Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

On one side of the square, under a makeshift canopy, several important figures were seated. These were Elder Li Xiaocao of the Dan Hall, Elder Zhao Qingyan of the Zhen Hall, and Elder Su Xiao of the Internal Affairs Department, who were here on Shen Mo's orders to personally oversee the first large-scale recruitment drive.

Today, Li Xiaocao wore a light green dress, looking fresh and lively. Looking at the bustling crowd before her, her little face was filled with amazement and sympathy.

"My God... so many people! Elder Han said that in Black Stone Village alone, more than 20,000 children have registered in just three days! When will we be able to get tested? So many of the children look... so young, so pitiful."

She noticed some emaciated children in the group, dressed in patched clothes, but with a longing for the unknown shining in their eyes, and couldn't help but feel pity for them.

Zhao Qingyan, still dressed in a plain white Taoist robe, was as aloof as jade. Upon hearing this, she said calmly, "Senior Sister Xiaocao, the sect leader's pioneering act is a great merit and a great cause and effect. Although there are many people, we must not disrupt the rules."

"While spirit stones can distinguish the quality of spiritual roots, one must be especially careful in discerning character and innate qualities to prevent unscrupulous individuals from infiltrating."

Her gaze, like the most intricate array, calmly swept across the crowd, paying particular attention to children accompanied by cultivators or those with distinct temperaments.

Su Xiao sat in the middle, a roll of names spread out in front of her. Hearing this, she looked up and said softly, "Junior Sister Qingyan's concerns are very valid. Little Sister Xiaocao also doesn't need to worry too much. The sect has already allocated a large amount of 'Grain-Breaking Pills' and clean water to distribute to the people waiting in line. Testing cannot be rushed; stability is the priority."

"I have deployed more Shadow Guards to infiltrate the crowd, firstly to maintain order and prevent riots; secondly, to see if anyone is trying to take advantage of the chaos."

A barely perceptible chill crept into the corner of her lips. Such a grand event was bound to attract unwanted attention; other forces might try to plant spies within it.

As they were talking, the testing in the square had already begun.

"Next! Wang Xiaohu, son of Wang Tiezhu from Wangjiazhuang, is eight years old!" a disciple called out loudly.

A dark-skinned, burly man nervously pulled a chubby-faced boy up onto the platform.

The boy looked at the dark mass of people below the stage and the faintly glowing spirit-testing stones, and felt a little scared, so he hid behind his father.

"Child, don't be afraid, just put your hand on the stone," the disciple in charge guided gently.

Wang Xiaohu timidly reached out and pressed his hand on the cold spirit-testing stone. One second, two seconds... the spirit-testing stone did not react at all, only emitting its own faint white light.

A hint of regret flashed in the disciple's eyes, but he still said gently, "No spiritual root. Next."

The man's expectant look instantly turned to disappointment. He sighed, took his bewildered son's hand, and silently walked down from the platform, his back slightly hunched. A low sigh rippled through the crowd below, a sound of shared sympathy.

This scene repeated itself endlessly. The vast majority of children showed no reaction after having their spirit-testing stones pressed, signifying their path to immortality was severed. Hope rose, only to be shattered; the atmosphere in the square, amidst the clamor, carried a heavy, oppressive weight.

"Next! Li Xiuer, daughter of Li Ren from Li's Pharmacy in Qingniu Town, is ten years old!"

A little girl, dressed in a clean floral dress and with pigtails, walked timidly onto the stage. Her father, a middle-aged man with a weathered face, stood by, bowing repeatedly.

The little girl pressed her tiny hand onto the spirit-testing stone. In an instant, a small, soft, vibrant green halo appeared at the center of the stone! Though faint, it was clearly visible!

"Huh? Wood-type spiritual root! Low grade! Qualified!" The deacon's eyes lit up, he announced loudly, and quickly recorded it on the roster.

"Ah! Xiu'er has spiritual roots! Xiu'er has spiritual roots!" The apothecary owner, Li Ren, was first stunned, then overjoyed. In front of everyone, he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly towards the main peak of Qingyun Mountain, "Thank you, Immortal Sect! Thank you, Immortal Master! This old man kowtows to you!"

