After Yin Qingyuan announced the age restriction, no one present left.
Anyone who made it here would certainly know if they met the age criteria. Falling Cloud Valley is secluded deep in the mountains, and the journey is long. If they couldn't even meet such a strict requirement, they wouldn't have come all this way for nothing.
Since they were already here, how could they not give it a try?
Seeing this, Yin Qingyuan wasted no words. With a wave of his hand, two disciples from Falling Cloud Valley quickly brought over a wooden table, on which was placed a foot-long, completely transparent jade stone.
Seeing the spirit-testing stone on the table, Qi Yuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The spirit-testing stone used by Falling Cloud Valley was not of high quality, being a relatively basic method for testing spiritual roots. Using the "Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger" talent granted by the system, he could easily bluff his way through.
If it were one of those massive, top-grade spirit-testing stones from the Supreme Profound Sacred Land, it would be troublesome.
Of course, top-grade spirit-testing stones are extremely rare and precious, and a small sect like Falling Cloud Valley couldn't acquire one.
"Spiritual root aptitude is the foundation of the Dao. Without a spiritual root, no matter how great your abilities, you cannot tread the path of cultivation.
The first test is to measure your spiritual root. Only those with four or more spiritual roots can proceed to the next round.
Next, please line up and place your hand on the spirit-testing stone in order. The stone will automatically display the tester's aptitude."
Yin Qingyuan's voice echoed throughout the venue, invigorating everyone present.
Soon, a short and skinny young man was the first to step forward, carefully placing his hand on the spirit-testing stone.
The next moment, the stone slowly emitted a faint five-colored glow.
"It's reacting!"
The skinny young man's face was full of excitement as he eagerly turned to look at Yin Qingyuan.
"Five spiritual roots, not qualified. Next."
Yin Qingyuan's expression remained unchanged.
"What?"
Hearing this, the skinny young man wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, dejectedly returning to his place.
Then, one tester after another nervously stepped forward to face judgment.
"You have no spiritual root, not qualified."
"You have no spiritual root, not qualified."
***
Most of those present were children of ordinary families. Apart from a few rogue cultivators and young masters like Wang Luchuan, whose families had cultivators in their service, the rest had no way of knowing if they had any aptitude.
Thus, this round was an exciting and thrilling lottery. Those whose spiritual roots met the requirements were overjoyed at the prospect of the immortal path, while those without spiritual roots or with crippled roots were dejectedly eliminated, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension.
Soon, Wang Luchuan, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, confidently stepped forward and placed his hand on the spirit-testing stone.
Immediately, the stone burst into a bright blue-green light, several times brighter than the previous three-root cultivator.
Seeing this, Yin Qingyuan nodded in satisfaction and smiled, saying: "Wang Luchuan, wood and water dual spiritual roots, excellent aptitude, passed."
"Hiss! As expected, dual spiritual roots!"
"Master Wang is mighty and domineering!"
"Master Wang is impressive!"
***
Amidst the sycophantic applause, Wang Luchuan cast a provocative glance at Lin Zhen, who stood stunned not far away, and walked down with a smug expression.
Following Wang Luchuan, several more individuals with qualifying spiritual roots passed the test.
Qi Yuan walked up calmly and placed his hand on the spirit-testing stone without haste.
The next moment, the stone emitted a distinct four-colored glow.
"Qi Da, four spiritual roots, passed."
The entire process was uneventful, just like his current appearance, which drew no attention. Only Bai Xirou gave him a special glance, a trace of imperceptible regret flickering in her beautiful eyes.
Bai Xirou had a good impression of this "righteous" rogue cultivator. She had arrived a bit late yesterday, and if it weren't for his timely intervention, the young man she wanted to save would have died.
Although he looked rather ordinary, he was at least a kind and helpful person, a refreshing presence in the cultivation world where moral decay was rampant.
Unfortunately, having four spiritual roots destined him for a difficult path, forever unable to reach Foundation Establishment.
Noticing Bai Xirou's gaze, Qi Yuan nodded at her and smiled, while secretly lamenting: Buddy, I've already kept such a low profile and disguised myself to look so plain, yet I still attract the attention of beautiful female cultivators. This damn charm, it really can't be hidden... You are reading on NovelPing, the official source.
The original owner had five spiritual roots, which is a crippled root. After one system enhancement, it was raised to four spiritual roots, just enough to pass Falling Cloud Valley's spiritual root test.
Although revealing his true aptitude would shock everyone and blind them with brilliance, he hadn't come here to show off. His goal was to complete the task without exposing his identity, so he couldn't stand out too much.
***
"Liu Yingying, four spiritual roots, passed."
"Lin Zhen, three spiritual roots, passed."
At this moment, Yin Qingyuan announced Lin Zhen's spiritual root aptitude, and Qi Yuan was stunned.
Out of curiosity about the Child of Fortune, he had specifically used a secret technique to probe Lin Zhen's spiritual root aptitude when he wasn't paying attention yesterday.
But the result was clearly four spiritual roots last time, so how did it become three overnight?
Thinking of something, he glanced at Lin Zhen's right hand and noticed that the mysterious ring was nowhere to be seen, as if it had never existed.
As expected of the Child of Fortune, even he had been mistaken. Terrifying indeed!
Once everyone had completed the first round, less than thirty percent qualified for the next round, a terrifying elimination rate.
Of course, this result was already enough to satisfy Falling Cloud Valley. The entrance test was held every three years, and last time, less than twenty percent had qualified.
Apart from some Xuan Clan Aristocratic Families with special bloodlines, those with spiritual roots among ordinary people were often one in ten, and most of them had five spiritual roots.
Although five spiritual roots encompass all five elements, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi they sense is chaotic and difficult to draw into the body, earning them the name "crippled spiritual roots."
Therefore, although four spiritual roots aren't great, many small and medium sects still accept them, as the ability to cultivate offers a sliver of hope for training, which is better than doing nothing and waiting for their heritage to end.
"Now, we proceed to the next round."
With that, Yin Qingyuan flicked his sleeve, and the dense fog at the valley entrance quickly dispersed, revealing a winding path.
From the outside, it looked like a serene and harmonious place, with lush green trees and the sound of birds singing.
"Those who successfully complete the mental state test by passing through this path will automatically become disciples of our Falling Cloud Valley."
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan