YM778.TV Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Talent Ceremony
All the people including the initiates and elders entered the boat.
All the initiates were busy talking with themselves. They were abuzz with speculation, their eyes often darting to three figures who had captured everyone\'s attention: Adolf, the mysterious and formidable newcomer; Xu Mevan, the prodigious talent backed by Elder Sharon; and his sister, the aloof yet mesmerizing Xu Amber.
Xu Mevan stood confidently near the edge of the boat, his gaze focused on the horizon. His aura radiated a natural sense of pride and purpose, drawing the attention of several elders observing nearby.
A nearby elder murmured to his companion, "This Xu Mevan… his recommendation letter came directly from Elder Sharon. It\'s rare for her to vouch so strongly for anyone."
"Indeed," the other elder agreed, glancing thoughtfully at Mevan. "And with that recommendation, his potential must be extraordinary"
Mevan overheard the elder\'s words and allowed himself a small, smug smile. In his mind, his success was already guaranteed; the talent ceremony would only further cement his place as one of the sect\'s most promising disciples. When they see my potential… he thought, confidence swelling within him. Adolf will be nothing but a fleeting shadow in my light.
Amber, standing beside her brother, remained as composed and silent as ever, her gaze drifting across the clouds outside. Unlike her brother, she seemed unaffected by the attention, her expression cool and unreadable. She didn\'t seek recognition, yet her natural elegance and the aura of mystery surrounding her caught the interest of more than a few initiates and elders alike.
"Such poise," an elder noted quietly, his eyes lingering on Amber. "A rare talent, I suspect."
"Yes, indeed," another replied. "It\'s no wonder Elder Sharon recommended them both."
So, the protagonist is eager to shine, huh? Aric thought with amusement. He\'s already imagining his moment of glory.
Leaning back casually, Aric watched as Mevan threw an occasional, dismissive glance his way, as if to remind himself who would soon be bested. This display of confidence only fueled Aric\'s interest. The proud, unbending demeanor was typical of the so-called \'heaven-blessed\' individuals who waltzed into any situation, certain of their victory.
As he considered his strategy, one of the elders on the boat approached Aric with a measured look. "Adolf, correct?" the elder asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as if to assess Aric\'s character from his stance alone.
"Yes, Elder," Aric replied respectfully, inclining his head slightly. "Adolf Ning."
"We were all impressed by your performance during the trials. Very few manage to create such an impact."
"Thank you, Elder," Aric replied smoothly, offering a slight smile. "I only did what I could to demonstrate my skills. I believe that one\'s actions should speak louder than words."
The elder raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A wise perspective for someone so young," he said. "It appears we have quite the selection this time." The elder\'s gaze shifted to Mevan and Amber, who were watching the interaction closely. He then turned back to Aric, studying him a moment longer before nodding and stepping away.
As the elder left, Mevan took the opportunity to throw a glare in Aric\'s direction, his expression a mix of irritation and disdain. Turning slightly to Amber, he muttered under his breath, "He\'s putting on a show for the elders. No one\'s ever heard of this \'Adolf\' before, and yet he thinks he can waltz into the sect and take the spotlight."
Amber, however, didn\'t respond to her brother\'s remark. She simply watched Aric with a cold, discerning gaze, her expression as unreadable as ever.
Just then, Aric\'s system chimed in, interrupting his train of thought.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You gained +2000 Villain Halo and 20,000 Villain Points for angering the protagonist, Xu Mevan.]
Aric chuckled inwardly. "Finally, it looks like this protagonist is getting rattled," he thought with a smirk. "Let\'s see what you\'re really made of."
Curious about the source of Xu Mevan\'s arrogance, Aric decided it was time to uncover the full potential of both Mevan and his sister, Amber. He asked the system to reveal their status panels.
[Name - Xu Mevan]
[Age - 19]
[Cultivation Level - Half Immortal Realm (5th Stage)]
[Strength - 340]
[Agility - 260]
[Intelligence - 280]
[Charm - 220]
[Physique - Celestial Radiance Physique]
[Bloodline - Pureblooded Golden Phoenix Bloodline]
[Cultivation Techniques - Solar Ascension Arts, Phoenix Flame Manifestation, Radiant Fist of the Heavens]
[Skills - Phoenix Feather Strike, Sun\'s Embrace Shield, Celestial Domain Control]
[Protagonist Halo (Luck) - 500,000]
"500,000 Points!" Aric was surprised to see this.
