[Duan Jie]

[Child of the Duan family]: Born into the Duan family, children are considered as such until they reach 15 years of age and attend the talent awakening ceremony.

[Lifespan: 15/70]

[Cultivation: none]

[Cultivation talent: ???] (Unawakened)

[Skills]:

[System]: Grants the user the ability to see specific information about himself. As system proficiency increases, the user may also analyze other people, and gain system-related abilities, skills and items.

[???]: (Will reveal when cultivation talent is awakened)

...

'It's today!'

'The talent awakening ceremony!'

Duan Jie had been looking forward to starting his cultivation life. He reincarnated in this body after suddenly dying on earth, where he was a normal university student. Up until today he was a normal child in the Duan family. He tried his best to seem like one, despite his mental age being that of an adult's.

Generally within the Shining Amber sect, Duan Jie was seen as a genius. His maturity and understanding of the world around him caught the eye of several elders, and was thought to be one of the geniuses that would vanguard the rise of the Duan family, and a future elder of the Shining Amber sect.

'This kid...'

'How can he have such a demeanor?'

'Good! It was about time the Duan family had a genius!'

Many such comments were made as he was growing up. In cultivation, there was a general correlation between a person's intellect and physical ability with their cultivation talent. Not all intelligent people had cultivation talent, though, and neither do all the ones with good physical prowess. However there was a very clear correlation, and when there was an exceptional child, they were noticed and hyped up in an attempt to gain their favor if they did awaken an incredible talent.

"Attention, all members of the Shining Amber sect!" shouted the elder Xiao Je, his voice like a thunder. "The 275th Shining Amber talent awakening ceremony is about to begin!"

People were excited and began to crowd around the small stadium. A line of children at the age of 15 was waiting for their moment to awaken their talent.

"As you know, a cultivator's talent is the single most important defining factor for their future. In our Southern Valleys continent, talents are divided into 4 levels: Red, Yellow, Orange and Green. Within each level, there are the Opaque Light, Medium Light, and Bright Light levels!"

One student raised their hand, "But elder, aren't there other cultivation talents? In the legends, there are mentions of Blue, and even Magenta talent levels!"

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This question raised a small commotion among the crowd. Xiao Je replied, "Student, you are correct. However, in our Southern Valleys continent, there hasn't been a single Blue talent in 150 years, and we have never seen a Magenta talent since the founder of this very sect left the continent 260 years ago."

'A Magenta level genius! Truly worthy of being the Shining Amber sect leader!' People chattered, but Xiao Je continued: "Regardless, it is very unlikely that we will see such a level of talent in this sect, or in this entire continent, for quite some time. So don't get your hopes up."

In the Southern Valleys continent, 40% of people awakened an Opaque Light Red talent, the lowest of low. With such a low talent, they could breach the 3rd layer of the Body Tempering stage, but it was uncommon. 25% of people awakened a Medium Light Red, and the difference was like night and day. These cultivators could much more effectively absorb the power of Qi, and their prospects were less predictable. On average, they would reach the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation, but there were records of such cultivators reaching Foundation Establishment.

Of the remaining 35%, 20% awakened Bright Light Red, and 10% awakened some level of the Yellow lights. Of the remaining 5%, 4% would awaken Orange, and only less than 1% would awaken the legendary Green lights!

Given Duan Jie's genius, he was expected to awaken an Orange light, and no one dared to assume he would awaken less than Bright Yellow Light. He knew he wasn't truly a genius, since his mind was not really his body's, he knew his talent was unpredictable.

'Please, just don't give me the Opaque Red Light. If it's anything else, my system will make up for it!'

The difference between the Opaque Red Light and the Medium Red Light could not be understated. It was the difference between being able to become a cultivator, albeit with great difficulties, or staying as a Body Tempering trash forever.

"The Talent Awakening Ceremony, begins!"

Duan Jie was at the back of the line, so he could only watch as others got their results.

"Junior, place your hand on the Crystal Jade Sphere and pour your Qi into it."

...!

The Jade glowed Yellow! It was actually the Opaque Yellow Light!

"Good, good! We're off to a good start!" Xiao Je laughed while stroking his beard.

Teng Ma was shaking. 'It's the Opaque Yellow Light? Incredible!'

An Opaque Yellow Light meant that he would have a guaranteed spot in the Inner Sect of the Cultivation Pavilion as soon as he reached Foundation Establishment. This was great news!

"Next!"

...

"Opaque Red Light. Next!"

"...What?" Teng Nan complained.

The elder replied, "It's the Opaque Red Light. You do not have aptitude for cultivation. Next!"

In shock, Teng Nan was alarmed and complained again: "Wait! Let me try again!"

He infused his Qi into the sphere again, and the result was the same.

"Sigh. The sphere doesn't make mistakes. There's no need for anyone to infuse their Qi twice. Now scram! Next!"

Teng Nan's eyes looked dead. He had planned cultivating along his brother Teng Ma for his entire life, and now with the difference in cultivation talent between the two, the illusion was shattered and his dreams were broken.

"Brother Nan..." Teng Ma didn't know what to say. The heavens can be ruthless...

...

"Medium Red Light!"

"Bright Red Light!"

"Opaque Red Light!"

...

"Next, Yang Lue!"

Yang Lue walked up to the stage, looking confident and smug. He was the pride of the Yang family and was not expected to be a trash. He had been superior to his siblings and peers in his studies, and also beat them in fights. He was considered to be one of the Shining Amber's potential future prodigies alongside Duan Jie.

'Duan Jie, Xiao Li, today I will show you how I am worthy of being the Yang family's pride, and the honor of the Shining Amber sect!'

As he infused his Qi into the sphere...!

This...!

This is actually the Bright Orange Light!

'A genius! There is finally a genius in this Talent Awakening Ceremony!'

'Am I seeing things? Is this the Bright Orange Light? Only a very few people awaken such a light!'

People in the crowd were astonished. Finally a great talent among the students! A Bright Orange Light was no less than what was expected of Yang Lue's genius!

...

Eventually, Duan Jie's turn came up.