Heavenly Spirit Root

In a daze, a long-forgotten memory surfaced in Ji Yuan's mind.

It was from when the original owner had undergone this spirit root test years ago. It had been much the same scene. He still remembered the Water Dragon Sect cultivator missing his left ear giving him a cold glance before saying expressionlessly:

"Ji Yuan, Metal-Wood-Water-Fire Four-Spirit Root. Rejected."

Now, the same scene was playing out on someone else.

The boy named Zhang Tie showed no disappointment upon hearing that he had a Four-Spirit Root. Instead, he happily threw himself into a woman's arms and shouted excitedly, "Mother, I have a spirit root too! I have a spirit root too!"

Having a spirit root meant one could become a cultivator.

Never mind what came afterward.

Those without spirit roots truly could not become immortal cultivators.

Like the next four or five children tested, who did not even possess spirit roots.

They would have a difficult life in Zengtou City... If they encountered colder-hearted parents, they might even be sent to the mortal world.

"Brother Ji, so you were here."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Ji Yuan turned with a smile. "There are fewer people here. Brother Wen, aren't you going to try the Alchemy Zone?"

Ji Yuan had already learned that Wen Lin was an alchemist.

"I know my own limits. I won't go make a fool of myself," Wen Lin said with a laugh.

Wen Ling'er, in his arms, stared wide-eyed toward the spirit root testing area. "Daddy, when can I get my spirit root tested? Ling'er wants to go too."

"You're still too young. You'll have to wait until next time."

Wen Ling'er was only four years old. She could only wait another three years for the test.

The few of them were chatting when Ji Yuan suddenly saw, from the corner of his eye, the cultivator on duty in the spirit root testing area leap to his feet. The man abruptly raised his head and cried out in shock.

"Uncle-Master Xu, a... a Heavenly Spirit Root!"

"What?!"

The woman cultivator in azure robes sharply lowered her head. With a lift of her hand, four Formation Banners fell to the ground, layer upon layer enclosing the entire spirit root testing area. At the same time, she dispersed the fishermen watching from all around.

In the middle of the area, the dark-skinned child still had no idea what was happening. He turned to look around, and tears even hung at the corners of his eyes.

"It's actually a Heavenly Spirit Root."

Wen Lin beside him could not help staring at the scene in astonishment. Wen Ling'er, meanwhile, asked curiously, "Mother, what's a Heavenly Spirit Root?"

Zhao Yuechan drew a deep breath and explained softly, "It's the most powerful kind of spirit root."

Wen Ling'er clapped her little hands happily. "Then Ling'er wants to have a Heavenly Spirit Root when she grows up too."

Very soon, the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Water Dragon Sect took the boy and his parents away aboard a Spirit Vessel, and the spirit root testing continued.

Barring any surprises, that family would never need to return to Zengtou City again.

It might not be a case of one person attaining the Dao and even the chickens and dogs ascending to heaven, but bringing the whole family to heaven was still possible.

The testing continued, but everyone's attention had already been drawn away by that Heavenly Spirit Root. Even when several three-spirit roots known as "True Spirit Roots" appeared in the following tests, no one cared.

After watching the excitement here, Ji Yuan exchanged a few words with Wen Lin and headed for the talisman area.

Wen Lin, meanwhile, went to the Alchemy Zone he was familiar with.

After Ji Yuan arrived, he leaked a trace of his aura. The fishermen nearby immediately and knowingly made room for him.

He first glanced beside the cultivator on duty, where an elderly cultivator with grizzled hair stood alone, his face full of delight.

At present, he was the only one admitted by the Water Dragon Sect through the path of talismans.

The rules for joining the Water Dragon Sect through talismans were extremely simple as well. Given ten sheets of middle-grade Cloud-Pattern Bamboo Talisman Paper, one could join the Water Dragon Sect if one successfully drew three Middle-Grade Talismans.

Ji Yuan turned to look at the cultivators currently taking the test.

There were ten in total, each in a separately partitioned booth, focusing intently on drawing talismans.

This was somewhat simpler than the Alchemy Zone and artifact-refining area. Over there, everyone had a separate room serving as a quiet chamber to prevent interruptions from outsiders.

Here in the talisman-drawing area, the participants could not see one another, but the spectators could still see them.

