Volume One, Chapter 12: Even Lower Than Human-Level Talent?

Xin Qiji stared transfixed at the trial stone in Zhao Yun's hand, taking a long moment to recover. "Zilong, that is enough."

As Zhao Yun set the stone down, the golden light vanished, and it returned to its plain, unremarkable state.

Xin Qiji and Li Qingzhao exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. Xin Qiji exclaimed, "Zilong, to be honest, I initially thought your talent was at most Heaven-tier. I never imagined you could reach the Imperial-tier, let alone the God-tier! You and Brother Bai have brought me so many surprises today! It seems I have been blind to true brilliance!"

"What does God-tier talent signify?" Zhao Yun asked curiously.

"Unlike martial arts or literature, talent cannot be learned. The level of one's talent determines the upper limit of one's achievements. There are five categories: Blue light indicates Human-tier talent, which most people possess. Red light is Earth-tier, found in one in a thousand. White light is Heaven-tier, found in one in a hundred thousand. Purple light is Imperial-tier, a martial prodigy encountered once in a century. Such individuals grasp profound techniques and mental cultivation methods instantly; they effectively take shortcuts in the martial path. While an ordinary person might take years to master a skill, they might comprehend its true essence in a single night. Gold light, however, is God-tier—like yours. With even the slightest guidance from a master, you could become world-renowned, or even reach the very pinnacle of martial arts."

Li Qingzhao added softly, "You are a martial genius encountered once in several centuries. It is a pity you were born into poverty and lacked systematic training. Otherwise, at your age, you would have long since broken through the thirty-layer barrier. Alas, what a waste!"

"Qingzhao, you are wrong there," Xin Qiji countered. "The history of the Middle Kingdom is brilliant, yet how many truly great figures were born into prestigious clans or guided by masters from the start? Many have achieved extraordinary feats and reached the pinnacle of martial arts through their own efforts and the opportunities heaven provided."

Knowing when to yield, Li Qingzhao remained silent and stepped back.

Xin Qiji continued, "Zilong, you must walk your own path. Though I despise Wei Tianpeng, I do not advise the two of you to assassinate him now. I fear a piece of uncut jade might be destroyed before it ever sees the light of day."

Xin Qiji’s concern for their potential touched both Bai Chou and Zhao Yun. However, they had to complete this task as a "pledge of allegiance" to gain entry as disciples of Tong Yuan.

Bai Chou pondered, "Is Wei Tianpeng truly without flaws? Is he always under guard?"

"He has weaknesses. But first, Brother Bai, you wished to test your talent. Let us finish that, and then we shall discuss the rest," Xin Qiji said, handing over the stone.

Bai Chou took the stone, feeling a sudden chill. He mimicked Zhao Yun, clearing his mind and holding the stone between his palms. However, a long time passed, and none of the miraculous signs appeared.

"Er... that is enough, Brother Bai," Xin Qiji said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Why is there no reaction? Has its spiritual energy run out?" Bai Chou asked, turning the stone over in his hands and examining it carefully.

Xin Qiji pointed at the stone, explaining, "After Zilong used it, you could clearly see the spiritual energy lingering on it, but now it has vanished. This means it has already tested you."

"But there was no reaction. What level of talent does that indicate?" Bai Chou looked at the stone again, confirming it was indeed as Xin Qiji said.

Xin Qiji gave an awkward laugh, comforting him with a heavy heart, "Actually, talent is not everything. It is one's hard work that truly matters!"

Sensing the situation was grim, Bai Chou asked hopefully, "Could a lack of reaction actually indicate an even higher level of talent?"

Xin Qiji paused before saying, "Brother Bai, your literary talent is exceptional. Being a carefree, refined scholar and leaving behind timeless masterpieces is also a wonderful path."

"You cannot be serious," Bai Chou said, though he already knew the answer. "Is my talent not even at the Human-tier?"

Xin Qiji nodded, looking pitying, and fell silent.

Li Qingzhao offered comfort from the sidelines: "High initial talent allows one a head start, but the martial path is filled with bottlenecks that talent alone cannot break. Think of it as climbing a mountain: those with talent reach the summit first, only to find they cannot progress further. They look back and see others catching up, feeling great pressure. But the latecomers are different; they gain experience and confidence with every step of their steady progress. By the time they reach the summit, their accumulated wisdom often gives them the chance to break through and soar to new heights."

Knowing she was merely consoling him, Bai Chou gave a wry smile. "Li, would you prefer to have high talent, or would you rather be a low-talent person who gains something through steady effort every day?"

Li Qingzhao smiled. "All people hope to be superior in talent, and I am no exception."

Zhao Yun also chimed in, "Brother Chou, I once read in a novel about a peerless martial art that can only be mastered by those with very low talent. You meet those exact conditions—perhaps you might encounter such a technique."

Bai Chou waved his hand, cutting him off. "Zilong, if you are not good at comforting people, you need not speak."

Despite his frustration, he consoled himself: perhaps his background as a special forces soldier made him a mere grunt in this "Third Universe," but he could change his fate through his knowledge and insight, ultimately aiming to unify this chaotic world.

With that, he stopped dwelling on the trial stone, closed the box, and said, "Brother Xin, you mentioned Wei Tianpeng has a vulnerability. Pray, tell me."

No one noticed that the moment the box closed, the intact trial stone shattered into a fine powder, as if crushed by an invisible force.

As the others remained oblivious, Xin Qiji detailed his intelligence on Wei Tianpeng. Wei Tianpeng was not only obsessed with wealth but was also a lecher. He had a mistress named Xiaoxiao at the "Spring Bloom Pavilion," the largest brothel in Qizhou City.

On the 15th of every month—the day after tomorrow—Wei Tianpeng would spend the night with Xiaoxiao in the back courtyard. At those times, his guards remained on the perimeter, leaving him at his most vulnerable.

Bai Chou asked, "With Wei Tianpeng’s wealth, he could easily make her a concubine. Why keep her at the brothel where others can experience her charms?"

Xin Qiji shook his head. "I am not certain of the details, but I suspect it is his nature; he refuses to be bound by any woman in a way that might hinder his ambitions."

Having suffered from intelligence leaks in his original universe, Bai Chou worried this might be a trap set to lure enemies. "Brother Xin, do you have eyes within the Black Tiger Gang?"

Xin Qiji nodded. "Naturally. But the Black Tiger Gang also has eyes everywhere—within the city officials' ranks and even in my own residence. That is why I came alone today. After we part, we must not meet in private again until Li Linfu falls."

Bai Chou understood the necessity of this. Regardless of the outcome of the assassination, he and Zhao Yun might escape, but Xin Qiji’s family was rooted in Qizhou. If they were seen with Xin, the Xin family would face the Chancellor's ruthless retaliation.

Moved by Xin Qiji’s bold character, Bai Chou did not want to implicate him. "Rest assured, Brother Xin. Our purpose in coming to Qizhou was to kill Wei Tianpeng regardless of this meeting. We are grateful for the information about the Spring Bloom Pavilion. Should our attempt fail or succeed, we will never mention the Xin family."

Xin Qiji nodded solemnly and patted Bai Chou’s shoulder. He opened his mouth to speak but found no suitable words. The trust and unspoken understanding between two men required no further explanation.