Competing for Disciples

"Why haven't you stepped aside to wait for the First Round Test to end?" Elder Liu's smile vanished as he barked the reprimand.

Lin Chen was not afraid in the least. "Elder, you said earlier that the rewards would be handed out on the spot."

"You little brat... Huh?"

Elder Liu had been about to teach this little fellow, who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth, a lesson when his eyes suddenly widened.

The other elders noticed his strange reaction and immediately looked toward Lin Chen.

They all cried out in astonishment.

"You're already at Qi Condensation First Layer?" One elder could not hold back his surprise and was the first to ask.

Lin Chen nodded without hesitation. "In reply to Elder, this disciple is indeed at Qi Condensation First Layer."

He had no intention of hiding it, nor could he have hidden it.

He might as well admit it openly.

As for how he had broken through, he would let these elders rack their brains over it.

The Five Elements Root was a waste spirit root. Even if one cultivated for a lifetime, it would take at least several decades—and good fortune—to advance into the Qi Condensation Realm.

Yet Lin Chen was sixteen years old, possessed a Five Elements Root, and had reached Qi Condensation First Layer. Put those three things together, and it was indeed startling.

The elders exchanged glances, all thinking the same thing.

Could this kid be a Demon Cultivator?

Elder Liu was the first to recover. His figure flashed, and he arrived before Lin Chen.

With a raised hand, he seized Lin Chen's arm.

He circulated his spiritual power and inspected him thoroughly.

After a moment, he slowly released his grip, his face full of confusion.

"He actually isn't?"

The other elders still did not believe it, so they stepped forward to inspect him as well.

In the end, they confirmed that Lin Chen was a perfectly normal cultivator.

Though he was only at Qi Condensation First Layer, his spiritual power was exceptionally condensed.

The Spirit Meridian he had formed was as steady as a rock.

It was as if he had cultivated for more than ten years.

"How strange!"

The elders returned to their seats, their doubts still lingering.

They dearly wanted to ask Lin Chen how he cultivated.

But none of them could bring themselves to lower their dignity and ask.

Cough, cough!

At last, Elder Liu gave an awkward cough and took out a small pouch. "Lin Chen, this is your reward. Take it."

Lin Chen accepted the pouch with both hands, beaming from ear to ear. "Thank you, Elder."

After saying that, he even opened the pouch, poured out the Spirit Stones, counted them one by one, and only then put them back.

Elder Liu's face twitched as he watched, and he felt like hitting someone.

Lin Chen tucked the pouch into his robes and looked up at Elder Liu.

"Elder, there is no need for you to find it strange. My talent and spirit root may be poor, but my comprehension is high. I grasp many things the moment they are explained, and understand them at a glance."

"Mhm. Go wait to the side!"

Elder Liu's eyes lit up, and he nodded lightly.

Comprehension was something that could neither be seen nor touched.

Yet for a cultivator, it was of utmost importance.

The higher one's cultivation, the more its importance would stand out.

This kid Lin Chen was rather sharp. He seemed to have some cleverness.

Perhaps he had encountered some fortunate opportunity.

As for comprehension? He was merely full of himself.

Naturally, Lin Chen did not know what he was thinking. Having gotten his reward, he wisely ran off to the side at once.

He did not dare exchange for cultivation here. That would be nothing but courting death.

Besides, his cultivation realm could not rise too quickly.

The elders' repeated examinations just now had been a lesson.

If he blindly pursued advancement in realm, then with the talent of a Five Elements Waste Spirit Root, he would definitely be treated as an oddity.

He might even be beaten to death.

However, he had already revealed that his comprehension was high.

That was his cover.

If he wanted to raise his cultivation quickly, then besides Spirit Stones, he also needed a method to conceal the aura of his cultivation.

If he cultivated that method to the utmost, then even immortals would not know what cultivation he possessed.

Just as Lin Chen was imagining his bright future, the First Round Test finally ended.

There had been eight hundred and twenty-seven participants, but the number who passed had dropped to four hundred and eight.

Half had been eliminated outright.

"The Second Round Assessment is to test your talent and spirit roots."

As Elder Liu announced this, he seemingly casually glanced at Lin Chen. "Do you see that Spirit Testing Stele ahead? Line up. You need only place your hand upon it."

"A Four-Attribute Low Grade Spirit Root may enter the outer sect.

"A Three-Attribute Medium Grade Spirit Root may become an inner sect disciple.

"A Two-Attribute High Grade Spirit Root may become the sect master's Inner Disciple.

"If there is a Single-Attribute Supreme Grade Spirit Root, the Supreme Elder will personally teach them."

