Hong Zhou, dressed in his white sect uniform, headed to the ceremony.
The students also referred to professors as sect elders or teachers.
And some of the professors had already arrived at the location where the students would be tested.
The sect had outer, inner, and core disciples, as well as outer, inner, and core professors. The higher your cultivation and talent, the higher the position you would hold in the sect.
There were three inner professors and one outer professor present with Hong Zhou, making a total of five professors.
"Cultivation, the path to becoming immortal, depends on your talent and your spiritual roots. Spiritual roots are classified as low, high, earth, sky, and heaven. We will assess your talent and spiritual roots during this selection process. Based on your abilities, you may be admitted to the inner sect or remain in the outer sect," announced the middle-aged elder, who was the head professor of the inner sect. He was known for being strict and seldom smiled at others.
"Everybody is born with spiritual roots, which mature at the age of 15. After maturity, there is no way to increase the level of your spiritual roots unless you take some miraculous medicine," the middle-aged man continued, glaring at the youths.
"Whoever I point to will come up and take the test. I will be assessing your spiritual roots; if your spiritual root is low, then you will not qualify for the test." The middle-aged man pointed emotionlessly at one of the youths.
"You, step forward."
The youth approached cautiously, his legs trembling and his face drenched in sweat. The middle-aged man placed his hand on the youth's abdomen and directed some true qi into his body.
"Failed. Stand to the left."
The youth suddenly felt all his strength and motivation drain away. Despair filled him, but there was nothing he could do.
Meanwhile, Hong Zhou closed his eyes to access his Astral Archive.
A book titled "Yang Sen" materialized.
< Yang Sen is an orphan with nowhere to go; he plans to join the Luo Celestial Sect to cultivate and survive.>
< Cultivation level: 0>
< Profound Bloodline: Sea Dragon God>
< Spiritual roots: Water (Earth)>
"Hidden genius, I will take him," Hong Zhou thought.
He opened his eyes and approached the youth, saying, "Hey, will you be my personal disciple? I'm not asking you to be a disciple of the sect; I want to be your master."
"What are you doing, Hong Zhou? I'm not done with the selection!" The middle-aged man, Wang Feng, was always displeased with Hong Zhou since his sister, the sect leader, favoured him. Perhaps he was just jealous.
"I don't have all day, Wang Feng; I have a schedule to keep," Hong Zhou replied.
Wang Feng was furious. "What did you just say to me? You, without a cultivation base at the age of 23, dare to talk back to me? You're only an elder because of the sect leader. How dare you!", He was prepared to attack him immediately.
""I see where this is going, but I don't have time for your games, Wang Feng. And regarding the cultivation issues, you know I'm poisoned, so don't pretend I wouldn't have surpassed you if I weren't," Hong Zhou retorted.
He turned to Yang Sen and said, "What do you say, Yang Sen? Will you come back with me, or will you return to the streets? Choose wisely."
How does he know my name? And he even knows I have nowhere to go back to. This is a rare opportunity—I can't miss it.
Yang Sen pondered for a few seconds before kneeling down. "I, Yang Sen, greet my new master."
"Stand up and come with me." Hong Zhou and Yang Sen left the ceremonial grounds immediately.
"You must be curious how I know your name, right?" Hong Zhou asked.
"Yes," Yang Sen replied.
"Well, I know a lot of things. It's just one of my specialties as a professor. By the way, do you know what a bloodline is?" Hong Zhou asked his disciple.
"No, master. What is a bloodline?" Yang Sen asked, curiosity on his face.
"You can't just answer questions with questions. I'll tell you what a bloodline means when I'm back from the library - that's my cave abode. Go there and wait for my return." Hong Zhou pointed towards the right side of a mountain.
He watched Yang Sen climb the mountain before he headed to the library.
"My goal is to read everything in the library. I'm sure I can find something meaningful and useful to cure my poison," Hong Zhou muttered.
A few minutes later, he arrived at the library. There was security outside, an old man with a white moustache.
"Can I see your token, please?" the old man asked, stretching his hand forward.
F**CK. What is a token? Is it like the badge in my pocket? Let me just give that to him; I pray he lets me inside.
Hong Zhou thought.
"Here," he handed over the badge to the old man.
"Hong Zhou, you're the only elder with no cultivation base." The elder gave him a quick stare. "You have five hours."
Hong Zhou let his emotions out and flashed a strange devilish smile. "Thank you very much, sir."
He entered the library and started opening and closing books, checking everything from martial arts to acupuncture to cooking, leaving nothing out.
The old man was watching from outside, and there was another professor inside the library observing him as well.
He is trying to impress me; he's disturbing me. Why did he follow me to the library?", The young, beautiful professor thought.
"Hey, why did you follow me to the library? If you're trying to impress me, you're disturbing the peace in here," she said to Hong Zhou.
Hong Zhou didn't respond. She walked up to him again and said, "Hey, I'm talking to you. Are you not going to answer me?"
"Sorry, who are you? Please leave if you're done; you're actually disturbing me," Hong Zhou replied.
The young professor was dumbfounded. She held Hong Zhou's hand and said, "Didn't you hear what I said? Stop opening those books and get out."
Just then, a new book appeared in Hong Zhou Astral archive, compelling Hong Zhou to close the one he was reading to check it out.
The book was titled "Li Won."
.....….
Hmm, it looks like the Astral archive only shows flaws of people who have started cultivating, but this is very good information. I will take it.
"Young lady, please let go of my hand. This book I'm opening is about martial arts. I'm looking for a book that can cure my poison before I die. Or do you want to kill me yourself?" Hong Zhou asked.
She felt embarrassed and struggled to respond, "I'm...I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Hong Zhou had actually found the books on poison he was looking for from the astral archive a few minutes ago, but he wanted to remain in the library to learn about all the martial arts he could.
Hong Zhou continued opening all the books until nothing was left to explore.
As he was about to leave the library, the security guard looked at him and shouted, "Hey you! Here's your badge! What did you read? You used to take some book's to read at your our cave abode as you used to, you have left me heavily disappointed," the old man said.
Hong Zhou ignored the old man's words and simply walked away.
"Don't ever come to this library again!" the old man shouted.
"I won't need come here anymore, old man," Hong Zhou replied while was rushing back to his abode