C29 Lin Xuan Arrived
At that moment, Lin Xuan was busy replicating the innate talent of the Black Feathered Eagle below him.
Lin Shiyun's departure hit Lin Xuan hard, highlighting the inadequacy of his own power.
His urgent craving for strength had reached a peak.
The Black Feathered Eagle possessed numerous treasures that could enhance Lin Xuan's abilities.
Naturally, Lin Xuan wasn't about to pass up the chance to claim the treasures from the Black Feathered Eagle.
With a surplus of energy points at his disposal, Lin Xuan copied everything except the eagle's bloodline talent.
Bloodline talent appeared to be a unique gift of mystical beasts, akin to the cultivation talent found in humans.
Lin Xuan hesitated to replicate the bloodline talent, unsure of the unforeseeable consequences it might bring.
So, he refrained from copying the bloodline talent.
Instead, Lin Xuan decided to make use of the treasures.
Already gifted in many areas, these treasures served as the perfect complement to Lin Xuan's abilities, causing no disturbance to his aura.
He had no concerns about drawing the attention of Zhao Quxin.
Without hesitation, Lin Xuan utilized the treasures.
"Congratulations, Host, on advancing to Middle Grade Gale Attribute Talent!"
"Ding! Congratulations on achieving Low-grade Blade Dao Talent!"
A gentle warmth soon flowed through Lin Xuan's body.
He gazed into the void before him, giving a slight nod to the attribute panel that had undergone subtle changes.
Then, Lin Xuan closed his eyes and began to cultivate the Jade Tempering Arts.
Time marched on.
The Black Feathered Eagle became a dark streak against the sky, weaving through the clouds.
Two hours later, the group reached their destination: the Drifting Cloud Sect.
As they looked down, a sense of awe washed over them.
They beheld a seemingly infinite expanse of palaces sprawled across the mountains, each one dwarfing the opulence of the City Lord's Mansion in Green Jade City by more than tenfold.
Mists curled around the palaces, and the bustle of people gave the impression of a mythical paradise.
Zhao Quxin steered the Black Feathered Eagle into the heart of this wonder, landing in a vast square.
It was only then that Lin Xuan and the nine others snapped back to reality, dismounting from the Black Feathered Eagle.
"Follow me," Zhao Quxin beckoned as he led the group toward a grand hall not too far away. As they walked, he offered some clarification:
"Just because you've earned the qualifications doesn't mean you're in the Drifting Cloud Sect yet. You'll still have to undergo a talent test. Everyone's talent is private, and I won't pry, but I will assess the general grade of your talent and awaken your attribute talent in the process. If you don't have an attribute talent, meaning your talent is not up to standard, then you'll have no choice but to leave."
Upon hearing this, the group's initial curiosity and wandering gazes turned to shock, and their excitement quickly faded. Anxiety crept onto their faces, all except for Lin Xuan, who remained impassive. Among the nine, Lin Xuan possessed the highest talent; if he didn't make the cut, the rest stood even less of a chance. But Lin Xuan wasn't concerned.
In that moment, Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the surrounding individuals, searching for a potential target to replicate. Regrettably, it seemed that most of the people here were new disciples, and none had an attribute panel that could hold a candle to Lin Xuan's, let alone talents worth copying.
Before long, Zhao Quxin ushered everyone into the hall and had Lin Xuan and the other nine line up at the back to wait their turn. Zhao Quxin himself took a position to the side to observe.
Several other deacons responsible for recruitment stood along the hall's periphery, just like Zhao Quxin.
"Old Zhao, what have you brought back? Any geniuses in the mix?" inquired Liu Quan, a middle-aged deacon, with a friendly smile.
"Why bother asking? Green Jade City is a small place; what kind of genius could it possibly yield?" retorted another middle-aged man in gray, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"This time, I actually did find a genius," Zhao Quxin responded with a light chuckle and a nonchalant air, choosing to leave it at that.
"Really? Well, I'm eager to see for myself," Liu Quan replied, his smile broadening as he cast a glance over Lin Xuan and the others.
The man in gray scoffed, his gaze following suit, now fixed on the group of hopefuls.
Although Zhao Quxin was of average strength among the deacons, his discernment was razor-sharp.
Anyone Zhao Quxin deemed a genius was bound to be exceptional.
This particular genius had piqued the interest of both of them.
The other deacons were equally intrigued.
Unbeknownst to Lin Xuan, Zhao Quxin's remarks had drawn the attention of the deacons his way.
At that moment, Lin Xuan was surveying the grand hall.
It was a vast space with sparse decorations.
Ahead were three tables; the two on the left each held a crystal ball, with a person seated behind them, garbed identically to Zhao Quxin.
These deacons were likely responsible for assessing Talent Level and awakening attribute talents.
The individual on the far right was tasked with documentation.
The hall was filled with items worth replicating—like the three deacons and the new disciples undergoing testing.
A thought crossed Lin Xuan's mind.
"You've used 500 energy points to successfully duplicate. You now possess the [Low-grade Green Wood Attribute Talent]."
"You've expended 500 energy points. Duplication successful. You've acquired the [Substandard Swordplay Talent]."
Lin Xuan had used tens of thousands of energy points to replicate all the talents within the hall.
Upon activating them, a faint warmth coursed through his body. He gazed once more at the Attribute Panel in the Void.
"I now have five attribute talents, plus the talents for both sword and saber. That should suffice."
A look of contentment crossed Lin Xuan's face.
The testing was underway.
"Your Talent Level is two and a half degrees. You do not qualify!"
"You lack any attribute talent!"
"Dismissed!"
After Lin Xuan had finished duplicating talents, he turned his attention to the ongoing talent tests.
He quickly discerned the criteria.
A Talent Level of at least three degrees, coupled with a Low-grade attribute talent, was the benchmark for passing.
It was a considerable challenge.
Only 30% managed to make the cut.
The Drifting Cloud Sect, with its twelve counties, would recruit 30 individuals from each.
Each county consisted of twenty smaller cities, with each city recruiting ten.
Altogether, that amounted to nearly three thousand people.
Even for a sect as formidable as the Drifting Cloud Sect, recruiting such a vast number of Outer Sect disciples seemed excessive.
This was bound to weed out half the participants.
With that thought, Lin Xuan gained some clarity.
Suddenly, a disturbance erupted ahead.
Lin Xuan turned towards the commotion and saw a young man, his face brimming with arrogance. He pressed his palm against a crystal ball, and five ripples emanated within.
He stepped up to the next crystal ball and placed his hand upon it. Inside, a flame burst into existence, followed by a swirling wind and a gleam of golden light—each phenomenon dazzling in its brilliance.
The hall erupted into a buzz of excitement.
"Five degrees of talent strength? He's incredibly strong!"
"And he possesses three different attribute talents. They must all be of high quality, right?"
"He might just be the one with the strongest talent among this year's new recruits."
...
The crowd was abuzz, their eyes fixed on the young man with a mix of awe and envy.
"Zhang Tao, with a five-degree attribute talent. Middle Grade Crimson Fire, Middle Grade Gale, and Low-grade Sharp Gold. You've passed," declared the officiating deacon.
"Please step aside for now. With your performance, you're likely to secure a place," another deacon commented with approval.
"Thank you, Deacon," the young man replied, then strode to the side, his posture radiating a disdainful air, as if he couldn't bear to cast a glance at the rest.
