Lingyun Sect.
The entrance examination was already underway. By the time Shen Yuexi was brought there, quite a few people had begun testing their spiritual roots.
Ning Xingzhi led her into the sect and explained, “Once you finish testing your spiritual root over there, you can take part in the entrance examination. Lingyun Sect’s examination has only one stage: enter the Chasing Sun Forest and complete the assigned task. Once you do that, you pass. Don’t be nervous. The tasks have never been difficult, and with your talent, you’ll definitely complete it.”
As he spoke, Ning Xingzhi suddenly remembered something and turned to ask her, “Have you decided which peak you want to join?”
After everything that had happened, Shen Yuexi had become, in Ning Xingzhi’s eyes, an exceptionally good girl. She had been alone and helpless since childhood, yet she was so kind, and her talent was extraordinary at that. A girl this wonderful clearly ought to join their First Peak.
Shen Yuexi shook her head. She did not know much about Lingyun Sect’s situation.
“Lingyun Sect has a total of one hundred and eight peaks. The first five peaks are the main ones recruiting disciples this time.”
Ning Xingzhi walked over to her with great solemnity and said seriously, “Actually, apart from our First Peak, the other four peaks aren’t suitable for you. Not only do they have too many disciples, but the cultivation atmosphere there is terrible. Every day, they’re fighting over a few lousy pills. Our First Peak is different. We only have six disciples in total. Besides, our First Peak is the wealthiest, has the most resources, and we don’t like fighting.
“My Master knows alchemy. Shh… I’m only telling you this. Nobody else knows.
“Once you join the First Peak, you can choose as many pills and spirit artifacts as you want. Your senior brother will even take you spirit-beast hunting and help you contract a high-grade spirit beast. We’ll make that bastard Zhou Ming’an green with envy!”
Shen Yuexi: He says they don’t like fighting, yet he beat Zhou Ming’an into the ground?
Why did she feel as though she had been recruited by a pyramid scheme?
While she was still dazed, a small cloth bundle was stuffed into her hand. Then she heard Ning Xingzhi tirelessly exhorting her:
“Here, this is a little meeting gift from your Little Senior Brother. Remember, you absolutely have to come to the First Peak, okay? You must, must come to the First Peak!”
After saying that, Ning Xingzhi entered the sect first.
Was this considered accepting her? Clearly, he had forced it on her.
Shen Yuexi looked helplessly at his back and rubbed her forehead. Then she opened the cloth bundle, only to find a pill inside.
Pills were divided into grades one through nine, with higher-grade pills being more powerful.
alchemists were rare. Back in Jiuyang Sect, Song Chengning had treasured even a second-grade pill as though it were a family heirloom. Pills above the third grade were priceless, and everyone dreamed of obtaining one.
However, she had never studied alchemy, so she could not tell what grade this pill was for the time being.
Before taking the examination, she first had to test her spiritual root.
Spiritual roots were divided into five elemental types: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Among them, a single spiritual root was the most common, a dual spiritual root was somewhat better, and multiple spiritual roots were the best. A five-element spiritual root like Shen Yuexi’s original one was already something rarely seen in a thousand years.
A single spiritual root represented the ability to absorb the spiritual energy of a specific element from heaven and earth for cultivation. However, because it could absorb so little spiritual energy, most cultivators with single spiritual roots could not go very far.
A dual spiritual root could absorb the spiritual energy of two elements.
A five-element spiritual root could absorb the spiritual energy of all five elements. The more elemental spiritual energy one could absorb, the faster one’s cultivation speed.
Her Chaos spiritual root was something rarely seen even once in countless ages. Not only could it absorb the spiritual energy of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, but it could also absorb the spiritual energy of four additional elements: wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. Its cultivation speed was unimaginable.
Not long after Ning Xingzhi left, someone brought Shen Yuexi over to join the line for the spiritual-root test.
“Name, age, natal contracted beast.”
It was finally Shen Yuexi’s turn. The female disciple responsible for testing spiritual roots looked up at her. Perhaps because there were too many people to register, she sounded extremely impatient.
Shen Yuexi was just about to speak when she was shoved aside.
The female disciple immediately lowered her posture and plastered a smile across her face. “Senior Brother Zhou, what brings you here?”
Shen Yuexi frowned as she looked over. Sure enough, it was Zhou Ming’an, holding the pale-faced Song Qiqi in his arms.
Zhou Ming’an no longer looked as cowardly as he had after being beaten. Instead, he lifted his chin and said arrogantly, “Her talent is exceptionally high. I brought her here to test her spiritual root and participate in the examination.”
“Anyone Senior Brother Zhou brings must be extraordinary.” The female disciple smiled ingratiatingly and turned to ask Song Qiqi, “May I ask this young lady’s name, age, and natal contracted beast?”
