On the morning after the Ascension Gathering, a huge plaza had been built in the center of the valley. Dozens of Strength Testing Stones, each about two meters tall, stood around the plaza, their surfaces carved with complex Runes.
Thousands of young men and women formed long lines, waiting for the Spiritual Root Test. The test was simple: place a hand on a Strength Testing Stone, activate the Rune array, and determine whether a "Spiritual Root" existed within the body. A Spiritual Root was the fundamental difference between cultivators and mortals. Those who had one could absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and embark on the path of cultivation; those who didn't would remain ordinary mortals no matter how hard they trained.
The recruitment standards of Cultivation Sects were based on "Spiritual Root rank." Spiritual Roots were divided into four grades—Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Heaven Spiritual Root was the rarest, while the Yellow Spiritual Root was the most common. Even a Yellow Spiritual Root was a rare find among thousands of candidates.
Yan Kui stood at the very back of the line. His height made the young men and women around him retreat in alarm. That same oppressive fear had surfaced on the faces of these Mortal World geniuses once again.
"Did you hear? That monster's taking the Spiritual Root Test too," a girl whispered.
"He's definitely just here for the show. With a body like that, how could he possibly have a Spiritual Root?" another young man sneered. "Cultivation is all about harmony between Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Just look at him..."
"Maybe he didn't come to try out for a sect at all. Maybe he's here to do hard labor," a self-assured youth said with a laugh.
Yan Kui heard their chatter, but didn't react. He'd expected this. Without a Spiritual Root, he couldn't become a formal disciple. But that wasn't part of his plan anyway—he'd intended to infiltrate the sect as a Strongman. For him, the Spiritual Root Test was just a formality.
Still, he found these cultivators' obsession with Spiritual Roots somewhat interesting.
By noon, it was Yan Kui's turn. An old man in a blue robe was overseeing the tests in this area. When he saw Yan Kui approach, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
"Black Iron Tower?" The old man sounded puzzled. "I heard you've already reached an agreement with Qingyun Sect to serve as a Strongman?"
"Yes," Yan Kui answered simply.
"Then why are you taking the Spiritual Root Test?" the old man asked.
"Since I'm here, I might as well take it." Yan Kui's reason was simple.
The old man nodded and asked no more questions. He pointed at the Strength Testing Stone before them. "Place your hand on it and concentrate. Let the energy within you flow into the stone. If you have a Spiritual Root, the Runes will glow. Its quality is determined by the color and brightness."
Yan Kui stepped up to the Strength Testing Stone and held out his dark-red hand, gently resting it against the surface.
The Runes began to glow.
But it wasn't the light of a Spiritual Root Test. It was... a blinding white light!
Crack—
The Strength Testing Stone shattered in an instant.
Starting from the spot beneath Yan Kui's palm, cracks spread across the entire stone like a spiderweb. In less than half a second, the two-meter-tall stone, weighing several tons, had crumbled into dust.
White stone powder billowed into the air, obscuring half the plaza.
Everyone froze.
Thousands of candidates turned to stare, their eyes filled with shock and fear. The young men and women still taking the test hurriedly backed away, as if afraid the monster might suddenly go on a rampage and hurt someone.
"What happened?" Several sect representatives hurried over from a distance.
"The Spiritual Root Test array exploded," the old man said, frowning. "This... Strongman's energy is too powerful. The Strength Testing Stone couldn't withstand it."
An older Elder stepped closer and carefully examined the shattered stone. His expression grew grave.
"This isn't simple brute strength." The Elder lightly touched the edge of a fragment, sensing the energy still lingering within it. "This is... an incredibly pure and concentrated physical energy. This young man has no Spiritual Root, but the strength of his body... far surpasses that of ordinary people."
"Senior Brother, this man isn't a Mortal Warrior," another Elder said. "His build and aura... make him look like a cultivator of some specialized body-refinement technique. Someone like him is extremely rare in the Mortal World."
"Not just rare." The first Elder walked up to Yan Kui and studied his two-and-a-half-meter-tall Crimson Demonic Body. "This young man's physical strength is already close to that of a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. And—"
The Elder's gaze fell on Yan Kui's eyes, where Dark Red Flames burned. "He hasn't even started cultivating. This is the absolute limit of Mortal Martial Arts."
