Clarity lost from his eyes

A short while later, the waiter brought Zhao Ting's food over as well.

Zhao Ting poured himself a cup of wine, hesitated for a moment, then raised it. "Brother, although you're a bit sharp-tongued and hardly seem like a scholar, I'll still drink a toast to you."

Chen Xun laughed. "Should I thank you for that?"

Despite his words, Chen Xun raised his cup and clinked it against Zhao Ting's.

"Hahaha." After a sip of wine, Zhao Ting felt that the man had quite a personality. He was easily the most interesting person Zhao Ting had met in years. He couldn't help asking, "Brother, what's your name?"

"Chen Xun."

Zhao Ting nodded. "So it's Brother Chen. My name is Zhao Ting. A pleasure to meet you."

He immediately asked, "You don't seem to be a local, Brother Chen. Have you come to Clear Sky City to sit the examinations?"

As he spoke, Zhao Ting glanced at the bundle Chen Xun carried. He was fairly observant.

At the same time, Zhao Ting glanced at the wooden sword on Chen Xun's back, and puzzlement stirred within him again.

Chen Xun shook his head. "I'm not here for the examinations. I was passing through this city and came in to stay the night."

Just as he finished speaking, Chen Xun's vision suddenly blurred for a moment, and his heart immediately tightened.

This warning sign...

"Not for the examinations?" Zhao Ting sounded a little surprised.

Chen Xun came back to himself and smiled. "Then I take it you're here for the examinations, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Ting gave a dry cough and said awkwardly, "You've got that wrong, Brother Chen. I'm not here for the examinations either. You may not believe me, but I came because the Heavenly Dao Sect is recruiting disciples tomorrow."

Oh?

Chen Xun looked him over and found him rather interesting. "Aren't you already past the recruitment age?"

Zhao Ting said helplessly, "Yes. I'm twenty-four this year, far beyond the limit. But after all those years studying by a cold window, I finally woke up to the truth. I, Zhao Ting, don't want to be an official, nor do I want to scheme and struggle in officialdom. None of that is what I want. More than anything, I don't want to spend my whole life as a mortal. I want to cultivate immortality, roam heaven and earth, and see the sights only immortals get to see."

Chen Xun smiled at that. "You might be taking too much for granted, Brother Zhao. Perhaps the world of immortals isn't as wonderful as you imagine."

Compared with the dangers of the cultivation world, the scheming of officialdom was probably a minor witch standing before a mighty sorcerer.

"Oh?" Zhao Ting curled his lip. "You certainly sound like you know all about it, Brother Chen."

Then, sounding somewhat dejected, Zhao Ting continued, "It's just that I'm a little old now, and I don't even know whether I have a spiritual root. This very first step toward immortality is already hundreds, thousands of times more demanding than the scholarly examinations."

Chen Xun said, "As I see it, spiritual energy fills your entire body, Brother Zhao, and you possess spirit essence of your own. You might well have a spiritual root."

Oh?

Zhao Ting brightened and raised his cup with a smile. "Now those are words I love to hear, Brother Chen!"

Chen Xun smiled. "Are your family members still alive and well, Brother Zhao?"

"Of course. Though my parents are getting on in years, they're both in good health." Zhao Ting paused, then gave a bitter smile. "But this wish of mine is unfilial. My parents want me to earn scholarly honors, while I dream of something as elusive as cultivating immortality."

Chen Xun nodded. "Remember this, Brother Zhao. Once you enter the cultivation world, a barrier separates you from mortal life. You might not even have the chance to be at your parents' deathbeds."

In other words, even seeing them would become difficult.

Zhao Ting was stunned. It was that serious?

Then he smiled. "You're overstating things, Brother Chen. I don't even know whether I can enter an immortal sect yet. All that is still far too distant."

Chen Xun smiled. "Not distant at all."

Zhao Ting changed the subject and asked suspiciously, "Speaking of which, Brother Chen, you really do seem to know quite a lot about the cultivation world!"

Chen Xun offered a perfunctory answer. "Yes, an ancestor of mine once cultivated immortality."

Zhao Ting's expression changed dramatically, and he hurriedly cupped his hands. "To think you come from a cultivation Aristocratic Clan, Brother Chen! Forgive my lack of respect!"

Chen Xun smiled without replying.

Although he had made it up, Zhao Ting's reaction was truly exaggerated. He certainly had a knack for flattery.

How did that count as a cultivation Aristocratic Clan? Such clans cultivated immortality generation after generation.

At the first faint light of dawn the next day, the whole of Clear Sky City awoke. Its streets and alleys teemed with people, bustling with extraordinary activity.

Today was the day the Heavenly Dao Sect came to Clear Sky City to recruit disciples, a day of tremendous significance to everyone.

"Hey! Brother Chen!"

Chen Xun had just left the restaurant with his bundle on his back when he heard a familiar call.

Turning his head, he saw Zhao Ting striding toward him, rubbing his hands as he said:

"Brother Chen, I've been waiting for you for quite a while."

Chen Xun said, "Isn't today the Heavenly Dao Sect's recruitment day? You'd better hurry over, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Ting took a deep breath. "Brother Chen, I'll probably be the only person there this old. I'm so nervous. Could you come with me?"

Chen Xun was speechless. "Brother Zhao, we only met by chance yesterday, like drifting duckweed. What does your nervousness have to do with me?"

Zhao Ting gritted his teeth, took out a silver coin, and handed it over.

Chen Xun paused, then accepted the coin and put it away. "All right. Actually, I was planning to go watch the excitement anyway."

Zhao Ting: "..."

The sun slowly rose.

The spiritual root test for the Heavenly Dao Sect's disciple recruitment was being held in Clear Sky City's central square.

When Chen Xun and Zhao Ting arrived, they found the square surrounded by townspeople, packed layer upon layer so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

The townspeople dared not move any farther in, however, because numerous guards from the city lord's residence were maintaining order, and the city lord himself would be attending today.

The square seethed with restless excitement. Countless parents held their children's hands and craned their necks in anticipation. Whether their children were dragons or worms would be decided today.

Zhao Ting stood on tiptoe and peered inside. "Brother Chen, the immortals haven't arrived yet. I imagine they'll appear with the city lord shortly."

Chen Xun nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He gently rubbed his temples as that blurring sensation suddenly grew stronger...

Zhao Ting noticed nothing amiss, consumed as he was by nervousness.

Clang!

Suddenly, a bell rang out in the square, and everyone fell silent.

The guard captain stepped forward and shouted, "All children taking the spiritual root test, enter at once and line up in an orderly fashion! Parents may not enter!"

The guards maintaining order immediately opened several passages into the square.

The townspeople hurriedly urged their children inside.

Under the guards' tiger-like stares, the boys and girls obediently entered and lined up. No one dared cut in or cause trouble.

Before long, five lengthy lines had formed.

There were many children in Clear Sky City to be tested. This was necessary if they were to finish within a single day.

"B-Brother Chen, I'll go in now!"

Zhao Ting was so nervous that his palms were sweating.

"All right..."

Chen Xun spoke with his eyes closed and his brow deeply furrowed.

Only then did Zhao Ting notice something strange about Chen Xun. He couldn't help asking in bewilderment, "Brother Chen, are you all right? Why do you look even more nervous than I am?"

Chen Xun drew a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm fine. Go on in."

"All right. Wait for my good news, Brother Chen. If I have a spiritual root, I'll definitely treat you to a feast!"

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Ting strode into the square under countless strange looks and joined the lines of young boys and girls.

Meanwhile, Chen Xun suddenly opened his eyes. His lips slowly spread into a crazed grin, and the clarity in his eyes... was gone.