“That’s right,” Wang Jialing said. “Before, in the village, they only tested if we had Aptitude for Cultivation. In a few days, they’ll test how good our Aptitude is.”
“Oh, it’s all written in this Purple Cloud Sect Disciple Handbook.”
She took out the handbook, and Wang Pan also took out his, asking, “Is this called the Purple Cloud Sect Disciple Handbook?”
“Yes, it is,” Wang Jialing said, pointing to each character on the book’s cover, teaching Wang Pan to recognize them: “Zi, Xia, Men, Di, Zi, Shou, Ce.”
“Ling-jie, you know many characters. Please explain it to me,” Wang Pan said.
“Alright, but you owe me a large handful of pretty little stones,” Wang Jialing said, opening the handbook and beginning to teach Wang Pan to read.
It turned out that what ordinary people called Immortals were Cultivators. Cultivators Cultivated Immortality, which could increase their strength and lifespan. Cultivating to the ultimate Realm could even truly lead to Immortal Ascension, granting eternal life.
It turned out that Cultivation Aptitude was a Spiritual Root. Spiritual Roots also varied in quality, with five Ranks.
It turned out that Cultivators also had different Realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and so on.
It turned out…
The Purple Cloud Sect Disciple Handbook contained much common knowledge about the Cultivation world. Wang Jialing didn’t recognize some characters, and she didn’t understand much of the knowledge. She was only a thirteen-year-old child.
However, the handbook mentioned a method of Divine Sense imprinting that allowed one to quickly memorize things. The children’s learning process could be rapidly achieved through this.
Once these children finished their Aptitude tests, the Purple Cloud Sect would use this method to quickly teach them most characters and common knowledge.
Unknowingly, half a day passed, and an Immortal came to take the children to the dining hall for a meal.
The white, hot rice and sweet, delicious dishes were things Wang Shitou had never seen before.
Taking a bite, he felt as if his tongue would melt.
He ate five bowls of rice in one go, finishing all the dishes.
Wang Jialing scolded him, calling him a pig, but she herself ate three bowls and was extremely full.
Even her grandfather, who was the village chief, rarely ate white rice. And the white rice here was incredibly sweet, seemingly not ordinary white rice.
The two of them left the dining hall, burping, as did many other children.
Many were children from poor families, eating such delicious food for the first time, and they ate too much.
“Purple Cloud Sect is truly good,” Wang Pan thought, lying on the soft bed.
He had eaten in the dining hall for two days and felt that he might have gained weight.
More children were continuously sent over.
On the third day, two Immortals led everyone to a plaza. Looking around, there were hundreds of children.
However, for the hundreds of cities and over a billion people under the Purple Cloud Sect’s dominion, only this small number had Spiritual Roots, which indeed wasn’t many.
The test for the quality of Cultivation Aptitude, or the quality of the Spiritual Root, was about to begin.
Wang Pan had already inquired among the knowledgeable Disciples. Spiritual Roots were divided into five Ranks: First Rank Heavenly Spiritual Root, Second Rank Dual Spiritual Root, Third Rank True Spiritual Root, Fourth Rank Pseudo Spiritual Root, and Fifth Rank Miscellaneous Spiritual Root. First Rank was the best, and Fifth Rank was the worst.
Owners of the first three Ranks of Spiritual Roots would enter the Inner Sect, while the latter two Ranks would enter the Outer Sect.
Wang Pan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Even the Outer Sect still meant Cultivating on Purple Cloud Sect’s mountain. It wasn’t about being driven down the mountain and back to the village.
The children were lined up, then called forward one by one by an Immortal.
“Zhao Meng, Fourth Rank Pseudo Spiritual Root.”
“Wang Qiang, Fourth Rank Pseudo Spiritual Root.”
“Sun Yi, Fifth Rank Miscellaneous Spiritual Root.”
“…”
Children stepped forward one by one for testing, mostly with Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots and Pseudo Spiritual Roots. Disciples with Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots and Pseudo Spiritual Roots could only become Outer Sect Disciples, residing in the outermost areas of the Purple Cloud Sect’s stronghold.
“Wei Bao, Third Rank True Spiritual Root! Enter the Inner Sect!” The Disciple announcing the results raised his voice a few octaves.
Wei Bao was tall, and the excitement on his face was hard to conceal.
“Li Pan, Third Rank True Spiritual Root! Enter the Inner Sect!” After a while, another True Spiritual Root appeared.
“Zhao Jinde, Second Rank Dual Spiritual Root!” The announcing Disciple’s voice grew even louder, and a middle-aged man slowly floated down from the sky, looking at Zhao Jinde, nodding with satisfaction, and saying, “Zhao Jinde, Earth-Metal Dual Spiritual Root. Very good, very good.”
“I am Lu Yiming, a Core Formation Elder of the Purple Cloud Sect. Are you willing to take me as your Master?”
