novelraw Chapter 713 - 712 - New Testing
Chapter 713 - 712 - New Testing
The children inhaled the food and Lind let them have several rounds. A few were crying in happiness but he only looked on as Shea sat with them. Lua was holding a few that wept in her lap as they finally knew they were safe.
It was clear the King had rushed things due to the risks. His own updates on the beast tide were grim. Many villages had been wiped out shortly after the caravan had left the border of its kingdom.
The steel hawks were the worst of it and were what made the panthers retaliate. It would be better to call it a beast war and the Shanliang Peaks were caught in the middle.
The kingdom was defending itself but the beasts were just running wild while the 2 leading clans fought it out.
He also confirmed partially that Shea had no idea why her trip was moved up. Still, she was solidly in the Soul Realm which was plenty.
"Majesty, should we test the children?" One of the guards reminded him as it seemed Lind was fine waiting in the wings but he waved it off.
"Let them have a day. Settle them in some courtyards. If they insist on being together, just make sure no issues arise but gently." Lind sent a message to Lua to help guide the children to their beds.
There were almost 1000 children and all were at most 12 years old. A few had started being in the Body Refining Realm but none were in the Soul Realm. Orphans did not get much in the way of resources unless they revealed being gifted early.
Those were then adopted by those that heard about it first. It made Lind angry about that but he would acknowledge resources were not a bottomless hole.
Many of the children would not get the resources they needed but he would still train them. He would let them have the chance to find their own path at the very least. Cultivators were greedy but the World Realm in the current Heaven Realm lands was as easy as breathing to reach even casually.
The quality was vast between each person, but getting there was certain with technique and time.
Lind went back to his office to resume his meeting with Gravis but also he sent messages to Lysanna and Shi to get the testing platforms ready. He was looking forward to seeing if they worked as he theorized.
Before he had to test in the Soul Realm for potential and professional talent but now he had been inspired by the many artifacts and knowledge he had been taught by Lanbao.
He had made low grade 7 artifacts to test for various things when someone was just a mortal!
The next couple days passed uneventfully as Lind made sure he had sent enough support to Shanliang Peaks. The Nautilus Class skyships made the steel hawks afraid but only to the point of leaving them alone.
It did reveal some more issues with air to air combat that Lind noted for the new design he was working on. Honestly, he had to wait until he became an Immortal for some of his ideas.
Now, he looked at a small sea of faces full of nervousness and smiles. The children had never eaten so well nor had they been able to relax. Princess Shea and Lua had apparently made sure to play with the younger ones but now both stood next to Lind as he was near a platform that led to others.
Most of the artifacts were simple orbs or cylinders with grips. The last one, however, was like a giant door. It had orange hues making up the frame but the center felt odd. It was like the interior of the door was there but it was not at the same time.
It was the only way anyone had described it.
"Good morning to you all! I am pleased you are enjoying your time here but as I am sure you are all aware, there is no such thing as a free lunch. You will now be tested and start to train. Depending on a few things, some of you will have more work than others but your choice will be honored after a certain point." His words did nothing to disperse the nervousness. If anything it made them more nervous.
Lind looked at Princess Shea who bowed before smiling and waving at the crowd.
She walked up to the pale crystal orb on the first platform. She simply placed her hand on it and it lit up. No blood or Qi was needed for it.
Shock flooded the crowd as a jade screen lit up above her head.
[Physique: None]
[Bloodline: Faint - Pixiu]
[Impurity: High]
[Cultivation Potential: Moderate to Good]
[Age: 10]
[Sex: Female]
It was the basics but even Lind was stunned at 2 of the results. Most of the people he used to verify the artifacts worked had single results not clarifications or ranges! It made him realize he was right more than he knew!
Mortals were blank palettes for cultivation! The results were not set in stone either, he was living proof of that if nothing else.
He broke the orbs everytime he tried to test himself.
"As you can see, Princess Shea is unharmed. The other tests will work in a similar way. No result after this first one is not a bad thing, it simply means your gifts lay in other areas." He nodded for Shea to continue.
The next test was actually one that needed a single drop of blood. It was a small dish connected to another jade screen. No one noticed that a jade slip was being filled with each test.
There was no reaction from the dish but Shea had been warned that was possible. So she moved to the next that was a small cube full of vividly blue water. She infused Qi into it but still no result.
The last one on that platform was a silver cylinder with 2 hand grips on either side. Shea used Qi and was sweating but still no result.
[Standard Profession: No result]
A jade screen lit up suddenly but Lind merely smiled and motioned for Shea to go to the last platform.
The first test had been for alchemy as blood was usually tied to skill there. Blood also connected to the soul which was important for powerful alchemists later. Fey had cracked 3 dishes until Lind had it calibrated enough to give him a reading.
The cube tested for refining, the water was a sort of pseudo elixir that was found to react to Qi infusion like inscription would. It was the least accurate until Lind had a brainwave about resonating it with the container.
In other words it could mimic inscription without being taught the skill! Mortals could get it to react as well.
The final test was the most mysterious for others but Annabelle had been key to making it. Formations required spirit, dexterity, and a flexible mind. The cylinder resisted the fingers while the spirit and mind were tested during the physical part.
The next nest was a clear crystal so far as anyone could see but Shea simply concentrated and there was a faint reaction but that was all. Still, it was more than any previous test and made Shea smile.
She then came to a sphere of shifting colors. She tried infusing her Qi but the sphere never changed or slowed. She looked sad but then came to the strange doorway. Lind nodded at her as she looked back and she simply stood inside the frame.
Instantly, the doorway glowed with an ephemeral light and all felt their skin get covered in goosebumps. Lind smiled wide as he looked at the results.
[Derivative Professions: 2 Reactions]
[Elixir Master: Weak]
[Weaver: Strong]
Lind was curious about that result on the elixir masters but he would find out since Shea would be his student once a month. Weaving was no longer only his purview thankfully so she could make progress without him.
"YAY!" She was dancing in joy at the results when she seemed to recall where she was but the kids liked her reaction. It showed the tests were harmless.
"As you can see, the testing will give you some leads but I want something clear. Even if you have no reaction to any of those profession tests, there are myriad paths available to you. This is merely a place to let you know what is possible to pursue from the many things I can't test for." The orphans now looked at him differently. Some of their eyes were shining while others were crying in gratitude.
"Now, please listen to these nice people and we will get you all tested by the end of the day. Following the results, we will begin to plan. Please know that some of you may not see each other for a while after that but days off will be available to get back together later." He then bowed and took Shea and Lua with him.
He was curious to see the artifacts work but he had a lot to do.
"I have skills!" Shea was on cloud nine clearly and Lua was happy for her. Lua was happy for her new sister disciple.
"Princess Shea, I will be testing your current limits but be warned that weaving is a dangerous profession unlike any other. If I ever feel you are misusing it, your teaching will stop." Lind made sure she understood he was dead serious.
He had seen just how bad it could get with the Soulmancers and he would be very harsh on those with the gift of weaving.
Shea quickly became serious and nodded but he knew it may take a few experiences up to the 1st Circle before she really grasped how much trouble she would be in if he had to stop her.
Lind looked forward to the future still as his plans progressed.