Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 143
Chapter 143: Seven Tolls!
The first to take the test was Xia Yu.
He was Great Xia’s crown prince, and he was under thirty years of age too.
Xia Yu’s cronies were excited. Their eyes followed him as he slowly made his way up to the Spirit Gauging Bell. If Xia Yu could join a cultivator sect, they would benefit from his halo too.
Noble Consort Hua was nervous. The surrounding concubines consoled her, saying that Xia Yu could definitely join a cultivator sect. Noble Consort Hua slowly regained her composure before she glanced at the empress and said with a smile, “If only this happened earlier, your son might have survived.”
The surrounding concubines were horrified. She’s touching on a taboo topic!
Everyone knew that the empress didn’t have any offspring, but in truth, she did give birth to a child at one point, but her child died to a mysterious ailment. The Great Xia’s emperor put a lid on the matter, and no one mentioned that matter anymore.
The empress glanced at Noble Consort Hua and replied, “Know your place, Noble Consort Hua. Don’t make me slap you in front of so many immortals. It won’t look good on His Majesty, and it won’t look good on you either.”
“You!” Noble Consort Hua was infuriated. She reflexively glanced at Fang Chen, and a moment later, she burst into laughter. “Even Xia Imperial Duke has no choice but to sit obediently in front of the immortals. Do you dare to slap me here?”
“You wish to give it a try?” the empress coldly replied.
“You madwoman! I shan’t waste my time bickering with you!” Noble Consort Hua sneered before turning back to Xia Yu. My standing will rise as long as Xia Yu joins a cultivator sect!
Xia Yu stood before the Spirit Gauging Bell with a nervously-beating heart. He knew he was standing right before the doors to immortality. It was either make it or break it.
“Calm down,” Xia Yun said. “You’d have talent as a cultivator if you can evoke a toll from the Spirit Gauging Bell after striking it. One to three tolls indicate inferior talent. Four to six tolls indicate medium talent. Seven to nine tolls indicate superior talent. If you can evoke seven tolls, you would have no problem joining the South Heaven Sect.”
“Yes, Old Ancestor.” Xia Yu took a deep breath. He clenched his fist and hurled his fist forth.
Dong!
The Spirit Gauging Bell reverberated.
The crowd was thrilled. To think that the first person to take the test was already blessed with cultivation talent, although it was only one toll thus far.
Noble Consort Hua’s face lit up.
“Continue. Don’t stop,” Xia Yun bellowed.
Xia Yu struck the Spirit Gauging Bell again.
Dong!
Dong!
Elder Jinnan and the others nodded. “As expected of a place nourished by the Spirit Marrow. The first candidate is already able to evoke three tolls.”
They had gauged the talents of countless mortals thus far, but very few were able to evoke three tolls. Minor sects in Infernoblaze would readily take Xia Yu in even if he couldn’t evoke any more tolls from the Spirit Gauging Bell.
However, Xia Yu continued striking the Spirit Gauging Bell.
Dong!
This was the fourth toll, indicating that Xia Yu possessed medium cultivation talent.
The members of the imperial family, the scions, and the surrounding populace were overjoyed. Xia Yu was Great Xia’s crown prince, after all. The more talented he was, the better the position Great Xia was in.
“That fellow is able to induce four tolls?” Li Daoye was astounded. He turned to Fang Chen, but the latter was nonchalant about it, so he asked with a hushed voice, “Aren’t you worried at all?”
“What’s there to worry about?” Fang Chen replied with a smile.
Xia Yu’s expression grew increasingly brighter as he continued striking the Spirit Gauging Bell.
Dong!
The fifth toll!
Dong!
The sixth toll!
“Medium-upper cultivation talent!” Daoist Crow shot to his feet, only to sheepishly return to his seat when he saw how calm Elder Jinnan and the others were.
Elder Jinnan chuckled. “Medium-upper cultivation talent is not bad, but you shouldn’t forget that this is a land nourished by a Spirit Marrow. This won’t be the limit.”
Abbess Moonchaser nodded. Every sect would have been happy to take in a person with medium-upper cultivation talent had it been anywhere else, but this was a place nourished by a Spirit Marrow. There had to be more talented people here.
