The villagers in the square widened their eyes in both joy and nervousness as they urged their children to line up. However, a few looked at Wei Shun's way, wary of how famous his status as the chosen one was.
Thus, nobody dared to take the first step, afraid that it would incur Wei Shun's displeasure. Ming He furrowed his brows upon noticing the awkward atmosphere.
The village chief, old and hunched, stepped forward with a modest smile on his wrinkled face.
"Let the other children go first. Wei Shun is surely destined. Save him for the last. Is this arrangement sufficient, Daoist Ming He?"
Ming He nodded, "Hmm… very well. Let us test the lesser seedlings before the favored one."
Wei Shun, on the side, felt smug but also a little impatient inside.
Why delay what everyone already knows?
Despite this, his family stepped aside, letting the children line up toward the large stone tablet.
"Liu Shan, go." Said the village chief, before the boy called Liu Shan stepped forward in a trembling manner and touched the stone.
Nothing.
Ming He shook his head. "No spiritual root. Step aside."
"Hu Mei."
A faint shimmer sparked on the first leaf, then it died. "Weak spiritual root. Unfit."
"Zhou Liang. Cai Fen. Deng Wei…"
One by one, they tried, and one by one, the tablet stayed cold. The crowd's murmurs grew restless.
Was this the harsh reality of immortality, that even one in a million could never partake in such a journey?
It continued until at last, they turned toward the favored children.
"Chen Liang."
A young boy strode forward, his broad shoulders carrying the strength of countless hunts. His skin was darkened by the sun, his hands calloused from countless labor, yet his back remained straight as a pillar, like part of the village itself.
"Brother Liang, good luck!" Wei Shun greeted from the sides.
Chen Liang looked toward him and smiled, waving his hands in excitement.
"Brother Shun, I'll go first!" he took a deep breath and slowly strode forward. Each step carried immense weight from both his scholarly father and his family.
If he could become an immortal, even if he had an average spiritual root, then it would be the best. At the very least, he would discard the title of being Caojing Village's young martial artist.
Looking back at it, his father has always scorned him for pursuing the path of body cultivation, always nagging that regardless of how tempered one's body was, it was no match for a cultivator.
Now, as he looked forward at the stone tablet, he felt that he might have an answer to that soon.
His rough hands touched the cold stone tablet. At that moment, it glowed modestly up to the third leaf, far brighter than any other before.
Ming He trembled inside, joyous that the stone tablet had finally reacted.
"Chen Liang. Medium-grade spiritual root. Passed!"
The announcement rendered the entire village impressed. The village chief's eyes looked at Chen Liang in a new light.
Even Chen Liang's father, who was coldly watching from the side, harrumphed while vigorously fanning himself, afraid to let out even the slightest happiness from within.
Chen Liang withdrew his hands from the stone tablet and waved his arms around excitedly. Ming He waved his hands at Chen Liang.
"You can step aside now."
Chen Liang bowed to Ming He before running back to Wei Shun.
"Brother Shun, I did it!"
Wei Shun extended his hand, carrying a bright smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Brother Liang. I'll follow up with you later!"
Chen Liang shook hands with his great brother, content that he would become an immortal. Wei Han and Wei Ling also congratulated Chen Liang's success.
"Next, Zhang Yuexin!"
Ming He's voice silenced the rowdy villagers and brought their attention to a young girl stuck with Wei Shun.
"I'll be going first, Wei Shun!"
She spoke faintly, approaching with small, careful steps. Her slim figure was framed by the plain cotton dress she wore. Her eyes darted nervously, her first pressed lightly to her lips as if to hide her unease.
As her delicate hands touched the stone tablet, the five leaves lit up one by one, their glow brighter than Chen Liang's.
Ming He was surprised and shouted in praise.
"Zha… Zhang Yuexin! Superior spiritual root. Passed!"
His eyes twitched upon realizing that something wasn't right.
He, an old man, had visited countless villages before this, yet none could make the stone tablet react. To think such a group of talented children was all drawn from here…
Zhang Yuexin couldn't help but tremble upon hearing Ming He's words.
Superior spiritual root?! But how?!
She turned her back and looked at the smiling Wei Shun. Her face reddened, and she tried to hide it under her trembling hands.
She knew that her fate had changed today, and it was for the better.
Ma Cheng, who looked at Zhang Yuexin's reddening face, twisted in anger. His fists clenched, but since the test wasn't finished yet, he composed himself.
"Next, Ma Cheng!"
After hearing Ming He's words, Ma Cheng strode without a care in the world, almost bumping into Zhang Yuexin's frail figure.
Ignoring the villagers' disgusted looks, Ma Cheng quickly touched the stone with unwavering confidence.
The stone tablet suddenly shone with great brilliance, lighting up until the 6th root, and even had a chance to reach the last leaf. The dazzling light almost blinded everyone except Ming He.
