Hall Examination

At this moment, Qin Fengming had already steadied his mind. Seeing the green-robed elder and the two middle-aged men surnamed Feng leave, the elder finally turned to Qin Fengming with a smile. "I heard that you cultivated to Qi Gathering Stage Three all on your own. We're quite curious. Why don't you tell us how you obtained a cultivation method and how you cultivated?"

Hearing the seated elder ask this, Qin Fengming did not dare delay in the slightest. He immediately recounted the story he had gone over countless times in his mind:

"Once, I was pursuing a major bandit and chased him into the mountains bordering Yingzhou Prefecture and Taihu Prefecture. By chance, I discovered a skeleton in a cave. Beside the skeleton, I found a small booklet. It had no name, and I always thought it was some profound internal cultivation manual. After that, I simply cultivated according to the booklet."

As he spoke, without waiting for anyone to question him, he took out the nameless booklet, walked forward, and handed it to the green-robed elder.

The elder nodded, accepted it, and flipped through two pages before handing it back to Qin Fengming. He then turned to the others and said, "This is an ordinary Five Elements Cultivation Method. It should have been left behind by a Rogue Cultivator who passed away while meditating in the cave."

Then he turned back to Qin Fengming. "We specifically sent someone to invite you to join Luoxia Sect because you cultivated on your own yet somehow avoided having your body ravaged by spiritual power. We were quite curious about that. It seems you are someone with profound fortune. Besides, you are a disciple of Luoxia Valley. If we allowed you to remain in Luoxia Valley, disaster would inevitably befall you, which is why we summoned you here. Come over and let me examine your Spiritual Root attribute."

Although Qin Fengming was somewhat puzzled by the words of Luoxia Sect's sect master, he did not dare show the slightest negligence. He stepped forward and extended his hand to the green-robed elder.

The elder placed the index and middle fingers of his right hand on Qin Fengming's pulse and closed his eyes. Qin Fengming felt a gentle force instantly enter his body, accompanied by an incomparably comfortable sensation.

Suddenly, the green-robed elder, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them. Astonishment immediately appeared on his face. His two fingers seemed to tighten, and a moment later, the astonishment in his expression deepened further.

Seeing the sect master's expression, everyone was greatly puzzled.

"Junior Brothers, have you ever heard of anyone with all five Spiritual Roots cultivating to Qi Gathering Stage Three in one or two years without relying on external aid?"

When the others first heard the green-robed elder's words, their faces were filled with shock, and they all looked toward Qin Fengming. Their eyes were full of disbelief.

"Could this person possess all five Spiritual Roots?" As he spoke, several people stepped forward, took hold of Qin Fengming's arm, and tested him one after another. Afterward, each of them wore an incredulous expression.

Qin Fengming had no idea what was happening. He stood there blankly, naturally unaware of what the Five Elements Spirit Root was.

Just as everyone was utterly baffled, an old man with graying hair suddenly seemed to realize something. He opened his mouth and said, "Senior Brother Sect Master, Junior Brothers, I wonder whether you have ever heard of the 'Virtual Spirit Root'?"

Everyone was stunned. After thinking for a moment, a fair-faced middle-aged man immediately asked:

"Senior Brother Wei, do you mean what is mentioned in the ancient texts? On the surface, it appears to possess all five Spiritual Roots, but several of them are actually virtual existences. What's more, the Spiritual Roots can continuously transform. Of this kind of Spiritual Root attribute, one might not be found among tens of millions of people in the world."

"Junior Brother Guo is right. Judging by this child's Spiritual Roots, they do indeed resemble the Virtual Spirit Root described in the ancient texts. If this child has three virtual roots, or even four, then our Luoxia Sect will undoubtedly have encountered a heaven-shaking opportunity. With careful nurturing, decades or centuries from now, our sect may once again produce someone with great divine powers."

Old Man Wei's face was flushed with excitement, and even his voice held a trace of urgency. Hearing this, everyone present revealed excited expressions. As they looked at Qin Fengming, it was as though they were gazing at a precious treasure.

