I blinked, staring at the system's panel and notification as it flickered in the corner of my vision.
[Na: Michael
Age: 22
Cultivation Talent: Nil
Cultivation Realm: Nil
Wishes: On cooldown (2 days)
Current Qi: 500
Skills:
1. Everlasting Renewal:
Description: Grants continuous regeneration with an initial base rate of 1. The regeneration rate increases linearly ( 1, 1, 1) when the user is injured until fully healed. Also includes agelessness.
2. Qi Compression: Explosive Art:
Description: Allows the user to compress Qi to absurd amounts, creating explosions. Tiers range from 1 to Void Collapse, with escalating power based on compression level.]
Everything looked fine, except for that annoying "nil talent" part. But no worries—two more days and I could use my wish to fix that. Just two more days of surviving, and then I'd have the talent I needed to play the ga these people were obsessed with.
Still sitting in the room, I glanced at Kael, who had been staring out the window, lost in his own thoughts. His crimson-red eyes, a striking contrast to his otherwise rugged appearance, seed to carry the weight of more secrets than he was willing to share.
"You're worried about the sect test, aren't you?" Kael asked, still not turning away from the window.
"Not worried," I lied with a shrug, trying to keep it cool. "Just curious. Talent seems to be a big deal here."
He let out a soft chuckle, though there was an edge to it. "It's more than a big deal. Talent defines everything. Your starting point, your future... and the way people look at you. Those with high talent are destined for greatness, while the rest fight for scraps."
I mulled it over. The system had already made it clear: I had no cultivation talent. But with my wish cooldown nearly up, I wasn't panicking yet. Talent might be the ticket in this world, but I had a golden cheat code—my system.
"So what's the asure here? How do they figure out who gets in, and who gets kicked to the curb?" I asked, still feigning nonchalance.
Kael finally turned to face . "There are five grades. Grade 1's the lowest—barely enough to scrape by. Grade 5? That's reserved for the prodigies. The ones everyone bets on to reach the highest realms of cultivation. The sect only accepts those with so form of talent, so if you're Grade 1, you're in a tough spot. Below that?" He paused, giving a hard look. "Nil? You're essentially considered... expendable. No sect would waste resources on soone who can't cultivate."
Expendable? Well, that's just lovely.
"That's... harsh." I tried to keep my voice neutral, but the idea of being labeled expendable just because of so talent ter didn't sit well with . Even so, I didn't feel the panic I probably should've. I wasn't entirely at the rcy of this world's arbitrary system.
Kael's eyes softened slightly, as if he understood more than he let on. "You survived this far, and that's already saying sothing. But yes, talent is the difference between life and death here." He glanced at . "Especially in a place like the Heaven Crushing Sect."
I blinked. "Heaven... Crushing Sect?" I parroted, trying not to laugh at the absurdly over-the-top na. These guys really loved their dramatic titles, didn't they?
Kael nodded. "It's the ruling sect of the Southern Continent. You could say they control everything here—politics, resources, the flow of power. They're a powerful force. But they're also selective. Only those with enough potential are allowed in. The weak and talentless..." He trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence.
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "And what exactly do they crush? Heaven itself?"
Kael actually smiled, a rare thing from him. "In a way. The sect's doctrine is built on surpassing the heavens, defying fate, and reaching the pinnacle of cultivation. But they don't take just anyone. Their standards are incredibly high."
"So... it's the top dog of sects, and I'm guessing they're not fond of outsiders?"
He gave a short nod. "Correct. The Heaven Crushing Sect doesn't care about your background, but they care a lot about your potential. You'll be tested—thoroughly. And if you don't asure up, they won't hesitate to cast you aside."
"Right," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "Just your typical do-or-die scenario, huh?"
Kael leaned forward, a glint of seriousness in his eyes. "It's more than that, Michael. They are looking for people who can thrive in this brutal world. You'll face beasts, rival cultivators, the very elents of nature... all while being asured for your worth."
I swallowed the growing pit in my stomach. "No pressure then." My gaze flicked back to my system panel.
[Na: Michael
Age: 22
Cultivation Talent: Nil
Cultivation Realm: Nil
Wishes: On cooldown (2 days)
Current Qi: 500
Skills:
1. Everlasting Renewal
2. Qi Compression: Explosive Art]
Nil talent. No realm. But at least I had sothing—500 Qi and two solid skills. That, and two days until my wish would let change everything.
"You don't seem too concerned," Kael observed, studying my expression. "Most would be a lot more anxious."
I shrugged. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. Don't worry about ."
He raised an eyebrow, a warning glint in his crimson eyes. "Confidence is good, but don't let it blind you. This world doesn't take kindly to overconfidence. You'll need more than cleverness to survive."
"Noted," I said, rising from my bed. "So, what's the plan? When do we head out?"
"Tomorrow," Kael replied. "The testing grounds are a few days' journey from here. Once we arrive, your fate will be decided."
I gave him a smirk. "Fate, huh?"
Little did he know, I wasn't leaving things entirely up to fate. Two days. That's all I needed to flip the script.
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Thank you for joining Michael on his journey so far! I want to let you know that the upcoming Chapters will definitely get better as Michael reaches the sect, even the world willseem fleshed out, I promise things are about to get even more intense and engaging. Stay tuned for the ride ahead!
Thank you.
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