The Test

They didn't have much more to say after the last exchange. The menial topics of conversation were covered, such as the state of affairs in the kingdom, rumours of an uprising in the northern desert, and the dwindling levels of fate in the younger generations. Overall, typical topics often heard in the streets.

Ichabod never once dropped Jack and held him in his arms for the entire way.

The group walked passed the great hall of the Church and entered one of the side chambers where a large number of church aides had been preparing the necessary instruments for Jack's test.

The chamber where the test would be conducted was at the base of the tallest tower in the church and narrower than the waiting room, but far taller. In fact, the ceiling could scarcely be seen and the only light in the chamber was coming from it; filtered by a massive blue crystal-like object incrusted into the tower's far side. Surrounding this object were a large number of golden runic inscriptions which followed a helix-like pattern to the base of the tower.

At the base, where all the golden inscriptions converged, was a circular platform that had twelve totems placed at regular intervals in its circumference. The platform itself was made of a strange material that pulsated with energy.

While Ichabod and his group observed all of this with a tinge of awe in their expressions, Jack was able to tell at a single glance what was happening.

The crystal-like object at the ceiling was a receiver of sorts which attracted the qi of the surroundings towards it. The golden engravings were a simple array which conducted the qi from the crystal towards the platform; the platform had a storing array laid out beneath it in order for the material to store the energy. In addition, there was a third array engraved in the circumference of the platform which allowed the qi contained to slowly seep onto the platform according to the wishes of the array's controller.

However, the symbols and materials used for this formation were simply far too wasteful! Jack could already see at least three dozen errors only on the platform's inscriptions which made that at least half the energy supplied to it was used up needlessly. He had no doubt that there were many, many more unseen mistakes. During his time at the Abyss library, he had become a veritable expert at arrays and the one in front of him didn't even enter his eyes.

"Behold!" Exclaimed Brant with pride. "This is the result of the Church's arduous investigations for a great many decades. This is the array formation used to test the martial talent of youngsters. We managed to artificially manufacture a qi stone which collects the qi of the surroundings and then directs to the platform you see directly before you. The platform is made, mainly, of a secret composition of siderite and another material which is simply marvellous at containing energy.

"The testee, in this case young Jack Hare, will sit in the centre of the platform and then we will begin releasing the twelve seals of qi one by one. According to how much qi he can absorb naturally, we will be able to accurate gauge his martial talent." Brant continued with his explanation whilst waving his arms enthusiastically. "Depending on the number of seals we release, we will be able to classify young Jack Hare's talent into one of twelve levels. If he scores on the lowest end, he'll only amount to the martial realm in this lifetime. If, on the other hand, he manages to get us to release the twelfth seal, he will be guaranteed to enter the Sky Realm, and maybe even enter the legendary Heaven Realm."

To his words, Adras' and Ichabod's breathing became heavy with excitement. After all, as parents, they dreamed of their son reaching heights they couldn't even imagine. And in this war-torn world, the strength of one's fist was equivalent to one's status.

Martial levels were divided into first the Martial Realm, which mainly amounted to preparing the body for martial cultivation. Once one broke through the nine levels in the Martial Realm could they truly be said to have become martial practitioners as they entered the Foundation Realm of martial arts. Then came the Nascent Realm, followed by the Established realm. After the Established realm came the Earth realm, the Budding realm, and the Sky realm. Beyond the Sky realm were the legendary martial artists of the Heaven realm.

These were the levels of cultivation according to the Alacian empire and its inhabitants.

However, Jack knew that there were many levels beyond that. He, himself, had possessed an amazing cultivation level before his downfall in the Abyss. Had he ascended to this world with that level, he would be heralded as a true Divine.

In addition, Jack knew so many secrets of cultivation that he understood that the Church's method to test martial talent was inherently flawed. Although the capacity to naturally absorb qi played an important role in how far one could go down the path of cultivation, it was a minor one at best.

Firstly, there's the aspect of qi integration. During cultivation, much of the qi absorbed by the body would be lost when practicing. Those that were able to integrate most of the qi they absorbed would be the ones to advance the fastest. There's also the issue of what cultivation method one practiced which would greatly enhance both the qi absorbed and integrated in the body.

Supreme methods tended to be much slower in their initial stages due to the fact that they focused on gearing up a solid base upon which to build the practitioner's cultivation. These methods required astonishing amounts of qi to be integrated correctly.

Then there's also one's ability to comprehend martial techniques and cultivation methods. Without a decent level of comprehension, one would never be able to break through higher levels of cultivation no matter how much qi they were able to absorb naturally.

As such, Jack couldn't help but look down upon this method of testing. It was both wasteful in resources, and pointless towards its finality. He couldn't help but feel a bit bad for all the people wrongfully termed as bad talents with such a poor testing method.

"Now then, good mister Ichabod," Said Brant. "if you would please place the young Jack on the centre of the platform, we shall begin the testing."

"Certainly."

Ichabod walked up and gently placed Jack as per Brant's indications. Then, he left the platform and moved back to where the rest of the group were waiting; behind a safety line drawn by the Church where family members could watch the entire process.

At the wave of Brant's hand, the several aides rushed to their positions and began chanting the incantations required to activate the array. After but a few instants, the runes surrounding the artificial qi stone lit up one by one, all the way until the light reached the stone platform.

Immediately, Jack felt the qi surrounding him increase in richness. This was an amazing, and somewhat unexpected, opportunity for him! He directed the qi to enter the dragon-shaped ring on his finger to be filtered. However, because of his currently crippled meridians, the qi in the ring would be stored until he could absorb it later on that night and use it to advance in the tempering of his meridians. After all, there was a limited amount he could absorb by himself; and now the Church of Divines was gifting him with all this pure qi.

Although the array was wasteful, it seemed Brant hadn't been entirely honest about the true nature of the crystal up on the ceiling as Jack could immediately tell, by the quality of the qi being sent to him, that the crystal also had the effect of amplification.

How could he not take such rich qi for himself? It would be an insult to the Church's unintended good faith if he let this opportunity pass him by! If he managed to store enough qi, he might even be able to fully reconstruct his meridians in one sitting!

Without standing on ceremony, Jack absorbed the qi into his ring wantonly, not letting any bit of it go to waste.

"Sir!" Exclaimed one of the aides. "The array is ready to release the second seal!"

"The second seal already!" Squealed Adras as she was embraced by Ichabod.

"The second seal…?" On the other hand, Brant had a look of suspicion on his face. He had witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of tests being conducted and they all shared one thing in common: the qi would enter the child's body in a perceivable manner. However, there was no such sign on Jack, which was extremely puzzling. Still, he gave the order to lift the next seal.

Jack was aware of what was happening outside the platform and he couldn't help but secretly thank Brant because the energy increased in quality and quantity as soon as the second seal was lifted. His voracious appetite for qi was far away from being satisfied as he had long come to realise that the quality of qi in this world was far inferior to what he was used to, and the lifting of the second seal on the platform was the equivalent of gifting him a glass of cool water after journeying for months across the desert.

Before half a quarter of an hour had passed, the aides lifted the third seal. Then the fourth, and the fifth. Eventually, they lifted up to the tenth seal. Ichabod, Adras, Jadelere, and the rest couldn't contain their excitement; the tenth seal meant excellent level of talent. Even the Church's aides were looking at Jack with unconcealed reverence. Brant, however, held a dark expression.

"Stop the test!"