Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

The selection process consists of three stages!

"The first test: examine bone age and explore spiritual roots before the 'Spirit Mirror'! Those with bone age exceeding the standard or spiritual roots that are too mixed and unsuitable for cultivation will be eliminated!"

"The second stage, 'Questioning the Heart,' tests one's character and perseverance! Those with impure intentions or weak will will be eliminated!"

"The third challenge, 'Enlightenment Platform,' will assess comprehension and potential! Those with low comprehension and lacking potential will be eliminated!"

"Those who pass all three tests and are comprehensively evaluated based on their performance will be selected as the top 100 to enter our academy!"

After the rules were announced, a stir ran through the crowd. Some, confident as they were, were eager to try, while others, worried, turned pale.

"Now, the first stage begins! Enter in order of your registration number!"

The enormous plaza entrance light screen opened, and the young people, filled with excitement, lined up to enter. In the first area, ten ancient-looking "Spirit Testing Mirrors" were set up, operated by disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

The boy placed his hand on the mirror, and the mirror displayed his true bone age and emitted light of different colors and intensities, representing his spiritual root attributes and purity.

The test results are displayed in real time on the water microscope.

"Zhang San, bone age fourteen, dual metal and wood spiritual roots, average!"

"Li Si, bone age fifteen, with water, earth, and fire spiritual roots, inferior! Eliminated!"

"Wang Wu, bone age thirteen, single Heavenly Fire spiritual root, top-grade! Excellent!"

Each test result elicited gasps or sighs from the onlookers. The eliminated teenagers walked out of the light screen dejectedly, some even bursting into tears on the spot.

Those with exceptional talent, however, walked proudly towards the second stage amidst the envious gazes of the crowd.

In the crowd, a dark-skinned boy dressed in patched, coarse cloth nervously pressed his hand to the mirror. The mirror flashed, displaying: "Stone Egg, bone age fourteen, earth-elemental single spiritual root, above average!"

"Good! Earth-type single spiritual root! Although it's only of medium quality, the attribute is pure! Pass!" the disciple in charge announced loudly.

The young boy, Shi Dan, grinned, revealing a simple yet excited smile. He vigorously wiped his hands and headed towards the next level. Behind him, several wealthy young men dressed in silk cast strange glances at him, seemingly surprised that a boy who looked like a little beggar had such good spiritual roots.

In another direction, a young man in brocade robes arrogantly pressed his hand against the mirror. "Chen Feng, bone age fourteen, single fire-type spiritual root, superior!"

The mirror shone brightly with red light, drawing gasps of amazement.

"It's Chen Feng, the young master of the Crimson Flame Sect!"

"A superior fire elemental root! Truly a genius!"

Chen Feng's lips curled up as he glanced at Mu Xiaoyun (a single-elemental wood-type spirit root, of medium quality) who was passing by, his eyes filled with a sense of superiority.

The selection process proceeded in a tense but orderly manner, with some being eliminated and others emerging as leaders. The Water Mirror Technique revealed everything, and although there were sighs of regret, no one questioned the fairness of the process.

The approximately two thousand people who passed the first test entered the second test—"The Path of Inquiry." This is a winding mountain path that appears ordinary but is actually filled with illusionary formations that reflect the desires and fears of the human heart, testing one's will.

The boys set off on the mountain path, initially walking together, chatting and laughing. But soon, the illusion array activated, and the scene changed drastically.

Some were tempted by mountains of gold and silver and stunningly beautiful women; others were plunged into terrifying illusions of venomous snakes, ferocious beasts, and the depths of hell; still others witnessed the tragic scenes of their sects being destroyed and their loved ones dying tragically...

"Ah! My spirit stones! They're all mine!"

"Mother! Don't leave me!"

"Monster! Get away!"

"No! Master! Junior Brother!"

Screams, cries, and roars echoed along the mountain path. Some were captivated by the illusion and stopped in their tracks; some were overwhelmed by fear and collapsed to the ground; while others were determined, ignoring the temptations or overcoming their fears, gritting their teeth and continuing to climb.

Before Shi Dan's eyes lay the scene of a severe drought in his hometown, a complete crop failure, and his parents on the verge of death. His eyes were red, his fists clenched, but he didn't stop, hissing in a low voice, "I want to become stronger! I want to give my parents a better life!" He continued forward with difficulty, step by step.

