Coming back to life was a good thing, but figuring out how to regain his power was a formidable problem.
'Sigh, how exactly am I supposed to cultivate now? This body can't absorb spiritual energy at all.' Daotian sighed inwardly.
If possible, he wished he had been reborn in a human body. He didn't need high talent; just enough to cultivate would have been fine.
Suddenly, a stream of mysterious information, arriving from an unknown source, directly infiltrated his soul.
Daotian was stunned for a long moment before he could process the newly received information.
His soul trembled with excitement.
'Damn, is this for real? The final realm is the Heavenly Dao? And this metal sphere can truly help me reach that level?'
If he were in a human body, he'd probably be jumping for joy right now. Never before had the path to the pinnacle seemed so clear.
'But there's one problem. I need to find a person with trash-tier innate talent to act as a host vessel to activate this sphere's abilities. Furthermore, to achieve the Heavenly Dao realm, I must help that person cultivate all the way to the peak of the Great Ascension stage.'
Thinking of this, Daotian felt the weight of the long road ahead. In his current state, he couldn't even move, so how could he possibly find such a person?
Besides, could someone with that kind of talent even reach the peak of the Great Ascension stage?
Daotian considered it extremely rare, unless that person had immense fortune, just like he did in his previous life.
Moreover, willpower and determination were indispensable. Unless one could abandon everything else, dedicate all their time, and forsake all activities unrelated to cultivation until they were nearly at the end of their lifespan, success was impossible.
'Ah, whatever. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. At least my lifespan in this form is infinite. Waiting isn't entirely out of the question.' Daotian thought to himself, then directly shut down his consciousness.
A soul actively putting its consciousness to sleep was even better than regular sleep; long, endless years would pass like a single moment.
...
No. 7 High School, a public school considered to have the best quality education in the city, is named after its official municipal designation.
Today was a special day. This year's graduating class of seniors would undergo a collective cultivation talent assessment.
This could be considered one of the most critical turning points in every student's life. Their innate talent would determine whether they would be accepted as students by cultivation universities.
Cultivation universities weren't like ordinary ones. Students remained there indefinitely; there was no 'graduation day,' only expulsion or voluntary withdrawal.
Furthermore, they provided cultivation resources and techniques, offering a chance to step onto the immortal path and pursue the legend of eternal life.
No matter how wealthy a family was, without cultivation talent, one could never become a cultivator.
For the past hundred years, being a cultivator had been considered the most prestigious profession in this world.
Hundreds of students were now lined up neatly, their gazes fixed on the center of the school grounds.
There, an advanced scientific device was set up, designed to help cultivators assess others' talent while consuming less spiritual energy.
From the school roof, twenty meters above the ground, a man with a thick beard and a weathered face, wearing sunglasses, stood imposingly.
"Look! Up there!"
A few students noticed him and began pointing and whispering excitedly.
He curled his lips into a smile. This feeling of being the center of attention wasn't something he got to experience often.
"It's time," Zhao Huaikong smirked, then launched himself powerfully into the air.
His body spun continuously mid-air, his movements resembling those of a professional platform diver.
The cement schoolyard seemed to pose no threat to him whatsoever. He treated the solid ground like a water pool, landing heavily.
BOOM!
Gravel and dust sprayed outwards. A small crater, perfectly fitting his two feet, was now imprinted on the school grounds.
"This is the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator." Zhao Huaikong casually tossed his sunglasses aside, pointing his thumb arrogantly at his own chest.
WOW!!!
Most of the students stared, mouths agape, their eyes filled with admiration and envy as they looked at him.
Of course, there were a few children from influential families, those with powerful cultivators in their clans, who weren't overly impressed by his display of strength.
Among the admiring students was a young man named Lin Hao. He came from a relatively well-off background but had been an orphan since childhood, with no close relatives.
His academic performance was excellent, and he was intelligent. Even if he couldn't become a cultivator, he could graduate from another university and secure a good job.
However, he had a reason to crave the extraordinary power of a cultivator.
Seeing his burning, determined gaze, the girl beside him gently nudged his shoulder and smiled.
"You're a genius; no need to worry about not awakening your talent," Yue'er said with a laugh.
The two of them had been friends since childhood, their relationship extremely close.
She was, in fact, the sole reason Lin Hao desired such power.
"Yeah, I believe in myself too," he smiled and nodded, but deep within his eyes, a trace of unease flickered, half-hidden.
Zhao Huaikong stood amidst the crowd, basking in the admiration he never received at Eastern Wind University, his face slightly flushed with excitement.
"Listen up, kids! I am Zhao Huaikong, here from Eastern Wind University to assess your talents," he declared, his voice stern, his expression serious—a stark contrast to moments before.
This time, he represented Eastern Wind University and couldn't afford to be sloppy; he had begged for this opportunity.
The entire school fell silent; not a sound was to be heard after his announcement.
Everyone was nervous, awaiting the test that would most significantly impact the direction of their lives.
Zhao Huaikong stepped towards the testing device and announced loudly:
"The rules are the same as every year. Those with intermediate-grade talent or higher are directly admitted, tuition-free. Those with elementary-grade talent can use a substantial amount of money to enroll. Those with no talent... unfortunately, becoming a cultivator is impossible. The assessment begins now."