Supreme Elder Drake Ashfiel lightly nodded for Inner Elder Maxim to continue on with the proceedings.
"Only the best of the best and the acknowledged disciples have the right to participate in the competition. They are the ones who have displayed an immense talent and determination to achieve greatness."
"I believe everyone has settled down. I shall now explain the rules."
"Ahead of the participants is a small magical pedestal. It is capable of analyzing and displaying your potential. All you have to do is go over to the pedestal and place your hand on it. Based on the number of Apex Points you've unlocked; a magical phenomenon containing stars will appear overhead. Each star represents an unlocked Apex Point."
"One more thing to note, if the stars are red in colour, the chances to unlock the next Apex Point are less than 1%. If the stars are green, you have been blessed."
"Remember, only the Top 5 will be qualified to redeem the rewards."
-Meanwhile, on the audience stands-
Virion glanced at the participants and said, "There are about 150 participants including the three. How do you think they'll fare?"
It was a question directed to both the Ethereal Fairy and Rolan. But an unexpected voice suddenly answered him.
"My juniors will easily make it to the Top 5."
Virion was surprised at the voice and looked towards his left. He saw a casual-looking young man wearing black clothes and a black mask covering the lower half of his face. The young man's white hair created quite a contrast with his dark murky eyes.
What was shocking is that Virion and Rolan didn't even realize when he arrived.
The new arrival is another Prime Disciple, named Hal Larkan and nicknamed The Shadow. He is ranked 2nd overall in the Prime Disciple ranking, right above the Ethereal Fairy.
'What is the Shadow doing here…?' Virion inwardly pondered.
Ethereal Fairy Fiona on the other hand glanced at the white-haired young man and spoke, "Hal, I didn't think this competition would interest you."
"I was bored, Fiona." Hal casually replied.
"As usual…" Fiona lightly shook her head.
Hal glanced sideways at Virion and asked, "What do you think about our new juniors, Virion?"
Virion bluntly answered, "I don't care."
"Haha!" Hal chuckled, "That's a nice joke."
"Think what you want."
Hal continued with a serious look, "That's why you're 5th in the rankings. You think too much."
Virion merely smiled and continued watching the competition, ignoring Hal.
Hal saw that he was ignoring him and muttered, "Tsk! Boring…"
-In the arena ground-
"I hereby commence the start of the competition!" Inner Elder Maxim soundly announced. Inner Elder Maxim, Inner Elder Larry and Supreme Elder Drake sat in their own special and reserved seats in the arena.
Inner Elder Khari slowly descended right behind the pedestal and informed the participants in a calm voice, "Form a line and step up to the pedestal one by one."
The 150 participants quickly formed a line and the first participant went up to start the test.
The first participant was a young man who had a confident look on his face. Without so much of a falter, he placed his hand on the dark brown pedestal. At a closer look, the pedestal looked ordinary and there was nothing special about it.
As soon as the young man placed his hand on the pedestal, a pillar of light shot up through the sky. Right above the young man, a faint translucent hazy mist appeared that almost resembled the grand vastness of space.
Gradually, illuminated stars started to appear one by one in the mist. It was an incredible sight to behold. A total of 13 stars emerged from within the mist, displaying the young man's unlocked Apex Points.
It must be noted that unlocking an Apex Point is arduous and extremely time-consuming. The other difficult and uncontrollable aspect is the number of Apex Points that one can unlock is determined by one's innate talent, fate and luck.
The Ancient Elder has already been etched onto the legends purely based on the fact that he has unlocked a total of 20 Apex Points. No one has ever done that in the entire galaxy.
The only other person who has ever come close to the Ancient Elder is another Prime Disciple, with a total of 19 unlocked Apex Points. There's a reason why he's ranked at the very top.
The stars flickered intensely before a bright red colour enveloped the stars. The disciple up the pedestal had an unpleasant look on his face upon seeing the red stars.
Inner Elder Khari's calm and soothing voice echoed for everyone to hear, "Ryl Cadre, 13 Red Stars!"
"The first one and already at 13 Apex Points?!"
"He's a genius indeed."
"But the stars are red, so the probability of him unlocking another one is non-existent."
"Still 13 Apex Points is something to brag about…"
There was a passionate and heated discussion amongst the audience. There was a chance that someone down in the arena grounds would be crowned as a Prime Disciple, which would be major news for the disciples.
The next participant soon followed after the young man and the competition continued on with its proceedings.
"It'll take some time for us." Ash commented.
"Yeah, since we're almost at the end of the line." Ray was bored.
"It'll be done quick." Bryan assured them.
-After several minutes-
"Valie Gamon, 14 Green Stars!"
A beautiful young woman stood at the forefront and a sea of stars floated above her. The audience were awed and amazed not because of the number of Apex Points she had unlocked but because they were green in colour, meaning she has the potential to unlock one or more Apex Points.
The young woman named Valie was ecstatic but kept a cool expression and walked off to the side.
About 50 participants have been tested and most of them were around the 9-11 range.
-After 30 more minutes-
A total of 130 participants have been tested and there were three more notable disciples.
Soon after Value was tested, a young man named Kal Jadefire displayed 14 green stars. From his family name, he was the cousin of Fiona and Dion Jadefire and part of the Jadefire Clan.
But the entirety of the competition was currently trumped by two people of the same surname.
Mason Stone, 15 Green Stars.
Alice Stone, 16 Red Stars.
Even the Inner Elders were surprised and had plans brewing in their minds regarding them. Meanwhile, Supreme Elder Drake was nonchalant and calmly observed the competition.
Between the pedestal and the three protagonists, there was only one participant acting as the barrier.
The male participant walked to the pedestal and placed his hand on it. Soon enough, the same phenomenon appeared and stars started to illuminate into existence.
After about a moment, Inner Elder Khari announced, "Zac Frito, 12 Red Stars."
Zac pretty much expected the outcome and went to the side.
It was at this moment the wind whistled as it was time for Ash, Bryan and Ray to get tested.
Hal, Fiona, Virion and Rolan focused their attention entirely on the three. They were waiting for them to be tested the entire time.
"About time!" Hal smirked with eyes full of interest.
Fiona said, "I'm looking forward to their result."
"I'm certain it'll be one of the extreme ends." Rolan commented on the side.
It was meaningless to guess how many Apex Points they had unlocked because deep in their hearts, they somehow knew their predictions would be completely wrong.
Supreme Elder Drake narrowed his eyes and observed with a sparkle in his eyes. The Inner Elders were privy to some of the information regarding the three. They knew they were brought to the sect by the Ancient Elder and they were the newest addition to the Prime Disciples.
"It's your turn, Ash." Ray gave him a thumbs up.
"Good luck!" Bryan wished him.
Ash gave them a hearty smile and walked up to the pedestal at a steady pace. At the same time, he felt a peculiar stare from the middle-aged woman right in front of him.
He noticed that Inner Elder Khari was staring him with curiosity. She quickly noticed her unusual behaviour and lightly coughed, regaining her calm countenance.
Ash simply smiled and unhurriedly placed his hand on the pedestal. Immediately, a thick pillar of light shot up to the sky. Compared to the other participants, this time there wasn't hazy a mist floating about in the sky. Instead, a phenomenon appeared that closely resembled the vast space.
The audience were mesmerized by the magical and otherworldly scene. Soon enough, bright stars started to appear, illuminating the dark space.
The audience and the elders witnessed the stars gradually increasing and were instantly shocked to see it reach the mark of 16 stars.
But it didn't stop there, and another bright star accompanied the row of 16 stars, totaling it up to 17 stars.
"S-SEVENTEEN STARS?!"
"I thought sixteen stars were the maximum stars we were going to witness today…"
"It's the rise of an elite genius!"
"L-LOOK!!"
The astonishing scene didn't stop as the 17 stars brightly lit up in the colour of green. This meant, he had the potential to unlock more Apex Points.
"IT'S GREEN…"
"He can unlock more Apex Points…"
"What the-!"
Virion was inwardly shocked to the extreme. He didn't expect this at all. Just a few weeks ago, he saw they were merely at the Mortal Cleansing Realm and now, one of them had actually opened 17 Apex Points.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! That's my junior disciple for sure!" Hal laughed in excitement. He created quite a funny sight with his masked face.
"It's shocking and to think he can unlock more…" Fiona's eyes were lit up with shock. She had unlocked 17 Apex Points just like Ash but she knew that was her limit.
"…" Rolan was speechless. Being a famed Prime Disciple, he knew how important one's Apex Points were. They determined your future foundation and potential to a huge extent.
"How is this possible…" Virion muttered in stupefaction.
Hal glanced at Virion and explained, "You're forgetting that the Ancient Elder personally brought them to be accepted by the sect. That is a sole indication of their immense talent."
Virion shook his head and said, "He was just at the 9th stage of the Mortal Cleansing Realm a few weeks ago."
Fiona and Hal widened their eyes in shock. They didn't expect that at all.
Hal muttered, "It seems like the future is going to be shaky."
Inner Elder Khari stared at the calm young man in front of her and lightly nodded her head in slight admiration.
"Ash, 17 Green Stars!"
The audience were cheering uproariously and were busy trying to ingrain the appearance of Ash in their minds. This was amazing for the audience to spread the news to other disciples who couldn't attend the competition.
The Supreme Elder lightly smiled the scene and muttered, "The Ancient Elder graced the sect with actual little monsters…"
Ash didn't have much of a reaction because he knew this was far from his limit. He walked away and gathered with the tested participants. There was an immediate distinction even amongst them, purely because they felt the height of 17 Apex Points was too much for them.
Nonetheless, this didn't stop three of them to approach Ash.
Ash saw two young men and one young woman approaching him.
He put a finger on his chin and spoke first, "Kal Jadefire, Mason Stone and Alice…Stone, right?"
The three were obviously surprised at the fact that he remembered their names.
"I feel honoured that you remember our names." The young woman named Alice Stone spoke first. She had a long grey-coloured hair that matched well with her tanned skin. Her grey eyes were beautifully shaped along with her round face.
"It's nothing." Ash waved his hand, "So, are you and Mason siblings?"
"Yes, we are." This time, Mason answered him with a rough smile.
"And Kal, do you know Fiona?" Ash asked Kal, the quiet one.
Kal nodded, "She's my cousin."