Chapter 51 Senior Brother, I Was Wrong

As expected, Wang Yongnian subsequently passed the evaluation with moderate aptitude, while the royal descendants Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun both achieved superior aptitude.

All seven applicants from the Capital Prefecture successfully passed the evaluation.

In an instant, the pressure that had previously weighed heavily upon those children was completely cleared away.

Many of those who had previously lacked confidence no longer wore tense expressions on their faces.

"Incredible! The applicants from the Capital Prefecture this time possess astonishing aptitude!"

"Two of supreme tier, four of superior tier, and one of moderate tier—how did so many transcendent talents appear all at once?"

"There are also three others who seemed to be with them. I wonder what their results will be?"

At this moment, it was the turn of the three Hua sisters. Chen Yi and the others stopped congratulating one another and turned their gaze toward them.

Hua Youxiang, completely unfearful, stepped forward first.

"From Chuan Prefecture, Hua Youxiang, known in the martial world as 'Second Hua'."

"Moderate aptitude, endowed with swordsmanship talent. Evaluation passed."

This result made Hua Youxiang immensely happy, and she trotted gleefully over to Chen Yi and the others.

"Good Guy Brother, from now on we'll be fellow disciples, haha..."

"Congratulations."

Next was Hua Yurong, who was gently pushed out by Fairy Hua.

Before she had taken even two steps, her delicate face flushed with panic, and she stammered timidly,

"From Chuan Prefecture, Hua... Hua Yurong."

Her voice was barely audible.

Fortunately, Xiao Xuanzhen could hear it clearly and stated directly, "Superior aptitude, alchemy Qi like mist. Evaluation passed."

Yet, as if she hadn't heard such good news at all, Hua Yurong remained blankly standing in place with her head lowered.

Knowing her personality, Fairy Hua hurriedly stepped forward and apologized, "My younger sister has been shy since childhood. I hope you will forgive her."

Xiao Xuanzhen glanced at her, a smile appearing on her normally cold face for the very first time.

"It is no matter. As long as you are all together."

Following that, she announced that Fairy Hua had passed the evaluation.

"Supreme aptitude! Endowed with innate spiritual Qi, special bloodline, and alchemy Qi like clouds!"

Hiss!

The appearance of such an aptitude caused everyone present to stir with emotion.

Although two supreme-tier aptitudes had already appeared previously, there were still differences among the three main evaluation criteria.

The most Lin Xeru had attained was two criteria, while Chen Yi possessed only the swordsmanship criterion.

Yet Fairy Hua had fulfilled all three criteria completely.

Not only was she endowed with innate spiritual Qi and a special bloodline, but her alchemy talent even surpassed Hua Yurong's "alchemy Qi like mist" by an entire tier, reaching the evaluation of "alchemy Qi like clouds".

"With these monstrous talents around, even if we manage to enter the Aethereal Dao Sect, I'm afraid we can only remain unremarkable among the crowd."

"Indeed, it's too terrifying."

Even Chen Yi had not expected that the three sisters he chanced upon would all pass the evaluation.

Second Hua's moderate swordsmanship talent, alongside Hua Yurong's superior and Fairy Hua's supreme aptitudes.

Each one was more astonishingly talented than the last.

Moreover, the latter two both possessed alchemy talent.

As far as Chen Yi knew, alchemy talent appeared even less frequently than swordsmanship talent.

It could be called a special existence among specials.

Especially in the Wei Dynasty, which prized martial arts above all else, most people were far more passionate about the martial path.

Even if someone possessed alchemy talent, unless they entered a Daoist sect to cultivate, they rarely had the opportunity to display their talented advantage.

All these factors made practitioners with alchemy talent even rarer.

If the Alchemy Peak lineage of the Aethereal Dao Sect learned of this, they would surely scramble to take them in as disciples.

When Fairy Hua pulled Hua Yurong over, Hua Youxiang greeted them with a grin, chattering incessantly in her Chuan Prefecture accent.

"Eldest Sister, Third Sister, your aptitudes are simply terrifying!"

"But why do you both have alchemy talent, while only I have swordsmanship talent?"

"As expected, what suits me, Second Hua, best is to roam the world with a sword and uphold chivalry and justice."

"How about this? From now on, the two of you prepare all kinds of pills for me, and I, Second Hua, guarantee that when I walk the martial world, I'll bring your share along too. How's that?"

