The next morning, the central plaza of the Li Clan was packed with people.
Dozens of fifteen-year-old youths stood in orderly lines, waiting for their turn to take the Spirit Power Stone test.
At the very front stood Li Zheng, surrounded by admirers. He laughed confidently as he boasted about achieving an A-rank, or perhaps even an S-rank talent.
"Of course my talent is extraordinary," he declared loudly so everyone could hear. "The clan is fortunate to have someone like me."
At the back of the crowd stood Li Wu Qian, silently observing everyone.
To him...
They were nothing more than insects.
"Next! Li Zheng!"
The High Priest called out.
Li Zheng stepped forward confidently and placed his hand on the Spirit Power Stone.
The stone began to glow.
At first, it emitted a faint white light.
Then the light grew brighter...
Until—
A brilliant blue radiance erupted from the stone!
"A-Rank! An A-Rank talent!"
The High Priest exclaimed in surprise.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
Li Zheng smiled proudly.
"As expected."
"I'm no ordinary person."
Several minutes later...
It was Li Wu Qian's turn.
He stepped forward calmly, without the slightest hint of nervousness.
However, the moment Li Zheng and his companions saw his face, their stomachs tightened.
"How... is he still alive?"
The same thought flashed through each of their minds.
Li Wu Qian calmly placed his hand upon the Spirit Power Stone.
The stone began to glow.
A faint yellow light appeared...
Then...
It stopped.
"F-Rank..."
"The talent is F-Rank."
The High Priest announced with disappointment.
Whispers immediately spread throughout the crowd.
"F-Rank? His talent is unbelievably poor."
"Li Wu Qian really is trash."
Yet Li Wu Qian showed no trace of sadness.
Instead...
He smiled.
A faint, calm smile filled with satisfaction.
"F-Rank..."
"Perfect."
He whispered to himself.
In his previous life, an F-Rank talent had meant weakness.
But now...
He knew the truth.
Exceptional talent meant attracting everyone's attention.
It meant everyone would place expectations upon you.
It meant others would either seek to use you...
Or eliminate you.
But a low-grade talent...
A low-grade talent meant freedom.
Freedom to cultivate in secret.
Freedom to learn forbidden techniques.
Freedom to grow stronger without anyone noticing.
"In my previous life, I believed strength came from talent."
Li Wu Qian thought as he walked away from the plaza.
"But true strength... comes from sacrifice."
He looked down at his own hand.
"Now I possess knowledge. I possess experience that no one my age could possibly have..."
"And I possess... the Demonic System."
A faint pulse echoed within his chest.
He raised his eyes toward the sky.
"A second chance..."
A cold smile appeared on his lips.
"This time... I will show mercy to no one."
After the talent examination concluded, all the new disciples assembled in the clan plaza.
Upon the elevated platform stood the Clan Leader of the Li Clan, Li Xuanlong.
He was a man in his seventies, with snow-white hair and eyes that radiated immense spiritual power.
He was one of the strongest cultivators within the clan.
Standing beside him were the elders and academy instructors.
Li Xuanlong swept his gaze across the crowd before slowly raising one hand.
The entire plaza instantly fell silent.
"Youths of the Li Clan..."
His calm yet commanding voice reached every corner of the square.
"Today, you stood before the Spirit Power Stone."
"Today, you discovered your talents."
"Some of you possess A-Rank talent."
"Some possess B-Rank."
"And some..."
"...received F-Rank or even lower."
"But listen carefully."
"Talent is not everything."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"In my seventy years of life, I have witnessed hundreds of cultivators."
"I have seen geniuses blessed with S-Rank talent..."
"...die forgotten."
"And I have seen those with D-Rank talent..."
"...become legends."
He raised his hand.
A sphere of golden light appeared above his palm.
"The foundation of true strength rests upon three things."
"First... Willpower."
The golden sphere transformed into an illusion of a lone cultivator battling a gigantic beast.
"Willpower is the determination to continue when your body begs you to surrender."
"It is standing when your soul wishes to collapse."
"It is fighting... even when everyone knows you will lose."
"Second... Wisdom."
The illusion changed, revealing a clever cultivator avoiding a deadly trap.
"Wisdom is knowing when to fight..."
"...and when to retreat."
"It is understanding your strengths..."
"...and accepting your weaknesses."
"It is using your mind before your power."
"Third... Companions."
The illusion shifted once more.
Four cultivators stood back-to-back, protecting one another as they fought together.
"No one becomes truly strong alone."
"Even the greatest cultivators in history..."
"...had trusted companions."
"...had people protecting their backs."
Li Xuanlong's piercing gaze swept across the crowd.
"In this cruel world..."
"You will face beasts."
"You will face cultivators from rival paths."
"You will face adventurers who care only for themselves."
He paused briefly before continuing in a solemn voice.
"But the greatest danger..."
"...is losing your humanity."
"...becoming no different from the monsters you fight."
"...forgetting why you began this journey."
"The Righteous Path does not mean being 'good.'"
"It means choosing the more difficult road..."
"...for the sake of those you cherish."
"The Demonic Path does not simply mean being 'evil.'"
"It means choosing the easier road..."
"...for your own sake alone."
He raised his hand high into the air.
"Choose wisely."
"For your choices..."
"...will determine your destiny."
After the speech, one of the High Priests stepped forward carrying a long scroll.
"Now," he announced loudly, "you will be divided into training squads."
"Each squad will consist of four disciples."
"You will cultivate together."
"You will fight together."
"And you will either succeed..."
"...or fail..."
"...together."
He began reading the names.
"Squad One: Li Zheng, Li Ming, Wang Zhao, Chen Hua..."
Li Zheng gave a disdainful snort.
"Hmph. At least they paired me with acceptable disciples."
The priest continued.
"Squad Two: Liu Wen, Zhang Wei, Sun Lin, Gao Fei..."
"Squad Three: Zhu Yang, Huang Li, Wu Zheng, Xiu Mei..."
One squad after another was announced.
Finally...
"Squad Twenty..."
"Li Wu Qian... Bai Ling... Mo Yan... Xiao Yu."
"Companions...?"
Li Wu Qian's lips curved into a cold smile as he heard his name.
"I have no need for them."
"What I need..."
"Is power."