Mu Xiaoyun found herself in a labyrinthine forest, teeming with poisonous insects. Though frightened, she relied on her affinity for the plants to carefully identify and find a safe path, steadily making her way forward.

The illusion Chen Feng encountered was the most luxurious, depicting him inheriting the Crimson Flame Sect under the spotlight, wielding immense power.

He was initially captivated, but soon realized it was an illusion. Thinking of the sect's neglect of him and the legendary opportunities in the Dao Academy, he gritted his teeth, swung his sword to break the illusion, and continued upwards, though his face was somewhat gloomy.

Before the water mirror procedure, onlookers held their breath, watching the various expressions of the mountain boys, sighing with emotion.

"Hey, that kid, he's got his head on a few gold ingots, what a loser!"

"Look at that girl, she has a good temperament, she doesn't panic even when she encounters a group of snakes."

"That kid from the Crimson Flame Sect does have some self-control."

This round eliminated nearly half of the participants. Fewer than 1,200 made it to the finish line, all drenched in sweat and looking exhausted, but their eyes held an even stronger determination.

The final stage, "Enlightenment Plain," is a wide stone plain covered with countless profound basic runes. Dozens of fragmented stone carvings, ancient manuals, and even images of natural phenomena (such as flowing water, strong winds, and seeds sprouting) containing Daoist principles float in the air.

The voice of Qingxu Sanren rang out: "The final test: Comprehension! You have the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn to sit quietly and contemplate in this open space. You may observe the stone carvings, listen to the sounds of the Dao, and feel nature. After three incense sticks have burned, those who can stir up unusual spiritual energy within their bodies, or who have gained some clarity regarding what they have learned, will be considered truly fortunate!"

The remaining youths dared not slack off, and they all found places to sit cross-legged and concentrate on their studies. Some stared at the stone carvings in deep thought, some closed their eyes to listen to the faint sounds of Taoism in the wind, and some observed the swaying of a small blade of grass on the ground.

Time ticked by. Silence reigned on the open ground, broken only by the sound of the wind. Many frowned, having gained nothing. Others, however, began to emanate a faint spiritual light, resonating with a certain Daoist aura.

Shi Dan sat in front of a stone carving depicting the "Mountainous Formation," staring wide-eyed. He felt that the patterns of the mountain formation were somewhat similar to the trajectory of his spiritual energy flow when he cultivated earth-type techniques, but he couldn't grasp the key point, and he scratched his head in frustration.

Mu Xiaoyun stared blankly at a painting titled "Dead Trees Come Back to Life." She seemed to be able to sense the faint vitality contained within the withered branches in the painting. Subconsciously, she began to circulate her basic Everlasting Spring Technique, and pale green light spots appeared all over her body.

Chen Feng chose a tattered fragment of the "Wildfire" sword manual. He had a fire spirit root and a family tradition of learning, so he quickly became immersed in it, with flames flickering around his body as if he were deducing sword moves.

The most eye-catching figure was a silent young man dressed in ordinary monk's clothes, who went unnoticed by anyone. He neither looked at the stone carvings nor listened to the Daoist chants; he simply watched quietly as the wind rippled through a puddle of water in the courtyard.

As he watched, a gentle mist began to emanate from his body, subtly harmonizing with the ripples! Although the phenomenon was not strong, his understanding of harmony with nature caused Qingxu Sanren and the others on the high platform to nod slightly.

The three incense sticks burned out.

With a wave of his hand, Qingxu Sanren caused the strange phenomenon on the platform to disappear.

Ultimately, about a hundred people experienced varying degrees of spiritual energy fluctuations or significant insights.

Based on the performance in the first three rounds, a list of one hundred people was drawn up. As Qingxu Sanren read out each name in aloud, cheers and sighs erupted from the crowd.

"Stone Egg, Passed!"

"Mu Xiaoyun, approved!"

"Chen Feng, approved!"

"Water leaves no trace, passed!" (The silent boy observing the water)

Those whose names were called were overjoyed, and their teachers were moved to tears. Those who were not selected, on the other hand, were heartbroken.

The Hermit of Qingxu concluded, "Those selected should report to Qixia Valley Taoist Academy in three days! Those not selected should not be discouraged; continue your diligent cultivation, and opportunity will come! Qingyun Taoist Academy is not the only path!"

The selection process has come to an end.

Let reading always be a chapter faster than others.