The many Hopefuls began lining up at the stage one after the other. The white robed young man was near the end of the line. He observed his fellow contestants with a curious glance, ‘most of these guys are already at Nascent soul, there are even a few who’d transcended the Mortal Realm and reached Spirit Severing. Truely every one of them are strong geniuses from large backgrounds’. The young man himself was also at the Late Nascent Soul stage at age 16, while in regular sects this would be a genius among genius, in a place like the Sacred Beast Sect this can only be described as average.

Then the young man felt someone looking at him, he turned to see who only to see the examiners, specifically the one in black. The man in black was giving him a weird look but then turned to his partner. ‘Could he have noticed something? Perhaps master?’ The young man began contemplating multiple theories.

‘Wan Kun, whats the matter?’ An aged voice sounded through his head. ‘Master you’re awake?’ ‘Damed brat of course I’m awake, but I have to ask whats got you so worked up about?’ The voice asked.

‘Well, you see that black robed man up there? He was giving me a look, could he have noticed you?’ Wan Kun asked his master. ‘No he couldn’t have, I may be a soul but I’m still an Immortal King. No one in this lower realm can sense me.’ Knowing that his master is right put him at ease ‘that examiner probably noticed my Supreme Consumption Sword, the current power it posses is around the Heaven Grade something usually Surpassing Mortality/Xiantian realm experts posses’. Although Wan Kun was speaking to his master, he was doing so in his thoughts as his master actually resided in his soul.

“Ahem” the man dressed in black stood up and walked to the front. “I would like to welcome all of you to our Sacred Beast Sect disciple recruitment. You may refer to me has Lord Hei, the lady behind me is Lady Feng.” He proceeded to take out a crystal orb, “this orb should be something you’re familiar with, its a QI Vein sensing orb used to test for cultivation talent. This one however can sense your talent grade to a much higher accuracy and level. I assure you all this orb won’t explode after Cyan Qi Vein. Now listen carefully, anyone under Cyan Grade would immediately be disqualified” the man then waved his hand and a pedestal appeared “now come on, one at a time”.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t my Wan clan and East River Academy have a similar orb?’ Wan Kun wondered. ‘Yes but this one is a higher grade, those low level ones at your home can only measure up to yellow. That’s why they exploded’ Wan Kun’s master answered . Different people no matter age or gender all have certain talent in cultivation, these talent grades have been defined by colour from White-Yellow-Green-Cyan-Crystal-Jade-Crimson and finally a golden colour for the Heaven Grade. Heaven Grade talents a basically unheard of and appear scarcely even in ancient texts.

“Next” an ordinary looking youth walked onto the stage. “State your name, age and cultivation” Lord Hei ordered. “This one is called Li Huo, 17 years old and Nascent soul Late stage” Li Huo answered with a bow. “Impressive, 17 years of age and already nearing the Xiantian realm stages.” Lord Hei guided Li Huo to the orb. As Li Huo touched the orb red light poured out suppressing everyone.

“C-C-Crimson?” “Crimson Grade Talent?” “Impossible”.

Many of the seated officials were stunned. Duke Zi began to sweat ‘even my son is only a Crystal Grade’. One has to understand Cyan Grade talent was rare even in Tier 1 sects, even in Holy lands Crystal and Jade were seen as geniuses. A purple clad youth a few places back frowned ‘how did a commoner get such talent?’

Even Wan Kun was stunned ‘Crimson Grade, this Li Huo must not be just anybody’. Lord Hei smiled at the display of talent “What a fine talent, you pass”. This process continued on several more times before the purple clad youth came up on stage. “Honourable Lord Hei, Lord Father, Zi Cheng greets you” the youth politely said. “Zi Cheng, this is your son Zi Yahui?” Lord Hei turned to Duke Zi who was seated among the officials. “Yes my lord, this our one of our Sacred Beast Kingdom’s top talents” Duke Zi gloated at the first opportunity. Duke Zi while a Duke wasn’t all that influential to having a chance to show off was rare even more so when its in front of Sacred Beast Sect “My boy will definitely not loose out to that Li Huo”. “Vey well, age 19 Spirit Severing Early Stage please present your talent” Lord Hei ushered Zi Cheng to the orb. The Orb shined clear blue symbolising Crystal Grade talent “you pass”.

“what Spirit Severing at age 19 with only a Crystal Talent?” This news shocked people again. To be able to reach Spirit Severing at age 19 was truely impressive, this would mean Zi Cheng reached Xiantian at age 19. Even Jade Grade talents may not be able to do the same.

Everyone after that was the standard. “Pass, pass, pass, fail, pass, fail, pass, pass”.

“Next” Lord Hei called out ‘this seems to be the final one’. “State your name and age” the youth in white who walked on stage grinned confidently “Junior is Wan Kun, age 16” this youth was of course Wan Kun. Lady Feng’s eyes widened slightly as Wan Kun moved towards the orb ‘Immortal master check, white robes check, devilishly handsome check, sword on the back check, this young man looks to be a stereotype protagonist, to think one would appear now after all these years. Heh if I had almost accepted they were not real, this should be interesting’