Aptitude?

Seeing the old alchemist's bloodshot eyes, Gu Erin struck while the iron was hot. "But, I'll only pay ten silvers for the aptitude test."

Xia Hao, who was in a daze imagining future glories immediately came back to his senses, in the end even if Gu Erin was a monstrous talent it would still take time to nurture him. Not to mention he was still a mortal, one had to at least reach the Qi Refining Stage, which comes after the Bone Fusion Stage.

Observing these fact Xia Hao shook his head, the mortality rate of the newly inducted were quite high in the beginning days. Unless this boy had heavenly talent he wouldn't bother promising anything.

Xia Hao instead of voicing his thoughts countered with a sorrowful face. "Junior are you trying to deceive this old man? Testing one's aptitude is not easy. You at least need to pay one gold twenty-five silver, and even then I'm at a loss…"

The old man held up his hands like there was nothing else he could do. When Gu Erin knew full well that the aptitude test is far easier, and only has a slight cost of no more than fifteen silver. Should he leave and just ignore this shameless old man?

With a forced smile that promised retribution Gu Erin rebuked him. "Uncle, why don't we have a bet. If I can't reach the four-star aptitude I'll pay, if I do reach it, you give me the first successful Body Foraging Pill for free?"

The old man stroked his bare chin thinking it over, before agreeing like he had taken a loss. While on the inside the old man was happily congratulating himself for obtaining easy wealth. One had to know that he was only a two-star alchemist and he could be considered one of the highest powers in the town near the capital. If one was a three-star alchemist even emperors would show you respect. A four-star alchemist is as rare as a phoenix's feather or a qilin's horn.

A star rating was one's potential in that field, for alchemy it resides in soul strength as more often than not you are using your divine soul to fuel the flames and maneuver your ingredients. If one used qi the ambient elements in the qi would contaminate your concoction. Thus, a pure, and controlled force was needed.

So, for alchemists whose soul strength was average would only be a one-star alchemist, and that would be the roof of their potential, unless they find an opportunity to strengthen their soul. Such opportunities were incredibly rare and more often than not highly fought after. A weak alchemist wouldn't be able to obtain such a thing.

The deal made, Xia Hao led Gu Erin to a side room on the bottom floor, although the room wasn't special a formation diagram lined the walls. It looked like an astral map showing the night sky. However, each light was unnaturally dim.

Xia Hao explained, "There are six major stars, although this formation is a minor one it is enough to test the talent for anyone in such a small town. One has to light up the entire first star's constellation before the second one lights up." The old alchemist pointed to a small podium in the center of the room. "place your hand on the formation disc to start when you're ready."

Gu Erin hovered his hand above the formation disc, which was the center of the formation, and hesitated. The old alchemist was chuckling in his heart, thinking that Gu Erin was getting cold feet. In a way the old alchemist was right but for the wrong reason. Because Gu Erin could still feel the presence of multiple divine senses around him. They almost seemed 'eager' for him to take the test. Making him a little nervous.

What would happen if he attracted more attention then he already had? He knew that being a regressor would come with risks ,but for one to project their divine soul they would have to be at least within the Nascent Soul Realm. Which comes after the peak of the Transforming Core Realm, which is called Golden Core Stage.

Gu Erin however, knew that he had time on his side, although the task of becoming a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator in a few years seemed impossible for most. For someone like him who had the knowledge of almost all the major resources in the Flood Dragon Kingdom, advancing rapidly would be far easier.

Little to Gu Erin's knowledge, yes these different forces were watching this with great attention. Soul force and quality related to one's divine soul, and could tell how easily one could progress in one's cultivation. Those who had more, and higher quality of soul force could guide and control their qi far better than others.

So, when Gu Erin put his hand on the formation disc, and it immediately exploded with a bright burst of light the old alchemist and the watchers were shocked. What just happened? Did the formation malfunction? No, none of them were that stupid. If it was just a faulty formation disc than why were the walls still emitting blinding light?

The light was so intense that the temperature of the room was rising crazily and the walls of the room were starting to burn. With a wave of his sleeve Xia Hao rinsed the walls with his qi, with the most serious expression he had ever worn.

