Chapter 40: Talent Is Not Important

Why didn't such a good opportunity fall upon us, the talented geniuses? Instead, it was given to those mediocre wastes.

"How could those nobodies possibly advance to the Golden Core stage, and in such a short amount of time?"

"Exactly! We haven't even reached the Golden Core stage, so why were those with mediocre talent chosen? I'm sure there's something hidden going on here."

A few talented individuals gathered together, whispering.

In the grand hall above, Xu Yang watched this scene, calmly picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

Xu Yang already knew what these people would be discussing.

This time, he publicly promoted all the disciples with poor talent but good character to the Golden Core stage. He wanted others to know that within the Sky-Rivulet Sect, talent and cultivation were secondary. Good character and loyalty to the sect were paramount.

Dong...

As the sun reached the zenith, a deep bell toll resounded. Ling Qingshu, holding a parchment scroll with a solemn expression, declared coldly, "The promotion ceremony officially begins. Please welcome the Old Ancestor!"

As her clear voice faded, all the disciples in the plaza turned their gazes towards Xu Yang. They eagerly wanted to know what method Xu Yang would use to enable disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage, or even Qi Condensation stage, to successfully form a Golden Core within a single day.

Although everyone harbored doubts, their gazes held not a shred of disrespect. Xu Yang's fame resounded throughout Qizhou, and as his disciples, their status had risen significantly. Upon hearing they were Sky-Rivulet Sect disciples, others' eyes would fill with admiration.

In a short period, they had transformed from cautious, struggling individuals into highly esteemed disciples of the Sky-Rivulet Sect, Qizhou's foremost sect.

This was all thanks to their mysterious Old Ancestor.

Therefore, they held immense reverence for their mysterious Old Ancestor.

Under everyone's gaze, Xu Yang walked over to a young man.

This young man was one of the dozen or so disciples chosen by Ling Qingshu for their good character and loyalty to the Sky-Rivulet Sect.

He appeared to be no older than seventeen, thin and pale-faced. A loose, empty-looking blue robe hung on his slender frame.

Upon seeing Xu Yang approach, his face was filled with nervousness. He trembled and said, "Greetings, Old Ancestor Xu."

"What is your name?" Xu Yang asked, assessing the young man as he spoke. The young man's aura was timid, completely lacking the arrogance and sharp killing intent typically found in cultivators.

At first glance, he resembled a poor child from a farming family.

However, these were traits that could be cultivated later. Once he formed a Golden Core and stood above thousands, Xu Yang didn't believe he would remain so weak and inept.

"My name is... Liu Dan..." Liu Dan stammered timidly, his palms slick with sweat and his face pale with nervousness.

Among the Sky-Rivulet Sect disciples watching from outside, many burst out laughing.

"See? A janitor is just a janitor. What future could he possibly have? He's like this and still dreams of forming a Golden Core? Impossible!"

"Exactly! I don't know how our Sect Master makes her selections."

"Right," someone else chimed in, "they don't want a heaven-defying talent like me, but they choose such a good-for-nothing. I truly don't understand why."

"Reportedly, it's just because he protected a junior disciple during a battle and was severely injured, so he was chosen."

"Just for that?"

Liu Dan grew even more nervous as he heard people discussing his inadequacies.

Xu Yang observed his nervousness.

Without saying anything more, he simply handed Liu Dan a bottle of pills and said, "Take this."

Under the gaze of thousands, Liu Dan consumed the pills. Immediately, his aura surged violently, and the very surroundings seemed to change color.

Xu Yang placed a hand on Liu Dan's shoulder, helping him control the rampant spiritual energy within his body and guiding him to break through to the Golden Core stage.

With a rumble, in just fifteen minutes, Liu Dan's aura suddenly intensified further, then swiftly stabilized.

But by now, his demeanor had completely transformed.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor." Liu Dan knelt on the ground with a thud, his eyes filled with excitement.

He could genuinely feel the Golden Core within him; he was now a Golden Core stage cultivator.

He couldn't help but secretly vow in his heart to repay the Sky-Rivulet Sect with his life.

Xu Yang nodded and said, "You may step down now. By the way, what was your previous role?"

"Disciple is responsible for sweeping the sect's entrance every day," Liu Dan replied respectfully.

Sweeping the sect's entrance? So, he was a janitor. Xu Yang frowned slightly. It wouldn't be quite appropriate to have a Golden Core cultivator sweeping the entrance, would it?

"You won't be doing that tomorrow. I will assign you the position of Elder," Xu Yang said. He thought, it doesn't matter if Liu Dan doesn't know how to be an elder; as long as his character is upright, he can learn these things.

"This..." Liu Dan was stunned. From a janitor to an Elder.

The leap was so immense he could barely believe it.

"There are no 'buts'," Xu Yang said calmly, "Just do as I instruct."

Liu Dan quickly agreed, then fell silent.

The onlookers below were dumbfounded. In just over ten minutes, a disciple with abysmal talent, only at the first level of Foundation Establishment, had been forcefully raised to the Golden Core stage by Xu Yang.

They pinched their thighs hard; it truly hurt. This was real.

A crowd of people fixed their envious, jealous, and hateful gazes upon Liu Dan.

At that moment, Liu Dan had not yet fully adapted to the surging power of the Golden Core stage, his aura radiating outwards. Everyone was absolutely certain that Liu Dan had indeed advanced to the Golden Core stage.

"How can this be?" Some people couldn't believe it, shaking their heads repeatedly. "I, a genius, have been surpassed by a mere janitor!"

"I just beat up Liu Dan yesterday. Now that he's an Elder of the Sky-Rivulet Sect, will he seek revenge on me?"

Xu Yang then walked towards the second person, Zhang Dong. He was quite well-known in the Sky-Rivulet Sect for his poor talent and low cultivation, but he possessed an unyielding spirit and endured hardships.

Although he cultivated diligently, his talent was truly too poor. He spent several times more effort than others, yet his cultivation remained stuck at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

Everyone said that no matter how hard Zhang Dong tried in this lifetime, he would not be able to advance his cultivation even a little.

Xu Yang walked up to Zhang Dong. Due to years of diligent cultivation, Zhang Dong appeared exceptionally robust.

Xu Yang didn't waste any time; he directly handed Zhang Dong the pills and instructed him to take them.

With Liu Dan as an example, Zhang Dong readily consumed the pills.