Talent Assessment

The instant he stepped into the talent assessment hall, it felt as though he had entered an entirely different space.

The hall soared into the clouds. Faint glimmers like real starlight twinkled across the vaulted ceiling, and the immense sense of space bore down on him, making one involuntarily feel small.

The hall was far from empty. Strange devices of all shapes, each emitting different energy fluctuations, had been arranged in an orderly fashion across separate areas.

The young people were guided by Academy staff into several lines, each heading toward a different testing platform.

"Spiritual power strength test, next!"

The low-ranking wizard in charge of directing them spoke in a deep voice, yet it carried a strange resonance that echoed clearly through the vast hall. Even those standing in the corners could hear every word.

Benjamin moved forward with the line, constantly observing these testing devices he had never seen before.

The first area contained a massive crystal sphere flowing with blue light. Candidates needed to place their hands upon it, and the crystal ball would shine with varying intensity according to the strength of their spiritual power. In the end, a specific number would appear on a nearby plaque inscribed with floating runes.

He saw a youth ahead step forward and nervously place his hand on the crystal ball.

The crystal ball's light was so faint it was almost invisible, and the number that appeared on the plaque was "2." The youth's face instantly drained of color. At the staff member's signal, he left in a daze.

"Spirit Sea depth test, next!"

The second area held an ancient-looking, heavy stone platform. Candidates needed to sit atop it and sink their spiritual power into it.

The complex runes carved into the stone platform's surface would light up one after another. The more layers that lit up, the deeper the Spirit Sea.

Benjamin watched a girl sit down. Only a shallow layer of runes on the stone platform lit up, and the plaque displayed, "Depth Scale 3."

She bit her lip tightly, rose with reddened eyes, and left.

"Soul purity test!"

"Elemental affinity test!"

"Spiritual power refinement test!"

"Willpower test!"

There were far more testing categories than Benjamin had learned about from the lord before. They covered every dimension needed for wizard cultivation—spiritual power's strength, depth, and refinement; the purity and resilience of the soul; innate affinity for different elements; and even assessments of willpower and latent potential.

There were lines before every testing area, and the atmosphere was solemn and tense. Hardly anyone spoke. Only the faint hum of the devices in operation and the deep voices of the guiding wizards could be heard.

Benjamin joined the line for the spiritual power refinement test.

It was a metal device shaped like a complex astrolabe.

The candidates ahead placed their hands at the center of the astrolabe, and light upon it began to spread outward.

Benjamin noticed that most people's light appeared somewhat scattered, and it spread slowly before ultimately stopping at a lower mark.

"Next, Benjamin!" The cold, echoing voice rang out again, calling his name.

Benjamin's spirits lifted, and he strode quickly to the astrolabe.

The young wizard in charge of the test casually swept his gaze over Benjamin, signaling for him to place his hand on it.

With his mind intensely focused, Benjamin steadily pressed his right hand into the depression at the astrolabe's center.

He pushed the Inner Circulation Method to its utmost limit. In that instant, his entire body seemed to become a world of its own, severed from all connection with the outside world.

But that naturally would not work for the test. Feeling the force intruding into his mind, Benjamin slowly relaxed his control over his spiritual power.

The runes at the astrolabe's center lit up, and the light began to spread outward.

Unlike the scattered light of most previous candidates, the light of Benjamin's spiritual power was extraordinarily condensed, like a straight beam that climbed rapidly and directly across the astrolabe's markings.

One mark... two marks... three marks... The speed was astonishing!

A flicker of surprise passed through the wizard beside him. This result had already surpassed that of most candidates from the same intake.

The light continued climbing. Four marks... five marks... Upon reaching the fifth mark, it slowed slightly, but it still advanced steadily.

Six marks!

The light finally stabilized at the sixth mark, radiating a restrained yet dazzling glow.

Clear approval flashed through the testing wizard's eyes. He looked up at Benjamin, apparently not expecting him to reach this level.

"Spiritual power refinement, Level Six." The wizard recorded the number and signaled that Benjamin could proceed to the next testing area.

