Chapter 143: Seven Chimes!

As the crown prince, Xia Yu was naturally the first to undergo the spirit measurement.

Xia Yu’s political allies were extremely excited, and their eyes followed him closely as he approached the Spiritual Measuring Bell. As long as Xia Yu successfully joined an immortal sect, their fortunes would also soar!

Consort Hua was a nervous wreck, and the concubines tried their best to comfort her, assuring her that Xia Yu would undoubtedly enter an immortal sect.

Their soothing words eventually calmed her down. Feeling a bit better, she couldn’t help but cast a glance over at the empress and said with a smile, "If the Spiritual Marrow had rained back then, perhaps your son might have lived..."

The expressions of the other consorts changed. Even though everyone knew that the empress had no offspring, not everyone was aware that she had lost a child who was barely two years old due to an unusual illness. This matter had been deliberately downplayed by the emperor of Grand Xia, and thus, it was rarely mentioned.

The empress glanced back at Consort Hua and said calmly, "Consort Hua, mind your words and actions. I don't want to slap you in front of so many immortals. It wouldn't be pleasant for both His Majesty and you."

Consort Hua instantly turned furious. "You!" She subconsciously looked at Fang Chen, who was seated, then suddenly laughed and said, "Even Duke Fang has to sit quietly in front of so many immortals. Would you dare to slap me?"

"Want to try me?" responded the empress coldly.

"Crazy bitch, I can’t be bothered to argue with you." Consort Hua snorted and once again focused on Xia Yu. As long as Xia Yu joined an immortal sect, her own status would rise to the heavens!

Xia Yu was standing in front of the Spiritual Measuring Bell, feeling somewhat nervous. He hadn't expected that one day he’d be so close to the path of immortality.

"No need to be nervous," said Ancestor Xia Yu, a faint smile on his face. "As long as you can cause the Spiritual Measuring Bell to chime, you can be said to have talent for cultivation, those who can cause it to chime one to three times can be considered to have inferior talent, those who can can cause it to chime four to six times possess intermediate talent. Those who can produce seven chimes and above possess superior talent. If you can cause the bell to chime seven times, there shouldn’t be any problem with you joining the Heavenly Southern Sect."

"Yes, Ancestor," said Xia Yu.

He took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and punched.

Clang!

The Spiritual Measuring Bell rang, throwing the crowd into excitement. They didn’t expect that Xia Yu would possess talent for cultivation, even if he only managed to ring it once!

Consort Hua was immediately pleased.

Ancestor Xia Yu urged, "Continue, don't stop."

Xia Yu struck the Spiritual Measuring Bell again.

Clang!

Clang!

Elder Jin Nan and others nodded.

"Truly the birthplace of the Spiritual Marrow. The first person we test can already cause the bell to chime three times."

In the past, among the disciples they had tested, very few could produce three chimes. Even if Xia Yu stopped striking now, he’d have already reached the standard of some sects.

However, Xia Yu continued.

Clang!

The fourth chime!

This represented an intermediate talent!

The ministers, imperial relatives, and the surrounding people all grew even more excited. Being the crown prince, the higher Xia Yu’s talent was, the greater the fortune of Grand Xia!

Watching Xia Yu’s performance, Li Daoye’s expression turned strange, and he couldn’t help but mutter, "This guy can produce four chimes?" He glanced at Fang Chen, only to see him as calm as ever. "Aren't you at all worried?" he whispered.

Looking at Xia Yu, Fang Chen wore a smile. "What is there to worry about?"

Back on the square, Xia Yu became more excited as he struck again.

Clang!

The fifth chime!

Clang!

The sixth chime!

Li Daoye couldn't help but stand up. "Upper-intermediate-level talent!" he uttered, bewildered.

When he saw that Elder Jin Nan and the others were still calm, he couldn't help but smile awkwardly and sit back down.

Elder Jin Nan smiled faintly. "Having an upper-intermediate-level talent is not bad, but don't forget, this place is the birthplace of the Spiritual Marrow. This is by no means the limit."

Abbess Zhu Yue nodded subconsciously.

In an ordinary place, having an upper-intermediate-level talent was a one-in-a-million chance. Any sect would be willing to accept such a disciple. However, considering that a Spiritual Marrow had been born here, this wasn’t anything special.

"Back then, I was only able to produce two chimes...."

