Chapter 37, Aptitude

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When Tengfei opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Zhou Huan sitting down. Having a complicated look on his face. Looking down, you could see that his hands were shaking. He noticed that Tengfei had just awokened.

Though with all that being said, his expression was still calm as he noticed that Tengfei had just awokened. He then asked him, "You sure took your time."

Tengfei massaged his forehead before getting up. He then surveyed his brother who looked off than usual. Tengfei was curious as he asked, "I wonder what type of fear you encountered?"

"Me being rejected by girls." Zhou Huan shrugged before sighing.

With a surprised voice, Tengfei asked, "Gosh... how in the world did you get out then?"

"I accepted the rejection and moved on to the next." Huan said before revealing a sad smile. "Though it took some time before they got bored and sent me out. Apperently I'm one of the earliest. Alongside that dude behind me, the person who talked with you earlier."

Tengfei looked to his back before replying, "I don't think that person is a man."

Hearing this caused Zhou Huan's ears to perk up before his look became serious. He slowly turned and observed the person's body. Now only noticing the package underneath.

After whiping away the traces of drool on his mouth, Zhou Huan gulped before exclaiming, "3... no 3.5."

"What?" Tengfei was confused.

"3.5 out of 5 in terms of bossom size, Tengfei. If your little lover was 0.5 or 1 then she would almost be four times larger!" Zhou Huan then took out a book before writing something down.

Tengfei frowned before jokingly said, "Stop fooling around... It might kill you someday."

Both of them then heard the voice of the announcer.

"Congratulation to all 47 contestestants who overcame their fear! Please procede to the next portal and don't mind the other unconscious people as we'll take care of them."

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Inside the spectators place.

"What is it?" Asked Lihua.

Li Meixiu replied, "Did you not realized that you zoned out for a long time before having teary eyes?"

Lihua lowered her hood before remaining silent.

"Well, at least both your Lover and Zhou Huan passed this test." Said Li Meixiu.

Lihua became flustered before angrily replying, "He's not my Lover!!"

Li Meixiu looked at her with an expressionless look before continuing, "Anyhow, if I recall correctly... The next test would be to check their aptitude as an elemental cultivator."

"Now that I think about it... I never actually seen as to how they measured each person's potential." Said Lihua.

"They actually have a really fun way of doing it." Li Meixiu then looked around before finding her younger sister sitting down, far away.

Her sister was lovingly holding the hands of her fiance. Revealing her grin as she mischiviously prank her lover.

Li Meixiu thought, '...Her childish attitude was still the same as always.'

She then looked away before focusing on the screen. Particularly the spot where Zhou Huan is being shown.

'Before I knew it, I've been caught by his mysterious background. Now I can't let go of him until I figure out his past.' Li Meixiu thought.

She then rubbed the ring on her finger before a furry creature appeared on her lap.

It was small and fluffy with one big eye. Resembling a ball shape with two legs and a tail.

Once the fluffy creature saw Li Meixiu, it hurriedly cuddled onto her.

Li Meixiu carresed its fur affectionately.

Lihua seeing this couldn't help but feel envy as she looks at the cute creature.

"Want to pet it?" Asked Li Meixiu.

Lihua became happy, "Can I?"

"Of course, 'Wan' loves when people carress his fur from the back." Said Li Meixiu

She then hand over the pet to Lihua.

The princess nervously grabbed hold of him before placing him on her lap.

Wan was staring at Lihua as if wondering who she is.

Lihua slowly carresed the back of the creature which resulted in him hapilly puring like a cat.

"What is this creature? I never seen this type." Asked Lihua.

"It's a rare kind that can be found in the snowy mountains north to Krehor. My ring contains a small pocket world where it can store small living beasts. The environment inside is completely snowy and cold. Natives call their kind as 'Pluns'."

Lihua then said, "I should really get a pet... Both you and Tengfei have really cute ones. Oh and..."

The princess then turned slowly towards Li Meixiu. Before looking at her eyes.

"?" Li Meixiu wondered.

Lihua breathed in before saying with a kind tone, "I almost forgotten to thank you for giving me that advice back then and for reminding me as to how my cultivation turned out."

"If I were to be frank. I only heard tales that it was possible to merge two elemental affinities in one mana pool but never actually met a person who accomplished it. Wasn't it a dangerous act?" Li Meixiu asked.