The primary thought floating around in Xia Hao's mind was, "what the hell is this kid?"

To Xia Hao who was well over two hundred years old when he entered Heaven's Mercy and had most of his memories erased, he had never seen such a person. Genius wasn't a good descriptor, if his talent exceeded six stars that only meant one thing.

"Son of Epoch" This thought entered Xia Hao's mind, the true genius that a race or clan had cultivated through ten thousand years of good luck and good deeds. However, he was a newly inducted. Meaning he was something else.

All of the forces watching this little showing, were unconsciously drooling in their real bodies. They agreed with Xia hao, this child was a great prodigy that must be won over. While others had fewer positive thoughts. Split evenly, most forces wanted to recruit Gu Erin while the other half wanted to destroy him.

No doubt, if Gu Erin made a stance with a certain side, the forces wanting to destroy him would become overwhelming. That was until they captured him and wrung him dry for every good thing in or on his body.

Gu Erin meanwhile was looking dazedly at the formation disc, once the center of the formation. It was originally a qi imbued crystal, although not as valuable as spirit stones, they were still worth at least ten gold coins.

Gu Erin inwardly cringed at the bargaining he would have to do to try and get out of this, perhaps he could use another alchemy recipe from his past life? No that was too valuable, the only reason why he offered it to Xia Hao anyways was because it would be worth more to him now rather than later on.

So, when Gu Erin turned around and saw Xia Hao's serious frown instantly turn into a blinding and flattering smile Gu Erin was confused. Until he realized what he had just done. Due to Gu Erin being a poor penny pincher in his past life in Heaven's Mercy, his mind always went to the monetary value first before other things.

So, when he realized that he had indeed broken the formation with his soul force, while he was still mortal. He was understandably stunned. Before he cackled in his heart, it was now his turn to swindle the swindler.

***

In a place where time or existence had no control over

This time it was the Heavens who was on the same side as Fate, Chaos had now overstepped his bounds. The Heavens could accept the new innate talents of the mortal, as he was Chaos's Dao inheritor, but, Chaos hadn't undone the soul strengthening when he had brought that mortal's soul to the chaotic cosmic space.

If the Heaven's had hands, it would be debating on either rubbing its temples or covering its ears to block out Fate's incessant ranting. Which came in the form of metaphysical screams that threatened to shatter the current timeline.

The Heaven's looked at Chaos before he sighed, "alright what's your compromise?"

The Heavens gave out the equivalent of a sigh as Fate waited for the Heaven's Verdict. The Heavens as the most senior existence among them always watched over the two. Although Chaos's Dao was limited due to Fate's own, it did not stop him from causing mischief.

The Heavens however, knew what Fate was brewing for the mortal as soon as he leaves its induction course. To say that mortal's chances of survival were small would be an understatement. However, the Heavens in returned balanced this by keeping things the same within its Realm like the past timeline. Allowing him to grow monstrously. Much to fate's annoyance.

However, just when it had found a balance, a new factor came into the picture, wrecking the whole thing. It couldn't do anything major, but it couldn't sit back either.

So, with some reluctance, it allowed one thing to happen. It would allow the speed at which the news of the Body Foraging Pill spread; it was going to be accelerated. The geniuses of the clans and races the Heaven's allowed within its Realm to maintain balance would no doubt flock there.

This would cause more issues than benefits, but would level the playing field. Not only that but it would weaken Fate's influence on them, allowing them to make tremendous progress.

With that it announced its verdict.

***

In a dark and messy room chalk full of loos pages and open books a Little Devil sat at a type writer eating a cheeseburger.

The Little Devil looked over to the two others the Father of all Trees and a new face a member of the Cat Clan. Leblorf was happily eating a hamburger while trying to get the Father of all Trees to try a bite. Only to be told that he was a vegetarian.

The Little Devil was happy that these two were here, the Little Devil wanted to know about his fellow brothers. He heard the Son of Fate became a Lord of the Void. He hadn't heard from Brother Lonnie, or from Brother Shockwave either. He hoped they were having fun on the path of the Dao of Reading.