Coming back to life was a good thing, but figuring out how to regain one's strength after that was a real headache.
'Sigh, how on earth am I supposed to cultivate? This body simply can't absorb spiritual energy at all.' Dao Tian sighed inwardly.
If he could, he wished he had been reborn in a human body. The talent didn't need to be high, just enough to cultivate would've been fine.
Suddenly, a mysterious stream of information, appearing out of nowhere, directly invaded his soul.
Dao Tian was dumbfounded for a moment before he could digest the newly received message.
His soul was now trembling with excitement.
'Damn, is this for real? The final realm is actually the Heavenly Dao? And this metal lump can really help me reach that level.'
If he were in a human body right now, he probably would have jumped for joy. Never before had the path to the peak seemed so clear to him.
'But there's one problem. I need to find a person with trash-tier talent to act as a host to activate this metal lump's ability. What's more, to achieve the Heavenly Dao realm, I have to help that person cultivate all the way to the peak of the Great Ascension stage.'
Thinking of this, Dao Tian immediately felt the weight of the long road ahead. Right now, he couldn't even move, so how could he possibly find someone?
Besides, could a person with that kind of talent truly cultivate to the peak of the Great Ascension stage?
Dao Tian considered that to be extremely rare, unless that person had immense fortune like he did in his previous life.
Moreover, willpower and determination were indispensable. If one couldn't discard everything else, dedicate all their time, and abandon all activities unrelated to cultivation until they were almost out of lifespan, success would be impossible.
'Ah, whatever. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. At the very least, my lifespan in this current form is limitless. Waiting isn't that unfeasible.' Dao Tian thought to himself before directly shutting off his consciousness.
The soul actively shutting off consciousness was even better than sleep. Long, drawn-out years would only feel like a fleeting moment.
---
Number 7 High School, the public school considered to have the best education quality in the city, was granted the honor of using the city's number as its name.
Today was a special day. This year's graduating 12th-grade class would undergo a collective cultivation talent test.
This could be considered one of the most crucial turning points in every student's life. Their talent would determine whether they would be accepted as students by cultivation universities.
Cultivation universities weren't like regular universities. Once in, students stayed for good, only leaving if they were expelled or voluntarily dropped out.
Moreover, they would receive cultivation resources and techniques, gaining the chance to step onto the immortal path and pursue the legendary dream of immortality.
No matter how wealthy a family might be, without cultivation talent, one could never become a cultivator.
For the past hundred years, being a cultivator has been considered the most noble profession in this world.
A group of students were now lined up neatly, their gazes fixed on the center of the schoolyard.
There, a piece of advanced scientific equipment was placed, capable of helping cultivators test others' talent while using less spiritual power.
From the school roof, twenty meters above the ground, a man with unkempt stubble and a weathered face, wearing sunglasses, stood imposingly.
"Look up there!"
A few students had noticed his presence and began pointing and whispering among themselves.
He smirked. This feeling of being the center of attention wasn't something one could experience often.
"It's time." Zhao Huaikong curled his lip and then forcefully leaped into the air.
His body spun continuously mid-air, his movements like those of a professional platform diver.
The cement schoolyard seemed to pose no threat to him whatsoever. He treated the solid ground as if it were a pool's surface and landed heavily.
Thud!
Gravel and dust sprayed in all directions. On the schoolyard now remained a small crater, just the size of his two feet.
"This is the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator." Zhao Huaikong casually tossed aside his sunglasses, pointing his thumb arrogantly at his own face.
WOW!!!
Most of the students were wide-eyed and open-mouthed, their gazes filled with admiration as they looked at him.
Of course, there were still a few children from powerful families, those with strong cultivators at home, who weren't overly surprised by his display of power.
Among the admiring students was a male student named Lin Hao. His family circumstances were decent, but he had been an orphan without relatives for a long time.
His academic performance was excellent, and he was very smart. Even if he couldn't become a cultivator, he could graduate from a regular university and find a good job.
But... he had a reason to yearn for the extraordinary power of a cultivator.
Seeing his burning, determined gaze, the girl beside him gently nudged his shoulder and smiled.
"You are a genius, you don't need to worry about not awakening your talent." Yue'er smiled and said.
The two of them had been friends since childhood, their relationship extremely close.
She was also the sole reason Lin Hao wanted to obtain power.
"Mhm, I believe in myself too." He smiled and nodded, but deep in his eyes, a hint of unease seemed to flicker.
Zhao Huaikong stood among the crowd, feeling the adoration he never received at Dongfeng University. His face flushed slightly with excitement.
"You kids, I am Zhao Huaikong, the one sent here from Dongfeng University to test your talents." He spoke seriously, his expression stern, unlike just seconds before.
This time, he was representing Dongfeng University, so he absolutely couldn't be sloppy. He had pleaded for this opportunity for a long time.
The entire school fell silent. Not a sound was made after this announcement.
Everyone was nervous now, waiting to see the test that would most significantly influence the direction of their lives.
Zhao Huaikong stepped up to the testing device and announced loudly:
"The rules are the same as every year. Intermediate talent and above are directly accepted with no tuition fees. Those with primary-level talent can use a large sum of money to enroll. And those with no talent... I'm sorry, but becoming a cultivator is impossible. Now, the test begins."