Recognizing Rylan's signal, no one dared to make a sound anymore.
In this taciturnity, an old man in his sixties walking towards the center of the stage came into everyone's view. He was an elder of the Grant family, Ezekiel Grant.
Ezekiel has a soft smile on his old face while greeting everyone in the venue, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to my Grant Family Meeting of the Younger Generation. Let's start the evaluation process right away."
He didn't dare to spout useless nonsense and directly start the meeting because Rylan didn't like wasting time.
Rylan seldom showed his face because he always focused on cultivation and wanted to reach the Qi Foundation Building Realm as quickly as possible. Caden handled these kinds of matters most of the time. But this time, it was his youngest son, Felix's last meeting; therefore, he attended this event.
That's also why so many important characters came this time, to show their loyalty and support.
It was all because Rylan was the second strongest man after the City Lord in the River Flower City! Once he breaks through into the next realm, he will be at the same level as the City Lord.
Many families who couldn't curry favor with the Layton Family came here to jump on the Grant Family's ship while Rylan was still weak.
Ezekiel addressed loudly, "Let me explain the rules to everyone quickly. First, only youngsters aged 18 and below can participate in the competition. Second, every junior will get only a signal chance to evaluate by this 'White Cultivation Measuring Crystal.'"
As he said, he pointed towards the white crystal beside him. This 'White Cultivation Measuring Crystal' can measure cultivation below the Qi Foundation Building Realm.
"Third, after the evaluation, the top 3 to 10 rank participants can challenge First and Second Ranked only once! If anyone can beat first or second-rank participants, they can take their places, and the loser can't challenge the winner." He declared distinctly.
"There is a total of Forty-Two participants in this meeting. We will start from the youngest of these forty-two participants." Ezekiel announced as he shifted his focus toward the participants.
A little boy who seemed to be 12 years old started to walk towards the stage nervously under everyone's curious gazes. He was clearly the youngest of them all.
This little boy moved toward the measuring crystal tensely. This was his first meeting.
After seeing the Boy's nervousness, Ezekiel said in a soothing tone, "Boy, don't worry, just place your hands on the Measuring Crystal and pour your Qi in it. Afterward, we'll be able to see what your cultivation level is; now go!"
That little Boy took a deep breath, placed his hands on the crystal, and poured his Qi. The next moment, something magical happened; the white transparent crystal suddenly shone brightly, and a single little gate began to form. That Gate was light yellow.
"1st Gate of the Qi Gates Realm, Low!" Ezekiel announced while nodding in satisfaction.
Ezekiel calls with a smile, "Next!"
This cultivation measuring crystal can change into five different color gates, symbolizing the Qi Gates Realm Five Self-Gates. Yellow Color for the 1st Gate, Orange for the 2nd Gate, Green for the 3rd Gate, Brown for the 4th Gate, and Golden for the 5th Gate.
As for Low, Middle, and High, that depends on the color depth. The brighter your realm gate is, the higher your final evaluation.
Since the measuring crystal showed a light yellow gate, it meant this body had just recently opened the 1st Gate. If he were close to breakthrough or at the peak of 1st Gate, the color crystal shows would be the brightest yellow.
The Little Boy smiled with pride. After all, he was only 12 and already a cultivator. He was not here for the prize but to show off his talent.
Ace saw all of it and was quite fascinated by that white crystal. He didn't think one could measure cultivation just like that as well. He also wanted to go to the stage and test his Heavenly Cultivation!
He wanted to see if that thing could measure heavenly Qi or not. One must know that Ace was now at the peak of the 1st Gate of Heavenly Gates after all his efforts. He needs some experience and insight to open the 2nd Gate.
Ace wasn't amused by that toy anymore and was ready to begin his 'work' after watching the next participant heading towards the stage.
When everyone's attention was focused on that participant, Ace closed his eyes.
Swiftly, formless fine threads of Soul Qi begin to eject from each finger of his right hand. These threads were dancing around his finger like puppet strings. He manipulated these strings with Soul Qi, and like arrows, these five strings shot toward the standing participants beside the stage.
No one can see or sense these threads if they aren't soul cultivators or their martial cultivation base was higher than Ace by two whole realms.
Ace called these fine threads Soul Threads formed by the formless wind soul core!
Of course, he got this brilliant idea from the pick-pocket skill since the pick-pocket skill can form One Qi Thread and move it with Qi as well; Ace tried to form these threads with soul Qi and succeeded effortlessly. These threads were just random tricks that he could perform with the Heaven Stealer Technique anytime.
Ace was awed by the Heaven Stealer Technique that the system gave him. It was like he could do anything with it as long as he could imagine it.
