"Flap! Flap!"
While lost in thought, Vlad failed to notice when the massive Crane took to the skies. Standing on the top of its bus-sized head was Elder Fu, who looked like a wizened Sage, his spirit and poise something to admire for the ant-like existences below.
"Assistant Hao, you take over," he projected his voice, causing the air to ripple. "I have some Alchemy matters I need to attend to."
"O-Of course, Elder Fu!" Assistant Hao, a stout middle-aged man, replied with a tone of appeasement. He was already beyond grateful that someone with a status as esteemed as Elder Fu would deign to come to these low-level parts and give a brief.
Forcing him to stay any longer would just be outright disrespectful.
Being in the Peak Body Refinement Realm, Assistant Hao could also be considered a powerhouse. However, in comparison to Elder Fu, he was akin to a firefly staring up at the sun. Even if a thousand of him were to go against the Elder, he'd still lose.
Speeding off into the distance atop his domineering mount, Elder Fu left everyone in a daze. When they finally snapped out of it, many of them were suddenly filled with a newfound will to fight.
They wanted strength like his; they wanted to be powerful and haughty as well!
"Let me at em! I'll tackle all three of these Trials, no problem!"
"I've never been so fired up! Let's start already!!"
"No matter how difficult the Entry Trials are, I'm not returning back home unless I become an Immortal Cultivator!"
In Primordius, without the proper guidance or cultivation technique, the furthest anyone could ever progress to would be the Peak of the Body Refinement Realm – and only the most talented of Mortals could achieve that. To go any further was impossible, no matter how much talent you possessed.
That meant this was their chance! Their chance to alter their insignificant destinies with their own two hands!
"It seems that the majority of you are ready, so why don't we kick things off right away?"
Assistant Hao, who was also known as Entry Elder Hao, moved like a blur. He returned no more than five seconds later, carrying a huge pillar and crystal atop his shoulders. He planted the pillar into the ground with ease, then he tossed the large crystal in front of the thousands of participants. They were greatly startled by this sequence of actions, some of them even stumbling back in fear when the crystal flew toward them.
"Thud!" The huge Crystal also planted itself into the earth. Elder Hao flickered beside it in the same instant, slapping it while saying, "This little guy is the Testing Aptitude Stone. It's a bit chunky because it's of a low quality, but it'll work just fine for you young-ins. As for the Pillar–the Strength Pillar–we'll get to that after the First Trial is finished."
'Well damn, even this baldy is far stronger than I am.' Vlad was less interested in the Aptitude Stone and more keen on gauging the true limits of a 12th Layer Body Refinement Realm Cultivator like Elder Hao.
Noticing his gaze, Ning Yue took the opportunity to speak to him some more. "My Family has a few of those Stones. If you promise to return with me as my slave, I wouldn't mind giving you one."
"Hmm? Are you speaking to me, woman?" Vlad asked, barely maintaining interest in her existence.
Ning Yue huffed. She crossed her slender arms under her large breasts and snorted, "I didn't say anything. But if you'd like to continue talking to me, I wouldn't mind-…"
"Alright, then I have better things to do," Vlad interjected, his feet already in motion as he got in line for the Aptitude Stone.
"…"
Ning Yue was speechless.
When had she ever proactively spoken to a man before? And yet, the first time she does, she's plainly rejected like some sort of object that can be used for some fun and discarded at will!
Despite her apparent infuriation, the goofy grin on her face and her sensual thigh rubbing betrayed her true thoughts.
Elder Mo saw this and shook his head. He heavily sighed, thinking, 'What will the Lady of the House have to say about this when she finds out? I just hope she doesn't reduce my salary because of it…'
Meanwhile, at the Aptitude Stone, Vlad watched intently as participants approached the crystal and placed their hands on it. Seeing them act so nervous, his curiosity for his own cultivation talent grew.
Was he a hidden dragon with unparalleled talent!?
Or would he turn out to be trash, his talent little more than a desolate desert…?
BLING!
The first of the Participants reached out and touched the Aptitude Stone, causing it to emit a dim blue glow.
"Lowest Mortal-ranked Cultivation Talent. Fail."
Elder Hao's neutral voice crushed the scrawny young man who went first. He immediately regretted his impulsiveness, for his defeated walk of shame was paid attention to by thousands.
By the time he reached the edge of the crowd, he was in tears. He sprinted away from the scene, returning home a as failure.
The next participant, nervous after witnessing the previous guy's spectacular defeat, stepped up to the Aptitude with sweaty palms. He tried his best to steady his breath as he un-balled his right hand and placed it on the giant crystal.
This time, the Aptitude Stone emitted a level of luminosity that exceeded your average lightbulb. This received a positive reaction from Elder Hao as he slightly nodded.
"Mid Mortal-ranked Cultivation Talent. Pass."
"Wow! A Mid Mortal-ranked Cultivation Talent!"
"That almost puts him at the level of an Outer Disciple, doesn't it!?"
Hearing the chattering around him, the chunky fatty that just got tested turned his nose up in pride. His demeanor had completely changed from just a second ago, his talent instantly going to his head.