Single Spiritual Root
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou now had only one thought in their minds: they were finished. They had actually discussed how to cheat in front of the examiner.
Senior Sister Yunzhi seemed unaware of their cheating plan. After a glance, she didn't look again and started to organize the test.
It was evident that she held great prestige among the disciples of the Way-Seeking Sect. She could be described as someone whose orders were obeyed without question.
These Way-Seeking Sect disciples were all influential figures in the outside world, admired by others, and proud talents. These talents all followed her orders without any disobedience or negligence, which showed how high Yunzhi's status was.
"The spiritual root is the first hurdle on the path to immortality. Without a suitable spiritual root, no matter how many resources are poured in, one cannot cultivate. The first test is to assess your spiritual roots. Everyone, come forward in turn. If anyone is not confident about their spiritual root, they may leave voluntarily."
No one left.
Those who came to participate in the Way-Seeking Sect's assessment had some understanding of their spiritual roots. Very few were like Lu Yang, who just came to try his luck at the Way-Seeking Sect because it was close to home.
The Way-Seeking Sect did this to prevent those whose spiritual roots did not meet their requirements but tried to sneak in.
Typically, a spiritual root stone was used to test spiritual roots. It was very large and eye-catching. Judging from the empty space in front of the Way-Seeking Sect, it was clear they didn't plan to use a spiritual root stone.
A Way-Seeking Sect disciple named Dai Bufan was seated at the front. The cultivation technique he practiced was very special. By having spiritual energy circulate in the other person's body once, he could know their spiritual root, what cultivation technique they practiced, and where their weak points were... He was like a fish in water in battle.
Like an experienced doctor taking a pulse, Dai Bufan placed two fingers on the wrist and could accurately determine the other person's spiritual root.
"Gold, water, and fire triple spiritual root? It's passable. You may go."
"Water and fire dual spiritual root. Not bad."
"Water and wood dual spiritual root. Your foundation was once damaged. It should have been when you were twelve and suffered a major trauma. Logically, it should have left hidden issues, but fortune favored you, and you met a master. The master was kind-hearted and healed you. His medical skills were even more exquisite, restoring your foundation."
The person was slightly shocked, not expecting Dai Bufan to be so accurate. "When I was twelve, my mother died of illness, and my stepmother took control. She was afraid that my existence would affect her son's status, so she schemed to harm me. I fell into a coma, and when I woke up, I was fine. My father told me that a master had passed by and saved me. The master left without leaving his name."
After the person left, the Way-Seeking Sect disciples congratulated Dai Bufan on his improved cultivation. "Just by taking a pulse, you deduced the cause and effect of the events as if you had witnessed them yourself! Senior Brother Dai's cultivation has advanced, and it should be celebrated!"
Dai Bufan said calmly, "Oh, it's nothing. That master was me. I was in a hurry to travel at the time, so I forgot to leave my name after saving the person."
"..."
As they spoke, Dai Bufan waved at the next test-taker. "You're eighteen, which exceeds the age limit. You may go back."
A cute little monk, led by a senior monk, came in front of Dai Bufan and bowed earnestly.
Dai Bufan glanced at him and sent the little monk back to the senior monk. "What is a novice from the Suspended Temple doing here? You have the imprint left by the abbot of the Suspended Temple in your body. Go back to your Suspended Temple."
"Isn't the Suspended Temple one of the Five Great Immortal Sects?" Lu Yang asked Meng Jingzhou in a low voice.
Meng Jingzhou nodded and said solemnly, "The Suspended Temple has the fewest disciples among the Five Great Immortal Sects. Sometimes there's only the abbot and one disciple, and even at its most, there are never more than ten people. This little monk hasn't cultivated yet, but he's already a disciple of the Suspended Temple. He must have profound Buddhist nature."
Looking at the young novice being taken away by his senior from the Suspended Temple, he felt as if he were facing a formidable foe. "I thought I would be the one to dominate the cultivation world in the future, but it seems there are still those who are qualified to be my rivals."
Lu Yang didn't know where Meng Jingzhou's confidence came from. "Aren't you worried that Sister Yunzhi will kick us out?"
"Why should I be afraid? Haven't you read those novels where it's always like this? The great sect is blind and falsely accuses the genius youngster, who is then expelled from the sect. The youngster views this as a disgrace, works hard, encounters endless opportunities, soars to great heights, and becomes someone the great sect looks up to, or rather, admires."
Lu Yang fell silent for a moment before reminding him, "...But Sister Yunzhi doesn't seem to need to falsely accuse us."
"You have a point."
Then Meng Jingzhou panicked too.
"Your internal energy flows endlessly on its own. Judging from your clothes, you don't seem to come from a cultivation family. Did you perhaps consume the Green Wood Immortal Fruit when you were young? You may go."
"Hmm, your constitution is quite interesting." Dai Bufan placed his fingers on a burly man with bronze skin and his eyes lit up. "Ancient barbarian bloodline. It's been a long time since I last saw one."
The burly man was tall and sturdy, with a shiny bald head and skin that reflected sunlight. He looked like he could be in his mid-twenties, but since Dai Bufan didn't question his age, it meant he was still under sixteen.
Lu Yang could only say that he developed really well.
The crowd stirred slightly. The ancient barbarians were known for their strength and vitality, flourishing to their peak before disappearing into the river of time.
The Central Continent hadn't seen an ancient barbarian bloodline in a long time, and everyone thought this ancient bloodline had vanished. Now, one had actually appeared during the Way-Seeking Sect's assessment.
Dai Bufan yawned. He had already examined half of the people, but he hadn't seen a single spiritual root yet. Had they all been taken away by other sects?
Meng Jingzhou stepped forward confidently. Dai Bufan didn't have much hope, but when his index and middle fingers touched Meng Jingzhou's wrist, his eyes suddenly widened, and he stood up with a thud. "It's actually a single..."
Hearing Dai Bufan's words, murmurs erupted below. It was actually a single spiritual root!
What did a single spiritual root mean? The bottlenecks at various realms were much looser than for others. It was destined that one would become a great immortal cultivator, holding a high position in the court or ruling a region independently if not in power!
Everyone focused their gaze on Meng Jingzhou, their eyes enthusiastic. It was beneficial to befriend such a person in advance!
The elders quickly reminded their juniors that they must establish a good relationship with Meng Jingzhou once they entered the Way-Seeking Sect.
A Meng family member, with a single spiritual root, and a disciple of the Way-Seeking Sect—these three identities combined made him a future power figure in the Way-Seeking Sect and a legendary immortal cultivator who would go down in history!
"Single-element spiritual root," Dai Bufan said the full name of Meng Jingzhou's spiritual root, and the scene fell silent.
Meng Jingzhou flew into a rage. What the heck was a single-element spiritual root? Was he going to be single for his whole life?
"I don't have much experience, so don't trick me!" Meng Jingzhou's veins popped out, and he banged the table loudly, extremely furious.
"Junior Brother Dai, don't tease others," a voice as ethereal as a fairy came. Yunzhi appeared from a mist and glared at Dai Bufan, who shrunk back guiltily.
Meng Jingzhou calmed down a bit. That's right, Dai Bufan must be lying.
Yunzhi then said to Meng Jingzhou, "But Junior Brother Dai isn't deceiving you. You do have a single-element spiritual root. That's the academic name. It's just that in the cultivation world, people are more used to calling it by its colloquial name: Pure Yang Spiritual Root."
Meng Jingzhou: "..."
He finally understood why the elders and his parents hadn't told him about his spiritual root.
It wasn't that they would know once they reached the Five Great Immortal