Immortal Sects Look at Clothes First

Li Sanshun caught the wooden plaque and lowered his head to take a look.

The front of the plaque was engraved with "Li Sanshun of Linshui Township," while the back featured a few faint array patterns. The identity plaques of the others were of the same style, showing nothing unusual.

He hung the plaque at his waist and sat down beside the mountain gate.

Zhao Yuanqing did not rush inside; he stopped on the stone steps and looked at him.

"The Tai Xuan Sect recruits seeds of immortality, not weeds from the roadside. You can't even get a referral letter, so I assume there are no cultivators in your family. If you keep sitting there, what will you gain besides wasting time?"

"I came to participate in the test, and I didn't occupy your family's bed. What are you in such a rush for?"

Li Sanshun looked up at Zhao Yuanqing.

"Could it be that there is only one spot left at the Xuan Chu Academy, and you're afraid I'll snatch it?"

Zhao Yuanqing closed his folding fan, a flash of annoyance appearing in his eyes.

The final spot for priority cultivation was indeed something he had his sights set on.

The Zhao family had sent out a large quantity of spiritual herbs for this matter, and his second uncle had also put in a word with the Xuan Chu Academy. As long as no more outstanding disciples appeared in this batch, the spot would fall to him.

The country youth before him didn't even have a referral letter, so logically, he posed no threat.

Yet, Zhao Yuanqing still disliked Li Sanshun's attitude.

A poor man from the boondocks, refusing to lower his head when meeting a direct descendant of the Zhao family, and even daring to use the spot to taunt him. Back in Anping County, someone would have taught him the rules long ago.

"If you can really snatch it, this young master will admit defeat. Unfortunately, immortal fate doesn't rely on a glib tongue. Once you test for a waste spiritual root, you will understand that people's fates are different."

Li Sanshun took a bite of his dry biscuit.

"Fine, we'll compare after the test. You've been blocking the road and talking for a long time now, and you haven't grown a second spiritual root either."

Several youths nearby wanted to laugh, but fearing the status of the Zhao family, they could only lower their heads and hold it in.

Zhao Yuanqing snorted coldly and led his servants into the mountain gate.

Time passed slowly.

There were originally over forty youths without referral letters. Seeing the sun rising higher and higher, some chose to leave. In the end, only thirty or so remained, guarding the area outside the mountain gate.

A thin, small boy of twelve or thirteen squatted at the bottom of the stone steps, staring at the dry biscuit in Li Sanshun's hand and swallowing his saliva.

Li Sanshun broke off half and handed it over.

The boy hesitated for a moment before taking the biscuit and devouring it.

"Thank you, big brother. My name is Shi Xiaohu, and I live in Black Stone Village. The wandering Taoist in the village said I could sense spiritual energy and told me to try the Tai Xuan Sect, but he didn't give me a referral letter."

"My name is Li Sanshun, and I don't have a letter either."

Shi Xiaohu glanced into the mountain gate and muttered softly, "Are they not going to let us in?"

"Opening the mountain to accept disciples doesn't say 'poor people keep out.' When the person in charge of the test comes out, we'll be able to ask clearly."

Han Zhao stood inside the mountain gate, his brows furrowed as he listened.

He had originally planned to drag it out until sunset and then chase this group down the mountain. Because Li Sanshun took the lead in not leaving, the others followed suit and persisted.

In previous years, mountain folk without referral letters usually didn't know the rules and would leave after being intimidated a few times. Occasionally, if someone made a scene, the testing deacon couldn't be bothered to investigate further.

But this year was different.

The Xuan Chu Academy only had one priority cultivation spot left, and the Zhao family had made arrangements everywhere early on. Han Zhao intercepted the Rogue Cultivators for the Zhao family; he could get medicinal pills and also use Deacon Zhao to protect this lucrative post at the mountain gate.

He had been working at the mountain gate for two years, and the benefits he had received were far more than just today's box of pills.

If Li Sanshun were to report the matter of blocking people privately to the Law Enforcement Hall, his past accounts might also be investigated.

Just as he was thinking, a gray-robed old man walked out from inside the mountain gate.

The old man wore a deacon's wooden plaque at his waist and held a test roster in his hand. Seeing that dozens of people were still standing outside, he immediately called out to Han Zhao.

"One thousand three hundred and sixty-two people were registered yesterday. Why are there only one thousand three hundred and fifteen inside?"

Han Zhao hurried to greet him.

"Deacon Xu, these people outside do not have referral letters. This disciple was afraid they would disrupt the test, so I asked them to wait for a moment."

Deacon Xu opened the roster, his face looking displeased.

"The sect notice only says that those with letters have priority entry. When did it ever say that those without referral letters cannot be tested? As long as the local people are of the appropriate age, they may all participate in the preliminary test. You have been working at the mountain gate for two years; have you even forgotten the rules?"

Han Zhao lowered his head to admit his mistake, not daring to argue.

Deacon Xu signaled for everyone to enter.

Shi Xiaohu clutched his remaining dry rations tightly and followed closely beside Li Sanshun. When passing Han Zhao, he hunched his shoulders, terrified of being blocked again.

Li Sanshun walked a few steps, then turned back to look at Han Zhao.

"Senior Brother Han, Deacon Xu just made it clear that one can participate in the preliminary test without a letter. Which rule were you using when you asked me to wait until sunset?"

People near the mountain gate 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 have already let you in. If you cannot test for a spiritual root, you will naturally understand that I was saving you time earlier."

His fingers pressed against the back of the wooden plaque.

Several spirit-suppressing patterns lit up quietly before fading back into the wood.

Li Sanshun looked down at the plaque but didn't notice any changes.

Deacon Xu urged everyone to follow, and Han Zhao said no more.

The group passed through the mountain path and soon arrived at the outer sect plaza.

In the center of the plaza stood nine spirit-testing stones, surrounded by thousands of young men and women. Several elders of the Tai Xuan Sect sat on a high platform, responsible for recording the results.

As soon as Li Sanshun stood steady, the spirit-testing stone in front of him rose with a crimson light.

The firelight climbed to eight feet before stopping.

The disciple in charge of recording called out loudly: "Zhao family of Anping, Zhao Yuanqing, high-grade fire spiritual root!"

The crowd erupted in discussion.

Zhao Yuanqing withdrew his hand and bowed to the high platform. He had known the test result long ago, so there was not much surprise on his face, but he deliberately circled in front of Li Sanshun while stepping down.

"See clearly, only eight feet of spiritual light counts as high-grade. The cultivation spot at the Xuan Chu Academy naturally must be reserved for those who are qualified."

Shi Xiaohu couldn't help but speak up: "The test isn't over yet, how do you know Big Brother Li isn't qualified?"

Zhao Yuanqing swept a glance at him.

"A low-grade earth spiritual root dares to interrupt? Being able to stay in the outer sect as a handyman is already a blessing from your ancestors."

Shi Xiaohu's face turned red, and he wanted to argue. Li Sanshun blocked him behind his back.

"Eight feet of firelight is quite lively. Since you are so confident, stand further away and wait for the result; don't act like you're afraid someone will snatch your meal."

Zhao Yuanqing gripped his folding fan tightly and turned to walk beside Han Zhao.

"Are you sure there won't be any problems?"

Han Zhao touched the jade box in his sleeve.

"The temporary identity plaque is connected to the three-barrier array. As long as he wears that plaque, the spiritual energy in his body will not circulate smoothly. Even if he really has a spiritual root, he will at most only be able to test for a low-grade one."

Zhao Yuanqing looked at Li Sanshun at the end of the crowd.

"What I want is not 'at most'."

Han Zhao understood what he meant and replied in a low voice: "Five-element low-grade, is that enough?"

Two hours later, the last batch of testers arrived in front of the spirit-testing stones.

The recording disciple flipped to the last page of the roster.

"Linshui Township, Li Sanshun, step forward for the test!"