The Talent Orb

~~~~~~Xiao Li~~~~~~

The Clan Leader looked at the warehouse in front of him. Each time he comes to see this building it looks different each time.

This time was no different, he could see an open stream of air blowing inside of it. It's like a current just blows into the interior of the building. Why such a high amount of air?

Well, it doesn't matter. He is here for something else.

As he entered inside he was taken aback… the reason for that is that he saw Chu Yuechan, THE Frozen Beauty sitting cross-legged and using her ice profound art to cool off a glass orb.

Him, seeing Frozen Beauty is honestly a surprise… Still Is! Even after several days now.

Especially seeing her in Xiao Clan clothes…

This was the most definitive proof that their clan is going somewhere.

Still, though he looked at his grandson, he was resting, another Frozen Cloud Fairy was on his lap feeding him grapes.

"Grandpa?"

"Long'er. I have found something. You might find it interesting."

"Hmm?"

His gaze focused on the Clan Leader who pulled out a book.

"It's a diary, written by the Fifth Elder."

"Oh…"

"I want you to read it to understand what I mean. We found it after we started renovating his pavilion." 

"...Sure… since you are so confident about the content…"

As he took the book he started to read through it.

~~~~~~Xiao Long~~~~~~

'So he kept it here… Yun Che's identity, Xiao Ying's death, even some info about Yun Che's parents being from another continent.

And most importantly…dirt and reason to have some beef with Sword Region…

Curious… though I should keep this to myself…' 

I recalled how my Grandmother went crazy when she saw Mirror of Samsara in the book.

It's like having a slab of meat in front of a hungry lion. 

Nothing good will come out of this… but I could use this to get stuff from Demon Continent. They might have different resources for pill-making.

Though I need to destroy the Sword Region to access their resources, they have a portal of some sort which could help me to reach that continent or at least the location of it. 

Still, I have a sense of what to do next… 

"Interesting details. My thanks, Grandpa." After saying that my gaze went to the orb Chu Yuechan is cooling down with her Frozen Cloud arts.

"More importantly, the talent orb is almost done." I motioned towards the glass orb. 

"This is the talent orb. Just from pouring profound energy into it, you will know what you are good at."

"...This…"

He turned around and looked at the orb.

"Mind you it doesn't have everything carved into it. It can reveal talents like having potential for swordsmanship, artificer, array making, alchemy… the most basic ones."

"... It's more than enough." My Grandfather said with slightly widened eyes.

"True."

"...but how did you make a glass…capable of doing that?"

"I took three rocks of different sizes and purified them until they turned into crystals. Then I proceeded to carve runes on the smallest one. Which holds the key function of deciding who has what talent.

The middle one has profound energy reading. And last and biggest one is the artefact's construct stability which holds it together."

"...this…is a legitimate artefact!?"

"...I think it is…" I said with not so sure tone. While it's indeed true. I haven't seen a true artefact to sound certain.

"Incredible… when will it be ready?"

"Soon. Though grandfather, since the clan is expanding and we are taking new members, we should expand and rearrange key facilities like the sparing arenas. Any ideas on how we will expand in the new territory we added?"

Then I remember one small thing…

"And…did Blue Wind Empire ever… contact us?" I asked with a slightly weirded-out look. The royals are way too silent…

I get that the Emperor should be sick and stuff but…none of the princes tried to curry favours…

"...Regarding Blue Wind Empire, all we got is a congratulatory letter with some basic tributes. We consider that they already regard us as Top power and their overlords… at least that's what I understood from this letter.

I slowly nodded… This means the other Major Power will do something similar soon as well.

Wonder what our 'cousins' will do.

Well, it doesn't matter.

"And the new areas, our Architects are working tirelessly on preparing several schematics of how it will look. You should receive them shortly."

I nodded hearing that.

"Good. I am quite excited to see it."

My grandpa smiled for a bit.

"This will be all Long'er I have few other things to do, I will see you later."

After saying that grandfather left, that moment beauty in my lap returned to her snuggling. She was quite conscious of doing that in front of my grandfather. 

"Your grandfather is quite something else. He barely noticed the Senior Master in the room." Mu Lingxue said that while returning to cuddling.

"...I think he starts getting over the weirdness which is my life."

"...Weirdness? You categorise it like that?" The Fairy asked with a curious tone.

"If you have a better term for it I am listening."

"..."

For a moment she thought about it before starting to speak.

"You're just talented enough and all that change was swift that's why you say that it's weird."

"Hmm…fair enough. Let's keep it at that."

After saying that I moved her closer and proceeded to start kissing that sweet-looking nape of hers.

"M-Master~ not in front of Senior Master!"