Nestled in Zhou Ming’an’s arms, Song Qiqi said weakly, “Song Qiqi, seventeen years old, with a third-grade Blazing Snake.”
“Please place your hand on the Spirit-Testing Stone,” the female disciple said, completely ignoring the surrounding people’s displeasure at Zhou Ming’an cutting in line.
As soon as Song Qiqi placed her hand on the stone, five different colored lights immediately lit up across its surface.
They did not know that, at that moment, the Peak Masters in the Assembly Hall could see everything clearly.
The instant they saw the five-colored light flickering from the Spirit-Testing Stone, the Peak Masters’ attention was drawn to it.
“A five-element spiritual root and a natal contracted beast—both are quite impressive. This year’s recruits have excellent talent. Including Lu Aoshuang, there are two new disciples with five-element spiritual roots.”
The Sect Master, seated in the place of honor, praised her openly.
“A five-element spiritual root is an exceptional talent seen only once in a thousand years. If she is properly guided, she will certainly become a great asset in time. I say this little girl ought to become a disciple of my Second Peak! No one is allowed to fight me for her!” the Second Peak Peak Master hurriedly declared, trying to claim her.
The Third Peak Peak Master was displeased. “It took us this long to get a five-element spiritual root, and why should she belong to your Second Peak? With talent like hers, as long as she doesn’t go to the First Peak, she won’t become mediocre wherever she goes.”
Ning Xingzhi, who was sitting nearby, could not stand it any longer. In another situation, his explosive temper would never have allowed him to endure it. Their Little Junior Sister’s talent was clearly the strongest of all!
The First Peak Peak Master, whose peak had been mentioned, wore a disdainful expression and merely sneered without responding to them.
A bunch of fools. What did they know?
It was finally Shen Yuexi’s turn. The female disciple returned to her original attitude.
“Name, age, natal contracted beast.”
Once Zhou Ming’an saw that Song Qiqi had a five-element spiritual root, he left with peace of mind. Only then did Song Qiqi reveal her true expression and cast a provocative look at Shen Yuexi.
Zhou Ming’an was the personal disciple of the Second Peak Peak Master of Lingyun Sect. Not only was he a third-tier Great Spirit Master, but he had also been primarily responsible for the previous Sect Grand Selection.
As long as Zhou Ming’an gave his approval, her participation in the examination was guaranteed.
Otherwise, she would never have lowered herself to seduce him.
So what if Shen Yuexi had not died? She still did not deserve to possess a five-element spiritual root, nor did she deserve to enter Lingyun Sect.
“Shen Yuexi, fifteen years old, with no natal contracted beast at present.”
Shen Yuexi could not even be bothered to look at her. She simply placed her hand on the Spirit-Testing Stone.
The Spirit-Testing Stone suddenly began flashing in succession with eight different colors. In the end, the lights dimmed, leaving only a gray radiance.
“A non-elemental spiritual root.”
The female disciple shook her head. Sure enough, not everyone was a genius. With that thought, she had already decided that Shen Yuexi would not pass the examination.
A non-elemental spiritual root was the most unusual, yet also the worst, type of spiritual root. It could not absorb spiritual energy of any element, making it essentially impossible to cultivate divine abilities or spells. It was no different from that of an ordinary person.
The people around them began discussing it among themselves.
“Someone with a non-elemental spiritual root is allowed to take the examination?”
“Exactly. I’m afraid she’ll be so frightened the moment she enters the Chasing Sun Forest that she’ll give up on her own.”
In the Assembly Hall, several Peak Masters also shook their heads repeatedly.
“A non-elemental spiritual root, and no natal contracted beast. She can only practice body cultivation.”
“What a pity. She was able to pass the Sect Grand Selection at fifteen, yet she can’t practice spirit cultivation.”
Even the Sect Master’s eyes held a trace of regret.
Only the First Peak Peak Master slightly furrowed his brow. He focused his mind and studied her for a long while. Then, as if he had discovered something strange and seen through the hidden truth, an incredible thought flashed through his mind.
If it truly were a non-elemental spiritual root, the stone would not have flashed with five colors earlier. Could it be that legendary kind?
The First Peak Peak Master maintained a calm expression, presenting the aloof, otherworldly bearing of an immortal.
“It just so happens that my First Peak has no female disciples, and this girl is quite likable. Since none of you are willing to take her in, my First Peak will accept her. Sect Master, what do you think?”
The Sect Master merely assumed this was the First Peak Peak Master’s usual style of accepting disciples and casually agreed. “As long as this girl passes the examination, she will be a disciple of your First Peak.”
He had no idea that he would later regret those words so bitterly that his intestines would turn green.