C15 The Talent Test Was Only a Blue Talent!

Bai Zhan was an instructor at the God’s Favored Camp in Jiangnan Province. The camp had a mere five instructors, but each was a Martial Cultivator at the Golden Body Stage, with even Heaven Flying Stage experts stationed there. Such a presence indicated that the Martial Artist Association of Jiangnan Province placed high value on the God’s Favored Camp.

Lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, Bai Zhan spoke with a detached tone. "Hand over that kid's file. I don't have time to spare."

Upon hearing this, Lau Kuang quickly passed Su Yu's information to Bai Zhan, who leisurely thumbed through the pages. "Just entered the Blood Essence Stage? Broke through three points of Blood Essence Value in a matter of days... An orphan? Background... insufficient clearance?"

Bai Zhan's pupils narrowed as he turned to Lau Kuang. "What's the issue? You, as the vice president of Hengcheng's Martial Artist Association, don't have enough clearance?"

Lau Kuang rushed to explain. "I'm not sure why, but when I tried to access the boy's background using my clearance, all I discovered was that his parents vanished when he was very young. Yet, when I tried to dig deeper, I hit a wall."

"Perhaps, Master Bai, you could investigate further upon your return if you have any concerns? My authority as a local vice president is limited, after all."

Bai Zhan pondered briefly before responding. "These are minor details. However, Su Yu's Blood Essence Value is merely three, which seems rather low. If that's all there is to it, my trip here would be unnecessary."

His piercing gaze settled on Lau Kuang, who, despite being a Viscera Refining Stage Martial Cultivator, felt thoroughly scrutinized under such scrutiny. Lau Kuang clenched his jaw, realizing that gaining entry to the God’s Favored Camp was even more challenging than he had anticipated.

A martial cultivator under eighteen with a Blood Essence Value of just three, and he's still not on Bai Zhan's radar?

Lau Kuang spoke with difficulty.

"Master Bai, please take another look. This young man has only recently stepped into the realm of martial cultivators, and in mere days, he's broken through to a Blood Essence Value of three. Such talent is surely not weak by Jiangnan Province standards, right?"

Bai Zhan withdrew his gaze and let out a light chuckle.

"That's exactly why I'm bothering to speak at all. If he were just entering the realm of martial cultivators, the mere fact that you've summoned me here for nothing would be grounds enough for you to be stripped of your vice presidency."

Bai Zhan's tone was light, but to Lau Kuang, it carried an unmistakable weight of authority.

Lau Kuang gave a bitter laugh, choosing to remain silent.

Bai Zhan stretched leisurely and spoke with a nonchalance.

"Fine, bring the kid over. He's got enough talent to warrant a personal evaluation from me."

"But... it's already nighttime..."

Lau Kuang was clearly troubled, yet Bai Zhan's scoff cut through the air.

"What, you think I have time to spare? There's a whole camp of God's Favored waiting for my guidance. Had you not vouched for me with your vice presidential clout, do you think I'd have bothered coming?"

"Let me remind you, in my God’s Favored Camp, even the least of them has a Blood Essence Value of five. Every single one is a prodigy under eighteen."

With Bai Zhan's merciless taunting ringing in his ears, Lau Kuang felt a profound sense of frustration but had no choice but to bear it.

He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Su Yu.

...

At that moment, Su Yu, who had just finished stabilizing his condition, slowly opened his eyes.

"I've finally consolidated it. My strength should now exceed 9,000 kilograms, right?"

As Su Yu was preparing to rest, his phone began to vibrate insistently.

He picked up the device and looked at it, a hint of surprise on his face.

"The big shot has arrived? That was quick."

Despite the late hour, upon receiving Lau Kuang's message, Su Yu wasted no time. He quickly set off toward the Martial Artist Association.

In a brief moment, Su Yu found himself inside the Martial Artist Association. Having visited Lau Kuang's office previously, he made his way directly there this time. No one intercepted him en route, presumably because Lau Kuang had given prior notice.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Su Yu rapped on the office door and was greeted by the sight of Lau Kuang standing serenely by the sofa, while a middle-aged man in a traditional Zhongshan suit sat across from him, legs crossed and a steely gaze fixed on the newcomer.

The office was suffused with a silence so intense it was almost palpable. Su Yu, sensing the gravity of the atmosphere, offered his respects with due formality. "Greetings, Master Bai, greetings, President Lau!"

Bai Zhan sized up Su Yu, his gaze sweeping from top to bottom. Apparently finding nothing of particular interest, his attention waned. "You're Su Yu?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of disinterest that left Su Yu momentarily taken aback.

Su Yu nodded, unaware that his bewildered expression had caused Bai Zhan's already low expectations to dip even further.

Dispensing with further formalities, Bai Zhan casually flipped his hand, and a pitch-black stone materialized in his grasp. Su Yu's eyebrows arched in surprise; he had clearly seen that Bai Zhan's hands were empty a moment ago. This was the first time he had witnessed such a feat.

Bai Zhan's voice, cool and detached, broke the silence. "No need to wonder. This is a Storage Ring, on par with a Level One Spirit Weapon. Interested?"

After a brief hesitation, Su Yu gave a cautious nod.

A slight smile played at the corners of Bai Zhan's mouth. "Very well, if you can reach the Viscera Refining Stage before your twentieth birthday, I'll gift you one."

It was an obvious jest, but Su Yu took the bait, his eyes sparkling with earnestness. "You mean that?"

The Storage Ring had genuinely piqued Su Yu's interest.

Bai Zhan found himself momentarily at a loss. It seemed Su Yu was ready to take up the challenge.

Without allowing Bai Zhan to dwell on his surprise, he snorted dismissively. "Such arrogance for one so young. Infuse your Blood Essence Value into this stone. Let's see if your talent can match your audacity."

Though disappointed, Su Yu complied, taking the black stone in hand. With Lau Kuang watching on, full of anticipation, Su Yu concentrated, channeling his Blood Essence Value into the stone.

Gradually, a faint green glow emerged on the surface of the black stone.

Bai Zhan gave it a cursory glance and involuntarily shook his head.

"Green, huh? That indicates a future capped at the Viscera Refining Stage. Even with rapid progress in cultivation now, the potential is capped, hardly of any significant use."

Just as Bai Zhan was preparing to have Su Yu cease his efforts...

A new hue surfaced on the black stone.

Blue!