Chapter 2579: Aptitude Test!

On Tianhui Peak, over two thousand ascendants gathered.

To be sure, the number of ascendants over the past ten years was far greater than this.

But among the ascendants, very few had managed to hold out until the arrival of the leaders.

Thus, the vast Zhenyang Heavenly Domain had only gathered these two thousand or so ascendants.

On the viewing platform halfway up the mountain, a few old men were whispering among themselves.

"Brother Qin, last time that girl Jingxuan was snatched away by you! This time, if there are any promising seedlings, you must not compete with me!"

"Heh, Old Man Wu, in every entrance assessment, only a few meet the affinity standard. Whether you can snatch them depends on your own skill! This, I cannot yield!"

"You! Fine! You old thing, this time we fight to the death!"

"Hehe... Old Man Wu, when it comes to alchemy, you're still a bit lacking. Who told you not to have my special skill!"

Old Man Wu fumed, his beard bristling, but he was helpless.

The two speakers were named Qin Shun and Wu Chengchao.

Both were Purple-Wing Protectors of Wuding Heavenly Sect, even higher in status than Luo Yunqing.

No other reason: they were third-rank celestial pharmacists!

In the Five Lights Heavenly Domain, third-rank celestial pharmacists were extremely scarce talents.

Only in a major sect like Wuding Heavenly Sect could one find third-rank celestial pharmacists!

The status of these two was thus evident.

However, while third-rank celestial pharmacists were rare, talents for celestial pharmacy were even rarer!

The innate conditions of ascendants were simply too weak; those who could reach the threshold of thirty affinity points were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

And thirty points was merely the threshold to become a celestial pharmacist!

To reach third-rank celestial pharmacist, without an affinity of fifty or above, don't even think about it.

In the sect assessment ten years ago, a genius disciple named Wen Jingxuan appeared with an affinity of fifty-nine.

Her appearance naturally sparked fierce competition between these two.

For this, they nearly came to blows.

But in the end, Wen Jingxuan chose the native celestial pharmacist Qin Shun.

This Qin Shun was a local celestial pharmacist.

Wuding Heavenly Sect had expended great effort and cost to recruit him.

At this moment, a protector announced in a clear voice: "You will pass through the formation ahead one by one; the formation will automatically discern your aptitude! Aptitude is divided into nine grades: lower-lower is the worst, upper-upper is the highest! If any of you has an aptitude of upper-upper, then congratulations, the Sect Master will personally accept you as a disciple! Of course, this is nearly impossible! All those who pass through the formation and are judged to be at least middle-upper may proceed to the next round! Alternatively, if your affinity reaches thirty points, you may also enter the Medicine Hall. The rest, go down the mountain! Now, the entrance assessment begins!"

For ascendants, those with an affinity of thirty or above were very few.

But it was not absolute.

In the lower realms, some people had special physiques, close to innate bodies, and their affinity could reach above thirty.

And often, these people were also outstanding in Dao comprehension talent.

Thus, ascendant celestial pharmacists were often martial arts experts.

Moreover, every few years, some extraordinary individuals would appear among these ascendants, with extremely abnormal affinity.

Like the previous session's Wen Jingxuan, whose affinity reached a terrifying fifty-nine points!

Even many native celestial pharmacists were not as high as her.

Such people could be called darlings of heaven.

And such people often had not cultivated long in the lower realms, almost bulldozing their way to ascension to the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Of course, prodigies as monstrous as Wen Jingxuan were extremely rare!

Precisely because of this, Qin Shun had always treasured her as a gem.

After all, Qin Shun's own affinity was only fifty-six points!

"I'll go first!"

A burly man stepped forward first.

This burly man wielded two battle-axes, and without deliberate activation, his presence was extremely intimidating.

One look and you knew he was not to be trifled with.

He came before the formation and said with a grin, "My two axes have slain until the Void God Realm lost its light! Arriving at Tai Ming Yu Wan Heaven, I'll slay gods and buddhas alike! With such aptitude, surely it's at least upper grade?"

The crowd of ascendants nodded repeatedly; this man exuded a powerful deterrent force and was definitely not easy to mess with.

If his aptitude didn't reach upper grade, it would be unreasonable.

But that protector gave an inscrutable smile.

The burly man didn't waste words and directly entered the formation.

The great array lit up, emitting rays of light.

The aptitude test was quick, taking no more than ten breaths, and the man came out.

After coming out, he looked expectantly at the light screen before the formation.

Soon, a line of text appeared on the screen.

Dao Body: Postnatal Dao Body.

Aptitude: Lower-Upper.

Affinity: Seventeen.

Everyone was dumbfounded!

"This... impossible! How could my aptitude be so poor? This formation must be faulty!" the man said incredulously.

The protector said calmly, "Whether you come from a great thousand world or a small thousand world, those are completely different levels of plane from the Thirty-Three Heavens! Here, no matter how powerful you were before, it's useless! Among you, there may be no clear distinction now, but once you enter the sect, the gap will soon widen! Even if you refuse to admit it, it won't work! Alright, go down the mountain!"

The man gritted his teeth and said, "I won't accept this! This formation must be faulty!"

The protector was not angry, evidently having encountered this situation too many times.

He just smiled faintly and said, "Yun Qing, go."

At this, a young man dressed in outer disciple attire descended gracefully and came before the burly man.

The protector said calmly, "He entered the sect ten years ago, with only middle-upper aptitude. His current realm is only mid-level Lesser Extreme Heaven! You are one minor realm higher; if you can defeat him, I will allow you to enter the sect."

The burly man's gaze sharpened, and he grinned, "You said that!"

The protector nodded faintly, "I said it."

The burly man looked at Yun Qing like a tiger eyeing a child.

He chuckled, "Senior Brother, if you get hurt, don't blame me!"

Yun Qing smiled faintly, "Just make your move!"

Swish!

Before the words faded, the battle-axe had already swung out.

The momentum felt as if it would split the earth in two.

The ascendants were all gloating, thinking the protector was ridiculous.

They, each of them battle-hardened, how could they be defeated by someone of a lower rank?

Clang!

Yun Qing's sword left its sheath, meeting the terrifying battle-axe head-on.

Even more frightening, he effortlessly parried it!

Everyone was stunned!

So strong!

The ensuing battle left all the ascendants utterly astonished.

The burly man lost the first move and was completely suppressed by Yun Qing.

After ten moves, signs of defeat appeared.

At thirteen moves, the battle-axe was directly knocked away!

The burly man was defeated!

"How is this possible? That Yun Qing is actually this strong!"

"I've fought that burly man; he's extremely powerful, yet he only lasted thirteen moves!"

"Is this the gap in talent?"

...

The ascendants were all incredulous.