Chapter 128: The Pure Heavenly Wood Spiritual Root

Millions gathered in Ling Tian City, most aiming to try their luck at entering the Ling Tian Sect. This made the registration and selection process a daunting task for the cultivators in charge.

Fortunately, the central square of Ling Tian City was vast, and the Ling Tian Sect had dispatched many capable disciples. Dozens of registration points were set up just for the selection.

Chu Xiner and the Lu siblings arrived relatively late, so they could only queue slowly behind one of the selection lines.

“Geng Lian, mixed spiritual root of metal and earth, disqualified!”

The Ling Tian Sect’s criteria for selecting disciples were similar to those of most sects: first testing spiritual root aptitude, then observing bone age. Only those suitable in both aspects could pass the initial screening.

As Chu Xiner and the Lu siblings approached, they saw at the front of the line a yellow-faced youth placing his left hand on the stone tablet used for testing spiritual roots. Two mottled, impure beams of light radiated from it.

Because his spiritual root aptitude was too poor, this youth named Geng Lian was not even allowed a bone age examination and was immediately disqualified.

Shaking her head inwardly, Chu Xiner felt that fellow was merely wasting everyone’s time. There were still nearly a hundred people ahead, so the wait would be long.

“Luo Hai, mixed metal spiritual root, disqualified!”

“Zhou Yufei, mixed wood spiritual root, disqualified!”

“Qin Yang, fire earth spiritual root, bone age twenty-one, cultivation Qi Refining Stage, thirteenth layer, not bad. You pass for now.”

The selection proceeded methodically, with cultivators either joyfully receiving temporary identity jade talismans upon passing, or leaving dejectedly after being disqualified. Chu Xiner and the Lu siblings gradually drew nearer to the testing point.

Finally, after a few fortunate ones succeeded and nearly a hundred were eliminated, Lu Fang stepped forward and addressed the Ling Tian Sect disciple overseeing the selection:

“Greetings, senior brother. My name is Lu Fang, and this is my younger sister Lu Yin. We siblings are both from independent cultivators.”

The Ling Tian Sect was a colossal force, with over a thousand disciples above the Foundation Establishment Stage. However, most high-level cultivators were busy in seclusion, leaving only a handful to handle miscellaneous affairs.

This recruitment in Ling Tian City attracted a massive crowd, with dozens of selection points. Not every disciple responsible for selection was at the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core Stages.

The area where they waited was managed by one disciple just half a step into Foundation Establishment and two fully accomplished disciples. Regardless, with specialized magical instruments for testing spiritual roots and bone age, their lower cultivation levels did not hinder accurate results.

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Lu Fang was also at the thirteenth layer of Qi Refining Stage, so calling the white-robed youth “senior brother” was not inappropriate.

The young man with sword-like brows nodded and gestured for him to place his left hand on the stone tablet to channel spiritual energy into it.

A low hum resonated.

Lu Fang pressed his hand on the stone tablet and poured in his spiritual power. The tablet immediately glowed with a three-foot-tall amber light.

Though the amber light was slightly mottled, it met the standard of an earth-type spiritual root. The white-robed youth waved him forward to the jade platform for bone age testing.

His gaze casually fell on Lu Yin and Chu Xiner, eyes flickering with a barely concealed interest.

Lu Yin was only fourteen or fifteen, appearing quite youthful, but her delicate features promised she would become a rare beauty once she matured.

Chu Xiner was already radiating charm; the few male cultivators behind her had been furtively glancing her way.

As the saying goes, “A graceful lady is a fine match for a gentleman.” The white-robed youth was not a core disciple of Ling Tian Sect, so he had no hope of touching beauties like Chu Xiner or Lu Yin.

Now that an opportunity presented itself, he sought to cultivate some goodwill.

The jade platform reached waist height and was inscribed with intricate runes. When Lu Fang placed his hand atop, the runes shimmered and a light veil enveloped him. Soon, the light shrank back into the platform, displaying the number twenty-two.

The earth spiritual root required a bone age not exceeding twenty-two years, the minimum for this Ling Tian Sect selection.

There was an additional condition: if the candidate was already twenty-two, they must have at least the thirteenth layer of cultivation, or else the sect would reject them regardless of spiritual root.

Lu Fang clearly met the standard—he stood right at the threshold of elimination. His success depended on the white-robed youth’s whim.

Fortunately, eager to please Lu Yin, the youth readily announced his passing and instructed a junior disciple to register him and issue a temporary identity jade talisman.

Next was Lu Yin’s spiritual root test. Nervously, she placed her right hand on the stone tablet. As her spiritual energy flowed in, a nine-foot-tall emerald green light soared forth.

“Ah, a pure wood-type celestial spiritual root? This little girl is no ordinary talent. She’s sure to pass.”

“Indeed, no doubt about it. She looks not even fifteen, but with such aptitude, she might become a core disciple the Ling Tian Sect cultivates intensely…”

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The celestial spiritual root was the finest aptitude next to some rare mutated roots. Lu Yin’s exceptional spiritual root explained why she had reached the peak of the eleventh layer of Qi Refining Stage at such a young age despite being an independent cultivator.

The crowd in the square buzzed with attention at Lu Yin’s test result. Lu Fang’s face brimmed with unhidden joy and pride—his sister had truly made a stunning impression.

If she caught the eye of a Golden Core elder in the Ling Tian Sect and was accepted as a disciple, he would share in the glory.

The half-step Foundation Establishment youth’s smile grew warmer. “Congratulations, junior sister. Let me introduce myself: I am Jiang Chaofan. If you ever need assistance, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

From his tone, he seemed fully confident Lu Yin would succeed in joining the Ling Tian Sect.

Chu Xiner was slightly moved by Lu Yin’s aptitude as well, aware that her own spiritual root was inferior. Her early entry into the Foundation Establishment Stage was due to the life-and-death battles and rapid accumulation of wealth after meeting Xiao Wen.

Otherwise, had she stayed at the Qingye Sect in Tiannan Commandery, she might still struggle to reach even the thirteenth layer.

“Senior sister Chu, it’s your turn.”

Just as Chu Xiner pondered these thoughts, Lu Yin, now holding her temporary jade talisman, turned back and smiled sincerely at her.

“This junior sister’s surname is Chu. May I know your name?”

Jiang Chaofan could not discern Chu Xiner’s cultivation level because she concealed her aura. He assumed she was also a top-tier Qi Refining cultivator and wanted to make a good impression for future prospects, so his smile was warm.

However, Chu Xiner showed no pretense toward Jiang Chaofan. After stating her name, she strode directly to the stone tablet for the spiritual root test.

Her cold demeanor was not due to personality but because the three Ling Tian Sect disciples present were all much weaker in cultivation than she was.

Calling them “senior brother” as Lu Fang and Lu Yin did felt awkward to her.

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