"This is a goldmine. Ha ha ha", Aric thought while he started to look at the status of Xu Amber
[Name - Xu Amber]
[Age - 18]
[Cultivation Level - Half Immortal Realm (4th Stage)]
[Strength - 300]
[Agility - 280]
[Intelligence - 290]
[Charm - 250]
[Physique - Shadow Moon Physique]
[Bloodline - Starshadow Bloodline]
[Cultivation Techniques - Dark Light Seraphim Arts, Starshadow Illusion Dance, Anarchy of Lunar Empress]
[Skills - Lunar Shield of Aegis, Shadowfall Mirage, Night Blossom Enchantment]
[Protagonist Halo (Luck) - 480,000]
Aric looked at the stats, nodding thoughtfully. "Impressive… yet another reason to keep an eye on these two."
As the boat approached the Holy Sect\'s location, Aric was surprised to find that the entire sect was concealed within a massive barrier, blending into the landscape and nearly invisible to the naked eye. It was an impressive show of protection and secrecy, befitting one of the most powerful sects in the upper world.
Unlike the lower realms, this barrier was potent enough to deter even half-immortals from casually wandering in. Aric\'s brow arched in surprise, mildly impressed by the sheer power embedded in the air. He knew that power like this came from a careful combination of ancient formations and potent spiritual energy.
"So this is the Holy Sect," he thought, absorbing the sheer scale and grandeur of the place.
When the boat touched down, the initiates were led directly to the talent testing grounds, a vast open area where a large, radiant stone—the Talent Stone—stood gleaming on a platform. Elders and disciples crowded the area, waiting to see who among the new recruits would emerge as a prodigy or genius.
Aric\'s gaze flickered over to Xu Mevan and Xu Amber. He had a strong suspicion that these two would draw attention, so he smirked and quietly asked his system for assistance.
"System, show me some talismans that can hide or suppress someone\'s talent."
A list of talismans promptly appeared in his mind:
Shroud Talisman – Conceals talent entirely for an hour. Useful for moments requiring stealth but not ideal for reducing perceived talent.
Cost: 8,000 Villain Points
Spectral Dimming Charm – Suppresses visible talent by 50%, making it appear only half as strong. Perfect for subtly diminishing talent without outright hiding it. Effects last for one hour. Cost: 10,000 Villain Points
Phantom Shade Seal – Conceals talent but only for thirty minutes and has a 50% chance of wearing off if the user is under stress. Not very beneficial against protaonists
Cost: 7,500 Villain Points
Talent Dampening Amulet – Reduces visible talent by 30% for a prolonged period. Good for sustained concealment, but might be less convincing for short tests. Cost: 12,000 Villain Points
Aric carefully examined each option. The Spectral Dimming Charm caught his attention.
"This one\'s perfect," he thought with a devious smile. "Just enough to curb their talent and make them look less impressive without alerting anyone to tampering."
He selected two Spectral Dimming Charms and confirmed the purchase.
[Ding! 20,000 Villain Points deducted.]
The charms materialized in his hands, faintly glowing with runic symbols. With a flick of his fingers, he covertly placed the talismans onto Xu Mevan and Xu Amber as they stood unaware, preparing for their turn with the Talent Stone.
"Nice," Aric thought, smirking. "Let\'s see how they measure up now."
The ceremony finally began, with the crowd\'s anticipation palpable in the air. The Talent Stone had five possible readings based on color:
White for ordinary talent.
Blue for above average.
Green for high.
Purple for exceptional.
Golden for genius.
The initiates lined up in order. The first person to step up was Sera, a girl with a determined look. She approached the Talent Stone, placing her hand on its smooth surface. The stone glowed a rich green, signaling high talent.
One of the elders, Elder Ming, nodded approvingly. "High talent. You will start as an outer disciple."
Sera smiled in gratitude, bowing to the elders before stepping back to join the crowd of new outer disciples.
Next came her brother, Jiro, who approached with a confident stride. When he touched the Talent Stone, it glowed a steady blue.
"Above average talent," Elder Ming announced. "You will also be an outer disciple."
Aric observed, a hint of amusement in his eyes. These ranks would keep most people content, but he was aiming for much higher.
One by one, the initiates approached the stone. A young man named Harrison Vu placed his hand on the stone, and it lit up with a dull white glow.
Harrison\'s face fell. "Just white?"
The elder\'s voice was calm but firm. "Yes. As a white-talent individual, you may either join the sect as a handyman disciple or leave."
Harrison clenched his fists but forced himself to bow respectfully. "I will accept the position of handyman disciple."
The elders nodded, dismissing him with a slight gesture.
A few more participants tested blue, and only two managed to get green. Finally, it was Yu Luxi\'s turn. She stepped forward confidently, her expression calm. As her hand touched the stone, it flared with a vivid purple light.
The elders murmured in appreciation. Elder Leishou announced with a smile, "Exceptional talent. You will join as an inner disciple."
Yu Luxi\'s eyes sparkled as she nodded gratefully.