Translator: Lynn
Xu Ziqing thought to himself, “Here we go!”
Since all the monks present had the potential to enter Tenglong Peak, they couldn’t afford to be careless and simply show the jade token in their possession. If Tang Wenfei’s spiritual sense swept over them, he would easily detect it.
The other monks were apprehensive and said, “Senior Tang, please guide us.”
Tang Wenfei smiled and reassured them, “There’s no need to be nervous; it’s just a small test. The Ascension to the Dragon Gate occurs once every ten years, and we gather the major sects of the Qingyun Great World. As the gatekeeper, I must treat this matter with utmost importance and not be negligent.” His words only served to heighten everyone’s anxiety.
Without saying much, Tang Wenfei extended his hand and flicked it in front of him, summoning a three-foot-tall jade disc. It was pure white, flawless, and emitted a brilliant radiance.
Jade disc?
The monks were perplexed by its appearance.
Although the jade disc was white, it clearly differed from the usual white jade used for trade. Its dense spiritual energy set it apart. But why did Tang Wenfei bring out this jade disc?
Tang Wenfei, who seemed rather straightforward, immediately explained, “From now on, when I call out someone’s name, I will ask that person to step forward and infuse their spiritual power into the jade disc until its color changes. At that point, they should stop.”
This request seemed peculiar.
However, given the long history of the Ascending Dragon Gate Conference, no one believed that Tang Wenfei would harm them. They agreed in unison, saying, “As Senior Tang said.”
Xu Ziqing also gazed at the jade disc but couldn’t discern anything from it either. It seemed like he had caught a glimpse of something, but it remained unclear, leaving him anxious.
When Tang Wenfei called out the first name, Xu Ziqing decided and turned his attention to the person. Regardless of the reason, the truth would soon be revealed.
That individual was a disciple of the Ziguang Sect named Xiang Hongcai. When Xu Ziqing heard the sect’s name, he couldn’t help feeling a sense of discomfort, prompting a wry smile.
Recalling the incident in Shangyan Ridge, he had already exacted revenge on the three individuals involved. Yet, encountering such treachery for the first time had left a lasting impression on him…
Taking a deep breath, Xu Ziqing let go of these thoughts and focused his gaze on Xiang Hongcai.
Unbeknownst to Xiang Hongcai, he happened to be the first one called. As he stepped forward, a trace of nervousness flickered in his eyes. However, as someone selected for this opportunity, he possessed a resolute mindset. He quickly composed himself and stood before Tang Wenfei. “I am Xiang Hongcai of Ziguang Sect. I greet Senior Tang.�� Tang Wenfei nodded and simply said, “You may proceed.”
Only then did Xiang Hongcai calm down. He approached the jade disc and placed his hands upon it, swiftly circulating his spiritual power and channeling it into the object.
The jade disc immediately responded with a small dot lighting up from its core—a shade of brown. Subsequently, it appeared as if fresh blood had infused the water, rapidly transforming the color into a deep brown hue that spread across the entire disc.
At this point, everyone realized that the jade disc was not solely brown; there were two other colors present as well—one blue and the other light blue.
The brown hue dominated most of the jade disc, while the blue and light blue shades occupied smaller corners. Although distinct, they couldn’t surpass the prominence of the brown color.
Upon witnessing this, Xu Ziqing was stunned. He finally understood that this test was also assessing their spiritual roots. Such methods were far superior to Xu’s magic circle.
Reflecting on his past, he realized that despite having a slender spiritual root that would have qualified him for higher-level aptitude, the examiner’s ignorance resulted in a wrongful judgment. Consequently, he was cruelly assigned to Baicao Garden. Recalling these events, he couldn’t help but feel that good fortune had played a trick on him.
At times, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but wonder how his life might have unfolded had his aptitude been correctly assessed. Thinking about it now, he sighed once again.
If the judgment had been accurate, he would have missed the opportunity at the bottom of the lake. Instead, he would have remained just another “genius” of the Xu family, receiving special treatment or perishing alongside them. Alternatively, the Xu family might have concealed his potential to provide an escape route, using this opportunity to send him to Tenglong Peak… These thoughts left him feeling somewhat unsettled.
Xu Ziqing quickly regained his composure, preventing it from disturbing him. He smiled wryly, acknowledging that what Brother Yun had said was true—demons lurked everywhere on the path of cultivating immortality. Even the slightest vulnerability could trigger negative emotions and hinder one’s Taoism. Fortunately, the demons within him had dissipated, and when Xu Ziqing looked at the radiant stone wall once more, the previous sensation vanished.
Tang Wenfei noticed his reaction, nodded lightly, and said, “Next, Ziguang Sect’s Luo Fuzhou.”
Another disciple from the same sect stepped forward. In his twenties, he greeted Tang Wenfei before infusing his spirit into the jade disc. Golden brilliance appeared on the majority of the jade, with traces of blue and brown, indicating a spiritual root composition of one thick and two thin.
The pattern continued with the third and fourth individuals…
The major sects and forces all shared similar results—most possessed one thick and two thin spiritual roots, while a few had two thick and two thin or one thick and one thin. However, none of those who slipped through the cracks appeared within their age group. The geniuses with one thick and one thin spiritual root were over twenty-five years old.
Finally, it was the Loose Cultivator Alliance’s turn.
The first one called was Su Xin, the leader of the Young League.
