On the platform, the earthenware jar in Zhou Pengfei's palm gave off a distinct azure glow.
"Skree!"
With a piercing eagle's cry, an azure, bird-shaped light suddenly shot out of the jar's mouth, plunged straight into his palm, and vanished.
The same azure light radiated from Zhou Pengfei's body. His feet thudded as he staggered back two steps before clutching his stomach and crouching down, his forehead already drenched in sweat.
But moments later, wild joy spread across his face. He stood and cheered, "I... I did it!"
"Zhou Pengfei, passed!" The officiating disciple had been through this himself. How could he fail to recognize that the boy named Zhou Pengfei had successfully tamed the spirit creature and established communion with it?
In stark contrast to his earlier icy commands to stop and leave, the officiating disciple now wore a gentle expression. Smiling, he said, "Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhou. Go rest over to the side for now."
"Yes, yes." Overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, Zhou Pengfei hurried over as instructed.
Below the platform, many boys who had failed to establish spirit communion or had yet to be tested watched him enviously. This seemingly casual arrangement was proof that their paths in life had truly diverged.
Zhou Pengfei had successfully become a Spirit Tamer and would immediately join the Inner Court. He would never return to their ranks.
Seemingly encouraged by this example of success, another twenty-odd provisional disciples took the test, and three actually succeeded. They, too, were directed to stand aside.
On the platform, the Institute Master and the elders smiled, nodding to themselves.
"Only forty-odd disciples from this intake have been tested, and four have already succeeded. At this rate, we may end up with more than ten successes. That would make this Spirit Communion Ceremony a complete success."
"And here I was worrying just now that too few would pass!"
"Heh, there's no need to worry about that. Though one in ten succeeds at their first spirit communion, a lower rate is understandable once we account for all the factors beyond aptitude. What remains to be seen is how many promising youngsters among them possess both fine aptitude and sound character, enough to become leading figures among the younger disciples."
At this, several people laughed. "Is there any need to ask? However outstanding these people may be, they're only common-born disciples. If we're talking about a leading figure, surely it must be Elder Ye's young master Tianming."
The man they called Elder Ye was a middle-aged man in blue, seated to the Institute Master's left.
His name was Ye Li, an expert at the Tenth Turn of the Human Rank. He was also the branch academy's Discipline Hall elder, wielding authority second almost only to the Institute Master, who concurrently served as the Ascension Hall elder.
"It is truly an honor that my humble son should be worthy of mention by you all."
He sounded modest, but in truth, he had tacitly accepted their claim that his son would become a leading figure among the younger disciples. Many of the elders present were parents themselves, and the sight stirred mixed feelings in them.
"Elder Ye, you have a fine son."
"Indeed. If that good-for-nothing of mine had even half of Tianming's aptitude, I would laugh in my dreams."
"Your son's innate talent and comprehension are exceptional. After all, he is a genius with Earth Rank potential!"
Listening to their admiration, Ye Li could not help but smile.
The difference between human rank and Earth Rank was like that between the ancient cultivators' qi refinement and Foundation Establishment stages and the formation of a true core. Even at their peak, the former could merely leap a hundred feet, wield the strength of a thousand jun, and cast simple Five Elements Spells. The latter, however, transcended the mundane, possessing all manner of unimaginable abilities. Breathing water and fire, being impervious to blades and spears, and walking through the air were all commonplace to them.
Just then, however, an ill-timed voice suddenly cut in. "Speaking of true geniuses, there is another taking this assessment."
"Oh? Elder Gong, whom do you mean?" The others could not help turning toward him.
The speaker was Elder Gong Yuan of the Heavenly Hall. He also served as the elder responsible for imparting cultivation methods. If anyone in the branch academy knew the most about the Outer Court provisional disciples' progress, it was unquestionably him.
Seeing everyone look his way, Gong Yuan said calmly, "He hasn't come forward yet, but I am certain he will succeed on his first attempt."
At this, someone laughed. "Elder Gong, surely you're joking? Which disciple who becomes a Spirit Tamer isn't already a successful example? Among mortals, only one in ten thousand may become a Spirit Tamer, but among Spirit Tamers, the rate is one hundred percent. That hardly makes someone a genius."
Gong Yuan said, "There is something you don't know. This boy was born a commoner, with no resources or backing whatsoever. He entered the Outer Court at eight, and in just three months, using only the basic cultivation method, he refined Spirit Essence on his own and opened his Spirit Sea. More remarkable still, when I examined his Spirit Sea to verify it, I discovered that he already met the conditions necessary for successful spirit communion. If that isn't genius, what is?"
At this point, the corners of his mouth lifted into a meaningful smile. "He has Earth Rank potential, too."
Those words were clearly aimed at the praise others had just lavished on Ye Tianming. Only then did everyone recall that Elder Gong apparently did not get along particularly well with Elder Ye. This was hardly the first time they had undermined each other.
Still, something he cited with such absolute confidence ought not to be false. Hearing it, the others could not help feeling rather shocked.
Earth Rank Spirit Tamers were powerhouses among their kind. Of the branch academy's thousand-odd members, including the Institute Master, not one had reached that level. The strongest were merely at the Tenth Turn of the Human Rank.
Yet among these new disciples, two geniuses with the potential to advance to earth rank had appeared at once?
Though this was only potential, not actual achievement, it was enough to pique their interest, and even to draw the sect's attention and secure focused nurturing.
"What is this genius's name, and where is he now?"
"He's right here among these provisional disciples? Elder Gong, you're responsible for their instruction, yet you kept this hidden until now. You certainly know how to hold your tongue!"
"It seems Young Master Ye isn't the only flower in bloom. Someone else can rival him."
In truth, they suspected that this common-born genius might possess even greater aptitude!
After all, Ye Tianming was Ye Li's son. He had benefited from his family's teachings since childhood and enjoyed favorable conditions for cultivation. Even so, he had only opened his Spirit Sea after turning nine. Yet the genius Elder Gong described had achieved the same thing after cultivating on his own for three months, with no resources or backing at all.
Ye Li's expression shifted slightly, and he too looked toward Gong Yuan.
Gong Yuan, however, kept them in suspense. "An extraordinary person is bound to show extraordinary signs. I won't say any more for now. When the time comes, you'll see for yourselves."
"Elder Gong, you're whetting our appetites!"
"Well, I was finding this a little dull before, but now I really must open my eyes wide and take a good look. Just what sort of genius could make you think so highly of him, Elder Gong?"
In the world of Spirit Tamers, geniuses were relatively rare. Most relied on sect resources and personal opportunities to grow. Yet geniuses lacked neither of those advantages, and might even receive more opportunities. Their future achievements were truly boundless.
As elders of the branch academy, they also needed their disciples to flourish so that those disciples could, in turn, support them. Thus, whenever they saw promising talent that suited them, they were willing to nurture it carefully.
By now, they had also guessed some of Gong Yuan's intentions. Aside from disliking Ye Li and deliberately saying this to annoy him, he was staking his claim to keep the other elders from competing for the boy. But a disciple's choice of whom to follow was entirely voluntary, so they still had a chance.
When these people said they would open their eyes wide and take a good look, they were not joking.
While they spoke, several more provisional disciples completed their tests. The officiating disciple continued calling names. "Next, Fang Qianyuan!"