ASER - Chapter 46
Chapter 46: Ladybug
Wang Yu smiled, pointed to Fuxiang Garden behind him, and said: "The first generation wasn't up to par because they focused more on Spiritual Energy. However, after Spiritual Energy disappeared for three hundred years, our technology advanced by leaps and bounds. After all, the Spiritual Energy of the first generation period allowed for unprecedented development of the human brain, leading to the emergence of countless geniuses and improving human genes. Consequently, there are many technological products, and countless Forbidden Items. I know you all currently believe that ancient Forbidden Items from the first generation are the strongest, and that our modern Forbidden Items are just technological products. Actually, that's wrong. Some modern Forbidden Items are far more powerful than ancient ones. You must learn to judge for yourselves. For this assessment, we will use B-12643, developed by the imperial Central Academy of Sciences. It's a device specifically for testing talent, and it can judge the value of a talent from three aspects."
"The first aspect is Talent Category Value A assessment. There are three major systems: Control, Mental, and Metamorphosis. Each system is equal, but they encompass all talents that have ever existed in our human world. The Central Academy of Sciences has established value standards for these talents based on two usage needs: military and societal, as well as deviation standards for combat, support, and so on."
"The second aspect is Talent Efficacy Value B assessment. Once your talent category is fixed, when you use your talent to achieve goals like attacking or supporting, there's a calculation standard for how much Spirit Power you used and how much power you generated. Logically, the less Spirit Power you use to create greater power, the higher your talent's efficacy value."
"The third aspect is Talent Growth Potential C assessment. Talents are like people; people grow, and so do talents. Moreover, they need to be carefully excavated and cultivated. Let me describe it this way: suppose an examinee awakens a combat talent in the Control System, for example, controlling metal elements for long-range attacks. If he can throw three spears at once, killing three enemies, let's assume his current score is 100 points. Another examinee activates a material manifestation talent in the Metamorphosis System, for instance, conjuring three sausages in one go. His score would be around only 5 points. The difference in strength and value is clear at a glance. But the issue is, a year later, the first examinee can throw four spears and kill four enemies. But what about the second examinee? He can instantly manifest three tons of sausages, providing a powerful food supply for the army on the front lines. In that case, I'm afraid the value of these two individuals would completely switch. The army would definitely want the second examinee because, in terms of supply and demand value, one super-strong food manifestation talent user far surpasses 100 low-level combat talent users."
Wang Yu's words were undoubtedly an enlightening dissemination of knowledge for the examinees who lacked a foundation.
Just as a group of people were wildly imagining themselves obtaining super-rare combat or support talents and reaching the pinnacle of life, a troublemaker couldn't hold her tongue, "What if someone directly manifests Star Coins? Wouldn't that be very valuable?"
Several teachers turned their heads to look, contributing a considerable amount of mental energy.
Damn it, it's you again, A'Diao.
Wang Yu said with a smile, "The significance of Star Coins lies in monetary transactions; in reality, they have no intrinsic value..."
Future super-criminal, top contrarian, A'Diao: "Then if I use them secretly underground, wouldn't they have value?"
Wang Yu gave a dry laugh, "That's illegal. I'd advise against it."
A'Diao sighed and settled for the next best thing, "Then I'll just manifest jade, jewelry, or precious medicinal herbs—things that can sell for a lot of money."
You haven't even bought a lottery ticket, and you're already planning the location of your villa.
A group of people thought A'Diao was being too much of a contrarian and sent her some mental energy. The amount wasn't large, but many people contributed.
On the surface, A'Diao seemed obsessed with money, but inwardly, she was as cool as a cucumber, currently checking the list of those who sent mental energy.
She was looking for someone, looking for the person who hadn't generated any mental energy.
If even her "eyes spraying potato shreds" didn't elicit mental energy, then her current words certainly wouldn't provoke the other party either. So, she just needed to find the people not on these lists.
Soon, she glanced at five people and gently touched her aching neck.
Wang Yu, Jiang Chengze, Hu Shuang, and also Song Ling and Zhao Lingyun.
The first three were teachers, and the latter two were examinees.
Actually, it wasn't impossible for it to be an examinee.
A'Diao kept the suspicion about the five individuals in mind, waiting impassively for the teachers to arrange the next part of the exam.
