After the announcement echoed, the elders turned and walked to their respective seats. The symbols on their robes indicated the type of cultivation they used. The disciple candidates lined up neatly, ready to be called one by one to test their spiritual roots.
The crowd cheered, most of them parents with high hopes for their children. If a candidate succeeded, they would receive many benefits from the sect, from money to daily necessities. Nevertheless, the missions given by the sect were often dangerous, commensurate with the large pay promised.
The life of a cultivator could make someone rich and famous. They were often tasked with protecting villages, exploring the wilderness, or solving mysteries.
This world also held many ancient relics called ruins. Inside them lay artifacts and even gold coins that could bring instant wealth.
These ruins typically appeared suddenly, marked by strange phenomena. This was why so many people dared to take on such a dangerous profession.
The ruins were legacies left by ancient cultivators before they ascended to higher realms and were full of perilous challenges. Sects often sent their elite disciples to explore them.
Watching from the third floor, Ji Tianwei saw the first person step forward for the spiritual root test. It was a scruffy-looking boy with messy hair. When he touched the testing stone, it shone with a green light.
Ji Tianwei was puzzled. He didn't understand why the color of the light from each candidate was different, and he found it strange that the color green seemed to be the most common.
"Father, is the spiritual root a power they use? What's the difference between that and cultivation?" Ji Tianwei asked innocently.
Xiao Chao replied, "A spiritual root is an innate talent that determines the speed of one's cultivation. The purer the spiritual root, the faster a person can cultivate."
"If a spiritual root determines talent, do I have one too? And what's the difference with a dantian?" Ji Tianwei asked.
"A dantian is the point where the Qi absorbed during cultivation gathers and solidifies," Xiao Chao explained. "This is what determines their progress. The denser the Qi in the dantian, the higher the stage of cultivation."
Ji Tianwei nodded. It seems I still have a lot to learn, he thought to himself.
Ji Tianwei asked again, "Father, can a damaged dantian be repaired? And if a dantian is broken, does their spiritual root also disappear?"
"As far as I know, a damaged dantian cannot be repaired. And if it's broken, their spiritual root will also vanish," Xiao Chao answered. "My son, if you can't cultivate, you can also use artifacts."
"Father, do artifacts also have certain powers?" Ji Tianwei asked.
Seeing Ji Tianwei smile—he didn't seem to care that he couldn't cultivate and instead looked full of hope—Xiao Chao replied, "Yes, son. Artifacts have specific powers and come in various forms. So, if you can't cultivate, you can rely on artifacts." He gently stroked Ji Tianwei's head.
Ji Tianwei smiled to himself. The puzzle in his mind had been solved.
Oh, so that's how it is. Artifacts have specific powers. That must be why that young man looked so relaxed. Maybe the artifact he has can hide his identity. I want it. Since it seems the elders and Father can't sense what I can, isn't this my chance to get my first artifact? Haha, Ji Tianwei thought, his eyes filled with a mischievous glint.
...
The atmosphere in the candidate testing area was now buzzing. Many people cheered joyfully, watching the spiritual root tests, hoping their children would have a bright future. Meanwhile, other parents looked crestfallen.
The elders of the Blue Lotus Sect also seemed pleased with the potential of the candidates. However, a few elders remained silent, as if they knew that having potential alone was not enough.
After a long period of watching, Ji Tianwei's mind was once again filled with questions. When someone touched the testing stone, why did the colors differ, and why were some lights bright and others dim?
Do the color and brightness determine the rank of a spiritual root? Ji Tianwei wondered as he watched the candidates being tested on the black stone.
Ji Tianwei turned to Xiao Chao again. "Father, do spiritual roots have ranks? Why are some lights bright and others dim when they touch the stone?"
Xiao Chao was happy that Ji Tianwei was asking questions. He thought his son might become the strongest cultivator in the future. His quick mind and insight, just from observing, showed great potential.
"Yes, son. Spiritual roots also have ranks. The brighter the light, the higher the rank of the spiritual root. Spiritual roots are also made up of natural elements, like fire, water, earth, and more. That's why the colors are different when they touch the stone," Xiao Chao explained. "However, a very small number of people have dual spiritual roots. They may cultivate more slowly, but they tend to be superior to those with a single spiritual root."