After a brief moment of thought, the green-robed elder seated in the center spoke. "To verify this child's true Spiritual Root attribute, we must invite Martial Uncle Ximen to examine him. Junior Brother Ma, I'll have to trouble you." As he spoke, he looked toward a middle-aged man beside him.

The middle-aged man did not refuse. He rose and left the main hall.

After the time it took to finish a meal, the middle-aged man surnamed Ma entered the main hall accompanied by a middle-aged man with a pointed mouth and beady eyes. When the people in the hall saw this person arrive, they all stood and bowed, addressing him as "Martial Uncle Ximen."

The sharp-featured middle-aged man gave everyone a slight nod, his expression somewhat arrogant. He turned to the green-robed elder and said, "I heard from Martial Nephew Ma that there is a disciple who possesses a 'Virtual Spirit Root.' Is this the person?" As he spoke, he pointed at Qin Fengming.

"Yes, Martial Uncle Ximen. We did not dare make a decision, so we invited Martial Uncle to come and examine him."

The middle-aged man addressed as Martial Uncle Ximen turned his head toward Qin Fengming, and a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.

Qin Fengming felt an invisible pressure surge toward him. Just as he was at a loss for what to do, it vanished in an instant. The man had originally been several yards away from Qin Fengming, but in the blink of an eye, he was already before him, seemingly even two points faster than his own Azure Cloud Maze movement technique.

He reached out and grabbed Qin Fengming's arm. Qin Fengming felt a force more vigorous than those of the others surge into his body, traversing it from head to toe in an instant. Only after a moment did Martial Uncle Ximen release Qin Fengming's arm and ask blandly, "How many years have you cultivated the Five Elements Cultivation Method?"

"Reporting to Immortal Master, I have cultivated it for nearly two years," Qin Fengming answered honestly.

After hearing this, Martial Uncle Ximen did not question him further. He merely turned to the others and said:

"Even if this person possesses a 'Virtual Spirit Root,' it is only one virtual root. It took him two years to reach Qi Gathering Stage Three, so his aptitude is quite ordinary." After saying this, he ignored the others, turned around, and flew out of the main hall. The restrictions had no effect on him whatsoever.

The green-robed elder surnamed Wang and the others exchanged glances, all revealing disappointment. Their dejected expressions were unmistakable.

The green-robed elder surnamed Wang sighed softly and said to Qin Fengming, "Regardless, you have already become a disciple of our sect. I hope you cultivate diligently from now on and achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible."

Qin Fengming hurriedly bowed and nodded repeatedly. Even now, he still did not understand what Foundation Establishment was, but both the middle-aged man surnamed Feng and Old Man Wang had mentioned it solemnly, which clearly meant that Foundation Establishment would be the most important matter in his future.

"Which Junior Brother still has a servant position available?" After pacifying Qin Fengming, the green-robed elder turned to the others and asked.

"I used to have a servant boy who looked after the medicinal herb garden, but he failed to complete his duties on time two months ago, so I dismissed him. I was just about to find another one. Let him come with me," Old Man Wei said first.

"That won't do, Senior Brother Wei. You already snatched three people from the batch of disciples recruited six months ago. You must give this one to me. I'm short of someone to look after the spirit beasts," The middle-aged man surnamed Ma immediately followed.

In an instant, the others also began speaking one after another, all seemingly wanting to take Qin Fengming away.

Just as everyone was arguing back and forth until their faces flushed red, a person suddenly entered through the hall doors. He wore a red robe, his face was dark red, and although he was short, his eyes glittered brightly.

When they saw this person enter the main hall, the people who had been arguing without pause abruptly fell silent. They all cupped their fists toward the red-robed elder, and the green-robed elder immediately broke into a smile. "Junior Brother Fei, what a rare guest you are today. May I ask what brings you here?"

Old Man Fei did not waste words. He cupped his fist toward Old Man Wang and said, "Senior Brother Sect Master, I need a young servant for refining artifacts. This person has only just entered our sect, hasn't he? Then I'll take him."