Just moments ago, when Miao Feiping had been testing his aptitude, the circular platform had blazed with brilliant light, dazzling to the extreme, ultimately earning him a first-ever "Grade A-Low" assessment in the entire history of the Seven Star Workshop. The sensation had been unprecedented, leaving every powerful cultivator in attendance and every onlooker in the crowd absolutely astounded.
But now, after Zhao Ya had stepped onto the platform, the radiance it emitted surpassed even what Miao Feiping had produced—brighter, more intense, and far more enduring!
"Another Grade A!"
Somewhere in the crowd, someone shouted the words aloud.
Even those who had never cultivated a day in their lives could see at a glance that the phenomenon Zhao Ya had summoned was far more overwhelming than Miao Feiping's. Miao Feiping had already achieved Grade A-Low—so what kind of heaven-defying talent must Zhao Ya possess?
It was certain to be Grade A at minimum, though whether it was A-Medium or A-High, no one could tell.
A full dozen breaths passed before the blinding radiance gradually receded, yet the shock in the crowd showed no sign of subsiding. Everyone stared blankly at the slender figure of the little girl standing on the circular platform, as though witnessing the rise of a future giant.
Zhao Ya opened her eyes belatedly, a dazed expression on her face, having no idea what had just happened. When her gaze met Zhao Yebai's, she simply flashed him a sweet smile.
Without waiting for the Seven Star Workshop to announce the result, she turned to step down.
"Young miss, please wait!" A Seven Star Workshop martial artist hurried forward to stop her.
"What is it?" Zhao Ya regarded him warily.
The martial artist was drenched in sweat, but he suppressed his shock and forced an innocent, harmless smile. "Don't be nervous, young miss. It's simply that your aptitude is so extraordinary that we few cannot make the assessment on our own authority. The Elders need to deliberate before reaching a final result. Please wait just a moment."
His attitude was deferential to an almost absurd degree, as though he were not facing a little girl of seven or eight years old, but rather an Elder or Workshop Master of his own Sect.
Such heaven-defying talent—it could not be called the last of its kind, but it was certainly the first in history. The young girl's future path of cultivation would undoubtedly be smooth and unimpeded. In perhaps not many years, she would become an existence that they could only look up to. At a time like this, how could he dare be anything less than utterly respectful?
What if he said the wrong thing and she remembered it? What kind of misfortune might follow him down the road?
On the observation platform, the group of Seven Star Workshop Elders all wore flushed faces, huddled together with their spiritual senses surging as they deliberated on the matter of Zhao Ya's aptitude assessment.
Shangguan Ji stared at Zhao Ya without blinking, nearly failing to hold back tears of joy. This disciple recruitment event had first produced the pleasant surprise of Miao Feiping, and now here came Zhao Ya as well—truly the Divine Lord's blessing. The Seven Star Workshop was destined to prosper!
Given the aptitude Miao Feiping had displayed, ascending to the Emperor Venerable realm in the future was certainly no problem. And for this number 897, Zhao Ya, it was even less of a concern.
In time, the Seven Star Workshop would have two Emperor Venerable cultivators holding it up. On the Void Continent, who could stand against them?
In no time at all, the Elders' deliberation reached its conclusion. Guan Qianxing quickly made his way to Shangguan Ji's side and whispered a few words in his ear.
Shangguan Ji gave a slight nod before speaking aloud: "Seven Star Gathering, Zhao Ya, number 897—aptitude assessment: Grade A-High! Overall assessment: Grade A-High!"
Double Grade A-High!
Miao Feiping's previous double Grade A-Low assessment paled into insignificance beside Zhao Ya's.
Yet inwardly, Shangguan Ji could only smile wryly. A true assessment would place Zhao Ya's aptitude well above Grade A-High, but A-High was already the ceiling—there was simply no higher rating to give.
He suddenly recalled a rumor that above the Emperor Venerable realm, there existed even higher tiers of martial cultivation. It was only because his own cultivation was not high enough that he had never been able to access information from those upper echelons.
If Miao Feiping's advancement to Emperor Venerable was all but certain, then Zhao Ya very well might open an entirely new horizon for the Seven Star Workshop.
Shangguan Ji's mind drifted with longing. What kind of view lay beyond the Emperor Venerable realm? Perhaps, within Zhao Ya's lifetime, she would peel back that mysterious veil on his behalf.
"Workshop Master Shangguan, this young girl hasn't already entered a master-disciple relationship with any of your Sect's Elders, has she?"
A voice came from beside him. Shangguan Ji's heart jolted with alarm, and the delight on his face instantly transformed into panic.
In the overwhelming rush of joy, he had completely forgotten about Shen Xing!
This man had already shown intense interest in Miao Feiping earlier. Fortunately, Guan Qianxing had established a master-disciple bond with Miao Feiping two months prior, and the test had been nothing more than a formality—so Shen Xing, conscious of his own standing, had refrained from forcing the issue.
But now that Zhao Ya had displayed talent far exceeding Miao Feiping's, how could Shen Xing remain unmoved?
Yet how could Shangguan Ji willingly let go of such a prodigy—a harbinger of the Seven Star Workshop's great rise? His thoughts raced furiously, and he was on the verge of risking Shen Xing's displeasure by fabricating a lie when the overwhelming pressure of an Emperor Venerable enveloped him.
The words of deception simply refused to leave his lips. He could only force out a strained smile: "No, she hasn't!"
The pressure that had been enveloping him dissipated in an instant, as though it had never existed.
Shen Xing smiled and nodded. "Excellent. I find that this girl and I share a great affinity. I wish to bring her back to my Sect for proper cultivation. I trust Workshop Master Shangguan will be gracious enough to part with her."
Shangguan Ji very nearly exploded into cursing. What shameless old rogue—every time he laid eyes on some promising seedling, he claimed to share a "great affinity" with them. It was absolutely brazen beyond belief! And when Miao Feiping had been the subject, he had at least asked whether Shangguan Ji was willing to let the boy go. Now with Zhao Ya, he didn't even bother with that courtesy.
This was an outright robbery.