Adrian stood quietly with his group, watg as one child after aepped forward to test their talent.

  Most children showed low-level talent, and their results were announced without much excitement. A few dispyed mid-level talent, earning small nods from the elders. Occasionally, a child revealed high-level talent, causing their families to cheer with pride.

  Adrian frowned. "What if someone has a talent strohan high-level?" he wondered. "Wouldn't their true potential be wasted if they receive the same training and resources as others with high-level talent? Isn't that unfair?"

  This thought troubled him. He kalent was crucial in the cultivation world. If a truly exceptional genius was mixed in with the rest, wouldn't they be held back?

  Hearing his thoughts, the Cube chuckled in his mind.

  "You're sharp, Adrian," the Cube said. "But you're only looking at one side of the situation."

  Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? And what if there are talents that the testing stone simply 't measure?"

  The Cube chuckled again. "Who knows? Maybe they t . Or maybe they 't afford these type of stones or there's another reason."

  "Another reason?" Adrian asked, narrowing his eyes.

  "Bes," replied the Cube, his tone amused as if waiting for Adrian to piece it together.

  "Bes? What kind of bes?" Adrian's curiosity grew.

  The Cube expined, "Think about it. Our sect is only mid-tier. High-level talents might not be rare in strions, but here they are unon. If a genius with talent beyond high-level appears, stronger sects would surely hear about it. Instead of taking them by force, they might offer bes—resources, teiques, or political bag—in exge for the disciple."

  Adrian's face darkened. "That doesn't souirely bad. Wouldn't our sect gain something iurn?"

  "Short-term, yes. But in the long run, if they keep handing over their best talents, how will they ever grow stronger? A mid-tier sect with ambitions won't stay in the same position forever. By keeping their true geniuses hidden, they avoid external pressure and have a ce to nurture them i. In time, they might rise to a high-tier se their own."

  Adrian slowly nodded. It made sense. Giving up a rare genius might seem like a good deal now, but it would only keep the sect beh stronger forces. To climb higher, they must keep their trump cards hidden.

  "Everything in this world has a reason, Adrian. What seems like a disadvantage might actually be a strategy for long-term survival," the Cube added.

  Adrian sidered this deeply. He realized that he o look beyond the surfad uand the hidden reasons behind things. The world was not bd white—sometimes a rule that seemed unfair actually protected people.

  With this new uanding, he tinued watg the tales, waiting for his turn.

  Later, as the children gathered again for another round of tests, Adrian observed with calm detat. Some faces lit up with joy at being decred mid h-level talents; others turned pale when told they had little talent. He absorbed not only the results but also the reas around him.

  Finally, an elder called, "Adrian."

  Without hesitatioepped forward. His members murmured with curiosity—everyone knew he was a bright child, and they wondered how his talent would pare to his reputation.

  When Adrian pced his hand oalent stone, he felt a gentle warmth spread through his palm. The storembled slightly, and moments ter, a golden glow burst from its core—indig high-level talent.

  The elder nodded in satisfa. "High-level talent. A good seedling."

  The Eldenwood elders exged pleased ghey had long seen potential in Adrian, and now his talent firmed it. With high-level talent, he would receive proper resources and a firm p the sect.

  But something unusual happened—something only the Cube noticed.

  Deep withialent stone, hidden from pin sight, a faint crack appeared. It was subtle and did not affect the outward test result. Yet the Cube, lio Adrian, se immediately.

  Adrian withdrew his hand, unaware of the crack. Though he remained calm, he doubted the stone's limits. If it could only measure up to high-level talent, then his true potential must lie beyond that.

  Later, as the group moved away from the testing area, Adrian spoke to the Cube in his mind.

  "What is my real talent?" he asked.

  The Cube paused, then replied, "Well, since you've already ehe cultivation world, I wouldn't mind expining it to you. Let's break dowalent levels, shall we?"

  Adrian listened ily.

