Hearing his name called, Fang Qianyuan immediately stepped forward.
He had been waiting quietly among the others, all but lost in the crowd, yet the moment he stepped out, his bearing became extraordinarily striking.
The other boys wore somewhat unnatural expressions, whether from nerves or excitement. Some who had never seen much of the world were already weak in the knees at having to mount the platform alone before so many onlookers; even reaching out to touch a jar left their hands trembling.
Fang Qianyuan, however, looked utterly calm and natural.
This was neither a show of composure nor the cynical indifference of an aristocratic young master accustomed to grand occasions, but an unhurried assurance that came from deep within.
Only someone truly strong at heart could possess such bearing.
The elders were all widely experienced, yet they had rarely encountered a boy like this. They could not help feeling that something remarkable had appeared before their eyes.
Under everyone's gaze, Fang Qianyuan approached the platform. Before he had done anything, all sixteen unopened earthenware jars remaining on the row of long tables before him lit up at once.
"Heavens!"
"I... am I seeing things?"
"What's happening? What's happening? Why have they all lit up?"
"He hasn't even touched the spirit-sealing treasures!"
The square erupted in an uproar. Many could not help staring wide-eyed, their mouths falling open as they cried out.
They had never witnessed such a phenomenon before.
Even the elders seated in the stands could scarcely contain their excitement. "W-what is happening?" they blurted out.
At the sight, Gong Yuan shouted inwardly, Such aptitude... there can be no mistake! His Spirit Essence resonates with the mysteries, drawing a response from the Spirit Creature itself!
His potential isn't Earth Rank at all-it's Heaven Tier!
A Human Rank Spirit Tamer who cultivated to the utmost could leap a hundred feet, wield the strength of thirty thousand pounds, and cast simple Five Elements Spells. An Earth Rank Spirit Tamer, however, stood beyond the mundane, possessing all manner of inconceivable abilities. Breathing water and fire, remaining impervious to blades and spears, and striding through the air were nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet Heaven Tier powerhouses were beings even Earth Rank Spirit Tamers had to look up to.
Compared with a Heaven Tier powerhouse, an Earth Rank expert was merely an antlike mortal!
Heaven Tier powerhouses had transcended mortality and entered the realm of sages. They controlled the laws of heaven and earth, could move mountains and shake peaks, burn mountains and boil seas. Their Divine Abilities and spells shook heaven and earth, their mysteries boundless; they could even break through the limits of their lifespan and regain their youth!
Such mighty power was absolutely beyond comparison with Earth Rank.
Becoming a Heaven Tier powerhouse was the lifelong pursuit of every cultivator. Yet for the vast majority, Human Rank was already their limit. Even Earth Rank lay within sight but beyond reach, while Heaven Tier was the stuff of legend.
And now, a disciple with the potential to become a Heaven Tier powerhouse had appeared here. Though it was only a fleeting glimpse of potential, not even confirmed yet, it was enough to inspire shock and fervor.
Compared with everyone else's shock and fervor, Fang Qianyuan himself was distinctly calmer. Though he had never seen such a sight either, after a brief moment of surprise, he merely felt a rich spiritual radiance surge from his Spirit Sea and churn violently.
The auras of sixteen Swift Eagle spirits struggled fiercely within the jars. They seemed to have sensed the allure of his pure spiritual energy and vast Spirit Sea, and all wanted to enter it and complete the ritual.
Having cultivated in the outer court for years, Fang Qianyuan naturally did not lose his head. He immediately pressed his hand against the nearest jar.
With a crack, the jar split open. Sensing his approach, the Spirit Creature burst fiercely out of it.
A bird-shaped streak of blue-green light plunged into his body. Fang Qianyuan grew scorching hot, currents of heat surging through him before plunging into the Spirit Sea in his lower abdomen a moment later.
This was precisely the sign of a Spirit Tamer successfully bonding with a spirit.
Spirit Tamers chose Spirit Creatures, but Spirit Creatures also chose Spirit Tamers. Only by becoming one could they unleash their full power, and the nature of a Spirit Tamer's Spirit Essence and the size of his Spirit Sea were the keys to determining whether he could subdue and nurture a Spirit Creature.
Without question, Fang Qianyuan's aptitude far exceeded what was needed to subdue a Swift Eagle, so he completed the process smoothly in a single sweep.
Fang Qianyuan immediately sensed a strange spiritual presence in his Spirit Sea, unlike anything he had felt before.
It seemed to possess life, beginning to connect with the outside world and breathe in and out the Heaven and Earth Essence.
This was an ability gained after successfully bonding with a spirit and cultivating both life and essence together.
This ability was also the foundation that allowed Spirit Tamers to cultivate toward truth and seek the Dao in the age of declining spiritual arts.
In that instant, his Spirit Sea transformed, and he attained the Human Rank First Turn!
Perhaps because Fang Qianyuan had already closed the gateway to his Spirit Sea, the Spirit Creatures in the other jars could only gradually rein in their auras and settle down, despite their reluctance.
"Junior Brother Fang, passed!" The disciple officiating the test had nearly been left dumbstruck. Only after a good while did he recover and hurriedly shout the result.
"Oh!"
"Brother Fang! Brother Fang!"
"Wonderful!"
The many provisional disciples below the platform answered him with a chorus of cheers.
Everyone discovered to their surprise that, after Fang Qianyuan passed, the boys who had come with him were even happier than he was. Even the few who had already passed could not help rejoicing.
Smiling, Fang Qianyuan waved to them, setting off another burst of cheers.
"This Fang Qianyuan seems quite popular." At the sight, several elders on the platform regarded him with even greater appreciation.
By now, how could they fail to realize that Fang Qianyuan was the genius Gong Yuan had mentioned-the boy who had begun cultivating at eight and, through his own explorations, succeeded in becoming a provisional disciple within three months?
Had he merely been a genius at cultivation, that would have been one thing. But he also possessed an outstanding disposition, extraordinary bearing, and good standing among his peers. He was precisely the sort who could lead the new generation of disciples, wield authority in the future, and occupy a lofty position.
The prospects of such a talent were simply limitless.
The elders began summoning their trusted aides, intending to investigate his circumstances first before deciding what to do.
"Heh, elders, what do you think of this boy? Surely he deserves to be called a genius?" Elder Gong wore a smile, yet he had already made the first move without betraying a thing.
As the elder overseeing the branch academy's Heavenly Hall, he enjoyed the advantage of the pavilion nearest the water catching the moon first when it came to these gifted disciples and elite students.
The moment they heard him, everyone understood that Gong Yuan intended to take the boy under his wing.
Though they thirsted for worthy talent, they had not necessarily recognized Fang Qianyuan's potential. Thus, there was no reason to compete with Gong Yuan when he had made his intentions so clear.
"Elder Gong truly has discovered a fine seedling. It seems Fang Qianyuan will be the most outstanding of this year's new disciples," they said with smiles.
Ye Li listened to their conversation, unmoved.
He had a gifted youngster from his own family, and that was his greatest mainstay. Other geniuses might be excellent, but they were not worth paying a heavy price to bring under his command.
As for this genius becoming a rival to his own family's youngster within the branch academy, he did not care about that either. He firmly believed that his own was the best. Other geniuses would instead become whetstones, honing that youngster's edge still sharper.