Signing in for the Thirty-Six Transformations at the start, the strongest cultivation talent

The Ancient Desolate Continent, Central Heaven Prefecture.

The lands of the Ancient Kingdom of Chenliu were the ancestral home of one of the eternal clans, the Chen Clan of Changluo.

The Chen Clan of Changluo carried the bloodline of Saint King Chenliu, one of the ancient kings. Geniuses gathered within the clan like clouds, mighty cultivators like rain. Its foundations were unfathomable, and its legacy had stood unshaken for over a hundred thousand years, growing ever more prosperous.

On this day:

Clang! Clang!

Clear, sonorous bells rang out across hundreds of millions of miles.

Vast banks of nine-colored clouds obscured the blazing sun overhead, tinting everything on the land below in nine colors.

After nine peals, an ancient bronze bell as immense as the moon, surrounded by stars, slowly rose from the Divine Capital of Changluo, making heaven and earth tremble.

Across hundreds of millions of miles, daylight instantly dimmed. A night sky and sea of stars appeared in broad daylight, countless stars twinkling brilliantly.

Yet such a heaven-shaking phenomenon caused little commotion;

for everyone within the Ancient Kingdom of Chenliu knew:

Such a phenomenon meant that the annual assessment of the cultivation talents of the Chen Clan of Changluo's direct descendants had arrived once more.

Within the Floating Heavenly Palace in the Divine Capital of Changluo.

The sonorous bells sounded particularly solemn and majestic here. The enormous ancient bronze bell hovered directly above the Floating Heavenly Palace, enveloping the entire Divine Capital Changluo.

Hazy starlight spilled down, illuminating everything with a dreamlike glow.

Outside the heavenly palace:

A group of the Chen Clan's direct descendants, both men and women, all lavishly dressed and extraordinary in bearing, were watching the scene inside the palace's golden hall nervously.

And inside the golden hall:

Chen Qingyu drew a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings.

Beside him stood six children around his age, their little faces taut. Some were even clutching the corners of their clothes.

Including him, there were seven in total: four boys and three girls.

Under the rules of the Chen Clan of Changluo, direct descendants who reached six years of age could enter the Floating Heavenly Palace to have their cultivation talents assessed by the clan patriarch and elders, thus stepping through the gates of cultivation.

To a great extent, this assessment could determine the course of their entire lives.

"Be patient and remain calm."

An elder in azure robes, his hair and beard white, looked solemnly at the seven children.

"The patriarch and the other elders have gone to the ancestral hall to bring out the Fate-Creation Jade Gui. The assessment will begin shortly."

"What talents and physiques you possess will soon be revealed."

At these words:

The children present immediately grew even more nervous.

Meanwhile, thoughts surged through Chen Qingyu's mind:

They say no heavenly phenomenon appeared when I was born. At the strength test at the Martial Practice Ground before the new year, I could only lift a thousand-jin stone lock, giving me no advantage over others my age.

In this assessment, I'll most likely be merely average, without any dazzling performance.

If I want to come from behind and rise like a sudden new force, it looks like I'll still have to rely on my cheat.

At this thought, he could not help feeling a little wistful.

Six years ago, he had transmigrated into this world of cultivation and awakened the Infinite Sign-In System while still an infant in swaddling clothes.

Every time he signed in, he could obtain some divine ability, spell, profound cultivation art, secret scripture, magical treasure, or divine object.

Unfortunately:

The first sign-in location designated by the system was the Floating Heavenly Palace in the Divine Capital of Changluo.

As a crucial foundation of the Chen Clan of Changluo, the Floating Heavenly Palace ordinarily served as a secluded cultivation residence for the patriarch, supreme elders, and clan ancestors.

Ordinary direct descendants could not enter or leave without being summoned, let alone an infant like him.

He could only wait silently for an opportunity.

And that wait had lasted six years!

Six years! I've finally waited long enough for the talent assessment and a chance to enter the Floating Heavenly Palace!

This time, I have to seize this opportunity and turn everything around in one stroke!

A trace of nervousness arose in Chen Qingyu's heart.

As long as this sign-in yielded tremendous benefits, allowing him to show his edge and draw the attention of the clan's upper ranks, returning to the Floating Heavenly Palace to sign in would not be difficult. He might even be able to come every day.

But if the benefits were minor, or something of little practical use, coming to the heavenly palace again would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Here goes!

He took a deep breath and silently called out:

System! I want to sign in!

Ding!

After so many years, the clear, pleasant notification finally sounded:

Host has signed in at [Floating Heavenly Palace] for the first time!

Congratulations, host. You have obtained one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations: Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths!

In an instant:

As the notification ended, Chen Qingyu immediately felt a wealth of mysterious information appear in his mind.

At the same time, an immense, unseen power descended, granting him an ability that felt as though he had been born with it.

It's actually the renowned Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations.

Coming back to his senses, Chen Qingyu could not help feeling his heart surge.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations was the collective name for thirty-six great Daoist divine abilities, with varied, complex origins and widespread renown.

Possessing the complete set was standard equipment for Daoist big shots;

even possessing just one made someone at least a figure on the level of a loose immortal.

This was practically ascending to heaven in a single step!

And [Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths] is a great divine ability that assists cultivation. It's perfect for me when I'm just starting out.

What god-tier luck! Did I hit the jackpot and pull an SSR on a single draw?

Chen Qingyu could barely contain his excitement.

Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths was a great divine ability that refined the world's primordial Qi through breathing. It could directly seize the source of primordial Qi, making it a supreme, wondrous method of Qi refinement.

One inhalation and one exhalation constituted a single breath.

The divine ability of Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths used a rhythm of nine breaths to form a cycle, taking in and releasing primordial Qi, seizing its source, and refining it into the body.

In other words:

This divine ability needed no deliberate activation. As long as he maintained the breathing rhythm, it could operate constantly, whether he was walking, sitting, lying down, eating, or sleeping, automatically refining primordial Qi and increasing his cultivation.

Its wondrous capacity to seize the source of primordial Qi directly also made it compatible with any cultivation method.

Even for heavenly immortals and gods, it was an immensely helpful great divine ability. Only thus did it qualify to rank among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations.

At that moment, Chen Qingyu could already be certain:

After obtaining [Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths], regardless of whether his original cultivation aptitude was good or bad, he would soar into the heavens and possess the strongest cultivation talent.

This one's in the bag!

Chen Qingyu relaxed, a faint smile on his face.

Now, he only needed to wait for the talent assessment to begin.

Meanwhile, the Chen Clan's grand elder still stood solemnly in place within the golden hall, completely unaware of everything that had just happened to Chen Qingyu.

Soon, ripples like those on water spread through the space before them. Several figures appeared out of thin air, crossing the void to arrive.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in black robes and a purple jade crown, his face imposing without anger. He was Chen Yaoguang, the current patriarch of the Chen Clan.

"Greetings, Patriarch."

Chen Qingyu and the other children hurriedly bowed.

"Rise."

Chen Yaoguang nodded slightly. In his hands, he held a white jade gui engraved with a scene of the sun and moon traveling together amid myriad twinkling stars.

"I have brought the Fate-Creation Jade Gui. This talent assessment may now begin."

As he spoke, he looked toward the first child on his left.

"Chen Qinghe, step forward."

The child whose name had been called wore magnificent golden-red robes. His face paled slightly at those words, but he then drew a deep breath and stepped forward.

Chen Yaoguang placed the Fate-Creation Jade Gui atop Chen Qinghe's head.

Instantly, the Fate-Creation Jade Gui trembled slightly, spilling hazy starlight that filled the entire golden hall.

Within the starlight, stars lit up one after another, exceptionally brilliant.

At that moment, everyone stared fixedly at the Fate-Creation Jade Gui. Even those outside the golden hall could not help holding their breath and watching intently.

One breath later:

A total of five brilliant stars had risen within the skyful of starlight. No more appeared, and the starlight settled.

"Mm, five-star talent. Fairly good, I suppose."

Chen Yaoguang shook his head and withdrew the Fate-Creation Jade Gui.

Hearing this, Chen Qinghe instinctively sighed in relief, but a hint of dejection immediately appeared on his little face.

The Chen Clan of Changluo's Fate-Creation Jade Gui was a means of assessing talent passed down by the ancient kings. It was incomparably precise and had almost never made a mistake.

Ninety-nine percent of ordinary cultivators could not even qualify for one-star talent.

In somewhat smaller sects and powerful clans with ten-thousand-year legacies, five-star talent was already an extraordinary, enviable aptitude, enough to overwhelm one's peers and secure designation as the successor.

But the Chen Clan of Changluo was different:

They were all direct descendants, with the richest blood of the Saint King flowing through their veins. Count back through their ancestors, and they were either mighty cultivators who towered over all living beings or great divine ability wielders who could pluck stars and seize the moon.

From birth, they bathed in immortal herb essences, tempered their bodies with heavenly dew and earthly milk, drank jade nectar, and ate dragon livers and phoenix gallbladders.

Among the Chen Clan's direct descendants, five-star talent could only be considered good, far from truly outstanding.

"Only five stars..."

A beautiful middle-aged woman outside the golden hall could not suppress a sigh, her expression somewhat disappointed.

Watching Chen Qinghe silently lower his head, some of the other children became even more nervous, while others remained brimming with confidence.

"Chen Qingshan."

Chen Yaoguang turned his gaze to the second child on his left and said gravely:

"Step forward."

Chen Qingshan's chubby little face tightened when his name was called, and he stepped forward somewhat nervously.

