Chapter 349: Gifted with Talent

In a top-floor flat of a high-end residential complex.

Inside a living room decorated in a luxurious and ostentatious style with bright yellow as the main theme.

The original owner's expensive coffee table set had long since been moved to one side.

On the carpet in the middle, five top-configuration desktop computers were placed side by side.

The fish-tank-style computer cases, keyboards, and mice all emitted dazzling, multi-colored lights.

This highlighted the style of the room's owner.

In front of this row of computers.

Five young men were fighting with flushed red faces in a gaming session.

Not long after, as their own base on the screen failed to hold and was blown up by the opposing side.

Zhang Long, about 1.78 meters tall, looking like a high school student, thin, with delicate features and short white hair, stood up with wide eyes:

"How could this happen!"

"The other side is definitely using hacks!"

"Otherwise, since our Red Dragon Battle Team has all achieved Entry in the Health Preservation Technique, how could we still lose to them!"

After Zhang Long vented a wave of frustration and cursed a string of colorful phrases.

He swept a glance at his lackeys and said viciously:

"Let's all report that assassin together!"

"That guy got a pentakill on us twice; he must be using hacks!"

Having said that, Zhang Long was the first to click report.

Then, the moment he clicked report, he felt a sense of connection in the dark.

After sacrificing some mysterious things.

Zhang Long suddenly had a premonition that this report of his would be one hundred percent effective!

At the same time.

A certain professional gamer had just prepared to turn off his computer and go out to eat.

He was stunned to discover that his smurf account, which he used to bully noobs for his own amusement, had actually been banned!

"No way, can you really get reported and banned for bullying noobs?"

"Even if reported, shouldn't it require multiple checks and judgments by the Smart Brain before a ban?"

"Did I just encounter the Smart Brain's glitchy judgment that everyone says has a tiny, almost impossible probability?"

As this professional gamer muttered to himself, a thought stirred in his heart to use this to create a video.

He didn't even want to eat anymore.

He only wanted to edit the material quickly, hoping to go viral again.

On Zhang Long's side, because they were bullied so miserably in the last round, it severely damaged the confidence of this team, which had only been formed a few days ago through a verbal declaration.

Zhang Long did not intend to continue playing games.

He lay back in the ergonomic chair he had been tricked into buying, only feeling... that this chair didn't seem all that comfortable.

It wasn't even as good as the sofas previously in the living room.

Suddenly, his cell phone rang.

Zhang Long frowned, pressed his earpiece, and said with a hint of dissatisfaction:

"There really is no quota left this month, not even if you pay more!"

"I, Zhang Long, value the word 'integrity' most in business!"

"If you want the goods, come earlier next month."

After speaking, Zhang Long hung up the phone domineeringly without waiting for the person on the other end to say anything more.

Then, enjoying the worshipful gazes of his lackeys, Zhang Long waved his hand, intending to take them out for a big meal.

Zhang Long had only recently finished the college entrance exam and had not been out of his high school student status for long.

Even though suddenly, because of an ability he himself didn't quite understand, he was like a god of luck possessed, able to snatch up a portion of Supernatural Ingredients released online every time he tried to buy them.

Thereby making a fortune through reselling.

Besides buying cars and houses for a spree of revenge consumption, what Zhang Long liked most was showing off in front of his peers.

And then, losing himself in the repeated worshipful cries of "Big Brother" from these fair-weather friends.

"Let's go! Tonight we're going to that newly opened seafood buffet!"

"Little Lin, keep logging into my account and ask in the group if any other classmates want to come?"

"I'll pick up the tab for everything!"

Zhang Long patted his chest, as if he had written the words "I'm rich" on his face.

Crack!

Just as he opened the door.

Zhang Long and the four lackeys behind him all froze in unison.

Standing outside the door was a refined man in a white suit wearing gold-rimmed glasses, accompanied by four burly men in black suits.

They were staring at Zhang Long with predatory eyes.

"Little student, you must be Zhang Long."

"You really are a man of talent."

"These are all your classmates, right, student Zhang Long?"

The man in the white suit smiled, his tone gentle, yet a faint, icy chill radiated from his body.

It made Zhang Long and the others shiver uncontrollably.

At the same time, Zhang Long's expression changed for the first time.

It turned out that the man in the white suit had used a Secret Language to state the names and workplaces of Zhang Long's parents.

Seeing the young man before him flush red, his eyes not even daring to meet his own.

The man in the white suit smiled slightly, knowing that this operation could be considered more than half successful.

"Don't be nervous, we have no ill intent."

"In fact, as long as our cooperation is pleasant, student Zhang Long, not only can you continue to earn big money, but your parents' job positions can also be promoted."

"And furthermore..."

"You also want to learn Martial Dao Divine Skills other than the Health Preservation Technique, right?"

In just a few words, the man in the white suit used both coercion and inducement.

