Primordial Emperor
Chapter 405 Natural Talent Test

Chapter 405: Chapter 405 Natural Talent Test

"With Brother Qin’s background in the Formation Sect, isn’t joining the War Department easy?"

Lin Chen had not considered that Qin Kaifeng would be interested in the War Department.

The War Department was generally a place pursued by groups who loved martial combat and sought to improve their cultivation through battle, and also had a strong belief in the Formation Sect, which is why they chose to join the War Department.

For Qin Kaifeng, the War Department was indeed a good place to go.

However, Lin Chen was curious about how, given Qin Kaifeng’s background, he could be unable to enter the War Department, as he should have had access to all areas within the Formation Sect.

After hearing Lin Chen’s words, Qin Kaifeng shook his head helplessly, revealing a resigned smile.

"Brother Lin may not know, my ancestors may have a fairly strong position within the Formation Sect and can offer me many conveniences, but the War Department is no ordinary place. It’s the foundational force of the Formation Sect. They extremely dislike people like me, a profligate son; how could they possibly let me join?"

"Aside from the reason of my identity, the forces that the War Department wants to recruit are actually those with weaker talent, so as to avoid martial artists from shining too brightly after joining and slipping out of their control."

"Otherwise, why would those with poor talent and who failed the First Layer trial have the chance to join the Formation Sect and be taken in by the War Department?"

Qin Kaifeng continued to explain to Lin Chen.

After listening, Lin Chen suddenly realized.

What kind of place was the War Department? It was the core military strength of a sect, a military force different from the sect’s disciples.

And the War Department’s most disliked figures were profligate scions like Qin Kaifeng.

Firstly, these scions were usually pampered under the protection of their elders, so not only could they not endure hardship, but they often assumed the airs of young masters and princesses, making them very difficult for the War Department to control.

Beyond that, there was another reason, which was that the Formation Sect did not want various powers within the sect interfering with the strength of the War Department.

If family power got entangled with the War Department, then the War Department would inevitably be affected, compromising the Formation Sect’s security.

The Chu Family had founded their own strength within the War Department, hence Qin Kaifeng wished to use his relationship with Lin Chen to enter the War Department.

After hearing Qin Kaifeng’s explanation, Lin Chen understood the relationship of the War Department within the Formation Sect. He thought that upon his return to the Jade Cauldron Sect, he should be mindful of this reason, otherwise he might truly cause major trouble due to insufficient governance in the future.

For instance, if the War Department became too powerful under a certain faction and consequently disobeyed the sect’s authority or even opposed the sect, it would lead to unnecessary internal strife. It reminded Lin Chen to prevent this potential disaster in advance.

At this moment, Lin Chen looked up at a group of people in the distance. Dressed in armor and wielding long spears and sharp weapons, they were unmistakably members of the War Department.

The War Department approached the martial artists who had not passed the barrier and stated their terms.

If they wished to continue participating in the Formation Sect’s grand assembly and competition, they would have to join the War Department, which would give them the chance to proceed. Otherwise, they would be eliminated and be required to leave the Formation Sect immediately.

However, joining the War Department meant losing their freedom in the future and serving the Formation Sect’s War Department, obedient to its arrangements and orders.

Hearing this restriction, many martial artists chose to stay. After all, their backgrounds and strength could not compare to the Formation Sect, and being inside the sect to access the Formation Sect’s cultivation resources and techniques was a far better situation than their current one. Thus, even being bound to the War Department was something they were willing to accept.

Yet, this was only true for some. The majority of martial artists who had not passed the transparent barrier chose to leave.

And to this, the armored warriors of the War Department made no move to stop them, allowing them to depart.

For the War Department, they wanted followers who would obey unconditionally in the future, a military force always ready to comply, not those who were not genuinely interested in joining the War Department.

After passing through the transparent barrier, the second trial they faced was an incredibly large stele.

All were required to channel their Spiritual Power into the stele so that it could further test everyone’s Talent.

As the crowd followed the instructions and placed their palms on the stele, numerous lines of glowing characters immediately appeared on it, clearly indicating the testers’ Cultivation Realms and Talent information.

"Xuan Shangfei, Cultivation at the Third Layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm, Medium Grade aptitude, scoring seventy points."

"Mo Caiyun, Cultivation at the Heaven-reaching Realm Fifth Layer, Medium Grade aptitude, scoring eighty-two points."

"..."

As numbers floated above the heads of each person, the crowd’s expressions showed both joy and sorrow.

According to this stele’s test, a perfect score was one hundred, with lower scores indicating poorer talent.

The individuals had long ceased testing their aptitude since reaching their current Cultivation Realms, as a martial artist’s aptitude was actually determined at the very start of cultivation, when they had first opened their meridians and reached the Body Tempering Realm.

Although there were treasures that could improve one’s physique and thus boost aptitude somewhat, the base was set, and the increase in aptitude was ultimately limited.

"Qi Xiuwu, Cultivation at the Fourth Layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm, lower-grade aptitude, scoring fifty-nine points."

At this moment, as the shabbily dressed man placed his palm on the testing stele, a series of numbers instantly appeared above his head.

Seeing the characters above Qi Xiuwu’s head, the crowd could not help but show a tinge of mockery.

After all, Qi Xiuwu’s aptitude was too poor, and he had not even reached the passing line.

The people truly wondered how this fellow had managed to pass through the transparent barrier. Shouldn’t someone of such poor quality have been unable to pass?

Listening to the various discussions about himself, Qi Xiuwu’s expression became somewhat unsightly.

Being average had always been his sore point. If he hadn’t encountered Lin Chen within the Formation Sect, his current cultivation wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Heaven-reaching Realm Fifth Layer.

As the discussions continued, a man with a cold expression slowly stepped up to the stele, extended his hands, and placed them upon it.

"Du Feiyu, Cultivation at the Ninth Layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm, superior-grade aptitude, scoring ninety-one points."