Talent

Michael woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling, an unfamiliar bed, and unfamiliar scenery outside his window.

"This is totally not Earth.", Michael said while sighing.

The room was small but neat. An incense can be seen on the table near the bed with some scrolls emitting a unique air about them. He opened them and found letters that he cannot even begin to comprehend. Feeling slightly dizzy, he stopped reading the scroll and then he heard footsteps from outside. Soon enough, a knocking could be heard.

"Elder White has sent me to fetch you, he wants you to go to his hall, the East Hall.", a voice said.

Michael stood up, walked, and opened the door. He saw a woman with jade like skin and a playful demeanor, smiling at him.

"I am Jade Child, let us depart junior brother", the woman said as she started to walk away.

He nodded and followed her towards the East Hall. Every time he looked around, he felt dizzy, the view from his left and right eye seemed to antagonize each other and so he closed his right eye. Feeling better, he looked around and saw light motes floating around that amazed him, feeling soothed by the sight of them.

"Surprised? It seems true that you were a mortal up until recently. Those motes of light that you see is spiritual energy, something that is vital in cultivation. Try absorbing it, just close your eyes and you'll feel connected to them, imagine yourself pulling the motes of light into yourself.", Jade Child said.

Michael nodded and tried. He saw the spiritual energy around him and imagined them going towards him, but the motes of light were not absorbed by his body even when he touched them directly. He frowned, he can see them but just cannot form any connection to the spiritual energy

"I can't absorb them.", Michael said.

Jade Child frowned and said, "That's weird. It's supposed to be as easy as breathing."

Both of them stopped as they faced a huge wooden gate emitting an aura of might. The gates opened and they entered and found a large hall filled with golden ornaments.

"Disciple Jade Child greets Elder White! I have brought the new disciple!", the woman shouted.

The shout reverberated and an old man in white robes flew out from the top floor of the hall and landed in front of the both of them. Looking at them both, the old man looked at Michael and his eyes gleamed with a profound glow. Michael looked at Jade Child and saw her looking upwards, seemingly waiting for a response.

"So you really can see me even if I hide my presence, you are not even at the Soul Purification Stage and you already have the ability to do so, indeed, you are full of potential child.", the old man said while laughing heartily.

Jade Child was surprised but she immediately clasped her hands and bowed to Elder White. She then glanced at Michael and felt reverence, as she realized that he must have massive potential to achieve this kind of capability. Michael also glanced at her, after reminiscing the recent events, it seems that Jade Child could not see Elder White when he flew down. He actually felt excited, being a teenager, he fantasized of being reincarnated into another world, having cheat-like abilities, and being a mighty individual. His blood boiled as he thought of having thousands of people serve him and having the ability to make others suffer with a few words or a single wave of his hand.

Elder White looked at him warmly, the same look a father gives his child. Jade Child also looked at him, but her eyes were filled with reverence that of a servant loyal to her master. Michael was calm outside but he was laughing wildly inside his mind. He felt special and indeed they were treating him as one.

"The Sect Patriarch will arrive soon. I asked him to officiate the process of you becoming my disciple, he might even give you a Daoist name, it is great honor to receive one from a Dao Searching expert. Any resources from the East hall is yours to use. ", Elder White continued.

"Remember to bow to the Patriarch, junior brother."

"Thank you for your concern!", Michael said loudly as he bowed deeply.

Seeing this action, Elder White's expression grew warmer. Michael was happy, he felt like his time has come, he imagined the Patriarch seeing his talent and praising him, causing his mood to brighten.

Bells tolled as the gates leading to the East Hall opened. A man who looked young but with eyes gleaming with an ancient light appeared. His steps seemed to be slow but a single step was all it took for the man to appear in front of them. Multiple cultivators appeared from the East Hall and bowed with extreme reverence to the man who arrived.

"Greetings, Patriarch Azure Sea!", Elder White and Jade Child said as they bowed.

"Greetings, Patriarch!", said Michael as he also bowed.

The man stood there quietly and slowly gestured with his hand to let them lift their heads. Having done this, the man looked at Michael with a look that seemed able to pierce any obstacle.

"I can sense a large amount of spiritual energy inside you, but it seems to me that it is not part of you. Hold out your hand and try to absorb spiritual energy from the surroundings.", the Patriarch said with a sonorous voice.

Michael held out his hand and the Patriarch held it. Looking around, Michael saw the spiritual energy around him and he felt them with his senses. Despite all this, he just can't seem to make a connection. He tried and tried but continued to fail. The patriarch looked at him with eyes of pity.

"The spiritual energy inside you is artificially inserted, meaning that it is not a part of you. You are just a mortal but can see things you are not supposed to see due to your left eye which have concentrated amounts of spiritual energy. Due to the energy being forced into your body, it has caused massive damage to your qi passageways and dantian. You can still practice cultivation but the amount of spiritual energy you can absorb and you can use will be minimal.", the man said.

Elder White and Jade Child was surprised when they heard the word of the Patriarch Azure Sea. The warm looks on their face as they looked at Michael changed to that of disgust and disdain. Some of the cultivators of the East Hall started to talk with each other and even laugh at the situation.

"That can't be! Please tell me you are joking!", Michael said, not wanting to accept what he heard.

"It is true, by the way, you may choose your own Daoist name. I will now take my leave.", the patriarch said bluntly while he began to walk away.

Feeling wronged, Michael looked at Elder White and saw the disdain in his eyes.

"The East Hall cannot accept a disciple such as you! Leave at once!", the Elder said angrily.

Elder White waved his hand and the force emitted from it pushed him away toward the gate. The Elder snorted and began to fly towards the East Hall's top floor. Jade Child looked away and also began to walk towards the East Hall feeling ashamed that he made contact with Michael.

Michael was dumbfounded at the turn of events and sat there staring at nothing. He was dragged outside by the guards and left him there, treating him like some sort of garbage. Feeling utterly ashamed, he walked and walked not knowing where his destination is.