Chapter 4 Qualification determines treatment

Two letters of farewell arrived just as Chen Guan was about to make a decision that could significantly shape his future. If his guess was correct, their greatest value lay in helping him avoid pitfalls.

As he sat cross-legged, meditating while mulling over these thoughts, the hours of the day slipped by unnoticed.

By late afternoon, after hundreds of attempts, a young boy suddenly sprang to his feet, brimming with excitement.

"I did it! I sensed the Dou Qi energy! I did it!"

The boy's excitement got the better of him, startling everyone around him. If not for the stern man standing ahead, he might have burst into a jubilant dance.

The man, however, did not reprimand him. Instead, a rare smile replaced his usual stern expression.

"What's your name?"

"Zhao… Zhao Gang."

"Very good. Step forward. Memorize the meridian routes in this technique. I am Yan Hongtao, captain of the Third Unit of the Royal Guard and a six-star Dou Master. If you have any questions in the next few days, feel free to ask me."

"Yes, sir!"

Hearing the exchange, the other children looked on with envy.

This was the first time Yan Hongtao had bothered to ask anyone's name. Without extraordinary talent, even being remembered by him was impossible.

Chen Guan remained seated in the crowd, calm and indifferent. It wasn't until nearly an hour later, just as night began to fall, that he mimicked Zhao Gang's earlier excitement, springing up to report his success in sensing Dou Qi energy.

"Excellent. What is your name?"

"Chen Guan."

After a brief inquiry, Chen Guan stepped out of the group to stand beside Zhao Gang.

As the day's results showed, true talent was rare in the remote corners of the Jia Ma Empire. Out of all the children present, only Chen Guan and Zhao Gang succeeded.

Yan Hongtao seemed quite pleased with this outcome. Two young prodigies—if properly nurtured—held significant potential to break through to the Dou Ling rank and become valuable assets to the empire.

"All right, that's it for today. After dinner, you'll be assigned your accommodations. Rest well and prepare for tomorrow."

The other children's faces reflected a mix of disappointment and envy. While Chen Guan remained calm, Zhao Gang was visibly elated. His tiny frame stood as straight as a flagpole, his face brimming with pride.

After dinner, a soldier assigned their living arrangements. Unlike the other children, who were packed seven or eight to a room, Chen Guan and Zhao Gang each received private quarters—proof that talent determined treatment in this highly pragmatic world.

Reflecting briefly on this reality, Chen Guan began preparing for bed, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door from Zhao Gang next door.

"You're Chen Guan, right? I'm Zhao Gang—the first to sense Dou Qi energy today. You remember me, don't you? If you ever have questions, feel free to ask me. I'm sure I'll progress in cultivation much faster than anyone else."

Zhao Gang went on and on, his face glowing with barely concealed pride.

Having experienced the joy of connecting with Dou Qi, Zhao Gang had already labeled himself the top genius among this batch of children. To him, those who failed to sense Dou Qi didn't deserve his attention, and even Chen Guan was merely "acceptable," though still inferior.

Such childish vanity was both simple and amusing.

Chen Guan casually humored him and sent him off. He had no interest in engaging in petty rivalries—it felt too childish. The vast difference in their mental ages made meaningful interaction impossible.

Returning to his room, Chen Guan pulled out the manual he had received that day, The Dou Spirit Technique. His eyes burned with determination—this was the first step on his journey to greatness!

After carefully reading it several times, Chen Guan began attempting to cultivate, following the prescribed meridian routes to absorb Dou Qi from the surrounding world.

It was widely known that, before reaching the rank of Dou Practitioner, 90% of people couldn't cultivate Dou Qi due to their weak physical constitution. Attempting to do so risked severe injury or even death.

However, those who managed their limits and stopped before overexerting themselves could use this early practice to strengthen their meridians.

Chen Guan had confidence in his physical resilience. He suspected that the power of time and space had transformed his body. Despite his current childlike appearance, his strength far exceeded that of others his age. Without it, his survival in Wu Tan City would have been much harder.

His first attempt was rough—his meridians ached, and he couldn't complete even half a cycle before stopping. Prepared for this, Chen Guan wasn't discouraged and kept repeating the process, pushing himself to his limits each time.

Finally, after three hours, he succeeded!

Feeling the faint strand of Dou Qi—or rather, Dou Zhi Qi—within him, Chen Guan smiled in satisfaction.

All the effort, all the perseverance—it was worth it for this moment!

With his first success, the second came more easily. Restored and invigorated, Chen Guan resumed his training, his curiosity for this new power and his desire to grow stronger driving him relentlessly. By morning, though he hadn't slept, he felt more energized than fatigued—a testament to the benefits of cultivation.

The following days followed a similar pattern. While the other children continued trying to sense Dou Qi, Yan Hongtao personally coached Chen Guan and Zhao Gang, teaching them how to absorb energy and avoid common pitfalls.

Thanks to this, more children began succeeding, their progress likely spurred on by jealousy and competition. By the end of a month, nearly 50 children had made progress, leaving only seven who still hadn't sensed Dou Qi.

Chen Guan noticed Yan Hongtao's sympathetic gaze toward these seven and suspected their fate was sealed—they would likely be trained as expendable soldiers.

Reflecting on the harshness of this world, Chen Guan dismissed the matter. He had enough to worry about ensuring his own survival.

During this month, Chen Guan worked tirelessly, every night drenched in sweat from cultivation. His efforts bore fruit: he had achieved one strand of Dou Zhi Qi. He confirmed this by secretly testing himself on a Dou Qi Measuring Stone while helping carry it with Zhao Gang.

From zero to one strand of Dou Zhi Qi in under a month—his speed was astonishing.

Outside of cultivation, Chen Guan had made other strides, such as improving his ability to converse naturally with others, albeit at a slower pace.

As for Zhao Gang, his visits to flaunt himself had dwindled, likely due to sensing Chen Guan's indifference. This suited Chen Guan perfectly. The fewer distractions, the more time he could dedicate to training.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, six months had passed.

At last, the moment Yan Hongtao had mentioned—the assessment—had arrived!