Chapter 28: Ancestor 1 - Jin Wuyuan 0

A few elders exchanged knowing looks and sighed. Some disciples in the distance whispered among themselves, suppressing their laughter.

Long Chen’s fingers curled into a fist, frustration welling within him. Why?!

Jin Wuyuan scoffed. “A waste of time.” He turned to the Sect Master. “I thought you had standards. To allow someone like this to stand here… laughable.”

The Sect Master maintained a calm exterior, but inwardly, he was perplexed. Why wouldn’t the talent stone respond? Clearly, Long Chen was a true prodigy, having reached the Sixth Level of Qi Condensation in just a month.

He wasn’t offended by Jin Wuyuan’s insult regarding his standards. If anything, Jin Wuyuan’s suspicion hinted that he, too, wondered if Long Chen was the sect’s destined one.

Jin Meiyu remained silent, her gaze unreadable.

Long Chen gritted his teeth. No. I can’t let it end like this.

Then, in that moment of desperation, his master’s voice echoed in his mind.

[Relax. Focus. Channel your Qi differently. You’re forcing it too much. Let the stone recognize you naturally.]

Taking a deep breath, Long Chen calmed his turbulent thoughts and followed his master’s instructions. This time, he didn’t force his Qi outward but instead allowed it to flow inward, as though he were communicating with the stone rather than compelling it to respond.

Although his master had advised him, a subtle action went unnoticed—within the ring he wore, a soul stirred. It extended a wisp of its essence, merging with Long Chen’s finger. A faint, spectral hand reached just beyond his palm.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

Buzz!

A faint hum vibrated from the Talent Stone. It was weak, almost imperceptible, yet enough to make a few elders widen their eyes.

The hum gradually intensified, and tiny inscriptions flickered to life on the stone’s surface—though nowhere near the overwhelming radiance Jin Meiyu had produced earlier.

The Sect Master’s eyes sharpened. “This…”

Jin Wuyuan narrowed his gaze. “A hidden talent?”

The Talent Stone never reacted without reason. Even a weak response signified potential.

“Not bad,” the Sect Master finally said, nodding. “It seems Long Chen does possess some talent.”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Though the display was underwhelming compared to Jin Meiyu’s, the fact that the Talent Stone had initially refused to react and then did so moments later was… unusual.

Jin Meiyu finally spoke. “What does this mean, Sect Master?”

The Sect Master smiled. “It means that Long Chen may not be as ordinary as we once thought.”

Jin Wuyuan, however, remained unimpressed. “Perhaps, but he is still nothing compared to you, Meiyu’er.”

Long Chen clenched his jaw but did not retort. He wasn’t foolish enough to challenge Jin Wuyuan’s words directly. Instead, he turned to Jin Meiyu, his eyes steady. “Senior Sister Jin, it seems I am not completely talentless after all.”

Jin Meiyu blinked, caught slightly off guard by his direct address. Then, after a moment, a small smile curved her lips. “Perhaps not.”

Jin Wuyuan frowned at their exchange but said nothing.

Sensing the tension, the Sect Master clapped his hands. “Very well. Long Chen, you will be reassigned to the inner sect. Your progress will be observed closely.”

Given Long Chen’s rapid advancement, comparable to core disciples, this decision was justified.

“I am Bai Xu, Sect Master of the Hidden Dragon Sect,” he announced.

Bai Xu had been observing Long Chen’s reactions carefully, noting how the young man composed himself after each interruption.

Long Chen bowed deeply. “Thank you, Sect Master.”

Though he felt a flicker of embarrassment, Long Chen quickly steadied himself, his thick skin allowing him to recover with ease.

As he turned to leave, he could feel Jin Wuyuan’s piercing gaze lingering on his back.

One thing was certain—he had drawn attention today.

Whether that was a blessing or a curse, only time would tell.

ONE MONTH LATER

Time slowed for no one.

Both sorrow and joy passed like fleeting clouds.

Xu Mo had now lost his sense of hearing. The Sect Master himself had visited upon hearing that Xu Mo was no longer eating properly, his body growing thinner by the day.

Xu Mo had also lost his sense of smell. The world felt duller than ever. He explained to the Sect Master that this was all part of comprehending the technique imparted to him by the entity in his dreams.

A month earlier, another bout of agony had struck him—he had collapsed, rolling on the ground as an inexplicable headache wracked his mind. But this time, he heard something. A strange sound. He had a feeling that whatever it was, it was closely linked to the entity in his dreams.

When Xu Mo regained consciousness the next day, he found himself lying in the exact same spot.

Oddly, he was relieved to have lost his sense of smell. At least now, he was spared the stench of the filthy, unkempt cells around him.

Yet, the loneliness within him deepened. He had once felt it at twenty percent. Now, it had reached forty. And he knew—once it reached a hundred, a decision would be made. Would he continue his journey, or would he fall into the abyss… into the gentle embrace of death?

FIVE MONTHS LATER

One by one, Xu Mo lost all five senses.

Now, he was blind, deaf, unable to taste, smell, or even feel anything with his touch.

Somehow, he managed with the assistance of male attendants. Losing his sense of touch had been the final step. He no longer knew who entered his cell, who spoke to him, or what was happening around him. His world had truly become void.

Even when he was only blind and deaf, he could at least navigate by feeling the ground and mapping his surroundings in his mind. He had spent months memorizing every corner of his cell, training himself to move like a blind man.

By now, he had the entire cell mapped out in his mind.

Slowly, his consciousness began to fade. There was no light in his world—only darkness. And yet, his heart was strangely calm. Perhaps it was because he knew this was part of the trial. Soon, he would regain everything he had lost.

Yes. Talents.

Over these five months, Xu Mo had come to understand something profound.

A mortal is already blessed by the Creator.

Yet, we take those gifts for granted and ask for more.

[The Initial Trial - The Whisper of Power]

[Is starting.]