"This inner mountain selection has produced quite a few promising seedlings."
Above the enormous archway, the spirit crane's eyes swept over the disciples walking forward, then deliberately paused on Xu Yuan for a moment.
"Cultivating life and essence in tandem? That is exceedingly rare these days. I wonder what his level is like."
Passing over Xu Yuan, the spirit crane's gaze landed on a yellow-clad young woman at the front of the group.
"So this is Elder Shouhe's beloved disciple. Worthy of a superior spirit root indeed—she has reached the peak of mid-stage Qi Refining in just two years."
A trace of envy showed in the spirit crane's eyes. Even though she herself was already at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, limited by her talent, she had only managed to become a registered disciple under an elder in the mountain.
"If there is a chance, I should make her acquaintance. Soul-Swaying Mountain will open in a little over a year. By then, this junior sister will likely be in late-stage Qi Refining, and we may be able to support one another."
After that, the spirit crane's gaze lingered among the disciples at the front for a while longer, and she already had a faint conclusion in her heart. As for those trailing behind, struggling every step of the way, she could not even be bothered to spare them a glance.
Trash like that, who had only made it here through bitter cultivation, would likely be eliminated from the inner mountain within half a year and become nourishment for the other disciples.
Half an incense stick later, the first person to reach the area beyond the archway appeared. It was precisely that yellow-clad young woman. After her, people gradually began crossing the archway as well.
Xu Yuan came in seventh.