Chen Zheng, a disciple of the White Crane Sect, failed the academy's major examination. With a petty rival also working against him, he was sent to a remote market town to serve as a low-ranking Black Feather Guard. His fellow disciples all thought life in the market town would be harsh and the pay meager, and that Chen Zheng would never recover from the setback.
But after arriving, Chen Zheng found himself quite content.
“I just have to clock in every day to get paid, and there's a big bonus at the end of each month. The sweet girl next door cooks for me, and my boss's daughter has legs for days. Heh, looks like I landed in the right place.”
Everyone assumed Chen Zheng would waste away in pleasure, with no future on the path of cultivation.
But years later, at the immortal sects' grand tournament, the unassuming Black Feather Guard stunned everyone, splitting open Heaven's Gate with his sword.
“Some people say I'm washed up, but I know I'll become an immortal. It's not because I've thrown ten million punches or practiced ten million sword strokes. It's because, compared with everyone else, I've got just a tiny bit more talent.”
Every act of cultivation brings its own reward.
A Great Dao Talent Tree awakened within Chen Zheng. No matter what technique he practiced, once he reached a certain level, it would ripen a talent fruit on the tree.
Practice the Bull Demon Great Strength Fist a hundred times, and gain the first-tier talent [Born with Divine Strength];
Practice the Fire Serpent Spell a thousand times, and gain the second-tier talent [Affinity with Fire];
Make ten thousand talismans, and gain the third-tier talent [Talisman Grandmaster];
Travel a hundred thousand miles with a flying sword, and gain the fourth-tier talent [Clear Sword Heart]...
With his talents fully stacked, Chen Zheng left the market town and set off into the wide world with sword in hand. Everyone he met looked like a fool begging to be killed.
