The elders around Leerum and the Vertuold Augury stone all nodded their heads. They praised this youngster, especially considering he was not a child of noble birth. Very few have ever been able to defeat a Murder Crow hatchling, and the growth potential of this younger generation member could be said to be unmatched.
Leerum smiled and bowed to the Elders before walking off the stage, which made several of them nod in approval. In contrast, Shamaner only smiled in an unreadable way.
After Leerum, everyone else went up with different talents ranging from 3 to 5 stars, with only nine others having five stars and amazing Ancestral Guardian Spirits. Last up was another well-known member of the younger generation, Zeal SwordTooth, who had 6 stars of talent and the dreadful Winged Vampire Kangaroo variant that was just as shocking as Leerum's and Alastair's results.
The testing ended as a high elder walked up and told all the participants to get their share of resources based on their results at the auxiliary treasury. He also said that Shamaner had made his decision and would contact those he had picked.
Kimarya followed the crowd to the auxiliary treasury before being approached by a quiet and awkward Leerum. He started saying "Hey…" before Kimarya interrupted him. "Save it. The less attention I get, the better. Just don't let it become a habit, or I'll consider it a serious offense against me. Oh, and now you owe me another favor!". She smiled while narrowing her eyes.
Leerum involuntarily gulped at her threat. He wasn't sure why someone who had yet to cultivate could be so intimidating. He nodded his head in agreement and started talking to Kimarya. "Right now, we're going to pick up some resources, which are 300 exemplary grade energy Jades and 20 blessed grade energy jades! We can also choose two exemplary items!"
Kimarya muttered in her head, "Sunny?"
"Based on our information, there are 7 levels of energy Jades, which function as both the currency of this world and energy resource that contain massive amounts of natural energy that are also used as power sources.
The energy jade grades are:
Exemplary Grade
Blessed Grade
Sacred Grade
Holy Grade
Energy Jades are naturally occurring precious stones containing dense amounts of natural energy. They are typically found deep underground or in special areas containing a high concentration of energy for many years, allowing them to grow.
Kimarya smiled and internally thanked Sunny, who she felt gave a smug smile toward Sasquatch who immediately started to grumble and bicker with Sunny as Kimarya tuned them out and paid attention to Leerum who was moving her through the small crowd of other kids who had just taken the test.
Kimarya was also excited to see what items the treasury would have and if they would help her initiation into cultivation, so she allowed herself to be led by Leerum.
When they got there, they could see that everyone was there. Though most of the attention was focused on Alastair and Zeal. Some of it was drawn towards Leerum and Kimarya when they arrived.
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Alastair only gave an arrogant smile at Leerum as if to mock this commoner from a lowly family in decline who dared try to climb up on a pedestal that he was born to reign on. Zeal gave a quick glance at Leerum and Kimarya before ignoring them and even Alastair.
Alastair seemed to be the crowd's favorite, as he wasn't cold to those that approached to fawn over him, unlike Zeal, but also from a prestigious and noble family called the Salpan. Zeal was from a very ancient and powerful family line known as the SwordTooth clan, so even with his haughty arrogance that puts no one in his sights, many people still crowded around him, although at a greater distance than those around Alastair.
Some other kids on the outskirts went over to say hello to Leerum and establish good ties with him. He came from an ancient but vastly deteriorating family that lost its qualifications and the great honor for their younger generation to qualify as chosen for several generations already.
Leerum was much more humble than Zeal and more approachable than Alastair, so he got along well with several of them. Kimarya herself was approached by one or two people. One girl named Dara Voidspire approached Kimarya.
Like everyone, she seemed to be around 13 years old. She had long hair that went past her shoulders. She wore several gemstones on her many necklaces and bracelets and gave the impression of a comfortable yet quirky and cheerful person.
As they arrived at the treasury, Kimarya was genuinely excited to choose. Walking in individually, they were handed a small spatial bag or ring with ingredients and other unique items. Alistair peered into his bag before smugly handing it to a lackey, saying it was not something that could reach his eyes. Zeal didn't even glance at or accept the spatial bag offered to him as if nothing offered was even worth his consideration.
Soon, it was Kimarya's turn. Considering she already had the spatial bag Leerum gave her, she decided to receive a ring instead of another bag and slipped it onto her left pointer finger. For many of those who finished the trial, this was their first spatial item, and they were very excited even before considering the rewards within.
After everyone else received either a bag or ring, they met an elder who managed the treasury. The elder handed each three glowing slips of paper with runes drawn on them and explained that they were necessary for them to remove weapons or items from a rack. They explained that everyone must place the paper on the item to be able to remove it and that it only worked for items on the first four floors. Obviously, they could only get one item per slip of paper.
As everyone split off into a few different groups, a large one centered around Alistair headed in one direction, and another group of three, two girls and one boy, made their way into a side row. Naturally, Kimarya was one of the girls, the other Dara, and the boy was Leerum, who cheerfully chatted with Dara.
The two knew each other and grew up as good friends. Luckily, Leerum didn't allow Kimarya to be excluded from their conversation as he excitedly pointed out weapons and their properties. It seemed like Leerum and Dara were weapons fanatics. Kimarya saw that the floors of the treasury were genuinely massive, to the point that they never bumped into more people, choosing items as they browsed through.
Leerum asked Kimarya, "What kind of weapons are you thinking of choosing?"
Kimarya stopped to think. I've never held a weapon in my life besides a stun gun or a toy at laser tag.
Kimarya responded to Leerum, " Are there any of those that fire projectiles, like a bow or crossbow?"
Leerum stopped to think for a second before he was playfully knocked on the head by Dara, who giggled as she said, "Idiot, why are you thinking so long? Of course, there are. A sign up ahead even says projectile weapons." She turned to Kimarya and said, "Come, follow your big sister!"
Leerum quietly followed behind the two, muttering to himself, wondering why she seemed so unfamiliar with something so well known?
Kimarya was starting to really like Dara. She learned that Dara is a severe, in-your-face fighter who quickly rushes into combat, with a straightforward attitude to match, and who also cherishes friendship. Kimarya also learned that her Ancestral Guardian Spirit was the deadly nightmare panther, a great choice with a mighty constitution and one of the best growth potentials seen in the present.