How cute, she cares about the details.

~~~~~~Later~~~~~~

With Talent Orb's completion changes started to happen at the clan. The area which used to be kept as the main family tournament arena has been changed into Talent Awakening grounds with their own martial arts arenas. 

In other words, the Xiao Clan wants to mix the two ceremonies…

Like the coming of age ceremony where youngsters fight.

So not only they would learn what is their talent but at the same time their Cultivation will be tested.

With the way the clan is growing the rules are constantly altered for the new people who join.

At first, one could join the Clan with just 10 Profound entrances.

Now it went up to 12 Profound Entrances, and one needs to be [True Profound] to even consider joining.

The rules keep on getting more demanding but this doesn't stop people wanting to join…

Being related to a Sacred Ground in some way it's already something a person would kill for. And it's not a joke.

It's like being part of a godly being's cult. People from around the Blue Wind Empire AND outside are flocking to Xiao Clan…

Massive lines started to gather just outside the Clan grounds. People with all sorts of backgrounds trying to enter.

Rich people trying to bribe so that their children could enter, for clout, other sects trying to swindle their way inside with items and resources…

The amount of nonsense the Xiao Clan Guards have to deal with forced the clan to adjust the schedule of the guards. adding one extra shift of guards just from the amount of nonsense they have to deal with.

Regardless, many were able to join the clan. Abandoning their family name is a must. As this is a Clan, one has to leave its past life behind and must accept the family name of Xiao. 

This is how it works.

Even with these conditions, Xiao Clan is taking around 1000 people per week. Because of limited space, moderation of the amount of people who can enter has been introduced quite early.

Another thing which happened that Xiao Long didn't even notice is that people from three Major sects abandoned their Sects and went to apply to join Xiao Clan.

Many of them are not that much related to the core members but even so, this has slashed the potential of these three superpowers of the Empire.

All that happened and Xiao Long didn't even notice.

"There are so many of them… I don't even see the end…" One of the guards sighed.

"This has been going on for weeks… don't they know we only accept new people on Mondays?" Another one mumbled to himself.

They looked at the massive amount of people gathered at the main gate, it's so long that it goes all the way outside the city. And the biggest part is that they don't mind…waiting… in fact, they want to wait.

Because even if they fail they have cultivated in an extremely potent area where Profound energy is highest in the whole Blue Wind Empire!

Either way, it's a win-win for these people.

As this was going a person flew over, she was dressed in pure blue and white, she looked like a goddess from the world of snow. With long black hair, her cultivation was quite high in realms of late [Sky Profound].

'I am finally here… Heavens…so many people…'

Only when she attended the Blue Wind Tournament did she see this many people in a single place. This was absurd but at the same time it made sense…

Xiao Clan is accepting new members AND they are connected to a Sacred Ground… this is enough for thousands to flock to this place.

But this is not even the best part. The best part is the Alchemist behind this place. If you are part of this Clan the pills you can get are much easier than from an Auction House.

This alone caused a massive shift in the whole Blue Wind Empire and then eventually the whole Continent.

Regardless this time around no Monarch captured her as she was part of the same group.

Instead, she flew where she remembered talking with him. It should be his home.

Once she landed there. She noticed several women with Fire Profound Energy cultivating under direct sun rays. 

One of them noticed her and opened her eyes.

"...May I ask where is Young Master Xiao?"

"You should be able to sense him, he is an [Eighth of Sky Profound]." The girl answered before returning to her cultivation.

Chu Yueli who heard that instantly stopped in her tracks, her mind went blank. Did she just say [Eighth of Sky Profound]!?

That's the same cultivation as hers!!!

"My thanks."

The Fairy looked around, and her senses eventually locked on two [Sky Profound] people and a single early Throne in one area.

So she swiftly flew right there.

The fairy quickly noticed that this was some sort of strange area…

The Young Master was…digging a hole?

"Sister."

Chu Yuechan's voice brought from her thoughts as she looked at her older sister.

"Elder sister…Mistress said that you are here."

Frozen Beauty looked away before answering. 

"...I needed to make a choice…"

"...Hmm, true… I am here to make a choice as well." Chu Yueli said that with a serious nod as well.

Before landing on the ground. Her eyes eventually ended up on Mu Lingxue who was cultivating under a tree.

She didn't expect Xiao Long to take her with him… she heard that he took the twins because of the fondness he has for them, but no one said anything about Mu Lingxue…

One of the best talents around and most likely the next Frozen Beauty.

"Where is the Young Master Xiao?"

Before she could hear the answer she felt a surge of Profound energy. A block of dirt blasted out from the hole and turned into ice before completely shattering into ice dust which was blown away the next second by Chu Yuechan. 

"I am here… we have met again, Fairy Chu

." 

As Chu Yueli turned around she saw him raising from the hole in the ground. He then landed in front of her.

"Young Master Xiao. It's an honour to meet you again." The younger Chu cupped her fist while greeting him.

"The honour is mine. Tell me what can I do for you?"

She smiled for a second. Her smile was quite stiff, as she doesn't smile a lot.

"...I am here to offer myself, I wish to serve you in any way I can." The fairy said with a straight face while her older sister just sighed and looked away.

Chu Yuechan knew this was coming. It was only a matter of time. With Frozen Cloud now fully under him Chu Yueli only needed to fly here and just give herself away…

"...Oh, just like that? What if I ask you to leave the Frozen Cloud?"

"...I will leave it."

"...You will?"

"Yes…if it means I can serve you."

"...Such conviction. Where does it come from?"

"Your abilities. I wish to cultivate, live longer and be part of something bigger." She said with a straight face and conviction.

"...Hmm… I see, Very well, you can join me, I might find some uses for you. One will never have enough Fairies in one's service."

Chu Yueli nodded, and she released a relieved sigh. It has worked, she never expected he would ask such an abrupt question.

Even her older sister was surprised, she was surprised that Chu Yueli is willing to leave Frozen Cloud. This made her annoyed and quite ashamed that her little sister is willing to forget everything their Frozen Cloud did to them!

Though she didn't say anything, not in front of their Young Master. That would destroy whatever she has built with him. She would rather stay silent and wait for the opportunity to smack some senses into her.

"...Many Thanks, Young Master Xiao."

"Don't mention it." As he said that he looked at Mu Lingxue.

"Xue'er be a good girl and show Yueli around."

"As you wish, Master Long."