Su Xin lifted the hem of his robe and strode forward, his expression somewhat fluctuating. He had already adjusted his emotions and was no longer anxious. His body was filled with anger since he had recently purified his spiritual roots and hadn’t fully adapted to the change.
Xu Ziqing keenly observed that Tang Wenfei’s expression changed slightly upon seeing Su Xin.
Su Xin clasped his fists and said, “Senior Tang, it’s my turn.”
Tang Wenfei, seemingly aware of something, treated him with a favorable attitude. “You may proceed,” he said.
Su Xin smiled brightly and hastened to the front of the jade disc. By now, all the monks understood the purpose of the jade, and Su Xin was no exception.
The young man’s vitality surged as he poured his entire spiritual power into the jade without hesitation. In an instant, the entire jade disc blazed a bright red, resembling a sea of fire—an awe-inspiring spectacle!
Witnessing this magnificent scene, many of the monks present couldn’t help but exclaim.
“A single fire spiritual root!”
“No, I recognize him. The Young League leader, although talented, is only a double spiritual root with one thick and one thin. How could he have a single spiritual root?”
“Did I miss something?”
“No, it’s impossible…”
Xu Ziqing recognized a familiar voice and turned his head slightly, spotting Xu Zifeng and Xu Zitang, his siblings. He was shocked, but he quickly regained his composure.
That’s right, Xu Zitang’s cultivation was still at the sixth level of Qi Refining. The chaos within the Xu and Tian families hindered her progress. Nevertheless, she was under twenty-five years old, qualifying her to participate. Xu Zifeng, having already established his foundation, came to accompany his younger sister. The lack of grief on their faces indicated that the Xu family had likely made progress in their recovery…
Without lingering on their presence, Xu Ziqing refocused his attention on Su Xin.
Indeed, he had encountered the Red Flame Fruit in the “The Linyuan Small Secret Realm,” which stated that it could only be consumed by individuals who hadn’t yet developed energy, purifying their spiritual roots. However, Su Xin used it and truly purified his spiritual roots… There must be another reason behind it. Xu Ziqing hadn’t asked before because it wasn’t necessary, but since the Red Flame Fruit originated from the Xu family, he genuinely wanted to know the reason for its usage.
Su Xin calmly replied, “Originally, I had an earth and fire double spiritual root. Later, I chanced upon the Red Flame Fruit, which allowed me to purify my spiritual roots.”
Some individuals raised the same doubts as Xu Zitang, questioning, “The Red Flame Fruit must have been consumed before your energy was induced. Why did you…”
Su Xin raised an eyebrow and smiled. “If it were simply consumed like that, you would be correct. However, if it’s refined into a pill, the situation changes. We have an elder in our alliance who excels at alchemy. He utilized numerous spiritual herbs and medicines to refine the Red Flame Fruit. After consuming this pill, I achieved a single fire spiritual root.”
Upon hearing this, everyone understood. However, when the other gifted individuals glanced at Su Xin, it was unclear whether their expressions were filled with envy or jealousy.
Xu Ziqing was secretly amazed.
Indeed, refining spiritual herbs and substances into pills is much more beneficial than consuming them directly. Not only are impurities removed, but the medicinal effects are also purified. The fact that someone could refine the Red Flame Fruit into an elixir showcased their profound skill… Observing Tang Wenfei’s slightly intrigued gaze upon hearing “refining an elixir,” Xu Ziqing realized that the alchemist in question might not be much inferior to the people in the big world.
In the small world, skilled alchemists are scarce, and even if they exist, their abilities are often mediocre. The presence of such talented alchemists in the Loose Cultivator Alliance explained how it managed to stand strong for many years, serving as a refuge for numerous Loose Cultivators.
The crowd could no longer contain their curiosity and began chatting among themselves until Tang Wenfei spoke, quieting them down.
Tang Wenfei said, “Little friend Su, your talent is remarkable. Please take a seat.”
Upon hearing the gatekeeper from the big world extend such politeness to Su Xin, Su Xin once again became the center of attention. They anticipated that gaining favor from the gatekeeper and staying in Tenglong Peak to cultivate their foundations would completely change their circumstances. With Su Xin’s talent, even if he failed to establish a foundation, the people in the big world would not easily let him go…
Suddenly, their expression changed.
This kid must be incredibly lucky!
Su Xin paid no mind to others’ opinions. Since he was here and possessed the necessary qualifications, why not flaunt them and benefit himself? With that thought in mind, he strode back confidently, his red attire resembling a blazing ball of fire, captivating and captivating.
Returning to the main proceedings, Tang Wenfei called out the names of Zhuo Hanyan and six others one by one, until finally, it was Xu Ziqing’s turn, representing the Loose Cultivator Alliance and the Foreign League.
As Xu Ziqing stood up, all eyes from the seven members of the Loose Cultivator Alliance were fixated on him.
In their view, this young man in green garments was shrouded in mystery. Despite knowing each other for some time, Su Xin and Xu Ziqing still couldn’t grasp his true nature, arousing their curiosity. Thus, at this moment, they stared at him intently, not wanting to miss a single detail as he calmly rose and walked forward.
Xu Ziqing spoke softly, “I am Xu Ziqing from the Loose Cultivator Alliance. I greet Senior Tang.”
Tang Wenfei’s expression relaxed slightly. “Proceed,” he said.
With a slight smile, Xu Ziqing positioned his hands on the jade disc.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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