Lou Ben touched the fragments hovering in front of him and a flash of green light blinded him.
He opened his eyes and inside his hand was a book.
It was a simple book.
Lou Ben looked at it from the front to the back, put it down and looked around to see if the other contestants also got the book.
Steward Wen Guoliang then announced the beginning of test two "this is a test of innate talent!"
"If you were born to be a dao master then congratulations!"
"If you don't have the amplitude then unfortunately you can only go home."
"It has been almost twelve hours. You have all stood there without moving, for twelve hours."
"At my age I can barely stand for an hour, so for this test, I will allow you all to sit."
"What you must do now is open the book and tell me what it is about."
"So very simple, but yet it will determine your entire life."
As Steward Wen Guoliang spoke, the contestants looked at each other in confusion.
"How can reading a book tell if we can be a dao master?"
All sorts of questions arose in the hearts of the people.
"I don't know how to read, how am I supposed to pass this test?"
Steward Wen Guoliang heard this and smiled "who says you need to be able to read?"
Afterwards there was silence as everyone inspected their books.
Lou Ben understood what Steward Wen Guoliang was trying to achieve and started to think "does that mean I have the chance to be a dao master?"
"When I was at the library, I didn't understand the words, but I was able to understand from the perspective of the author."
"It was a familiar feeling that made me feel close to the story that was inside the book."
Lou Ben had thoughts racing in his mind as the information from Steward Wen Guoliang was what he had been wondering about for the last few nights.
Lou Ben had found three books in the library that he thought would help him understand the writing language of this world since he was able to 'read' them.
Now, Steward Wen Guoliang is testing everyone on what Lou Ben had thought made him unique.
"Everyone will be tested one by one, so stand up when you are ready to give your answer."
"I want to hear what everyone was able to gather from the book."
Steward Wen Guoliang finished the announcement, and everyone sat down to gather themselves.
"Alright!"
"A break from standing!"
"Maybe we can just guess."
The contestants all gathered their thoughts and started flipping the pages of the worn-out looking book.
Moments turned to hours, and the contestants that were originally jovial about sitting down and receiving a rather relaxed test, started to sweat and shake of anxiety.
"I don't know if what came to mind is even remotely true!"
"I've stared at this damn book for so long and nothing comes to mind!"
"This story, I feel like I've heard it before."
The contestants had mixed feelings, some were able to sense the story, while others stared at the book, and nothing came to mind.
The people most anxious about the test were the ones who had sensed the story within the book, there was no way of telling them that what they sensed was true or false.
During this anxiety-filled silence, the first contestant stood up.
It was the yellow-gold haired youth.
"Servant Wu Gen greets Steward Wen Guoliang!" yelled the fire-eyed youth.
"hmm, you are ready to give me your answer?" Steward Wen Guoliang smiled.
"Yes!"
"Good boy, speak your answer. The crystal I am activating ensures no other party can hear you."
"Yes, Steward Wen Guoliang! The story is about a middle-aged minister protecting his young king before he was able to take up the crown!"
"Good, good, what else can you tell me?"
"Steward Wen Guoliang sir, the author is the minister himself and it details much about going back and forth of the kings estate as rebellions threaten the lives of the king and his mother!"
"Good, is this your final answer?"
"Yes Steward Wen Guoliang!"
"Alright servant Wu Gen, you pass. Remain standing until the end of this round."
The first person to succeed at this stage was naturally going to be seen as a beacon of hope for the people who have yet to answer.
Wu Gen standing amongst the other contestants lit a fire in their hearts.
"If this little boy can do it, so can I!"
"He didn't get eliminated!"
"He passed!"
"Tell us the answer boy!"
Wu Gen looked around but didn't dare open his mouth; if Steward Wen Guoliang saw him trying to cheat, he might lose his spot in this competition.
For Wu Gen to get this far means he is talented enough to become a dao master!
In an instant Wu Gen's heart started beating fast, he began fantasizing about the adventures and power he would attain.
Wu Gen was like everybody else here in the colosseum, he was a servant who was born inside the palace of Xiao.
He was dazed about what just happened with Steward Wen Guoliang and couldn't believe it.
"I'm going to be a dao master!"
"Mom, Dad, you son is going to be a dao master!"
The smile that Wu Gen had on his face showed the contestants that passing this test will change their lives in an instant.
It made all the other contestants fantasize about adventures and more importantly to them, the women and wealth!
"Look at this boy!"
"He's so happy that tears are running down his cheeks as he smiles!"
"If I understand this book then maybe I'll also feel this world changing happiness!"
Originally the contestants were mentally exhausted because the first test was no laughing matter.
The first test had eliminated two-thirds of the contestants!
Currently there are approximately four hundred people left.
Inside this large stage the standing figure of Wu Gen was the end of the tunnel of ordinary.
The people here wanted to become someone, and have stories told about them, they were happy living inside the palace of Xiao, but now those repressed feelings of wishing for something more in life arose within their hearts.
Lou Ben was not looking at Wu Gen, he didn't even look up to see who the first contestant was.
He was very focused on the book that was in front of him.
"This story is very saddening. The struggles of the throne and the powers within this world make ordinary people like me amazed at what devious plots other people harbor."
Lou Ben was fully engaged with the story that was within the book.
After Wu Gen succeeded in attaining first place, it didn't take long for others to stand up and give their answer to Steward Wen Guoliang.
First it was single individuals taking their chances, then groups of three, and gradually groups of ten stood up to answer Steward Wen Guoliang.
Eventually the final group of ten were left sitting.
"I have sat here for so long hoping for something to happen!"
"Maybe I can just lie and tell Steward Wen Guoliang a made up story."
"No, I might be killed for trying to deceive Steward Wen Guoliang."
The remaining people had mixed feelings and decided to stand up and give their answer.
Whether their answer was correct no one knew.
Steward Wen Guoliang told everyone to stand in place before eliminating a single person.
He only told Wu Gen as he was the first one who had the courage to answer.
After so long of a time passed Lou Ben was ready to stand up.
He believed that he understood a good amount of the book and was ready to answer.
"Servant Lou Ben greets Steward Wen Guoliang!"
"Oh, library servant. It has not been too long since you arrived, and you already wish to rise the ranks within the palace."
"Tell me servant Lou Ben, does life with servant Qi Shuang not make you happy?"
"Why must you come here to alter your life so rapidly?"
Steward Wen Guoliang was looking down at Lou Ben as his eyes turned into slits and pressured Lou Ben.
"Servant Lou Ben doesn't dare to feel unsatisfied!"
"I came because it will be a great honor to repay Master Xiao!"
Lou Ben was cupping, kowtowing and showing his loyalty to Master Xiao and Steward Wen Guoliang.
"Good, you understand that Master Xiao has saved your life."
"Only fate will decide if your ability will be able to satisfy Master Xiao."
"Now, tell me what the book was about."
Lou Ben wiped the sweat off his forehead and straightened his legs.
He held the book close to his chest and looked up at Steward Wen Guoliang.
It was a stressful moment for Lou Ben, although he believes he understood the book, there was no telling if the book had multiple stories.
He was worried about this because if he told Steward Wen Guoliang the wrong one, he might be eliminated.