Top Tier Choice

Under the gazes of the two men, the little boy placed his hand on the compass with an icy expression.

The next moment, Song Changsheng, who had been somewhat absent-minded, was immediately drawn in by a dazzling gleam.

A powerful azure light burst forth from the Spirit Testing Pillar. Song Luding cried out, "Five-Inch Wind Spirit Root!"

Song Changsheng's eyes widened abruptly. It was actually a Variant Spiritual Root, a Variant Spiritual Root rarely seen once in a hundred years!

"Wonderful! Heaven has blessed the Song Clan! With this child, the Lineage will surely recreate the glory of Ancestor Taiyi's era four hundred years ago!" Song Luding was so excited that tears welled in his eyes, and he nearly lost his composure on the spot.

Song Changsheng understood why he was so thrilled. The Song Clan Ancestor, Song Taiyi, had possessed a Wind Spirit Root back then. His Fast Sword Technique had reached a miraculous level, earning him the title of "Master Clear Wind." With Purple Mansion Mid-stage cultivation, he had once challenged a late Third-Tier Great Demon with his sword, his name shaking the Nineteen Prefectures of Great Qi.

After his passing, the old ancestor had inscribed all the insights and realizations of his life, all to continue producing masters of the sword path for the Lineage.

Unfortunately, his descendants had failed to live up to expectations. Over the centuries, countless people had cultivated the Fast Sword Technique, yet not a single one had grasped its true essence.

But this boy allowed Song Luding to see hope.

The aptitude of a Variant Spiritual Root was a genuine Purple Palace Seed. If he could achieve something on the sword path, then he would become the next Master Clear Wind, Song Taiyi!

"Good child, what is your name?" Song Luding crouched down, looking at the boy in front of him with eyes full of affection, as though he were gazing upon an unparalleled treasure.

"Song Xing." The boy's attitude was somewhat cold, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"Good, good, good. Go wait over there." Song Luding smiled so broadly that wrinkles spread across his face. He even deliberately lowered his voice, as though afraid of frightening him.

Song Xing came to Song Changsheng's side, raised his head, and asked, "My aptitude is very good?"

Song Changsheng smiled and nodded. "A Top Tier Choice."

"Oh." Song Xing nodded calmly. Other children would be beside themselves with excitement upon learning that they possessed Spirit Roots.

Yet when it came to him, it was as though nothing concerned him at all. From the moment he entered until now, Song Changsheng had not detected the slightest emotional fluctuation from him.

This could not help but worry Song Changsheng. Such an attitude might not necessarily be a good thing for the Lineage...

Logically speaking, upon encountering such talent, they had to report it immediately and have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator personally escort him.

But Song Luding was ultimately more seasoned and shrewd.

Though he was extremely excited, he had not lost his reason. At this time, no one besides the three of them knew about it, so Song Xing was absolutely safe.

If they ended the Immortal Ascension Assembly now, it would instead alert the spies of other factions. That would be like trying to hide a silver bar underground while leaving a sign above it. Better to act as though nothing had happened and secretly report it after the assembly ended.

At this stage, they only needed to pay attention to one thing—secrecy. Who knew how many people were watching them now?

The better they kept things secret, the safer Song Xing would be. Only if he was safe would he have room to grow.

Geniuses needed time to grow. A genius who could not grow was nothing more than rotten flesh by the roadside, white bones in a coffin.

Song Changsheng and Song Luding understood each other without speaking, acting as though nothing had happened and continuing the assembly as usual until all four cities had been tested.

Only then did they gather the children with Spirit Roots at the Garrison Manor.

The moment they arrived, Song Changsheng took Song Xing to explain what had happened to his mother...

"What? A Five-Inch Wind Spirit Root!" Xia Yunxue wore exactly the same expression Song Luding had earlier, astonishment mixed with delight.

"Mother, this matter is of great importance. Should we report it to the Lineage and ask an elder to come personally escort him?"

Xia Yunxue's willow brows furrowed slightly, and she shook her head. "That would be unwise. The Immortal Ascension Assembly is not only a grand event for the Lineage, but also for all of Ling Province. Who knows how many people inside and outside this place are watching our every move.

