Testing

Li Qingfeng listlessly flipped through a book, his mind completely absent from cultivation.

Tu Shan Jun saw it all.

There was nothing wrong with a young man wanting to witness a grand occasion. It was only a matter of a few days; once it passed, it passed.

Since he had no mind for anything else, he might as well enter meditation and sleep.

Mists and clouds curled around him as Li Qingfeng sank into a dream.

Taking up a fighting stance, Li Qingfeng called out, "Ghost Brother, I've already defeated the Mountain Goblin. Does that mean I can challenge you now?"

Li Qingfeng dearly wanted to know just how powerful the Main Soul evil ghost was.

Tu Shan Jun shook his head. With a wave of his hand, a Fierce Ghost clad in black robes appeared before Li Qingfeng.

His expression shifted slightly, because this was none other than Zhao Shixian, at the third level of Qi Refining.

Only, baleful yin had entered his body, and Tu Shan Jun had deliberately remade his appearance. Zhao Shixian now looked exactly like a White-faced Evil Ghost, his scarlet ghost eyes fixed on Li Qingfeng in the distance.

The other enslaved yin ghosts within the Soul Banner truly possessed no intelligence, but they had instincts that defied common sense. They had not forgotten the martial arts techniques they had tempered in life, either.

Because Li Qingfeng's magical power was insufficient, many things could not yet be developed, and he did not know what limits the enslaved ghosts could ultimately reach.

"You want me to spar with him?"

With Zhao Shixian, an enslaved soul considered an expert in the early stages, feeding Li Qingfeng moves, it should be enough for him to manage.

When two flowers bloomed, each told its own branch of the tale.

While Li Qingfeng diligently studied and trained, Liu Chuang's side was holding the selection testing.

The testing was divided into two parts. The first was registration. After registering, the authorities would issue a number token, and with that token, one could proceed to the second part.

The actual test.

The location was arranged at the Training Ground of Eight Directions City, spacious enough for the purpose.

"The appointed hour has arrived. Candidates, please undergo testing according to your number tokens."

"Number one, Zhang Xi."

The local gentry had received word long ago. They spent silver to bribe the registration officials and obtained number tokens early on.

Of course, this had been the Prefect's intention from the start. The lion's share of that silver went into the Prefect's own pocket.

Otherwise, how would registration officials alone dare be so bold?

The Prefect had summoned the local gentry in advance precisely for this purpose.

That was why Liu Chuang and the others held such early number tokens.

"What a pity Brother Qingfeng did not come. How does such a grand spectacle compare to the imperial examinations?"

"Though the imperial examinations are also packed with people, they are far inferior to this quest for immortal affinity."

"Indeed!"

Liu Chuang sighed. "We still don't know whether we possess immortal affinity at all. My old man said that during the last selection, only a scant three people were chosen."

"I just went to look at the registration official's place. The numbering has already passed fourteen hundred, and candidates are still pouring in without end."

"Who is this number one?"

"Probably Prefect Zhang's relative. His surname is Zhang, and he is ranked so early. He must be related to the Prefect's family."

Zhang Xi took a deep breath, stepped out from the crowd, and arrived before the platform.

He cupped his hands toward the elevated platform in salute, then placed his hand upon the enormous blank Spirit Pearl.

Nothing happened.

Another three breaths passed, and there was still no change.

The two men seated on the elevated platform remained expressionless.

Zhang Xi left, looking utterly dejected.

"Number two..."

The testing continued in full swing. After dozens of people had been tested, not a single person with a Spirit Root had appeared.

The young man sitting calmly on the elevated platform seemed to have known all along that this would be the outcome.

The youth wore an embroidered brocade robe, his hair casually pinned up with a hairpin.

Though he said nothing, he carried an air of lofty superiority.

"Immortal Master, this official is burdened with government affairs and cannot keep the Immortal Master company for long." The middle-aged man seated beside him rose and cupped his hands, piling a smile onto his face.

The young man nodded faintly, unwilling to say even another word.

His eyelids lowered, his breathing steady. He had long since entered meditation.

Zhang Wanlong said nothing more. Immortal Masters were all like this; they disdained speaking with mortals.

Over ten years, the number of times he had seen Immortal Masters could be counted on one hand.

Only when ghosts or monsters caused trouble in Eight Directions Prefecture would Immortal Masters emerge from seclusion.

Ordinarily, this Immortal Master cultivated bitterly.

After leaving the elevated platform, Zhang Wanlong's expression darkened slightly. He instructed the advisor at his side, "Keep watch. If any candidates with immortal affinity are rejected by the Immortal Master, recruit them."

"Please rest assured, Prefect. This subordinate understands."