In an instant:

Under everyone's eyes, hazy starlight blossomed from the Fate-Creation Jade Gui.

Stars lit up one after another, finally stopping at six.

"Six-star talent!"

Chen Yaoguang's eyes brightened, and he said approvingly:

"Very good."

The little fatty Chen Qingshan immediately relaxed and retreated with a beaming smile.

"Next, Chen Qingliu."

Chen Yaoguang activated the Fate-Creation Jade Gui and continued assessing the remaining children's talents.

Yet to his surprise:

Of the three tested in succession, two had five-star talent, while the remaining one only had four stars.

Could there be not even a single seven-star talent this year?

Chen Yaoguang frowned, deeply disappointed.

At that moment, a boy standing beside Chen Qingyu puffed out his chest and declared loudly:

"Rest assured, Patriarch."

"I, Chen Qingyuan, will definitely have seven-star talent, or even eight-star talent!"

The clear, childish voice echoed through the golden hall, making everyone turn to look.

Chen Yaoguang looked at him, a trace of anticipation appearing in his eyes as well.

At the strength test at the Martial Practice Ground before the new year, Chen Qingyuan had performed best, lifting a two-thousand-jin stone lock, far surpassing everyone else his age.

Although strength testing did not represent talent, it could reflect the robustness of one's innate foundation to some extent.

And those with powerful innate foundations naturally had a greater chance of possessing outstanding talent.

"Chen Qingyuan, step forward."

Holding the Fate-Creation Jade Gui, Chen Yaoguang spoke gently.

"Yes!"

Chen Qingyuan raised his head and stepped forward like a proud peacock.

Chen Yaoguang rested the Fate-Creation Jade Gui atop Chen Qingyuan's head. Instantly, intense streams of starlight spread outward, actually surging beyond the Floating Heavenly Palace, as though draping it in a veil of starlight.

Within the skyful of starlight, stars flashed one after another.

After a full seven flashes:

Boom!

Above the seven brilliant stars, a burst of golden light erupted, condensing into the form of a blazing sun, dazzling to behold.

A small golden sun rose above the Floating Heavenly Palace.

"This!"

Silence briefly fell over the golden hall.

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yaoguang was the first to recover. Overwhelmed with delighted surprise, he burst into laughter.

"Excellent! Seven-star talent, and a Pure Yang Sacred Physique as well!"

"Wonderful! Our Chen Clan has gained another peerless genius for its future!"

The elders beamed with joy and whispered among themselves. The atmosphere inside and outside the golden hall immediately grew lively.

The children's gazes grew complicated as they looked at Chen Qingyuan, mingled with deep envy.

Seven-star talent, with a Pure Yang Sacred Physique to boot.

With the two combined, if he could cultivate a technique compatible with the sacred physique's origin, his cultivation aptitude could even surpass eight-star talent. He was a super genius without equal among hundreds of millions.

With someone like him among their peers, they were destined to serve as his backdrop for the rest of their lives.

"Hahahaha!"

Outside the golden hall, a tall, burly man let out a long laugh.

"Truly, the blue comes from indigo yet surpasses it!"

"Qingyuan, you haven't disappointed your father!"

The other clansmen all congratulated the burly man, their voices filled with envy.

Inside the golden hall, Chen Qingyuan straightened his little body and held his head high, his small face brimming with pride.

"Hmph!"

He glanced at Chen Qingyu beside him and shot him a provocative look.

This fellow really is...

Seeing this, Chen Qingyu could not help chuckling inwardly.

Chen Qingyuan was petty. Over a minor disagreement, he had held a grudge until now, looking for chances to provoke him from time to time.

But he was hardly going to squabble with a child, nor could he be bothered to respond.

Damn it...

When Chen Qingyuan saw that he did not respond, he could not help grinding his teeth in anger.

"Chen Qingyuan."

Chen Yaoguang withdrew the Fate-Creation Jade Gui and offered a smiling reminder.

"The Pure Yang Sacred Physique ranks among the top ten of the many sacred physiques and divine physiques."

"You must cultivate diligently from now on, without the slightest slacking."

"Yes!"

Chen Qingyuan immediately refocused his attention and answered loudly, his face alight with delight.

"Chen Qingyu..."

Chen Yaoguang turned his gaze toward Chen Qingyu, the last child, his eyes somewhat complicated. He paused before speaking.

"Come forward."

Chen Qingyu answered and stepped forward calmly.

Chen Yaoguang gently rested the Fate-Creation Jade Gui atop his head.

In an instant, a vast beam of starlight shot skyward, piercing straight through the Floating Heavenly Palace and soaring into the nine layers of clouds.

Clang! Clang!

The ancient bronze bell directly overhead seemed to have received a powerful stimulus. It began humming and trembling on its own, its mighty tolls resounding across hundreds of millions of miles.

