I Can Fix My Talent in Hundred Lives-Chapter 239 - 197: Family Trivialities
Yunlan Mountain, a gentle breeze stirred a few yellow leaves, slowly landing on the plaza outside the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall.
In the center of the plaza, the Spirit Testing Pillar, which had stood for a hundred years, still retained a faint spirit light. The complex runes carved on its surface gradually dimmed, announcing the official end of this year’s family spirit testing.
Around the plaza, clusters of clan members began to disperse one by one.
The children who participated in the spirit testing were either beaming with joy—perhaps they had discovered good spiritual roots—or slightly crestfallen, kicking stones with their heads lowered as they hurried back to their residences.
Chen Xilong stood on the stone steps at the edge of the plaza, holding a pale green jade scroll in his hands.
The jade scroll was about half a foot long, with a warm texture, carved from Tier Three Spirit Jade. The edges were intricately engraved with cloud patterns, smooth and slightly cool to the touch.
It clearly recorded the names, ages, and spiritual root grades of all the clan members who participated in the spirit testing this year. Each piece of information was accompanied by a faint spirit light, indicating that the data had been locked by an array and could not be altered.
His brow slightly furrowed as he ran his finger lightly across the entry for "Lower Grade Spiritual Root," repeatedly scanning the latter half of the scroll’s contents, with a trace of unavoidable regret on his face—such aptitude would ultimately find it difficult to achieve greatness.
Just then, a brilliant golden light suddenly flashed across the sky, like a meteor cutting through the sky, carrying a strong mana fluctuation, and rapidly descending not far in front of Chen Xilong.
The golden light dissipated, gradually revealing the figure of Chen Sheng—he was dressed in a White Crane Daoist Robe, with the faint scent of lingering pill fire still clinging to his sleeves.
As Chen Xilong’s gaze fell upon Chen Sheng, an intense shock struck his heart—the aura around his father remained gentle as before, yet it was several times deeper than usual, unmistakably the aura of a Late-Stage Golden Core Cultivator!
He quickly collected his thoughts, holding the jade scroll tightly to his chest, and stepped forward respectfully with heightened excitement in his voice:
"Son pays respect to Father! Just now sensing Father’s aura, you’ve already broken through to the late-stage Golden Core, indeed a great joyous event! Son congratulates Father on advancing further in cultivation, drawing nearer to the Great Dao!"
His words were filled with awe and joy.
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, gently lifting his fingers, a gentle spiritual power supporting Chen Xilong’s arm, allowing him to stand up straight, he spoke softly:
"It’s merely a small breakthrough, no need for such formalities."
Chen Sheng’s gaze swept across the empty plaza and the Spirit Testing Pillar, with a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, he asked:
"Has today’s spirit testing just ended?"
"Indeed." Chen Xilong steadied himself and quickly replied:
"Elder brother went to the Northern Territory Sub-Branch to handle spiritual material trade affairs some days ago and has not yet returned, so this year’s spirit testing was presided over by me." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
As he spoke, he handed over the jade scroll: "This is the result of this year’s spirit testing, please have a look, Father."
Chen Sheng took the jade scroll, gathering a trace of weak spiritual power at his fingertips and injecting it into the scroll. It instantly glowed with a faint blue light, and the writings and data became vividly clear in his divine sense.
He read through them quickly, his brows remaining relaxed, without any fluctuations.
From the data, it was clear that this year, about two thousand clan members participated in the spirit testing, but the results were less than ideal.
A third of the children tested "No Spiritual Root," meaning they would never set foot on the path of cultivation, destined to remain mortals and settle in the Mortal Kingdom, where they might manage some mundane affairs and continue the family line.
The majority, however, had Lower Grade Spiritual Roots. Such roots cultivated slowly, and reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage would be difficult for them, mostly becoming peripheral cultivators of the clan, caring for the spirit fields or managing the market.
There were about three hundred Middle Grade Spiritual Roots, considered medium aptitude. With opportunity and resources, reaching Foundation Establishment was not an issue, and a few with outstanding talent might even strive for the Golden Core.
As for High Grade Spiritual Roots, the entire clan detected fewer than fifty, and among the second generation of the Chen Clan, the Earth Grade Spiritual Roots, once not uncommon, were nonexistent this time.
Standing on the side, Chen Xilong couldn’t help but add as he looked at Chen Sheng’s calm profile:
"Father, this year’s situation... one generation isn’t as good as the last. But fortunately, the number of children participating in the spirit testing has increased by nearly twenty percent compared to last year, so we found a few decent prospects."
His tone carried a hint of helplessness, as the path of cultivation, where spiritual root aptitude almost determined the starting line, meant that without a good aptitude, no matter the effort put in, it remained hard to catch up with those gifted geniuses.
It was like mortals climbing a mountain where others tread pathways, but those with poor aptitude could only struggle through thorn bushes.
Chen Sheng returned the jade scroll to Chen Xilong, his face remained indifferent, instead, he calmly spoke:
"No matter, spiritual roots are merely the beginning of cultivation, not the end."
Now holding the Myriad Phenomena Sources Return to Spirit Secret Skill, if he truly encountered a determined and talented junior being held back by their spiritual root, he definitely had the ability to enhance their aptitude.
This Myriad Phenomena Sources Return to Spirit Secret Skill was a heaven-defying opportunity, known only to him and Chen Xihua within the Chen clan.
Although Chen Xilong was unaware of the existence of this secret technique, he felt reassured by the confidence in his father’s words, and the calm and poised demeanor, as if a great burden had lifted from his heart.
"Son understands, the family is already doing as such."
Chen Xilong nodded immediately, his tone becoming lighter:
"For those Middle Grade Spiritual Roots with standout talent in Sword Dao, Alchemy Dao, or Array Dao, we have arranged for specialized clan elders to teach them. We’ve even customized cultivation plans, and provide additional Tier Three Spiritual Liquid and Low Tier Elixir Pills each month to assist in their training."
Hearing this, Chen Sheng’s eyes flashed with approval, adding:
"Hmm, well done, keep an eye on the situation. If there are truly exceptional children, whether in non-spiritual root talents that far exceed the norm or having a steadfast mentality to persist in adversity, they should be sent directly to Nine Cloud Peak. I shall personally nurture them."
After breaking through to the late-stage Golden Core, cultivation at the Golden Core Realm for him was merely a natural progression.
Next, Chen Sheng would devote more energy to the Alchemy Dao and Array Dao, aiming to reach Tier Four soon and garnering the sect’s resource attention.
This wasn’t a short-term project, and Chen Sheng was willing to allocate some attention to guide the juniors, as teaching could enhance learning, possibly yielding new insights.
This declaration, however, startled Chen Xilong’s heart as to him, his father was now in the late-stage Golden Core and just a step away from Nascent Soul.
Usually either in seclusion cultivating or concocting pills and accumulating resources, it was rare for him to personally instruct the juniors. His willingness to personally nurture indicated the high importance placed on such distinguished children.
Chen Xilong quickly nodded solemnly, speaking firmly:
"Son understands! We will not overlook any good seedlings! I will meticulously observe, carefully select each one, and not fail in Father’s trust!"
