The Divine Temple was rather big, amazing, astounding and whatnot.
It also seems that every single significant building in novels are always tall, big, pretty and/or marvellous.
Jiang Nan enters the temple, and there is a crowd of people. He could estimate around ten thousand people, but of course not all were eligible to enter. The criteria to enter were:
1) Under 21
It was because checking the potential needed divine power, and while it was abundant, it wasn't enough to check every Tom, Dick and Harry. It wasn't worth it to expend divine power to check the potential of someone already past the time of soul summoning, because their potential could already be estimated by an elder.
2) 100 Gold
This was to ensure that people wouldn't bring their one-year old kid to try. Without the need to pay a price, people would just go in, just to try it. After all there was no harm done. 100 Gold were affordable to normal households in the Capital, about one month's worth of salary, while bigger families and clans could afford it easily.
3) Soul Summoner
You must have summoned a soul. This is to limit people who haven't summoned souls (and are unlikely to or are to young) from doing so. After all, the ritual still costs divine power, which cannot be replenished by gold.
So now, our cheerful MC happily goes onto queue up. Bigger people like the two Princes as well as the Spear Duke's daughter got to cut the queue, but respectable and responsible (and non-influential) people such as our MC had the duty of lining up.
In terms of potential, there were several Realms.
Unranked. This was the potential for people who cannot summon Souls throughout their lifetime.
Black-Steel. This is for most people, who awaken them at around 20 or 21, just before the Age of Summoning is over, but is too late for much growth. The mass of the common population.
Steel. For people who summon Heroes around 18 or 19. There make up the most of servants, guards for clans and sects. The average.
Bronze. This is for untalented people who are likely to remain as part of the onlooking crowd. They can participate in most events, but don't stand out at all. They awaken at around 16 to 17. Most sect and clan disciples are like this.
Silver. These are the slightly more remarkable. They become leaders of small groups amongst their sect or clan, and hold some respect in the eyes of their fellow sect members. The somewhat competent senpai.
Dark Gold. These stand out in the backwards and rural areas, but can be overlooked in bigger sects and clans. They are those that rank in the top hundred, but never in the top 20 in regional competitions. Neither insignificant or good.
Gold. Gold are known as geniuses, and most small clans and sects will have one or more which they will nurture to become of the upper echelon. Even if they don't become the sect or clan leader, as long as they survive, they can become an elder of a moderate sect/clan.
Platinum. Such are prodigies who shine wherever they go. Mostly from influential and famous backgrounds, they are treasured and likely to become the sect/clan leader of a medium-size sect/clan or an elder of one of the top powers. If they encounter fortuitous encounters, they can become a significant figure even in the top sects/clans.
Legendary. These are people favoured by Heaven itself. They are fought over by the top powers, and are brought up to become sect or clan leaders. When nurtured well, they can turn the tides even in a battle between the top powers. Even the top powers will have only one or two, if any at all.
Demigod. These are the once-in-a-century geniuses, who will leave their mark in history. Few have been ever seen, but amongst their ranks include the First Hero Summoner who ascended to become a God, the Seventh Pope who slew sixteen Demon Gods, the Second Sword Saint who banished seven Gods, and the Ex-Counsellor of the Elves, Celadon, who became an Ancient God.
God. These have been seen twice in all of known history. Perhaps there have been more, but they must have been either too far back in history that even immemorial Gods can't remember them, or they were before the time of written records. These two are Child of the Time Before Language, who rebelled against the Divine Court and the Fore-thinker, who stole knowledge from the Ancient Gods to benefit humankind.
The Child of the Time Before Language was described in paintings and pictures (comics!) as someone born before words were created, from the Universe Stone, one of the Ten Primordial Artefacts. He didn't like the tyranny and oppression of the Divine Court, made up from one hundred and eight Gods. So he rebelled against them, beginning a mass slaughter before he was imprisoned. This was the seventh known Era, the Era before Language.
The Fore-Thinker was from an earlier Era, the fifth known Era, the Era of Development. Before this, there were the three Eras of Creation -- the Primordial Era when the Primordial Gods were born, the Ancient Era, when the Ancient Gods were birthed, and the Mortal Era where new races were born to populate Saga. The fourth Era was under the Ancient God of the Sun, who scorched the lands with his heat. However, a hero rose up and shot him down, sending his chariot spiralling into the Underworld.
It was because of his overconfidence as an Ancient God. Then, once the Sun was gone, the world was enveloped in darkness. Crops couldn't grow and man couldn't see, so the Fore-Thinker stole knowledge from the Gods, creating fire, food, livestocks, medicines and livelihoods for them. The Fore-Thinker was captured by the then God of that Era, Heaven's Emissary of Punishment.
Now, I've extended the word count to 987, so you'll have to wait till the next chapter to hear more about Jiang Nan's face-slapping adventure.