost burning through their eye sockets!

Ling Jiuxiao rushed down from the high platform with great strides!

This Sect Master, who was always as steady as a mountain and composed in all things, was now teary-eyed, his body trembling slightly, his steps even staggering a little.

He looked at the youth walking in the light, so excited that his voice changed pitch, sharp and trembling:

"Saint Grade talent!!! Heaven bless my Xuantian Sect!!! Heaven bless my Xuantian Sect!!!"

He suddenly opened his arms, as if to embrace the entire firmament, to embrace this miracle that had fallen from the sky!

His voice was loud as a bell, shaking the Nine Heavens, resounding across the entire scene: "With this child here—why worry that my Xuantian Sect will not flourish!!! Why worry that my Xuantian Sect cannot reach the Peak and look down upon all heroes!!!"

And outside this boiling uproar.

On the high platform.

Chu Changsheng still stood quietly.

His gaze passed over the golden light that was dazzling to the point of blinding, passed over the youth walking proudly, and traversed the crazily boiling crowd—

Finally, it still landed in the queue, on that quiet, gold-gilded figure who seemed to be indifferent to the world.

She stood quietly, as if all the uproar around her had nothing to do with her.

The jade pendant in his palm stopped turning.

The arc of his lips finally, slowly deepened.