Zhao Jinde immediately knelt and kowtowed, “Disciple greets Master!”
“Good, good, good,” Lu Yiming laughed heartily, saying, “From now on, you are a Personal Disciple of the Purple Cloud Sect.”
“Come, follow me back to my Immortal Cave.”
Lu Yiming took Zhao Jinde and transformed into a brilliant rainbow, flying away, leaving a group of children exclaiming in awe.
This Immortal was even more handsome, possessing an even greater Immortal bearing.
The testing continued. Dozens more Third Rank True Spiritual Roots appeared, and then it was Wang Jialing’s turn to step onto the stage for testing.
“Wang Jialing, Second Rank Dual Spiritual Root!” The announcing Disciple declared loudly once again.
“I have a Dual Spiritual Root?” Wang Jialing’s small face was filled with surprise.
“Hahahaha, good,” another bearded middle-aged man flew down, landing in front of Wang Jialing, and said, “Wood-Fire Dual Spiritual Root. This is a born Alchemist!”
“Little girl, I am Yue Zifeng, a Core Formation Elder of the Purple Cloud Sect and the Head of the Dan Hall. I am the best Alchemist in the Purple Cloud Sect. Are you willing to take me as your Master and learn the Dao of Alchemy?”
“If you’re going to take a Master, it should be me!”
Before Wang Jialing could agree, another female Fairy descended and said, “Wang Jialing, come to my Phoenix Peak. That is the Holy Land for female Disciples to Cultivate.”
Wang Pan, below the stage, was stunned. Ling-jie actually had such good Cultivation Aptitude? And she was being fought over by two seemingly powerful Elders?
Wang Jialing was also conflicted at this moment. Chosen by two Core Formation Elders, how should she choose?
She was a girl, emotionally leaning more towards the female Core Formation Elder. But Elder Yue said he was the Head of the Dan Hall, the best Alchemist, the best!
Wang Jialing didn’t yet fully understand the specific abilities of an Alchemist, but Elder Yue saying he was the best made her somewhat want to learn.
“Elder Yue… what is an Alchemist?” Wang Jialing simply asked.
Yue Zifeng couldn’t help but smile, saying, “An Alchemist, well, is someone who refines Immortal Pills. Have you heard of Immortal Pills?”
“Immortal Pills? I’ve heard of them!” Wang Jialing quickly said, “My grandpa took me to Chaoyang City to watch a play, and they said Immortal Pills can grant eternal life!”
“Hahahaha…” Yue Zifeng laughed heartily, saying, “That would probably require a true Immortal Pill to have such an effect. As Cultivators, we absorb Spiritual Qi and Cultivate our Realms to extend our lifespan. And Alchemists can refine Medicinal Pills. Medicinal Pills can help people absorb Spiritual Qi faster.”
“There are also healing Pills, calming Pills, and many other Medicinal Pills.”
“The Dao of Alchemy is wonderfully diverse. Hmm… in short, it’s both useful and fun.”
Both useful and fun. Yue Zifeng’s single sentence struck a chord in Wang Jialing’s heart.
“Disciple greets Master,” Wang Jialing bowed to Yue Zifeng.
“Hahahaha, good!” Yue Zifeng laughed heartily, pulled Wang Jialing up, transformed into a rainbow light, and flew away.
Wang Pan’s eyes were full of envy, and it was his turn next.
“Wang Pan, Fifth Rank Miscellaneous Spiritual Root.”
The announcing Disciple read out Wang Pan’s test result, then motioned for Wang Pan to step down.
He was just like the other children with Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots and Pseudo Spiritual Roots.
Wang Pan was a little disappointed but didn’t dare to linger. Like the other children, he walked down the high platform and stood with the other Disciples assigned to the Outer Sect.
Of the two children who came from Qingxi Village, one embarked on a smooth path of Cultivation, while the other became an Outer Sect Disciple.
With the Aptitude testing complete, the two with Dual Spiritual Roots had already been taken away. The remaining fifty-odd children with True Spiritual Roots were carried by the female Core Formation cultivator on a very large ship, flying towards the misty Inner Sect Disciple area.
The remaining few hundred Outer Sect Disciples were divided into six teams, led by six Foundation Establishment Disciples down the mountain, heading separately to the Six Peaks of the Outer Sect.
They walked down the mountain and then walked up to the Six Peaks of the Outer Sect.
The journey was long and involved going up and down, leaving many children breathless.
Wang Pan, however, didn’t feel tired, as he had been accustomed to walking in the mountains to collect firewood since childhood.
The leading Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator had them line up again and said, “My name is Zhou Yan, and I am a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator. You, from now on, should call me Junior Martial Uncle Zhou.”
A clever child had already bowed and called out, “Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Zhou!”
“Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Zhou!” Wang Pan was the second to shout out.