Lihua nodded before replying, "Yeah. Luckily I gone through it."

"Though you're still at the lower stage of an 'Aprentice'." Li Meixiue commented.

Lihua showed a wry smile before saying, "I'm just taking my time."

Li Meixiu tilted her head to the side before saying, "I feel like you're waiting for that young man, called Tengfei to try and catch up to you."

"...T-That's..." She then averted her eyes before continuing, "One of the reasons, but the main reason is that I need to get confortable with my dual affinities being merged."

Li Meixiu pondered about something before asking, "Both darkness and wind. What do you even call that affinity now?"

"...Hmm, I don't know." Lihua replied.

A man who looked really handsome went towards the princess and cold queen. He then asked, "Would you care to join me to have a pleasant conversation? I have prepared proper beverage and soft cushoned chairs."

Lihua looked at him disdanely and coldy before she says, "Someone who has eyes are on top of his head should immediately stop. Or else your ass is next to be on top."

The man inspected the body of Lihua before ignoring her. He then continued persuading, "Oh, I forgot my manners. I'm Zu-"

Though before he could complete his sentence, his mouth was shut by someone nearby.

It was a woman who looked like she grew up in the desert. That women then whispered something into the man's ears which caused him to shudder.

He then bowed before saying frantically, "I appologize and excuse me."

He then gestured the woman before walking away hurriedly.

"If he stayed any longer, I would have sent that man flying." Lihua said with hints of anger.

Li Meixiu observed her previous attitude, "Strangely, you're at the same time, trying to keep some distance between yourself and him."

Lihua paused before with a look of despair, said out, "Ah... It still didn't go away.. huh..."

Asked Li Meixiu, "What didn't gone away?"

Lihua tooke some time before she answered, "My... unconscious fear of men."

"Some one touched my Lihua?" Strangely her voice became even colder than usual.

Lihua played with her fingers before her face turns slowly pink, "My Lihua? No one owns me except for Tengfei..."

"Hah, I don't know if I should be jealous or happy that you admitted it." Li Meixiu said.

"Wuuu." Lihua became flustered before silently looked down."

Li Meixiu turned her focus towards the screen before saying, "Looks like they're starting."

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A little while before, in the spectator place

"Why do you have that ugly look?" Asked a woman who was wearing a red loose top matched with her dark blue skirt.

A man wearing casual outfit coupled with his hood then replied, "They don't have any Krehorian announcer..."

The lady scoffed, "As expected, your Kianese is still shit"

That man then cursed at that women in that very language.

"Mr.Knight, your swearing is better than your normal speaking. No wonder why they picked someone like you as leader." The lady said with hints of scorn.

The man irritatedly replied, "Shut it. You should be glad that I didn't drag you here with ragged clothing."

"Wonder where you gotten this clothing then huh? Don't tell me you're a secret tranvestite?"

"That clothing... Is from the woman you just recently killed." He then showed a grin to her before continuing,"Wonder how does it feel, Lou Jun?"

The lady frowned before feeling her stomach turn. Thinking that she's wearing a dead lady's clothing.

She then asked, "So, which person do you want to observe?"

Farengoth remained silent for a little while before answering, "I don't know."

Lou Jun widened her eyes, "...What?"

"I just have a little task for you." The knight said.

Lou Jun remained silent as she couldn't refute any command from him.

The knight known as Farengoth then commanded, "Do you know anyone of the contestants."

Gritting her teeth and clenching her fist, she then looked through every screen before spotting someone. She then felt quite surprised. 'He's here... huh?'

Lou Jun then said, "I found a young man who was once my colleague in a shop. I was pretending to be one in order to gain information."

Farengoth pondered, "Nothing related to your group or 'them'?"

Lou Jun replied back straightly, "No."

The knight then observed the young man with gray hair before realizing, 'It can't be... his the one that man mentioned?'

Farengoth then asked again, "Did you spot another one?"

"Yes, I believe I saw him following that man who striked a deal with my father not too long ago. That young man who's wearing rich looking clothes, having a long sword on his back."

Farengoth nodded, "Good, let's keep an eye on him."

The lady become curious before asking, "....There should be anouther perpose you're here."

"Yes there is and that is to keep watch on our future possible enemies."