This time, all 500 couldn't go at once; they had to go one by one. When it was their turn, they would go in, and come out after finishing the test.
A'Diao was number 38, neither fast nor slow.
A'Diao, waiting under a tree, was still thinking about the assassin.
The other party was simply afraid that if she completed the talent test and was valued by Jinling Academy, receiving resources and cultivation, then it would truly be too late to do anything about her.
Motive-wise, that scoundrel Cui Yun was highly suspicious.
Just as A'Diao looked over, she happened to see Cui Yun also looking at her. Their eyes met, and Cui Yun walked over.
This person... what does he want?
"Miss A'Diao, what happened to your neck?" Cui Yun asked with a concerned expression.
A'Diao forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "An accident."
Cui Yun: "You must be careful. The competition is very important. If it affects the results, you'll regret it deeply."
A'Diao: "Who says it isn't? Thank you, Brother Cui, for personally demonstrating the law and providing me with a profound lesson."
This time, no mental energy was elicited.
This indicated that this person had come mentally prepared and was very composed.
Smiling, Cui Yun wasn't angry at all. He turned and left, going to chat with Wang Shen and a few other scions of powerful and wealthy families.
The Cui Clan's foundation was still there; even if these people had strong feelings inwardly, they could still act friendly on the surface.
A'Diao glanced at Cui Yun's retreating figure, sat cross-legged under the tree, and toyed with a fallen leaf, twirling it in her fingers.
But inwardly, she was thinking: With the Cui Clan's connections and foundation, the commotion in the restroom definitely couldn't have been hidden. Cui Yun should have known long ago that I was attacked. Regardless of whether the Cui Clan did it or not, if he had any brains, he should be acting low-key, because Jinling Academy is still investigating. So, why did he specifically approach me?
He's never won a verbal spar with me. Is he just asking for it?
After thinking for a moment, A'Diao got up and went to a nearby restroom.
She didn't manage to go before, couldn't hold it in this time?
Not really. This time, as soon as she entered, she took off her clothes and, upon careful inspection, found a golden beetle under the brim of her hoodie. It was flat, about the size of a seven-spotted ladybug.
When did this little bug crawl over?
But having encountered the fat honeybee before, how could A'Diao dare to underestimate such a small beetle? She called out to the toilet, "Can you help me identify what this thing is?"
Toilet: "No, can't you just report it directly to the people from Jinling Academy?"
A'Diao: "I remember you were supposed to broadcast real-time data on target subjects, but you stopped midway because you were peeking at my mother bathing... Do you have a manufacturer? I'm going to file a complaint later!"
Toilet: "..."
Aiya, you're threatening me!
While angry, the Toilet sent a message: "Mind Ladybug, C-5246 Forbidden Item, special category. Used for illusory sound influence. It can unknowingly allow the controller to release interfering voices that disrupt you, infinitely amplifying them into mental fluctuations, causing you to lose your sanity at that moment."
Very good. Now A'Diao knew why Cui Yun had approached her—it was to surreptitiously place this bug on her.
This bug would be used during her talent test to mentally interfere with her.
He probably resorted to this method because he understood that talent awakening carries certain risks and needs to be handled cautiously; otherwise, there would be no need for them to go one by one.
Qi deviation?
This was an attempt to cripple her.
"C-5246? Just a four-digit number. It seems to be quite powerful among C-grade items." A'Diao checked on her phone and found some information about it in online posts.
"One actually costs over seven million!"
A'Diao's teeth practically went sour: So I'm worth this much! Cui Yun, you really think highly of me!
She had the evidence. Should she tell the people from Jinling Academy?
A'Diao carefully examined the usage instructions and data for this item, but then suppressed the thought.
"He hasn't activated it yet, so their data signals haven't linked. Even if Jinling Academy gets this bug, they can't confirm his guilt. And even if they confirm the bug is his, he'll have excuses, like saying he just wanted to use it to talk to me, not to interfere with my talent test and make me fail, or even suffer a qi deviation. After all, the Cui Clan is still powerful. In the end, it's very likely he'd be let off lightly due to an attempted crime and insufficient evidence... That scoundrel definitely considered the risks before using such a method."
