Chapter Sixty-Four: Sun Zhixin’s Innate Talent!

As the young man from the Jade Sword Pavilion strode calmly onto the stage, Yang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. He was eager to see the true measure of this youth, whose cultivation talent posed a potential threat to himself.

The boy's steps were unhurried, his expression tranquil and composed, betraying not the slightest hint of nervousness—as if he were simply taking a leisurely stroll in his own courtyard. When his figure came to a halt before the multicolored crystal, his gaze swept, almost imperceptibly, toward where Yang Yan stood below the stage. A faint, knowing smile played at the corner of his lips before he placed both hands upon the crystal.

Yang Yan tensed, his eyes fixed unblinking on the crystal, waiting for its reaction.

For a long moment, there was no sign of energy stirring in the stone. Just as murmurs of confusion began to ripple through the crowd, a sudden humming rose from the crystal, and in the next instant a brilliant emerald radiance erupted from within, dazzling as a firework burst before their eyes, bathing all nearby in a green glow. At the same time, six large characters, glowing a vibrant green, slowly emerged in the space before the crystal.

“A fifth-grade Innate Wood Body!”

“To think it’s a fifth-grade talent—how terrifying!”

“That’s right… With a prodigy like this, we could train for three years and still not match a single year of his progress!”

A clamor spread among the crowd, surprise and envy evident in their exclamations. Clearly, the manifestation of such a rare fifth-grade innate constitution had left them deeply shaken.

“A fifth-grade Innate Spiritual Body… As expected, a formidable opponent,” Yang Yan mused inwardly, a chill running through his heart.

Yang Yan did not have a precise estimate of his own innate spiritual body’s grade, though he was fairly certain it was at least second grade. Yet, if he were to infuse the faint blue spiritual energy within him into the crystal for testing, the result might be even higher. The power and peculiarity of that blue energy was something Yang Yan himself had yet to fully unravel.

“A fifth-grade innate spiritual body—excellent, excellent!” Elder Li, seated among the dignitaries, was overjoyed and laughed heartily.

Not only Elder Li, but even Elder Lin, who always maintained a stern and unsmiling demeanor, was now wearing a rare smile on his frosty face, nodding approvingly at the youth. It was clear he too was very satisfied.

A fifth-grade talent! That signified that this young man on the stage possessed the potential to become a powerhouse of the Spirit Sea Realm!

Such strength, within the entire Azure Profound Sect, would make him a pillar among the elite. Only those who attained such heights could command true respect within the cultivation world of the Flying Cloud Empire. The appearance of such a prodigy in the Azure Profound Sect’s selection was enough to fill both elders with delight.

“Well done. State your name and affiliation, then step down to prepare for the third round!” Elder Li smiled, nodding with satisfaction.

“Jade Sword Pavilion, Leng Yuetian!” declared the young man.

“Leng Yuetian…” Yang Yan quietly committed the name to memory.

“Hey, your little sweetheart is up next!” Just as Yang Yan was lost in thought, Liu Zhenqing nudged him with a sly grin, jerking his chin toward the stage in jest.

Yang Yan looked up abruptly and saw a graceful young girl stepping onto the stone dais. Who else could it be but Sun Zhixin—the same girl whom Yang Yan had once ‘offended’ during the clan tournament?

Irritated, Yang Yan shot Liu Zhenqing a glance filled with disdain, inwardly grumbling, “Why does he seem so different from how he acted at the clan tournament? Did he eat something strange?”

Despite his musings, Yang Yan’s gaze remained riveted on the girl on stage. He was curious to see just how far the cultivation talent of this genius—who had fought him to a standstill and shared a few ‘intimate moments’ with him—would reach.

Sun Zhixin’s appearance immediately stirred another wave of excitement. Female cultivators were already rare compared to males, and though her features were not stunningly beautiful, she possessed an ethereal, elegant grace—like a snow lotus blooming on a distant peak. Among the many hot-blooded young men present, most of whom were just awakening to love, her presence naturally drew countless admiring glances.

Sensing the myriad gazes upon her, Sun Zhixin’s delicate brows knitted in faint displeasure. She clearly disdained the atmosphere, as if it reminded her of the clan tournament’s tense matches—a feeling she found most uncomfortable.

Not wishing to linger on stage, she strode briskly to the multicolored crystal. Lifting her arms, her skin as pale and flawless as carved jade, she traced a gentle arc through the air and pressed her slender, graceful hands lightly upon the stone.

Sun Zhixin closed her beautiful eyes, focusing her spiritual power into the crystal.

In an instant, a crimson aura began to glow upon the crystal, deepening rapidly from a pale red to a blood-like scarlet. Simultaneously, the temperature around the platform began to rise, dispelling the winter chill. Those standing closest to the stage soon felt as if they were under the summer sun, beads of sweat rolling down their cheeks, eliciting gasps all around.

Suddenly, a scorching wave of red energy burst violently from the crystal, sweeping outward in all directions. The crowd hurried to shield their eyes with their arms, barely managing to withstand the searing heat.

After a few moments, calm was restored. As everyone’s gaze returned to the stage, they stared in utter disbelief, mouths agape, unable to utter a word.

“A s… sixth-grade Innate Fire Body!”

At last, someone managed to stammer out the words, voice trembling with incredulity.

Yang Yan was equally shocked, his eyes fixed on the stage where six blood-red characters blazed for all to see.

A collective gasp swept through the hall. The two elders on the dais could not sit still—especially Elder Li, who, overcome with excitement, seemed at a loss for where to place his hands, his round belly wobbling comically as he shifted about.

Elder Li knew better than anyone the strength of Sun Zhixin’s soul. Now, with such an exceptional innate fire body, she was undeniably a perfect candidate for an alchemist or an artifact refiner!

At present, the Azure Profound Sect boasted only a single third-grade alchemist and one third-grade artifact refiner in its ranks, both serving as guest elders. They had joined the sect mainly for its cultivation resources and protection. Though these two were only of the Spirit Communication Realm, and not especially outstanding among the elders, they were still treated as honored guests. Even the sect master would greet them with a warm smile—such was the allure of alchemists and artifact refiners!