“I only managed to strike two tolls back then…”
Xia Yun looked at his great grandson and bitterly shook his head. If not for him offering an invaluable spirit herb to the South Heaven Sect and consuming spirit medicine over the years, he would probably have been stuck at fourth stage Ki Refinement cultivator.
Even so, he could vaguely sense that eighth stage Ki Refinement was already his limit. It was unlikely he would ever reach Foundation Establishment in his life.
Xia Yu sensed the gazes on him, and that made his head heat up. He instinctively let out a deafening roar as he struck the Spirit Gauging Bell once more.
Dong!
It was the seventh toll, indicating superior cultivation talent!
Elder Jinnan’s breathing hastened. For decades now, the South Heaven Sect hadn’t taken in any disciple possessing superior cultivation talent. In fact, the last one they took in was when a Spirit Marrow emerged in Infernoblaze.
Two individuals with top cultivation talent appeared then. One joined the South Heaven Sect, and the other joined the Beast Spirit Valley.
“I possess superior cultivation talent!” Xia Yu was overjoyed.
He hurled his fist at the Spirit Gauging Bell once more, but this time, it didn’t move or produce any sound. This caused his face to stiffen up.
Reluctant to accept the result, he hurled his fist at the Spirit Gauging Bell once more, but there was still no toll.
Xia Yun stepped forward and stopped him. “Don’t bother. The Spirit Gauging Bell won’t toll anymore unless you possess top cultivation talent.”
Xia Yu was slightly disappointed, but he quickly perked up when he remembered that he possessed superior cultivation talent. This meant that he could join a cultivator sect and embark on the path of immortality!
He hurriedly scanned the crowd and quickly found Fang Chen. He looked at the latter with predatory eyes as if a victorious general eyeing a defeated soldier.
The officials of the imperial court sensed Xia Yu’s gaze, and they shook their heads with conflicted hearts. Xia Yu would become a cultivator from this day onward, which would put him on a pedestal compared to Fang Chen.
They couldn’t help but wonder how Fang Chen would fare for the test.
“Not bad.” Elder Jinnan clapped. He turned to the crowd and asked, “Our South Heaven Sect will be taking in this disciple. Do you have any disagreements?”
“Elder Jinnan, why don’t you give him to our Beast Spirit Valley instead?” the farm lady holding an old hen asked.
Daoist Crow, Immortal Aunt Firecloud, and the others didn’t bother competing. They knew from the start that there was no way they could acquire anyone with superior cultivation talent.
“He won’t be the only one with superior cultivation talent. How about I give the next one to you?” Elder Jinnan smiled.
The farm lady holding an old hen pondered about it before nodding. “The next one will be ours even if they possess top cultivation talent. I’ll let you take him if you’re fine with that.”
Elder Jinnan hesitated. He spent a long moment in thought before finally making up his mind, “Fine, let’s do that.”
He turned to Xia Yu and said, “Come over to my side.”
“Quickly go over. That’s South Heaven Sect’s Elder Jinnan. Don’t forget your manners,” Xia Yun reminded him.
“Yes, Old Ancestor.” Xia Yu nodded. He quickly made his way up to Elder Jinnan and respectfully bowed. “Junior Xia Yu pays respect to Elder Jinnan.”
“Mm. You’ll follow me back to the South Heaven Sect and officially take me as your master after this matter is over.” Elder Jinnan nodded with a smile.
South Heaven Sect?
Xia Yu belatedly realized that he would have to leave Great Xia, and that would mean relinquishing his position as the crown prince.
“Are you reluctant to relinquish your position as the crown prince?” Elder Jinnan saw through Xia Yu’s thoughts. “Cultivators pursue eternity like the sun and the moon. Are you unable to put down secular affairs? How can mortal politics compare with the centuries of freedom cultivators enjoy?”
Indeed! It’s better to be able to live for centuries than to be the crown prince. I can always return to be the emperor whenever I want to after becoming a powerful cultivator. By then, Fang Chen will be nothing in my eyes!
Xia Yu’s eyes became heated. He hurriedly replied, “Elder, I’m willing to follow you to the South Heaven Sect.”
“Good.” Elder Jinnan smiled. He turned to Xia Yun and said, “Let’s continue.”