All the 'Soul Threads' wrapped around five contestants' waists.
Ace instantly activated the mid-level pick-pocket skill that he had practiced all this month. Pick-Pocket's instantly active, but it didn't form any new thread this time and was directly engaged on those formed soul threads.
Just like that, the soul threads vanished, and Ace felt the bag in his hand become slightly heavy.
He grinned widely, 'It's too damn easy this way!'
He was delighted since he robbed five people simultaneously without difficulty, and no one noticed him.
After his first success, Ace became like some professional thief, and whenever a new participant moved towards the stage, he would take advantage of these disturbances and steal!
After two hours, every participant except Gracie, Felix, and Ruben completed their cultivation measuring test.
Ace was a little listless since soul threads take quite a toll on his soul and mind. But his eyes shone brightly as he looked at the system's black panel.
=====
[Pick Pocket Succeed]
[Host Steal: 62 trash-grade pills (half white grade) and 12,184 ruby coins.]
{Rewards: 12 Thief Points (TP)}
[Thief Points (TP): 52]
=====
Ace spent 2 hours stealing all these, and now only Felix and Ruben were left. He was a little perplexed and didn't use his skill on them. The reason was he was afraid they would notice something since they were closest to him.
"Number three, Sister, now it's your turn," Ruben said sarcastically for the first time with a tantalizing tone. Since Caden was here, he couldn't tease her too much.
"Humph!" Gracie only grunted vexedly and moved towards the stage. She didn't even glance at him.
Ezekiel didn't dare to treat Gracie like all the other juniors and quickly escorted her by himself. She has an extremely high status in Grant's family and a terrible reputation for being unruly.
"Young Miss, please," Ezekiel gestured respectfully.
The audience went silent. They also know who this young girl was.
Caden smiles gently after seeing Gracie appearing on the stage. She was his only child, and he was very fond of her. That's why he always spoiled her and didn't punish her for her blunders.
Gracie didn't greet Ezekiel like others. She didn't even seem to notice him. She only looked towards her father and smiled sweetly.
She suddenly turned around and smiled coldly at Ruben. Ruben was started, and a terrible feeling arose in his heart after seeing that icy smile.
Gracie slowly placed her hands on the crystal and poured her Qi.
The Cultivation Measuring Crystal began to glow, forming a Light-Orange Gate. "2nd Gate of Qi Gates Realm, Low! Congratulations, miss, on reaching the 2nd Gate at such a young age." Ezekiel announced loudly.
"This young miss of Grant's family is a genius."
The crowd also began to exclaim in shock.
"Master Caden, congratulations on having such a talented daughter!"
Those family heads sitting beside Caden start to congratulate him warm-heartedly.
"You all are too kind. That little girl works hard on her own. I didn't do much." Caden smiled ear to ear as he replied. He straightened his chest with a face full of pride.
Opening the 2nd Gate of Muscle was difficult if you didn't have a solid foundation. Some people will open the first Gate early but will be stuck at this point for years.
If someone can open the second Gate within 3 to 4 years after the first Gate, that person is considered a genius in the lands of cities.
Ace saw all this commotion and thought disdainfully, 'My little sis had already opened the 1st Gate when she was only seven years old or even sooner, and I know for sure she has already breakthrough after her bloodline was awakened. These people here are all narrow-minded.'
Ace was thinking about his little sis when his soul sense that was locked on Ruben and Felix tingled. He instantly sensed Ruben's emotions, became somewhat unsettled, and he was looking for this opportunity.
He quickly sent a soul thread towards Ruben's waist and used the pick-pocket.
Ruben didn't notice anything because his mind was a mess.
=====
[Pick Pocket Succeed]
[Host Steal: 7 trash-grade pills (half white grade) and 4904 ruby coins.]
{Rewards: 2 Thief Points}
=====
Ace heard the system's voice in his head. He didn't show his delight and stood in his position like a statue. He was now only a single step away from completing Gracie's mission.
Only Felix was left, but Ace didn't want to do it because Felix was Rylan Grant's son. Furthermore, Felix was very calm and alert. He didn't show any openings.
Ace was confident in stealing Felix's money pouch, but it would definitely alert Rylan and the Grant Family in the future, and this would be pretty troublesome for him.
Since he had robbed all the participants, those elders would unquestionably investigate this unnatural event. But if he steals from the Family's Head Son, it is possible that Rylan will take action himself.
That's why he determined to wait for Gracie to return and asked her if he could spare Felix.
Gracie walks back to her spot with her head high like some arrogant peacock. She sat nonchalantly beside Ruben and said meaningfully, "Former number two brother, it's your turn. Heh, Heh!"
When Ruben heard this, his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, and a tremor ran through his body!