novelraw Chapter 3 – Spiritual Root Test
Chapter 3 – Spiritual Root Test
After climbing for about an hour, Qin Yu arrived at a plaza as large as several football fields.
At the far end of the plaza stood an arched stone gate, with two grand and powerful characters carved above it.
Xuantian Sect!
"Finally, this is the main gate of the Xuantian Sect?"
Qin Yu looked around curiously. The plaza was densely packed with people, easily numbering over ten thousand.
In the sky above, cultivators were approaching swiftly on their swords, and spirit beasts were flying over, blotting out the sun.
Only then did Qin Yu understand why he hadn't encountered any prodigious talents along the way. It turned out that the prodigies from major families didn't need to climb the mountain; they simply flew up.
While it's possible for prodigies to emerge from commoners, the probability is exceedingly low, one in ten thousand!
The offspring of cultivators have a much higher chance of possessing high-grade or even supreme spiritual roots.
Qin Yu targeted a young man sitting atop a giant azure bird and used the system's talent detection.
[Too far away to detect!]
"Damn."
Frustrated, Qin Yu found a spot under a tree and patiently waited for the upcoming assessment.
***
At noon!
A bell rang out from deep within the Xuantian Sect, echoing across the land.
"It's starting!"
Qin Yu immediately moved toward the direction of the Xuantian Sect's mountain gate.
Soon, two rows of Xuantian Sect disciples, dressed in azure-patterned white robes and gilded boots, marched out in an orderly fashion.
At the end of the line followed an elder with white eyebrows and beard, exuding an aura of immortality.
"I am Hu Tian, the Second Elder of the Xuantian Sect. Welcome to our sect's recruitment assessment."
The elder's voice wasn't loud, but it had a magical quality that allowed everyone present to hear it clearly.
"This recruitment is for those under the age of 16. Those who do not meet the criteria may leave early.
The assessment will officially begin in a quarter of an hour. The first test is the Spiritual Root Test."
As he spoke, the Xuantian Sect disciples who had just come out set up several testing stations.
"Those participating in the recruitment assessment may start lining up. Escorts and unrelated personnel, please wait outside the plaza."
As soon as the words fell, the crowd in the plaza quickly sprang into action.
A total of twelve testing stations were set up, with two Xuantian Sect disciples in charge of each.
Qin Yu, quick-eyed and nimble, swiftly secured a spot near the front of the line, standing on tiptoe to see ahead.
He wanted to see how the Xuantian Sect tested spiritual roots.
Just as Qin Yu was looking ahead, a young nobleman in fine clothing walked up to Qin Yu's side with his hands behind his back and stood in front of him as if it were only natural.
"Cutting in line?"
Qin Yu was taken aback, not expecting that even in the cultivation world, there were those who liked to cut in line. It seemed such scum was everywhere.
But cutting in front of me, Qin Yu? You've picked the wrong person!
Qin Yu immediately kicked him, not one to tolerate such behavior.
"Get lost!"
The nobleman staggered and turned around angrily.
"Peasant, how dare you kick me? Do you know who I am?"
Qin Yu retorted, "Do you know who I am?"
The nobleman was momentarily stunned and asked in confusion, "Who are you?"
"I'm your father!"
"You..."
Realizing he was being mocked, the nobleman's face twisted with rage.
"I am the son of the current prime minister. Kneel and kowtow to me now, and I might let you die a little less painfully!"
Qin Yu nodded with satisfaction, "My son is truly filial. I didn't know I was the current prime minister!"
"You’re courting death!" The nobleman clenched his fists, ready to fight.
Qin Yu was never afraid of a fight.
So what if he's the prime minister's son? Before cultivation, everyone was just a mortal.
And this guy looked pampered; in a real fight, he might not even beat a street thug.
'I wonder how long he'd cry after one punch!'
Just as Qin Yu was about to deliver a righteous punch, a Xuantian Sect disciple responsible for maintaining order arrived in time.
"Both of you, mind the occasion. If you cause trouble, you'll be expelled."
The nobleman glared at the Xuantian Sect disciple, then turned back to Qin Yu with a sinister tone, "Boy, consider yourself lucky. But you've crossed me, and you're dead. Your whole family is dead. Just wait!"
Qin Yu pointed behind him, "If you don't dare to fight, then get to the back."
"You just wait!" The nobleman gritted his teeth and stood behind Qin Yu, cursing at the onlookers, "What are you looking at? Do you want to die too?"
The surrounding people quickly averted their gaze.
'I wonder what talent this foolish son of the prime minister has?' Qin Yu immediately probed him.
[High-Grade Spiritual Root (B-Level)]: Excellent talent, cultivation speed far surpasses ordinary people, with a chance to make a name in the cultivation world.
[Extraordinary Alchemy (B-Level)]: Has a decent talent for alchemy, capable of refining high-difficulty elixirs with a high success rate.
[Medicine-Pounding Boy (D-Level)]: Has some talent in medicine, able to skillfully treat common ailments.
Qin Yu nodded with satisfaction, 'This aptitude is not bad, barely qualifies as a villain.'
The line continued to move forward, with cries and laughter occasionally erupting from the front.
Qin Yu watched as a fellow who had earlier warned him about a leak ran away crying, shouting, "Spiritual root, how can I live without you!"
Qin Yu shrugged, "I told you you didn't have a spiritual root, but you didn't believe me."
The line moved quickly, and soon it was Qin Yu's turn.
"Just place your hand on the crystal ball!" said the Xuantian Sect disciple.
Qin Yu extended his hand, gently touching the crystal ball.
The crystal ball flickered, emitting a faint white light.
The brighter the light, the more easily the person could resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, indicating better talent.
Qin Yu's faint white light indicated the weakest low-grade spiritual root.
"Qin Yu, low-grade spiritual root, passed!"
"Next!"
The nobleman walked up to the Xuantian Sect disciple in charge of recording, hands behind his back, and said arrogantly, "Tang Aotian, high-grade spiritual root!"
"Please place your hand on the crystal stone detector for testing."
"Troublesome, as if the son of the prime minister would deceive you!"
Tang Aotian placed his hand on the crystal ball, which immediately lit up with a bright white light.
The surrounding people immediately looked on with envy.
"Tang Aotian, high-grade spiritual root, next!"
Basking in the envious gazes, Tang Aotian slowly walked up to Qin Yu and mocked, "A waste with a low-grade spiritual root, and you think you're fit for cultivation? Go back to digging in the fields!"
His tone, coupled with his arrogant expression, made Qin Yu grit his teeth.
"Damn it, just wait. I'll make sure to slap that stinky tofu right on your face."
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan