章 22: Aptitude

Following Ling Huan inside the Heavenly Sword Villa, Tatsuya encountered different things that he hasn't seen yet. They went under different inspection, and Ling Huan even claimed that this was the lightest treatment for talented disciples like himself.

Tatsuya then realized just how big the gap is between the Four Major Sects from other organizations within the Blue Wind Empire. He even thought that maybe even the latter sects can't compare to the Heavenly Sword Villa's customs.

"Follow me, I'll guide into the entrance hall. They will test your cultivation realm and aptitude there."

Tatsuya heard Ling Huan's voice devoid of any emotion, as the other two that previously accompanied them had already dispersed. Tatsuya could sense different heavy energies and powerful intents everywhere, which he couldn't sense from the places he had already gotten to.

"Don't worry about those energies. The villa has a gigantic formation diagram that isolates those energies from going berserk. If the energy just so happened to surpass the formation diagram's restriction, we have over twenty Sky Profound Realm cultivators here."

Ling Huan noticed Tatsuya's attention towards the energies around them. He voluntarily went ahead and explained the reason, to somehow ease Tatsuya's concerns or even worries. What he didn't know is that Tatsuya was merely interested, but not threatened by such weak energies.

"The villa has four different regions that isolate each other. In the center, lie the strongest cultivators that our Villa could offer. Following the center are the Core Region, Inner Region, and Outer Region. I assume that you could already deduce what these three regions meant."

Ling Huan quickly glanced at the expressionless Tatsuya behind him. Since, he had already begun speaking; he thought that it will be better to explain crucial things to Tatsuya. After all, he is pretty confident that Tatsuya will get accepted.

"To get accepted within the villa, the newcomers must first possess at least 1st stage of True Profound Realm. If they met that first requirement, they will be granted the right to become an outer disciple. However, there is still another test that could change your arrangement."

Tatsuya just quietly listened to Ling Huan, as they both walked towards the entrance hall. They just walked in a leisurely manner, without minding the stares directed at them. Specifically, the stares were directed at Ling Huan. They all stared at him with admiration and reverence on their face.

"Your aptitude will get tested. Further information is classified, and I can't tell you any more about it."

"Thank you, Ling Huan. So, where are you assigned?"

"Me? I'm an inner disciple."

Tatsuya realized the reason why the people around them, were staring at Ling Huan with admiration and reverence written on their face. It must be because that those people are outer disciples.

(If an inner disciple already has this much strength, how strong are the core disciples?)

Tatsuya thought to himself, trying to waste quite some time on thinking. After all, he knew that this kind of rankings is way too broken. Even at the New Moon Profound Palace, a Nascent Profound Realm cultivator is already a talent…

Either way, Tatsuya is confident that he is undefeatable under the Earth Profound Realm. Currently, he has the molecular structure of the cultivators under that realm, making him undefeatable.

It was a pity that Tatsuya wasn't able to analyze the molecular structure of the middle-aged man that interfered on their fight. Just from that aura and the capability of flight, that middle-aged man must be someone of the ranks of Sky Profound Realm.

"We have arrived."

Ling Huan halted his steps, and soon Tatsuya followed too. They stood before a gigantic hall filled with strange ancient texts. An old man with a big belly sat within the center of the hall. He didn't have any trace of profound energy, seemingly like a mortal.

"Elder, we have a newcomer."

Ling Huan cupped both his fists, while bowing in a respectful manner towards the fat old man. The arrogance that he previously showed to Tatsuya, completely vanished without any trace. Only reverence could be traced on his face.

"Mm. Someone just sent a young man here. Looks like I'm going to test two newcomers today, huh."

"Elder, please excuse myself."

"You may leave. As for you, stand beside that young man."

The fat old man turned his gaze at Tatsuya. In that instant, Tatsuya felt a scrutinizing gaze land upon himself. Despite that, no ripples appeared on his expression, as if everything doesn't really matter to him.

The fat old man soon lifted his brows. He realized that Tatsuya only possessed 1st stage of True Profound Realm cultivation. He was expecting more, as Ling Huan personally guided Tatsuya here.

"Anyway, my name is Ling Kunlan. I'm the one responsible for testing the newcomer's cultivation and talent. You, place your hand in this ball!"

Ling Kunlan looked at the youth beside Tatsuya, while holding a strange ball that lacked any light. The youth chuckled and approached the fat elder.

The fat elder noticed the confidence on the youth, as he nodded in appreciation. After all, he felt that this young man is interesting and worth of his attention. This young man possesses 5th stage of Spirit Profound Realm cultivation which Ling Kunlan appreciated.

"This junior is named Gu Long. This junior dreams of becoming the strongest sword user under the heaven!"

Before the youth had even touched the ball, he suddenly declared his dream to the fat elder. Confidence emitted from his face, as Ling Kunlan frowned a bit.