~~~~~~Xiao Long~~~~~~

After the pair walked away I looked at my progress. The hole is still not deep enough.

This is the central area where I will expand to all directions and lay the foundations to raise the city to the skies.

To do this I have been using Wind Profound Energy to practise cutting dirt in the shape of blocks. In simple terms playing Minecraft.

[Wind Profound Energy] (4/10) {12.21%}

The growth is not too slow and not that fast. Still, it's working. To make this even better I was practising the art of Ice Phoenix which grows even slower.

[Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon] (2/10) {12.41%}

Regardless of those two, it takes slightly slower to level up but it still does the job. 

My gaze then went to Chu Yuechan who was just sitting there like an icy lotus. For a second I smirked internally.

'Hmm, with Chu Yueli here I can continue to tease the big sis Yuechan…'

I wonder how long she will stay like this. Her aura gets quite chaotic when I do naughty stuff with maids.

"Shall we return to work, Chan'er?"

"...I will follow your lead, Young Master."

I nodded before flying down into the hole. Time to dig some more. 

The plan is not difficult, it's three arrays at once, gathering Profound Energy array, floating array and solidification array.

It will take a while but once the solidification array is fully powered up the next one would be the Floating array.

The key point is that the energies are quite potent deep underground.

'...Hoh…wait… second… ha ha…I see… this is the perfect opportunity!'

I dropped into a cross-legged position and summoned a Profound energy sensitivity pill from my storage ring.

Time to learn about the Earth Profound Energy!

After swallowing it I proceeded to try to feel the surroundings. 

Looking for something new. 

Since I was underground there is nothing there, unlike outside where the wind carried the energies or the Fire Profound Energy coming from the sun. It's just moisture… this was different. 

And it's not hard to pick something radiating from underneath me. 

With hyperfocus, I locked in and processed to analyse and copy what I am sensing. 

After a few tries, I put my hand on the ground and a small bulge of dirt rose…

*Ding* 

{You have created [Earth Profound Energy] art!}

'I am becoming Avatar…I already have earth, fire, water, wind…lightning, purification, need to get my hands on Darkness and Light… maybe…

Hmmm…

There should be something like nature energy… like those Wood Spirits… '

Thinking for a bit I got up from the ground and focused on my new Earth Profound Energy. My senses went much…much deeper now. I could dig through the ground like it's water.

With a single hand thrust, I made a tunnel around twenty metres long.

"Getting dark here…"

With a snap of my fingers, a ball of fire appeared on my side. Allowed me to look at what I made.

It was a perfectly smooth dig. The issue was that it was not solid… There will be a cave-in soon if I don't do something.

"Let's see…"

I focused my new type of energy and sent it flowing through the walls… imbued with the energy… once it was done I pulled out a brush and ink.

Slapping a few letters on those walls the energy which was imbued reacted to the letters and then became even more solid. 

'Done…now to do the same thing with the hole itself…'

~~~

Chu Yuechan looked down the hole her Master started to dig for some reason. 

She IS curious why he is doing this… but it's not her place to question what is on the mind of this man.

Someone who can master Frozen End Divine Arts makes her mind turn blank. 

Here she thought she was the genius of the Palace but then this…man appeared who could learn things in a few moments… it's just…

Out of the world…

Now he is doing something underground. Her senses are telling her that he is using another type of Profound Energy.

By this point, she counted fire, water, and wind, purifying energy according to his old maids… then he learned Lightning out of nowhere and started making solid Profound Energy constructs…

"...Yes…I should just stop thinking about this… and just let it flow…"

She softly said to herself as she is trying to forget all the craziness she is seeing over the last few days…

~~~

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