Fairy Hua gave her a reproachful look to stop her, smiled at Chen Yi and the others who had passed the evaluation earlier, and then pulled her younger sisters to stand quietly to one side and wait.

Yet, deep down, she felt a wave of relief.

At least she no longer had to worry about lacking the opportunity to repay Chen Yi's kindness and favor in the future.

...

Meanwhile, Sun Daofu, who was watching the evaluation from the Taihe Hall in the rear, wore a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.

He stroked the beard on his chin, seemingly unaware as he plucked out several strands.

"Alchemy Qi like mist, alchemy Qi like clouds—supreme alchemy aptitude! This is the sect blessing my Alchemy Peak lineage so that it may rise to prominence!"

Pang Kuan, standing to one side, cast a sidelong glance at him, utterly disgusted by his smugness, and couldn't help splashing some cold water on him.

"The young girl with superior aptitude is fine, but as for this one with supreme aptitude, she also possesses innate spiritual Qi and that special wood-spirit bloodline."

"Such bloodline aptitude is extremely well-suited for cultivating the Aethereal Dao methods."

"The Aethereal Dao?" Sun Daofu's smile faltered. Coming to his senses, he blew his beard and stared in anger. "Who dares?!"

"Oh?" Pang Kuan folded his thick arms across his muscular chest and chuckled, "The Aethereal Dao is headed by the Sect Master himself. If he speaks, do you dare disobey?"

This remark was purely intended to put pressure on Old Man Sun.

The Aethereal Dao Sect had a long heritage, and with the masters of various peaks having different traditions, they generally prioritized the talents possessed by their disciples.

For a disciple with such prominent alchemy talent as Fairy Hua, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Sect Master Xiao would also agree to let her study under Old Man Sun.

However, Sun Daofu grew anxious.

The last disciple who had earned the evaluation of "alchemy Qi like clouds" was... well, the last time had been nearly three hundred years ago.

Now that he had finally encountered one, he would absolute not allow such a talented disciple, so perfectly suited for the Dao of alchemy, to enter another peak.

"Even if the Sect Master himself were here, I would still put my words right here: a person with such alchemy aptitude is most suited to enter my Alchemy Peak!"

"Even if it costs me my life, I will definitely make her enter the Alchemy Peak!"

"Is that so?" Just at that moment, Gu Tiangang flashed into the main hall, smiling as he looked at him. "What if I do not agree?"

Sun Daofu was just about to retort, but upon recognizing who it was, he instantly changed his tune: "G-Gu, Senior Brother Gu, what do you mean by this?"

"Playing dumb with this old Daoist? I just returned from the Capital Prefecture, and I happen to be lacking a personal disciple."

Gu Tiangang sat down in the seat of honor, a smile still gracing his face, and quite a radiant one at that.

Old man Sun, five bottles of Qi-Nurturing Pills a year, is that it? And you only gave me twenty-something bottles of Qi-Nurturing Pills, is that it?

Heh, let's see if you dare try that again this time!

"Tell me, if I suggest to the Sect Master that I take that little girl as my disciple, do you think he will agree?"

"This," Sun Daofu's face turned slightly pale, "Senior Brother, y-you, why must you do this?"

"Why?" Gu Tiangang's tone shifted as he scolded, "You old eccentric, you previously joined the petition to drive me off to the Capital Prefecture, and then you made every excuse to obstruct me from recruiting disciples. And now you ask me why?"

Excuses?

Sun Daofu smiled bitterly in his heart. He had merely provided them according to the sect's rules; where had he made any excuses?

Besides, regarding the recruitment of disciples, it was clearly Senior Brother Gu himself who had been unwilling at first.

And as for that joint petition... Oh well, letting him vent his anger was fine.

Right now, the most important thing was that disciple!

Gu Tiangang scolded him for a full quarter of an hour before finally relenting.

"Tell me, what is the value of a disciple with the 'alchemy Qi like clouds' talent?"

"If your answer satisfies this old Daoist, I'll let you off this time. Otherwise... humph!"

The expression on Sun Daofu's face shifted instantly, so colorful that Pang Kuan, who was watching the show from the side, found it immensely amusing.

He had known that Old Gu would settle accounts after the fact upon his return.

And sure enough, here it was.