Beyond Divine Rank?

Elder Steward led Xuanyuan Che all the way to an ancient, solemn hall.

The hall was imposing. Above its doors hung a plaque bearing three vigorous characters: "Eastern Xuan Hall." The strokes danced like dragons and serpents, faintly exuding a soul-shaking pressure.

"The Academy Lord is waiting for you inside. Go in." Elder Steward respectfully bowed toward the hall and gestured for Xuanyuan Che to enter on his own.

Xuanyuan Che nodded and pushed open the heavy doors.

Creak—

The light inside was somewhat dim. Directly ahead stood a broad chessboard, where a white-haired old man in a green Daoist robe sat upright, playing chess with a handsome young man across from him.

The old man possessed the bearing of an immortal, and a naturally commanding majesty rested between his brows.

He was none other than Lu Xuanchen, Academy Lord of Eastern Xuan Academy.

Hearing the doors open, Lu Xuanchen slowly raised his head. His sharp, hawk-like gaze fell upon Xuanyuan Che, as though it wished to see straight through him.

"You are Xuanyuan Che?" Lu Xuanchen's voice was low and magnetic, carrying the authority of one long accustomed to power.

"I am." Xuanyuan Che neither humbled nor exalted himself as he clasped his hands in greeting.

Lu Xuanchen set aside the chess game and studied the youth before him with interest. He had lived for over a thousand years and seen countless people, yet he had never encountered such a remarkable young man.

Though only fourteen, he was steady and reserved, unruffled by favor or disgrace. Such temperament far surpassed that of his peers. More importantly, an otherworldly aura faintly emanated from him, ethereal as an immortal's, impossible to fathom.

"You shattered the Spirit Testing Stele twice. Do you know your crime?" Lu Xuanchen suddenly changed his tone, his voice turning stern.

Why are you suddenly yelling so loudly?!

Xuanyuan Che cursed inwardly, though his expression remained calm. "This junior does not know what crime he has committed. Although the Spirit Testing Stele belongs to the academy, its quality was merely so-so. Its explosion was not intentional on this junior's part; the stele was simply too fragile."

"Presumptuous!" The young man beside Lu Xuanchen immediately shouted in anger. "You dare slander an academy treasure? Your crime is compounded!"

Xuanyuan Che could not even be bothered to raise his eyelids. He simply ignored the man's clamor.

Lu Xuanchen waved a hand, signaling the man to step back. Then he turned to Xuanyuan Che again, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "Interesting. Young man, do you know why I summoned you?"

"I do not." Xuanyuan Che shook his head.

"Hmph. What I value is your talent!" Lu Xuanchen's eyes blazed, and a trace of excitement entered his voice. "Being able to shatter the Spirit Testing Stele twice proves that your Bloodline Talent far exceeds ordinary people's. It may even have reached the legendary... Divine Rank!"

Divine Rank!

The young man who had retreated to the side sucked in a cold breath. When he looked at Xuanyuan Che again, a flicker of jealousy flashed through his eyes.

Divine Rank? Is that how people of the Lower Realm classify bloodlines?

Xuanyuan Che smiled inwardly and memorized the term, while putting on a surprised expression. "Divine Rank? This junior is merely a Rogue Cultivator. How could I dare hope for Divine Rank aptitude?"

By their standards, even Immortal Tier would be an insult to the Xuan Yuan Bloodline and the Ji Family Bloodline.

It seemed, however, that this place did not even have the term Immortal Tier.

"Do not belittle yourself." Lu Xuanchen swept out a hand and declared boldly, "Whether it is a mule or a horse, bring it out for a run and we shall know! Xiao Chen, bring the Spirit Ascension Liquid!"

"Academy Lord, this..." Xiao Chen was startled.

The Spirit Ascension Liquid was one of the academy's treasures. It could awaken a bloodline and increase its purity, making it incomparably precious!

Ordinarily, only Core Disciples like him were qualified to use it, and even then, they received only a small bottle each year. Was it not too wasteful to use the Spirit Ascension Liquid merely to test some brat?

"If I tell you to go, then go. Where did all this nonsense come from?" Lu Xuanchen glared at him, leaving no room for doubt.

Xiao Chen gritted his teeth and could only accept the order.

A moment later, Xiao Chen returned carrying a jade tray. Resting on it was an exquisitely crafted little bottle, containing a jade-like, glimmering liquid. It was the Spirit Ascension Liquid.

Lu Xuanchen took the bottle and personally handed it to Xuanyuan Che. In a gentle tone, he said, "Drink it. Let me see just how far your Bloodline Talent can reach!"

Xuanyuan Che accepted the little bottle without the slightest ripple in his heart. If anything, he almost wanted to laugh.

To him, something like Spirit Ascension Liquid was no different from plain water. It was far inferior even to the Ice Soul Candy he usually enjoyed as a snack.

He pretended to take a deep breath, then tipped back his head and drained the Spirit Ascension Liquid in one gulp.

It was slightly sweet upon entering his mouth, with a faint herbal flavor and a rather smooth texture. But that was all.

Spirit ascension? Sorry, I really didn't feel anything.

Still, he put on a convincing show. Xuanyuan Che smacked his lips and licked them with lingering relish, as though savoring some peerless delicacy.

Lu Xuanchen watched him, his eyes filled with anticipation. Yet one second, two seconds, three seconds...

Time ticked away second by second, but Xuanyuan Che remained exactly as he was. Nothing unusual happened to him.

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat awkward.

"This..." Xiao Chen looked toward Lu Xuanchen, his eyes full of confusion. Could the Spirit Ascension Liquid have lost its effect? Impossible. He had used it only a few days ago, and it had worked perfectly!

