Chapter 12: First Grade Talent?
On the stage, over three thousand young men and women participated in the assessment. Each of them had opened their Source Pool and was absorbing Heaven's Fate Energy, competing with one another. However, the one who succeeded was an unknown individual...
‘So... does this mean the real genius hasn’t shown up yet?’
’Is that true?‘
Being called to participate in the first assessment meant the academy had already screened them. This meant those who went up first had a higher chance of being geniuses, and there were more of them. Everyone thought the first place would come from this group, but unexpectedly, someone else took the lead...
Everyone turned to look at the crowd below the stage.
There were thousands of people, densely packed, all with their eyes closed, absorbing the scattered Heaven's Fate Energy. It was impossible to tell who had succeeded and who hadn't.
"To leave a mark on the Nine Dragon Pillars, first, this person must be encountering Heaven's Fate Energy for the first time. Second, they must be a genius who has opened their Source Pool; otherwise, even if they absorb it, they wouldn’t be able to contain it, and it would eventually dissipate," Wu Yunzhou said, suppressing his embarrassment.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
If someone could absorb scattered Source Energy so quickly without being on stage, how strong would they be once they got up there?
“Not necessarily!”
Ran Qingxu waved his hand, seeing everyone's thoughts. “Absorbing a single Heaven's Fate Energy quickly doesn’t necessarily mean a high talent. The final score always depends on the capacity of the Source Pool..."
“The Great Elder is right,” Wu Liuyun smiled wisely. “Absorbing just one Heaven's Fate Energy is very random. For example, if the energy matches the physique, the Source Pool doesn't reject it, or the energy just happens to be compatible with them... these conditions can lead to quick success, but it doesn't mean much. If someone can refine two or more at the same speed, then they can be considered a true genius!”
At this point, Wu Liuyun smiled confidently, "Everyone, rest assured, the real genius will definitely appear on the stage. We won’t choose wrongly..."
Before he finished speaking, a slightly awkward voice interrupted, “Second Elder, why don’t you take another look at the Nine Dragon Pillars?”
“Looking again won’t change anything. Absorbing one Source Energy only means a ninth-grade talent at best. What...?” Wu Liuyun scoffed, but his eyes widened as he saw the words on the pillar. His attempt to continue speaking was cut off abruptly, and he made a sound like a duck’s quack due to the sudden stop.
The words on the stone pillar had changed again.
Name: Not recorded.
Refined: Two.
“So fast?”
Wu Liuyun’s face turned red as if he had been slapped.
He had just claimed they wouldn’t choose wrongly, and that refining two would signify a genius. This individual had immediately proven him wrong.
“Two only shows moderate talent, far from being a real genius!” Wu Liuyun gritted his teeth, refusing to admit defeat. “I, too, once refined four Source Energies in a short time and made a name for myself..."
Just then, the awkward voice spoke again, “Ahem, it’s already four now!”
Wu Liuyun’s eyes twitched, wishing for a hole to crawl into.
The pillar’s record had indeed changed to four, glowing brightly.
In just a few breaths, this person had refined four Heaven's Fate Energies...
Were they really below the stage, not on it?
After a long pause, Wu Liuyun spoke again, "Absorbing scattered energy to reach seventh grade shows significant talent, but... what a pity!"
“Why do you say that, Second Elder?” A teacher asked curiously.
‘Seventh grade talent was impressive, why call it a pity?’
Wu Liuyun, with an air of superiority, explained, "The first absorption of Heaven's Fate Energy is most effective. The second is less so, and by the third time, it has little effect. Everyone knows this, right?"
Everyone nodded.
The reason new students underwent the Source Pool Assessment on stage was because of this.
Wu Liuyun continued, "The Nine Dragon Pillars, combined with the Destiny Disk, form an array to attract Heaven's Fate Energy and act as a barrier to prevent energy leakage. That’s why the assessments are held on stage. Outside, even if some energy leaks, it’s minimal. Altogether, it’s hard to gather even ten Heaven's Fate Energies..."
"This person has absorbed four in one go. I think it’s their limit. Even if they want to absorb more, there may not be enough energy! Their potential halted by lack of Source Energy... isn't it a pity?"
“That’s true…”
“What should we do? Can we help them somehow? Such a talent shouldn’t be wasted!”
Everyone showed anxious expressions.
If a genius were to be wasted because they weren’t chosen to go on stage first, it would be a great loss.
“It’s too late!” Wu Liuyun shook his head. “Four is probably their limit. It’s hard to progress further…”
Before he finished, the nine pillars began to glow simultaneously. The previously fixed numbers on the northern pillar suddenly changed, appearing on all the pillars and jumping wildly.
Five!
Six!
Ten!
Sixteen!
The speed was astonishing.
"..."
Wu Liuyun was completely stunned.
Was this still a Source Pool Assessment?
Who else could refine energy this quickly?
"Sixteen... that's a fifth-grade talent? And they reached fifth-grade without even getting on stage?"
Not only was Wu Liuyun frozen, but all the other teachers watching were also feeling overwhelmed. They had seen talented individuals before, but never this talented.
This wasn't refining energy anymore; this was robbery...
"It seems like... it hasn't reached the limit yet..."
Just as everyone was numb with shock, someone else shouted. Everyone looked up again, losing the will to speak.
The dazzling numbers on the Nine Dragon Pillars didn't stop at 16; they flickered and quickly jumped to 20, 30, 50...
In less than a minute, it reached 100!
"Could it be... that White Rock Academy is going to produce a first-grade genius?"
After an unknown amount of time, a trembling voice broke the silence in the Martial Arts Field.
A first-grade genius could refine 256 strands of Source Energy during the Source Pool Assessment. Although this person's number was still short, they were doing this from below the stage!
If they could forcefully absorb and refine over 100 strands off-stage, how hard would it be to reach 200 on stage?
"If we could take them as a student..."
Realizing this, everyone’s eyes lit up with excitement.
A first-grade super genius as a student... the teacher wouldn’t have to do anything and could still achieve great success.