Testing Spiritual Roots and Giving Spirit Stones? Has Young Master Wang Gone Mad?

Two days later.

The Ascension Convention officially began.

Wang Mu stood atop the highest steps of the Great Liang Royal Palace, looking down below.

In the vast white jade plaza stood several thousand figures packed together like a black mass. All of them had their heads lowered, their bodies trembling as though they were prisoners about to face execution.

Some of the more timid Young Boys and Girls even began to sob softly.

"Dad... Mother... I don't want to die..."

In the distance.

Outside the palace gates, the spectators formed a vast sea of people, many of them crying and shouting.

"My poor daughter~"

"My son, my son~ That damned Young Master Wang, what a beast!"

Wang Mu: "..."

His cheek twitched as he looked towards Li Yuanhua. "What's going on?"

Uh...

Li Yuanhua's eyes darted around as he said, "These mortals have eyes but fail to see, unable to recognize Young Master's grace. This old servant could not bear to watch, so I used just the tiniest little method..."

Wang Mu: "!!!"

Well, damn.

So that was why these people looked like they wanted to eat me alive!

These Young Boys and Girls were dragged here?

His image among the common folk had already been terrible. Adding this little stunt would only make their suspicions more firmly established.

Still, Wang Mu knew Li Yuanhua could not be blamed.

Given the Previous Body's reputation.

Without such methods, they probably would not even have gathered this many people.

Sigh.

Forget it!

You had to eat your meals one bite at a time!

"Begin!"

Wang Mu waved his hand and dropped his buttocks onto the dragon carriage.

Li Yuanhua stepped forward in response. A golden scroll appeared in his hand, slowly unfolding.

"Yellow Heaven above, thick Earth below! In these troubled times, demons and fiends run rampant, calamities arise one after another, the people suffer, and the Human Race is in peril!"

"Fortunately, the Young Master of my Wang Family cherishes Heaven's virtue of loving life!"

"Deeply moved by the suffering of the common people, he bestows blessings upon Under the Heavens this day. All of the Human Race may have their aptitude tested free of charge, seek the immortal path, strive together for longevity, and defend the Human Race!"

"..."

Listening to Li Yuanhua's voice.

Wang Mu narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling a little lightheaded.

The core meaning of those words was indeed what he had said.

For instance, that the Human Race faced a great calamity and demons and fiends had thrown the world into chaos.

But once Li Yuanhua had written it into an edict, it instantly felt completely different.

"The Ascension Convention! Officially begins!"

At Li Yuanhua's command.

The queue below began to move.

The Young Boys and Girls stepped forward one by one, gripping the Low-Grade Spirit Stones that had been handed out in advance as they entered the formation at the center of the plaza.

This was a Spiritual Root Testing Formation.

As long as it sensed the existence of a Spiritual Root, it would light up. But the prerequisite was consuming Spirit Stones.

Otherwise, it would remain utterly dim.

The first boy entered the formation.

The Spiritual Root Testing Formation showed no reaction.

The second girl entered, with the same result.

Then came the third.

The fourth...

Nine in a row, and the Spiritual Root Testing Formation had not shown the slightest reaction.

This was perfectly normal.

After all, if Spiritual Roots were so common, this matter would not have fallen to Wang Mu.

At last.

A simple and honest-looking boy entered the formation.

Buzz~

As the Spiritual Power within the Spirit Stone in his hand was rapidly devoured, turning it into powder.

The Formation Patterns beneath his feet lit up in an instant.

Several beams of white light rose from the edges of the formation.

The scene erupted in an uproar.

Whispers broke out throughout the crowd.

A Li Family cultivator responsible for hosting the Ascension Convention shouted, "Liu Chang, Inferior Metal Spiritual Root!"

"Finally, someone has a Spiritual Root!"

"Liu Chang... he's my son... my son..."

"Hahahaha! My old Liu Family has produced an immortal master! An immortal master!"

"..."

At the edge of the crowd, Liu Chang's Parents hugged each other, shouting and jumping in excitement.

The people around them could not help casting looks of intense envy their way.

How many generations of virtue must a family have accumulated to give birth to an immortal master?

Unlike that useless brat of theirs.

He went in, and there was not the slightest reaction!

Comparing people truly made people furious!

Someone said sourly, "Having a Spiritual Root may not be a good thing. Don't forget, the one sitting up there is Young Master Wang!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Liu Chang's Parents instantly seemed to have been doused with a basin of cold water.

That was right...

They had nearly forgotten that this Ascension Convention had been organized by Young Master Wang.

What his purpose was remained unknown.

Perhaps their son having a Spiritual Root was not only not a good thing, but might even bring about a fatal disaster!

Yet at that moment.

The cultivator hosting the Ascension Convention continued speaking.

"By Young Master's order, anyone found to possess an Inferior Spiritual Root shall be rewarded with ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

As his words fell.

The crowd fell silent.

Everyone's eyes widened, scarcely daring to believe their ears.

"What?"

"They detected a Spiritual Root... and they're actually giving out Spirit Stones?"

"Damn, is that for real?"

"..."

"Ho, as expected of the Wang Family. They truly are generous with their spending!"

Within the crowd.

A man with an extraordinary Aura stroked his chin and clicked his tongue in admiration.

He was not a mortal, nor was he the elder of any one of those several thousand Young Boys and Girls.

He was from Cloudbearing Sect, an immortal cultivation sect on Heavenly Severing Island.

Having heard what was happening here.

He had been sent over to watch the excitement... ahem, more accurately, to gather information.

There were quite a few people in the crowd with backgrounds like his.

They had all come from sects of various sizes.

"It seems the Wang Family is serious? Testing Spiritual Roots—could it be to recruit newcomers?"

"How strange!"

A female cultivator said doubtfully, "King Wei's Mansion is filled with experts. Even their Guest Elders must be at least Nascent Soul cultivators!

Not to mention Northern Darkness Sacred Ground. Countless heaven-blessed geniuses line up, yet cannot squeeze their way in!

Could Young Master Wang be recruiting people for the Langya Merchant Association?"

Another person frowned and shook his head. "Not very likely! When has the Langya Merchant Association ever lacked people? Even if they did, why would they need to go to such lengths and personally test Spiritual Roots?

They could simply post a notice, and cultivators from Under the Heavens would naturally scramble over one another!"

"Then what are they doing? They can't possibly be specifically trying to steal people from small sects like ours, can they?"

They made all manner of guesses.

They could not understand why Wang Mu had gone to such great lengths.

Testing Spiritual Roots for free.

And even giving away Spirit Stones.

There had to be some motive behind it.

But how could the Wang Family possibly think much of those with Inferior Spiritual Roots?

The ordinary common folk around them did not have so many thoughts.

When they saw Liu Chang truly receive ten glittering Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Their eyes lit up!

Those were ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to ten thousand taels of silver!

What kind of wealth was that?

If it truly reached their hands, even if they had to die on the spot, they would be willing!

At least the living could enjoy a good life!

And those who had just spoken sourly, saying that testing positive for a Spiritual Root might not be a good thing, immediately fell silent, unable to hide their envy.

Ten Spirit Stones!

How many lives could that buy?

Why was that useless brat of theirs so disappointing?

Trash!

Utter trash!

Emotions were contagious.

For a time, enthusiasm soared among the crowd.

Everyone began eagerly anticipating what came next.

They wanted to see whether their own son or daughter also had the potential to become an immortal master!