Li Sanshun caught the wooden plaque and looked down at it.
The front was engraved with "Linshui Township, Li Sanshun," while a few faint Array Patterns marked the back. The others' identity plaques were made the same way; nothing seemed unusual about them.
He hung the plaque at his waist and went to sit beside the mountain gate.
Zhao Yuanqing didn't hurry inside. He stopped on the stone steps and watched him.
"Tai Xuan Sect is looking for seeds of immortality, not wild weeds by the roadside. You couldn't even get an invitation, so I'd wager your family has no cultivators. What do you expect to gain by sitting here except a waste of time?"
"I came to take the test. I haven't taken your family's bed. What are you getting so worked up about?"
Li Sanshun looked up at Zhao Yuanqing.
"Don't tell me Xuan Chu Academy only has one spot left and you're afraid I'll take it?"
Zhao Yuanqing snapped his fan shut, irritation showing in his eyes.
The last priority training spot was exactly what he had his eye on.
The Zhao family had sent out a large batch of spirit medicines over this matter, and his second uncle had spoken to Xuan Chu Academy as well. As long as no more outstanding disciple appeared this year, that spot would go to him.
The country youth before him didn't even have an invitation. By rights, he posed no threat.
Still, Zhao Yuanqing disliked Li Sanshun's attitude.
A poor bumpkin from some mountain ravine refused to bow his head before the Zhao family's direct heir and even dared to taunt him about the spot. In Anping County, someone would've taught him the rules by now.
"If you really can take it from me, I'll admit defeat. But immortal fate isn't decided by your mouth. Once you test as having a useless spirit root, you'll understand that people are born to different fates."
Li Sanshun took a bite of his dry flatbread.
"Fine. We'll compare after the test. You've been standing here blocking the way and talking all this time, and you still haven't grown a second spirit root."
Several nearby youths wanted to laugh, but they feared the Zhao family's status and could only bow their heads and hold it in.
Zhao Yuanqing gave a cold snort and entered the mountain gate with his servants.
Time passed slowly.
There had originally been more than forty youths without invitations. As the sun climbed higher and higher, some chose to leave. In the end, just over thirty remained outside the mountain gate.
A skinny boy of twelve or thirteen squatted beneath the stone steps, staring at the dry flatbread in Li Sanshun's hand and swallowing hungrily.
Li Sanshun broke off half and offered it to him.
The boy hesitated for a moment, then took the flatbread and wolfed it down.
"Thank you, big brother. My name's Shi Xiaohu. I live in Black Stone Village. A wandering Daoist in our village said I could sense spiritual energy and told me to try my luck at Tai Xuan Sect, but he didn't give me an invitation."
"I'm Li Sanshun. I don't have one either."
Shi Xiaohu glanced toward the mountain gate and muttered under his breath, "Do you think they won't let us in?"
"The notice about recruiting disciples didn't say poor people couldn't enter. Once the people in charge of testing come out, we can ask them."
Inside the mountain gate, Han Zhao listened with a deep frown.
He had planned to drag things out until sunset, then drive the group down the mountain. But Li Sanshun had taken the lead in staying, and the rest were stubbornly holding out too.
In previous years, most villagers without invitations didn't know the rules. A few words to scare them off were enough. On the rare occasions someone kicked up a fuss, the testing deacon couldn't be bothered to investigate.
But this year was different.
Xuan Chu Academy had only one priority training spot left, and the Zhao family had greased palms all over the place well in advance. By keeping Rogue Cultivators away on the Zhao family's behalf, Han Zhao could get pills and rely on Deacon Zhao to keep his cushy post at the mountain gate.
In his two years on duty at the mountain gate, the benefits he'd received were far more than today's box of pills.
If Li Sanshun reported his unauthorized barring of people to the Law Enforcement Hall, his past dealings might be investigated too.
As he was thinking, a gray-robed elder walked out from inside the mountain gate.
A deacon's wooden plaque hung at the elder's waist, and he held a roster of those taking the test. Seeing dozens of people still standing outside, he immediately called out to Han Zhao.
