Chapter 195: The Story of Innate Talent Awakening

That night, Su Che followed Venerable Xuanji to “Zixiao Peak” and met with the Patriarch of Zixiao. The three of them sat down and talked for a long time. Early the next morning, Su Che followed Venerable Xuanji to the main hall of the sect, where he met the Supreme Patriarch and the four Supreme Elders.

Originally, Venerable Xuanji did not intend to reveal Su Che’s two supernatural abilities. However, after the conversation in the Golden Hall of Xuanji, he realized that it was impossible to hide this for long—it would eventually be exposed. It was better to take the initiative and confess to the Supreme Patriarch, perhaps even gaining the protection of the entire sect.

Last night’s conversation with the Supreme Elder of Zixiao was meant to finalize a plan to help Zixiao protect Su Che as much as possible, and they also came up with a reasonable explanation…

Only after all necessary preparations were made did Venerable Xuanji dare to bring Su Che to the main hall of the sect.

“Oh?”

After hearing the first part of Venerable Xuanji’s explanation, the Supreme Patriarch asked in a deep voice, “So, the so-called negotiation team from the Taiyi Sect is just a cover? They’re after Su Che?”

“Yes, Uncle Patriarch,” Venerable Xuanji replied respectfully.

The Supreme Patriarch and the other three Supreme Elders nodded slightly. With their experience, they could understand many things without explicit explanations.

The Supreme Elder of Zixiao said, “I’ve already investigated. Su Che’s abilities stem from his innate talent, and no one can take them away. Hao Yuan from the Taiyi Sect is just wasting his effort.”

The Supreme Patriarch and the others looked at Su Che with smiles, which made Su Che feel uneasy…

To be honest, Su Che’s ability to draw the power of magical artifacts and transform it into his own supernatural abilities was much less attractive to the Yuan Ying ancestors. By the Yuan Ying stage, one already possesses the ability to learn and master various supernatural skills, so there’s no need to draw power from artifacts.

Moreover, at their level, they pursue other things—having more supernatural abilities isn’t necessarily better.

Still, it’s hard to say for sure, as everyone has different thoughts. If the Supreme Patriarch or one of the Supreme Elders harbored ulterior motives toward Su Che, that would be the most terrifying scenario.

This was exactly what Su Che and Venerable Xuanji were most worried about, which was why they turned to Zixiao to protect Su Che.

Both Su Che and Venerable Xuanji had no doubts about Zixiao’s character.

In any case, this current challenge was the greatest crisis Su Che had faced since entering the realm of cultivation.

Yesterday, Venerable Xuanji asked Su Che, “Che, you have only two choices. Either leave Tianxuan Sect immediately, hide your identity, and become a solitary cultivator; or face the challenges head-on, find a way to overcome them, and become the brightest new star in Tianxuan Sect. I will do my utmost to help you.” Su Che replied without hesitation, “Master, I choose the latter. I will have no regrets even if I die.” Venerable Xuanji laughed and said, “Then, if a master cannot protect his own disciple, he does not deserve to live!” Without needing to say more, the master and disciple made a silent agreement: in this crisis, there could only be two outcomes—live together, or die together. At this moment, inside the sect’s main hall, lay the first test they had to face. The grand hall was silent for a while before the supreme sect leader slowly asked, “Su Che, you’re not yet twenty years old, right?” “Yes, Supreme Sect Leader. It will be five months before I reach twenty in bone age,” Su Che replied calmly while kneeling on a cushion. “You, child, first made great contributions to our sect by traveling to the Little Mi Immortal Realm; then you obtained the famous Black Domain Immortal Lotus, enhancing your innate aptitude; next, you were the first to uncover the origins of chaos in the cultivation world; after that, you harnessed magical treasures and powers for your own use; and at the age of nineteen, you advanced to the later stage of the Foundation Establishment phase…” The supreme sect leader couldn’t help but laugh. “How many more innate abilities do you possess? Can you reveal them to us today, so we won’t have to deal with any new surprises in the future?” The four supreme elders also smiled, believing that this child could do what others couldn’t—truly extraordinary… Su Che remained silent for a moment before answering according to the explanation he had agreed upon with his master and Patriarch Zixiao the previous day: “I must inform you, Supreme Sect Leader, that I indeed possess more than one innate ability.” “For example, when I advanced to the first level of practice, I first awakened the ability to use healing spiritual herbs; when I reached the later stage of Qi Cultivation, I gained the ability to freely control the fluctuations of spiritual energy; after successfully establishing my foundation, I acquired the ability to control beasts, demons, and spirits…” Su Che continued in detail, “When I advanced to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, I gained the ability to draw on the power of magical treasures and transform it into divine powers. If I can reach the Golden Core stage next, who knows what other abilities might awaken?” All the abilities Su Che mentioned were undeniable—he had no choice but to reveal them.

The ability to heal with spiritual herbs is well-known throughout the Lingherb Garden of Mysterious Secrets Peak and cannot be hidden; the ability to alter spiritual energy fluctuations has long been known to Ghost Princess Youlan—so long as she remains alive, it will eventually be spread; as for the ability to control beasts, demons, and spirits, it also cannot be concealed, because the Immortal Prison Team will surely use it frequently in battles against opponents. The powers of divine arts are even less of a secret—Taiyi Gate has already sent people to seek him out…

Since it’s impossible to hide, it’s better to be straightforward and reveal everything outright. This is the high-profile strategy devised by Venerable Mysterious Secrets.