  "There are five levels of talent in this world:

  1.Low-Level Talent

  2.Mid-Level Talent

  3.High-Level Talent

  4.Superior Talent

  5.Saint Talent

  You, Adrian, have at least Saint Talent—the highest known level. That means your potential far exceeds most others."

  Adrian's eyes widened. "At least Saint Talent? So, does that mean I might even be beyond that?"

  The Cube chuckled softly. "Perhaps, but that's a story for aime. For now, just focus on your jourhe true measure of talent will reveal itself through your as, not just your title."

  Adrian fell silent, deep in thought. Though he had expected this answer, hearing it only fueled his determination. If the stone couldn't fully reveal his strength, he would have to prove it through his deeds.

  For now, he would keep this secret. He would not recklessly dispy his talent, but he would judge the situation carefully and use his strength when it truly beed him.

  The testing ground buzzed with excitement as the st few children had their talents evaluated. Families whispered about the results—some celebrating with tears of joy, others soling those who had fallen short.

  Adrian stood quietly, watg as the children were divided. An elder on a raised ptform announced in a calm, firm voice, "You have been divided introups. Low-level talents will go to a different branch of our sect, while mid-level and high-level talents will join the mai."

  The crowd stirred. For some, this was wele news; for others, a painful reminder of their limits. Adrian remained unmoved, fident in his own pce.

  Suddenly, a rge, floating vessel desded from the sky. Its body was carved with intricate designs that shimmered in the sunlight. It irit Vessel, used for transportation, and its presence silehe crowd with awe.

  One by ohe chosen disciples stepped forward to say their goodbyes. Many cried as they hugged their families, relut to part. Some parents wiped tears from their eyes, their hopes and dreams riding on their children's futures.

  Adrian, however, had no parents to bid farewell to. A few Eldenwood elders approached him.

  "You've made us proud, Adrian," one elder said, patting his shoulder.

  Another smiled, "Work hard in the sect. With your intelligend talent, you will go far."

  Adrian heir words were kind, but he remembered the Cube's soft voice:

  "Their kindness is not without reason. You are a rare talent in this —that is why they treat you well."

  Though his face remained calm, Adriahe truth of the Cube's words. He thought, "Even if they treat me well because of my talent, I must appreciate it. In the end, people value what bes them. I'll remember that."

  With a final g the elders, he turned and walked toward the Spirit Vessel.

  As he stepped onto the deck, he sensed a ge. In that moment, he was no longer just a boy from the Eldenwood —he was now a disciple of the sect.

  The Spirit Vessel soared into the sky, its graerior hinting at the vast space within. Ihe ship was enormous—more like a great hall than a small boat. As the vessel moved steadily through the clouds, the elders gathered the new disciples for a short meeting.

  One of the senior elders spoke in a clear, calm voice, "This vessel is rge enough to hold all of you. repared rooms for each disciple—a quiet pce to rest and reflect during our jouro the sect. The journey will take six hours, so you have plenty of time to rest. In three hather here again, and I will expin he the sect is and how it is divided so you get a general idea."

  The elder thehe group along long, winding corridors lit by soft nterns. The warm light revealed spacious halls and many fortable rooms. Adrian's eyes widened with wo the size of the pce. Finally, he reached his own room—a simple, cozy space with a low bed, a small desk, and a window that offered a view of the endless sky.

  Adrian stepped inside, his heart pounding with excitement. This room felt like a promise—a first step toward the great sect that awaited him. He carefully pced his few belongings on the shelf and looked around, taking in every detail of the room—from the smooth stone floor to the soft murmur of voices in the corridor.

  He walked to the window and gazed out at the drifting clouds. A gentle smile spread across his face as hope filled his heart. Although he had not yet reached the sect, the vast space of the Spirit Vessel and the fort of his new room made him feel that his journey was just beginning.

  With the soft hum of the vessel and the distant voices of his fellow disciples in the background, Adrialed into his room. He closed his eyes, filled with anticipation for the future that awaited him at the sect.

  — — — —