Free Web NovelChapter 261: Chapter 256: Assessment
The moment he stepped onto the staircase made of Spirit Crystals, Mu Chen felt a warmth under his feet. After a moment of appreciation, Mu Chen said, "Brother Xu, I heard Miss Yu say you’re a Fourth-grade Spirit Selector. Could you tell me about the differences between the various Grades?"
Xu Fei nodded. "Of course. To be honest, the distinctions between Spirit Selectors are quite vague. It’s not like with Martial Artists or Cauldron Masters, where it’s a straightforward test of strength or refining techniques. For a Spirit Selector, it’s not just about what you can see, but also about hard-won experience."
Mu Chen asked, puzzled, "Experience?"
Xu Fei nodded. "Yes, it’s easy to understand. For example, imagine someone who isn’t a Spirit Selector and doesn’t have a Pupil Technique for seeing through stones. But, let’s say he’s an old veteran who’s been gambling on stones for over eighty years. When it comes to choosing Original Stones, he can rely entirely on his years of experience—judging the texture, density, and patterns—to determine if there’s a Spirit Crystal or an Attribute Spirit Crystal inside."
"Even though these Spirit Crystals and Attribute Spirit Crystals grow within the Original Stones, causing their auras to become extremely similar, even identical, it doesn’t mean there are no patterns to follow. It’s just that most of us can’t discern them. In the Imperial Capital, however, I met a Spirit Selection Master who has no Pupil Technique, yet he is one of the four greatest Spirit Selection Masters in the city—in fact, he’s the leader of the four."
"Of course, when I say Spirit Selection Master, I’m referring to Spirit Selectors who have surpassed the Sixth Grade. They can typically use their Pupil Techniques to probe an Original Stone and extract most of the information hidden within—for instance, whether there’s a Spirit Crystal, how large it is, its shape, and its age. All of this can be discerned. But that one master, the one without a Pupil Technique, can get all that information just by touch. Even though the final judgment is the same, his skill is far superior to the other three. If those three ever went blind, their careers as Spirit Selectors would be over."
Mu Chen nodded. "So, the Grade of a Spirit Selector is determined by how much information they can discern?"
Xu Fei grinned. "Exactly. A First-grade Spirit Selector, for instance, can only vaguely see the patterns on an Original Stone. From that, it’s mostly guesswork whether there’s a Spirit Crystal inside, so the error rate is huge. A Second-Grade Spirit Selector, however, can determine with a high degree of certainty which Original Stones contain Spirit Crystals and which don’t. There’s still a chance of being wrong, but the error rate isn’t high."
This prompted another question from Mu Chen. "If Song Ren and Jiang Tao are both Second-Grade Spirit Selectors, how were they able to find Attribute Spirit Crystals?"
"Oh, that," Xu Fei explained. "That was pure luck. Like I just said, a Second-Grade Spirit Selector can already tell if an Original Stone contains a Spirit Crystal, right? Well, since they can tell there’s a crystal inside, there’s always a chance it might be an Attribute Spirit Crystal. They’re just a much rarer type of Spirit Crystal. So if you’re lucky enough, even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while."
"As for a Third Grade Spirit Selector, they can clearly sense Original Stones containing regular Spirit Crystals, but only vaguely sense those with Attribute Spirit Crystals. The principle is the same as First and Second Grade Spirit Selectors sensing regular Spirit Crystals—the error rate is extremely high. A Fourth-grade Spirit Selector like me, on the other hand, can confidently identify Original Stones with Attribute Spirit Crystals. Of course, there’s still a chance of being wrong. That’s why I was so astounded when you discerned an Attribute Spirit Crystal inside that Waste Stone earlier. Even after I scanned it with my Pupil Technique, I saw nothing. From that alone, I know the level of your Pupil Technique has long surpassed mine. At a conservative estimate, you have the abilities of at least a Fifth Grade Spirit Selector."
Mu Chen was a little surprised. ’After all, back then, I saw straight through the entire Original Stone and perceived the actual object within. According to Brother Xu’s description of a Spirit Selection Master—someone who can see its shape, age, and size—I should at least be a Sixth Grade Spirit Selection Master. It seems the power of these eyes my Master left me truly hasn’t been fully unlocked, just as the Snow Qilin said.’
"Haha! A Fifth Grade Spirit Selector this young! Not a single one has appeared in the entire Imperial Capital in tens of thousands of years! To think I’d be the one to stumble upon you—this is a heaven-sent opportunity! I can already picture the looks on the faces of those Spirit Selection Masters when they meet you. I can’t wait!" Xu Fei’s boisterous personality led him to let out a booming laugh. Fortunately, there was no one else on the second floor besides those in the rooms; otherwise, he would have surely been thrown out of the Spirit Selection Master Guild for being a madman.
Yu Lei, walking ahead, heard the muttering from behind and frowned. "This is the Spirit Selection Master Guild, not an inn. Please be quiet." She stopped in front of a door and turned to Xu Fei and Mu Chen. "This is where the Spirit Selector assessment takes place. The guild president is away in the Imperial Capital today discussing matters for the Spirit Selection Conference four days from now, so the one conducting the assessment is our Spirit Selection Master Guild’s Grand Elder. He’s a Grand Elder whose Grade is even higher than the president’s. You absolutely must be on your best behavior when you go inside."
