Chapter 3788: A Normal Man
Chapter 3788: A Normal Man
Little Bull smiled back innocently as the elder activated a jade slip.
"What is a formation?"
Little Bull blinked while the elder waited. Little Bull continued blinking as several moments passed and finally he answered. "Something that glows?"
The disciples immediately lowered their heads as several shoulders began shaking and the Formation Elder coughed.
"Technically not wrong." He wrote something down. "What is the purpose of a formation core?"
Little Bull scratched his head. "To be in the middle?"
This time even the elder struggled to maintain a straight face as another note was written.
"What is spiritual energy circulation?"
Little Bull thought very seriously, then answered. "When people run around?"
The room fell silent as the elder stared at him and Little Bull stared back.
Eventually the elder sighed. "Next question."
The assessment continued. "What is a formation flag?"
"A flag."
"What does it do?"
"It waves."
The elder pinched the bridge of his nose. Several disciples nearly collapsed from holding back laughter. After twenty questions, Little Bull’s score could only be described as catastrophic.
The elder finally waved him away. "Go."
Little Bull obediently left.
The Formation Elder stared at the results sheet, then looked toward the ceiling. "His physique really used all the talent."
The next section involved Alchemy. A beautiful woman wearing green robes sat behind the examination desk. Unlike the previous elder, she appeared genuinely interested in Little Bull. After all, everyone had heard about his earlier results.
She smiled warmly. "Let’s begin."
Little Bull nodded as the woman pointed toward several herbs displayed on a table. "What is this herb called?"
Little Bull looked carefully. "It looks tasty."
The woman blinked. "That is not the name."
Little Bull nodded. "Oh."
"What is it called?"
"I don’t know."
The woman suppressed a laugh, then pointed toward another herb. "What about this one?"
Little Bull stared. "A leaf."
Several disciples immediately covered their mouths.
The woman looked heavenward briefly before asking, "What is alchemy?"
Little Bull answered confidently. "Cooking."
The woman paused, then slowly nodded. "That’s actually closer than many beginners think."
The disciples exchanged strange looks while the questioning continued.
"What is an Alchemical pill?"
"Medicine."
"What is pill refinement?"
"Making medicine."
"What is poison?"
"Bad medicine."
The woman froze while several disciples burst out laughing. Eventually, even she started laughing too.
By the time the alchemy assessment ended, Little Bull had somehow managed to answer almost everything incorrectly while occasionally stumbling into answers that sounded strangely profound.
The Alchemy Elder stared at the final results sheet, then laughed helplessly. "He might actually become a philosopher one day."
Next came Weapon Forging.
This assessment was even more painful for Lin Mu. Having spent years around master craftsmen and recently learning directly from the Dwarves and their library, he knew enough forging knowledge to teach entire sects.
Instead, he now had to pretend he knew nothing.
The Forging Elder presented several metals. "What is this material?"
Little Bull poked it. "Metal."
"What kind of metal?"
"Hard metal."
The elder sighed before another piece was presented. "And this one?"
"Shiny metal."
Several disciples lowered their heads.
The elder continued. "What is forging?"
Little Bull answered instantly. "Hitting things."
The elder paused.
"..."
"..."
After several moments, the elder slowly nodded. "I hate how accurate that is."
The disciples finally lost control and started laughing openly.
A few moments later, the questioning continued. "What does a blacksmith use?"
"Hammers."
"What if he doesn’t have a hammer?"
Little Bull thought deeply before he answered. "A big rock."
The Forging Elder closed his eyes and for a brief moment he genuinely considered accepting that answer. The testing proceeded similarly through several other occupations.
It was now time for Beast Taming.
"What is the best way to approach a dangerous beast?"
Little Bull answered. "Carefully."
Then Medicine.
"What causes illness?"
Little Bull answered. "Being sick."
Talisman Making.
"What is a talisman?"
Little Bull answered. "Paper that costs too much."
Even the Talisman Elder laughed at that one.
Hours gradually passed and by the time the assessments finally ended, Little Bull’s results looked almost unbelievable. His scores in practical knowledge ranked among the lowest in the entire batch.
Many sections contained more incorrect answers than correct ones. Several sheets had notes written by frustrated elders.
One even contained the words: "Possesses absolutely no foundation whatsoever."
Yet strangely enough, nobody was disappointed. Because they had expected exactly this.
Little Bull was a commoner, an orphan, a farmer and a hunter. He had never joined a sect, never received formal cultivation education and never studied under masters. Compared to clan descendants and sect disciples, he started far behind.
The elders watching understood this. In fact, many found the results reassuring. After the vitality assessment and the elemental affinity test, some had begun wondering if Little Bull was secretly some hidden genius disguised as a peasant.
Now those concerns disappeared as they understood, the young man truly knew almost nothing. He was exactly what he appeared to be. A simple village youth with extraordinary natural gifts.
Above the assessment grounds, several elders released breaths they had not realized they were holding.
One of them laughed. "Good."
Another nodded. "At least he’s normal somewhere."
A third elder stroked his beard. "For a moment I thought Elder He Jian had discovered some ancient monster hiding among mortals."
Even Elder He Jian smiled, for the results matched his expectations perfectly. Little Bull’s knowledge could be taught and his lack of education could be fixed. What could not be taught were his monstrous vitality and unprecedented talents.
Meanwhile, Little Bull stood quietly in the waiting area. The Junior Elder approached carrying several assessment records before he looked at Little Bull.
A moment later, he spoke. "Little Bull."
"Yes?"
"You are simultaneously one of the most talented recruits I’ve ever seen."
Little Bull blinked. "And?"
The Junior Elder sighed. "And also one of the least educated."
Little Bull nodded seriously. "That’s because I grew up in a village."
The Junior Elder stared at him for several moments.
Then unexpectedly burst out laughing once again.