And he hadn't even truly used violent means.

It looked as if this Zhang Long was already in their pocket.

However.

Before Zhang Long could give any answer.

A group of burly men came walking out from the elevator hall with a clatter.

Leading them was an old man with a youthful face and white hair.

Though old, he moved with the agility of flying.

At the same time, there was a faint aura of blood about him.

Letting any martial artist who had reached Entry know at a glance that this was a martial artist who had reached at least Small Success.

On the current Water Blue Star, with Spirit Qi nourishing ingredients and Martial Dao Cultivation Methods specifically modified to be easier for ordinary people to reach Entry.

The difficulty of reaching Entry in the Martial Dao had advanced to the point where anyone could do it.

But there were many more requirements to go from Entry to Small Success, and then to Great Success.

Without sufficient Supernatural Ingredients or the opportunity to obtain Spirit Qi nourishment.

Subsequent cultivation relying solely on practice... would take years to see any effect.

Therefore, on the current Water Blue Star, behind every Small Success martial artist, there was a powerful force acting as a backer.

The man in the white suit changed his expression, left the wooden-like Zhang Long behind, and went to meet the other party.

He exchanged a few hollow pleasantries with a fake smile.

Just as they were about to discuss things in depth.

Suddenly, more footsteps were heard.

Causing both sides to be slightly shaken, they immediately looked toward the back and saw a man and a woman who looked like lawyers walking up while carrying briefcases.

Seeing these people, the man smiled and said it was quite a coincidence.

He and his female companion retreated to a position against the wall.

Yet, in the corridor behind them.

Within a few breaths, another group of people surged in.

Thus, before long, the corridor of this luxury apartment was packed with people.

This also made Zhang Long realize that he might have truly thought of things too simply.

Involving shares of Supernatural Ingredients, how could he, a mere student, be an independent operator just because he wanted to be?

The first time or two, out of trust in big data and intelligent supercomputers.

Everyone thought it was just a coincidence, an accident.

Much like those lucky people who accidentally won a grand prize.

Full of unrepeatable coincidences.

But as Zhang Long won again and again.

Even though he had made some clumsy attempts at concealment in the eyes of experts.

Zhang Long still fell into the eyes of interested parties as expected.

These people were all local bullies of this city.

And because of this, relying on their local advantage, they were the first to find Zhang Long, wanting to pull him into their organization first.

And then slowly uncover the secret of how he managed to snap up shares of Supernatural Ingredients so many times!

"With so many people gathered here, are you afraid that those powerful outsiders won't know something is happening?"

"Then why don't you withdraw first? We guarantee we will never be the first to make a move to take that little student away!"

Although everyone sensed that the current situation was somewhat unfavorable.

No one from any side was willing to give way.

Just as the tempers of all parties grew hotter.

Making Zhang Long feel uneasy, he planned to retreat behind his lackeys to find an escape route.

After Su Ping gradually popularized Supernatural Ingredients and supernatural power on Water Blue Star.

One of the side effects was the frequent occurrence of public security incidents.

After reaching Entry in the Martial Dao, one's blood and Qi surge, and even without weapons, one can cause destruction previously unimaginable.

Moreover, having a sharp weapon in hand, the rise of a murderous heart would also play a certain role.

Causing the custom of enjoying watching the excitement to gradually begin to change among the populace.

After all, watching others fight now, it is truly possible to be accidentally injured.

Martial artists who have worked themselves into a rage do not have the energy to care about whether they are hurting bystanders.

Because of this, Water Blue Star's management methods for martial artists and other supernatural beings are currently being researched and prepared for rollout.

Furthermore.

Law enforcement teams, primarily composed of powerful military figures, have also already made appearances on the news.

Especially those Chengying mechs capable of moving mountains and overturning seas.

They have served as a great deterrent to potential criminals who possess decent martial arts talent.

Letting them know that the power to maintain Order has not weakened due to the popularization of martial arts; the gap between them has instead grown even wider!

Because of this, the number of serious, malicious cases has not actually increased much.

"Everyone, stop arguing!"

Suddenly, a lazy voice rang out in the ears of everyone in the corridor.

This voice carried a magic that brooked no refusal.

And the moment it sounded, it made all the parties who had been fired up instantly calm down.

Then, they all looked in unison toward the elevator bank at the end of the corridor.

Ding!

The elevator opened.

A green shadow walked out of the elevator and appeared before everyone.

It was also the moment they saw the green Daoist robe.

Everyone's eyelids twitched, and their hearts lost three-tenths of their courage.

In today's society, Daoists, monks, priests, and various types of officiants are the most intimidating people.

After all, who knows if the other party is a disciple under the command of a spokesperson for some Supernatural sect on Water Blue Star?

Added to that voice just now, under normal circumstances, these people would have hurriedly offered a gesture of goodwill and retreated.

