Seeing Lao Jun rush into the tent to gather materials for an ancestry test, Han Xuhan fell into deep thought.
From his earlier gossip with the participants in the testing line, Han Xuhan had heard a few things about this test.
To experts, the ancestry test revealed characteristics like how frequently the lineage of the subject had come into contact with the world of cultivation directly, whether there were any remarkable cultivators among those ancestors, as well as particular talents related to bloodlines.
Smaller-scale sects used this method to flush out talents who were incompatible with the cultivation arts endorsed by those sects. Sometimes, it was also performed with the goal of guessing the potential of one's bloodline.
On the other hand, famous sects like the Crimson Snow Sect utilized some advanced variations of the ancestry test to evaluate whether the subject was a spy from enemy sects, or if the subject had any special physical constitution, or congenital defects that had to be removed before starting cultivation of a particular art.
So he couldn't help but become a little eager about what this test would reveal. He didn't care whether he won or lost against Xuanyuan Zhou. And there was little chance that he could get in trouble for his ancestry as a transmigrator!
Speaking of his ancestry, what was the actual lineage of the body he was possessing right now?
A frown formed on Han Xuhan's face. It definitely felt like he was overlooking something significant. But the longer he deliberated over it, the more chaotic his thoughts became.
"Gege, you haven't yet given me a name to address you with. Is it because you prefer what I'm calling you now?"
Xuanyuan Zhou's sweet voice jerked him out of the mental prison of confusion. Han Xuhan cautiously scanned her honest expression and replied, "I am Han Xuhan. Call me whatever you like, Sister."
He put a heavy emphasis on the last word, hoping it would convey a message. But then, seeing the twinkle in her pitch-black eyes made Xuhan recall that 'sister' was a lot looser as a term in the novels he used to read.
Even an engaged couple could address each other with terms meant for siblings.
Xuanyuan Zhou leaned in towards him, getting a little too close for his comfort, and mumbled.
"Brother Xuhan, you don't look like a foreigner, even though your accent is... a bit stiff. Can I know where you're from? I will tell you mine if you tell me yours!"
The more chummy she tried to act, the warier Han Xuhan felt. Calling his accent stiff was almost a praise. He was constantly making pronunciation errors and pausing mid-sentence to recall words from the dictionary.
In fact, back when he was impersonating a foreigner in front of everyone, he hadn't needed to try very hard to speak like a two-year-old.
Could this girl have a clue as to his real secret? Maybe she suspected that he was a transmigrator! Is that why she was trying to get closer to him so unreasonably?
"I'm from Green Curtain City. It's not too far from here," he said, trying to throw her off.
"As for my stiff and slow accent, it's because I am a little retarded. Didn't do very well in school."
Watching Xuanyuan Zhou nearly lose her composure was a great reward. The credit for this, however, had to go to Master Ming Zi.
That old man was the one who came up with this tragic backstory for Han Xuhan, seeing his inability to communicate.
"Ahahaha~!" Xuanyuan Zhou tried her best to sound humored.
"Keeping some mysteries while acting humble, I think Brother Xuhan understands very well how to intrigue a romantic heart..."
Giving her an A for effort in his mind, Han Xuhan asked, "Where are you from, Sister Zhou?"
She replied with a sincere face, but he had no idea how much of it was true. He recognized neither the name of her hometown, nor did he understand the geographical clues she gave him. All he got from it was that her travel track was much longer than his.
The forced conversation would have dragged on for longer, but Lao Jun came to Xuhan's rescue. He returned with a couple of vials in his hand. One was empty, the other was filled with a black, frothy substance.
"Who wants to go first?" he said, while his gaze was fixed on Han Xuhan's cautious face. His intent was clear.
But Xuhan didn't want to subject himself to the test without understanding what he was in for. So he turned to look at Xuanyuan Zhou with a meaningful smile.
Girl, you want to befriend me so badly; why don't you use this opportunity?
She seemed to catch on to the hint immediately. Even though Lao Jun looked quite displeased, she volunteered to go first.
The process was simple, as it turned out.
Lao Jun made a sizable cut on Xuanyuan Zhou's palm, squeezing out just enough blood to cover the bottom of the empty vial.
Then he unscrewed the second vial and poured down half of its contents into the vial of blood. The black fluid was highly viscous, taking its sweet time to trickle down to the bottom of the vial where the blood drops lay.
The moment both fluids came into contact, an explosion of colors spread inside the vial.
Like a miniature storm raging over colorful dust, the walls of the vial were painted red, black, and golden in splashes.
His voice loud enough to reach the entire crowd, Lao Jun declared Xuanyuan Zhou's results.
"Zero rejection, which means she's safe from enemy influence. Average lineage.
"Three major colors, and seven minor shades, which hints at her apparent attributes; varied enough to be labeled as above average in potential, but not so thinly spread that it dilutes her constitution.
"No special Physique, unfortunately. Almost no defects, which is exceptional.
"Overall assessment: A rare talent! In this generation of disciples, her matches could be counted on one hand!"
Xuanyuan Zhou stepped back, basking in the admiration and envy of the crowd. Han Xuhan gave her a grateful nod and placed his hand under Lao Jun's knife.
One by one, the steps were repeated. Lao Jun looked almost as excited as Han Xuhan, closely watching the black fluid envelop Xuhan's blood in the vial.
However, the outcome didn't quite seem right...