Chapter 20: Talent Testing Pillar
"You may proceed."
The Sect Master of Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect looked at Su Zhan and nodded.
"Su Zhan, this is the Talent Testing Pillar. It is engraved with special formations and is specifically used by our Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect to test talented individuals whom we consider important."
With the Sect Master's permission, Chen Changfeng pointed to the pillar in the center of the hall, which stood within a pool of water.
"Later, all you need to do is place your hand on the pillar and circulate your True qi. The Talent Testing Pillar will automatically sense your aptitude, martial talent, and even your comprehension of martial arts techniques!"
"Even comprehension can be tested?" Su Zhan looked surprised as he glanced at the pillar.
When he first entered the hall, he had noticed this grayish-white pillar, about five or six meters tall, assuming it was a unique design of the Splendor Hall. He didn't expect it to be the key to the testing process.
"Of course, otherwise, what do you think our Splendor Hall in Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect is for?" A chubby elder, noticing Su Zhan's astonished expression, responded proudly.
"That is Elder Liu, the internal affairs elder. We have a total of twenty-seven Elders at the Martial Master Realm in Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect. The six influential Elders you see here today are the ones with real power within the sect," Chen Changfeng explained, looking at the chubby elder. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to provide a brief introduction.
Since Su Zhan was going to become a disciple of Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, he would inevitably interact with these influential Elders in the future. Introducing them now would be beneficial.
Chen Changfeng's gaze fell on a tall and thin elder and said, "This one is Elder Miao from the Punishment Hall."
Elder Miao smiled and said, "Junior Brother Chen, no need for introductions. If this young man isn't as talented as you claim, I don't think any of us senior brothers would be interested in paying too much attention. In that case, the introductions would be in vain."
"Elder Miao makes a good point. For now, this young man's talent is not worth Junior Brother Chen's elaborate introduction."
"If his talent is only ordinary, what qualifications does he have as a Essence Condensation Realm junior to gather us here and wait for him?"
"I still don't believe it. A divine physique, yet his root bone talent is not exceptional? How could he achieve a divine body then?"
…
"Enough, enough! Stop the nonsense. Su Zhan, come forward and take the test!" Chen Changfeng grew annoyed with their nagging and said to Su Zhan.
"Alright." Su Zhan nodded and approached the edge of the pool, stepping onto a small stone bridge that led to the pillar.
"Is this Talent Testing Pillar really that mysterious?" Curiosity filled Su Zhan's mind as he placed his hand on it and tried to circulate his True qi.
Suddenly, a glow appeared at the base of the grayish-white pillar, surging upwards and stopping at the middle section, about three meters high.
Elder Miao chuckled, "As expected, this young man's talent can be considered above average in Xia Country, but in our Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, it is only upper-mid level."
"A three-meter glow of talent… If I remember correctly, even the lowest-ranked True disciple in the sect had a talent level of at least three and a half meters. He can't even reach the talent level of an ordinary True disciple!"
"Throughout the years, the top-ranked True disciples of our Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect have all shone brightly on the Talent Testing Pillar. He falls far short!"
"Ah! It is said that those with extremely strong talent would exhibit extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth after the glow fills the Talent Testing Pillar. However, I have never witnessed it myself. I thought Junior Brother Chen had brought us an unrivaled genius this time, to open our eyes. But now… Huh? Talent is still increasing???"
Before that elder could finish speaking, he saw the glow on the Talent Testing Pillar pause for a few seconds and then continue to rise!
Suddenly, everyone was a bit bewildered.
Not only him, but the other elders, including Chen Changfeng and the Sect Master of Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, were also stunned for a moment.
Talent testing usually reveals everything in one go, but this kind of testing…
Seeing the glow on the Talent Testing Pillar rising again, it was truly the first time they had witnessed such a phenomenon!
Could it be that he was about to trigger his Divine Body?
Although it was still hard to believe that Su Zhan's talent with his bone constitution could be a Divine Body, the elders could only speculate in that direction when they saw the rise in the talent glow.
At this moment, Su Zhan remained calm.
What the elders said was true. His martial talent was extremely poor on its own, and even after undergoing the transformation of the Divine Body, it only reached an upper-mid level. After all, the Divine Body was still in its early awakening stage, and it would continue to bring changes to his body as his cultivation progressed.
However, what those people didn't know was that besides the Divine Body, he also had the Halo Panel!
Just now, because he wanted to test his own martial talent, Su Zhan had deactivated all the Halos, but now he could activate them.
Protagonist's Cultivation Halo, activate!
The glow on the Talent Testing Pillar soared, with less than half a meter left to reach the top.
"It's just a little bit away from being perfect on the Talent Testing Pillar… His true talent should be enough to rank within the top ten in Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect!"
"Wait… It, it's rising again!" That elder began to stutter as he pointed at the Talent Testing Pillar, his face filled with disbelief.
On top of the Talent Testing Pillar, the glow spread, and then this glow continued to thicken, becoming solid-like.
"This level of talent… has already surpassed our current top talent in the sect, right?"
"This individual's talent is indeed top-notch, but unfortunately, it's not a Divine Body!"
"Attaining a Divine Body would trigger widespread celestial phenomena. Although it won't be as exaggerated as that, there would still be some special phenomena. It seems that Senior Chen made a mistake!"
"Not a Divine Body, but this kind of talent is enough for Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect to put forth its full effort in nurturing!"
…
The elders' eyes brightened, and they excitedly exchanged words.
As the influential elders of Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, they naturally felt joy when the sect produced a genius.
The sect master, Qin Jincheng, witnessed this scene and even a faint smile appeared on his stern face.
At this point, Chen Changfeng was already bewildered.
Before coming to Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, he had already witnessed Su Zhan's Divine Body and personally confirmed it.
However, now Su Zhan hadn't even triggered the Divine Body, but his talent had reached such a terrifying level. What would it be like if the Divine Body were to be triggered?
Did he greatly underestimate Su Zhan???
"Is this the talent level when the Cultivation and Comprehension Halos are fully activated?" Gazing at the Talent Testing Pillar, Su Zhan murmured to himself.
It was said that when talent reached its peak, it would manifest celestial phenomena. He wondered what kind of celestial phenomena his own would be?
With this thought in mind, Su Zhan hesitated no longer and directly triggered his state of Divine Body.
Golden light flickered on his body, condensing into a large silhouette of the sun, hovering behind him and emanating a domineering aura of the mighty sun.
"Buzz!" In the instant the Divine Body was triggered, the pillar suddenly trembled violently!
Mysterious runes emerged and floated above the Talent Testing Pillar, with the entire pillar radiating a brilliant glow!
"Divine Body! It's really a Divine Body! Oh my God!"
"The Great Sun Divine Body! Among the rare Divine Bodies, it is also considered a powerful existence!"
"Five hundred years ago, there was a Divine Body prodigy who triggered the phenomenon of the rising sea and the shining moon during the Talent Testing Pillar examination. I'm curious to see what kind of celestial phenomena the Talent Testing Pillar will reveal to depict Su Zhan's talent level!"
In the Splendor Hall.
Several elders who had reached the Martial Master Realm, considered powerhouses in the entire Xia country, along with Sect Master Qin Jincheng, couldn't control their excitement. Their breathing became rapid, their eyes widened, and they stared intently at the Talent Testing Pillar.