Chapter 62: Shocking the seniors
While Wen Ran began his journey through the thick forest, the group of children and teenagers was undergoing the talent evaluation.
"Place your hand on the stone tablet, and then channel your spiritual power into it. It's a simple task, right?" The young woman smiled, her eyes scanning the group of terrified youngsters. For a brief moment, she couldn't help but think of herself at their age, walking through the same process when she first joined the sect.
"Before that, Senior, I know I am being rude right now," Feng Yulan bowed respectfully to the woman, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But there is something on my mind that doesn't allow me to concentrate." Her eyes darted around the room, nervously glancing toward the entrance.
"Speak," the young woman said, her expression softening slightly. They were around the same age, which was slightly older for joining the sect, but they made an exception on behalf of the sect master.
"Thank you," Feng Yulan kept her head low, her voice soft. "I believe we are still missing one person, the boy named Wen Ran. He went ahead of us, but..." Her words were interrupted by an enchanting giggle from the woman, who seemed to carry an air of mystery. She looked like a fox, her beauty combined with her aura making her incredibly alluring.
"You must really like that youngster to care about him so much," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
Feng Yulan turned bright red with embarrassment. She almost jumped in place, her body trembling slightly at the teasing.
"T-that's... Senior, what are you saying?" she stammered, flustered. "He... he just helped us, and now he is nowhere to be seen, so I—I would feel bad if he was able to join the sect with us. I can even give him my place if that's what it takes." Her face burned even redder, and she quickly hid it behind her hair, too embarrassed to look the woman in the eye.
Feng Chenxi stared at his sister in confusion. He had never seen her act this way before. He couldn't understand why she was acting so flustered. He was dull when it came to these things, and even if Wen Ran were standing right in front of his sister, holding hands with her, he would still have no idea what was going on.
The young woman smiled sweetly, a hint of understanding in her eyes. She could slightly guess what the young girl, Feng Yulan, felt, but she could tell that Wen Ran was not the type to chase after women. He showed no reaction to her, which made the young woman extremely surprised. She had never met a man who didn't fall to his knees for her, and it made her feel slightly upset. However, at the same time, she respected Wen Ran for putting cultivation above relationships and personal desires.
A trace of pity formed in her heart for Feng Yulan.
"Do not worry about it," the woman spoke, her voice soothing. "He is on his way here. It might take a while, but he will arrive."
Her smile made everyone in the room feel at ease, and hearing that Wen Ran would arrive soon, Feng Yulan's heart felt as if a massive rock had been lifted from it.
"How about we start with the ones who have already reached the Spirit Flow stage?" the woman continued. "As for the others who haven't, you will have to train with the servants for the time being until you do. Only then will you be able to undertake the test. Please sit down and take this opportunity to learn from your seniors."
She pointed at a young man, who appeared to be around twelve years old. "You, come here and give it a try."
The teenager's body slightly trembled, but he quickly stabilized himself and took a step forward. His short black hair and brown eyes made him appear ordinary, but something about him screamed that this youngster was far from ordinary.
"Place your hand on the stone tablet and channel your spirit energy into it," the woman gestured, and the youngster quickly followed her instructions. The moment his hand touched the stone tablet, a cold aura washed over him, as if his entire body was being scanned. He felt exposed in front of the ancient artifact, but he took a deep breath and channeled his spiritual energy, pushing past the unease.
In the next moment, golden text shone above the tablet, the letters forming in the air as though they were being drawn in the sky by an invisible brush.
The woman smiled in surprise, her eyes shining like gems as she observed the text.
"Not bad, high-grade earthly talent, and middle-grade earthly potential," she remarked. "This easily passes the requirement to become an outer disciple of the sect." She paused, her gaze sharpening with even more excitement. "Not to mention you possess low-grade lightning bones, which is rare in this world."
Her eyes shone even brighter as she looked at the youngster with a mix of admiration and approval. "I think we have found a true gem this time." She turned to him with a warm smile. "What is your name?" she asked.
She knew that the sect master would be pleased with this talent. If he reached his full potential, she believed he could become a pillar of the sect one day.
"Li Wei thanks the senior for your praise." He bowed deeply, his chest finally relaxing as the weight of the test seemed to lift from him.
"I think your name suits you well," the woman nodded in approval, her expression glowing with admiration. "Next." She pointed at Feng Chenxi.
"Yes!" Feng Chenxi shouted, eager to prove himself. He rushed to the stone tablet and placed his hand on it. In the next moment, the tablet began to shine with a crimson light, and the woman's eyes widened in shock as the text appeared in the air. Who are these kids? she thought, they're all heavenly seeds... Her heart raced as she read the inscription.
"This... a low-grade heavenly talent and potential... and high-grade spirit root? This... this!" She gasped, barely able to contain her surprise. The shock was so overwhelming she almost fainted on the spot. Meanwhile, Feng Chenxi didn't find it all that impressive. If this woman saw my sister's potential, he thought, she would faint.