Chapter 6

At the very center of Original Sin City stands a castle-like inner city, separated from the outer city by a tall wall. Outside the inner city, ordinary ghosts live; inside, the disciples of the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion and the nobles of the ghost world reside.

The majestic and imposing wall is a formidable barrier for ordinary ghosts; just entering within the wall can instantly elevate one to the upper echelons of the ghost world.

When Jiang Wei and Li Hao arrived near the inner city gate, it was already crowded with ghosts, numbering no less than a hundred thousand.

"This test is just a money-making scheme!" Li Hao said. "To participate in the test, you have to pay three coins of the underworld. With so many ghosts here, that's hundreds of thousands of coins! But in the end, only a few pass!"

Li Hao knew this was a money-making scheme by the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion, but did the other ghosts not know it as well? However, just three coins of the underworld is not a significant burden for ordinary ghosts. Thus, almost every ghost would participate in the test with the mindset of buying a lottery ticket—what if they passed and instantly transformed from a nobody to a high-flying, wealthy elite?

Of course, for the vast majority of ghosts, the test only turns hope into despair—Li Hao was one of them.

After feeling despair, Li Hao even thought that Jiang Wei didn't need to waste three coins of the underworld, given the extremely low pass rate. However, how could Li Hao stop Jiang Wei, who was full of hope?

"Here, take it!" Li Hao reluctantly handed over two coins of the underworld, thinking that these two coins would just be wasted.

"Thanks!" Jiang Wei, who only had one coin of the underworld, had to borrow two from Li Hao. "Once I pass the test, I'll take you to tour the inner city!—By the way, what exactly does the test measure?"

Li Hao gave him a glare. "It's simple, it measures soul talent."

"Soul talent? What's that?" Since coming to the ghost world, Jiang Wei felt like he was always in the dark, needing Li Hao to explain everything.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I've heard that the higher the soul talent, the faster the cultivation speed, and the greater the future achievements!" Li Hao said. "Soul talent is divided into ten ranks. I've heard that reaching the sixth rank allows you to enter the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion!" When Li Hao took the test, he only had a third-rank soul talent and was eliminated without a doubt.

As they spoke, many ghosts had already entered the testing process. Then, Jiang Wei saw batch after batch of ghosts being eliminated, leaving dejectedly.

"Third rank!"

"Third rank!"

"Fourth rank!"

"Second rank!"

"First rank!"

"First rank!"

...

Test results were continuously announced, and the majority of ghosts had first, second, or third-rank soul talents. Those who reached the fourth rank were already considered outstanding. However, even a fourth-rank soul talent was far from meeting the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion's recruitment requirements.

The testing speed was very fast, and the test administrators kept announcing the results:

"First rank!"

"Second rank!"

"Hmm... Fifth rank!"

Suddenly, a ghost with a fifth-rank soul talent appeared, catching the test administrator's eye and causing the other ghosts to exclaim in surprise. However, even a fifth-rank soul talent did not meet the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion's requirements.

"What a pity!" The other ghosts lamented.

Every year, there would be several ghosts with fifth-rank soul talents, just one step away from the sixth rank, yet unable to reach it.

A sixth-rank soul talent could soar to the sky, while a fifth-rank soul talent could only remain an ordinary ghost. To become a great being, one could only say—maybe in the next life!

And who knows about the next life?

"Ugh!!!" The ghost with the fifth-rank soul talent roared in frustration, wishing he had only a third or fourth-rank soul talent, so he wouldn't feel so aggrieved.

"Next!"

...

Batch after batch of ghosts were eliminated, and finally, after more than twenty thousand ghosts had been tested...

"Sixth rank!"

The test administrator announced the result based on the display on the test stone.

"What, sixth rank!?"

"Sixth rank!"

"My God!"

Immediately, the entire scene erupted. At that moment, the ghost with the sixth-rank soul talent instantly became the center of attention, and all the other ghosts looked at him with envy. From that moment on, he was destined to walk a path completely different from the others.

"Ha ha ha ha!" The ghost with the sixth-rank soul talent was overjoyed.

Soon, a ghost from the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion took him away, and from then on, he became a member of the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion.

"Sixth rank..." Jiang Wei and Li Hao felt an indescribable envy.

Seeing so many ghosts being eliminated, Jiang Wei deeply understood how rare a sixth-rank soul talent was. At the same time, he couldn't help but doubt himself—would he be one of those one-in-a-million sixth-rank soul talents?

It was very difficult!

Just then, another ghost with a sixth-rank soul talent appeared, which not only made Jiang Wei's spirit soar but also rekindled his侥幸心理—Yes, I will definitely be a sixth-rank soul talent!

In fact, not just Jiang Wei, almost all the ghosts waiting for the test were constantly telling themselves—Sixth rank! Sixth rank! Sixth rank!

However, whether or not one had a sixth-rank soul talent was ultimately determined by the test stone!

Another several tens of thousands of ghosts were eliminated, and during this time, two more ghosts with sixth-rank soul talents appeared, causing another stir. Finally, it was Jiang Wei's turn to be tested.

While waiting in line, Jiang Wei had already seen the testing process many times. Without the test administrator needing to explain, Jiang Wei placed his hand on the test stone.

The test stone is divided into ten sections, with each additional section lit representing a higher rank of soul talent. As soon as Jiang Wei's hand touched the test stone, it began to light up from the bottom.

"Whoosh!"

Like a light bulb turning on, the bottom section of the test stone lit up.

"Whoosh!"

Another section.

"Hmm?" Jiang Wei's first two sections lit up very quickly, with the second section lighting up immediately after the first. Based on the test administrator's experience, the faster the sections lit up, the higher the soul talent rank. "Maybe another sixth rank!" the test administrator thought to himself.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

Two more sections lit up in quick succession, with almost no pause.

The test administrator could no longer remain calm. From this trend, a sixth-rank soul talent was almost certain, and it might even be higher!

"Whoosh!"

Another section lit up almost immediately, with five sections lighting up in one smooth motion.

"Definitely above sixth rank, possibly seventh, or even eighth!" The test administrator, who had seen many tests, knew that with this lighting speed, even if the remaining sections lit up more slowly, a sixth rank was guaranteed, and there was a high chance of reaching seventh rank.

Seventh rank...

It's important to know that a ghost with a seventh-rank soul talent would only appear in the entire Original Sin City once every few decades. Such a ghost, with a little cultivation, could reach the Soul Condensation stage and have a bright future!

"Am I about to witness the birth of a seventh-rank soul talent?" The test administrator's demeanor changed, thinking that such a ghost, once joining the Heavenly Wasteland Pavilion, would immediately become a core member.

However, at that moment, without any of the ghosts noticing, the Dao symbol "纹" on Jiang Wei's chest suddenly glowed, circling his body once.

"Sixth rank!"

"Sixth rank!"

"Must be sixth rank!"

Jiang Wei eagerly hoped that the test stone would light up one more section. But...

The test stone, which had lit up five sections in a row, suddenly seemed to stall. After waiting for a long time, the sixth section did not light up.

After a long while, the test administrator had to announce in surprise:

"Fifth rank..."

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