Qingyun Academy, Central Square.
The square, usually spacious, felt exceptionally crowded today, and the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
Students who had yet to undergo the Awakening of their Spiritual Roots gathered here, their young faces filled with tension and anticipation.
And a hint of fear toward an unknown fate.
The air seemed to have stopped flowing.
Only the ancient Testing Stele on the high platform stood silently, deciding the future of many present.
Ji Siyu stood at the edge of the crowd, her plain white dress making her figure look even more slender and cold.
The morning light fell on her peerlessly beautiful face, yet it failed to dispel the faint exhaustion and sorrow clouding her brow.
Everything from yesterday replayed in her mind like a nightmare. Regret coiled around her like poisonous vines, nearly suffocating her.
She couldn’t even muster much spirit for this test that would decide her fate.
Had her sister not insisted, and had there not been a lingering spark of desire for power deep in her heart, she might have already left.
"Next, Li Mo, Yellow Grade Spiritual Root."
"Wang Qian, no Awakening of Spiritual Root."
"Zhang Feng, Mysterious Grade Spiritual Root."
The testing proceeded in an orderly fashion. Some were jubilant, while others left dejectedly.
Low discussions and sighs rose from the surroundings from time to time.
When the Presiding Mentor’s gaze scanned the list and finally landed on that name, the whispers in the square suddenly grew louder.
"Last one, Ji Siyu."
Everyone’s gaze, whether open or hidden, focused simultaneously on that cold figure.
Everyone knew this was Ji Siyu’s last chance.
This woman, who had garnered much attention due to her beauty and her inability to undergo Awakening of her Spiritual Root.
If she failed again today, she would completely become a Mortal, severed from the Dao of Cultivation.
"Sister..."
Ji Qingyu clenched her fists tightly to the side, more nervous than when she was being tested herself.
She both hoped her sister could undergo Awakening of her Spiritual Root and step onto the path of Cultivation, and feared that if she failed, her sister wouldn’t be able to bear these successive blows.
"She is Ji Siyu? It’s her last chance. What a pity for such a beautiful face."
"I heard she married a loser. If she can’t Cultivate, her future days will likely be difficult."
"Look at her. She looks distracted. Perhaps she herself feels there’s no hope?"
Various thoughts circulated in the minds of the onlookers.
Some were gloating.
Some were purely curious.
And some were lamenting.
Ji Siyu seemed oblivious to the gazes around her.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the thoughts of Chen Chuan surging in her heart, and walked step by step toward the Testing Stele.
Her footsteps were slightly unsteady, yet they carried the determination of one who had burned her bridges.
Standing still before the Testing Stele, she reached out her slightly trembling, slender hand.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, she gently pressed it against the cold surface of the stele.
At first, there was nothing unusual.
Just as some were about to show an "as expected" expression—
Buzz!
The Testing Stele shook violently, and then an unprecedentedly brilliant light erupted.
The light was not a single color, but red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple... one after another.
Layer upon layer, it finally transformed into a nine-colored divine light that connected heaven and earth, shooting straight into the clouds.
"Nine-colored divine light!"
On the high platform, the Academy Elders, who had been sitting steadily, suddenly stood up.
Each one widened their eyes, their faces filled with unbelievable shock.
The students in the square were instantly in an uproar, staring dumbfounded at the magnificent pillar of light that seemed to tear the sky apart.
However, this was only the beginning.
The nine-colored divine light pierced the sky, as if triggering some kind of heavenly law.
In an instant, clouds surged, and the originally clear sky was painted by endless rosy light, multicolored and magnificent.
Immortal music seemed to faintly play above the firmament.
Endless divine light poured down from beyond the heavens like warm, sweet rain.
It not only covered the entire Qingyun Academy but even spread out, enveloping the entire Sacred Martial Continent.
"Skree!"
A clear and resonant Phoenix cry, as if piercing through the long river of ancient times, echoed deep within the Soul of every living being.
Above the firmament, the rosy clouds surged and gathered, and a massive Ice Phoenix Vision, translucent and radiating extreme cold and a holy aura, slowly took shape.
The Ice Phoenix spread its wings, its feathers distinct, each one flowing with Dao talismans.
The vast Divine Might was overwhelming, making all living beings unable to resist feeling awe and wanting to prostrate in worship.
The divine light pouring from the sky seemed to find its home, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, frantically surging toward the center of the square and continuously sinking into Ji Siyu’s body.
Her entire being was enveloped in endless brilliance, her dress fluttering and her black hair flying.
Her cold face, illuminated by the divine light, appeared holy and noble, like a goddess descending to the world.
The entire square fell into a dead silence.
Everyone was completely shocked by this unprecedented Vision, losing the ability to think.
Meanwhile, across various parts of the Sacred Martial Continent.
Those old monsters who had lived in seclusion and Cultivated for thousands of years, the Giants of various Sects and Holy Lands, opened their eyes at almost the same time.
Their gazes pierced through the endless Void Realm, looking toward the direction of Qingyun Academy.
"A Divine Grade Spiritual Root! A Divine Grade Spiritual Root that hasn’t appeared in ten thousand years has been born."
"A Divine Phoenix descends, and heaven and earth celebrate together! What kind of Aptitude is this?"
