The banquet continued, and so did the celebrations. Many children and adults were curious—curious about this Third Uncle, this Third Grandfather. He was an Immortal Master.
The next day, after waking up and arriving in the courtyard, Lu Xuanji placed a black stone on the ground. "Come test your spirit roots."
"Second Uncle, this can test spirit roots?"
One of the nephews asked.
"Exactly! As long as you have a spirit root, you can become an Immortal Master. Even if it is a Five Spirit Root, I will not mind!" Lu Xuanji said. "Have you been tested before?"
"I have, but unfortunately, I did not have one!"
A certain nephew showed a disappointed expression. "I was tested in the county town."
"I have not!"
Another nephew said.
"That should not be the case. Every year, cultivators come to the county to test spirit roots. How did you not take part?" Lu Xuanji looked at the nephew, somewhat puzzled. This nephew was already over twenty years old.
"The Immortal Master only stayed for a short while before leaving. By the time I arrived, the Immortal Master had just left!"
The nephew said.
"What a pity! Then come and test yourself too!"
Lu Xuanji said.
Every year, cultivators traveled through the mortal world to test mortals for spirit roots, but many mortals still slipped through the net.
That nephew happily stepped forward for the test, only to find that he had no spirit root.
One nephew after another stepped forward to be tested, only to find that none had spirit roots.
Then more of the nephews' generation came forward to test their spirit roots, yet still none had spirit roots.
They came eagerly, one after another, and left disappointed in the end.
"This is the normal rhythm!"
Lu Xuanji said with a