Aptitude test

"Zhong Xi, I am ready. Let's go to the Rogue ghost enforcement base." Wang Ming said.

Zhong Xi gave a nod and prepared three joss sticks for himself and three for Wang Ming.

Lighting up the joss sticks with a lighter, and stabbing it right at the centre of the altar, Zhong Xi said, "Repeat after me. Wielder of immense strength, skin as tough as bronze, deva Tong Pi."

Zhong Xi had his hands held together in a praying posture as he sat down in a meditating position. Wang Ming saw what Zhong Xi did and copied to the best of his abilities.

As the smoke emanating from the joss stick fills the room, Wang Ming's head starts to spin and before he knew it, he found himself in a bright meeting room. Beside him was Zhong Xi who was patiently waiting.

"Welcome to the Rogue ghost enforcement group." Zhong Xi said with both his hands pointing towards the surroundings, resembling a guide .

Looking in the direction where Zhong Xi was pointing, Wang Ming saw a person sitting at the end of the long table. The person had bronze coloured skin and a charismatic smile.

Feeling slightly nervous, Wang Ming returned a smile before walking with Zhong Xi towards Tong Pi.

"Welcome to my virtual domain, what do you think of it?" Tong Pi asked.

"Wow this is amazing, does cultivation allow you to make a world separate from this world? Wang Ming asked Tong Pi with eyes filled with expectations.

Faced with Wang Ming's shining eyes, Tong Pi felt slightly guilty to shatter his fantasies. "Ahem, I'm afraid that that is not possible… This world is made by my mental energy and is similar to a peer to peer network where your mental energy resonates with mine so information can be transferred between each other. Using tools like the altar, it helps guide you into the same frequency as my mental energy."

"Alright, enough questions, let's continue with your orientation. Next up, your aptitude test. Let me touch your head."

Wang Ming slightly bent over to let Tong Pi touch his head. Tong Pi then enveloped Wang Ming's head with his spiritual energy to feel his pulse.

Blood colour bright red, signifying high oxygen content, healthy lungs and bone marrow. Consistent heartbeat that is neither too weak nor strong, good heart. Bone age eighteen, although late to start cultivation, still acceptable.

Thoughts were being processed as fast as lightning in Tong Pi's head as he calculated Wang Ming's aptitude in cultivation.

"Your physical body is astoundingly good, however you are too old. Not your body, eighteen is still acceptable. However, your soul is already a hundred and fifty years old. Best case scenario, you will just reach the earthly deity stage and die a peaceful death. Well, on the off chance you will get an ancient relic or a cultivation bless land, what I said just now can be considered a fart in the wind. The world of cultivation is a world of endless opportunities, so don't worry."

"Good, now that we are done with your aptitude test, next up is your cultivation technique."

Tong Pi took out a piece of list and said, "Cultivation is mainly to enhance your body and soul, so although there are many cultivation manuales with different names, their contents are relatively the same. If you ever get into a fight, your mastery in your weapon and spiritual energy manipulation arts is the most important. For example, I am in the enlightened celestial realm, I specialise in body tempering techniques, fist arts and use metal elements to further enhance my hardness."

Finishing his sentence, Tong Pi raised his arm and bronze coloured turned shiny, it gleamed a polished metallic bronze. Then, he took out a sword and slashed his arm. The sword made a clang sound of metal striking metal.

Tong Pi also took out a piece of paper and slashed it horizontally with a saber palm. "Metal attribute also enhances the sharpness of whatever I Input my spiritual energy with."

Shifting the attention back to the list, Tong Pi added, "Nothing wrong with selecting something unsuitable now. You can just learn something else in the future. Our lives are rather long and exciting things rarely happen."

Taking note of Tong Pi's advice, Wang Ming nodded his head and looked for the ones that caught his interest.

"Oh, sword arts. I'm most interested in that."

Taking in the full view of Wang Ming's expressions and the newbie aura, Tong Pi could not help but let out a dry laugh. He felt like a senior helping out his cute junior that was excited at his cultivation journey.

Imparting the contents of Spirit nurturing manual and basic sword arts to Wang Ming via telepathy, Wang Ming bowed respectfully towards the Tong Pi and thanked him.

Wang Ming turned around and saw Zhong Xi behind him smiling slightly as he gestured for him.

Walking towards Zhong Xi, he said "Okay, let's go back now. Just imagine yourself leaving this place and returning to your body."

Following Zhong Xi's instructions, Wang Ming closed his eyes and thought of his body. Opening his eyes again, he was back in his own body.

Surrounding his body was the smoke from the incense that was slowly dissipating. Turning towards the altar, the joss sticks had already finished burning.

Then, Zhong Xi sent a file containing his cultivation techniques. Happily receiving them, Wang Ming asked a question out of curiosity, "Zhong Xi, what cultivation technique do you practice and what realm are you?"

"…" Zhong Xi's lip twitched a little before he answered, "I practice mainly mental cultivation techniques and mainly around mental state manipulation. For my physical body, because I have a body of a machine, I am already very strong and can beat most earthly deity realm cultivators in a fair physical body fight."

Getting slightly annoyed at Wang Ming's constant questions, Zhong Xi passed some cash to Wang Ming, "Although I don't mind you staying here, this place is small and the Feng Shui is not good. So sooner or later you need to find your own place to live. Vice-chairman Yun Ni should help you with it. While you're at it, grab some lunch for us. I have some admin work to do. The coffee shop is across the street, it's very easy to spot. Thanks, I owe you one!"

Nodding his head, Wang Ming walked out of the apartment and closed the door.

Walking on the streets, Wang Ming started to zone out. Then, he had an epiphany. Zhong Xi's attitude towards him got a little unfriendly towards him because he was a cripple, and when he asked what cultivation technique Zhong Xi cultivated, he struck somewhere sensitive. Although he says that he can kick an earthly diety's ass, he will forever remain at that level since he cannot cultivate.

Deep in thought, Wang Ming did not notice a man purposely bump into him. As his mind was already occupied with his cultivation fantasies, he paid no heed to it and planned to continue walking. However, that changed when he felt a hand enter his pocket and then retract immediately.

Alarmed, Wang Ming turned around but the man had already disappeared.