The courtyard of the Azure Cloud Sect was filled with excitement. Hundreds of disciples stood in neat rows, their gazes locked onto the towering platform at the center. It was the day of the Talent Awakening Ceremony, the day when one's entire destiny within the sect would be decided.
On that platform, elders sat cross-legged, their auras vast and majestic. Floating behind them were jade tablets that glowed with spiritual light, ready to measure each disciple's innate talent.
One by one, names were called. Each disciple stepped forward, placed their hand upon the jade tablet, and waited as streams of light measured their spiritual roots. Some glowed bright gold, others pure silver.
"Exceptional talent, Gold grade!"
"High-grade Silver talent, this one will surely reach Core Formation someday."
The crowd cheered and whispered with envy as each new genius was revealed. Every test determined who would be given resources, who would become the focus of the sect, and who would be left behind.
At the edge of the crowd stood Li Feng, an eighteen-year-old with calm eyes and a lean figure. His clothes were plain compared to the richly dressed disciples, but his posture was upright. Even as the others mocked him under their breath, he remained steady, as if nothing could shake him.
Finally, his name was called.
"Li Feng, step forward!"
A hush fell. The disciples smirked. Everyone already knew the outcome.
Li Feng walked up the steps and placed his palm on the jade tablet. The stone flared—then dimmed to a faint gray glow. A cold silence spread through the courtyard.
Elder Zhao narrowed his eyes. "Zero spiritual roots. Incomplete meridians. Utter trash." His voice was merciless, echoing for all to hear.
The disciples erupted in laughter.
"Hahaha! I knew it! Li Feng truly has no talent."
"Zero roots? He'll never cultivate a single realm in his life."
"Looks like the sect has gained a new servant, not a disciple."
The humiliation washed over Li Feng like a tide, but his expression did not change. He lowered his hand and bowed politely to the elders. Only the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed the storm inside him.
From the crowd, a young woman stepped forward. She was beautiful, dressed in silk robes embroidered with phoenixes—Mu Yao, daughter of one of the sect's high elders.
"Li Feng," she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to cut. "Our engagement ends here. I, Mu Yao, will not waste my life tied to a cripple."
The crowd gasped. Though many had expected it, hearing her words openly brought another wave of mockery.
Li Feng looked at her, his calm eyes steady. "I see," he said simply. His voice was neither begging nor angry, just quiet acceptance.
Mu Yao frowned. She had expected him to kneel, to plead, to show despair. Instead, his composure only made her irritation grow.
Elder Zhao waved his hand impatiently. "Enough. Next disciple!"
Li Feng walked down the steps, his figure lonely against the sea of laughter.
---
That night, the sect was silent. The moon hung above the peaks, cold and distant. Li Feng sat alone on a cliff overlooking the valley. The jeers of the day still echoed in his mind.
Zero roots. Trash. Cripple.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The humiliation cut deeper than any blade. But even then, his expression remained calm. He had learned long ago that anger without strength was meaningless.
Perhaps he should give up cultivation entirely. A servant's life in the sect was hard, but at least it was safe. He could live quietly, forgotten, and avoid the endless ridicule.
As the thought crossed his mind, a sudden chime rang within his consciousness.
[Ding! Evolutionary System Activated. Binding complete.]
Li Feng's eyes widened. A glowing panel unfolded before his eyes, filled with strange characters.
— Evolutionary System —
Talent: Trash (Evolvable)
Ability: Weed Root – Absorbs one strand of energy in 10 hours.
Evolution Points: 0
His breath caught. Trash… evolvable?
Before he could react, another message appeared.
[New Mission: Absorb one strand of spiritual energy. Reward: +1 Evolution Point. Ability Upgrade Available.]
Li Feng stared at the panel. For years, he had tried to sense energy, to cultivate, and always failed. Yet now… perhaps this was his only chance.
He closed his eyes, sitting cross-legged. Calmly, he focused inward, guiding his breath. At first, there was nothing. Just as despair threatened to rise, a faint wisp of warmth touched his dantian.
A single strand of spiritual energy.
[Mission Complete. +1 Evolution Point.]
[Weed Root → Evergreen Root.]
Li Feng opened his eyes sharply. The panel flickered again.
Evergreen Root – Absorbs one strand of energy in 1 hour. Growth potential: Infinite.
His heart trembled. What others had mocked as trash had evolved into something even superior to silver roots. With this, his cultivation speed was no longer crippled—it surpassed ordinary disciples!
A faint smile touched his lips, the first in many years.
But before he could celebrate, footsteps echoed behind him.
"Li Feng," a mocking voice drawled.
He turned his head slowly. Emerging from the shadows was a tall youth with arrogant eyes—Wu Jian, a senior disciple notorious for bullying the weak. He was surrounded by two followers, each grinning cruelly.
"I heard you were humiliated today," Wu Jian said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Trash like you shouldn't even be allowed to breathe the same air as us."
Li Feng said nothing, only watched calmly.
Wu Jian cracked his knuckles, his aura pressing forward. "Tonight, I'll cripple you completely. That way, you won't even dream of cultivation again."
Li Feng's panel glowed.
[New Mission: Defeat Wu Jian. Reward: Unknown Evolution.]
His calm eyes gleamed faintly in the moonlight. For the first time, he whispered to himself:
"So this is fate's answer…"
The night wind stirred as Wu Jian stepped forward, raising his fist.