King-grade Aptitude

Chapter 32: King-grade Aptitude

The aptitude test with the Enlightenment Stone continued. Most disciples who came to the True Martial Sacred Sect had third or fourth-grade aptitude, with many also possessing first or second-grade aptitude.

As the aptitude test was nearing its end, a young man in a black robe placed his hand on the Enlightenment Stone.

Instantly, Dao patterns materialized on the Enlightenment Stone, reflecting ten thousand feet of golden light that shot straight into the sky.

"King-grade aptitude," the Outer Sect Elder beside him exclaimed excitedly.

"I recall the last time King-grade aptitude appeared was ten years ago," an Inner Sect Elder said with a smile.

King-grade aptitude wasn't considered rare in the True Martial Sacred Sect, but it was definitely valuable for cultivation, indicating extremely high talent.

King-grade aptitude was one level higher than first-grade aptitude.

The young man seemed to already know his aptitude, showing no surprise. Instead, he proudly basked in the envious gazes of the surrounding youths.

"What is your name?" the Inner Sect Elder stepped forward and asked.

"Disciple Yu Bo," the young man replied respectfully.

"Are you willing to become my personal disciple?" the Inner Sect Elder asked. "If you agree, I will take you in even if you don't pass this trial."

"Thank you, Master, I am willing," Yu Bo said without hesitation, immediately kneeling to kowtow.

The youths beside them were filled with envy. "This Yu Bo just arrived at the True Martial Sacred Sect and has already become an Inner Sect Elder's disciple. His future is limitless!"

"Senior Brother Yu's talent is extraordinary; how can you mortals compare?" a sharp-eyed disciple began flattering him.

"Brother Zimo, should we recruit him?" Lin Ruhu asked, looking at Yu Bo.

"He's just a clown," Xu Zimo shook his head. In his past life, Yu Bo had indeed been famous for a time, but it was only due to his high talent and unstable Dao heart. Ultimately, he faded into obscurity.

As a martial artist, low talent could be slowly improved with effort; there were always ways.

However, if one's Dao heart was flawed, they would never achieve great things in this lifetime.

Therefore, a saying had always circulated among martial artists: "If you possess an invincible Dao heart, then you have the qualifications to become a strong individual."

After the second stage, the aptitude test, everyone rested for half an hour before moving on to the third stage.

The third stage was to test the Dao heart.

The True Martial Sacred Sect would create an illusionary realm. Whoever maintained a clear mind for the longest duration within the realm would receive the highest score for this stage.

If one could still maintain clarity by the end of the illusionary realm, they would receive full marks.

Generally, there were two ways to maintain clarity: one was to remain clear-headed from the moment one entered the illusionary realm, indicating an incredibly resilient Dao heart.

The other was to fall into the illusionary realm but break free from its temptations at the last moment, finding oneself again. While such individuals' Dao hearts might have minor flaws, their potential was boundless, and they could also receive full marks.

After half an hour of rest, a young man emerged from the Sacred Sect.

He wore the True Martial Sacred Sect's specially made blue robe, his face resolute. His eyes seemed to possess a certain magic; gazing into them for too long could cause one to become lost.

The Seventh Elder of the True Martial Sacred Sect was a Formation Master. He had five personal disciples, known in the martial world as the Five Sons of Ten Thousand Formations.

These five disciples each specialized in different formations, with some excelling in killing formations, others in defensive formations, and some in auxiliary formations.

The young man before them was named Qi Shan, the one among the Five Sons of Ten Thousand Formations who was most adept at illusion arrays.

"I will be setting the test for the third stage," Qi Shan said calmly to the youths before him. "I will set up a Seven Emotions and Six Desires Array. Based on the name, you should be able to guess its purpose, so I won't explain further."

Spiritual energy surged from Qi Shan's hands as he began forming seals. Small, thumb-sized Formation Seals were condensed by his spiritual energy.

His sealing speed was incredibly fast. In just a few breaths, one hundred Formation Seals were completed.

Formations, like the cultivation realms of pulse practitioners, also had strict hierarchical classifications.

Based on the number of Formation Seals, ten Formation Seals constituted a Level 1 formation, and one hundred Formation Seals constituted a Level 2 formation.

As these one hundred Formation Seals were placed according to the formation's layout, arranged in order, and then integrated with spiritual energy.

Qi Shan's hands surged with spiritual energy again, transforming into a beam of light that struck the formation. Then, the entire formation was instantly activated.

The interior of the formation was shrouded in a thin layer of mist, obscuring whatever lay within.

Outside the formation, white spiritual energy formed a circular barrier. Light was contained within, and mist rose.

"The assessment time is fifteen minutes. I will dismantle the formation after fifteen minutes," Qi Shan announced.

The new disciples began entering the formation one by one, sitting cross-legged, relaxing their minds, and preparing themselves in the best state for the assessment.

"Come on, let's go join the fun," Xu Zimo said to Lin Ruhu.

He led Lin Ruhu into the formation and, just as they sat down, saw the formation activate.

Layers of mist enveloped everyone.

The surrounding youths instantly entered the illusionary realm, but Xu Zimo remained unfazed. He examined the formation.

In his opinion, although it had many flaws, it was quite good according to the standards of a Level 2 Formation Master.

Xu Zimo emptied his mind, allowing the mist to lead him into the illusionary realm.

Unless he willed it, this low-level formation could not make his mind fall into its trap.

The surroundings were a vast expanse of white, and a silver-bell-like laugh echoed in Xu Zimo's ears.

Several scantily clad women slowly walked towards him, their chests full, legs long, and black hair cascading loosely behind them as if they had just showered.

However, before these women could reach him, Xu Zimo struck out with a palm, shattering all these illusions.

"Unoriginal, cliché. A beauty in pink will eventually succumb to the ravages of time, becoming naught but a pile of white bones."

The next moment, a deafening roar of cheers suddenly erupted in Xu Zimo's ears.

He saw himself standing at the pinnacle of the heavens, Destiny swirling around him. He was magnificent, clad in a purple robe, his aura unstoppable and majestic, like a Great Emperor ruling the world.

No, he was the Great Emperor now, the strongest in this era. Countless beings below prostrated themselves, worshiping him.

"Since I've been reborn in this life, I will surely ascend to the heavens and become a Great Emperor. Why should I indulge in fantasies within this illusionary realm?" Xu Zimo shook his head and shattered these illusions with a single punch.

The next moment, Xu Zimo's vision suddenly changed.

He became an ant crawling upon this world. At the peak of the heavens, ten Great Emperors strode through the air. Their imperial might was vast, purple energy coming from the east for ninety thousand miles, their hands holding the sun and moon, plucking stars from the sky.

"Xu Zimo, do you know your crime?" The ten Great Emperors attacked simultaneously. Their gazes were like those of deities, their figures colossal, shouldering the heavens and treading on clouds. Their oppressive might was as if the nine heavens were collapsing, crushing Xu Zimo, leaving him breathless.