"Damn it, Master Lu actually failed."

"What a pity, what a pity."

A middle-aged man who had drawn ten talisman papers in succession but succeeded with only two stood up in a daze, his face pale as though he could not believe it.

Ji Yuan's gaze swept across them one by one, yet he still did not see Lu Wan.

Nor was she anywhere nearby.

Had she not come?

Ji Yuan could not help recalling that when he had gone to her home on the first day of the Lunar New Year, he had not seen her either.

From then until now, Ji Yuan had been cultivating at home. He had rarely even gone to Zengtou City, so naturally he had not seen her... Could something have happened to her?

Ji Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but on second thought, it did not seem likely.

If the Wu Family wanted to make a move against her, they should have done so long ago. If not, then had she moved to another market town?

That was certainly possible.

As Ji Yuan pondered this, the batch of cultivators before him finished their tests. As expected, not a single one succeeded... Was it really this difficult?

Ji Yuan could not help muttering to himself, but after thinking carefully, it truly was.

He had the effects of the [Talisman Room] bolstering him, yet he could only barely manage three or four successful talismans out of ten. Without such support... others could only rely entirely on talent.

"Ji Yuan? You came to take this talisman test too?"

A somewhat familiar voice sounded beside him. Immediately afterward, quite a few cultivators nearby squeezed aside, forced to make an open space.

Ji Yuan turned his head. This time, he was no longer smiling, because... the newcomers seemed less than friendly.

Wu Yan was followed by several junior brothers from his sect, along with the renowned talisman master Wu Wenbin. Even he had come.

The moment Wu Wenbin arrived, even the Water Dragon Sect cultivator on duty smiled and asked, "Brother Wu, are you here to join our Water Dragon Sect this time?"

Wu Wenbin, plump and prosperous-looking, stroked his belly with one hand and smiled. "These old bones of mine should just stay in Zengtou City and enjoy a peaceful retirement."

Before Ji Yuan could speak, Wu Wenbin's gaze followed over to him.

The smile vanished from his face. "You are Lu Wan's friend?"

Ji Yuan glanced at Wu Yan... He guessed that man must have stirred up some trouble with his words. Otherwise, why would Wu Wenbin know about him?

"I am indeed Lu Wan's friend."

Ji Yuan had nothing to deny.

"You do have some talent. Since you're both here to test for entry into the Water Dragon Sect, then go on," Wu Wenbin said, his expression easing somewhat.

Wu Yan and his junior brothers had already gone to collect Wooden Tokens and headed into their respective booths.

Ji Yuan did not move. He had only come to watch the excitement.

Seeing that he remained still, Wu Wenbin naturally assumed he did not dare. He could not help smiling. "Could it be that you think I would suppress you because of your relationship with Lu Wan?"

"Not to mention that there is nothing between you two to begin with, even if there were, that would only be human nature."

"I don't know what others would do, but I, Wu Wenbin, am not such a senseless man."

As soon as he said this, the cultivators nearby were already calling out, "Master Wu is righteous!"

Ji Yuan had not expected Wu Wenbin to possess such a mindset... But if that were truly the case, then who had been suppressing Lu Wan's stall before?

Ji Yuan did not understand, but he still politely cupped his hands slightly toward Wu Wenbin.

Seeing this, the Water Dragon Sect cultivator on duty tossed a Wooden Token into Ji Yuan's hand. "Test station number ten. Go quickly."

Ji Yuan looked at the Wooden Token in his hand... There was nothing he could do. He could only go through the motions.

Just as he turned and walked toward the testing area, he saw Wu Yan looking at him.

Their gazes met. In Wu Yan's eyes, Ji Yuan saw a trace of mockery, along with a few shades of the delight of vengeance fulfilled.

Ji Yuan did not know what madness had seized Young Master Wu, but that look made him very uncomfortable... He had not wanted to cause trouble, and he had already yielded at every turn.

Yet the more he did so, the less others seemed to take him seriously?

At last, Ji Yuan came to the final remaining booth and sat down. He raised his head slightly, only to see a line of glaringly bright words above him.

[Talisman Room: lv1]

Wait... This worked too?!

(I had just set up a scheduled release, but accidentally clicked publish and sent out Chapter 44 early. Luckily, I deleted it quickly. You probably didn't notice, right? Sob.

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