Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 138 Spiritual Root Selection

In recent years, the outside world has been in chaos, but Yunshui Town has been largely unaffected.

The reason for this, besides its remote location, is also largely due to the unique existence of the Shen family.

With close ties to Luoxia Mountain and Qiyun Valley, and a member of the family favored by the Sword Immortal Lingshan, no one wants to provoke them unless absolutely necessary.

As a result, the lives of the people in Yunshui Town are relatively quiet and peaceful, and the population has naturally increased significantly.

Inside the Shen family ancestral hall, after Shen Wenxing announced the selection of spiritual roots, the stewards of several affiliated clans were overjoyed.

After becoming affiliated clans of the Shen family, these people not only diligently carried out the tasks assigned by the Shen family, but also racked their brains to figure out how to do better than others.

In their view, the Shen family had immortals who possessed divine favor and a large number of elixirs and cultivation methods bestowed by immortals.

If one's family performs well, they might receive a divine reward and have the opportunity to embark on the path to immortality.

"Young Master, should we charge a fee for this spiritual root testing?"

Among the people present, a middle-aged man who was not tall but appeared very shrewd asked obsequiously with his hands clasped.

In Anyang City, the Shengxian Pavilion charges two taels of silver for each spiritual root test.

Even if the Shen family only receives one or two taels of silver this time, they will still make a large sum of money.

Shen Wenxing glanced at him and vaguely remembered that the man's name was Lü Cong, a martial artist in the late stage of the Acquired Realm.

The Lü family behind Lü Cong is a large clan with three martial artists who currently manage Dayan Village and Xiaoyan Village, the northernmost part of Yunshui Town.

"The Shen family isn't short of a few measly coins."

Upon hearing this, Lü Cong's smile froze slightly as he realized he had misunderstood his master's meaning.

He hurriedly cupped his hands and smiled, "Yes, yes, yes, it was my shortsightedness that led me to this."

Shen Wenxing ignored him and continued to look at the crowd, saying:

"This selection of spiritual roots will not only be free of charge, but if a celestial seedling with spiritual roots is found, the Shen family will also offer a reward."

"Gentlemen, please do not have any ulterior motives. If you mess things up, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Upon hearing this, everyone present tensed up and repeatedly said they dared not.

Subsequently, Shen Wenxing announced the mining of the Qingling Stone vein, requiring each village to send at least fifty able-bodied men to mine, and the Shen family would pay them wages.

After announcing the important matters, he inquired about the problems and ideas the group had encountered in governing the villages, and offered his corrections one by one.

……

Blackwater Pavilion.

Shen Yuan returned to the pavilion.

Hearing the noise, Shen Wen'an came down from the second floor carrying a storage bag.

"Father."

“These are things given to you by your master. Please study them later.”

Shen Yuan took the storage bag, his feelings quite complicated.

He always felt that having a teacher like Pei Zhao was a blessing for his son.

It's a pity about Qiyun Valley...

“Master also gave me three array plates. I have studied them and plan to set up the Cloud and Mist Illusion Array and the Mirror Flower and Water Moon Illusion Array in the forest around the little pine tree.”

"Let's keep the remaining Golden Array Plate in our manor."

He was still shaken by the incident where Zhang Yuan and his group sneaked into the Shen family home in the middle of the night with the intention of committing murder.

If he hadn't sensed the killing intent and acted beforehand...

My family members may have met with misfortune.

Although he has been expelled from Qiyun Valley, he will basically not leave Blackwater Pavilion.

But if there's anything important that requires you to go out, there needs to be at least one person at home to provide security.

The Golden Light Array is a purely defensive array. It only requires a small amount of spiritual energy to operate normally, but it consumes a large amount of spiritual energy when it is fully activated.

Shen Yuan nodded, but then frowned.

"In the wilderness and forests, two formations suddenly appeared out of nowhere. If other cultivators were to discover them, they would find it too abrupt."

Protecting the small pine tree with two arrays shouldn't pose any problem for ordinary people.

However, if a cultivator from the immortal path were to happen to pass by and see the two formations, he would surely become suspicious.

There's an awkward feeling, like "protesting too much."

"Go and set up the formation first, and I'll think about it some more."

After waving for Shen Wen'an to leave, Shen Yuan began to consider how to make the two arrays around the small pine tree appear more reasonable.

After some thought, he immediately left Blackwater Pavilion and sent someone to fetch Zhao Shuan.

