As those over thirty years old descended the mountain, the real exam finally began.
Under the stern gaze of the middle-aged man with the hawkish features, an Inner Sect Disciple stepped forward to inspect their Spiritual Roots.
He exuded an aura distinctly different from the Outer Sect Disciples.
He gave off the impression of being a cut above them. Even in Yuk-gyeong's eyes, the Inner Sect Disciple seemed brimming with confidence and extraordinary poise compared to the Outer Sect Disciples.
The Inner Sect Disciple gestured, first calling over those under twenty.
The kids, who had been standing in a neat line, maintained their order as they came forward and stood before him.
The Inner Sect Disciple grabbed the wrist of the kid at the front of the line and recited their Spiritual Root in his characteristic detached tone.
"Five Spiritual Roots!"
"Four Spiritual Roots!"
"Oh, Three Spiritual Roots!"
"No Spiritual Root! Down the mountain!"
The kids under twenty could only proceed inside if they weren't without a Spiritual Root.
Under the middle-aged man's strict gaze, the Inner Sect Disciple didn't seem tempted to cheat even slightly.
Aside from a few exceptions among the kids, only a handful remained with Spiritual Roots; the rest had to descend the mountain.
Occasionally, some of the kids burst into tears upon being declared without a Spiritual Root.
In those cases, a few Outer Sect Disciples came out to console them and send them down gently.
They even console the kids? Well, sure. Humanity overflowing like that makes sense. I can't stand seeing kids cry either.
Yuk-gyeong's suspicions about this being a Demonic Sect lingered unresolved.
Next came the young adults over twenty but under thirty. There were about ten of them.
The young adults all swallowed hard, visibly tense.
Even Yeong-yeong, the young woman who'd chatted with Yuk-gyeong earlier, was in this line—right behind him.
"Those over twenty! If you're not at least Three Spiritual Roots, down the mountain."
"Five Spiritual Roots! Down the mountain!"
"Four Spiritual Roots! Down the mountain!"
"You're over thirty! Down the mountain!"
A young man protested at the command to descend. He'd been sweating coldly for a while—was he lying about his age?
"I'm just thirty-one! Let me take the exam, please!"
"Begone!"
The man who had tried to fake his age slunk away, shoulders slumped.
This is where Yuk-gyeong was shocked. Truly shocked.
Daring to deceive the sect, yet no punishment—just sent down? This lenient? Is this really a Demonic Sect? Cheating's a grave offense!
For the first time, Yuk-gyeong seriously doubted if this place was indeed a Demonic Sect.
It had been a nagging suspicion all along.
From the first test being a mountain hike, to leniently sending down the over-thirties without protest, and even consoling crying kids.
So he quietly asked Yeong-yeong standing behind him, voice laced with doubt.
"Miss, the Radiant Moon Sect is supposed to be that infamous Demonic Sect, right?"
Yeong-yeong blinked back at Yuk-gyeong's question, as if it was utterly absurd.
"Pardon?"
"The Radiant Moon Sect. How could an infamous Demonic Sect be this lenient..."
"Of course it's not a Demonic Sect. The Radiant Moon Sect is a grand Righteous Path sect. Why would you think it's Demonic?"
"On the road, someone said it was an infamous sect..."
"Good grief, whoever said that was malicious. Where else is there a sect as bright and righteous as the Radiant Moon Sect? It's even more steadfast on the Righteous Path than the Moon Purity Sect, one of the three great Righteous Path sects alongside it..."
What? Not a Demonic Sect?
Then what about my Lustful Immortal Path?
What about this Pluck Yin to Supplement Yang technique?
Righteous Sects don't allow that stuff!
As Yuk-gyeong whispered with Yeong-yeong, an Outer Sect Disciple glared and shushed them. Of course, lost in shock, Yuk-gyeong didn't hear it.
"Quiet!"
Meanwhile, the Spiritual Root checks continued. He coldly sent the young adults down one by one.
"Four Spiritual Roots! Down the mountain!"
No one among those over twenty and under thirty had advanced inside yet.
Three Spiritual Root holders were that rare.
They were among the rarest Spiritual Root possessors, especially among the older ones. Plus, those from Ten Lakes who hadn't been tested until now were either newcomers from outside or stubborn folks who'd been confirmed rootless but clung to hope.
As no Three Spiritual Root holders emerged from the front, the young adults gulped nervously. Seeing them sent down one after another without roots, they feared the same fate.
Only Yuk-gyeong remained unfazed. He knew he had a precious Single Spiritual Root.
Even the Outer and Inner Sect Disciples wore bored expressions.
They knew Three Spiritual Roots were rare, so they assumed none of these over-twenty youths would qualify today.
Then, an unexpected event occurred.
It happened with the person five spots ahead of Yuk-gyeong.
Suddenly, the Inner Sect Disciple gasped loudly while checking Spiritual Roots. Coming from someone who'd been impassive and calm throughout, it startled everyone.
Of course, the Disciple himself was the most surprised at his own outburst.
"Th-this! Single—wait, Two Spiritual Roots! Go over there."