"Number eighty-seven, Liu Chuang."

"It's my turn." Liu Chuang could not help feeling nervous.

As usual, he performed the salute and placed his palm on the blank Spirit Pearl.

The Spirit Pearl immediately burst into light.

The young Immortal Master, who had been meditating for a long time atop the platform, abruptly opened his eyes.

Spiritual light flashed in his gaze. Parting his lips, his voice was like a great bell being struck, loud and steady. "Qualified. Come up and wait."

Liu Chuang instantly grew so excited that his head swam and his vision blurred. His legs went weak, and he was about to fall.

At that moment, a tremendous force lifted him up, and more than half the tension in Liu Chuang's heart vanished.

"Many thanks, Immortal Master." After saluting once more, Liu Chuang walked onto the elevated platform.

He reached the empty seat reserved beside the Immortal Master and sat down stiffly.

"Haha, Brother Liu was selected!"

"Brother Liu has obtained immortal affinity?"

"And he is even the first person to obtain immortal affinity."

As the number tokens were used up one by one, Liu Chuang's acquisition of immortal affinity was like a pebble tossed into a pond. It did not raise any waves, yet it filled those still waiting to be tested with renewed fighting spirit.

They had thought immortal affinity was fake. Now it seemed that they truly simply lacked immortal affinity.

"Number ninety-two, Meng Zhen."

Liu Chuang, seated on the elevated platform, could not help paying attention. This was the second member of their group of five.

Meng Zhen forcibly suppressed his nervousness.

He saluted and placed down his hand.

Light flared once again.

Meng Zhen's eyes visibly widened, and his entire body trembled with excitement.

"It lit up again."

"Another person qualified?"

A trace of regret flashed through the young Immortal Master's eyes. "Unqualified."

The light was far dimmer than Liu Chuang's.

That light indicated a Five Spirit Root. Even merely sensing qi with a Five Spirit Root would take three months.

That was only for those with decent fortune and unwavering perseverance.

Otherwise, the time required to sense qi would stretch even longer.

It could be half a year, a year, or even an entire lifetime.

Even if he sensed qi in three months, he would still be two months behind those with Four Spirit Roots. Others would already be refining essence into qi, while those with Five Spirit Roots would still be sensing qi.

Moreover, with a Five Spirit Root, every step was a hurdle.

The middle stage was a great hurdle.

The limit of this lifetime might only be the Qi Refining Middle Stage, with no further chance of advancement.

Without fortune, one would only squander an entire life.

Sects would not accept disciples with Five Spirit Roots; accepting them would be a waste of resources.

Meng Zhen had already imagined himself flying a thousand miles on a sword, just as in the storybooks.

But that single declaration of unqualified sent him plunging from heaven into hell.

He staggered two steps, then fell to his knees with a thud.

With disbelief written across his face, he kowtowed and said, "I beg the Immortal to show mercy."

The young Immortal Master's expression was indifferent, showing no favor.

Liu Chuang, seated nearby, opened his mouth. "Immortal Master, why can't he..."

The Immortal Master glanced at Liu Chuang, and his expression eased slightly. In a clear voice, he said, "False Spirit Root. His aptitude is too poor; he cannot enter the Dao."

Seeing that Liu Chuang still wished to say more, the youth rebuked him, "Do not fail to appreciate kindness."

Liu Chuang hurriedly closed his mouth. His demeanor became even more respectful, and he grew more restrained as well.

He was still a mortal. The Immortal Master had only bothered to explain because his aptitude was qualified.

Meng Zhen staggered to his feet. His hairpin had fallen out, but he did not spare it a glance.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly saw a middle-aged scholar walk to his side. "Young Master, take heart. Though you cannot enter an immortal sect, the Prefectural Governor's Mansion can likewise offer you immortal affinity."

Meng Zhen, who had been utterly dejected and pale-faced, stared fixedly at the scholar. Desperate as if he had grasped his last straw, he asked, "Really?!"

"Young Master, come with me."

Meng Zhen hesitated slightly. But at the thought of immortal affinity, of seeking immortality and attaining the Dao, that trace of misgiving in his heart instantly vanished without a trace. He followed the middle-aged scholar away.

The testing continued.

The final two members of the group of five could not even make the Spirit Pearl light up.

As the sun sank behind the western hills, red clouds stained the sky.

Another empty seat on the elevated platform was occupied.

It was a youth in short clothes, not very old, and even more restrained and self-conscious than Liu Chuang.

More than five hundred people had been tested, yet only two qualified candidates had been selected. Counting Meng Zhen, who had failed, there were three in total.

Nearly one selected from two hundred.

"Today's testing has concluded. It will resume tomorrow at the hour of the dragon."