The Elder's name was Luo Yue, the Great Elder of the Qingyun Sect's Outer Disciples. He'd roamed the cultivation world for decades and seen geniuses of every kind. But someone like Yan Kui was a first.
A mortal without a Spiritual Root, yet with a body as strong as a Foundation Establishment cultivator's... He was practically tailor-made to be a "Test Subject"!
No, not just a Test Subject. If his body received proper guidance and was enhanced through cultivation...
"What's your name?" Luo Yue asked.
"Yan Kui."
"Yan Kui..." Luo Yue repeated the name, seeming to mull something over. "I've heard of you. The 'Extreme Demonic God' of Tianwu City. Your name has caused quite a stir in the Mortal World."
"Has it?" Yan Kui's expression remained blank.
"Would you be interested in joining Qingyun Sect?" Luo Yue asked suddenly.
The question drew the attention of several Elders nearby. They exchanged glances, perplexity flashing in their eyes. Though this "Black Iron Tower" had a powerful body, he had no Spiritual Root. According to the sect's rules, anyone without one could only serve as a Strongman or laborer. Why invite him to join the sect outright?
But Luo Yue clearly had his own reasons. He looked Yan Kui up and down, then suddenly said:
"I can recruit you directly as an Outer Disciple of Qingyun Sect. No Spiritual Root Test, no trials of any kind. There's only one condition—"
"What condition?" Yan Kui asked.
"Follow my instructions and undergo some special training." A strange smile tugged at Luo Yue's lips. "I'm very interested in your body. If you let me study it, I can give you access to resources normally reserved for cultivators."
Yan Kui narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what the old man wanted: to use him as a test subject. But that suited his plan perfectly. He'd get inside the sect, meet High-level Cultivators, and learn about cultivation...
"I agree," Yan Kui said without hesitation.
"Excellent." Luo Yue nodded with satisfaction. "I'm Luo Yue, an Elder of Qingyun Sect's Artifact Refining Peak. From this moment on, you're my disciple. Welcome to Qingyun Sect, Yan Kui."
His announcement prompted a flurry of whispers around them. Several Elders from other sects looked at Luo Yue with confusion and disbelief. Directly recruiting a mortal without a Spiritual Root as an Outer Disciple? That was certainly unusual in the cultivation world.
But Luo Yue had made his decision, and no one dared question it.
The Ascension Gathering continued. More candidates completed their Spiritual Root Tests, and several geniuses stood out, sparking a scramble among the various sects to recruit them. But everyone was secretly talking about the monster called Yan Kui—a mysterious figure who'd shattered a Strength Testing Stone and been recruited outright by Qingyun Sect.
At dusk, Luo Yue brought Yan Kui to Qingyun Sect's temporary camp. The camp had been set up on one side of the valley. Its tents stood in neat rows, and at the center was a building reinforced with Runes that looked like the sect's meeting hall.
"The Ascension Gathering will end tomorrow," Luo Yue said. "The day after that, my people will come to take you back to the sect. Until then, you can rest at the camp. Don't wander off or cause trouble. Understand?"
"Understood."
Yan Kui was given a spacious tent. When night fell, he sat cross-legged inside, his eyes calm as still water.
The [Crimson Modifier] panel appeared before him.
[Crimson Modifier] Host: Yan Kui Status: Crimson Extreme Golden Body (First Stage) Origin Power: 31.5 Strength: 10.5 Agility: 3.0 Constitution: 12.0 Notice: You have become an Outer Disciple of Qingyun Sect. Infiltration of the Cultivation Sect successful.
A cold smile tugged at Yan Kui's lips.
"The plan is going smoothly."
His voice echoed through the tent, devoid of emotion.
By now, he'd figured out the basics of the cultivation world. There was no doubt that Spiritual Roots were vital to cultivators, but their fatal weakness had also been laid bare—their bodies were frail. Elder Luo Yue wanted to study his body. That couldn't be better. He'd have a legitimate reason to meet High-level Cultivators, observe their training methods, and learn their Cultivation Techniques.
"Qingyun Sect..." Yan Kui closed his eyes. "All your resources will become nourishment for me."
Outside the tent, the night wind stirred. Laughter and conversation drifted from the cultivators in the distance. They had no idea that, on this peaceful night, a wolf had slipped into the flock.
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