At the Archean Fighting Ring, across the spectators stand, the audience stared agape at the ever-changing colors on the test pillar.
“Has… the test pillar gone crazy?”
“There has to be a problem with the test pillar!”
“The issue definitely lies with the test pillar. How else would it have tested a rainbow-colored talent?”
In the midst of that discussion, the light on the test pillar finally settled on five sections of blue light.
Rank 5 Blue Class talent!
Obviously, Su Mo had absolute control over the final result.
In other words, Su Mo could now manipulate the test results of this test pillar at will.
Su Mo nodded imperceptibly. Rank 5 Blue Class talent was just right, too high a talent would send him into the eye of the storm.
Too low and people would look down on him. If he fell out of the top 500 ranked talents, he would be eliminated!
The middle-aged examiner in front of the test pillar heaved a sigh of relief. The ever-changing spectacle earlier completely blew him away.
However, a seed of doubt crept into his mind. This test pillar had stood since the post-archean times, and is a recognized treasure. It had stood tall through all these years, so why was it malfunctioning now?
The middle-aged examiner would rather believe that the problem lay with the test pillar than accept the fact that Su Mo could be a Color Class Rank 10 talent. It was just too outrageous!
Everyone else shared the same sentiments.
In the stands, the audience heaved a sigh of relief after noticing that the test pillar had finally settled on Rank 5 Blue Class talent.
“As I was just saying, how could his talent be so high!”
“The test pillar must have malfunctioned earlier!”
“Rank 5 Blue Class talent might be considered high, but to me, it is nothing much!”
Everyone continued to discuss the result excitedly, while some of the higher ranking geniuses on the List of Top 100 Talents scoffed, a look of disdain flickering across their faces.
A Rank 5 Blue Class talent might be considered high, but to those geniuses, there was still a significant gap between Su Mo’s talent and theirs.
At the east spectators stand, Elder Wei, Second Elder, and the rest heaved a sigh of relief, their faces breaking into a smile.
It was as if they had just been on a rollercoaster, their feelings rising and falling with the results of Su Mo’s talent assessment.
When he was assessed to be Rank 1 Yellow Class talent earlier, their mood sank all the way to the bottom; and then flew back up when he tested as Color Class Rank 10 shortly after.
His result might have dropped to Rank 5 Blue Class talent, but they felt very satisfied to have a result like this. It would be sufficient to rank among the top 40 on the List. Furthermore, his talent was on par with Duan Jingtian.
Duan Jingtian had also recovered from the shock, shock being replaced by worry as he realized Su Mo’s talent was on par with his.
With a glance at the jade tournament badge in his hand, the result displayed had already been updated to Rank 5 Blue Class.
Su Mo then went back to the spectators stand with a smile.
The talent assessment continued, with the number of people waiting to complete their talent assessment numbered 300 to 400.
At the stands, Elder Wei said to Su Mo with a smile, “Su Mo, you really gave me a scare earlier. For a moment, I truly believed you were a Rank 1 Yellow Class talent!”
Elder Wei’s face still bore the trace of tears.
“I requested to re-take the assessment because the initial assessment was not accurate!” Su Mo said with a smile.
“Humph!” Nearby, Duan Jingtian scoffed and added mockingly, “Or the initial assessment was accurate, while the one thereafter was not!”
Su Mo’s face darkened as he turned towards Duan Jingtian, and said, “Duan Jingtian, weren’t you very cocky earlier? Hopefully, you will not run into me as your opponent in the coming rounds, or I will take you down!”
“Is that so?” Duan Jingtian did not fear Su Mo in the least, matching Su Mo’s cold gaze with one of his own, and issuing his own challenge. “I for one, look forward to meeting you as an opponent. Your life shall be mine to take!”
Su Mo nodded and replied, “Let us wait and see who will take whose life!”
Su Mo did not bother himself with Duan Jingtian any longer, preferring to quietly observe the talent assessments taking place.
With only a few people remaining, all the talent assessments were conducted in less than an hour.