Two Spiritual Roots!
The words "Two Spiritual Roots" instantly stirred up the crowd.
The young man, stunned but thrilled at the verdict, couldn't hide his joy.
"Two Spiritual Roots? How long since the last one?"
"With Two Spiritual Roots, he's basically guaranteed Inner Sect."
"If he follows the Five Saints well and progresses smoothly, he might even become a direct disciple under an Elder."
The Outer Sect Disciples assisting the exam buzzed with excitement.
The other Inner Sect Disciples, forgetting Elder Geum was nearby, let out gasps of admiration.
A clearing of the throat made them straighten up, and the Outer Sect Disciples fell silent.
The Two Spiritual Root youth grinned smugly, basking in the attention as he proceeded inside.
The entrance exam continued.
Next person, next...
"No Spiritual Root! Down the mountain!"
Before long, the Inner Sect Disciple reached Yuk-gyeong. Aside from the Two Spiritual Root youth, no other young adult had passed.
The excitement from the Two Spiritual Root discovery had mostly faded.
True, Two Spiritual Roots were rare and exceptional, but one emerged every few decades, and the sect had a few already. So the initial focused stares had dulled.
The five ahead of Yuk-gyeong had all failed.
Now it was Yuk-gyeong's turn.
Yuk-gyeong had mostly recovered from the shock of learning this wasn't a Demonic Sect. So what if it's not? Cultivation is cultivation.
Lustful Immortal Path, demonic arts—those are fleeting. Becoming an Immortal for eternal life is the real prize.
So what if Pluck Yin to Supplement Yang is off-limits? The path to Immortality lies through the Righteous Path anyway. Since it's a Righteous Sect, I'll just cultivate steadily and patiently.
Yuk-gyeong rationalized it vigorously.
Having settled his mind, he swallowed nervously anyway. Exams always tense you up. Even knowing I'm a Single Spiritual Root holder...
The Inner Sect Disciple mechanically grabbed Yuk-gyeong's wrist, just like before.
As he infused spiritual energy to probe Yuk-gyeong's Spiritual Root,
Yuk-gyeong vividly felt the energy entering his body. The flow from his wrist was crystal clear, almost tangible.
This was thanks to the astonishing spiritual energy sensitivity of a Single Spiritual Root.
The Disciple's spiritual energy traveled up the wrist to the chest, groping for the illusory Spiritual Root within.
Knock knock!
No sound actually occurred, but to Yuk-gyeong, it felt like the energy was knocking on his Spiritual Root.
The Inner Sect Disciple, examining Yuk-gyeong's Spiritual Root, momentarily lost his words.
He was utterly dumbfounded, his face paling with shock.
Then, with an expression of disbelief, he shouted loudly.
"S-S-Single Spiritual Root?"
Single Spiritual Root! Yuk-gyeong's Single Spiritual Root!
The atmosphere differed from the Two Spiritual Root reveal. If that had been gazes of genius admiration, now everyone stared at Yuk-gyeong as if he were some indescribable being.
Thus, the murmurs erupted after a long silence.
The Outer Sect Disciples chattered like a marketplace in awe, while the Inner Sect Disciples couldn't hide their shock.
They all seemed to forget Elder Geum was right there.
"Single Spiritual Root? For real?"
"Single Spiritual Root! Really? No mistake?"
"Single Spiritual Root... the treasure of the capital sects, the legendary Single Spiritual Root!"
The Moon Kingdom's population was about ten million.
Among them, only around a thousand had Spiritual Roots—a one-in-ten-thousand chance.
Most were Five or Four Spiritual Roots, with Three Spiritual Root holders being a scant handful.
Two Spiritual Roots were so rare they appeared maybe once every few decades.
A Single Spiritual Root holder?
An existence that might emerge once every few centuries!
Capital sects would immediately treat a Single Spiritual Root holder as a core disciple.
With one, reaching Core Formation was a smooth path at minimum.
It was essentially recruiting a Core Formation powerhouse-in-waiting—and potentially far higher realms.
"How long since the Radiant Moon Sect last had a Single Spiritual Root holder?"
"The Great Grandmaster before last was one, so it's been centuries."
"Heavens. Will the Radiant Moon Sect become a Single Spiritual Root-possessing sect again?"
The Inner and Outer Sect Disciples buzzed for a good while.
The wave of excitement showed no signs of subsiding.
That was the immense impact of a Single Spiritual Root holder.
Their entry could unsettle even Outer and Inner Sect Disciples alike.
This stir wouldn't die down easily.
Only the Two Spiritual Root youth glowered, envious that this newcomer had stolen the spotlight meant for him. Without this, he'd have been the standout talent of this batch as a Two Spiritual Root holder.
Regardless, the Disciples ignored the Two Spiritual Root youth, eyes fixed solely on Yuk-gyeong.
But soon, remembering Elder Geum's presence, they cautiously glanced his way. Would he clear his throat again, signaling them to quiet down?
Elder Geum...
"A Single Spiritual Root!"
Was utterly aghast.
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