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Wen Xu looked forward to his future life of cultivation more and more. Of course, it would be even better if he could form a Golden Core soon and return to avenge himself.

So after circling around and around, the key still lay in his Spiritual Root.

Generally speaking, cultivators could have their Spiritual Roots tested at the age of seven or eight. This was especially true for those born into prominent lineages, as Spiritual Roots were mostly somewhat hereditary. For instance, if both parents were cultivators, there was a fifty percent chance their descendants would also be cultivators, and their Spiritual Roots would not differ much either. A Fire Spiritual Root could not produce a Water Spiritual Root, nor would an Earth Spiritual Root inexplicably give birth to a Wood Spiritual Root.

Though the Five Elements generated and restrained one another, they still had to follow the basic laws of nature. Of course, single-element Spiritual Roots were exceedingly rare. Most cultivators had multiple Spiritual Roots, so anything could naturally be born. Therefore, great lineages would all keep Spirit-Testing Stones, testing the children of the lineage in advance. If a child possessed an excellent Spiritual Root, they would be cultivated with special care and sent to the major sects to learn their arts, thereby strengthening the lineage's power.

However, Spiritual Roots could undergo a second development when cultivators reached adulthood, and this phenomenon was not uncommon. Thus, when the major sects recruited disciples, most accepted those between eighteen and fifty. Naturally, the five great sects were stricter—they only wanted those under thirty.

After all, the Qi Refining Stage could not preserve one's looks forever. A fifty-year-old Qi Refining cultivator was already an old man with one foot in the grave. As for someone who had long since reached Foundation Establishment, such cases were extremely rare. Anyone capable of reaching Foundation Establishment before fifty could not possibly have gone unaccepted as a disciple until that age. The five great sects did not accept disciples who came with their own inherited arts.

Of course, geniuses were exceptions. If Sword Venerable Mei Xi of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect were to say he wanted to switch sects—even if only the faintest rumor got out—forget the Harmony Sect and Yonglu Mountain; even the Buddhist cultivators of Bitter Crossing Temple would queue overnight at the Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect's gates to claim him.

Returning to the matter at hand, because Spiritual Roots were not entirely stable before adulthood, the cultivation world did not advocate testing them too early. First, they feared gifted cultivators would be pulled up by the roots to help them grow; second, they feared certain ill-intentioned people might deliberately ruin another's Spiritual Root. Yet even though it was forbidden openly, plenty still had them tested in secret, especially the cultivation lineages. In their secluded clan grounds, there were probably Spirit-Testing Stones for everyone.

Wen Xu felt that cultivation lineages in the cultivation world were not all that different from the royal and noble houses of the Mortal Realm. Only the authority and power in their hands differed.

"What are you thinking about? Don't be too nervous. Look at you—you reached the Second Layer of Qi Refining in just three days. I think you're definitely a genius!" With the Mountain Examination about to begin, Bian Chunchou spoke in a low voice as he followed the flow of people forward.

The Preliminary Trial had eliminated most examinees, but a hundred Qi Refining cultivators still remained. It was said that Yonglu Mountain's Mountain Examination and Mind-Question Trial were held together. The former tested an examinee's aptitude for martial arts, while the latter tested character and disposition. Combined with the spiritual plant search and gathering in the Preliminary Trial, it was not hard to see that Yonglu Mountain's recruitment had clear priorities.

Three days had been enough for the two to become acquainted. Moreover, Bian Chunchou was naturally familiar with everyone, and Wen Xu no longer spoke as stiffly as he had at first. "You and I are friends, so naturally you think everything about me is good. If you were an examiner, then I truly would have nothing to be nervous about."

The two spoke quietly, without obstructing anyone, yet someone simply had no sense of propriety and came looking for trouble. "Two country bumpkins, and you're talking about being an examiner? One blind man and one dirt clod. Don't think that just because you muddled through the Preliminary Trial, you can muddle through the Mountain Examination too."

"You—"

"What about me? Are people not allowed to speak the truth?" The man wore a cloud-deer robe, the cloud deer along its hem seeming to flow, run, and leap. Clearly, it was no ordinary item, and he must have come from a fine background. "Wen Xu, I've heard your name. You're quite pleased with yourself for taking first place, aren't you?"

Wen Xu raised his head to "look" at the man. With his eyes covered, he could not see him, but his aura alone was deeply unfriendly. "What do you mean by that, fellow cultivator? We have never met before. I should not have offended you, senior brother, have I?"

Bian Chunchou, who had originally wanted to stand up for his friend: ...Wow. For some reason, he had the strange illusion of watching his child finally grow up.

"Are you pretending not to understand, or do you truly not understand? Wen Xu, you didn't register for Yonglu Mountain's Preliminary Trial, did you? You entered the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm in secret without registering, got lucky and picked the Fragrant Elixir King Grass, and only then became first in the Preliminary Trial. Are you going to deny that?"

At first, no one knew Wen Xu's origins. But after three days, news that he had fallen from the Mortal Realm into the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm had spread without wings. After all, the cultivation world had plenty of special means to investigate a person's background.

Wen Xu tilted his head, his voice carrying a particular chill. "Fellow cultivator, are you questioning me?"

"If that is how you choose to think of it, I cannot stop you."

Wen Xu immediately gave a soft laugh. His smile was actually very handsome; even with his brows and eyes covered, it did not diminish his beauty in the slightest. "You clearly know that I am insignificant, and that three days ago I was merely a mortal. How could I possibly influence Yonglu Mountain's decision? If you truly have doubts about my results, why not ask the Yonglu Mountain elder behind you directly?"

At some point, the Yonglu Mountain elder presiding over the Mountain Examination had arrived without a sound. This time, however, it was not Elder Zhan, but Elder Zhao Qi of the Discipline Hall.

Elder Zhao was famous throughout Yonglu Mountain—famous for protecting Yonglu Mountain's reputation. If one offended him, there was no need to beg for mercy; the best thing to do was simply admit one's mistake obediently. Unfortunately, the cultivator provoking them face-to-face did not recognize Elder Zhao.

When he heard Wen Xu's words, his heart gave a jolt. But when he turned and saw a short, stout middle-aged cultivator with a kindly expression who looked utterly lacking in authority, he said, "Then I'll ask. For someone like you, who ignores Yonglu Mountain's rules, am I not allowed to question you?"

Elder Zhao glanced at the blind boy before turning his gaze to the examinee who had spoken. "Boy, what do you believe Yonglu Mountain's rules are?"

"I..."

"When has Yonglu Mountain ever declared to the outside world that one must register in order to take the examination? Cultivators cultivate by following their hearts. This boy had the opportunity to enter the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm during the Preliminary Trial, and he picked the Fragrant Elixir King Grass—that is his fortune. Naturally, Yonglu Mountain would not shut such a person outside its doors. But if you dislike Yonglu Mountain's rules, you may go to another immortal sect and seek the rules you want."

What kind of people did Zhao Qi hate most? Without question, crooked-necked trees like the one before him, spoiled rotten by the rules of great lineages. Did this brat truly think Yonglu Mountain was his home? He would never favor anyone because of their background.