The True‑Immortal Layman's voice was especially cold and indifferent.
After he spoke, he said nothing more, giving off an air of lofty mystery.
As for last night's phenomenon, he only touched on it briefly before quickly changing the subject.
This made everyone feel that the True‑Immortal Layman simply didn't want to bother with someone like Evan, a mere nobody.
"You want me to test the Spirit‑Test Beads?"
Evan looked at the back of the True‑Immortal Layman, half-smiling as he spoke: "Aren't you afraid I might do something?"
"These Spirit‑Test Beads measure your talent for cultivation. If there's anything to fear, it's that your aptitude is too poor and you'll embarrass yourself here."
The True‑Immortal Layman spoke coldly: "If you don't dare, I won't force you. It just means you're not fated for the immortal path and are destined to be an ordinary person your whole life."
His words made many people present start laughing.
"This guy's got two pretty girls with him. Those girls must be blind to like someone like him. I'm betting he won't even step up, and even if he does, he'll probably only light half a bead."
A group of people shook their heads, sighing.
Today, everyone from internal‑strength experts to Vajra and Pointing‑to‑Mystery Realm cultivators had already tested themselves. Except for Yvette Locke, Queenie Tong, Grandmaster You, and Evan, everyone else had taken the test.
Quite a few had already embarrassed themselves, so now they were just waiting to see how this kid who dared argue with the True‑Immortal Layman would make a fool of himself.
"Alright, as you wish."
Evan nodded and stepped forward.
"I'll go with you."
Yvette Locke noticed the unfriendly looks all around, worried Evan might be attacked, and quickly tried to follow him.
"You and Queenie just wait here. They're all just little shrimps."
Evan shook his head and told Grandmaster You to stay and protect them.
Grandmaster You nodded, saying nothing more.
It looked like there was something wrong with the Spirit‑Test Beads, but he couldn't understand why Evan, knowing there was a problem, still went up to test them.
"Didn't expect he'd actually dare go up. He's definitely going to embarrass himself soon. Just look at him—he doesn't even have a trace of inner force."
As Evan walked forward, the people nearby instinctively parted to make way.
Evan moved through the crowd, his pace steady, paying no attention to the looks around him.
He reached the Spirit‑Test Beads.
The young man in a dark‑blue Daoist robe glanced sideways at Evan: "Go ahead."
"Use your hand to grip this rod. The Spirit‑Test Beads will naturally reveal your talent."
After he finished speaking, he stared intently at the Spirit‑Test Beads: "I'm really curious if a kid like you, clueless about your own limits, can even light half a bead."
Once he finished speaking, many in the crowd eagerly looked over, waiting.
Jason Liu was already poised, ready to burst out laughing as soon as the bead only half-lit.
Yvette Locke and Queenie Tong also looked over, both wishing they could go up and deal with everyone present for Evan.
The things this crowd was saying were just too obnoxious.
"Then open your dog eyes and watch carefully."
Evan reached out and gripped the rod of the Spirit‑Test Beads with one hand.
With just one hand—
The lowest Spirit‑Test Bead slowly lit up.
At first, the light was dim, as if it might go out at any moment, like a candle flame.
"Ha! I knew it, just half a bead!" Jason Liu laughed wildly. "Only a fool who can light half a bead would dare brag like that and repeatedly provoke an immortal!"
"What a joke, I'm dying laughing!"
His wild laughter set off a wave of laughter from the crowd around him.
It seemed seeing Evan embarrassed made them feel a bit of cathartic joy.
But Jason Liu had only laughed a few times—
"It's lit—it's lighting up again!"
"The second bead is lighting up!"
Someone nearby suddenly cried out in surprise.
The first bead dimmed, then brightened, then shone brilliantly. Next, the second bead slowly began to glow.
Jason Liu's smile froze, but he quickly spoke coldly: "So what, that's only two beads, still a los—"
He hadn't even finished speaking—
The second bead dimmed, then brightened, then shone brilliantly.
Right after, the third bead slowly began to light up.
"The third one..."
Jason Liu was stunned. The people who had been laughing beside him all stopped, one by one.
The whole place fell silent.
Three beads—already more than countless people present.
In their minds, the youth over there already counted as talented.
"It's just three beads. I got four."
Jason Liu spoke with a grim face, then glanced at the other Liu clan members, seeing their expressions tense.
"The fourth one."
Sam Liu sighed; as soon as he spoke, Jason Liu's body trembled.
You could hear a pin drop.
No one spoke; everyone stared at the Spirit‑Test Beads.
The fourth bead slowly lit up, then shone brilliantly, and then the fifth bead followed.
Evan stood there, as if he were casually lighting one small lamp after another.
Then came the fifth, the sixth...
"How is this possible...?"
The young man in the dark‑blue Daoist robe stared wide‑eyed, muttering to himself. His gaze at the Spirit‑Test Beads had completely changed.
Until the eighth bead shone brilliantly, and the ninth bead slowly lit up.
"Nine beads..."
Quite a few people gasped, blurting out their astonishment.
"Hmm?"
The True‑Immortal Layman, who had been facing away from the crowd, suddenly turned around in shock.
His face was old and ugly—nothing like the immortal aura from his back. Seen from the front, he looked just like a toad.
"The ninth bead!"
The True‑Immortal Layman's eyes flashed with excitement and intensity as he stared at Evan, his gaze strangely bright.
The ninth bead slowly lit up, from dim to bright, then dazzling.
All nine beads shone together, brilliantly.
"How is this possible...?"
Jason Liu was dumbfounded, and everyone present gazed at the youth with admiration.
In their eyes, the youth's expression was calm—neither happy nor sad, showing no excitement at lighting all nine beads.
Meanwhile, the True‑Immortal Layman burst out laughing, drawing everyone's attention.
"I never thought I would meet such a brilliant genius here!"
"A genius, a true genius!"
"I've decided to accept you as my disciple and teach you the Dao!"
"Child, come here quickly, bow to me three times and enter my school!"