Chapter Fifty-Three: A Unique Origin

The instruments in the Taiding Academy gymnasium were nothing like the simple measurement devices Yunmeng had used before. Each school's testing room was equipped with highly sophisticated apparatus, capable of precisely gauging a person's vigor intensity and their innate attributes.

Ye Ran already knew his vigor intensity—just over the second stage—but what intrigued him more was his origin power.

During the martial test, he had witnessed Samo Bikhu’s lightning attribute origin, and had fought him, experiencing firsthand the transformation when fire surged from Samo's body. Ye Ran had distinctly sensed the qualitative change within him.

Had Samo not possessed the fire attribute origin, Ye Ran would not have struggled so much; origin power had increased Samo’s strength by at least a third.

Such was the weight of origin power in Ye Ran’s mind.

But for Sun Jiulou, it meant something different.

“Compared to the direct boost of vigor intensity, origin power affects the body more through transformation and derivation; raw strength is less important,” Sun Jiulou explained. “For example, combining the wind attribute origin with vigor appears to simply strengthen the vigor, but a wind attribute chosen—after arduous training—can condense wind blades, making their vigor sharp as a knife, and some can even summon tornadoes. This is impossible with vigor alone. Using origin well, a person’s strength can easily double.”

That was Sun Jiulou’s assessment of origin power.

In some ways, it was even more important than vigor.

“Ye, go inside. Let me see your origin,” Sun Jiulou said.

The device for measuring origin power was a cylindrical metal vessel, hollow within, just large enough to fit a person.

Ye Ran stepped in, the glass door sealed shut, and Sun Jiulou pressed the green button beside it. Several streams of air swept through the chamber, densely scanning Ye Ran’s body. He only felt the flow of energy within him slow dramatically, the streams entering his core and bypassing his internal energy, surging downward.

He sensed something within his lower abdomen being nudged aside.

On the display screen nearby, a hazy golden yellow appeared—a cylindrical gold, connected to two elongated shapes; one was dark green, the other nearly transparent.

“What on earth…?” Sun Jiulou was stunned. He had never seen such a peculiar origin.

“Is there something unusual, elder?” Ye Ran asked, hearing Sun Jiulou’s mutter from inside the device.

Sun Jiulou shook his head, opened the glass door, and said, “Ye, your origin power can’t be identified. The device can’t measure it.”

He pointed at the screen, and Ye Ran saw the words “Unrecognizable” displayed.

Both were taken aback, exchanging uncertain glances.

“Well… perhaps it’s a good thing,” Sun Jiulou ventured, though even he sounded unsure.

“After all, we know little about origin power. The device records only common origins like wind, fire, lightning, and so on. More unusual origins simply can’t be measured,”

He glanced at Ye Ran. “But you, boy—why are you always so odd? Not only can the device not detect your origin attribute, it can’t even tell how many types you have.”

Ye Ran forced a wry smile. How could he have expected such a result?

“Elder, should I focus on cultivating vigor or origin in my training?” Ye Ran asked.

Sun Jiulou replied, “Cultivate vigor mainly. As for origin… before the first awakening of origin power, it’s nearly impossible to train it deliberately.”

“There’s no way at all before then?”

“There is, but it’s slow—unless you have help from a Second-Generation God.”

“Second-Generation God?” Ye Ran’s eyes lit up.

Sun Jiulou nodded. “I don’t know the details, but the temple attracts so many chosen because Second-Generation Gods have special abilities concerning origin power. Few at the academy have awakened their origin power, but many at the temple have. Take Redleaf Academy, for example—the top ten on the martial rankings, except Wang Li, haven’t awakened their origin. But those from the temple—Samo Bikhu, Yu Bo, even others—each possess their own origin power. That’s the temple’s unique advantage.”

Temple, Second-Generation God, origin power… Ye Ran nodded thoughtfully.

Sun Jiulou chuckled, “Ye, don’t be impatient. There are many paths to strength. Even without origin power, with vigor and physical techniques alone you can become formidable. Old Lu Yanhe and I are living proof.”

Ye Ran couldn’t help but laugh. “Elder, you’re certainly proud of your skills.”

“You brat, I mean it,” Sun Jiulou retorted.

…

Inside the gym’s training room, Ye Ran, guided by Sun Jiulou, circulated his energy three times. By the end, he was drenched in sweat. Sun Jiulou gave him a few more tips before heading to his office for tea, leaving Ye Ran to practice alone until two in the afternoon.

At two o’clock there was a physical technique class. He hurriedly changed into the Demon Hunter Corps uniform and rushed to the field—it was his very first physical technique lesson.

Arriving, he found Class One already gathered. They were scattered across the field in groups, some sitting on the grass chatting, others warming up with their legs on the railings.

The boys wore loose-fitting clothes for comfort, but the girls stood out vividly. Many wore knee-length skirts over safety shorts, and in the lush springtime their bare legs made a dazzling sight.

Ye Ran, seeing such a scene for the first time, felt momentarily dazzled.

Many girls, in turn, were clearly captivated by him.

The Demon Hunter Corps uniform was deep green, with a row of buttons fastened tightly across the chest, a belt cinched at the waist, and boots polished to a gleaming shine. Compared to his usual shirts, it was far more striking.

In the uniform, Ye Ran’s tall, upright figure and naturally cold features, complemented by his long bangs, made for a perfect combination.

“Wow, look, the instructor is so handsome,”

“Yes, so handsome—he’s like a dream guy,”

“I heard he’s both instructor and student. Maybe we could ask him out,”

…

A few girls whispered and giggled amongst themselves.

Holding the roster, Ye Ran glanced at them. They quickly assembled and lined up. He smiled, gave a brief self-introduction, then began roll call.

“Zhang Nuo,”

“Here,”

“Zhao Kai,”

“Present,”

The response came from a tall, heroic-looking boy, with a strong nose and firm voice. Ye Ran made a point to look up and nod at him, memorizing his face.

Zhao Kai—eighth on Taiding Academy’s martial rankings, someone Ye Ran would surely encounter again.

Zhao Kai nodded back, clearly not averse to him.

“Luo… Luo Ning,”

Though he’d prepared himself, seeing the name made Ye Ran pause, his reading faltering. In the lineup, as expected, there was no answer.