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Chapter 11: The Test of Spiritual Roots

Chapter 11: The Test of Spiritual Roots

At the northwest end of Liangzhou, there was a place shrouded in fog all year round. If an ordinary person strayed more than ten feet into it, they would become dizzy and disoriented, unable to find their way. Eventually, they would wander in circles and be forced back outside, unable to pass through the fog.

Behind the mist, a steep, cross-cut cliff could vaguely be seen. Towering no less than a hundred feet high, it stretched for an unknown number of miles from east to west, creating a breathtaking sight.

On this day, a black and glossy carriage slowly made its way into the fog. It veered left and right for about half a quarter of an hour before finally emerging from the mist, stopping before a small wooden house nestled under the cliff.

Three older men and women jumped out of the carriage first, followed by three younger teenagers.

Each of the three teenagers had distinct features. One had a strong build, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. His round waist and broad shoulders gave him an intimidating presence despite his young age.

The second had a more ordinary build, and though his face was originally quite handsome, a pair of beady rat-like eyes and two prominent rabbit-like teeth gave him a somewhat vulgar appearance.

The last of the three had tanned skin and a lean yet well-proportioned frame. Though not particularly striking at first glance, his features were sharp and refined, making him appear rather handsome—especially in comparison to the other two. His dark, ink-like eyes occasionally glimmered with intelligence.

These three were none other than Lu Li and his companions, who had been traveling for six days straight.

Chu Qing, eager to claim credit and fearing that Zhou Xinyi and He Jun would steal his achievements, ordered them to return the carriage while he personally led Lu Li and the others to the left side of the cliff. As Lu Li followed, he noticed that the cliff was unnaturally smooth, devoid of any unnecessary structures. He found it hard to believe that this place was the Qingyang Sect. However, after walking for a while, he spotted a narrow stone path leading straight up the mountain.

The path was no more than three feet wide, with steeply carved stone steps. They looked as if they had been cut directly from the mountain itself.

Concerned that Lu Li and the others might slip and fall, Chu Qing instructed them to go first.

The trio climbed cautiously, using both their hands and feet. Despite their past hunting experience, the treacherous ascent left them exhausted. Qin Shouren, who was in the middle, suddenly glanced back and realized they had climbed above the clouds. A chilling gust of wind struck him, causing his legs to go weak. He nearly tumbled down.

Lu Li, unwilling to risk a glance downward, kept urging Qin Shouren to hurry up.

After nearly a quarter of an hour of strenuous climbing, they finally reached the top. Before them, a vast bluestone square stretched out, surrounded by various ancient buildings. In the distance, towering peaks rose into the sky, their summits shrouded in clouds and mist, creating a dreamlike scenery.

To their right, a massive stone tablet stood tall, engraved with three bold characters: "Qingyang Sect."

The three young men gawked in awe, resembling country bumpkins visiting the city for the first time.

"We'll have time to look around later," Chu Qing said impatiently. "For now, follow me. I'll take you to have your spiritual roots tested."

Hearing this, Lu Li and the others quickly followed him.

On the east side of the square stood an elegant attic known as the Foreign Affairs Hall, the place where the Qingyang Sect handled various administrative matters—including recruiting new disciples and issuing sect missions. Without hesitation, Chu Qing led them inside, heading straight up the stairs to the second floor.

In the spacious lobby of the second floor, an elderly man in a blue robe was leisurely sipping tea. When he saw Chu Qing arrive, he raised an eyebrow, put down his teacup, and stood up.

"What's going on?" he asked.

The elderly man in blue was Yu Tong, the second elder of the Qingyang Sect and the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall. He only came here during June and July each year when the sect recruited new disciples. The rest of the time, he remained in seclusion in his private cultivation cave.

Now that it was already late July, the recruitment period had officially ended. He had been preparing to return to his cultivation when, unexpectedly, a few more candidates appeared before him.

However, Chu Qing was not from the Foreign Affairs Hall and had no responsibility for recruitment. Yu Tong was puzzled.

Chu Qing quickly stepped forward, his tone carrying a hint of pride as he respectfully said, "Second Elder, while I was out on a mission, I happened upon these three youngsters. They have all awakened their spiritual roots. Please test them for their attributes."

Yu Tong, a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator, was one of the few people capable of accurately identifying spiritual roots.

Hearing this, he glanced at the anxious Lu Li and his companions before turning back to Chu Qing. "You actually had such luck?" he asked in surprise.

Finding three potential disciples in a single mission—such a thing was almost unheard of.

In the Qingyang Sect, bringing in new disciples came with rewards. The better the talent, the greater the reward. If a disciple introduced by a sect member managed to join the inner sect, the rewards would be even more generous.

For this reason, many Qingyang Sect members actively sought out talented individuals. However, finding someone with spiritual roots was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Some people spent their entire lives searching without ever discovering a single candidate. Yet, Chu Qing had somehow managed to find three in one go. Calling it "luck" would be an understatement.

"Hehe, not bad, right?" Chu Qing grinned so widely that his face nearly split in half. "Second Elder, hurry and check. If one of them has a Heavenly Spiritual Root, it would be incredible!"

Yu Tong rolled his eyes. "Dream on," he scoffed.

Then, turning his attention to the trio, he asked, "What's your name?"

Lu Li had been extremely nervous ever since the conversation started. When he heard the elder call him, his mind momentarily went blank. It wasn't until Yu Tong repeated the question that he snapped back to reality. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and said, "My name is Lu Li."

"No need to be so tense," Yu Tong said with a reassuring smile. He motioned for Lu Li to approach.

Lu Li braced himself and stepped forward. Yu Tong placed his fingers on Lu Li's wrist, examining his spiritual roots. A strange sensation spread through Lu Li's body, as if all his internal organs were being scrutinized. Chu Qing watched eagerly, his excitement akin to opening a mystery box.

After a few moments, Yu Tong's brows furrowed, then his face twitched uncontrollably. Finally, he muttered, "Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, darkness... Pfft!"

"I've never seen such garbage spiritual roots!"

"What?!" Chu Qing was stunned. "Second Elder, are you sure? They awakened after taking only one Awakening Pill! That means they must at least have Five Elemental Roots—how could they be..."

"Hmph! Do you think I'd make a mistake?" Yu Tong snapped. His smile vanished. "Next!"

The other two stepped forward, and their results were no better.

"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and darkness..."

"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and thunder..."

By the end of the tests, Yu Tong's face had darkened. He truly could not fathom how these three had managed to awaken at all.

Chu Qing's expression soured. Pseudo-spiritual roots were one thing, but miscellaneous spiritual roots were another matter entirely…

"Senior, can we stay?" Lu Li asked cautiously.

Although Yu Tong and Chu Qing's expressions were grim, he still hoped for an answer. If he couldn't obtain techniques here, he would have to find another way.

Now that he had awakened his spiritual roots, he would continue forward—no matter what.