Medium-Grade Spiritual Root, Qi Refining Third Layer

First Saint Sect, Outer Sect Examination Grounds.

"Senior Brother Zhang, I heard that Ye Xingchen... jumped off a cliff?" A menial disciple sidled over ingratiatingly and asked in a lowered voice.

Zhang Yu, Lower-Grade Spiritual Root, Qi Refining, Second Layer, had successfully passed the examination and officially become an Outer Sect disciple of the First Saint Sect.

"That trash?" Zhang Yu flicked dust that did not exist from his sleeve. "No spiritual root, yet he dreamed of cultivating immortality. His death would only save the sect grain."

A wave of agreeing laughter immediately rose from the surrounding crowd.

"Exactly. He should piss in a puddle and take a good look at himself."

"Senior Brother Zhang is still the impressive one—awakening a spiritual root in three years and cultivating to Qi Refining, First Layer!"

"Senior Brother Zhang, please look after us more in the future!"

"..."

Just then, a thin figure slowly came down the mountain path, walking against the light.

His clothes were tattered and covered in dust.

"That's... Ye Xingchen?!"

Someone cried out in shock, as though they had seen a ghost.

The smile on Zhang Yu's face froze.

He stared fixedly at the approaching figure, disbelief flashing through his eyes.

He wasn't dead?

He had jumped from Jueyun Cliff and still hadn't died?

Without looking aside, Ye Xingchen walked straight toward the Spirit-Testing Stone in the center of the grounds.

"Stop!"

A sharp shout blocked his way.

Zhang Yu stepped forward and stood in front of Ye Xingchen. He crossed his arms, his chin nearly pointing at the sky, and openly released the spiritual pressure of Qi Refining, First Layer, intending to teach this "trash" a lesson.

"Ye Xingchen, this is an important place for the Outer Sect examination. What are you, a trash with no spiritual root, doing here?"

"What? You failed to die after jumping off the cliff, and knocked your brains loose instead? If I were you, I'd hurry up and crawl into a rat hole instead of coming out to disgrace myself!"

Ye Xingchen stopped and slowly lifted his eyelids. His eyes were deep as a pool, utterly without ripples.

"A good dog doesn't block the road."

Those five mild words rang clearly across the entire grounds.

A good dog...

Everyone's eyes widened, wondering if they had misheard.

That was Zhang Yu! An Outer Sect disciple already at Qi Refining, First Layer! Ye Xingchen, a trash with no spiritual root at all, actually dared to call him a dog?

"You're courting death!"

Zhang Yu's face instantly flushed red. He abruptly raised his palm, spiritual energy faintly stirring within it, and viciously slapped toward Ye Xingchen's face!

"Enough!"

A commanding roar exploded like thunder.

Huang Zhen, the Outer Sect elder responsible for the examination, strode over with furrowed brows and an impatient expression.

The pressure of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator instantly blanketed the grounds. Zhang Yu's hand froze in midair. He shuddered in fright, hurriedly withdrew it, and put on a fawning smile. "Elder Huang, this brat disrupted the examination order. This disciple was just about to teach him a lesson..."

Huang Zhen did not even glance at Zhang Yu. His gaze fell upon Ye Xingchen.

This kid...

Though his clothes were ragged, his vigor and spirit surpassed everyone present.

Especially those eyes—they were frighteningly bright.

"You wish to take the examination?" Huang Zhen asked coldly.

"Yes." Ye Xingchen was neither servile nor overbearing.

"You know the rules. If you test as having no spiritual root again, you will be toying with me. Bear the consequences yourself." Huang Zhen's voice was icy, carrying a hint of warning.

"This disciple understands."

Ye Xingchen passed Zhang Yu, whose face had turned ashen, and walked up to the half-man-tall Spirit-Testing Stone.

This was the stone that had once sentenced him to death.

In his previous life, he had longed countless times in his dreams for it to light up, only to be met with despairing darkness again and again.

And now...

Ye Xingchen sneered inwardly.

As long as I want it to, this stone can blind your dog eyes.

He extended his right hand and pressed it against the cold stone surface.

"Hmph, putting on an act." Zhang Yu gritted his teeth at the side and mocked him in a strange, sarcastic tone. "If you can test a spiritual root, I, Zhang Yu, will eat this Spirit-Testing Stone—"

Before he could finish speaking.