To a certain extent, being high-profile can create an indisputable momentum. The most vivid example is Tianyin from Wuji Gate—everyone in the world knows she possesses a top-grade Dao artifact. But so what? She is protected by the entire Wuji Gate, and no one dares to lay a hand on her.

“Talent awakening?”

The Supreme Patriarch and the four Supreme Elders exchanged glances, thinking: Such a frequency of awakening is truly rare. If others can awaken any kind of ability, it’s already considered extraordinary talent; but this guy can awaken it regularly…

Zixiao asked with a smile, “Did you awaken anything during this advancement to the later stage of Foundation Building?”

“No special abilities,” Su Che replied blankly. “However, the strength of my physical body has increased in an unusual way.”

Indeed, it’s unusual!

The Supreme Patriarch and the others had sharp eyesight—they had already noticed that this young man’s physical strength was comparable to that of someone in the later stage of Golden Core, incredibly formidable.

Su Che took the initiative to say, “Originally, this was all a personal secret of mine. I was always afraid others would find out. Now that it’s come to this, it’s impossible to hide it anymore…”

The gray-haired Supreme Elder ‘Qingxuan’ immediately said, “What’s there to hide? Why hide it? You’re a naturally gifted talent. The sect will only protect you and nurture you intensively. Surely, they won’t eat you!”

“Yes, Grandmaster,” Su Che nodded obediently.

“That’s right,” the Supreme Patriarch nodded. “Su Che, Tianxuan Sect has survived for ten thousand years, producing many talented individuals over the years. Now, it’s the only super sect in the cultivation world with five cultivators at the Yuan Ying stage. What makes it so strong? It’s simple—‘rules’! Within our sect, rules come first. What can protect you is also these rules.”

“Yes, Supreme Patriarch,” Su Che replied respectfully.

“I know what you’re worried about.”

The Supreme Patriarch’s gaze shifted toward Venerable Mysterious Secrets. “I also know what Mysterious Secrets is worried about.”

Then, his gaze turned to Zixiao. “I also know what that guy Zixiao is up to.”

At these words, his expression turned solemn, and each word he spoke carried weight: “Su Che, do not underestimate us!”
“I dare not,” Su Che replied, kneeling on the ground.
Venerable Xuanji also hurriedly knelt down.
Zixiao, on the other hand, wore a strange smile, seemingly unbothered at all.
“Get up.”
The Supreme Patriarch slowly raised his hand, using a gentle force to help Su Che and Venerable Xuanji stand up. He spoke softly, “There’s no need to say anything more. In one month, go to the Battle Arena and challenge all of our true disciples. Only by winning a hundred battles can you become the top true disciple!”
“The Battle Arena? The top true disciple?”
Su Che was completely confused.
Venerable Xuanji, of course, understood the implications. As soon as he was helped up, he knelt down again: “On behalf of Su Che, I thank Uncle Patriarch for this grace.”
The Supreme Patriarch nodded with a smile: “Xuanji, I’m looking forward to you calling me senior brother. Take care of Su Che’s matters, and stay out of this chaos in the cultivation world. Focus on cultivating your own cultivation.”
“Yes, senior brother,” Venerable Xuanji replied with a nod.
After Su Che left the Patriarchal Hall with Venerable Xuanji, the Supreme Patriarch asked Zixiao, “Younger brother Zixiao, how do you think we should interpret this?”
“I think Su Che is the reincarnation of some great figure, with his various abilities gradually awakening,” Zixiao said leisurely.
The Supreme Patriarch nodded with a smile and then asked the other three elders, “What do you three think?”
The chief elder, Qingxuan, nodded and said, “It sounds like Zixiao’s hypothesis, but I don’t think it’s impossible. If the Wuji Sect can have a Tianyin, why can’t our Tianxuan Sect have a Su Che?”
Another supreme elder agreed, “Some things don’t need to be delved too deeply. This boy’s future is boundless—that’s for sure. For our sect, this is a good thing.”
The last supreme elder also nodded in agreement.
The Supreme Patriarch finally decided, “Well, then let’s look forward to his further performance.”
…
On the way back to Xuanji Peak, Su Che asked, “Master, I can guess what the Battle Arena means—it’s about challenging a hundred true disciples. But what does being the top true disciple entail?”
“Being the top true disciple means that not only will you become my true disciple, but you’ll also receive regular guidance from the four supreme elders, and even from the Supreme Patriarch himself. You’ll be the most highly valued true disciple in our sect. There are many other benefits as well, many of which you’ll discover over time.”
Venerable Xuanji smiled, clearly in high spirits.

“To become the chief true disciple, one must set up a battle arena and defeat all the other true disciples, right?” Su Che asked again.
“That’s correct.”
Venerable Mysterious Secrets nodded and said, “However, not just anyone can do this. A hundred-battles arena can only be established with the approval of the supreme sect leader.”
Su Che nodded slightly, having basically understood. The chief true disciple of Tianxuan Sect held a supreme status and prominent identity, even able to stand on equal footing with the venerables of the ten main peaks.