At this point, Elder Liu paused. "Let me add something. Some spirit roots undergo Five Elements Mutation, such as special attributes like Gold Sword, Frost, and Spirit Wood. Their awakening produces unusual phenomena, and they are Earth Grade Talents.

"There are also attributes containing the Heavenly Origin—wind, lightning, light, darkness, time, space, and the like—which can stir a resonance with heaven and earth upon awakening. Those are Heavenly Spirit Roots."

Elder Liu laughed at himself. "To tell the truth, our sect could not keep such spirit roots even if they appeared. And there is also..."

"You may have doubts. Among those eliminated earlier were people with low-grade, and even mid-grade, spirit roots. Why were they not accepted?"

Elder Liu swept his gaze across the crowd, his eyes turning sharp.

"The path of cultivation requires perseverance and resolve. Even with fine talent, without perseverance one cannot go far, and may even stray onto an evil path.

"Letting them leave is the best choice. All right, step forward one by one to test your spirit roots..."

Elder Liu had said a great deal, and Lin Chen had learned quite a bit.

He also understood more deeply just how worthless his Five Elements Root was.

But the system had said that in ancient times, this spirit root had been a prized treasure.

"Jiang Hao, Metal-Wood-Water-Fire Four-Attribute Low Grade Spirit Root. Passed!"

"Ren Qiushui, Fire-Wood-Earth Three-Attribute Medium Grade Spirit Root. Passed!"

"Han Jiangshui, Water-Earth-Wood-Fire Four-Attribute Low Grade Spirit Root. Passed!"

After testing more than two hundred people in succession, they were all middle or low grade.

The elders in the stands kept nodding.

They even appeared quite satisfied.

Lin Chen suddenly realized that Green Mountain Sect, this third-rate sect, was probably not very strong.

But that was just perfect. In the future, he could reign supreme here.

Hehehe...

"Jin Yuanbao, Metal-Earth two attributes... Two-Attribute High Grade Spirit Root. Passed—"

Just as Lin Chen was imagining his bright future, cries of astonishment suddenly broke out.

Even the elders on the platform stood up, their faces filled with delight.

Perhaps because Jin Yuanbao's good fortune had opened the way, the following tests immediately reached a climax.

"Huang Mingyuan, Wood-Fire Two-Attribute High Grade Spirit Root. Passed!"

"Liu Ruyan, Metal-Fire Two-Attribute High Grade Spirit Root. Passed!"

"Han Bingxue, Ice Attribute Earth Grade Spirit Root. Passed—"

With the reporting disciple's earth-rending roar, the entire testing grounds erupted into a frenzy.

At that moment, frost condensed throughout a ten-meter radius around Han Bingxue.

An incomparably icy aura shot into the sky, as if it would tear through heaven and earth's restraints.

A rumble instantly rang out from within Green Mountain Sect, and wave after wave of powerful auras swept over.

Inner Sect Elders, the vice sect master—these great figures who were rarely seen all arrived one after another.

The moment they had found their footing, another rumble came from within the sect.

The sect master descended in person, accompanied by the Supreme Elder.

"Hahaha... Where is she?"

The moment the Supreme Elder landed, he kicked aside the sect master, who had been about to speak, and locked his gaze onto Han Bingxue.

"Little girl, are you willing to take me as your master?"

"This disciple is willing!" As soon as Han Bingxue spoke, the Supreme Elder swept her up and vanished from the spot in an instant.

Only then did the sect master climb to his feet, covered in dust and looking thoroughly disheveled, as he began to curse loudly.

"You old bastard, you cheated! We agreed on fair competition!"

Seeing this scene, Lin Chen suddenly felt that Green Mountain Sect was not bad after all.

This atmosphere alone was worth staying for.

"Sect Master, please calm your anger."

Elder Liu hurriedly tried to persuade him. "Sect Master, how about sitting down and resting first?"

"Rest my ass! Those few with Two-Attribute High Grade Spirit Roots are coming with me." The sect master waved his hand grandly, ready to take them away.

The Inner Sect Elders immediately refused and all began to oppose him.

"Sect Master, you are so busy with affairs. How could you possibly have time to teach disciples? You should hurry back!"

"Exactly. The three little ones can be taught by us. There is no need to trouble you."

"Sect Master, if you steal disciples from us, I... I'll expose you for secretly reading that kind of storybook..."

Upon hearing such earth-shattering words, everyone present lowered their heads and fell silent.

Pfft... Hahahaha...

The more Lin Chen thought about it, the funnier it became, until he could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.

In the silent grounds, only his laughter echoed.

Everyone turned to look at him.