This method is a remarkable human innovation designed to ensure the younger generation is properly prepared for future challenges. However, it imposes highly demanding prerequisites. The formation establishes a direct connection to the mind, enabling seamless operation, but this process can place an immense strain on anyone with insufficient mental strength or willpower.

Alaric has nothing to worry about using this method; he has mental power and willpower in spades.

"...But we will have to check the level of your mental strength before we can allow access to it. Otherwise, if you go in blindly and it turns out you do not meet the requirement while already connected, it might lead to disaster. Best case scenario..." Manager Go paused, shifting uncomfortably."If something unfortunate were to happen to you while under our supervision, it would not only endanger your well-being but also severely damage our reputation."

Alaric nodded calmly; he knew what exactly Manager Go was unwilling to mention. Best case scenario, he leaves an idiot, without much mental faculty to speak of; worst case, his mind is fractured to the extent it dies.

"Okay, what method do you use to assess those values?" Alaric asked, his curiosity piqued by the technical challenge. The prospect of measuring something as abstract as mental energy fascinated him. He wondered what kind of tools or tests they had developed to quantify attributes like willpower and compare them against the standards set for cultivators. Was there a scale or a device? How would his formidable abilities be measured relative to his peers?

"It is better to show you than to describe it." He stood up from his desk and walked towards the exit. "Follow me, I will show you."

As they were led by Manager Go towards their destination, he spoke to them, "Don’t get your hopes too high, young man. You should know you are still quite young and inexperienced, so it is totally fine if you don’t meet the requirement for the formation." He said with empathy in his voice. He was trying to at least soften the blow of not meeting the requirement. Over the past few weeks, since cultivators started coming into the city, many have taken this test, only to end up dejected and some even depressed at failing such a simple assessment.

Manager Go had witnessed too many bright-eyed hopefuls have their spirits crushed by this process. He was determined to spare Alaric from experiencing that same sense of defeat, if possible, and his concern was evident in the gentle cadence of his voice.

Cultivators are, by nature, deeply prideful individuals. Their sense of superiority stems from the rarity of their abilities; cultivators comprise less than 1% of the immense population of the realm. Most have little concept of the realm’s true vastness, but within their home cities, even those from impoverished backgrounds stand head and shoulders above thousands or even millions of ordinary citizens. Their talents set them apart, breeding a confidence that is often unshakable, until they are confronted by a deceptively simple evaluation that calls their self-perception into question.

Alaric nodded at that; he could tell what the chubby manager was trying to do. He appreciated it, but it was unnecessary.

They proceeded down a long hallway lined with spacious rooms, each marked by prominent plaques in ornate lettering that identified the divisions within the facility. Eventually, they stopped in front of a sturdy brown door adorned with intricate carvings. Above it, a plaque gleamed with the inscription: ’ALCHEMY ROOM.’

With a practiced motion, Manager Go retrieved a gleaming brass key from his pocket and unlocked the door. As it swung open, a gentle breeze wafted out, carrying the complex, soothing aromas of rare herbs. The scent enveloped them instantly, washing over their senses and infusing a sense of tranquility that seemed to settle their nerves and minds alike.

The room beyond the doorway differed significantly from what Alaric had expected.

Rather than rows of alchemical furnaces and shelves overflowing with ingredients, the space resembled a cross between a laboratory and a scholar’s study. The chamber was circular, its walls lined with polished cabinets containing carefully labeled herbs, powders, crystals, and preserved specimens. Soft golden light radiated from crystal fixtures embedded in the ceiling, illuminating the room without a hint of smoke or heat.

At the center stood a solitary pedestal carved from pale jade. Resting atop it was a crystal unlike any Alaric had seen before.

It stood nearly as tall as a grown man and possessed no fixed shape. At first glance, it appeared to be a translucent pillar of colorless crystal, yet closer inspection revealed countless layers suspended within its depths. Delicate geometric patterns drifted beneath the surface like slowly moving currents, occasionally forming intricate structures before dissolving once more. Tiny points of light shimmered throughout the crystal’s interior, resembling stars trapped within frozen glass.

