Li Tianchen watched Li Tianwei accept the crowd's congratulations on the platform, his eyes seeming steeped in poison.
Even though the remnant soul inside the ring had investigated and given him the answer, he did not lose his head and rush onto the platform to shout, "There's something wrong with this spirit-testing stone."
The remnant soul in the ring grew even more satisfied upon seeing Li Tianchen's restraint.
"I thought you would be hopping mad and go up there to question them."
"I'm not an idiot. If someone with not the slightest bit of power went up to question an Immortal Master's spirit-testing stone, there would probably be only one outcome: I'd be killed to scare the monkeys. I don't have that kind of standing right now."
Hearing the remnant soul's words, Li Tianchen took a deep breath and replied.
"Hahahaha, worthy indeed of the person I chose."
"You needn't worry about the spirit-testing stone. Once he enters Lingxu Sacred Land, a Nascent Soul Realm elder will naturally receive him. With a sweep of their spiritual sense, they'll know what is going on with your dear brother. When that time comes, he'll have his sins to suffer."
The remnant soul laughed loudly, even more convinced that his choice had not been wrong.
Compared with Li Tianwei, that arrogant and haughty fellow, he still believed that Li Tianchen, who could endure and knew his own limits, was the one who could grow in the cultivation world.
A Pseudo-Spirit Root being tested as a Heavenly Spirit Root—such an amusing affair was something even an old fellow like him, who had lived for several thousand years, had never heard of. Seeing it now counted as a fine topic of conversation.
Once he recovered, he would certainly go and properly mock those old fellows of Lingxu Sacred Land.
Li Tianwei, that spirit-testing stone was malfunctioning. You sensed it just now too—the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered around you in five colors, but it was extremely thin. That is the characteristic of a Pseudo-Spirit Root.
Standing on the platform, Li Tianwei ignored the system's clamor in his consciousness.
"You trash system, how could you understand me?"
"Five-Colored Spiritual Energy surrounds me. That represents my Five-Colored Heavenly Spirit Root, complete in every category. How could the spirit-testing stone's result possibly be fake?"
"Though you're trash, you're still my system. I'm not some petty person either, so just watch how I carry you to greatness."
Li Tianwei flicked his sleeve and proudly raised his head.
Hearing Li Tianwei's words, the system directly broke down.
It could feel that, because the spirit-testing stone had tested him as possessing a Heavenly Spirit Root, Li Tianwei had become even more convinced—his condition had gotten even worse.
Just wait. Once you reach Lingxu Sacred Land, let's see how you pass the Nascent Soul Elder's test.
The system was on the verge of collapse as well. It had never expected that the host it had specifically chosen would be this much of a chuunibyou.
Top student? Top my ass. Someone like this could get full marks in every subject? That child from another family...
By now, the system had truly conceded defeat to Li Tianwei. He was far too confident, far too stubborn—simply unheard of.
Li Tianwei, meanwhile, directly blocked out the system's voice, leaving it to rage helplessly within his consciousness.
As for full marks in every subject and being a top student, those were perfectly normal in Li Tianwei's eyes.
In his previous world, Li Tianwei believed that what proved he was the protagonist was his innate learning ability, unlike that of ordinary people. Things like mathematics and physics—Li Tianwei could see the answer with a single glance.
As for the process? That was part of the teacher's responsibility. He only gave the answer and did not need to work out the process. Proving it was their business; all he needed to do was write down the answer.
Wasn't this special ability proof once and proof forever? He proved the answer, while the teachers and the whole world proved a process to confirm that the answer was correct.
So, full marks in every subject were merely because he had proven the answer first, and only then did others use the process to prove the result.
I prove the fruit exists first; only then do they debate their way from the cause to the fruit.
"I knew about gravity when I was three. Unlike Newton, who needed an apple to smash him on the head. It's a pity he was born before me and stole my credit."
Li Tianwei lamented once more.
Naturally, the system within Li Tianwei's consciousness received that thought as well.
%#%✘¥...
The noisy words had already turned into a pile of gibberish.