Boom!

The previously dim stone surface instantly erupted with a dazzling radiance!

It was not the faint white light representing a Lower-Grade Spiritual Root.

It was a rich green so dense it seemed impossible to dissolve!

The green light shot into the heavens, bathing the entire examination grounds in emerald brilliance and even eclipsing the noon sun.

"M-Medium-Grade Spiritual Root?!"

A shrill, warped scream burst from the crowd.

Zhang Yu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His mouth hung wide enough to fit a fist, while the word "eat" lodged hard in his throat, choking his face crimson.

But it was not over yet!

As the spiritual root's light stabilized, the markings below the Spirit-Testing Stone that represented cultivation began soaring wildly upward!

Qi Refining, First Layer... lit up in an instant!

Qi Refining, Second Layer... without the slightest pause!

The light surged forward like bamboo splitting under a blade, charging straight toward the third mark!

Ye Xingchen felt the Qi Refining, Fourth Layer spiritual energy surging through his body, and a thought stirred in his mind.

I've only just arrived. It wouldn't do to be too shocking. I should hold something back.

He slightly drew in his focus, forcibly suppressing the violent fluctuations of spiritual energy within him and controlling the output at around seventy percent.

Buzz!

The light came to a steady stop on the third mark. It even seemed ready to climb a little higher before finally settling.

Two lines of large words shone brilliantly upon the Spirit-Testing Stone, stabbing into everyone's eyes:

[Spiritual Root: Medium-Grade]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Third Layer]

Qi Refining Third Layer?!

The menial disciples who had just been mocking Ye Xingchen now looked like ducks with their throats pinched. Their mouths hung open, yet they could not make a sound.

Qi Refining, Second Layer was a genius?

Then what was Qi Refining Third Layer?

A monster!

And... how was this possible?!

A day ago, he had been trash without any spiritual root. How had jumping off a cliff not only given him a Medium-Grade Spiritual Root, but sent him soaring directly to Qi Refining Third Layer?!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Elder Huang Zhen suddenly strode to the Spirit-Testing Stone, so excited that even his beard trembled.

He had found a treasure!

He had absolutely found a treasure!

Though there were tales of fortuitous encounters in the mortal world, someone undergoing such a complete rebirth overnight was unheard of!

This kid must have encountered some extraordinary heavenly treasure, or awakened a hidden bloodline!

No matter the reason, as long as he entered the First Saint Sect, it would count as Huang Zhen's achievement!

"Ye Xingchen, right?"

Huang Zhen's attitude took a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. His tone became so gentle it made people break out in goosebumps. "Not bad, very good! I never expected such fine jade and rare talent to be hidden in our Outer Sect! This elder misjudged you before!"

Ye Xingchen withdrew his hand, his expression remaining calm. He slightly cupped his fists toward Huang Zhen. "Elder, you praise me too highly. This disciple merely gained some insight recently and awakened by chance."

"By chance? This is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Huang Zhen burst into laughter and directly pulled an Outer Sect disciple's identity token from his robes. "Take it! From today onward, you are an Outer Sect disciple whom the First Saint Sect will focus on nurturing!"

Zhang Yu was still standing there in a daze, his face filled with disbelief.

Just minutes ago, he had been the genius surrounded by stars.

But now...

The menial disciples who had been crowding around Zhang Yu reacted swiftly. In an instant, they changed sides, each staring at Ye Xingchen with green-eyed fervor.

"Senior Brother Ye! I knew you were no ordinary thing in this pond!"

"Senior Brother Ye is mighty and domineering! This is what a true genius looks like!"

"Senior Brother Ye, from now on, this little brother will follow your lead!"

Listening to that familiar flattery, Zhang Yu felt his blood and qi surge. The string called reason in his mind snapped with a bang.

He did not believe it!

He refused to accept it!

This had to be fake!

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Zhang Yu suddenly rushed forward, pointed at Ye Xingchen, and roared, "Elder! This Spirit-Testing Stone must be broken! He's trash! How could he suddenly become a Medium-Grade Spiritual Root? He must have used some demonic art to cheat! I demand that he be tested again!"