"Top… Top spiritual root! No, this is… an Earthly Grade root! Passed!"
Ming He was speechless. Each favored child was more talented than the last.
Impossible! Utterly impossible! A small village like this, hiding monstrous talents?!
If this were in a large city, he could understand. But Caojing Village was some backwater place nobody had ever heard before!
The brilliance retreated like a tide, and Ma Cheng, shocked for a moment, suddenly laughed out loud, his voice echoing into the forests.
The village chief narrowed his eyes, unsure of what to say in the current situation.
Ma Cheng has always been second behind Wei Shun. And now this…
He was put in a difficult situation.
Wei Shun's immortal talent remained unknown. If there was, it was okay, even if the grade was lower than Ma Cheng's. But if he didn't, then that would be a cause of concern for him.
Wei Shun has been built as a figure far above the rest for countless years. Should it fall today, even an idiot could discern what would happen next.
Meanwhile, as Ma Cheng returned to the crowd, he looked at Wei Shun smugly, raising his head like an emperor against a peasant, looking down towards ants from his seat in the heavens.
Zhang Yuexin and Chen Liang felt indignation rising from within themselves.
Don't be too smug, Ma Cheng. Wait until Brother Shun showcases his talent!
"Brother Shun, don't worry! I know that your spiritual root will be far better than Ma Cheng!" Chen Liang patted Wei Shun's shoulders.
Zhang Yuexin nodded from the sides, supporting Chen Liang's words.
Wei Shun took a deep breath and shook off the nervousness welling inside. I still have my chance, I know it!
"Next, Wei Ling!"
Upon hearing her name, Wei Ling's hands trembled as her father gently pushed her forward.
Wei Ling shuffled, her small figure almost swallowed by the crowd's expectant gazes.
Her hair, tied simply with a cloth ribbon, swayed as she moved. Though her steps were hesitant, her wide black eyes sparkled with both fear and hope, the kind of innocent light only a child could carry.
The moment her palm pressed against the cold stone, the entire heavens suddenly shook, trembling as if it was about to fall. The stone tablet shook incessantly, pressured by something otherworldly.
Though no leaves were lit up, Ming He raised his head and looked above. His eyes witnessed how the dark clouds gathered within the village square. Faint lightning cracked through space, about to impart a heavenly tribulation.
This is… the Heavenly phenomenon described in the legends. Is it the Heavenly Spiritual Root?!
"Young girl, withdraw your hands from the tablet, now!"
Ming He's shout drew everyone's attention, especially Wei Ling, who quickly stepped back.
The clouds dispersed and sunlight returned, confusing everyone who thought that the world was about to end. Ming He sighed in relief that he was able to warn Wei Ling on time.
If that tribulation was to fall, I can only damn myself for being careless!
Then, he looked at Wei Ling one more time, anxious in his heart about the thought of taking the girl as his disciple.
This girl… is so talented. Qingquan Hall is going to limit her. She can only be put in that place…
Amidst his thoughts, the village chief approached him and asked in confusion.
"Daoist, this is…?"
Ming He knew what they were worried about, so he explained.
"This young girl is a great fortune for your village. I cannot disclose her exact situation, but I will take her on my journey. Rest assured that she will be treated extremely well!"
Everyone muttered under their breath, wondering what kind of talent Wei Ling had for the old man to praise her this highly. After all, being taken as a disciple by him was a blessing, but to be taken into a sect much better than the old Daoists meant that Wei Ling was more extraordinary than they thought.
In fact, Ming He glanced towards Wei Shun and wondered.
If the little sister is already like this, what more of her older brother?
Thus, Ming He waved his hands and told Wei Ling to return.
"Brother! Dad! Sister Yuexin! I thought something terrible happened, so I…"
The girl almost cried, thinking that the old man wanted to berate her for her weak talent.
"Wei Ling, oh, Wei Ling!" Wei Han looked at his trembling daughter with complicated feelings, "It's okay now, it's okay."
He comforted her with words while expectantly looking at his son. Wei Shun, my son, you can do it!
"Next! Wei Shun!"
At last, only Wei Shun remained. The villagers leaned forward, holding their breath. Even Daoist Ming He's eyes glinted with expectation, as if already certain of the outcome.
Wei Shun stepped up to the stone tablet. His palm pressed against the cold surface, and for a moment, he stood tall, confident that the glow would come.
But nothing happened.
The tablet stayed dark. Still. Dead.
A tense silence spread across the square. Whispers died in people's throats. Even the wind seemed to stop moving.
Wei Shun's eyes widened. How… how could this be? The thought had never once crossed his mind.
Daoist Ming He's gaze hardened, and his words fell like heaven's mandate:
"Wei Shun. No spiritual root. Rejected!"