C33 Potential Rank 1

Seeing Lin Xuan's demeanor, the Third Elder's admiration grew.

"Here is the identity token for the disciple with the highest potential among the newcomers. Take it," he said with a warm smile.

"Being new to the sect, you might not be aware, so allow me to enlighten you. The Outer Sect reserves special treatment for its prodigious disciples, granting them access to superior cultivation resources, accommodations, martial arts secrets, and more. You will receive the same privileges as the top disciple in the Outer Sect.

However, this preferential treatment lasts for only three months. After that, the level of privileges you'll enjoy will be determined by your strength."

With that, he produced a black token and handed it to Lin Xuan.

Elder Chen, responsible for recruiting new disciples, was a standard Outer Sect Elder and could issue potential disciple identity tokens. As one of the Outer Sect's three most influential elders, the Third Elder certainly had the authority to do so. This came as no surprise to anyone.

They all gazed at Lin Xuan with sheer envy.

Thanks to the Third Elder's briefing, all the disciples now understood the significant disparity in treatment between potential Outer Sect disciples and the average ones. It was the difference between the top ten and the rest of the Outer Sect disciples, and they grasped the magnitude of that gap.

Lin Xuan, ranked as the disciple with the most potential, was on par with the premier disciple of the Outer Sect. His position was far more favorable than that of the other nine in the top ten.

They could hardly fathom Lin Xuan's future prospects and were filled with profound envy.

Though they had all joined the sect at the same time, Lin Xuan had already set himself apart.

And considering Lin Xuan's formidable talent, the gap between them was only set to widen with time. They realized they would never catch up to him, which only deepened their awe.

Even the deacons exchanged glances, their expressions betraying their astonishment. It was rare for the Third Elder to offer such personal guidance. Clearly, Lin Xuan's genius exceeded their expectations.

"Thank you, Third Elder," Lin Xuan said, bowing respectfully before accepting the token.

The token was jet-black, gleaming with a metallic sheen. On one side were the bold characters for 'Drifting Cloud Sect,' and on the reverse, 'Potential Number One.'

Lin Xuan gazed at the token, nodding with a spark of excitement in his eyes.

It was just what he needed.

With his talent level on the rise, all that was missing to boost his cultivation and strength were resources.

Now, he had them.

His fortune was indeed looking up.

They exchanged a few more words before the Third Elder, having lavished praise upon Lin Xuan, turned and departed amidst the watchful eyes of all those gathered.

Zhang Tao, on the other hand, didn't receive so much as a glance from the Third Elder throughout the entire affair.

For an average disciple with a talent level of five degrees, entry into the Inner Sect was within reach.

But to ascend to the ranks of a Core disciple was a far more arduous task.

Zhang Tao, not even close to Lin Xuan's level, hardly merited the Third Elder's attention.

Once the Third Elder had vanished from view, the crowd's focus shifted, converging on Lin Xuan with looks of admiration, envy, and awe.

They recognized that even though they were all Outer Sect newcomers, Lin Xuan was set apart.

He was poised for a swift rise, destined for the Inner Sect, perhaps even to become a Core disciple.

The rest might linger in the Outer Sect indefinitely, hoping for a stroke of luck to advance or, failing that, facing a return to the mundane world, severing their martial path.

Lin Xuan was, without a doubt, the object of their utmost admiration.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tao stood to the side, utterly overlooked, his expression darkening as he fixed his gaze on Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan paid him no heed, standing firm and nodding subtly to himself.

He contemplated the attribute panel floating in the Void before him.

Thanks to the Third Elder's intervention, he had reaped a substantial number of energy points.

However, replicating the treasures from the Third Elder had depleted his reserves.

He was short on energy points and needed to gather more.

Within the Drifting Cloud Sect, the accumulation of energy points was significantly quicker than in Green Jade City.

He wasn't concerned, though.

As word of today's events spread, he was confident that a fresh influx of energy points would come his way.

Then, he'd be ready to replicate once more and elevate his power.

The talent assessment proceeded apace. Yet, most eyes still lingered on Lin Xuan, their owners unable to shake the profound impact he had made on them. The subsequent results mirrored those of earlier tests, with a mere 30% of candidates succeeding. Lin Xuan's exceptional sixth-degree talent intensity set him apart as a top-tier prodigy, a level of aptitude not even Zhang Tao, with his fifth-degree talent, could claim. A fourth-degree talent would sporadically emerge, but next to Zhang Tao and Lin Xuan, such achievements scarcely made waves anymore.

Among the contingent from Green Jade City, aside from Lin Xuan, only Lin Yun, Wu Qilee, and Chen Yu managed to pass. The remaining five were regrettably disqualified. However, having awakened one or two attribute talents each, their journey was not for naught.

Lin Yun, Wu Qilee, and Chen Yu took their places behind Lin Xuan, gazing at his silhouette in a daze, still struggling to grasp the reality of the situation. They could hardly believe that they, hailing from Green Jade City, had barely scraped through the talent test, while Lin Xuan had emerged as the premier genius among the new recruits. It was only now that they grasped the reason behind Lin Xuan's effortless dominance during the Four Major Forces Competition. Even Zhang Hee, who had unscrupulously advanced to the Late Enlightenment Stage, was no match for Lin Xuan. The chasm between their innate abilities was vast and seemingly insurmountable.

As time marched on, the testing session in the grand hall drew to a close. Out of the more than three hundred disciples tested, fewer than a hundred had passed. The unsuccessful candidates were escorted out, making way for a fresh batch of hopefuls. Those who had not made the cut were sent home, while the successful ones were now inducted as Outer Sect disciples and led away by several deacons to settle into their new accommodations.

Lin Xuan, recognized for his unparalleled potential, was accorded the highest level of hospitality. Half an hour later, he found himself in a modest yet charming courtyard. Upon inspecting his new residence, Lin Xuan's eyes brightened with approval. The courtyard, though small, was meticulously crafted and fully equipped, a significant upgrade from the humble wooden huts that housed the typical Outer Sect disciples.

More importantly, Spirit Gathering Formations were installed throughout the entire Drifting Cloud Sect. This small courtyard was situated on one of those minor nodes. The concentration of spiritual energy here far exceeded that of most other areas in the Outer Sect. Green Jade City simply couldn't hold a candle to this place.

"Exactly," Lin Xuan said, his eyes reflecting his contentment.

He didn't even have to tidy up; the small courtyard had been meticulously cleaned before his arrival. He could just grab his bag and settle in.

Subsequently, Lin Xuan made his way to the cultivation chamber and settled onto the meditation cushion, sitting cross-legged.

Ultimately, these were mere material benefits. The sect had provided him with these amenities because they recognized his potential, but they could reclaim them at any moment.

His own power was what truly mattered.