“Brother Zhang, I wonder if you have any extra spirit stones. I’m willing to trade some family treasures with you.”
Seeing Wang Quan’s obsequious, groveling posture, Zhang Yuge’s mouth twitched into a faint smile.
The sudden price hike from the man in the green robe played right into his hands.
If I help Wang Quan out now, won’t he have to recognize me as his father later?
“We’re friends, so there’s no need to be so formal about the exchange. It’s just some spirit stones, a small matter.”
With that, Zhang Yuge pulled out a pile of spirit stones from his storage pouch, topping Wang Quan up to a hundred stones.
“Th-thank you, Brother Zhang! I won’t forget your kindness!”
“All right, hurry up and take the test. Don’t keep the Immortal Master waiting.”
If Zhang Yuge hadn’t stopped him, Wang Quan would’ve rushed right over.
As for the man in the green robe, though he appeared calm and collected on the surface, his eyes had long been drawn to Zhang Yuge’s storage pouch.
Just now, I was showing off perfectly, but this Wang Quan fool suddenly started grinning idiotically—who does he think he is?
Wu De’s sudden demand for a hundred spirit stones wasn’t out of genuine interest, but rather to make things difficult for Wang Quan and embarrass him in public.
Unexpectedly, along came another foolish rich second-generation heir, covering the stones for him.
Hmph, neither of you are going my way.
Let’s see if I don’t teach you a lesson.
“Immortal Master, here are one hundred spirit stones. May I start the test now?”
Glancing at the exuberant Wang Quan, Wu De sneered dismissively:
“If you qualify, I’ll take you in; if you don’t, you can scream to heaven and earth all you want, but you won’t get in.
Entering the Immortal Sect involves two trials.
The first is the Testing of Heart.
Take out what matters most to you.”
“Uh…” Wang Quan was a little confused but instinctively replied, “The thing most important to me… is the Jade Pendant hanging around my neck.”
“Which Jade Pendant? Show me.”
Though reluctant, Wang Quan pulled the pendant out from his clothes.
“Immortal Master, this Jade Pendant was given to me by my mother on my seventh birthday. I can’t give it to you.”
Wang Quan said nervously.
“I don’t intend to keep your pendant; it’s only for testing.”
Hearing this, Wang Quan hesitated but handed the pendant over.
The other dignitaries present didn’t understand Wu De’s purpose but dared not ask.
After all, the earlier candidates had only undergone talent testing—there was no Testing of Heart.
Zhang Yuge examined the quality of the pendant.
Judging by its appearance, it wasn’t valuable, but since it was a gift from Wang Quan’s mother, it must be important to him.
Wu De took the Jade Pendant with a hint of disgust.
Wang Quan noticed but still smiled brightly.
Wu De toyed with it briefly before crushing the white pendant into powder with a firm squeeze.
Apparently unsatisfied, he scattered the fragments little by little on the ground in front of Wang Quan.
Seeing the pendant shattered, a shadow flickered deep in Zhang Yuge’s eyes.
He narrowed them slightly but said nothing.
The assembled officials also remained silent, the grand hall filled only with a few whispered voices.
Behind Wang Quan, Zhang Yuge couldn’t see his expression but caught sight of the green-robed man barely concealing a smirk.
“Well done! A good heart indeed.”
Wu De couldn’t help but applaud.
“To sever what worldly treasures a novice cultivator holds dear is first to cut their attachments, then to allow them to focus wholeheartedly on cultivation, and finally to test their heart. Seeing something cherished destroyed before your eyes and remaining calm—that is the mark of a promising cultivator.”
Behind Wang Quan, Zhang Yuge faintly saw his body tremble and softly called out:
“Brother Wang?”
At Zhang Yuge’s voice, Wang Quan bowed slightly and whispered,
“Thank you for your recognition, Immortal Master.”
Zhang Yuge could hear the trembling in Wang Quan’s voice.
He only hoped Wang Quan wouldn’t act rashly; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to help him.
Standing behind Zhang Yuge, Zhang Qingyao was already grinding her teeth in anger.
What kind of Testing of Heart is this?
It’s just bullying!
She wanted to step forward and scold the man in green, but Zhang Yuge grabbed her hand.
Seeing Zhang Yuge shake his head, Zhang Qingyao reluctantly held back.
Zhang Yuge really didn’t want to make a fuss in the capital and attract unwanted attention.
Earlier, calling Yunlan from the Ye family for help was a desperate move.
He thought the Ye family might preserve their dignity by not making public the news of a yellow-haired brat being beaten up.
But if he made too much noise at Jinyi Pavilion, no matter what, it wouldn’t stay secret.
Right now, Zhang Yuge just wanted to train quietly and avoid trouble.
“Very good.”
The man in the green robe smiled with satisfaction.
“Congratulations on passing the first trial. You have a certain qualification to enter the Five Spirits Sect. Next is the second trial: Testing of Talent. Place your right hand on this stone.”
Wang Quan approached the table and placed his hand on the stone like the previous testers.
After a moment, the stone emitted several colors of light.
No one present understood what these colors represented; whether he passed was entirely up to the man in green.
“What a once-in-a-millennium talent, simply…”
Hearing Wu De’s praise, the others crowded around.
Could it be that Wang Quan really is a cultivation prodigy?
“System, quickly check Wang Quan’s background. See if he’s the protagonist of some book. No wonder he’s so patient; protagonists usually are.”
An unprecedented waste.
Wu De expressionlessly smashed the Talent Testing Stone onto Wang Quan’s face.
“You have no fate with cultivation in this life. You’re destined to be a waste.”
In the capital, if there were a Waste Rankings, you could fight for first place.
After speaking, he picked up the Talent Testing Stone from the ground, placed it back on the table, and sat back on the main seat.
“Next! Hurry up.”
Seeing Wang Quan bowing his head, lost in thought, Zhang Yuge stepped forward to comfort him.
“Brother Wang, are you all right?”
“I said next! Are you going to test or not? If not, get lost. Don’t waste my time!”
The impatient shout came from the man in green on the stage.
Upon hearing this, Wang Quan didn’t leave but walked straight forward.
“Return the spirit stones.”
“Oh? What did you say? Say it again?”
Wu De asked.
“I gave you one hundred spirit stones, so you should let me enter the Five Spirits Sect. If not, then return them…”
Before he finished speaking—
“Boom!”
The green-robed man’s sleeve suddenly swelled, and he stood, delivering a powerful blow toward Wang Quan from a distance.
No ordinary mortal body could withstand a full-strength strike from a cultivator.
Like a kite with its string cut, the fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth spat fresh blood and was blasted out of the tavern’s front doors.
Wu De’s face darkened as he stared at the blasted Wang Quan, sneering:
“That one hundred spirit stones only bought you the chance to test your talent. You’re just too useless. Don’t blame me.”
Before he could finish, Zhang Yuge interrupted.
“Immortal Master, next, should I take the test?”