Chapter Sixty-Six: Broken?

"Whoosh!"

The moment Yang Yan injected his pale blue spiritual energy into the multicolored mysterious crystal, the stone suddenly erupted with dazzling brilliance—red, yellow, green, and a riot of colors, all shimmering and captivating!

"What’s happening?"

"What’s going on? Why are there so many colors shining from the crystal?"

Everyone present cried out in astonishment—the crystal’s reaction had vastly exceeded their expectations!

Normally, each cultivator’s innate spiritual body possesses only a single attribute. Even those with rare constitutions that have undergone internal mutations can at most display two. Thus, among all the participants in the preliminary test, when they infused their spiritual energy into the crystal, it would only trigger one resonant beam of light in response. Even Long Aodi, who possessed the rare innate ice body, had only elicited a faint blue glow tinged with white.

But now, what Yang Yan had evoked was far beyond anyone’s understanding, including the Elders Li and Lin of Azure Profound Sect!

Just as everyone stared in shock at the rainbow-lit mysterious crystal atop the platform, another unforeseen change erupted!

With a muffled bang, a deep sound came from within the crystal. Instantly, all the luminous brilliance vanished, and the crystal abruptly lost all its luster, becoming no different from an ordinary stone.

"What is...?"

Everyone stood dumbfounded by the scene before them. Even Yang Yan himself was at a loss—had he actually broken the crystal with his own hands? Would they demand compensation?

"Uh... It seems the crystal has developed some fault. Luckily, everyone has completed the test. As for Yang Yan, let’s temporarily record him as a grade-four innate water body!"

Elder Li on the stone platform was equally stunned. After a moment of awkward silence, he cast a peculiar glance at Yang Yan before addressing the crowd below.

"That’s enough. Disperse for now. Tomorrow morning, all who have passed the assessment must gather at the Hundred Hunts ground!"

At Elder Li’s words, the crowd dispersed with reluctant chatter. On their way back, groups of twos and threes whispered among themselves, clearly discussing the bizarre occurrence that had just taken place when Yang Yan took the stage.

"You really did it—managed to break the testing crystal. Good thing you were the last to be tested. If you’d gone first, I bet the Azure Profound Sect’s assessment would have been delayed for days!" Liu Zhengqing teased with a laugh as they walked.

Of course, Yang Yan himself was both puzzled and helpless about the matter. When he had first infused the crystal with his water-attribute spiritual energy, nothing unusual had happened. It must have been the pale blue energy within him that caused the subsequent oddities...

"What other secrets could this spiritual power inside me be hiding?" Yang Yan pondered silently.

"This multicolored mysterious crystal has served Azure Profound Sect for years without ever malfunctioning. Why would it break today of all days?" Elder Li remarked to Elder Lin as they walked.

"A magical artifact, after all, will break down eventually. Let Master Mu examine it—perhaps it can be repaired," Elder Lin replied. He did not connect the incident to Yang Yan, believing it was simply unfortunate timing that the crystal broke during his test.

The multicolored mysterious crystal was not a natural treasure, but a man-made magical artifact, crafted by skilled artificers. Though its function is simple—testing the grade of a cultivator’s innate spiritual body—the process of forging it is quite complex, requiring the cooperation of at least two third-rank artificers over several days.

The crystal used by Azure Profound Sect had been specially commissioned—a collaboration between a third-rank artificer from outside the sect and Master Mu within.

"That’s all we can do..." Elder Li nodded with resignation, a sense of unease lingering in his heart, though he could not quite pinpoint its source.

"Yan’er, how did the test go?"

Just as they stepped out of the sect’s gates, Zhang Tai and Zi Ling hurried over, the former asking with concern.

Liu Zhengqing took his leave with a farewell, following the white-haired elder. For some reason, Yang Yan noticed Liu Zhengqing seemed rather timid, perhaps even fearful, in the old man’s presence...

"Isn’t it obvious? With Brother Yang Yan’s talent, he surely passed!" Zi Ling interjected before Yang Yan could speak, looping her arm through his and grinning.

"Grade-four talent—nothing remarkable," Yang Yan replied, withdrawing his gaze from Liu Zhengqing and scratching his head. He chose not to mention the unexpected incident during his test.

"Tomorrow is the assessment at the Hundred Hunts ground. Rest well tonight and regain your strength," Zhang Tai advised as they made their way back to the inn.

Of his three sons, Yang Yan had always been the most sensible and the least worrisome. Yang Yan was clear-eyed about what truly mattered, and Zhang Tai never had to fret over him.

It was the relationship between Zhang Quan, Zhang Sheng, and Yang Yan that remained a thorn in Zhang Tai’s heart. He knew all too well the temperament of his two biological sons. Now that Yang Yan had shed his reputation as a good-for-nothing and begun cultivating, Zhang Quan and Zhang Sheng felt increasingly threatened within the clan. Their exclusion of Yang Yan was bound to intensify.

"If only some things could be revealed to them now..."

"Brother Yang Yan, since we’ve finally come to Sacred Martial City, won’t you walk around with me?" Zi Ling pouted, tugging at Yang Yan’s arm and pleading coquettishly.

"Alright, alright, I’ll go with you—just stop shaking my arm..." Yang Yan replied helplessly. Zi Ling’s charms were impossible for him to resist. Then again, ever since he had begun cultivating spiritual energy, he had devoted himself wholly to training, neglecting Zi Ling’s company and care. If only he had paid her more attention before, perhaps the Xu clan would not have abducted her so easily...

A pang of guilt welled up in Yang Yan’s heart at the thought. Smiling, he patted Zi Ling’s head gently.

"Tell me if there’s anything you want later, and consider it a reward for all your hard work training recently!"

"I knew Brother Yang Yan is the best!" Zi Ling laughed merrily, pulling him toward the bustling streets like a lark at dawn.

Watching the two figures disappear into the crowd, Zhang Tai’s face broke into a gratified smile, though a shadow of melancholy flickered in his eyes as he murmured, "If only a family could always be this harmonious and joyful..."