"In that direction... Quick! Send people to investigate immediately. Bring this person back at all costs."
"No matter the price, this person must enter my Sect."
Powerful Divine Thoughts intersected in the Void Realm, carrying shock, fervor, and determination to obtain her.
The top forces of the entire continent were boiling with excitement due to Ji Siyu’s Awakening.
Qingyun Academy Square.
After an unknown amount of time, the heavenly Vision slowly dissipated, and the Ice Phoenix phantom vanished as well.
But that vast Divine Might and the shocking scene were deeply etched into everyone’s hearts.
Ji Siyu stood where she was, feeling the surging unfamiliar power within her body.
Along with the sensation deep in her Soul of being incredibly close to heaven and earth, she herself was somewhat dazed.
One moment, she was disheartened because of her inability to Cultivate and Chen Chuan’s departure.
The next moment, she had become an awakener of a Divine Grade Spiritual Root, rare in ten thousand years?
This huge contrast made it difficult for her to come to her senses for a moment.
"Sister, you succeeded! It’s a Divine Grade Spiritual Root, the legendary Divine Grade Spiritual Root!"
Ji Qingyu was the first to rush up, so excited she was incoherent, hugging Ji Siyu while crying and laughing.
The Principal and Academy Elders of Qingyun Academy quickly surrounded her, their faces beaming with unprecedented excitement.
Their Qingyun Academy had actually produced a Divine Grade Spiritual Root.
This was a glory sufficient to be recorded in the academy’s history—no, in the continent’s history.
"Good, good, good." The Principal said "good" three times, his beard trembling with excitement. "Ji Siyu, from today on, you are my Qingyun Academy’s..."
Before he could finish his sentence, an indescribable and terrifying pressure suddenly descended.
Above the sky, space rippled like water, and a figure appeared silently.
It was a middle-aged man dressed in simple robes, his face as warm as jade.
He stood there as if he were the center of heaven and earth, with Dao rhymes naturally flowing around him. His gaze was peaceful yet carried a kind of indifference that looked down upon all living beings.
Seeing the arrival of a terrifying powerhouse, the Principal bowed respectfully and asked cautiously, "Senior, may I ask..."
The newcomer slightly raised his eyelids, and his voice rang out: "Holy Master of Primordial Holy Land, Xuan Jingru!"
Upon learning the newcomer’s identity, the Principal and the others were so frightened their voices changed tone, and they hurriedly bowed in greeting.
They guessed it would attract great forces, but they never expected that even this existence, standing at the absolute peak of the continent, would descend in person.
When the students in the square heard the words "Holy Master of Primordial Holy Land," they were so terrified they didn’t even dare to breathe.
Primordial Holy Land was a super Giant that had been passed down for a hundred thousand years, with unfathomable foundations and experts as numerous as clouds.
Any Elder walking the world could awe all directions.
Its strictness in recruiting Disciples was famous across the continent; they only accepted peerless Geniuses.
The gaze of Xuan Jingru fell directly on Ji Siyu, and he said warmly, "Little girl, are you willing to enter my Primordial Holy Land?"
No extra words. He directly stated his intention.
Ji Siyu quickly calmed down from the initial shock.
She looked at this unfathomable Holy Master of the Holy Land, a flash of determination in her cold eyes.
Joining Primordial Holy Land was undoubtedly the best choice. It would allow her to grow at the fastest speed and give her the power and capital to find Chen Chuan.
She bowed slightly and performed a salute, her voice still cold but carrying an unquestionable firmness:
"This Junior is willing."
"But this Junior has one request. I need to handle a private matter and can only head to the Holy Land in one month."
Hearing this, Xuan Jingru showed no displeasure; instead, a hint of appreciation appeared on his face.
To be able to maintain her original heart and not forget private matters in the face of such an Opportunity, this girl’s Heart-Nature was extraordinary.
"Granted."
He nodded faintly.
Immediately, a domineering and peerless aura suddenly radiated from him.
A calm voice, yet sufficient to spread across the entire Sacred Martial Continent, slowly rang out:
"From this day forward, Ji Siyu is a Disciple of my Primordial Holy Land. Let the matters here end."
The voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed clearly in the ears of every powerhouse of the forces paying attention to this place.
Those forces that were originally hesitating or planning to compete, upon hearing this voice, all had their expressions change slightly, finally turning into a helpless sigh as they quietly withdrew.
No one dared to question. No one dared to disobey.
Simply because he was Xuan Jingru, the Holy Master of Taichu.
A terrifying existence whom no one in the entire Sacred Martial Continent was willing to easily offend.
Xuan Jingru took a deep look at Ji Siyu, and his figure slowly dissipated as if he had never appeared.
As the immense pressure faded, the people in the square finally felt their breathing become smoother.
Ji Siyu clenched her fists tightly, her nails sinking deep into her palms.
She looked up toward the direction of Qingya City, a flame of unprecedented determination burning in her cold eyes.
Chen Chuan, did you see?
I’ve undergone Awakening of my Spiritual Root, and it’s even a Divine Grade Spiritual Root.
I am no longer that weak woman who cannot Cultivate.
The current me is worthy of you.
No matter if you are at the ends of the earth, I will definitely find you.
I am your wife!
For a lifetime!
Forever!
Wait for me!