Moonlight Trial! . . .
For millennia, a deep-rooted animosity had festered between Zhan Yunfei and the elderly man, who were longstanding disciples within the sect. From childhood, their interactions had been rife with conflict and clashes. Verbal sparring was nothing new, and Zhan Yunfei remained indifferent to their ongoing rivalry. He had weathered harsher verbal exchanges in the past and had grown accustomed to their relentless bickering.
As Cha Eun Xiao followed Zhan Yunfei into the expansive main hall, they were greeted by an impressive sight. The hall featured two rows of twenty chairs, lining both the left and right sides. However, it was the central figure seated upon a grand chair carved from Purple Crystal Jade that commanded their attention. This majestic throne shimmered with ethereal light, reflecting a myriad of glimmers, while the man occupying it seemed almost divine, elevated amidst the clouds.
Yue Changtian, the Prime Master of Cold Moon Palace and a renowned cultivator within the Qing-Yun Realm, exuded an aura of power and wisdom. His piercing eyes held an intimidating authority as they bore into Cha Eun Xiao, who stood before him.
Several feet away, nine individuals occupied chairs closest to the Prime Master. These were the nine grand elders of Cold Moon Palace, all directing their attention towards Cha Eun Xiao. Among them, Cha Eun Xiao recognized six elders who had been his adversaries in a significant battle during his previous life. The pallor of their faces indicated that they had not fully recovered from their prior encounter with the formidable Xiao Monarch.
Seated in the nine chairs positioned farther from the Prime Master were nine individuals, the ten grand disciples of Cold Moon Palace's first generation. Zhan Yunfei, resplendent in white attire, occupied the fourth seat. His demeanor was composed, and he meticulously tidied his clothes.
Surprisingly, the outermost chair remained unoccupied, signifying that it belonged to Wang Yushu's grandfather, the elder brother disciple of Zhan Yunfei. He had ventured away to attend to his wounded grandson.
The grand hall hosted a total of nineteen individuals, and a combined thirty-six eyes were riveted on Cha Eun Xiao. Yet, there was an exception: Zhan Yunfei had deliberately averted his gaze, as he was confident that once Cha Eun Xiao showcased his talent and potential to this assembly, the opportunity to have him as a personal disciple would be beyond his grasp. He did not wish to waste any more time on fruitless efforts.
Prime Master Yue Changtian, with a voice both gentle and commanding, posed a question, "Are you Cha Chongxiao?"
Responding with a simple "Yes," Cha Eun Xiao acknowledged his identity.
Intrigued by this revelation, an elderly man exclaimed, "He consumed the inner core of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish? What an incredible stroke of luck!"
Another elder nodded knowingly, remarking, "That explains why we couldn't detect anything unusual about him."
A third elder, however, displayed curiosity mixed with restraint, saying, "We can't all go over and examine him, can we..."
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but tremble at the thought of a group of elderly men crowding around him, ready to touch him. It was a surreal and uncomfortable prospect.
Yue Changtian, seated in the main chair, observed the elders and their peculiar curiosity. Frowning, he intervened, "Elders, exercise some patience. Cha Chongxiao is a newcomer to our world. His fortune and blessings are remarkable. I suggest we proceed with a Moonlight Trial to gauge his talent and potential. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
The assembled elders unanimously consented to the idea, acknowledging the potential that lay within Cha Chongxiao.
Yue Changtian then turned his gaze towards Cha Eun Xiao and instructed, "Cha Chongxiao, please take seven steps forward."
Hesitating only briefly, Cha Eun Xiao complied, taking seven measured steps towards Yue Changtian. However, as he completed the final step, an abrupt sensation of disorientation overcame him. In an instant, the hall's roof transformed into a celestial night sky adorned with a multitude of stars, and everything else vanished from view.
Only the starry sky and a brilliant moon remained. A beam of moonlight bathed Cha Eun Xiao, enshrouding him entirely.
His clothing, flesh, and bones seemed to dissolve, leaving behind only his Jing and Mai pathways, which appeared as intricate patterns of intertwining purple lines.
Suddenly, a succession of starlight beams began to shine upon him, illuminating his body. The assembled elders watched in silence, their eyes wide with fascination.
As the moonlight radiance intensified, a faint tower-like structure materialized beside it. However, it was merely the foundation of the tower, hinting at greater heights concealed within.
One of the elders murmured, "The Tower of Talent has revealed its foundational structure. This individual possesses the potential to cultivate. All cultivators should exhibit this potential; it's perfectly normal."
The Tower of Talent and Moonlight Trial were the most advanced methods for assessing one's innate potential in Cold Moon Palace. This opportunity was reserved for those recognized as "talented" and could lead to significant improvements in their cultivation.
Only the Prime Master of Cold Moon Palace held the power to activate the Moonlight Trial, an energy-consuming process that required three years to accumulate the requisite moonlight energy. Thus, the decision to employ this testing method was made judiciously.
Had Cha Eun Xiao's consumption of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish's inner core been mere luck, or did he indeed possess the qualities of a talented cultivator, as Zhan Yunfei believed? The answer would be revealed upon completion of the Moonlight Trial.
As the moonlight grew more radiant, it bathed the entire hall, and the intertwined starlight patterns became increasingly intricate. Ultimately, a single beam of moonlight descended upon Cha Eun Xiao's feet.