Lu Xuanchen was equally bewildered. Had he grown old and misjudged him? Was this brat not Divine Rank?

"How do you feel?" Lu Xuanchen asked uncertainly, his voice lacking some of its earlier confidence.

"It feels pretty good." Xuanyuan Che nodded and answered honestly. "It tastes quite nice. Sweet."

Lu Xuanchen: "..."

Sweet? Was the taste the important part?! I was asking about your bloodline—your bloodline!

"Feel carefully. Is there anything unusual inside your body?" Lu Xuanchen guided him reluctantly, still unwilling to give up.

Xuanyuan Che obediently closed his eyes and seriously sensed himself for a while. Then he opened them and shook his head blankly. "No. I do not feel anything at all. It was a bit like drinking a cup of sugar water."

A cup of sugar water...

Lu Xuanchen's mouth twitched.

Spirit Ascension Liquid—that was Spirit Ascension Liquid! A precious elixir refined from countless rare medicinal ingredients, consuming enormous manpower and resources! Once consumed, even the most trash-tier Mortal Tier bloodline could be reborn and have its aptitude rise by a great margin! And yet he was saying it felt like drinking water?!

This was simply squandering a heavenly treasure!

Still unwilling to give up, Lu Xuanchen asked again, "You truly felt nothing at all? For example, your body heating up, your meridians expanding, or... your strength increasing?"

Xuanyuan Che continued shaking his head. "No, Academy Lord. Could someone have given you a fake? Could this Spirit Ascension Liquid have been watered down?"

"Presumptuous! What sort of treasure is the Spirit Ascension Liquid? How could it possibly be fake? Do not spout such nonsense!" Xiao Chen exploded in anger.

Watered down...

Lu Xuanchen nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood. He swore that this was absolutely the most outrageous thing he had ever heard in his life!

Spirit Ascension Liquid watered down? How had this brat even thought of that? The Spirit Ascension Liquid was incomparably precious—who would dare dilute it with water? Were they tired of living?!

Moreover, he understood the effects of the Spirit Ascension Liquid better than anyone. There was absolutely no way it could be defective!

Wait! Could it be... the problem lay with this brat?

Lu Xuanchen's gaze fell upon Xuanyuan Che again, and his expression turned strange.

Just who was this brat? Even the Spirit Ascension Liquid had no effect on him? Could it be... his bloodline was already so powerful that even the Spirit Ascension Liquid could not shake it in the slightest?!

In his youth, he had encountered Divine Rank geniuses from the Central Continent, yet he had never seen a case like this—one that could not be examined at all.

If that was truly the case, then this brat's talent might be... even more terrifying than Divine Rank?!

At that thought, stormy waves rose in Lu Xuanchen's heart, and the way he looked at Xuanyuan Che grew even more fervent.

Earlier, Elder Steward had mentioned that this brat seemed to be an orphan?

"Heh heh heh!"

No matter what, Eastern Xuan Academy was taking this brat!

"Academy Lord, why are you laughing? It looks so ugly."

"Cough, cough." Lu Xuanchen coughed twice, concealing his awkwardness. He revealed a kind and amiable smile as he said to Xuanyuan Che, "Nothing, nothing. Well, the Spirit Ascension Liquid... some people have special constitutions and absorb it more slowly. Its effects may take some time to appear. Do not worry for now. We will know after a few days."

Xuanyuan Che blinked. "So that is how it is. All right." He laughed inwardly and played along with Lu Xuanchen.

His main purpose in descending to the Lower Realm had been to travel the mountains and rivers, while gaining some experience along the way. As the saying went, one tempered one's heart amid the dust of the mortal world. As for Spirit Ascension Liquid, Divine Rank bloodlines, and the like, he did not care about them in the slightest, nor did he need them.

"Mm." Lu Xuanchen nodded in satisfaction. "Now, I formally invite you: are you willing to become my personal disciple?"

"I am willing!" Xuanyuan Che said, moved.

This was the first organization he had found in the Lower Realm entirely on his own. His sense of achievement was completely full. Though why did it feel a little strange? ⑉･ᴗ･⑉

"Good! Oh, right—Xiao Chen, come here!" Lu Xuanchen pulled the young man over.

"Little Che, this is Xiao Chen, the last disciple of our academy's Grand Elder. He entered the academy several years before you. His talent may not match yours, but he is hardworking. He is now an expert at the Xing Yuan Realm Peak! Xiao Chen..."

"Like this?" Before Lu Xuanchen could finish, the two saw Xuanyuan Che release his cultivation. Dense, pure Spiritual Energy surrounded him—he was astonishingly also at the Xing Yuan Realm Peak!

My heavens!

A fourteen-year-old at the Xing Yuan Realm—what kind of monster was this?!

They had been so focused on his bloodline that they had not even noticed his cultivation was equally heaven-defying!

"Hahahaha! Heaven truly favors Eastern Xuan Academy! Good! Good! Good!" Lu Xuanchen was now completely certain that the child before him possessed talent so monstrous it defied all reason—beyond imagination!

But then his tone shifted, turning stern.

"Little Che, remember this well. You must not speak of what happened today. Do not reveal your bloodline or cultivation lightly. There are many outside who covet such things. This is also for your own protection. Do you understand?"

Xuanyuan Che nodded, and Lu Xuanchen looked toward Xiao Chen again.

"Xiao Chen, the same goes for you. This matter is of great importance, and you must never speak of it! All right, take Little Che to Xuanqing Peak first and let him meet his senior brothers and sisters."

Xiao Chen nodded and accepted the order, smiling as he called for Xuanyuan Che to follow. Yet when he turned around, a cold gleam flashed through his eyes.

Xuanyuan Che narrowed his eyes and followed after him.