Inside his room, Zhao Yan tore into the platters of meat as though he hadn't eaten in weeks, his eyes fixed on the food with a feral hunger.
Grease stained his fingers, and his jaw worked relentlessly as he spoke through a mouthful, words muffled but commanding.
"System… unlock the aptitude section."
For a heartbeat, he braced himself, expecting a surge of energy to ripple through his veins, a transformation he could feel in his bones.
But nothing came. His body felt exactly the same, no spark, no awakening—just the heaviness of food in his stomach.
Then, out of the corner of his vision, the system window flickered.
His chewing slowed as his gaze locked onto the shifting text.
Zhao Yan
Age: 15
Cultivation: None (+)
Techniques: Phantom Step Technique - Beginner (0/5) (+)
Revulsion Points: 8850
Pity Points: 24
Aptitude: None (+)
Zhao Yan's eyes lit up when he spotted the faint (+) sign beside the aptitude section, but the glow faded almost instantly—it was greyed out, untouchable.
"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath.
"How many points does it take to raise aptitude?" he asked aloud, but the system remained silent, just as it had when he questioned the cultivation section.
Still, he pieced together a clue.
Every time he forced his cultivation higher, the system consumed points—ten for the first layer of Qi Condensation, and twenty for the second.
The pattern was clear.
He shoved another piece of meat into his mouth, chewing noisily as he grumbled, "Food's good…"
His frustration dulled, buried under the satisfaction of eating.
For now, he pushed the thoughts of points and restrictions aside.
His gaze slid to the parchment lying on the table—the one filled with details about the sects arriving tomorrow.
Zhao Yan's eyes lingered on the inked words,
1. Heavenly Sword Sect
Counted among the three strongest sects of the western continent, its disciples live and die by a single creed—the sword is the self, the self is the sword.
Renowned as a pillar of the righteous path, every disciple trains in the Heavenly Sword Technique which consists of total ten volumes.
Menial disciples receive only the first volume, while the second and third are reserved for the outer disciples.
Aptitude Test: Sword's Will – A refined sword of the sect is brought forth, its spirit resonating only with children who possess true talent for the sword.
Those chosen are welcomed into the sect, while the rest are turned away.
The test, however, can be swayed with bribes ranging from one hundred gold coins to a spirit stone.
2. Frozen Heart Sect
Ranked among the ten greatest sects of the western continent, its disciples follow the creed—freeze your heart.
The sect commands countless techniques, yet new menial disciples are given only the Ice Petal Technique.
Those who reach Qi Condensation's third layer within ten years may rise as outer disciples; failure condemns them to a lifetime of servitude.
Aptitude Test:Illusion Trial — a mystical orb casts candidates into illusion.
Only those who shatter it within four hours earn entry. The test, however, can be swayed with bribes ranging from ten to one hundred gold coins.
3. Earth Demon Sect
Counted among the three mightiest sects of the western continent, it stands as the very heart of the Demonic Path.
Its disciples wield a vast arsenal of techniques, though menial members begin with the Black Tortoise Technique—a shield so unyielding that few of the same realm could ever pierce it.
Those who ascend to the third layer of Qi Condensation within five years earn promotion as outer disciples, while failures are cast into roles as guards or spies for the sect.
If the Heavenly Sword Technique embodies perfect offense, then the Black Tortoise is the ultimate defense.
Aptitude Test:Illusion Trial — candidates are trapped within an orb's illusion, and only those who break free within an hour are deemed worthy.
The test, however, can be swayed with bribes ranging from ten to one hundred gold coins.
4. Sky Water Sect
A local sect rooted in Florence City, founded less than a thousand years ago, its current leader having only reached the Foundation Establishment realm.
Menial disciples begin with the Rainwater Technique, and only those who attain the first layer of Qi Condensation within three years are promoted as outer disciples.
Aptitude Test: An outdated platform is brought forth to measure the spirit roots within a candidate's body.
The test, however, can be swayed with bribes ranging from single gold coin to ten gold coins.
Note: Seven centuries ago, the Immortal Master of the Central Continent proved that even mortals without spirit roots could ascend to Nascent Soul, surpassing countless gifted cultivators with spirit roots who failed. Since then, most sects value will and comprehension above spirit roots.
5. Immortal Miasma Sect
Counted among the ten most powerful sects in the world, the Immortal Miasma Sect stands as one of the oldest pillars of the Demonic Path, its roots stretching back over fifty thousand years.
The sect's leader, an Immortal Master in the late stage of Nascent Soul, commands reverence and fear alike.
Unlike most sects, this ancient sect still places unwavering faith in spirit roots.
Menial disciples cultivate the Rainy Mist Technique, and only those who reach the perfection of Qi Condensation within ten years are promoted to outer disciples.
Aptitude Test: Candidates are cast into a magical orb's illusion, reliving the bloody Continent War of twenty thousand years past, where they must slaughter their way through endless beasts and cultivators.
The test cannot be bribed.
Note: The Immortal Miasma Sect's arrival in Florence City is for one purpose—Baili Dengfeng, a prodigy born once in ten thousand years, gifted with the Supreme Grade Spirit Root.
Even the Heavenly Sword Sect, Frozen Heart Sect, and Earth Demon Sect, pillars of the cultivation world, journey to Florence City to witness the sect's grandeur and to see whether he will be chosen.
Should the Immortal Miasma Sect reject Baili Dengfeng, the others sects wanted to recruit and nurture him themselves.
From a distance, countless lesser sects are preparing to watch the coming and going of the Immortal Miasma Sect, their eyes fixed on history in the making.
...
Zhao Yan had already read through it once, so the words didn't strike him with the same weight, yet he still found himself murmuring, "Baili Dengfeng… a genius born once in ten thousand years."
He set his food aside for a moment, eyes falling back onto the list.
"The Sky Water Sect is out of the question," he muttered, before tracing over the remaining names.
"These four… they seem like real sects, but they're divided as righteous and demonic."
His thoughts drifted to the Kunlun Sect, whose Swallow Heaven Technique had revealed itself as nothing more than a dual cultivation art. A frown touched his lips.
"No," he whispered to himself, "I need to know the truth behind these techniques."
"Who can say what they're concealing?"
The idea of summoning the inn's manager for more information crossed his mind, but for now, his focus returned to the plate before him.
First, he intended to finish every bite.