Chapter 528 - 526: The Scramble

A man of luck!

To be honest, the title was rather sarcastic. Many in the crowd looked on with ridicule, their expressions a mixture of mockery and schadenfreude. They found Lin Xuan somewhat laughable.

In the end, it was just a matter of good fortune. He had obtained a wealth of resources and forcibly piled them up to reach his current level. If he received inferior resources in the future, it would be difficult for him to keep up. Or, compared to others, if he was given the same resources, the results would be vastly different.

This thing called Talent Level... one couldn’t say it was absolutely crucial, but it wasn’t unimportant either. It was an extremely significant foundation. The Late Stage of Cultivation relied on Comprehension, but when built upon a strong foundation, one’s progress would be swift and dramatic!

The Martial God of old had a low talent level, yet he still became a powerhouse in the end—that much was true. But his journey had been fraught with hardship, and he alone knew the suffering he endured. There was a reason the Martial God’s Willpower was so strong; the countless pains along his path had forged him into the formidable being he became.

Now, not only was Lin Xuan’s talent lower than everyone else’s, but the test couldn’t even detect any specific constitutional affinity! This meant Lin Xuan’s body didn’t lean toward any particular aspect. It was simply too moderate—a Moderate Constitution, and as common as could be.

Or perhaps, he had a little of everything, making him overly balanced. In truth, very few people were so balanced. But being too balanced meant having no outstanding strengths, which just made him seem mediocre.

Lin Xue had an Ice Yin Body, it was true, but she could also absorb Golden Elemental Power and the like. It was just that, proportionally, her Ice Constitution was stronger.

Lin Xuan’s situation was rather pathetic. He was completely ordinary, with no outstanding aspects. It might seem like he could practice Martial Arts of any Elemental Power, but from the perspective of Cultivation speed, he held no advantage.

"Haha, this is unbelievable! How could this be? Not only is his talent unremarkable, but his constitution has no special qualities either. He’s clearly just an ordinary person!"

"He must have received some kind of inheritance in that Little Empire. The Yulan Pearl, for example, must be one of them. With all sorts of miscellaneous treasures piled on him, it’d be hard *not* to be strong!"

"If you gave me all those resources, I’d be even stronger than him!"

...

The murmurs were incessant. Though the voices were hushed, they were still heard with perfect clarity. Ordinary was ordinary, even if he had won first place. He was strong now, but no one could guarantee he would be strong in the future. This was the drawback of being a man of luck.

’A Moderate Constitution? A man of luck...?’ A smirk played on Lin Xuan’s lips. ’Only those who don’t understand me would say such things.’

It was precisely his Moderate Constitution that allowed his souls to merge so perfectly. When he unleashed his power, they didn’t interfere with one another, and no single aspect would become overly dominant! As for being a man of luck—which of his treasures had he not obtained through his own blood, sweat, and tears? He certainly hadn’t gotten them by just sitting at home.

He didn’t bother to refute any of it. They could think whatever they wanted. What mattered was what the Elders would say. Would they cast him aside, or would they invest heavily in his development?

"This... he doesn’t have many outstanding qualities, but based on his performance in the competition, he has plenty of strengths. His overall skill level is very high! His Soul Power is formidable, which should also be taken into consideration." Bu Feiyun said this, but his expression was still a bit awkward. Who would have thought that the first-place winner would lack standout traits?

Typically, those who were too moderate often struggled to advance in the later stages. He was strong now, but it was only temporary. It was luck, after all. Luck had created a powerhouse for a time, but who knew if he would have such luck later on.

Those who relied on luck were often the least respected. Although luck was a part of strength, one wasn’t always protected by good fortune.

"Yes, this is quite a special case. But he did, after all, win first place, which proves he has many merits..." A trace of disappointment flickered in Bu Lingyu’s eyes, but he still spoke tactfully. "Since you are rather unique, you may choose any of the Celestial Peaks. Which one do you choose?"

He was allowed to choose from any of the five Celestial Peaks. It seemed like a great privilege, but in reality, it was a move born of helplessness. With a Moderate Constitution, his Cultivation would be the same no matter which one he chose. There was no real difference; it all came down to his personal preference.

The other five disciples all revealed sneers, suddenly feeling that Lin Xuan was no longer so high and mighty. In fact, he seemed rather insignificant. The Spirit Pill Stage was only the beginning. The Late Stage was when one truly had to sprint, so being strong now didn’t mean one would be strong in the future.

Winning first place was a great honor, but no matter how glorious, it was merely a moment of fleeting brilliance.

"Can I choose the five Celestial Peaks? Meaning, I can go to whichever one I want, without any restrictions?" Lin Xuan asked after a moment of thought. Since he was suited for any of the Celestial Peaks, he might as well have access to all of them.

"Hmph!" an Elder at the side snorted coldly. "Don’t bite off more than you can chew. You have some minor achievements, but if you go on like this, you will only slow down your Cultivation speed! That would be courting death. You already lack standout traits. If you continue like this, you’ll become a jack of all trades, master of none!"

The one who spoke was Second Elder Bu Chi. He had no personal issue with Lin Xuan, but he strongly disapproved of his choice. A person must act within their capabilities. Biting off more than one can chew would only be a waste of time.

"Yes, the Second Elder is correct. Your results are excellent, but you shouldn’t let it go to your head..." Bu Feiyun advised. "Like the others, choose a single, corresponding Celestial Peak. It’s much better for management that way. Different Celestial Peaks are managed by different Elders, so you can only choose one."

They had originally wanted to fight over him, as Lin Xuan had been simply too dazzling. Now, after the test, their desire to snatch him up had cooled considerably. Still, they wanted him to join. At the very least, he had won first place, and his overall skill level was very high!

"I can only choose one?" Lin Xuan mused, his thoughts momentarily unclear.

"Join my Fourth Celestial Peak. Your Flame is quite good; you can practice Artifact Refining..." The one who had just reprimanded Lin Xuan was the Second Elder, and now he was also the one inviting him to join. He was truly difficult to figure out.

"Ahem, join my First Celestial Peak! Specializing in Wood Elemental Power is also a good choice. You can enhance your recovery abilities and even cultivate Spirit Medicine!" Bu Feiyun chimed in. They weren’t concerned about the future; at least he was dazzling now. Who was to say things wouldn’t change later?

"Join my Fifth Celestial Peak..."

"Join..."

The other Elders, who were also the Peak Masters, all rose to their feet and began introducing the specializations of the Celestial Peaks they managed. In the end, Lin Xuan locked his choice on the Fourth Celestial Peak! The one that specialized in Fire Elemental Power.

"Then I’ll choose the Second Elder. I’m also quite interested in Artifact Refining..."

Of course he was interested in Artifact Refining. He desperately wanted to repair the Chi Dragon Heavens Rod in his hand, no matter the cost. Besides, he had also witnessed firsthand that a good Weapon could play a significant role, so it was quite necessary to study the art a little.

The crucial point was that within his memories, there was a renowned Artifact Refining Master. That Artifact Refining Master was the Phoenix!