Soon, the middle-aged examiner returned to the examiner’s seat, and announced, “This concludes the first round. To those who have participated, if your jade tournament badge’s light has gone out, you’re eliminated!”
“The 500 talents whose badges are still lit will proceed to the next round, for the fight for the top 100. The following duels will be held simultaneously across five archean fighting rings. The jade tournament badges you hold will automatically assign your opponent to you!”
There was a roar of excitement in the crowd following the examiner’s announcement. The upcoming duels were what the crowd were most looking forward to. Only through dueling will the strong be clearly differentiated from the weak.
Su Mo looked at his own jade tournament badge, which glowed faintly. It was clear that he had passed the first round of the Test of Talent.
Looking around, he noticed that the tournament badges belonging to talents on the List of Top 100 Talents glowed not white, but gold.
Yun Jiankong’s jade tournament badge, for example, gave off a faint golden glow.
Further away, in the case of Ao Wushuang, Hong Qingtian and the rest, their tournament badges clearly glowed golden like the sun.
“Why do their tournament badges appear different?” Su Mo asked, feeling puzzled.
“The Top-100-talent Competition differs from an average competition as the victor is determined by the amount of Talents’ Luck stored in the contestants’ individual jade tournament.
“The winner will swallow a portion his opponent’s Talents’ Luck. Similarly, the loser will lose a portion of his Talent’s Luck.
“The geniuses on the List of Top 100 Talents have accumulated a lot of Talents’ Luck, which explains the gold light from their jade tournament badge.” Elder Wei, seated by Su Mo’s side explained patiently.
“Talents’ Luck!?” Su Mo exclaimed.
“Yes, Talents’ Luck is a form of luck, also known as Dragon Luck. Once you step onto the archean fighting ring, it will burst forth from your tournament badge.” Elder Wei nodded and explained.
“If so, wouldn’t those talents that made the List have an advantage since they possess way more Talents’ Luck than us?” Su Mo asked, frowning.
Elder Wei shook his head, and elaborating, “Those with little Talents’ Luck will be able to swallow a larger portion of Talents’ Luck should they defeat an opponent with more Talents’ Luck than them. Conversely, those with abundant Talents’ Luck will only be able to swallow a tiny portion of their opponent’s Talents’ Luck should they defeat an opponent with little Talents’ Luck.”
“I see!” Upon hearing this, it all now made sense to Su Mo.
Buzz!
As they were speaking, Su Mo’s tournament badge vibrated and directed him towards the fighting ring in the west.
This was the fighting ring arena that had been automatically assigned to him.
Su Mo rose and flew towards the west fighting ring.
There were five large fighting ring arenas, situated on the north, south, east, west and central. Soon, all 500 talents were assigned to an arena, with each arena equally assigned 100 talents.
Su Mo looked around and spotted several acquaintances in the west fighting ring.
Leng Yunfeng, Honglian, Zhu Shaojing, Xie Tianjue have all been assigned to the west fighting ring.
There were also several strong potential opponents on the west fighting ring, such as Prince of the North Han Qianze, and Duanmu Ying, the eldest daughter of the Duanmus.
One thing to note was that while three of the four sects of Skymoon Country were represented, the Scorching Sun sect was noticeably absent.
Su Mo guessed that Jin Yang might be still recovering from the serious injuries he sustained earlier, and thus could not participate in this competition. The remaining disciples of the Scorching Sun Sect were not that powerful. Obviously, the sect intended to give up on this competition.
“This marks the commencement of the fight for the top 100 talents. Please step into the rings as directed by your jade tournament badges.” A middle-aged man announced from the judge’s seat.
Buzz! Buzz!
The moment his announcement ended, across the five main arenas, several contestants’ jade tournament badges vibrated.
At the west fighting ring, Zhu Shaojing’s tournament badge vibrated and directed him to the fighting ring.
Whoosh!
His face haughty, Zhu Shaojing flew into the fighting ring.