Oh no, I accidentally cultivated three spiritual roots and became an empress!

Zhong Lingxin raised her vigilance towards Qu Xin to the highest level.

However, she didn't show it on her face.

She was already quiet, but when she introduced herself, she deliberately hunched her back and shrugged her shoulders, saying in a low voice, "I, my name is Zhong Lingxin, and like... like Zhong Muyun, I come from the Zhong family in Pingchuan City."

After introducing herself, she glanced at Qu Xin, just like any other child.

I looked at it with trepidation.

This time, she saw disappointment and contempt in Qu Xin's eyes.

Qu Xin clearly had no desire to listen to the rest of the self-introduction.

She made an excuse that she was thirsty and went to the front hall to have tea.

When she came back, she pushed aside a twelve-year-old girl next to Zhong Lingxin and sat down next to Zhong Lingxin, and started talking to her.

Unfortunately, Zhong Lingxin took her timidity to the extreme.

When Qu Xin asked, she answered sparingly, using only a few words.

Soon, Qu Xin became irritated and muttered under her breath, "That shouldn't be the case. Wasn't she said to be exceptionally talented and incredibly lucky? With this timid and submissive demeanor, where does her talent come from?"

Qu Xin believed that no one could hear her.

But what she didn't know was that Zhong Lingxin was extremely talented in music, and was very sensitive to every change in the notes.

Although Qu Xin's voice was faint and almost silent, Zhong Lingxin still caught the slight fluctuation in her voice.

Zhong Lingxin was secretly surprised. Had some blind fortune teller predicted that she was a future genius?

Qu Xin got up again, claiming she was thirsty.

This time, she didn't come out again until the flying boat entered the Qingyun Sect.

Zhong Lingxin was happy to have some peace and quiet, so she closed her eyes to rest, recalling Qu Xin's eight words: "extremely talented and incredibly lucky."

Clearly, Qu Xin came for her talent and luck.

The flying boat stopped in front of the Qingyun Sect's mountain gate.

Senior Brother Liao called out to the children that it was time to disembark from the flying boat.

Then, she accompanied Qu Xin as they walked into the mountain gate.

Zhong Lingxin followed the children off the flying boat and looked at the magnificent mountain gate of Qingyun Sect.

The plump steward in charge of registration, named Yu Letian, cheerfully led several disciples from the External Affairs Hall to count the number of people according to the list. He was already used to the children's awe and wonder at the mountain gate.

Every time a major event is announced every ten years, these children from small towns are filled with awe and wonder!

He was just as amazed when he first entered the sect.

Speaking of which, their Qingyun Sect was a first-class sect tens of thousands of years ago, and it was the largest sect in the entire Immortal Spirit Continent!

It's a pity that the sect is having bad luck; it's been getting worse year by year.

Sigh, he should just focus on his own job and not worry about so many things.

Even someone as diligent and conscientious as him, a junior manager, has his position coveted and wants to replace him.

He can't afford to neglect his duty!

Zhong Lingxin's group was among the last to return.

But there were those who came even later than them.

It is said that the disciples who went to the secular country to recruit people have not yet returned.

I've heard that the secular kingdom hasn't recruited any good disciples for hundreds of years.

The disciples of the Foreign Affairs Hall have already begun preparations for ascending the Heavenly Ladder.

The so-called "ladder to heaven" is the entrance exam for all the disciples recruited who have spiritual roots.

If you pass the exam, you'll ascend to the heavens in one step and become a disciple of the Qingyun Sect, officially embarking on the path of cultivation.

If you fail the exam, then go back to where you came from.

However, very few people fail the test.

In the world of cultivation, there are geniuses who work hard to cultivate, but there are also mediocre people who manage various industries and provide services for the geniuses.

Zhong Lingxin thought that it was too much of a waste to send people back after going through so much trouble and spending half a year or even a year or two to recruit them. It would be better to lower the standards and recruit them as servants to do the most arduous and complicated work.

In fact, her idea was correct; that's exactly what the sects of the Immortal Spirit Continent thought.

Another half month passed, and all the disciples who went to the secular country to recruit people returned.

The clouds and mist that had enveloped the ladder to heaven finally dissipated.

Manager Yu Letian reappeared in front of the group of children with a cheerful smile.

He pointed to the ladder to heaven and spoke with a smile.

His voice wasn't loud, but perhaps due to the added magic, the nearly ten thousand disciples standing before the Heavenly Ladder could hear him clearly: "Children, what lies before you is the Heavenly Ladder. Once you ascend it, you will ascend to heaven in one step, separating the mortal from the immortal. From this moment on, you will begin your path to immortality."

"The Heavenly Ladder has ten thousand steps, and you need to complete it within three days. During these three days, whether you walk, run, or climb, as long as you reach the top, you will all be considered disciples of this sect. Of course, those who reach the top first may become inner disciples, or even elite disciples or core disciples. Those who reach the top later may become outer disciples. Therefore, do not slack off and reach the top as soon as possible."

"Some disciples, for various reasons, ultimately failed to reach the summit. These disciples shouldn't worry. As long as you surpass three thousand steps, you can become a menial disciple of the sect. Surpassing six thousand steps, you can enter the various peaks of the sect and become a menial disciple there. Don't underestimate becoming a menial disciple on a peak. Aside from not receiving guidance from the master, the spiritual energy you enjoy is the same as that of the inner disciples on each peak. It's all the spiritual energy of that peak."

"Now, I announce the rules for these three days of climbing the ladder: Once you enter the Heavenly Ladder, your spiritual energy will be automatically sealed, and everyone will have to rely on their physical strength to climb. The sect will provide all participating disciples with three days' worth of food and water. During your three days of climbing, fighting is strictly prohibited. We will be watching everything that happens on the Heavenly Ladder through the viewing mirrors. Anyone who disobeys will be disqualified from being accepted as a disciple, and in serious cases, the sect will severely punish them according to the sect rules, including the possibility of killing them. I will say this three times: Fighting is strictly prohibited during the climbing period! Fighting is strictly prohibited during the climbing period! Fighting is strictly prohibited during the climbing period!"

"Start now!"

The children lined up in long rows, received food and water at the entrance to the ladder to heaven, and all busily began to climb upwards.

Zhong Lingxin and Zhong Muyun lined up together, received food and water, and climbed up with the others.

Zhong Muyun wanted to walk faster.

Zhong Lingxin stopped him: "Fifth Brother, don't exert too much force right from the start, or you'll run out of energy later."

A little boy's voice came from the side: "Yes, don't exert too much force at the beginning. My family taught me to take it easy and climb the ladder slowly. The further you go, the more tiring it gets."

Hundreds of people were already walking leisurely beside them.

As these people walked by, several of them greeted the little boy next to Zhong Lingxin.

The little boy waved in response to their greetings, and didn't forget to talk to Zhong Lingxin: "Where are you from? You're not from a family of cultivators, are you? You're really amazing. At such a young age, you know to take it easy without being taught!"