Lou Jun was surprised, "Don't tell me..."

Farengoth sighed before saying, "As you guessed, our King plans on expanding teritory and I think you know pretty well what that means."

"..." Lou Jun was left baffled.

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Coming from a portal, both Tengfei and Zhou Haun emerged out of it.

They both looked around before one of them said, "Coming here makes me realize how big this islands actually were."

Zhou Huan checked the flora around before adding, "Not to mention the wild life here... It feels like any other forest. Aside from the size of those trees."

Tengfei nodded before saying, "Yeah, they are huge! Especially the colour of the leaves being oddly white."

Some men overheard them and couldn't resist the urge from laughing. Though they didn't cause trouble as they walked away.

"Why were they laughing?" Asked Tengfei.

Zhou Huan replied with narrowed brows, "Maybe because that tree is supposed to be common knowledge but apprently we don't know. Kinda reminds me of Lihua."

Tengfei showed a slight angry look before saying, "Hey, don't compare her with those buffoons."

Huan tapped his shoulder before saying appologetically, "Almost forgotten how infatuated you are with her."

"Guh..." Tengfei was speechless.

Looking around, Zhou Huan then commented, "There seems to be lots of administrators this time."

The announcer then was heard, "Alright people! We're about to start the second stage now!"

"In this stage, one by one the contestants would choice a 'Xoin' tree among the countless we have here! Then they would dip their blood on the tree before holding it with both hands! This would activate it like an inscription! Depending on the intensity of the light... It would judge their mana grade!

The leaf color would also change depending on their affinity!

This will mark whether or not you're an elemental or physical cultivator!"

A golden haired woman then appeared, sitting on the air as she pondered as to where she is.

Seeing that Tengfei is safe with his friend, a sense of relief emerged.

She then noticed the large trees nearby and started to reminence on old memories.

That lady was Tengfei's ghostly sister.

"Now does any one of you contestants would be willing to go first!?" Said the announcer.

A young man wearing a simple blue robe, closed eyes, and calm demeanor stepped forward. Having scabbarb tied to his waist. He then raised his hand to volunteer himself.

The announcer then aksed, "State your name!"

The young an replied lazily, "Vino Pheol."

"Aha! A man from the Xuanqihar plains! Now please go ahead and pick a tree."

The man looked around and inspected each tree very carefully. After some time, he finally chose one.

An administrator handed him a knife which the man then used to spill some blood from both his hands.

He then held the tree with both bloody hands before the bark started to slowly glow.

A vertical line then appeared on the tree trunk before it opened.

Glowing in radiance from inside, a ball made of light floated out.

It went towards the young man before growing four wings from its back. The thing then entered inside of him.

The moment it entered, his body was engulfed in fire.

A ball of light was seen to have left his body before returning into the tree. Having its job done, the tree started withering.

Though he was not burning as if the fire was coating him.

The announcer was excited as he says, "What a wonderful display of aptitude!! He succesfully awakened and became a full fledged elemental cultivator! The leaf and his body shows that he belongs to the fire side! Having the light ball reveal four wings then he has a mana grade of 'B'!!"

Vino Pheol then went back as his fire body diminishes.

Tengfei saw this and couldn't help but ask Huan, "It's not a dream anymore... Huh?"

"...Yeah." Zhou Huan replied.

A burly, large and well trained physique man then stepped forward. Wearing a wild type clothing.

He raised his arm upwards before yelling, "I am Gongsun Mu! The future greatest elemental cultivator who will be marked as the number one in the ranking list!"

After finding a suitable large tree, he then cut his hands before doing the same thing as the previous contestant.

Instead of the tree glowing brightly, it shook as if experiencing an earthquake.

The tree opened a small hole before a beam shot through the chest of the man.

His body didn't show any signs of any element but instead his body was engulfed by a thin layer of green sheet.

The announder witnessing this caused him to yell out, "Looks like we have a physical cultivator in our hands! Seeing that the tree has both brown and blue color... He has the affinity to use earth and fire based weapons!"

Gongsun Mu fell to his knees before loudly yelling to the sky, "WHY am I so unlucky!!"

Eventually the man, after being persuaded constantly, left the place.

Though unlike before, nothing came out of him but the tree also slowly withered.