Inside the private room, Zhao Shuan held a teacup and frowned, saying:
"You mean to build a courtyard at the place where the python was discovered?"

That place is over a hundred miles away from Blackwater Pool. He didn't quite understand why he wanted to build a house there.
"The martial arts school down the mountain is too small, so I plan to move it over there."

Shen Yuan provided an explanation, and Zhao Shuan suddenly understood.

"Then...should I go and discuss this with Brother Qingzhou?"

Since it was about building a martial arts school, Zhao Shuan thought it would be better to ask Huang Qingzhou to go and take a look together.

Shen Yuan nodded and said, "Then go back and see if your brother is free, and take him with you."

"Wen'an has already gone to set up the formation. Shuan-ge, ask him later to make the courtyard as big as possible and not to be too stingy with the money."

Zhao Shuan responded and left.

The leaves turn from green to yellow, and autumn begins again.

On this day, many villagers from Yunshui Town, led by the heads of their respective villages, brought their children to the foot of Blackwater Pool.

"Gentlemen, we need to send word that the child can be handed over to our respective tribal leaders to take up the mountain, and the accompanying family members can wait at the foot of the mountain."

"The mountain is the place of cultivation for the main family members. These people do not know the rules, so they should not disturb the peace of the main family."

In the crowd, a tall, slender, and scholarly-looking elderly man looked down at the chaotic crowd and spoke in a deep voice.

His name was Chen Sanxing, the head of the prominent Chen family. Before the immortal descended, he had served as a minor official in the prefectural government for several years.

After the immortal descended and the Yu Kingdom became a mere shell of its former self, Chen Sanxing returned to Yunshui Town and ran his own business with his brothers and nephews.

The other clan deacons beside him nodded slightly.

"Brother Chen's consideration is indeed wise. If we let these people come up the mountain, it will be as chaotic as a market. If the boss sees this, he will think that we have not disciplined them properly."

After the officials agreed, the members of each tribe who were accompanying them hurriedly went down the mountain to announce and carry out the order.

At the entrance of the Shen Family Ancestral Hall, Shen Wenxing, Huang Qingzhou, and Huang Qi sat together, with Zhao Jinhu standing beside them.

"Young master, there are quite a few people here!"

As the long procession, resembling a dragon, slowly approached the ancestral hall at the foot of the mountain, Zhao Jinhu chuckled and spoke.

Shen Wenxing glanced at the long queue and nodded slightly.

He estimated that at least two or three thousand people had come to participate in the testing.

I just don't know how many immortal seedlings with spiritual roots will be found in the end. I hope it won't all be for nothing.

"Father-in-law, Brother Qi, let's get ready." The Shen family doesn't have a magic array like the Ascension Pavilion that can detect spiritual roots, so the task of screening spiritual roots still has to be done by the three Qi Refining cultivators themselves.

Huang Qingzhou and Huang Qi nodded, and the three of them stood at the top of the steps.

Before long, six stewards from affiliated clans led all the children who were going to participate in the selection down the mountain to their side.

"Young Clan Chief, Master Huang, everyone has been brought." Chen Sanxing respectfully bowed.

Shen Wenxing nodded: "Let's begin."

The six stewards bowed and made way for the people who were lined up below, allowing them to walk forward in groups of three.

For someone with divine sense, checking whether a person has spiritual roots is very quick.

By simply touching their bodies and releasing one's divine sense to sense them slightly, one can discern whether they possess spiritual roots by observing the degree to which their bodies are compatible with the various spiritual energies of heaven and earth.

"next."

"next."

……

One child after another came forward, and then left in the blink of an eye, as if they were just going through the motions.

Beside them, Chen Sanxing and the others stood at a distance, all craning their necks to look, their faces showing both tension and anticipation.

The group had mixed feelings. They hoped that no immortal seedlings would be born in their villages, so as not to affect the status of their affiliated clans.

They also felt that if a celestial seedling appeared, the family would be able to gain prestige in front of the main family, which would be considered a merit and they could benefit from it.

Under the agonizing gazes of the group, one-third of the selection process had already passed without them realizing it.

Some of the six already looked dejected.

"what?"

Just then, Huang Qingzhou, who was standing to Shen Wenxing's left, placed his hand on a little girl's shoulder, and a look of surprise instantly appeared on his face.

As if afraid he had made a mistake, he carefully examined it again.

Five elements spiritual root, four elements in balance, wood element...