Upon hearing his father's explanation, Ji Tianwei's eyes lit up, and the questions in his heart were finally answered.
So that's how it is... Now, it's just a matter of waiting, Ji Tianwei thought.
"Thank you so much for the explanation, Father. I'm so happy, hehe," Ji Tianwei said with a wide smile on his small face.
...
After a long wait, it was the suspicious young man's turn. When he placed his hand on the black stone, it glowed with two colors: red and blue, indicating the elements of fire and water.
Hmm, so he has a dual spiritual root, Ji Tianwei thought, his eyes narrowing.
"My son, look! Someone with a dual spiritual root. Isn't this interesting, haha?" Xiao Chao said.
"Yes, Father, I've never seen one before," Ji Tianwei replied, a false innocence on his face.
"Haha, this is excellent! Maybe he can join my department," one of the elders said, clapping his hands.
The elders shared similar thoughts, believing that if the young man joined their department, their sect's popularity would soar.
Many spectators wondered where the young man was from. In all the recruitment events at Hundred Rivers Village, they had never seen a candidate with a dual spiritual root.
Elder Lin Qingyu asked the young man, "Young man, what is your name and where are you from? Why did you choose this sect over the others?"
The young man replied respectfully, "Elder, my name is Yi Feng. I'm from the north. I want to become a disciple of the Blue Lotus Sect because it has a good reputation and most of its disciples are women."
Elder Lin Qingyu laughed, looking pleased. "Very well. Strive in the second round. May you get what you wish for."
"Yes, Elder. I will do my best," Yi Feng said respectfully.
Ji Tianwei laughed inwardly at the sight. Hahaha, those words make me want to burst out laughing. No, no. If Father sees my movements, he might get suspicious. But I have to hand it to you, Yi Feng. What a liar, he thought.
The spiritual root testing round finally concluded. The afternoon sun shone on the spectators and elders, who were very satisfied and looked forward to the next round: sparring practice.
"THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED OUR DISCIPLE RECRUITMENT EVENT. WITH THIS, THE FIRST ROUND IS COMPLETE. THE EVALUATION FOR THE FIRST ROUND IS BASED ON THE RANK OF YOUR SPIRITUAL ROOTS. ONLY ONE HUNDRED FIFTY CANDIDATES WILL PROCEED TO THE SECOND ROUND, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW!" a booming voice from one of the sect elders announced.
The entire recruitment field, from the spectators to the elders, dispersed. They returned to their homes and regions.
Xiao Chao and Ji Tianwei stood up from their seats. As they left, Ji Tianwei shouted to his older sister, Xiao Qing, "Sister, come home quickly! I miss you!" while waving his small hand.
Xiao Qing, hearing the faint cry amidst the dispersing crowd, waved back and smiled.
"Senior Sister, why didn't you go see him in person?" Bing Ying asked.
"Calm down, Junior Sister. I'll go home tonight and bring him a surprise, hehe," Xiao Qing replied.
"Don't forget to take me with you," Bing Ying said.
"Yeah, yeah, but you have to help me pick out the surprise, okay?" Xiao Qing countered.
"Okay. We'll ask for permission once we get back to the sect. Oh, by the way, Senior Sister, what do you think of Yi Feng?" Bing Ying asked.
"He's good, but we'll see tomorrow if he passes the second round. Even with a dual spiritual root, it'll still be difficult for him to fight against a candidate with a single spiritual root at a higher cultivation stage," Xiao Qing answered.
"Hmm... you have a point. Senior Sister, do you want to make a bet?" Bing Ying said, nudging Xiao Qing.
"Hey, stop that. What's the bet?" Xiao Qing asked.
Bing Ying leaned closer to Xiao Qing's ear. "Senior Sister, if I win, can I play with your little brother?" she whispered.
"Okay, if I win, you have to stay away from my little brother forever, haha," Xiao Qing laughed, accepting the bet.
After their conversation, Xiao Qing and Bing Ying returned to the sect. They flew away quickly on their flying swords, disappearing into the distance. The recruitment field was now empty.
Night soon fell. Xiao Chao and Ji Tianwei returned home. As they walked through the village center, Ji Tianwei passed by Yi Feng, who was wearing a hood. They glanced at each other, both smiling with a mischievous glint in their eyes. Just you wait, they both thought.