Chapter 23: The Radiance of Spring, Blessings Upon All Beings

After lunch, the aptitude test began.

By this time, the rain had stopped.

Water droplets fell intermittently from the eaves, forming small puddles on the uneven ground, reflecting the grey sky.

The courtyard was filled with the refreshing scent of earth.

As the aptitude test was about to begin, Gu Xu remained calm.

Because he knew that his cultivation talent was strong—after all, it was exchanged with his lifespan.

As for the exact extent of his talent compared to other geniuses in the Great Qi Dynasty, he had no idea.

But he would soon find out.

Chu Fengge's two attendants, panting, brought in a heavy black stone and placed it in the center of the courtyard.

The stone was half the height of a person and looked smooth and round.

"This is the Heavenly-Origin Stone," Shi Xiaohan stood by Gu Xu's side and introduced, "It is a special treasure refined by the exorcists of the Exorcism Department using profound jade. It possesses the power to deduce celestial secrets. When you place your hand on this stone and infuse it with True Qi it will produce phenomena."

"What kind of phenomena? Third stage of Qi cultivation?" Gu Xu silently mocked.

"The phenomena produced by the Heavenly-Origin Stone have different grades," Shi Xiaohan paused for a moment and continued, "ranging from the lowest ninth grade to the highest first grade. The higher a cultivator's potential, the higher the grade of the phenomena it produces. There are phenomena related to the sun, moon, stars, rivers, lakes, flowers, plants, birds, beasts, insects, and fish, among others."

"Xiaohan, have you ever used the Heavenly-Origin Stone to test your aptitude?" Gu Xu asked curiously.

With her hands folded in front of her, Shi Xiaohan looked slightly proud and said, "Of course I have. I once obtained a fourth-grade phenomenon called 'Solitary Wigeon Descending at Dusk.' Relatives and friends said I was an unprecedented genius in the entire family and that I would surely achieve great things in the future."

"Being a second-stage cultivator at the age of seventeen, how could you not be a genius?" Gu Xu said the words she loved to hear, "It seems that the Heavenly-Origin Stone has good judgment."

"Your result will definitely not be worse than mine," Shi Xiaohan also began the customary mutual praise, "Maybe you'll even get a rare third-grade phenomenon."

"Have you heard of Su Xiao from Sword Pavilion? It was because he got a third-grade vision 'Frost of Ten Thousand Swords' that he is now regarded as an ancestor in the entire Sword Pavilion.

"And this Chu official from the capital city also got a third-grade vision 'Ten Mile Spring Breeze', which won the favor of Luo, the head of the Exorcism Bureau….

It seemed that Chu Fengge had the capital for self-admiration.

Gu Xu silently thought to himself.

...

At this moment, the courtyard was crowded with spectators.

Today's assessment was undoubtedly a major event in Yishui County.

The exorcists of the Exorcism Department and even the mortal Bureau workers temporarily put aside their work and gathered to watch.

"What do you think, who is more powerful, Brother Gu or this middle-aged man from Qingzhou Prefecture?" someone asked.

"Brother Gu is the best," Wang Yang shouted first, "No objections."

"Gu Xu, bring glory to Yishui!" someone climbed onto the window ledge and shouted loudly at Gu Xu, "I don't want an outsider to be my immediate superior!"

Gu Xu smiled and said nothing.

After a while, the officials from the capital knocked on the wooden walls to signal the crowd to be quiet and officially announced the start of the aptitude test.

"Brother Gu, is it my turn now?" Ma Qin asked Gu Xu in a low voice.

To die sooner is to be reborn sooner. This was Ma Qin's innermost thought at the moment.

As long as he ran fast enough after the test, he wouldn't be affected by Gu Xu's abnormality.

"No problem," Gu Xu readily agreed.

Ma Qin took a deep breath, walked forward in big strides, and placed his hand on the "Heavenly-Origin Stone," infusing it with True Qi.

Then he closed his eyes and repeatedly murmured, "Supreme Jade Emperor, Purple Microcosm Emperor, please bless me..."

Because he was too nervous, he didn't dare to open his eyes and see the result.

A few seconds later, the silent "Heavenly-Origin Stone" finally changed.

On the pitch-black surface of the stone, scattered milky-white light suddenly appeared, translucent and inconspicuous, like hundreds of dancing fireflies on a summer night.

"A seventh-grade phenomenon, 'Starry Fireflies,'" announced the capital officials in a cold tone.

This result was not beyond Ma Qin's expectations.

Because he knew he was just an ordinary person, not one of those extraordinary geniuses with astounding talent.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been a mediocre second-stage cultivator after nearly twenty years of cultivation.

With a sigh, he turned and walked into the crowd.

The murmurs of the onlookers echoed in his ears:

"This person from Qingzhou Prefecture is nothing special..."

"I think I could have done it too..."

...

In the Great Qi Dynasty, the ninth grade was the lowest level of talent and had little value for cultivation.

The seventh and eighth grades were considered average.

The fifth and sixth grades were above average. With diligent cultivation, there might be a chance to become a talented minister or capable general.

The third and fourth grades were relatively rare and often treated as core heirs by major sects and influential families, receiving special attention and resources.

The second grade could be said to be a once-in-a-hundred-year genius. As long as they didn't die prematurely, they could become the top experts in the Great Qi Dynasty.

As for the first grade, it only existed in legends.

"It's your turn, Gu Xu."

After Ma Qin left the courtyard, Shi Xiaohan tugged at Gu Xu's sleeve and whispered.

Gu Xu nodded and walked up in front of everyone's gaze.

Then he extended his hand to touch the dark "Heavenly-Origin Stone."

Slippery, cool, devoid of warmth.

"I wonder if the talent I've exchanged for my lifespan is worth the price," he pondered, all the while pouring his True Qi into the stone.

The temperature on the surface of the Heavenly-Origin Stone began to rise sharply.

Shi Xiaohan watched him unwaveringly, her breath unconsciously held.

Wang Yang, standing on his toes amidst the crowd, jumped up now and then to catch a clearer glimpse.

Chen Jisheng, on the other hand, stood on the steps with his hands behind his back. Every one of Gu Xu's movements reflected in his pupils, but his face remained impassive as always.

Today was an overcast, rainy day.

The sky was dull and grey, and so was the yard.

The entire world seemed like a monochrome ink painting.

However, the moment Gu Xu touched the "Heavenly-Origin Stone" this black and white painting was instantly infused with vibrant, vivid colors.

Decayed branches sprouted new greens, standing water on the ground emitted dazzling light, and even the sparrows perched on the eaves seemed to have donned clean, beautiful feathers, chirping joyfully.

The warmth of spring spreads benevolence, casting a radiant glow on all things living^1.

People squinted unconsciously, almost thinking that the stern autumn and winter seasons had long passed, and the most brilliant spring had arrived.

The handsome youth in the green shirt stood calmly at the most dazzling spot.

Surrounded, embraced, and guarded by the golden sunlight, he appeared like a deity of light.

Seeing this scene, Wang Yang stood there, his eyes wide and mouth agape. He wanted to pen a poem to express his excitement, but due to his lack of literary talent, what slipped out instead was, "Brother Gu is damn handsome."

On the other side, Shi Xiaohan stood with her hands on her hips, looking around at the crowd, stunned into silence. A small triumphant smile danced on her lips, and she thought, 'Heh, I've always known Gu Xu was incredible.'

However, a complex smile appeared on Chen Jisheng's face, his eyes filled with both satisfaction and regret.

...

Footnotes:

"The warmth of spring spreads benevolence, casting a radiant glow on all things living."—Han Yuefu "The Song of Changge."