The little girl, Li Xiuer, also realized what was happening, her face flushed with excitement.

A murmur of envy immediately rose from the audience. Hope had been rekindled!

The testing continued amidst a mix of hope and despair. Occasionally, a spiritual root aptitude would appear, mostly the most common low-grade five-element spiritual roots, but even these were enough to change the fate of a family.

"Next! A rogue cultivator, Liu Feng's nephew, Liu Xiaodao, age twelve!"

A tall, thin boy, dressed in a faded coarse cloth jacket but with eyes as wary as a wolf cub, walked onto the stage alone. His uncle, a weathered-looking rogue cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, nervously rubbed his hands together below the stage.

Without hesitation, young Liu Xiaodao placed his palm on the spirit-testing stone.

hum!

The spirit-testing stone trembled violently, and an incomparably sharp golden light, seemingly capable of cutting through the air, suddenly erupted! The brilliance of the light far surpassed that of any of the previous ones! It even faintly emitted a soft sword-like sound!

"This...this is! A metal-type spiritual root! Mid-grade! No...almost top-grade!" The disciple exclaimed in disbelief, his voice trembling with excitement!

Under the pergola, Li Xiaocao, Zhao Qingyan, and Su Xiao's eyes were instantly drawn to it!

"Such pure metal-elemental spiritual energy!" A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Qingyan's beautiful eyes. "If this child cultivates the way of the sword, his future will be limitless."

Su Xiao quickly flipped through a simple roster beside him and whispered, "Liu Xiaodao, twelve years old, his uncle Liu Feng, a rogue cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, who spends most of his time hunting low-level demonic beasts on the outskirts of the Black Wind Mountains. He has a clean record and no criminal record. This boy... can be closely observed."

Li Xiaocao stood up excitedly: "A golden spiritual root nearing the top grade! This is an excellent seedling needed for alchemy and weapon crafting! Xiaocao must write this down and tell Senior Brother Sect Leader and Elder Han when we get back!"

The young Liu Xiaodao felt countless burning gazes around him, but he didn't panic. He simply pursed his lips tightly, his eyes flashing with a determination beyond his years. His uncle, Liu Feng, was already moved to tears.

However, the subsequent tests caused the atmosphere on the platform to freeze slightly.

"Next, Zhang Heng, a member of the Zhang family from Heyuan City, is nine years old." The disciple in charge called out the name, his tone seemingly a little flat.

A middle-aged man in a brocade robe, with an arrogant expression, led a similarly well-dressed boy with a slightly raised chin onto the stage. The boy had bright, lively eyes, but his brows carried a hint of spoiled arrogance.

"Heng'er, go ahead and let the immortal master see your talent." The middle-aged man seemed polite, but his tone carried an air of taking it for granted.

Zhang Heng casually placed his hand on the spirit-testing stone. The stone emitted a solid, earthy-yellow halo of light.

"Earth-type spiritual root, upper-middle grade," the disciple announced expressionlessly.

"Only slightly above the middle grade?" Zhang Heng seemed somewhat dissatisfied, pursing his lips. His father chuckled, seemingly humble but actually boastful, "Hehe, middle grade is acceptable, acceptable. Heng'er is usually very clever at home."

At this moment, Su Xiao, standing under the shade of the pavilion, nodded slightly to one of the shadow guards standing beside him. The shadow guard left silently. A moment later, an encrypted message was delivered to Su Xiao.

Su Xiao glanced at them, a cold smile appearing on his lips, and whispered to Li Xiaocao and Zhao Qingyan, "The Zhang family of Heyuan City has a marriage relationship with the 'Black Sand Gang' controlled by the Earthly Fiend Gang, and there has been an inflow of unknown funds recently."

"Zhang Heng's spiritual root talent is undeniable, but his father, Zhang Lan, is likely acting under orders to send his son into our sect as an inside agent."

Zhao Qingyan's eyes turned cold: "They've come after all. What should we do?"

Su Xiao said calmly, "The spiritual root test will proceed as scheduled. Once you enter the academy, you must abide by the rules of our sect. As for whether they can pass the subsequent 'Heart-Questioning' assessment, that depends on their fate."

"Perfect opportunity, let's see which other monsters and demons will jump out."