Spiritual Root Testing

"Hey, look at that young fellow. He must be in his twenties at least, right? Isn't he over the age limit?"

"Exactly. A grown man coming here to take the test alongside a bunch of boys and girls. Has he no shame?"

"You're going too far, aren't you? If you ask me, anyone with a dream deserves respect! Sure, he's over the age limit, but if he has spiritual roots, the Heavenly Dao Sect might just take him in. Then you won't be laughing."

"Tch, at his age, he's already late getting started with cultivation. Even if he has the dumb luck to possess spiritual roots, the Heavenly Dao Sect won't take him."

"..."

The townspeople's chatter made Zhao Ting increasingly nervous. Especially when he noticed the looks some of the boys cast his way, he couldn't help blushing. Still, he took a deep breath and shut out their words and stares.

There was idle gossip all day long; if he didn't listen, it might as well not exist. All he needed to do was keep pursuing his dream.

Zhao Ting couldn't help turning to look at Chen Xun. The next moment, he froze in shock. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, utterly dumbfounded.

Brother Chen was grinning and cackling like a lunatic, frightening quite a few townspeople nearby into quietly moving away.

Zhao Ting was stunned.

How had the composed, witty Brother Chen become like this in such a short time?

"Silence! The city lord has arrived!"

Just then, the guard captain shouted.

Zhao Ting shuddered and had no choice but to turn his attention away from Chen Xun for the moment.

The entire central square fell completely silent as well.

Then an old man with the bearing of an immortal sage entered the square, accompanied by a middle-aged man who bowed deferentially beside him.

Behind the old man and the middle-aged man, six young disciples in sect robes followed with calm, unhurried air.

There was no question that the middle-aged man was the lord of Clear Sky City.

As for the old man and the six young disciples, they were cultivators from the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Countless townspeople stared fixedly at the Heavenly Dao Sect cultivators, marveling inwardly. As expected of Immortals from a great sect, their bearing alone made them stand out like cranes among chickens.

The boys and girls lined up in the square gazed at them with longing. They, too, wanted such bearing and status.

Just look-even their city lord, who governed Clear Sky City and its hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, was utterly deferential before the Heavenly Dao Sect's Immortals...

It could truly be said that anyone with spiritual roots would soar straight into the heavens!

Zhao Ting clenched his fists tightly, so nervous that his palms were sweating.

Meanwhile, Chen Xun was holding the hand of a burly middle-aged man whose face was as black as ink, saying solemnly:

"Oh my, judging by your palm, you have a very long lifeline. But that isn't right! Your face clearly says you've committed every evil under the sun and deserve to be struck down by heavenly lightning. How could this be? Could it really be that good people die young while scourges live a thousand years? No, that doesn't add up! Why is it like this? Aaaah!"

The burly man had felt quite pleased upon hearing Chen Xun's first few remarks. But at the latter part, his face instantly darkened, as though Chen Xun had hit the mark. He yanked his hand free, turned, and walked away.

Chen Xun had no idea how jarring his words sounded in the now-silent square.

Countless strange looks turned toward him.

Even the old man from the Heavenly Dao Sect and his disciples looked over with slight frowns.

City Lord Xu Hai's heart jolted. He hurriedly bowed to the old man in apology, then straightened and barked, "Who is making that racket? Where are the guards?!"

"Here!"

The guard captain started, so frightened that cold sweat broke out over him. At the order, he personally led two guards toward Chen Xun with menacing strides!

Zhao Ting, who had long since been stupefied, struggled back to his senses. Without hesitation, he hurried out of the line, fell to his knees, and pleaded fearfully, "Wait, please wait! My lord, this man is my friend. He... hasn't been quite right in the head lately. He certainly didn't mean it. I beg you to show mercy!"

Oh?

At this, Xu Hai frowned and looked over along with countless others. Sure enough, the young man who had been making all that noise now had his index finger in his mouth, sucking on it with relish. His head tilted as he curiously surveyed his surroundings, yet there was something very strange about his eyes, something like frenzy...

His demeanor was entirely natural, not an act.

Many townspeople watched with pity, all sighing inwardly. Such a handsome young fellow, yet he turned out to be a lunatic with something wrong in his head. Both mad and foolish-he was a pitiful soul.

The old man from the Heavenly Dao Sect and his disciples relaxed their frowns considerably at the sight.

With so many mortals watching, they naturally wouldn't hold anything against a madman.

"City Lord Xu, since he's a madman, let it go. We should proceed with the testing as soon as possible," the Heavenly Dao Sect elder said with a wave, displaying impeccable graciousness.

Xu Hai felt relieved and hurriedly bowed in thanks. Then he fixed his gaze on Zhao Ting. "Hmph, keep an eye on your friend. If he oversteps again, even if the immortal master is magnanimous, I will still punish him."

"Thank you, immortal master! Thank you! Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"

Zhao Ting let out a long breath of relief, then stood and hurried to Chen Xun's side. Looking at Chen Xun's condition with dismay, he lowered his voice. "Brother Chen, I don't know why you've suddenly become like this, but you must be careful from now on. If anything happens, I'm only one man with little influence. I'm afraid I won't be able to help you."

Seeing that Chen Xun paid him no heed, Zhao Ting sighed inwardly and hurried back to his place in line.

Next, five Heavenly Dao Sect disciples stepped forward, each going to the head of one of the five lines to prepare for spiritual root testing.

At the sight, countless parents grew nervous.

Testing spiritual roots was very straightforward. There was a special artifact for it, and all the person being tested had to do was place a hand on it. Whether they possessed spiritual roots would be revealed instantly.

Precisely because it was so convenient, they could test all those boys and girls in a single day.

"Deacon, that man is clearly over the age limit."

A young male disciple who had remained beside the Heavenly Dao Sect elder said this while looking at Zhao Ting.

In fact, they had already noticed Zhao Ting earlier.

The young disciple's words now revealed that the old man was a deacon of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Shen He stroked his beard and nodded. "Mm, no matter. There's no need to drive him away. The testing is quick anyway. One more young man makes little difference."

"Yes." The disciple bowed in acknowledgment.

Shen He rose, looked at the many boys and girls gathered there, and said evenly:

"Listen carefully, children. Testing your spiritual roots is very quick. You need only place your hand on the Spirit-Testing Artifact held by the disciple in front of you. If it lights up, you possess spiritual roots and should stand to one side. Otherwise, leave promptly. Do not delay the testing. Do you understand?"

Intimidated by Shen He's presence, the boys and girls hurriedly answered in unison, "We understand, immortal master!"

Shen He nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. "Very good, then. Disciples, get ready. Let the spiritual root testing begin!"