"Stone, look at this."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing reached out and put his hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Is it a wood spirit root?"

Shen Wenxing nodded with a smile on his face.

"Girl, what's your name?"

He bowed slightly and looked at the little girl, who appeared to be about seven or eight years old, and asked her a question.

The little girl seemed to come from a very poor family. The floral print shirt she was wearing had obvious patchwork marks, and her face was sallow due to malnutrition. Two pigtails were tied crookedly on her head.

Meeting Shen Wenxing's gaze, the little girl seemed unaware of what was happening, her eyes filled with fear. She instinctively took a half step back, too frightened to speak.

In the distance, six clan leaders noticed the situation and all stood on tiptoe to look.

"That girl seems to be from our Xiushan Village!"

Chen Sanxing was tall, and he immediately recognized the little girl in front of Shen Wenxing.

"Young master!"

"Young master!"

Seeing that the little girl didn't respond, Chen Sanxing hurriedly waved his hand and shouted, "I know her!"

Shen Wenxing stood up, glanced at him, and beckoned him to come forward and talk.

Upon seeing this, Lu Cong and the others all felt a hint of jealousy in their eyes, but they still cupped their hands and said, "Brother Chen, congratulations."

Chen Sanxing cupped his hands in a smug gesture towards them.

"Make way, everyone, please make way."

He squeezed out from behind the group, hurriedly climbed the stone steps, and came to them.

After carefully examining the little girl and confirming that he had not mistaken her for someone else, he respectfully cupped his hands to Shen Wenxing and said, "Young Master, this is Chen Youran, the youngest daughter of Chen Zaicheng from Xiushan Village. She is seven years old this year."

Shen Wenxing nodded slightly.

Chen Sanxing had already realized that Chen Xiucai, who had been talented but unappreciated and impoverished for half his life, might finally have a stroke of good luck.

He immediately chuckled and squatted down, saying, "You Ran, do you recognize me?"

"In terms of seniority, your father calls me Seventh Uncle, so you should call me Seventh Grandfather."

The little girl looked somewhat bewildered and remained silent.

Chen Sanxing then asked, "Did your father bring you here this time?"

Chen Youran shook her head slightly and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "My mother brought me here... Father went to town to sell his calligraphy."

"Alright." Seeing that Chen Sanxing was still racking his brains to reminisce and build relationships, Shen Wenxing interrupted and looked at Chen Youran, saying, "You can stand behind me for now."

"Clan Chief Chen, please go and invite this girl's mother here later."

Chen Sanxing stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and retreated after responding to the call.

"continue!"

Huang Qi shouted, and the crowd below the mountain continued to move forward.

After a long selection process, near the end, Huang Qi discovered a boy of about eleven or twelve years old who seemed to possess spiritual roots.

After confirming repeatedly, it was determined that the boy was a celestial seedling with a fire-type spiritual root.

Unlike Chu Youran, the boy was timid and gave his name directly when Shen Wenxing asked him.

"Young master, I come from Black Stone Village, and my name is Shi Miao."

"My father's surname is Shi, and my mother's surname is Miao."

Shen Wenxing nodded in satisfaction and had her stand behind him, next to Chen Youran.

"It's getting dark, we need to hurry."

Huang Qingzhou spoke, and the three of them slightly increased their speed.

Soon, all the children had been screened.

Ultimately, out of nearly three thousand children in the entire Yunshui Town, only Chen Youran and Shi Miao, two immortal seedlings with spiritual roots, were discovered.

The other children were also taken down the mountain by the stewards one after another.

Shen Wenxing led Shi Miao and his son, along with Chen Youran and her son, into the ancestral hall.

“From this day forward, the two of them will remain on the mountain to cultivate. All their food, clothing and other necessities will be provided by my Shen family.”

"From this day forward, I will reward your two families with fifty taels of silver and exempt them from all taxes. If these two children achieve success in their cultivation in the future, my Shen family will bestow other rewards upon them."

Upon hearing this, the two men excitedly cupped their hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you very much, young master!"

Shen Wenxing waved his hand: "No need for that, go back."

After seeing the two off, Shen Wenxing asked Zhao Jinhu to arrange accommodations for them, while he prepared to rush home to tell his father the news.

On his way back to the manor from the ancestral hall, Shen Wenxing suddenly noticed an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a gray-blue robe, walking slowly towards him at the foot of the mountain.

(End of this chapter)