254 Tell Me, Kid. 3 (1/2)

It wasn't something he thought about often, but, during his test to enter Focus Academy, his task was very simple. In fact, it was almost laughable how easy it was.

All he needed to do was have his cultivation talent tested by some odd stone. According to the attendant, a very deadpan man who happened to be the captain of the silver yacht he had been pulled by, the stone summed the average of his soul, body and energy cultivation talent.

In the end, Dyon had received a score right at the average, something that had greatly shocked those from the martial world. He had always wondered… Why were they so surprised by an average score?...

”There you go, thinking about useless things again. It's like you don't listen to anything I say!”

'Alright, alright. Can I ask questions related to the trials themselves?'

”Sure!”

'Okay. How do they work?'

”The trials are different depending on the ability. The aurora trials are probably the most abstract. They have to do with your senses, your soul talent, and your ability to comprehend complex concepts. I can't give out perfect auroras to stupid people.”

'Don't auroras boost your intelligence?'

”Of course. But, if you're stupid, and you get a boost, won't you only be slightly less stupid? It works better if you're already smart. That's probably why my will chose you after it broke through the dam. Well that and it probably liked your stupidity.”

'Uh… Am I stupid or smart?...'

”Both, obviously.”

'Is this back to the balance thing you were talking about…?'

”See? Smart.”

'Are the only rewards you provide the powers themselves?'

”Hmm. There are other awards… depending on how I'm feeling. I seem to remember giving out that spatial ring on your finger to someone…”

'Oh?... No wonder it's so high level. Aren't you helping me cheat by letting me have this ring?'

”Cheat in the gate? Not really. You can use it to bring across high level experts to other universes, but if you ever released them in the gate itself, they'd die instantly. Even your dao formation experts are nothing before me. As if they could escape my rules.” Clear pride reverberated in the entity's deep voice.

'Then what about array alchemy? Why is there a taboo placed on it?'

”Who are you trying to fool kid. What does that have to do with the trials?”

'It's very much related. After all, since you're the creator of the aurora, the fact people aren't practicing array alchemy makes it harder for them to realize the gates are even a game to begin with. That's less fun for you, no? Maybe if I knew the why, I could help.'

”As if. The people facilitating the taboo on array alchemy are existences, below, but not too far from me.”

Dyon chuckled at these words. 'Below'. Clearly these were existences at the level of this entity, but the entity was too prideful.

”Don't laugh kid. They truly are below me. That's why they're scared of the dao my first student created.”

'Your first student?'

”Ai. The aurora was my ability, but the use of it was seen much more clearly by my first disciple. He created the dao of alchemy in your tome. It's really sad you don't even have a concept of the treasure you picked up.”