Thinking that she was in such danger while the other party stood to gain without any risk, she felt as disgusted as if she had eaten a fly.
But besides handing it over to Jinling Academy, did she have any other options?
A'Diao composed her expression and went out naturally. Secretly, Cui Yun had been watching her. Seeing nothing unusual, he relaxed and patiently waited for the exam.
He was number 26, ahead of A'Diao.
When A'Diao came out, she happened to see the person ranked first go in. The crystal enclosure was transparent, so people outside could see what was happening inside.
And they could see very clearly.
Fuxiang Garden was very large. The examination area was behind a crystal barrier, likely a moderately sized plaza. It was surrounded by babbling brooks and endless plants, giving it the feel of a biological paradise. However, 99 suspended bells encircled the plaza, with strange rhythmic lines connecting them. On the plaza itself stood several racks of weapons and musical instruments, as well as various strange objects, including some technological products. These were probably commonly used by Forbidden Item Masters, but A'Diao's knowledge was insufficient to recognize them.
Seeing A'Diao return, Tian Zhongxiang and her brother squeezed out some space for her in the excellent viewing spot they had secured, and whispered to A'Diao, "That person just went in a little while ago. He was probably nervous being the first one. He couldn't get the hang of it for a good while. Luckily, Teacher Wang was patient and kept guiding him. He should have found the way now; he finally triggered those bells."
A'Diao: "What are the bells for? Forbidden Items?"
Tian Zhongxiang: "Probably. Anyway, after they started shaking, we all saw those plants accelerate the frequency of releasing those powders. See, those glowing powders. I also just overheard Cheng Zhang and his group talking. That Cheng Zhang knows his stuff. He said these bells are called Ye Ling, an ancient Forbidden Item passed down from the first generation. Since the first generation, musical rhythm has been the method closest to soul attacks. It can stimulate these spiritual plants to release spiritual enzymes more frequently, and also allow the examinee's soul and thoughts to connect with these spiritual plants, synchronously activating the talent within their body... Plus, the strong and dense Spiritual Energy inside, to a certain extent, ripens the awakening of talents."
A'Diao said thoughtfully, "Doesn't that mean the earlier one awakens, the stronger their talent?"
Tian Zhongye mumbled, "That's not necessarily true. I overheard too. Cheng Zhang said it's not always better to awaken earlier. Some talents are too strong, and the usual amount of spiritual enzymes can't trigger them; they need a lot, so it takes a long time. But it generally doesn't exceed an hour. Anyway, the two worst-case scenarios are: not being able to trigger it after an hour, or triggering it within a few seconds of entering. These either mean you have no talent, or your talent is trash, erupting with just a little prodding. Such talents are 'cheap'."
A'Diao: "..."
What he said made a lot of sense. This Cheng Zhang was knowledgeable. However, he probably said it intentionally for the two siblings to hear—at this distance, he had deliberately raised his voice.
It seems he also intended to win over the two siblings who had no significant background, but not directly—a slow approach, like boiling a frog in warm water.
Such scheming, such foresight... completely outclasses Cui Yun.
While they were talking, the person taking the exam inside made a move. He was seen letting out a loud roar.
"Do you not see the Yellow River's waters come from the heavens, rushing to the sea, never to return... Come!"
He lifted one leg—oh, Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg!
One hand formed an orchid finger, pointing towards the sky at a 45-degree angle.
Cultured and poised, it made A'Diao feel a sense of awe. She nervously watched the inside of the enclosure...
"Heh!" With a mighty roar, spiritual light radiated from the center of the plaza. Then, under everyone's gaze, a faint halo appeared at the tip of his orchid finger.
The halo grew more solid, quickly turned yellow, and finally... Sizzle...
Like urinating, a stream of yellow liquid squirted out.
The 499 examinees outside the enclosure, plus Wang Wei and other internally selected students who were peeking: "..."
A'Diao: "?"
This... the atmosphere might be a bit strange.
The young man taking the test was about to cry. Under the calm and indifferent gazes of the teachers, his face flushed red, and he continued to shout, "Come!"
Huo!!
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle... Three streams of yellow liquid squirted out consecutively.
Urine, not completely emptied, continue to exert force...
And then there was no more. Nothing.
The atmosphere suddenly became even stranger.
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