The testing on the platform continued. Because they had detected a Heavenly Spirit Root like Li Tianwei's, Liu Lingming and Su Qingnuan's originally gloomy faces were now full of smiles.
After all, detecting a Heavenly Spirit Root would certainly earn them generous rewards from the sacred land. Moreover, this gave them the bond of having discovered a Heavenly Spirit Root, which would benefit them for the rest of their lives.
They could even say that Lingxu Sacred Land's Heavenly Spirit Root senior brother back then had been discovered by them.
Thus, Liu Lingming and Su Qingnuan had none of their earlier frustration left. Their mouths were nearly split from smiling.
After Li Tianwei's test, perhaps because of his influence, two Three-Spirit Root cultivators and one Dual Spirit Root cultivator were detected in succession.
Their grades were only middling, but they were still good enough to be accepted through the gates.
Yet it was not over. Li Tianchen stepped onto the platform and pressed his hand against the spirit-testing stone.
Two pillars of light shot straight into the heavens, their red and green colors dazzlingly bright.
However, with Li Tianwei's pearl already before them, Liu Lingming was not overly shocked. Still, he called out.
"Top-grade Fire-Wood Dual Spirit Root, Li Tianchen."
Such a great commotion naturally drew cries of surprise from below, but because of Li Tianwei, the difference between the two displays was enormous.
Those below the platform also recognized Li Tianchen.
"He's Li Tianwei's younger brother. I never expected him to have a Spirit Root too, and even a top-grade one. It sounds impressive."
"But it doesn't look as spectacular as Li Tianwei's."
"As expected of his younger brother. One household has produced two descendants with Spirit Roots. It looks like the Li Family is about to prosper."
The voices from below continued to reach him. The more Li Tianchen heard, the darker his expression became. He could not help looking at Li Tianwei, only to see him still holding his head slightly high with his hands clasped behind his back.
Seeing that look of his, Li Tianchen clenched his fists tightly.
"These mortals are shallow in knowledge. They simply do not know what a Top-grade Fire-Wood Dual Spirit Root represents."
The remnant soul inside the ring said this, then mocked Li Tianwei.
"Of course, it cannot compare to a Heavenly Spirit Root that was tested incorrectly."
Hearing the remnant soul's words, Li Tianchen's expression eased considerably.
"My dear brother, once you reach the sect and meet those elders, I hope you can still keep up that appearance."
At this moment, Li Tianwei seemed to notice Li Tianchen's gaze. At last, he shifted his eyes and looked at him.
"I never expected my appearance to bring such heavenly talent to my younger brother as well. My Heavenly Spirit Root truly is too domineering."
The system that heard Li Tianwei's thoughts nearly vomited.
If Li Tianchen knew what Li Tianwei was thinking, what kind of expression would he have?
Liu Lingming looked at the long line still waiting, then turned around and swept his sleeve. An Ink Ruler emerged from within it and shot straight into the sky.
Once Liu Lingming activated the Ink Ruler, it rapidly expanded in an instant, soon reaching several dozen meters in length.
The Ink Ruler was carved with flowers, dragons, and phoenixes, and had several places for people to rest their feet.
"Immortal magic!"
"The Immortal Master's mighty power..."
Seeing the might displayed by the Ink Ruler, the people in the square stared in shock.
"Senior Brother Li, please go up first and rest. Once I finish the spirit testing, I will ride at full speed back to Lingxu Sacred Land."
Liu Lingming spoke respectfully to Li Tianwei.
Hearing this, Li Tianwei merely nodded lightly, his expression calm. He was not at all awed by Liu Lingming's display just now.
In his eyes, with the capabilities of his Heavenly Spirit Root, cultivation was as easy as lifting a hand. If he casually cultivated these few moves, he would definitely learn them.
After Li Tianwei boarded the Ink Ruler, Liu Lingming looked at the others, his gaze finally falling upon Li Tianchen.
A Top-grade Fire-Wood Dual Spirit Root also possessed the bearing of immortality. He respectfully said to him as well.
"Senior Brother Chen, you too."
Li Tianchen did not waste words. He was even somewhat looking forward to it. If Li Tianwei were exposed after entering Lingxu Sacred Land, how would this man react?