After Yin Qingyuan announced the age limit, no one present left.
It was impossible for those who came here not to know if their age met the standard; Falling Cloud Valley was secluded deep in the mountains, and the journey was long. If they couldn't even pass such a strict regulation, they wouldn't idly come here to endure the wind and dew.
Since they had already come, how could they be willing to leave without trying?
Seeing this, Yin Qingyuan stopped the idle talk. With a wave of his hand, two Falling Cloud Valley Disciples swiftly carried over a wooden table behind him, on which lay a transparent jade stone about a foot in size.
Upon seeing the Spiritual Root Testing Stone on the table, Qi Yuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The Spiritual Root Testing Stone used by Falling Cloud Valley was not of high quality; it was an Elementary method for testing Spiritual Roots. With the ‘Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger’ talent given by the System, he could easily fool it.
If he encountered a high-grade Spiritual Root Testing Stone of enormous size, like those in Tai Xuan Holy Land, that would be troublesome.
Of course, high-grade Spiritual Root Testing Stones were extremely rare and precious, and a small School like Falling Cloud Valley couldn't acquire them.
“Spiritual Root Aptitude is the foundation of the Great Dao. Without a Spiritual Root, no matter how great your ability, you cannot embark on the Dao.”
“The first stage of the assessment is Spiritual Root testing. Only those with Spiritual Root Aptitude of Four Spiritual Roots or above can enter the next round.”
“Next, please line up and place your hands on the Spiritual Root Testing Stone in order. The Spiritual Root Testing Stone will automatically display the tester’s Aptitude.”
Yin Qingyuan’s voice spread throughout the venue, making everyone’s spirits lift.
Soon, a short, thin young man was the first to walk to the table and carefully place his hand on the Spiritual Root Testing Stone.
The next moment, a faint five-colored light slowly appeared on the Spiritual Root Testing Stone.
“There’s a reaction!”
The short, thin young man’s face was filled with excitement, and he eagerly turned to look at Yin Qingyuan.
“Five Spiritual Roots, unqualified. Next.”
Yin Qingyuan was expressionless.
“Ah?”
Upon hearing this, the short, thin young man wilted like a frosted eggplant, returning to his original position dejectedly.
Then, one tester after another nervously stepped forward to receive judgment.
“Gold, Earth, Fire Three Spiritual Roots. Good Aptitude, passed.”
“You have no Spiritual Root, unqualified.”
“You have no Spiritual Root, unqualified.”
.......
Most of those present were Mortal descendants. Except for some Loose Cultivators and young masters from influential families like Wang Luchuan, whose families had Cultivators, others had no way of knowing if they had Aptitude.
Therefore, this stage was an exciting lottery. Those whose Spiritual Roots met the requirements were ecstatic, with hopes of immortal Dao, while those with no Spiritual Roots or waste Spiritual Roots were dejected and eliminated, making the atmosphere extremely tense.
Soon, Wang Luchuan, under everyone’s gaze, stepped forward spiritedly and placed his hand on the Spiritual Root Testing Stone.
Subsequently, a blue-green light suddenly burst forth from the Spiritual Root Testing Stone, significantly brighter than that of the Three Spiritual Roots Cultivator just now.
Seeing this, Yin Qingyuan nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile:
“Wang Luchuan, Wood and Water Dual Spiritual Roots, excellent Aptitude, passed.”
“Hiss! It really is Dual Spiritual Roots!”
“Young Master Wang is mighty and domineering!”
“Young Master Wang is amazing!”
......
Amidst a flurry of flattery and applause, Wang Luchuan glanced provocatively at Lin Zhen, who was stunned frozen not far away, and walked away smugly.
After Wang Luchuan, several more individuals whose Spiritual Roots met the requirements passed.
Qi Yuan slowly walked to the front, calmly placing his hand on the Spiritual Root Testing Stone.
The next moment, a distinct four-colored light bloomed on the Spiritual Root Testing Stone.
“Qi Da, Four Spiritual Roots, passed.”
The entire process was uneventful, just like his current appearance, attracting no attention. Only Bai Xirou specifically looked at him, a subtle hint of regret in her beautiful eyes.
Bai Xirou had a good impression of this “courageous” Loose Cultivator. She had arrived a bit late yesterday, and if he hadn’t acted in time, the young man she wanted to save would have died.
Although this person’s appearance was rather plain, he was at least a kind and helpful individual, a clear stream in this cultivation world where immortal virtue was increasingly decaying.
Unfortunately, his Four Spiritual Roots Aptitude meant a difficult Dao path, with no hope of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime.
Noticing Bai Xirou’s gaze, Qi Yuan nodded at her, returning a smile, but secretly lamented in his heart:
I’m already so low-key, and I’ve disguised myself to be so ugly, yet I can still attract the attention of a beautiful female Cultivator. This damn charm, it really can’t be hidden.......
The original owner was a Five Spiritual Roots, which was a waste Spiritual Root. Only after a System enhancement did it increase to the level of Four Spiritual Roots, just enough to pass Falling Cloud Valley’s Spiritual Root test.
Although he only needed to reveal his true Aptitude to shock the entire audience and blind everyone in minutes, he should not forget that his purpose here was not to show off, but to complete the mission without revealing his identity, so he naturally couldn’t be too ostentatious.
......
“Liu Yingying, Four Spiritual Roots, passed.”
“Lin Zhen, Three Spiritual Roots, passed.”
At this moment, Yin Qingyuan announced Lin Zhen’s Spiritual Root Aptitude, and Qi Yuan was immediately stunned.
Out of curiosity for the Prodigy of Fortune, he had specifically used a secret technique yesterday to probe the other party’s Spiritual Root Aptitude when Lin Zhen wasn’t paying attention.
But the last result was clearly Four Spiritual Roots, so how did it become Three Spiritual Roots overnight?
He looked thoughtfully at Lin Zhen’s right hand, not knowing what he thought of, and found that the mysterious ring had disappeared at some point, as if it had never existed.
As expected of the Prodigy of Fortune, even I misjudged him. How terrifying!
After everyone had completed the first stage, less than 30% of the testers were qualified to stay for the next round, a truly frightening elimination rate.
Of course, this result was already enough to satisfy Falling Cloud Valley. The entrance test was held every three years, and last time, less than 20% of the Spiritual Roots were qualified.
Except for certain mystical families with special Bloodlines, among Mortals, those with Spiritual Roots were often one in ten, and most of them were Five Spiritual Roots.
Although Five Spiritual Roots possessed all Five Elements, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi they sensed was impure and difficult to draw into the body, hence they were called waste Spiritual Roots.
Therefore, although Four Spiritual Roots were not excellent, many small and medium-sized Sects would still take them in. After all, being able to Cultivate meant a glimmer of hope for cultivation, which was better than doing nothing and waiting for the Legacy to be cut off.
“Now for the next round.”
With that, Yin Qingyuan flicked his robe sleeve, and the dense fog at the valley entrance quickly dispersed, vaguely revealing a winding path.
From the outside, it was verdant with trees, birds singing and flowers fragrant, a scene of serene tranquility.
“As long as you pass through this path and successfully complete the Heart-Nature test, you will automatically become a Disciple of our Falling Cloud Valley School.”