Brother Chen, What on Earth Happened to You?

After Shen He finished speaking, countless gasps rang out across the square.

As the townspeople looked at Zhao Ting, their envy was now joined by respect. They dared entertain no other thoughts.

After all, this immortal master from the Heavenly Dao Sect had made himself perfectly clear...

Among the very finest in the entire Northern Mystic Cultivation World-that alone said it all.

Zhao Ting possessed extraordinary talent. He was a hidden dragon in the depths, destined to soar into the heavens one day!

By comparison, Zhao Ting was the one who had truly reached the heavens in a single step!

The four children with spiritual roots before him now seemed mediocre.

But they were only mediocre compared with Zhao Ting. Those four children still had far brighter futures than the countless children eliminated here.

Even Xu Hai trembled with awe at this moment, and his gaze toward Zhao Ting became respectful.

In the space of a single day, this city lord's attitude had undergone a complete transformation.

Xu Hai had never imagined that someone could ascend to the heavens overnight.

"A metal-affinity heavenly... heavenly spiritual root."

Zhao Ting muttered dazedly, feeling as though he were dreaming.

"Hehe, Zhao Ting, come up and take a seat with me while we wait for the remaining children to finish their tests."

Shen He gestured toward the seats on the platform, inviting him with a smile.

The smile never left his face. He could hardly have been happier.

Seeing how Shen He treated Zhao Ting made everyone's hearts tremble all the more.

"Oh, yes. All right."

Zhao Ting nodded in a daze and followed Shen He onto the platform. Even now, everything still felt unreal.

Once he was on the platform.

The disciple who had previously said Zhao Ting was too old bowed and greeted him. "Senior Brother Zhao."

Zhao Ting waved his hands repeatedly. "Please, there's no need!"

He had not even joined the Heavenly Dao Sect yet. How could he be anyone's senior brother? Still, this made it even clearer just how remarkable his spiritual root was.

"You're too modest, Senior Brother Zhao. Hehehe."

The disciple gave an awkward laugh, his every word cautious and ingratiating.

He had no choice. Once Zhao Ting returned to the sect, his aptitude would surely earn him an immediate promotion to Purple-Robed Disciple. That purple robe was something countless disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect dreamed of!

In the Heavenly Dao Sect, aside from the sect master and elders, Purple-Robed Disciples held the highest status!

Meanwhile, testing resumed in the square.

Yet everyone's attention kept drifting toward Zhao Ting. His talent was simply too dazzling.

"Zhao Ting, is your family from Clear Sky City? Why didn't you come when our Heavenly Dao Sect recruited disciples in previous years?"

Shen He asked in puzzlement.

With Zhao Ting's aptitude, these few years might not amount to much, but it was still something of a waste.

What puzzled Shen He even more was Zhao Ting's family background. How could a heavenly spiritual root appear in a place like this? By all rights, the chances were vanishingly small.

Zhao Ting came to his senses and said, "Immortal master, my family isn't from Clear Sky City. We're from Fortune and Prosperity Town, south of the city. As for why I didn't come in previous years... I was preparing for my exams."

Beside them, City Lord Xu Hai could not help feeling disappointed when he heard that Zhao Ting was not from Clear Sky City.

If he had been, Xu Hai could have claimed some credit as city lord and perhaps received a reward from the immortal master. What a pity.

Fortune and Prosperity Town?

Shen He nodded. In truth, he had little recollection of this small town, but from today onward, he would remember it firmly.

Yet Zhao Ting's final words puzzled Shen He again. "Preparing for exams? What exams?"

Zhao Ting scratched his head. "The scholarly examinations."

Shen He froze. His instinct was to snap, "Nonsense!" But he quickly restrained himself, gave a dry cough, and advised him earnestly, "Well, Zhao Ting, with your talent, you should focus on cultivation from now on. Don't give those scholarly examinations another thought. They're a needless waste of time."

Zhao Ting nodded. "Yes."

Shen He found Zhao Ting increasingly pleasing: extraordinarily talented, yet neither arrogant nor impatient, and respectful toward his elders.

The Heavenly Dao Sect had other disciples with heavenly spiritual roots, but which of them was not proud and haughty? Very few were like Zhao Ting.

Truthfully, even if Zhao Ting berated him right now, Shen He might not dare talk back. He could only swallow it.

Once Zhao Ting's emotions had settled somewhat, he suddenly remembered Chen Xun and hurriedly looked over. Seeing Chen Xun lying on the ground, sleeping soundly, his gaze turned strange.

What on earth happened to Brother Chen?

How could someone perfectly fine suddenly end up like this?

Why had he suddenly gone mad?

Now that he had some time, Zhao Ting could not help pondering it.

That evening.

The spiritual root testing concluded.

None of the remaining children had spiritual roots.

The parents took their children home in disappointment.

Since they could not cultivate, their only choice was to study hard and sit the examinations.

"Immortal master, I have arranged accommodations at the city lord's residence..."

Before Xu Hai could finish, Shen He waved a hand to interrupt him. "No need, City Lord Xu. I appreciate your kindness, but we will be setting out for the sect right away."

Ordinarily, Shen He would certainly have stayed for a night, perhaps even several days. But now that he had found a heavenly spiritual root disciple like Zhao Ting, his heart had already flown home like an arrow.

"Uh, all right," Xu Hai said regretfully.

Beside him, Zhao Ting's expression changed. He had not expected it to be so soon!

Would he not even have time to say goodbye to his family?

When he left home this time, he had told his family that he was coming to take the scholarly examinations. Yet now...

Zhao Ting hurriedly said, "Immortal master, could I let my family know before we leave?"

Shen He paused, but he could not refuse Zhao Ting's request. Smiling, he said, "Of course. It's only natural to want to see your family. After all, once you join the sect, you'll have fewer opportunities to visit the mortal world."

Zhao Ting's mouth fell slightly open. Shen He's words were almost identical to what Brother Chen had said yesterday.

Did cultivation require giving up so much?

Was this the price of cultivation?

Thinking of Chen Xun, Zhao Ting hurriedly looked over. When he saw that Chen Xun was still lying there, he walked quickly toward him.

Seeing this, Shen He waved at Xu Hai. "Please head back, City Lord Xu. We'll be leaving shortly. There's no need to see us off."

With that, he walked toward Zhao Ting and Chen Xun.

The six disciples followed with the four newly recruited boys and girls.

The four youngsters were well behaved, though their eyes kept straying toward their families, who had remained nearby.

Their families also knew their children were about to leave and wanted to approach and speak with them. But without Shen He's permission, they did not dare. They could only watch longingly.

"Uh, yes."

Xu Hai bowed in acknowledgment. Despite saying that, he did not leave, instead standing some distance away. He likely would not dare depart until Shen He and the others had truly left.

As the lord of a city, Xu Hai naturally knew how to read the situation.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen! Wake up!"

After reaching him, Zhao Ting crouched down and gently shook Chen Xun.

"Mm."

Chen Xun opened his eyes groggily and mumbled, "What are you doing?"

Zhao Ting paused, then gave a bitter smile. "Brother Chen, what on earth happened to you..."

The way Chen Xun seemed not to recognize him made Zhao Ting uneasy, and his heart ached.

He had been perfectly fine. Why had he ended up like this?

Zhao Ting could not help wondering whether he had somehow stolen Brother Chen's good fortune.

Zhao Ting was kindhearted by nature, and now he felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. After all, the timing was far too coincidental.

"Zhao Ting."

Just then, Shen He and the disciples approached.

Zhao Ting hurriedly stood up. "Immortal master, could you take a look at my friend? He was fine yesterday, but this morning, for some reason, he suddenly became like this."