"Yesterday's registration listed one thousand three hundred and sixty-two candidates. Why are there only one thousand three hundred and fifteen here?"
Han Zhao hurried over to him.
"Deacon Xu, those people outside don't have invitations. I was worried they'd disrupt the test, so I told them to wait for the time being."
Deacon Xu opened the roster, his expression displeased.
"The sect's notice only said that invitation holders would get priority entry. Where did it say that those without invitations couldn't take the test? As long as the people in the surrounding area meet the age requirement, they can all take the preliminary test. You've been on duty at the mountain gate for two years. Have you even forgotten the rules?"
Han Zhao lowered his head to admit his mistake and didn't dare argue.
Deacon Xu beckoned everyone inside.
Shi Xiaohu clutched the food he had left and hurried after Li Sanshun. As he passed Han Zhao, he hunched his shoulders, afraid he'd be stopped again.
Li Sanshun walked a few steps, then turned to look at Han Zhao.
"Senior Brother Han, Deacon Xu just made it clear: people without invitations can take the preliminary test too. Which rule were you following when you told me to wait until sunset?"
The people around the mountain gate all stopped in their tracks.
Han Zhao suppressed his anger and reached out to straighten the identity plaque at Li Sanshun's waist.
"I remembered the rules wrong, and I've already let you in. If you fail to manifest a spirit root, you'll understand that I was only trying to save you time."
His finger pressed against the back of the wooden plaque.
Several Spirit-Suppressing Runes glowed faintly, then vanished into the wood.
Li Sanshun glanced down at the plaque but noticed nothing different.
Deacon Xu urged everyone to follow, and Han Zhao said nothing more.
The group crossed the mountain path and soon arrived at the outer sect plaza.
Nine spirit-testing stones stood in the center of the plaza, surrounded by over a thousand young men and women. Several Tai Xuan Sect elders sat on a raised platform, recording the results.
As soon as Li Sanshun found his footing, a scarlet light rose from the spirit-testing stone in front of them.
The fiery glow climbed to a height of eight feet before stopping.
The disciple recording the results called out in a loud voice, "Zhao family of Anping, Zhao Yuanqing, upper-grade fire spirit root!"
A wave of discussion swept through the crowd.
Zhao Yuanqing withdrew his hand and bowed toward the raised platform. He had known the result long ago, so there wasn't much delight on his face. But as he stepped down, he deliberately circled around to stand in front of Li Sanshun.
"Take a good look. Eight feet of light is what it takes to qualify as upper-grade. Naturally, the training spot at Xuan Chu Academy should be reserved for someone who deserves it."
Shi Xiaohu couldn't help speaking up. "The test isn't over yet. How do you know Big Brother Li doesn't deserve it?"
Zhao Yuanqing glanced at him.
"A low-grade earth spirit root dares to butt in? You should be grateful if you're allowed to stay in the outer sect as a menial. Your ancestors must be burning incense in their graves."
Shi Xiaohu flushed red and still wanted to argue. Li Sanshun pulled him behind his back.
"Eight feet of fire makes quite a show. If you're so confident, go stand farther away and wait for the results. Don't make it look like you're afraid someone will steal your rice bowl."
Zhao Yuanqing gripped his folding fan tightly and turned to Han Zhao.
"You're sure there won't be a problem?"
Han Zhao touched the jade box inside his sleeve.
"The temporary identity plaque is linked to the three trial formations. As long as he wears it, the spiritual energy in his body won't circulate smoothly. Even if he really has a spirit root, the most he'll test as is low-grade."
Zhao Yuanqing looked toward Li Sanshun at the back of the crowd.
"I don't want the most."
Han Zhao understood what he meant and replied in a low voice, "Five low-grade elements. Will that be enough?"
Two hours later, the last batch of test-takers reached the spirit-testing stones.
The disciple recording the results turned to the final page of the roster.
"Linshui Township, Li Sanshun, step forward for the test!"
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