Some contestants stepped forward later on.

Most of them were labled as physical cultivators until a person Tengfei recognized stepped forward.

A woman who covered herself entirely in loose black clothing. Unlike before, this time that person was weaing an empty white mask with two holes on it. The lady's hood covered most of her hair but Tengfei ecognized that it was black which complimented her rare red eyes.

Though after remembering as to how Zhou Huan rated the woman's body... Tengfei can't help but now notice the clothing outlining her body's curves. He averted his eyes immediately as he thinks out, 'I got to remember that Lihua is watching me...' his face was red as he continues, 'It's that damn princess's fault. Her body being so close at night is causing me to go crazy in lust.'

The lady then approached apprached a tree. Before she could cut her hand though, the announcer asked, "Please tell your name and if possible, your origin!!"

She dramatically turned, flicked her sleeve, raised her head before saying, "Red Sin is who you people should remember me by!" The lady then pointed at herself before continuing, "I am a tour guide from hell and is willing to showcase the beauty of that place to any person in my list!"

Tengfei almost fell. Even Zhou Huan couldn't predict her personality.

Zhou Huan was surprised as he thought, 'What is this!? And here I thought she would be the cool beauty type!'

Tengfei, 'All that act of being mysterious was thrown to the gutter!!' His head hurts as he continuis thinking, 'She even reminded me of my embarrassing past...'

The announcer was confused before he said, "...Er, Wier- *Cough* *Cough* I meant, Red Sin. Go ahead and place your blood on the tree."

Red Sin removed her gloves before taking out a knife. After cutting herself, she touched the tree with her hands.

The tree glowed brighter than any before a hole opened and a bright orb floats out.

Unlike before, the orb floated and hovered in front the lady. It didn't enter at all.

Though after a few moments, the orb grew five wings before entering inside her.

Her body was then covered in blue aura.

"She really is a weirdo! The leafs show a strange crimson color that is darker than any red before but her affinity belongs to water! Not only that but her mana grade is 'A' judging by the orb's wings!"

Red Sin straightened her back before walking out. As if she's basking in glory and filled with pride.

When she passed Tengfei, her eyes wondered to his face and hair.

She thought, '...I'm sure I knew him but I don't know where...'

Later on, some people went through the aptitude test before Zhou Huan's time came.

He went as if he was the king of the place, slowly taking his time towards a tree he decided long ago.

Tengfei even showed a wry smile, 'Same as always...'

Zhou Huan then walked towards the tree before proclaiming loudly, "All of you beautiful women around! A perfect man has appeared and that's me, Zhou Huan!!!"

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In the spectator place

"And that's me, Zhou Huan!!!"

Li Meixiu was drinking water until she spilt it all over after hearing him.

Lihua was showing a cold look as she mutters, "Enemy of women."

Meixiu's face looked paler than usual as she masages her forehead while thinking, 'Why did I spent so much time to recruit a fool...'

The princess then pulled Li Meixiu clothing before saying, "Look, the tree is glowing as bright as the first participant."

They then watched as a ball of light emerges out of the bark from inside the tree. It grew four wings before entering inside of him.

"It's confirmed he's an elemental cultivator." Said Li Meixiu.

Though the next bit surprised not only her... But also everyone witnessing the miracle.

Three seperate colored auras engulfed him. Them being, yellow, brown and red. Three affinities.

The announcer who originally despised Huan, was now speechless as he said out loudly, "My word!! This is s-something that only occurs every century! A triple affinity elemental cultivist!! And having a 'B' mana grade!!"

Lots of people inside the spectators room started seriously conversing with each other. Some even directing hints of eagerness.

Li Meixiu's mouth was left opened ever since she heard 'Three affinity'.

Lihua was no different than her as her looks was complicated. She thought, 'Why am I not as talented...'

Afterwards, Li Meixiu said, "I don't know whether to be considered lucky for choosing him or unlucky due to his... personality."

"Two for one, I guess." Li Meixiu said before shrugging.

In the screen, Zhou Huan was roaring with pride as he beats his chest and yells, "NOW who wants me!?"

The announcer coughed before asking some administrators to kindly bring him away and allow other contestants.

Li Meixiu observed Huan's equipment before thinking, 'I still wonder why he didn't bring that large knight shield... Though I have a guess...'