Chapter 108: Talent Changes! Realization!
As Chen Xuan focused, two System Panels appeared before him.
One belonged to Huo Ling’er and the other to Chi Yao.
He examined Huo Ling’er’s first. For no other reason than she was standing closer.
Her information was soon displayed neatly in front of him.
...
[Name: Huo Ling’er]
[Physique: Vulcan Holy Body (High-Grade)]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Early)]
[Technique: Vulcan Immortal Scripture (4th Level)]
[Talent Rating: 9.5 (9) Stars]
[Evaluation: A destined Great Emperor! It is heavily advised that the Host takes them in as disciple!]
...
Almost every category had changed, but the one that immediately caught Chen Xuan’s attention was the Talent Rating.
Two numbers.
9.5 and 9.
This was only the second time he had encountered such a phenomenon.
The first had been when he inspected Xiao Huo’s talent the previous few times the two had met.
The difference was that Xiao Huo’s number inside the brackets had been higher than the displayed rating, indicating that his talent had diminished.
Huo Ling’er’s situation was the exact opposite.
A hint of surprise flashed across Chen Xuan’s face for a brief moment. But very soon, he had a guess. Or rather, a suspicion.
’Is there any connection between the Destined Protagonist and their respective antagonists?’
’Does Xiao Huo’s declining fortune benefit those who were originally meant to become his stepping stones?’
Chen Xuan soon arrived at such a conclusion.
The more he considered it, the more plausible the theory seemed.
As for why Huo Ling’er’s Talent had not permanently increased?
Chen Xuan believed it might have to do with the fact that Xiao Huo could still recover.
If he were to encounter a few fortuitous opportunities and recover his lost luck, Huo Ling’er’s "imaginary" talent would vanish as well.
’It seems that suppressing Xiao Huo has to be put further up on the agenda.’
’Not only to weaken this future threat, but also for Huo Ling’er’s own sake.’
Chen Xuan suspected that Huo Ling’er’s talent advancement would also benefit him greatly, both as a person and through the System.
Several thoughts passed through his mind as his plans for the future subtly shifted.
However, he didn’t rush to deactivate the Heavenly Insight Eye.
Instead, his gaze moved toward his second disciple.
To his surprise, the changes on her panel were no less significant.
...
[Name: Chi Yao]
[Physique: Mortal Body (High-Grade)]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Early)]
[Technique: Heaven-Swallowing Scripture (4th Level), Dragon-Phoenix Body (1st Level)]
[Talent Rating: 9 (8.5) Stars]
[Evaluation: The target’s talent is extraordinary! She is a destined True Immortal and a natural prodigy in demonic arts. The Host is heavily encouraged to accept her as his disciple!]
...
A similar improvement in strength.
Yet due to practicing the Heaven-Swallowing Scripture, Chi Yao’s Physique had also transformed.
Originally, only a Low-Grade Mortal Body, similar to when Chen Xuan started cultivation, she had now turned into a High-Grade one.
Although still incomparable to Huo Ling’er’s Holy Body, the improvement was more than enough to elevate Chi Yao’s future potential.
Chen Xuan assumed this was the primary reason for her increased Talent Rating.
After all, Chi Yao had no Destined Protagonist opposing her, at least on the surface.
’Huo Ling’er’s improvement stems from Xiao Huo’s misfortune.’
Chi Yao’s, on the other hand, comes from the enhancement of her aptitude, and perhaps from... me?’
Chen Xuan had given several treasures to this disciple of his, greatly improving her combat capabilities and laying a solid foundation for her future growth.
More importantly, having someone like him protecting her would spare her countless hardships.
’It seems that talent is far from static.’
’Whether it is luck, certain opportunities, or even the people around the person at hand, they can all influence it.’
This made complete sense.
Wasn’t he himself proof of that?
He was only a Mortal Body like Chi Yao in the past, and without the memories and experiences of a supreme expert at that.
It was Mu Xuanyin forcing him to become a disciple that allowed him to reach this point.
If she hadn’t taken a liking to him, the chances of him becoming a cultivator would have been slim, much less of him reaching the Core Formation realm.
A sense of enlightenment washed over him.
Closing both panels, Chen Xuan’s gaze drifted across the battlefield.
Moments later, it settled on Su Ying.
Under the embarrassed expression of the other party, Chen Xuan focused on her face.
New lines of text immediately appeared.
...
[Name: Su Ying]
[Age: 67]
[Physique: Yin Spirit Body (High-Grade)]
[Cultivation: Core Formation (Early)]
[Technique: Yin Yang Technique (7th Level)]
[Talent Rating: 5 (4) Stars]
[Evaluation: The talent of the other party is inadequate! Accepting them as a disciple is heavily discouraged!]
...
The results were as expected, serving to confirm Chen Xuan’s earlier conclusions.
This made him satisfied, giving him another idea for the future.
Just as he was hatching his next plans, however, an awkward cough interrupted his thoughts.
His attention was forced to return to reality.
A faint blush had appeared on Su Ying’s face in the meantime.
She had no idea why Chen Xuan had been staring at her so intently.
After waiting for several moments and seeing no sign of him snapping out of his daze, she finally cleared her throat to earn his attention.
"Master, there’s something I nearly forgot to mention."
"Peak Master Tang has been trying to contact you recently. She said she attempted to reach you through a transmission talisman, but never received a response."
"I asked why she wanted to speak with you, but she insisted on discussing it in person."
Su Ying reported.
Hearing those words, Chen Xuan couldn’t help but flinch.
The range of a transmission talisman was vast, but it could only span the territory of a few Domains at most.
With him being far away in the Nine Origins Sea, it was no surprise that Tang Yuechen had failed to contact him.
Chen Xuan had previously overlooked this detail.
But now that he heard Su Ying’s words, he couldn’t help but become nervous.
He had a hunch that Tang Yuechen might not be the only person who failed to reach him.
Thinking of this, he immediately retrieved his transmission talisman.
The instant Spiritual Energy flowed into it, the talisman began trembling violently.
Lights flashed one after another while alerts rang out without pause.
The sound of thousands of notifications, all at once.
For a brief moment, Chen Xuan suspected that the talisman could no longer withstand the impact and was about to burst apart.
