Chapter Fifty-One: Talent Assessment

Wang Hui left just like that, moving quickly and seeming quite excited. Feng Tianlin and Ruan Miao said nothing more; both of them were at a loss for words when it came to this guy.

Ruan Miao took out her phone and started searching for news about the resurgence of the uncanny. She soon found there was no need to search at all—whether it was her social media feed or short video platforms, nearly every channel was abuzz with heated discussions about the return of the uncanny. The matter had detonated across the world like a nuclear bomb; wherever there was internet, there was no one left unaware of it.

Ruan Miao looked up information online about Spirit Tamers and Martial Artists, and soon came across an exposed interview with Master Ma, a renowned martial arts grandmaster. A reporter stopped him with a microphone.

"Master Ma, may I ask what your secret to becoming a grandmaster is?"

Master Ma paused, his face grave. "I don't like martial arts. I’ve never practiced it." With that, he strode off quickly, leaving the reporter frozen in place.

Feng Tianlin watched the clip, lines of exasperation creasing his face, while Ruan Miao, beside him, clicked her tongue in admiration. "This grandmaster is really humble."

In short, Huaxia had now laid all its cards on the table, and it seemed this was connected to Ruan Miao shattering that red orb.

"Huaxia is actually requiring everyone to undergo a talent assessment. That suggests the uncanny creatures are about to make some major move," Feng Tianlin mused, rubbing his chin and quickly analyzing the situation.

"A major move?" Ruan Miao glanced around the room, packed with uncanny beings. "Aren’t you all uncanny creatures? Don’t you have any big moves planned?"

Feng Tianlin looked helpless. "We’re just a small group of uncanny beings. The real major player is that one called the Evil King Venom Empress—the boss of the Black Crimson Demon we ran into at the restaurant that night."

"So what should we do now?" Ruan Miao asked.

"Let’s go back to that restaurant and take a look. The Black Crimson Demon probably knows more. We’d best find out, otherwise we’ll be stumbling around in the dark."

Ruan Miao nodded, rising to leave.

"Ruan Miao!" Feng Tianlin called out to her.

"What is it?"

"Do you want to do the test? I recall they run it twenty-four hours a day. It’s just past midnight now—there should be fewer people."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Don’t you want power? This is the perfect opportunity."

Feng Tianlin gazed at Ruan Miao. He could see the yearning for strength in this young woman.

Ruan Miao fell silent, lost in thought. Why did she want power? It was because she wanted to contribute at Feng Tianlin’s side, rather than be left on her own whenever trouble arose. But if she became a Martial Artist or a Spirit Tamer, she would inevitably have to leave Feng Tianlin. If that was the case, what use was gaining power? Yet if she did not go, she would remain powerless—a burden to Feng Tianlin. What, then, should she choose?

After a long silence, she finally made up her mind. "Wang Hui is your pawn in the Daoist Alliance. I could be your piece among the Martial Artists or Spirit Tamers."

She had made her decision. Rather than stay and be useless, she might as well become a Martial Artist or a Spirit Tamer; in the future, she could help Feng Tianlin achieve his grand ambitions.

Feng Tianlin nodded. "In that case, go to the nearest assessment center. I’ll go with you."

In truth, he didn’t hold out much hope for her talent. After all, there were so many people in Huaxia, and yet Spirit Tamers and Daoists were rare, which meant their requirements for talent were quite high.

They left Long Mengting and the other uncanny beings in the room, because Feng Tianlin thought that since this was a talent assessment, there might be some formidable individuals present. If their identities were exposed, it would be troublesome.

Feng Tianlin used his disguise ability to turn himself into a hair ornament, sitting atop Long Mengting’s head. To outsiders, she looked like an ordinary girl. With an uneasy heart, she made her way to the talent assessment site.

"How is it that it’s the middle of the night and there are still so many people?" he muttered, seeing the long line stretching ahead. The test seemed wildly popular—even at this hour, there were crowds, and some people looked on the verge of falling asleep, yet still insisted on coming.

Admiring their determination, he glanced at Ruan Miao, noticing she seemed rather nervous.

Understandable, he thought. Even as a human, he’d get anxious before an exam. How much more so for a life-altering talent test?

As dawn approached and they neared the front of the line, Feng Tianlin finally saw how the so-called talent test worked.

The assessment was divided into two parts: Spirit Tamer and Martial Artist. For the Spirit Tamer test, the candidate donned a helmet, while the examiner monitored values on a display. The Martial Artist test involved a full-body scan with a scanning device.

An old man ahead put on the helmet first, anxiously watching the examiner. After a short while, the examiner, without even looking up, said, "No good. Go try the Martial Artist test. Next!"

The old man looked disappointed, but with hope renewed, joined the line for the Martial Artist test. Ruan Miao stepped forward to put on the helmet.

The computer remained unresponsive for quite a while after her test began. By then, the old man had already finished his Martial Artist assessment, discovering he had decent talent and could become a Martial Artist. Meanwhile, nothing seemed to be happening with Ruan Miao’s test.

Finally, the examiner stood up and scratched his head. "What’s going on here?"

Seeing his reaction made Ruan Miao’s heart clench. Could she possibly be some once-in-a-millennium prodigy?

Before long, another Spirit Tamer approached and asked, "What’s happening?"

The examiner pointed at the computer. "Why is her spiritual power like this? It shouldn’t be possible!"

The Spirit Tamer followed his gesture and, as soon as he saw, his expression turned to utter disbelief. He rushed over to look more closely and exclaimed in astonishment, "It can’t be wrong. This must be the innate uncanny resonance that Director Fan spoke of!"

"Uncanny resonance?!" The examiner was even more shocked, peering at the screen as well.

Ruan Miao was thoroughly confused. She timidly asked, "Um… what is uncanny resonance?"

Behind her, several people in line were growing impatient, all turning to watch.

"The Director of the Uncanny Being Investigation Bureau once said that when the resurgence of the uncanny truly began, there would be people born with uncanny resonance. In their minds, they possess a kind of power similar to that of uncanny beings, yet different. Such people are crucial to the future dynamics between humans and uncanny beings!"

Hearing this explanation, the people in line all gasped. Who would have thought that this innocent-looking young woman possessed such a gift? With the official stance on Spirit Tamers, her future was boundless.

Ruan Miao and Long Mengting involuntarily swallowed, thinking to themselves that this uncanny resonance was probably due to the Nightmare Mark Feng Tianlin had planted.

Just then, the Spirit Tamer confirmed with a nod, "No mistake—it’s definitely that!"

Without further ado, he handed a card to Ruan Miao. "This is a pass for the Ling City Uncanny Being Investigation Bureau. All prospective Spirit Tamers and Martial Artists must report there in three days. Don’t forget to come."