The Chaos Dragon Prince

"Elder Zhelan, your words ring true," Saint Hero Yan declared. A glimmer of calculation shone in his usually virtuous eyes. "Our prodigious junior siblings would surely benefit from the esteemed Elders' guidance. And His Majesty… wouldn't he be delighted to witness the fruits of their labor? Perhaps this is just the sort of auspicious event to lift his spirits."

A cascade of murmurs followed Saint Hero Yan's words. Elder Zhelan and his fellow Supreme Elders exchanged subtle glances, a silent negotiation playing out across their faces. The thought of interrupting the trio's training was a hesitant one – the task of Divine Art creation was monumental, and even supreme geniuses often faltered in such an endeavor. Yet, doubt gnawed at their minds. What if, despite the time and resources lavished upon them, this audacious endeavor yielded naught?

Elder Zhelan weighed the options. On one hand, there was potential for disappointment and wasted resources. However, with everything he had witnessed from Cain, Kali, and Luo Na…could a miracle truly be blooming within the Tower of God? Within moments, Elder Zhelan could clearly spot the other Supreme Elders coming to the same thought and reaching the same conclusion. Wanting to say something else in this moment would be far too suspicious, especially with the calculative minds of several old monsters who had lived for thousands of years.

Elder Zhelan knew he had to act swift while keeping his perfect calm facade. Breaking the tense silence, a faint smile played upon his lips as he addressed Saint Hero Yan.

"Saint Hero, your wisdom is indeed commendable. The complexities of Divine Art creation demand the counsel of seasoned eyes. I shall bear this news to our young prodigies without delay."

The other Supreme Elders offered nods of approval, their initial hesitance fading as visions of the trio's potential glory filled their thoughts. After all, several of them bore witness to Cain, Kali, and Luo Na having a Law Exchange bout with Saint Hero Yan, Qin, and Kong. Those three clearly demonstrate the raw power to match Heavenly Venerate Dao Laws.

Surely, by this point, they had constructed a rudimentary outline of their Divine Arts and that would be a sight worth beholding.

With a parting bow towards the assembled Elders, Elder Zhelan disappeared into a shimmering void. Alone now, his serene facade faltered for the briefest of instants. For a year, he had silently championed the trio's cause, hoping to shield them from any news of their talents potentially reaching any troublesome area close to the central region. Now, there was no more room for subtlety. The Palace Lord is more than aware of the trio's existence and the Talent Discussion. And once the Palace Lord makes a decision, they would have no choice but to reveal their progress…or lack thereof. Keeping things silent was no longer an option when Elder Zhelan thought back to the other Supreme Elders' agreeing expressions.

Their Lord Spirit's words and judgment still held a tremendous weight on all of their decisions. However, by rules and traditions, their Palace Lord still has the power to alter their Lord Spirit's decision as he deems fit. Naturally, the Palace Lord would want to know whether or not they're wasting their precious Tower Of God resources on geniuses that actually need it.

Elder Zhelan let out a sigh – may the Heavens guide their path.

Mere moments later, Elder Zhelan found himself within the ethereal realm of the Purple Heaven. Although such splendor had lost its capacity to awe him long ago, the sheer scale and timeless grandeur of the place never failed to evoke a sense of insignificance. Shaking off those errant thoughts, he unleashed his divine sense in search of the trio's familiar auras.

Barely a breath of time passed, and a jolt of genuine astonishment coursed through him. At three distinct points within the Purple Heaven shimmered a power so pure, so fundamental, that his seasoned heart skipped a beat. This was the unmistakable essence of outer space, the raw and unfiltered source energy of the Dao! This energy, unlike the refined energies found within heavenly bodies, held a chaotic beauty, a direct link to the cosmos's most fundamental laws.

The implications were staggering. Even ordinary Early Stage Heavenly Venerates capable of weaving formidable cultivation arts struggled to manipulate outer space essence directly. Yet, here, it seemed the trio had achieved some degree of comprehension over this primal energy. With a flicker of movement, Elder Zhelan teleported towards the source of the strongest aura – the life signature unmistakably belonging to Cain.

Emerging from the shimmering void, a scene of quiet brilliance unfolded before him. Cain sat in a meditative state, his form seemingly ablaze with crackling arcs of radiant blue lightning carrying a hint of black essence.

It was a dazzling display, but more importantly, it was that lightning! It danced across him not with the brute force of typical Dao energy, but with an intricate rhythm, as if in conversation with an unseen law of the universe. This was no mere display of power – this hinted at a level of Dao comprehension verging on the realm of Heavenly Venerates!

As Elder Zhelan stepped into the clearing, the shimmering lightning abruptly ceased, and Cain slowly opened his eyes. A brief flash of darkness, almost abyssal in nature, rippled across the space before fading, leaving Cain to greet him with a look of calm inquiry.

"Greetings, Elder Zhelan. Has something unexpected occurred?" Cain inquired. While he was not perturbed by the elder's arrival, sudden visits did tend to signal important matters.

"Your progress, and that of your companions, would appear to be exceeding all expectations," Elder Zhelan replied, a genuine note of approval in his voice. He had seen many a genius in his countless years, even watching someone like Saint Hero Yan rise from a promising youngster to his current position, but Cain's aura radiated a depth that defied his youthfulness. Elder Zhelan found himself struggling to place a ceiling on the young man's potential.

"Indeed..." Cain's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Though we're a little way off from perfect mastery, our Divine Arts have reached a milestone."

"A milestone, you say? And by that, you mean these Divine Arts possess true functionality in combat?" Elder Zhelan's interest was undeniably piqued.

"You are correct, Elder. Is…this perhaps related to the upcoming Talent Discussion?" Cain deduced, recalling the elder's words from moments earlier.

"Astute as ever. The annual Talent Discussion is fast approaching, a grand event where our sect's elite gather before the Supreme Elders and His Majesty himself. To demonstrate your progress there would be... beneficial for all involved. It might secure even greater resources and opportunities." Elder Zhelan explained.

"Well then…consider us informed," Cain replied with a hint of anticipation. The chance to test their budding Divine Arts against their peers was an opportunity too thrilling to pass up. "I'll alert the others. We'll be there."

"Excellent." With a subtle nod, Elder Zhelan produced a shimmering spatial ring. "Within this, you'll find all that's necessary to attend the Talent Discussion. I do have one further request…when the event concludes, I would like to speak with the three of you. It concerns a matter of some importance."

With another flicker of space, Elder Zhelan vanished, leaving Cain with the ring and a lingering sense of curiosity. He slipped his divine sense into two unique rings upon his finger, forging a mental connection with his companions.

"Well, ladies, looks like we got ourselves a show to put on," Cain relayed the events with a playful lilt to his mental voice.

A boisterous giggle reverberated within his mind. "Finally! Time to shove our divine skills down the throats of those stuck-up so-called Saint Heros! I can't stand the fact that they truly believe we might fail." Kali's voice crackled with unrestrained excitement.

"I am prepared," Luo Na's response was short yet carried an unwavering confidence. For them, this event held an irresistible allure – a chance to display the fruits of their relentless pursuit of perfection. Anticipation thrummed in their hearts and with synchronized determination, the trio steeled themselves for the grand stage that awaited in the Talent Discussion.