Yin City Academy: The Third Test

Along with the four other cultivators who passed the second test, I was led into a pavilion situated upon a lotus pond. Four academy elders stood around a large soul stone inside the pavilion.

"Congratulations on passing the second test. I am elder Wu Ying of the Vanishing Peak. Accompanying me are elders Yan Lun of the Flaming Peak, Bing Feng of the Frosty Peak and Lei Zhen of the Lightning Peak.

"The third test is a test of potential. As you all know, elementary cultivators first train their physical bodies in the Body Strengthening Stage. Then, in order to breakthrough to the Qi Refining Stage, cultivators with an adequately strong physical body must be able to gather and purify Qi from the heaven and earth into one's dantian. You can therefore view the dantian as a vessel which holds pure Qi. The potential of a cultivator is associated with the quality of the cultivator's dantian. By placing your hand on this soul stone here, it will be able to measure the quality of your dantian. Based on the measurement, you will either be chosen by one of the academy elders as a disciple or you will be disqualified.

"Zhang Jian, you will start first."

Zhang Jian placed his hand on the soul stone. It emitted a brilliant bluish purple light, then a small circle of thunderclouds formed a ring around the stone. The thunderclouds periodically sent out electric shocks that bounced off as sparks from the surface of the soul stone. After a few sparks, the lightning from the thunderclouds was able to penetrate the surface of the soul stone, reaching straight into the source of the bluish purple light.

"Amazing. This is the divine-grade lightning vessel, Lightning Rod. Cultivators with lightning vessels as their dantian have an affinity with the lightning element and will be able to master the Law of Lightning to high levels. However, the lightning element is extremely destructive and most lightning vessels are unable to properly contain and subsequently optimise its use. The divine-grade lightning vessel, Lightning Rod, not only avoids the problem of containment by essentially becoming one with the lightning element, it also actively attracts lightning and can become stronger on its own. Zhang Jian, you are qualified to be a disciple of the Lightning Peak," elder Lei Zhen said.

"Thank you, elder Lei Zhen."

"Nice work, Zhang Jian." I patted his shoulder.

Huo Yun went next. A huge ball of fire that rivalled the radiance of the sun appeared within the soul stone. A few spots on the fireball flared intensely as it ejected small flames out of the soul stone. The surrounding air seemed to have risen by a few degrees in temperature.

"As expected from the Huo Clan Leader's son. This is the divine-grade fire vessel, Solar Flare, which only the Huo Clan Leader has. A signature characteristic of the divine-grade fire vessel, Solar Flare, is that it allows the cultivator to use short bursts of immense power much higher than the cultivator's current level. Huo Yun has great potential to become the next Divine Ruler over the Law of Fire. I will choose Huo Yun as a disciple of the Flaming Peak," elder Yan Lun said.

"Congratulations, cousin Huo Yun," Huo Yao said.

Huo Yun ignored the compliment and held his nose high.

~I guess cultivators from the Huo Clan are snobbish even to their own clan members huh?

~Master, Huo Yun is the direct son of the Huo Clan Leader, while Huo Yao is the son of the Clan Leader's brother. The Huo Clan Leader and his brother are in bitter rivalry with each other in the Huo Clan. So, even though Huo Yun and Huo Yao are cousins, they are not exactly on good terms.

Cultivators from the Huo Clan all had an affinity with the fire element, so it came as no surprise that when Huo Yao placed his hand on the soul stone, a large volcano appeared within it and erupted molten larva. A strong ashen smell escaped from the soul stone.

"Top-grade fire vessel, Volcanic Magma. Although it cannot be compared with the divine-grade fire vessel, Solar Flare, it still nevertheless has good potential. I will decide whether to choose Huo Yao as a disciple of the Flaming Peak after everyone has completed the third test," elder Yan Lun said.

It came to Bai Lang's turn.

~Master, he's the younger brother of Bai Ru Gong, the Snowy Princess of the Bai Clan.

~That explains the haughty look.

A tremendous blizzard formed within the soul stone, then it began to freeze from the bottom up, releasing a frosty chill to the surroundings.

"This is the divine-grade ice vessel, Permafrost. What a rare sight! A cultivator with the divine-grade ice vessel, Permafrost, can create ice that won't melt for eternity. I will choose Bai Lang as a disciple of the Frosty Peak," elder Bing Feng said.

"Lastly, Jiang Hao La. Place your hand on the soul stone," elder Wu Ying said.

~DeusOS, raise my talent using Plot Armour.

~Yes, Master.

「Activating Plot Armour: Heaven's Favour」

「Consuming 10 percentage point of Suspension of Disbelief as payment」

「Current level of Suspension of Disbelief: 90%」

After placing my hand on the soul stone, a black spiral formed within the stone, then as if it was capable of sucking everything in, slowly absorbed the interior of the soul stone. When I let go, the soul stone had decreased by half in volume.

"T-This is….the legendary ungraded chaos vessel, Chaos Form, capable of containing all the Laws of Nature and beyond. The last Ruler of the Universe was rumoured to have the chaos vessel. Jiang Hao La, your potential is limitless. Though I specialise in teaching disciples with dark vessels that have an affinity with the dark element, I warmly welcome you to become a disciple of the Vanishing Peak," elder Wu Ying said.

"Elder Wu Ying, that's being a little unfair, don't you think? The chaos vessel has an affinity with any element. I don't see why Jiang Hao La has to become a disciple of your Vanishing Peak. Our Lightning Peak ranks first in the Annual Peak Tournament. Jiang Hao La, I invite you to become a disciple of the Lightning Peak," elder Lei Zhen said.

"Now, now. The Law of Fire rivals the Law of Lightning in destructive power. Moreover, the Flaming Peak has numerous invaluable cultivation resources donated by the alumni from the Huo Clan. Jiang Hao La, I invite you to join the Flaming Peak," elder Yan Lun said.

"All the elders seem to be a little impatient in recruiting Jiang Hao La. Why don't we listen to what he has to say and respect his decision?" elder Bing Feng said.

~What do you think, master?

~Hm…Maybe we've overdone it. I didn't know that after increasing my potential, I would have an affinity with any element and be able to learn any Law of Nature. Let's rule out the Flaming Peak first as they have deep connections with the Huo Clan. You see, Huo Yun is getting green-eyed. The Lightning Peak looks like a good choice as Zhang Jian will be my trusted companion there. However, elder Lei Zhen appears to be too forceful in recruiting me as a disciple. I don't like his attitude.

~That leaves the Vanishing Peak and the Frosty Peak. Cultivators learning the Law of Darkness specialises in assassination while cultivators learning the Law of Ice specialises in hostile immobilisation.

~I've made up my mind.

"Elder Wu Ying, I'll gladly take up your offer to join the Vanishing Peak as a disciple." Upon my response, elder Wu Ying gave a grateful smile while elders Lei Zhen and Yan Lun let out frustrated curses.

"That wraps up the third test. With the exception of Huo Yao, all the others have passed. Welcome to the Yin City Academy."