Xu Fei and Mu Chen nodded repeatedly. Seeing them so cooperative, the perpetually stern-faced Yu Lei offered a faint, symbolic smile. She said to Xu Fei, "Sigh, it’s not that I want to treat you this way, but in the past nine years, what have you really done for Stone City? This is your last year as its representative. If you fail to achieve good results again, our hometown could be annexed by others. Even if it’s not your fault, you’ll be the first person the citizens hate after Stone City is taken. You’d best think about that." With that, Yu Lei adjusted the glasses on the bridge of her nose with her forefinger, clasped her hands behind her back, and descended from the second floor. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Xu Fei watched Yu Lei’s retreating figure with a bitter smile, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Brother Mu Chen," he said helplessly, "you see? My situation is already quite dire. So, if you can help me get through this, I’ll give you an entire set of Rare Attribute Spirit Crystals on top of our deal. How about it?"
Mu Chen smiled. "Since I’ve already promised you, I’ll definitely see it through. My word is my bond; that’s a fundamental principle for me, Mu Chen. If I didn’t think I could do it, I never would have agreed. So, Brother Xu, please don’t say such things."
Xu Fei scratched the back of his head and laughed. "Haha, you’re right. I can’t believe someone so young could be so magnanimous. When I was your age, I was just an impulsive rascal. Come on, let’s go in for the assessment. I hear the Grand Elder himself is testing you. Tsk, tsk, you’ve got some timing, kid. It’s hard for most people to even catch a glimpse of this mysterious Grand Elder, yet you run into him on your first day. I’ve heard he’s infinitely close to the Grade of a Spirit Selection Master. With him assessing you, it’ll be completely fair." As he spoke, Xu Fei led Mu Chen toward the door Yu Lei had indicated. Above it hung a large plaque inlaid with Spirit Crystals. On the plaque, two words were inlaid with Fire Spirit Crystals: "Assessment Room." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK...
Taking a deep breath, Xu Fei gently knocked on the door three times.
"Come in!"
Before long, an aged but incredibly imposing voice called out from within the room. Xu Fei grew tense; it wasn’t a matter of age, but of the reverence one feels for such an elder.
CLICK...
With a soft click, Xu Fei opened the door. Mu Chen followed close behind. After they both entered, Xu Fei closed the door and turned to face an elderly man with white hair and eyes that were exceptionally pure and profound. "Grand Elder!" he said respectfully.
The Grand Elder ignored Xu Fei, his gaze shifting directly to Mu Chen. "You must be the little fellow here for the Spirit Selector assessment, I take it?" he said lightly.
Mu Chen nodded. "Yes, Grand Elder."
But the elder waved his hand. "Don’t call me Grand Elder. I dislike the title, which is why I usually keep to myself. If you don’t mind, just call me Elder Cui. Now then, let’s get straight to the point and begin the assessment."
With that, Elder Cui gave a grand wave of his hand. SWISH! A pile of Original Stones in various shapes materialized in front of Mu Chen. ’This man is decisive and direct, with no time for trivial matters,’ Mu Chen thought, a hint of admiration growing within him. He spoke with a calm and respectful tone, "Elder Cui, please tell me the requirements to pass the assessment."
Elder Cui smiled. "I would’ve told you even if you hadn’t asked. This is the assessment for a First-grade Spirit Selector. The requirement is simple: tell me which of these Original Stones contain Spirit Crystals. Based on your accuracy, I will determine whether you qualify as a First-grade or even a Second-Grade Spirit Selector. You have one minute."
Mu Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "When do I start?"
Elder Cui said, "You can start now."
Mu Chen nodded. Clasping one hand behind his back, he slowly closed his eyes. When they snapped open, two sharp, purple glints of light shot out. As his purple irises emerged, eerie black patterns rapidly spread to cover his eye sockets. Six snowflake-shaped Ice Crystal imprints spun continuously within his pupils, giving him a bewitching and otherworldly appearance. Since Mu Chen had suppressed his Evil Qi, his eyes didn’t exude the will of the Primordial Chaos, but even so, Elder Cui was stunned by his current appearance.
With a single, sweeping glance, he saw through all hundred-odd Original Stones. As his Primordial Power circulated, Mu Chen moved swiftly, plucking the stones containing Spirit Crystals from the large pile one by one and stacking them in front of Elder Cui. Only after the last stone was selected did he slowly close his eyes, causing all the brilliant light to vanish instantly.
Looking at the sixteen Original Stones on the desk, Mu Chen smiled. "Elder Cui, among the one hundred seventy-four Original Stones, only these sixteen contain Spirit Crystals. And among those sixteen, one is an Attribute Spirit Crystal—it’s the one I placed at the very top of the pile. As for what specific attribute it has, I cannot tell."
Those few short words made Elder Cui, who had been sitting at his desk, shoot to his feet with a scrape of his chair. His eyes were wide, his mouth agape. ’That was barely five seconds,’ he thought in disbelief. ’The kid identified and selected them all in an instant. That... even I would find that difficult...’