Benjamin withdrew his hand with outward calm, inwardly letting out a breath.

The effects of the Inner Circulation Method were indeed astounding. It could completely conceal excess True Essence and spiritual power. Even though the force of the machine before him had rampaged through his mind, it had found no flaw at all.

His decision to display this level of talent had also been the result of careful consideration.

The total scale for talent tests in the Wizard World was ten levels.

The gap between each level of talent was considerable. Level Five was already considered exceptionally outstanding in the eyes of ordinary people, while Level Six surpassed ninety percent of the apprentices taking the test.

But while Level Six was good, it could not compare with those top-tier monsters.

The world he was in was no kind and gentle place, and in an environment like the Academy, talent was practically synonymous with status. If his talent appeared too mediocre, everyone would find an excuse to step on him.

Yet if his talent was too high, he would draw too much attention. A middling-to-high level like this—being a "minor genius"—was the most suitable.

It would neither attract attention nor cause too much trouble. Besides, if necessary in the future, people would be able to understand if he displayed some exceptional qualities.

Benjamin relaxed somewhat, then felt a little surprised.

Although he had concealed his strength, he knew clearly that, based on the increase required for each talent level, even if he went all out without holding anything back, he would at most reach Level Eight.

He was a cultivator who had spent more than a decade painstakingly reaching the first level of Qi Refinement, yet his full refinement level only barely reached Level Eight...

What kind of monsters were those people who could test at Level Eight, Nine, or even Ten without cultivating at all?!

Over the next few tests, Benjamin's results indeed rose and fell, but they generally remained around Level Six.

When he had completed every test, his final result was comprehensively evaluated by a core device at the very center of the hall. A cold voice announced it, echoing through the entire space:

"Apprentice Benjamin, overall talent rating... Level Six!"

A wave of astonished exclamations immediately rose from the crowd.

Level Six!

Level Six was already enough to cross the threshold into "genius." It meant he could easily advance into the ranks of formal wizards and was enough to earn the appreciation of the Academy's higher-ups.

Countless gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and scrutiny focused on him once more.

Benjamin remained calm on the surface, but deep down, he truly relaxed considerably.

This meant he had passed this hurdle, at least. He would not have to worry about being tied to an operating table as an experimental subject anytime soon.

"Next!" However, the wizard directing them seemed unsurprised by a Level Six talent. Level Six was outstanding, but it was far from unprecedented.

Just as Benjamin stepped down from the testing platform and was led toward the next area, he heard an even more intense burst of exclamations erupt from a nearby section.

"Oh my god! Spirit Sea depth... Level Eight!"

"Elemental affinity, lightning element, Level Nine!"

"Soul purity, Level Nine!"

"Holy shit! What kind of celestial beings are these?!" Even Benjamin could not help turning to look upon hearing those announcements.

Several young men and women were being surrounded by a crowd, pride practically overflowing from their faces.

"Level Nine talent... It's the eldest young lady of the Augusta Family! Her reputation truly does not disappoint!"

"And Young Master Horn, with Level Eight talent! He has extraordinary affinity for Evocation School magic. He is destined to become a powerful spellcaster!"

"As for that one with Level Nine soul purity, I heard they were directly reserved by a Soul School mentor!"

Exclamations rose one after another. Listening to the testing devices' announcements, Benjamin's heart tightened slightly.

This world truly hid crouching tigers and coiled dragons. His Level Six talent really was nothing before these genuine monsters.

All the better. Standing in the shadows cast by their dazzling light would only make it easier for him to go unnoticed.

The talent assessments continued, and the hall was filled with astonished cries as well as the dejected sighs of certain low-talented candidates.

Yet before these young people who had completed their tests could spend any extra time savoring their results or grieving over their failures, the cold, urgent guiding voice rang out again, like a muster call sounding beside their ears.

"All apprentices who have completed and passed the talent assessment, proceed immediately to Central Plaza! Selection of your primary specialization is about to begin!"

The voice echoed through the hall, carrying an authority that allowed no defiance.