Top Tier Choice

Under the watchful eyes 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 absentminded, was instantly drawn in by a dazzling flash of light.

A brilliant azure radiance erupted from the Spirit Testing Pillar. Song Luding cried out, "A five-inch Wind Spirit Root!"

Song Changsheng's eyes flew wide. It was actually a Variant Spiritual Root—a Variant Spiritual Root rarely seen even once in a century!

"Wonderful! Heaven has blessed the Song Clan! With this child, the Lineage will surely reclaim the glory it possessed four hundred years ago in Ancestor Taiyi's time." Song Luding was so overwhelmed that tears filled his eyes, and he nearly lost his composure on the spot.

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

Before passing away, the old ancestor had recorded all his lifelong insights and experiences, all so that the family could continue producing masters of the sword.

Sadly, his Descendants had failed to live up to expectations. Over the centuries, countless people had cultivated the Fast Sword Technique, yet not one had managed to grasp its true essence.

But this boy gave Song Luding hope.

A Variant Spiritual Root was a genuine Purple Palace Seed. If he could achieve something in the Sword Dao, then he would become the next Master Clear Wind, Song Taiyi!

"Good child, what is your name?" Song Luding crouched down and looked 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's face crinkled into a smile. He even deliberately lowered his voice, as though afraid of startling him.

Song Xing came to Song Changsheng's side and looked up at him. "Is my aptitude 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 Spiritual Roots.

Yet when it came to him, he seemed indifferent to everything. From the moment he entered until now, Song Changsheng had not detected the slightest emotional fluctuation from him.

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

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

But Song Luding was ultimately more seasoned and shrewd.

Though he was exceedingly excited, he had not lost his reason. At this moment, besides the three of them, no one knew that Song Xing existed, so Song Xing was absolutely safe.

If they halted the Immortal Ascension Assembly now, they would instead alert the Spies of other factions. Then it would be like trying to hide silver underground while hanging a sign above it. Better to act as if nothing had happened and secretly report it after the assembly ended.

At this stage, there was only one thing they needed to focus on—secrecy. Who knew how many people were watching them now?

The better their secrecy work, 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 but rotten meat by the roadside, white bones in a coffin.

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

Only then did they gather the Children with Spiritual Roots at the Garrison Manor.

The moment they arrived, Song Changsheng took Song Xing to explain the Whole Story to Mother...

"What? A five-inch Wind Spirit Root?" Xia Yunxue's expression was exactly like Song Luding's had been, shock mingled with delight.

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

Xia Yunxue's Willow Brows furrowed slightly as she shook her head. "That would not be appropriate. The Immortal Ascension Assembly is not only a grand event for the Lineage, but also a grand event for all of Ling Province. Who knows how many people inside and outside 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 over four hundred li. I'm afraid something might go wrong."

They had ridden a Paper Kite when they came, arriving in half an hour. But returning was different. With more than a dozen additional people, the Paper Kite could not carry them all, so they could only travel on foot.

"How about this? When you leave, Mother will take Song Xing and set out ahead of you, secretly escorting him back to the Lineage."

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

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

"Alright. I'll go notify Clan Uncle at once so we can depart early, lest long nights bring many dreams."

Song Changsheng arrived in the main hall and discovered 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 found something on your side." Song Changsheng asked with a smile.

Song Luzi said in high spirits, "That's right. We found a child with Earth-Gold Dual Spiritual Root—a fine, above-average aptitude."

Song Changsheng and Song Luding exchanged a glance and both smiled. In the past, the aptitude of a Twin Spiritual Root would indeed have counted as an excellent harvest.

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

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

"Fifth Elder said we should set out as quickly as possible, lest long nights bring many dreams. 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, younger brother, let us heed Fifth Elder's advice and depart early." The moment Song Luding noticed that Song Xing had not followed him out, he understood at once.

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

Half an hour later, the five people who had come, along with fourteen clansmen possessing Spiritual Roots, embarked on their return journey. At the same time, Xia Yunxue secretly left the city with Song Xing.

Along the way, Song Changjiu said somewhat regretfully, "I thought there would be lots of people, but there were only this few."

"This is already quite good. Though the Numbers are small, the quality is high." Song Changsheng Smiled Slightly.

With a Variant Spiritual Root, everything else was no longer important.

Song Changjiu thought he meant that child with the Twin Spiritual Root and muttered, "I thought there'd be a Heavenly Spiritual Root. It was Hard-earned for us to make A Trip out here."

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

Song Changjiu scratched his head, chuckled, and did not Say More.

When they were on the mountain, they always thought of going down. But only after descending did they realize how Hard-earned those days on the mountain had been...

They used Spiritual Power to shield the Children, swiftly making their way 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 little ones."

A person shrouded from head to toe in a black robe, emitting a filthy aura all over, 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 gave us will be complete."

"Eldest Child, they're Song Clan people. Are we really going to make a move against them?" One Black Robe Person hesitated.

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

The Masked Person said unhappily, "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~