Boundless starlight spread, filling the heavens and obscuring the nine-colored clouds in the sky.

"This... this!"

Everyone instinctively held their breath, their eyes widening as they looked up.

One brilliant star after another rose from the starlight, shining like great suns and illuminating a million miles of heaven and earth.

A full nine immense stars formed a line, radiating a noble, timeless presence.

Inside and outside the golden hall, and even throughout the Divine Capital Changluo at that moment, silence reigned. A falling pin could have been heard.

"Hahahahaha!"

Chen Yaoguang froze for a moment, then let out a long laugh, heartfelt joy rising in his eyes.

"Nine-star talent! The strongest in the world!"

"Wonderful! This is truly wonderful! Heaven has bestowed another young sage upon our Chen Family!"

The many elders inside the golden hall were also incredibly excited.

"Nine-star talent! After three thousand six hundred years, our Chen clan has finally produced another with the strongest nine-star talent!"

"Indeed! Among the younger generation of the many ancient sacred physiques and eternal aristocratic clans today, only the East Sea Dragon Clan and the Heavenly Crystal Ancestral Court previously had two invincible heaven's chosen with nine-star talent. Now our human race has one too!"

"Yes, and he has appeared in our Chen Clan of Changluo! Truly, Heaven favors us, and our ancestors bless us!"

Chen Qingyu smiled faintly, as calm as light clouds in a gentle breeze.

Possessing [Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths] had destined him to have the strongest cultivation talent. He had anticipated this scene long ago.

"Little Qingyu, you're excellent! Truly excellent!"

Smiling broadly, Chen Yaoguang rubbed his head and spoke gently.

"Your future is limitless. You must never slacken in your cultivation and squander this unparalleled aptitude!"

"Yes."

Chen Qingyu smiled and answered.

What a joke.

The divine ability [Qi Absorption in Nine Breaths] allowed him to cultivate automatically. Even if he wanted to slack off, he could not.

Outside the golden hall:

The many direct-line clansmen gathered around a taciturn middle-aged man, offering their congratulations.

"Cousin Zhengxing, congratulations!"

"Yes, Cousin Zhengxing, this is truly cause for celebration!"

The middle-aged man, Chen Zhengxing, looked refined and handsome. Dressed in white robes, with a touch of frost at his temples, he managed a faint smile and nodded in acknowledgment without speaking.

"Hmph!"

The burly man nearby folded his arms and snorted coldly.

That hateful fellow...

Inside the golden hall, Chen Qingyuan puffed out his cheeks in anger, feeling rather gloomy and aggrieved.

He had never imagined this:

At the strength test at the Martial Practice Ground, Chen Qingyu, who had been no match for him at all, actually possessed such powerful cultivation talent.

Nine-star talent!

It was so much stronger than his!

"All right."

Chen Guangyao put away the Fate-Creation Jade Gui and said with a smile:

"I am very satisfied with the results of this talent assessment."

"This year, our Chen clan has not only produced someone with seven-star talent and a Pure Yang Sacred Physique, but also someone with nine-star talent, the strongest in the world."

As he spoke, he paused, sweeping his gaze over the children before settling on Chen Qingyuan.

"Chen Qingyuan, you possess a Pure Yang Sacred Physique. You may cultivate the Great Sun Supreme Scripture."

"Yes."

Chen Qingyuan answered, though he seemed somewhat downcast.

"As for you, little Qingyu..."

Chen Yaoguang looked at Chen Qingyu with a trace of regret.

"Although you possess nine-star talent, you have not awakened a sacred physique or divine physique."

"For now, you will cultivate the Illustrated Record of the Celestial Stars and Constellations along with everyone else."

"Yes."

Chen Qingyu answered as well.

The Chen Clan of Changluo had a clan rule:

No matter how powerful one's talent was, even nine-star talent or a heaven-defying constitution such as a Chaos Divine Physique or Innate Dao Physique did not permit one to cultivate the clan's supreme arts directly.

After their talent assessment, everyone had to cultivate profound techniques and secret scriptures of a lower grade so their subsequent progress could be observed.

If someone possessed astonishing talent but had no desire to advance, they would have no opportunity to learn the clan's divine arts and would only be overtaken by those inferior to them.

"Remember this."

Chen Yaoguang's expression turned solemn as he spoke in a deep voice.

"After returning, go to the Inheritance Hall to collect your cultivation techniques. Then you must cultivate diligently, without neglecting even a single day."

"Three years from now, your cultivation will be assessed again. Only those who reach the Blood Sea Realm will qualify to cultivate our Chen clan's supreme arts."

Author's note:

I recommend Thirteen's completed novel, "I Became Invincible Across Myriad Worlds Through Spending." It's absolutely wonderful too. Those who enjoy this book's style shouldn't miss it! o(*￣︶￣*)o