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Join the ServerEveryone was shocked by this abnormal sight. Even the usually unflappable elders rose to their feet, their faces filled with astonishment.
Some elders in charge of the other testing area even turned to look this way.
One elder’s voice trembled as he spoke: “Is this… a supreme-grade Wood Spirit Root?”
The other elders remained silent, but their gazes upon Song Zhiyou burned with intensity.
A genius like this must be snatched up by the sect!
Then, in the next moment, the emerald green was gradually dispersed by layers of white, like ink washes bleeding and fading, until it vanished completely.
As all the light receded, everyone looked closely and saw a mottled green light pillar fixed within the stone tablet.
Compared to before, the green was now faint and colorless.
No one had ever seen such a phenomenon. They craned their necks to look at Song Zhiyou, whispering among themselves.
The elders exchanged glances.
In all their years, they too had never witnessed such a thing.
Just then, the older Nascent Soul elder named Wang spoke, his voice tinged with pity and hesitation.
“I once saw this in an ancient tome… I’m afraid this is a Mutated Spirit Root. Once the Wood Spirit Root is completely eroded, your cultivation… will never advance another step.”
A thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Song Zhiyou stared blankly at the mottled spirit root, her mind buzzing.
Seeing her dejected appearance, Elder Wang sighed.
“Little girl, you meet the assessment requirements. According to the rules, you can continue to participate, or you can choose to withdraw now and live an ordinary life.”
Elder Wang recognized Song Zhiyou from Qixia Mountain and knew she was a hardworking child. He felt even more regret.
What a pity… but heaven’s will was not on her side. Such was the harsh reality of the cultivation world.
Just as Elder Wang thought she would need time to consider, Song Zhiyou’s voice rang out without any hesitation.
“Elder, I will never withdraw!”
Her words were firm, resolute, and they instantly touched Elder Wang’s heart.
From a supreme-grade spirit root to a mutated one—such a drastic change—yet this child remained true to her original resolve, choosing without a second thought to continue cultivating.
Such mental fortitude was truly rare.
He softened his voice: “Good, good child. If you enter the Xuantian Sect and encounter difficulties, you may come to me.”
Song Zhiyou was startled. She hadn’t expected the Xuantian Sect elder to be so warmhearted.
Moved, she committed this promise to memory.
Little did Elder Wang know, for Song Zhiyou, living an ordinary life was no different from waiting for death.
Long Aotian was a sword hanging over her head.
She had no other choice.
Moreover, after regaining her composure, Song Zhiyou felt that this change in her spirit root might be related to her painting ability.
She would study it thoroughly once she returned.
Song Zhiyou stepped off the platform without any psychological burden. But the crowd below all cast pitying or gloating looks at her.
She paid them no mind.
Soon, everyone’s attention turned back to the platform.
Song Zhiyou was now nothing more than a cripple whose cultivation might stop at any moment—unimportant, not worth their further notice.
Song Qingyao watched Song Zhiyou anxiously, hesitating as if to speak.
Her heart was in turmoil. She wanted to say something to comfort Song Zhiyou, but words failed her.
With a sigh, Song Qingyao slumped her shoulders in defeat, silently thinking that from now on, she would protect Song Zhiyou and, if able, help find a solution.
The children who passed were told to stand on the other side. Lu Wangshu was among them, overseeing the proceedings.
When she saw Song Zhiyou, she raised her hand and ruffled her hair.
“How did your wooden token… get swapped?”
Lu Wangshu wanted to ask if it had been taken, but in the end, she didn’t say it.
Song Zhiyou pointed at the philanthropist and stated the fact: “He seemed to really want it, so I exchanged with him.”
Lu Wangshu sighed and patted Song Zhiyou’s head.
This child, she was too kind-hearted.
She couldn’t help but advise: “In your future cultivation, don’t easily give up your opportunities to others, lest you suffer for nothing.”
Song Zhiyou was a little puzzled, but she nodded hesitantly.
She felt she hadn’t suffered any loss.
Seeing Song Zhiyou’s confused expression, Lu Wangshu sighed inwardly.
Forget it, the child was still young, and she had just experienced this…
But her heart was extremely good, just too kind.
From now on, if this child entered the Xuantian Sect, she would protect her a bit more.
Next, the tests proceeded as usual.
As the elders had said, this selection didn’t look at talent or aptitude. Whether it was three spirit roots, five spirit roots, or inferior spirit roots, as long as the bone age was under twelve and cultivation had reached Qi Refining Layer Five, everyone passed.
There were also those who hadn’t reached Qi Refining Layer Five or were over twelve trying to sneak through, but they were immediately seen through upon testing.
Some even lied about their age—over ten years old—and joined another line, causing quite a few jokes.
Song Zhiyou was focused on her own spirit root issue, so she didn’t pay much attention.
Just then, a dazzling light suddenly flared.
She looked toward the platform and saw a pillar of light representing the Metal Spirit Root shooting into the sky, solid as white gold, with a sharp edge that almost blinded the eyes.
The faint clanging of swords and blades shook everyone’s minds!
This time, there was no mishap like with Song Zhiyou. The golden light and clanging lasted a long time before slowly fading.
The elders shot to their feet: “Supreme-grade Metal Spirit Root?!”
The crowd below gasped.
A supreme-grade spirit root had actually appeared!
And it was a supreme-grade single spirit root!
Could such a monstrous talent be a favored son of some hidden family, coming to the sect for training?
Everyone looked toward the platform and fell silent.
On the platform stood a young girl in ragged clothes, carrying a cloth bundle taller than herself. Only her eyes were astonishingly bright.
They couldn’t believe this was a favored son of a hidden family.
Then, the elder’s deep voice rang out: “Nangong Hehe, age ten, Foundation Establishment early stage, supreme-grade Metal Spirit Root. Pass!”
Ten years old, already at Foundation Establishment!
The crowd fell into dead silence, as if time had stopped. Then, exclamations and murmurs erupted like a tidal wave.
Song Qingyao saw that Song Zhiyou’s gaze also landed on Nangong Hehe.
It figured. Just now, Song Zhiyou had fallen from the clouds, and now another supreme-grade spirit root appeared before her…
As fellow cultivators, she understood her pain.
Just as Song Qingyao’s mood grew heavy, Song Zhiyou’s voice drifted over.
“Xiao Qi, don’t you think… the thing she’s carrying looks very familiar?”
Song Qingyao was stunned. She focused on the cloth bundle.
As she looked, her almond-shaped eyes widened in shock.
****
Qi Refining Initial (Layers 1-3), Qi Refining Mid (Layers 4-6), Qi Refining Late (Layers 7-9), Qi Refining Peak (Layers 10-13)
Cultivation System:
Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, Void Refining, Body Fusion, Great Ascension, Tribulation Transcendence
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Read : I Just Wanted An Ordinary Life This Time
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