But since it concerned Supernatural Ingredients, several of the leaders gritted their teeth, wanting to say a word or two more.

As for the elderly man who had come later, after the burly men sensibly cleared a path and he walked closer to the other party—

The moment he finally saw the other party clearly—

The old man gasped sharply, and at the same time, his legs went soft and he knelt on the ground with a thud.

Fortunately, the corridors of high-end places are covered with thick carpets.

This forceful kneeling only produced a "pfft" sound, which did not sound too painful.

"Old Qi!"

Seeing this scene, the several leaders beside him changed color, and at the same time, they all knew the Daoist before them was extraordinary.

At first, they felt that the other party did not match any of the big shots in their memories.

The next second, as the kneeling old man said, "Daoist Zhou..."

Once the word "Zhou" was uttered.

It immediately let these few people know who this Daoist before them was.

Instantly, they all knelt down respectfully together.

But halfway through kneeling, these people were lifted up by a gentle force.

"There is no need to kneel; take your people and leave quickly."

Zhou Xuan said it as if it were a casual remark.

Instantly, the entire corridor was cleared in a short amount of time.

Throughout the whole process, no one dared to ask in a low voice why.

As for the leaders of those who left, they no longer had their previous anger, and instead began to consider how to bring gifts to the Zhou family to apologize later.

As for that peculiar Zhang Long, everyone tacitly stopped discussing him.

Inside the room.

Zhang Long and his few lackeys were all looking at Zhou Xuan, who was wearing a Daoist robe, with worshipful eyes.

It was their first time seeing with their own eyes a figure who could display such powerful strength so nonchalantly.

Although they could not recognize Zhou Xuan's identity.

They could still tell that this young Daoist, who looked about the same age as them, must be one of those Supernatural existences that occupied the headlines every day on the internet!

Zhou Xuan had just entered the room.

Zhang Long suddenly recalled scenes from novels, TV shows, and movies he had seen.

He was struck by a sudden inspiration, bowed his head to the ground, and shouted, "Master is above, please accept this disciple's bow!"

The few lackeys behind him, after being stunned for a moment, also followed suit, wanting to apprentice themselves.

But Zhou Xuan hurriedly lifted them up, then gave a light cough and said:

"This poor Daoist has not yet reached the point where I can take on disciples."

"However... this poor Daoist observes that your talent is somewhat special."

"Have you undergone a Bloodline test before?"

Zhou Xuan restrained his aura and conversed with Zhang Long like a gentle, ordinary person.

Zhang Long nodded to indicate he had been tested.

He had even been tested twice, both organized by the school.

Zhou Xuan nodded slightly upon hearing this, though he was somewhat surprised that it hadn't been detected either time.

He also recalled some relevant records in the Jade Slip given by the Immortal Master.

There are millions upon millions of peculiar Bloodlines in this world.

Even though the Dharma Artifacts for Bloodline testing are constantly being updated and replaced.

They can never record every strange Bloodline talent in the entire world.

Therefore, theoretically, it is indeed possible for someone to possess a unique talent.

Yet fail to have it detected time and time again.

Especially if this talent does not enhance the quality of one's Spirit Root; in fact, it is most common for it to remain undiscovered, ultimately leading to a life of failed cultivation and dying in obscurity.

In the view of Zhou Xuan.

This fellow student Zhang Long is exactly the type who possesses a Bloodline talent, but this talent does not provide any Spirit Root quality.

Thus, it was only after coming into contact with ingredients nourished by Spirit Qi that his talent ability awakened!

Regarding how vast the gap is between those with such talent and those without.

Zhou Xuan understands very well how large it is after entering the extraordinary circle.

Because of this, Zhou Xuan does not mind acting as Zhang Long's introducer and giving him a push while he is still humble.

Zhang Long's lackey was driven out of the room.

Then Zhou Xuan examined Zhang Long's body, discovering that with his own discernment, he could not see the other's uniqueness.

However, as Zhang Long explained his recent fortuitous encounters.

Hearing that the other party seemed able to make minute possibilities lean in his favor.

Zhou Xuan could not help but guess whether the other party possessed a constitution related to luck.

He became much more dedicated to him as well.

He even gave him a Blood Qi Pill.

Allowing him to reach the Great Success realm from Entry in just the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn.

Placed in the Cultivation World, that would also be a first-class martial artist.

This also made Zhang Long increasingly convinced of Zhou Xuan.

He did not even hesitate.

He boarded the Wooden Boat Dharma Artifact released by Zhou Xuan.

And was taken by Zhou Xuan to other places to visit friends and inquire about the Dao.

Since he had discovered a seed suspected of having a special talent.

Zhou Xuan naturally would not leave him behind alone.

He is just waiting for the moment he receives a summons from his master to quickly report the matter of Zhang Long, determined to add a talented junior brother to the Cloud Coming Immortal Sect!