Tatsuya suddenly sensed that something was amiss. After all, he could sense an unusual confidence coming from Gu Long. It was a confidence that came from something formidable, thus it made the latter like that.

Gu Long then placed his hand on the strange ball, as it emitted a bright light that lit up the whole hall. He smiled in confidence, ready to receive praise from the fat elder before him.

"Good. Good! You possess the talent to skip 3 stages. From now on, you'll be an inner disciple!"

Ling Kunlan smiled, and let out a bunch of praises that intensified Gu Long's smugness. The latter only felt that this was to be expected. After all, he was the genius that was chosen by heavens to banish evil.

(I see. So, a youth that had inherited a godly sword named Demon Condemning Sword, huh. This world is really interesting…)

Tatsuya stared at the ordinary-looking sword that hung behind Gu Long. Through his innate ability, he was able to instantly see through the sword's origin and secrets. After all, everything that possesses physical manifestation wouldn't be able to escape his eyes.

"You may go now, Gu Long. I have high expectations of you!"

"Thank you elder for your humble praises."

Gu Long cupped both his fists, while slightly bowing towards the fat elder. He soon chuckled and peered into Tatsuya's figure. A smug expression appeared on his face. After all, he could sense that Tatsuya only has the cultivation of 1st stage of True Profound Realm.

He soon left the entrance hall, as the fat elder and Tatsuya only remained on the perimeter. Soon, the elder emotionlessly glanced at Tatsuya, conveying his intent that Tatsuya must place his hand on the strange ball.

The praise that was previously present on Ling Kunlan's eyes had already vanished into thin-air. He deemed that Tatsuya will become nothing but an outer disciple. But, he still isn't entirely sure about his own judgement.

Soon, Tatsuya approached the fat elder in a leisurely manner. His indifferent demeanor made the fat elder frown out of displeasure. Then, Tatsuya placed his hand on the strange ball.

*Crack*

In the next second, the strange ball completely cracked. It then broke into different pieces. Ling Kunlan widened his eyes, as he stared at the broken pieces on the floor. He felt really shocked, as this was unexpected.

"You, what did you do?! This is the Heaven Aptitude Measuring Crystal. Our villa only possesses three of this…"

Ling Kunlan felt anger rush into his head, as he quickly glared at Tatsuya. Meanwhile, he still felt confused as to why the strange ball suddenly broke into pieces.

"I don't believe that it will crack again!"

The fat elder said to himself, with evident anger on his face. He pulled another strange ball out of nowhere, and placed it before Tatsuya.

"Place your hand!"

*Crack*

The moment Tatsuya placed his hand, the strange ball broke into multiple pieces once again. This feat earned Ling Kunlan's fury and wrath, as the gleam on his eyes turned murderous.

"You don't have any aptitude! You, go and claim your outer disciple badge and robes!"

"…"

"Get out of my sight!"

Ling Kunlan waved his hand, as a strong gale of wind appeared out of nowhere. It dragged Tatsuya outside of the entrance hall. Not a thread of emotion still appeared on Tatsuya's face. After all, he knew the reason why the strange ball cracked.

(That ball can't measure my aptitude. It could only measure up to 10 levels of skipping realm. Well, it can't be helped.)

Tatsuya thought to himself, as he went forward and used his sight to guide himself towards the claiming hall of the villa. He paid no attention to the gaze that was directed unto him. The gazes that were filled with curiosity and slight disdain, as Tatsuya only possess the cultivation of 1st stage of True Profound Realm.

Meanwhile, Ling Kunlan stared at the broken pieces of the Heaven Aptitude Measuring Crystal. He still remembered that they got their own crystal from that sacred ground. It would take quite a long time to replace the two strange balls that were broken.

"Still, why did the strange ball break? Did that newcomer's talent is so low that it broke out of rebound?"

Ling Kunlan recalled the indifferent expression on Tatsuya's face. Anger and fury rushed back into his head, recalling the annoying face of Tatsuya. He then tried to think from another perspective.

"Or maybe, his talent is so great that it surpassed the crystal's threshold?"

"But that's impossible. In the whole continent, 7th stage of skipping realm is the highest. No man had ever surpassed the 10th which is the limit of the Heaven Aptitude Measuring Crystal."

Whatever he thought of it, he just couldn't accept that fact. After all, it was simply impossible for him that Tatsuya carried that astonishing amount of talent.

"If he's that talented, with his age, he must have already reached the Sky Profound Ream or higher, but no."

"In the end, maybe his talent is crap."

The fat elder tossed the strange phenomenon into the back of his head. He immediately went back to his leisure activity, and waited for the next newcomers that might get tested. He didn't knew that their villa just accepted a monster that could skip 10 or more realms…