The most remarkable feature, however, was the sensation it produced.

The moment Alaric looked at it, he felt as though the crystal were somehow looking back. He could feel Hundao beside him falling into a daze immediately after laying eyes on it, forcing him to take matters into his hands by giving him a gentle tap.

Startled awake by the sudden touch, he quickly realized what had happened and said, "Sorry, I couldn’t control myself and got caught in my own thoughts."

Alaric frowned and gave him a side-eye before focusing back on the room.

"That," Manager Go said with unmistakable pride, "is a Cognitive Resonance Crystal."

Alaric raised an eyebrow; he had never read of this before; new knowledge was always precious to him.

"It was developed specifically to evaluate mental strength, mental stability, concentration, and willpower. The crystal establishes a temporary resonance with the mind and measures how effectively it withstands increasing levels of cognitive pressure."

"Pressure?" Alaric asked.

Manager Go nodded.

"Most people think mental strength is determined by how much spiritual energy one possesses. They are wrong. Mental strength is measured by what remains when pressure is applied."

His gaze shifted toward the crystal.

"Anyone can claim to possess strong willpower. The crystal is what proves whether they are correct or not."

Surrounding the main chamber were several smaller rooms, each separated by thick soundproof walls and reinforced doors. Their purpose became immediately obvious, but Manager Go went on to explain anyway; it felt like a practiced procedure.

These were the private alchemy rooms.

Each room contained a complete alchemical workstation designed for a single practitioner. Furnaces rested upon insulated stone platforms. Preparation tables occupied one side of the room, while cabinets stocked with basic equipment lined the walls. A collection of ventilation formations continuously purified the air, removing toxic fumes before they could accumulate. Temperature-regulating arrays maintained stable conditions regardless of the weather outside, ensuring delicate ingredients remained uncontaminated.

What impressed Alaric most was the attention to detail. Every tool occupied a designated location, and every workstation was meticulously organized.

The formations embedded in the walls monitored temperature, humidity, airflow, and fluctuations in spiritual energy with remarkable precision. Should an alchemical reaction become unstable, emergency suppression arrays could activate instantly to prevent accidents from spreading beyond the room.

The rooms were neither luxurious nor extravagant; they were practical. One could tell at a glance that whoever built this was very efficient.

Alaric found himself strangely reminded of the city’s streets. Just like everything else he had seen since arriving, the design philosophy was evident everywhere. Nothing existed merely to impress visitors. Every improvement served a purpose.

"The evaluation procedure is very simple and straightforward. All you have to do is place your hand on the crystal, anywhere is fine as long as you make contact with it, and it will display a numeric value of your mental world." The manager spoke while they made it back to the crystal after a brief excursion.

To demonstrate the crystal’s function, Manager Go extended his hand and gently pressed his palm against the cool, flawless surface. For several tense seconds, the room was silent, the only movement the subtle rise and fall of his breathing. Suddenly, the massive crystal began to vibrate with a faint, resonant sound, an energy that seemed to pulse through the air. Shimmering lines of colored light coalesced beneath the surface, swirling and gathering at the point of contact. Then, in a display that captured everyone’s attention, a luminous number, 45, materialized in midair above the crystal, glowing brightly in shifting shades.

"The required value is 50 and above; anything less would be considered unfit or too risky to operate the facility. As you can see, I fall a little short." He added.

Alaric thought for a second before asking, "What is the highest value the crystal can display?"

"As this is a low-grade crystal, it can only display up to 100, but that is more than enough to determine what we need."

"Ok, that’s a fair point." Alaric turned to Hundao beside him, "Aren’t you curious? You should go first and see how much you can manage."

"Uhm. Ok," Hundao said nervously before stepping forward. Just like Alaric just said, he was indeed very curious about the value that would be displayed on the crystal. Like every cultivator, he has a little bit of pride, too.