Chapter 13: Recommendation and Aptitude

The Skywatch Tower stood in the southern inner city, not far from the entrance. In less than half an hour, Cao Chengyu, following the flow of people, arrived before the building.

Its grounds spanned a vast area, rising sixteen stories high, each level receding yet maintaining its expanse, forming a square-shaped structure of ancient style. At the very top loomed a colossal sculpture resembling an eye, symbolizing its role as overseer.

Within the capital, the Skywatch Tower was among the grandest constructions. Its flying eaves and interlocking brackets were crafted from special materials; arrays of inscribed runes were openly displayed to deter those with ill intent.

At first glance, it was both magnificent and imposing—a fitting façade for the foremost power in immortal cultivation.

It was the season for spring recruitment. Cao Chengyu, newly arrived in the capital at noon, found himself amidst the thickest crowds, forced to wait at the rear, listening to the idle boasts of passersby.

After some time, he began to understand. Most of those present were individuals who had stumbled into the path of immortality by chance—older in years, having only just reached the Spirit Nurturing stage. Skilled in the mundane world, yet within a cultivation sect, they could not even compare to the youngest initiates.

Lacking systematic knowledge, unfamiliar even with the stages of cultivation, they were rarely recruited by sects or powers—hence their presence at the Skywatch Tower, hoping for a chance.

For the Skywatch Tower, this was ideal. In the five provinces of the Great Yue Kingdom, mortals made up the majority. Sending these marginal cultivators to maintain order was perfectly suitable.

Thus, upon recruitment, everyone underwent an aptitude assessment. Those of exceptional talent received core training at the Skywatch Tower; those less gifted were assigned to one of its three subordinate divisions.

The first was the Six Gates, which deployed constables across the provinces to stabilize civil affairs. The second was the Hundred Arts Hall, where one could study alchemy, tool-crafting, and other immortal arts, providing basic resources and apprentices to the Tower. The third was the Pioneering Hall, tasked with searching the five provinces for spiritual veins, demon lairs, magic caverns, and spirit springs—handling the most miscellaneous duties, mitigating internal risks, and opening new channels for resources.

These three divisions required vast manpower, especially the Pioneering Hall, where the mortality rate was high and hands were always short.

Such were the grassroots recruits, enlisted in large numbers each year. Climbing higher was difficult; only those who rendered great merit might enter the Skywatch Tower proper.

Within Great Yue, there were only three sects. The Five Elements Sect spanned three kingdoms and wielded the greatest influence. The Xuan Jade Sect and the Bluewave Sword Sect were somewhat smaller, each crossing into two kingdoms.

Next in rank were the immortal clans—of various sizes, their strength uneven. Some, with only a single Spirit Refining cultivator, called themselves immortal clans. The larger ones had Golden Core masters, their branches spread far and wide, but these rarely joined sects, operating primarily as families.

They occupied spiritual mountains, spreading their influence and gathering resources.

After half a day of listening, Cao Chengyu gained a rough understanding of the immortal powers surrounding the Great Yue Kingdom.

The passersby’s commentary truly lived up to their reputation as the best informants—just as the novels said.

The line was long, and only after a lengthy wait did it reach him. The recruiter was a young man, gentle and elegant in manner.

Cautiously, Cao Chengyu presented the letter of introduction from Yang Jiuxuan. The young man, unfazed, seemed to read his thoughts and said calmly, “You’re not the only one here through connections, junior. Many are linked to the Tower Master himself. You may go right in.”

“Take the right corridor for three hundred meters; there you’ll find a room for aptitude verification. The attendant will handle everything.”

Scratching his head sheepishly, Cao Chengyu accepted the letter and proceeded as directed.

He was being admitted directly.

The others before him had all reported their age and cultivation, and were sent to a large pavilion at the entrance for aptitude testing—they had no right to enter. The difference in treatment quickly sparked murmurs among those behind, though none dared raise their voices.

“Another one sneaking in through the back door.”

“Friend, it’s all fate. We can only blame our lot in life.”

“Who says otherwise? I’m quite content with mine.”

“Oh? Is that because you have exceptional talent?”

“Heh… My talents are of a kind you’ll never experience.”

“….”

Passing through the main gate felt like stepping through an invisible membrane; within, the air was fresher and more humid, and the spiritual energy denser.

Relaxing, Cao Chengyu reached the Spirit Appraisal Room three hundred meters to the right.

It was a small space, within which sat a little old man behind a table laid with a crystal orb and several sticks of incense.

Nearby stood four sumptuously dressed youths—clearly other beneficiaries of connections.

Outside, it was rare to find talented individuals; those with aptitude had long since been recruited by the sects or the Skywatch Tower. The so-called “spring recruitment” was merely a channel for the influential to place their own. True disciples were only taken once every six years, chosen from six-year-old children for nurturing from an early age.

A year or two’s difference was acceptable, but past ten years of age, almost none were accepted—unless their talent was truly outstanding.

The immortal cultivator Cao Chengyu had met as a child was from the Skywatch Tower—a cultivator at the Dao Physique stage, capable of flight, whose divine sense could scan every inch and spot a promising seed at a glance (measured by affinity with spiritual energy).

Most of these connected youths were around fourteen or fifteen; two had broken through to the Spirit Refining stage, while the rest lingered at the peak of Spirit Nurturing.

When Cao Chengyu entered, all eyes turned to him with curiosity.

Everyone in the capital’s privileged circles knew each other; these seven or eight were all considered the wastrels of their families, their abilities more or less equal, mingling together daily. A new face naturally drew attention.

Cao Chengyu glanced at them, then calmly sat before the old man.

Lighting an incense stick, the old man said blandly, “Place your hand on the Spirit Testing Orb. You are not permitted to circulate your cultivation—use only your innate ability to draw spiritual energy into the orb. You have the duration of one incense stick.”

“I understand.”

In this world, talent was not measured by spiritual roots, but by the body’s affinity with spiritual energy.

A high affinity marked one as a prodigy destined for the immortal path; a low one meant thirty years east of the river, straight to the grave.

With the Yellow Court Dao Song enhancing his talent, Cao Chengyu had nothing to fear.

Simply by relying on his body’s instinct, he drew in spiritual energy; immediately, the aura within a hundred meters responded to his call, slowly channeling through him into the orb.

When the incense burned out, the orb was three-quarters full.

The old man looked at him in surprise. “Eighty-nine points—a genius’s endowment.”

“How did you enter through the back door? And your cultivation…”

Cao Chengyu smiled unconcernedly. “Senior, I was born in a remote town and missed the Skywatch Tower’s six-year recruitment. Fortunately, I met a benefactor who recommended me for the spring intake. When I officially began cultivation, I was already three years late, so I’ve only just broken through to the Spirit Refining stage.”

“I see.”

The old man nodded knowingly, and the privileged youths did as well, the scene somewhat comical.

“You’re not too late to begin. In the future, you may well reach the Purple Mansion. Go stand with the others—after today, arrangements will be made for you all.”

“Thank you, senior.”

Cao Chengyu clasped his hands in thanks and joined the others.