Spirit Vein Test

Zeng Fan walked to the center of the square. Quite a few young men and women had already gathered there, staring at the testing apparatus with nervous anticipation.

Zeng Fan looked over and noticed a young man among the dozen or so people, dressed in black. His face was resolute, and his clothes were stretched taut over him, each block of muscle bulging distinctly beneath the fabric. As though sensing Zeng Fan's gaze, the young man smiled at him before turning back around.

Zeng Fan returned the smile. This man is at least at the Body Tempering Muscle or Body Tempering Bone realm. Why had he come so late to test his Spirit Vein? He cannot be underestimated, Zeng Fan thought to himself.

The moment he had stepped into the square, he had vaguely sensed waves of danger emanating from the young man. That was why he could not help stealing several more glances at him.

This guy is interesting. He has probably started cultivating too. I thought I was the only one, Yuan Jin thought secretly as Zeng Fan smiled back, giving him a nod. He had been so absorbed in cultivation that he had forgotten the testing date and only arrived now. Ordinary people naturally needed to have their Spirit Vein grade confirmed before joining an organization to obtain cultivation techniques. Yet some people possessed fortuitous encounters or Lineage inheritances and could cultivate in advance.

Clang! Clang! Clang! The crowd's attention was drawn by the ringing impacts. A stern-eyed officer clad in armor walked up beside the apparatus, a fairly strong ripple of spiritual energy spreading from his body.

"The Spirit Vein grade test now officially begins. Anyone who causes a disturbance will be severely punished!" As soon as the officer finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the waiting youths stepped forward one after another in order.

"Wasted Vein." As the testing apparatus flashed, a young man walked down from the platform in a daze. The anticipation in his eyes had already turned to foam and vanished. The crowd sighed endlessly. This was the cruelty of the cultivation world: with a Spirit Vein, one stood above others; without one, one was merely an ordinary mortal destined to achieve nothing.

"Wasted Vein. Wasted Vein. Wasted Vein."

Three consecutive Wasted Veins made the officer in charge of the test frown. "What is going on this time? They cannot all be Wasted Veins. This will be hard to explain."

"Fifth-level Yellow Vein!" The officer was nursing a headache when he heard the announcement and could not help looking up. A young man stared blankly at the Fifth-level Yellow Vein displayed on the apparatus. Then his entire body suddenly began to tremble, tears streaming endlessly down his face.

"I got it! I got it! I'm a Yellow Vein!" the young man shouted in wild ecstasy. Envious gazes fell upon him. With a Yellow Grade Spiritual Vein, his life would be different from now on. The officer's expression improved as well. At last, someone with a Spirit Vein had appeared.

The test reached its final two participants: Zeng Fan and Yuan Jin. Yuan Jin stepped forward with a calm expression. A flash of light appeared, followed by a burst of brilliance. "This is... a Seventh-level Profound Vein?!" The officer froze, the smile on his face slowly widening.

The surrounding crowd erupted. "Heavens! It has been so long since a Profound Grade Spiritual Vein appeared. The last one was half a year ago, wasn't it? What a lucky young man!" Everyone's attention shifted from those Yellow Veins to Yuan Jin.

"Good, good, good!" The officer beamed as he cupped his fists toward Yuan Jin. Though this youth was still young, he would surely walk farther than the officer on the road of cultivation. The strong were revered; leaving a good impression now might prove useful someday. Yuan Jin returned the gesture indifferently, as though he had long known his own Spirit Vein grade. Yet he moved to one side and looked toward Zeng Fan.

The officer's gaze followed Yuan Jin's and landed on the final participant. "Is this young brother with you, Young Master?" the officer asked.

"No. I merely wanted to see what grade of Spirit Vein he has," Yuan Jin answered calmly.

That last person was Zeng Fan. Hearing Yuan Jin's words, the officer could not help feeling expectant, hoping Zeng Fan would give him another surprise. If several high-grade Spirit Veins appeared during an officer's testing duty, the officer would also receive a reward.

Noticing everyone's gazes, Zeng Fan silently let out a breath. Come, my road of cultivation! Then he placed his hand on the apparatus as the crowd watched him with all manner of emotions.

A flash of light appeared, followed by a radiance no less brilliant than Yuan Jin's. "Heavens, another Seventh-level Profound Vein! Am I seeing this right? What is happening today?" The crowd sucked in cold breaths.

"Hahahahahaha!" The officer burst into hearty laughter. These two youths had given him an enormous surprise today.

"May I ask this young master's name?" the officer asked, cupping his fists toward Zeng Fan.

"Zeng Fan." Zeng Fan returned the gesture with a faint smile.

"Good. Young Master Zeng, please rest inside for a moment. Once I have finished packing up, I will take you to the City Lord's Mansion." With that, the officer directed the surrounding soldiers to clear the area and pack up the equipment. The crowd gradually dispersed amid excited discussion.

The middle-aged man who had opened the betting stall walked over to Zeng Fan. "I was blind and failed to recognize that you were such an immortal figure, Young Master. Here are fifty taels of silver and Spirit Stones. Please accept them." The middle-aged man bowed to Zeng Fan.

Although Zeng Fan had won, it was only a small sum for the betting stall. That money had already been earned back from the others. When dealing with someone who possessed a Spirit Vein, even if they lost money, they had to deliver it with a smiling face. They absolutely could not afford to offend such a person.

Zeng Fan put away the money pouch the proprietor handed him. "Then thank you, Boss." He smiled at the man. The middle-aged man repeatedly said he did not deserve the thanks, then bowed once more to Zeng Fan and left.

"What should I call you, brother? I'm Yuan Jin." The young man walked over and greeted Zeng Fan.

"My name is Zeng Fan. Nice to meet you." Zeng Fan smiled in return.

"I can sense spiritual energy fluctuations from you too. Like me, you have already begun cultivating, right? That gives us an advantage in the later selection, so I want to form a team with you. What do you think?"

"What selection?" Zeng Fan was taken aback.

"You don't know? No one in your family told you?" Yuan Jin asked doubtfully.

"Everyone, we have finished packing up. Please follow me to the City Lord's Mansion." Just as Zeng Fan was about to speak, the officer's voice carried over from afar.

"Once we are done at the City Lord's Mansion, I'll tell you," Yuan Jin said, winking at Zeng Fan.

"Alright." Zeng Fan answered, full of doubt. Then everyone set off for the City Lord's Mansion.