"If we rashly use a Sound Transmission Flying Sword, it may be intercepted midway. That would be troublesome."

"Then what should we do? If he travels with us, it is more than four hundred li. I'm afraid something may go wrong."

They had ridden Paper Kites when they came, reaching their destination in half an hour. But the return journey was different. With more than a dozen extra people, the Paper Kites could not carry them all, so they could only travel on foot.

"How about this? When you leave, Mother will take Song Xing and depart first. I'll secretly send him back to the Lineage."

"But you are responsible for guarding the city. If you leave your post without authorization, what if..." Song Changsheng did not finish, but his meaning was clear.

"It is fine. At my speed, even without riding a sword, a round trip will take no more than an hour. Nothing will happen in such a short time." Xia Yunxue spoke with calm confidence.

"Alright. I'll notify Clan Uncle now and have us set out as soon as possible, lest the night grow long and dreams grow many."

Song Changsheng arrived in the main hall and found that Song Luzi, who had arrived a step later than them, was also smiling as he spoke with Song Luding.

"Clan Uncle, it seems you had some gains over there." Song Changsheng asked with a smile.

Song Luzi said in high spirits, "Indeed. We found a child with an Earth-Gold Dual Spiritual Root. A talent of upper-middle grade."

Song Changsheng and Song Luding exchanged a glance, both returning smiles. In the past, an aptitude of Twin Spiritual Roots truly would have counted as an excellent harvest.

Unfortunately, Song Xing's Variant Spiritual Root had greatly overshadowed it this time. Of course, the fewer people who knew of this matter, the better, so they naturally could not tell him now.

"Worthy Nephew, what did Fifth Elder say?" Song Luding asked, giving him a meaningful look.

"Fifth Elder said it would be best to depart swiftly, lest the night grow long and dreams grow many. I have already obtained the Call for Help Jade Slip. If anything happens, she will come provide reinforcements." Song Changsheng blinked.

"Since that is the case, Your Younger Brother, then let us heed Fifth Elder's advice and depart early." Seeing that Song Xing had not followed him out, Song Luding understood at once.

Song Luzi was in such high spirits that he did not notice the concealed exchange between the two at all, and simply nodded in agreement.

Half an hour later, the five who had come, along with fourteen clan members possessing Spirit Roots, set out on the return journey. At the same time, Xia Yunxue secretly left the city with Song Xing.

Along the way, Song Changjiu said with some regret, "I thought there would be lots of people, but there were only this many."

"It is already quite good. The numbers may be small, but the quality is high." Song Changsheng smiled slightly.

With a Variant Spiritual Root, everything else had already become unimportant.

Song Changjiu thought he meant the child with Twin Spiritual Roots and muttered, "I thought there would be a Heavenly Spiritual Root. It wasn't easy for us to make this trip out."

"You, in another two years, you'll have plenty of time to stay outside." Song Luding stroked his beard and smiled.

Song Changjiu scratched his head and chuckled, saying nothing more.

When one was on the mountain, one always thought of going down it. Yet only after descending did one understand just how precious those days on the mountain had been...

They used Spiritual Power to shield the children, swiftly moving through the forest while chatting and joking.

Little did they know that danger was silently drawing near...

From the moment they left the city, they had already been watched by a group of people!

"Eldest Child, I saw clearly. There are only five Cultivators: two mid-stage, two late-stage, and one at Great Perfection, along with fourteen children."

A person completely shrouded in a black robe, reeking of foulness from head to toe, respectfully reported to the figure at the front wearing an Iron-Skin Rakshasa mask.

The Masked Person nodded in satisfaction and said in a hoarse voice, "As long as we seize this batch, the task Deacon assigned us will be complete."

"Eldest Child, they are Song Clan members. Are we really going to strike at them?" One Black Robe Person hesitated.

Though the Song Clan had declined, they were not easy to provoke in Ling Province. Crushing them to death would be effortless.

The Masked Person said displeasedly, "Hmph, have you forgotten whom we serve? What the hell is the Song Clan? Surround them and wait for my command. Anyone who dares resist, kill without mercy!"

"Yes!"

Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your votes and rewards. My deepest thanks~