Ancestor Xia Yu looked at his descendant, who was separated from him by many generations, and couldn't help but sigh, his smile bitter. If it weren't for him contributing one of the two spiritual herbs he had found to the Heavenly Southern Sect, he wouldn't have been able to join the sect.

Back then, he was afraid he wouldn't even reach the third or fourth level of Qi Refining. Even though he had proved himself wrong, the eighth level of Qi Refining was his limit, and he knew he couldn't reach the Foundation Building Realm in his lifetime.

Xia Yu seemed to sense the gazes of the crowd upon him and his heart filled with excitement. He suddenly found himself letting out a roar and striking the bell one more time.

Clang——

Seven chimes!

Superior talent level!

Elder Jin Nan’s breath turned a little hurried; the Heavenly Southern Sect hadn’t recorded a genius with a superior talent for decades! The last time that had happened was when the Spirit Marrow emerged in the Flame Empire!

During that time, two geniuses with superior talent had emerged—one joined the Heavenly Southern Sect, and the other joined the Spirit Beast Valley.

"I have a superior talent!" Ecstatic, Xia Yu threw another punch, but this time, the Spiritual Measuring Bell remained silent without making any sound.

Xia Yu's expression froze, but after a brief pause, he continued to rain down punches.

Still, there was no sound.

Seeing that, Ancestor Xia Yu stopped him. "No need to continue. Your talent is superior. If your talent isn’t any higher than that, then the Spiritual Measuring Bell won't resonate again."

Xia Yu felt somewhat disappointed, but he quickly regained his spirit. With a superior talent, it meant he could join the immortal sect. He would become a cultivator!

In the next moment, Xia Yu's gaze swept around and finally found Fang Chen. His gaze became highly aggressive as if he were a triumphant general looking at the defeated enemy.

The civil and military officials of Grand Xia sensed that, and their expressions turned complex. After today, Xia Yu would become a disciple of the immortal sect, surpassing Fang Chen in terms of status.

However, they were curious about how Fang Chen would perform in the spirit measuring test.

"Not bad." Elder Jin Nan applauded lightly, then glanced at the crowd. "This disciple will be accepted into the Heavenly Southern Sect. Does anyone have any objections?"

"Senior Jin Nan, why not let him join our Spirit Beast Valley?" said the woman holding the old hen.

Daoist Ya, Fire Cloud Immortal Fairy, and others remained silent. They knew that these superior-level talents would not fall into their hands, so they had no intention to compete.

Elder Jin Nan smiled. "If the next person possesses an upper-superior talent, they will be yours. What do you say?."

After some contemplation, the woman nodded slowly. "Deal. If the next one has upper-superior talent, they will belong to our Spirit Beast Valley."

Seeing her so readily agree, Elder Jin Nan's expression changed, and he couldn’t help but fall silent for a moment, revaluting. But in the end, he still nodded. "Alright, it's settled."

With that, he looked at Xia Yu and said, "Come here."

"Hurry over. This is Elder Jin Nan of the Heavenly Southern Sect. Don't forget your manners," Ancestor Xia Yu reminded Xia Yu.

"Yes." Xia Yu nodded quickly and walked respectfully to Elder Jin Nan. "I pay my respects to you, Elder Jin Nan."

"Alright, after all is said and done, you will come with me to the Heavenly Southern Sect and officially become my disciple," said Elder Jin Nan with a smile.

Go to the Southern Heaven Sect?

It was then that Xia Yu remembered one important point. If he left, what would happen to the position of the crown prince?

Elder Jin Nan seemed to have seen through Xia Yu's thoughts. "Are you unwilling to part with the position of crown prince?" he said. "Cultivators pursue longevity alongside the sun and moon. Can't you let go of these trivial worldly matters? Is the mortal world, with its splendors and riches, more interesting than a few hundred years of carefree cultivation?"

Indeed! Living for hundreds of years... Wouldn’t it be better than the position of crown prince? When I succeed in cultivation, if I can't let go of these worldly matters, I can still come back and be the emperor!

At that time, what would Fang Chen be in my eyes?

With this in mind, Xia Yu's eyes became fiery, and he immediately said, "I am willing to follow you to the Heavenly Southern Sect, Senior!"

"Good." Elder Jin Nan smiled slightly and said to Ancestor Xia Yu, "Continue."