Cultivation: From Menial Laborer to Immortal Venerable

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, now that the rules have been explained, we'll proceed with testing your spiritual root aptitude!"

"Of course, having high spiritual root aptitude doesn't automatically mean you have a talent for alchemy. Our final assessment is your alchemy skill; spiritual root aptitude is merely an auxiliary factor in the admission decision!" the middle-aged man added.

As he spoke, he signaled to a warden beside him.

The warden nodded and tapped his Storage Pouch.

With a flash of green light, a spiritual artifact half a person's height, shaped like a sundial – the Spiritual Root Test Disc – appeared in the center of the area.

"First, Zhongli Can!"

The warden called out.

A young man in white stepped forward, placed his hands on the Spiritual Root Test Disc, and slowly infused his spiritual power.

"Water spiritual root sensitivity 16, Wood spiritual root sensitivity 19!"

Soon, Wei Shangyi also stepped up. A look of confidence flashed in his eyes as he placed his hands on the disc.

The results came out:

"Fire spiritual root sensitivity 31!"

Everyone looked on with envy.

This spiritual root aptitude was already on the higher end of Medium Spiritual Root.

Within the Four Great Clans, he would undoubtedly be a prime candidate for Foundation Establishment.

It was a shame that as a rogue cultivator, obtaining Foundation Establishment spiritual materials in the future would be difficult, but at least reaching Late-Stage Qi Condensation was a certainty.

After testing a few more people, they all had Inferior Spiritual Roots.

Finally, it was Wang Erniu's turn.

Zhou Xun had been very curious about his spiritual root aptitude.

The results came out quickly.

"Gold spiritual root 55, Earth spiritual root 36, Water spiritual root 31!"

The crowd erupted in a clamor.

Lin Zhishan was also moved.

Upper-grade Spiritual Root!

Furthermore, these were on the higher end of Upper-grade Spiritual Roots, approaching Earth Spiritual Root.

With such aptitude, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage was practically guaranteed, and he might even have a chance to glimpse the Great Path of True Core in the future.

It was expected that this news would soon spread throughout Red Leaf Square.

"Silence!"

Lin Zhishan personally spoke, then gave a few instructions to the warden before hastily leaving with Wang Erniu.

Everyone watched the backs of the two as they departed with envy, knowing that Wang Erniu had surely been recognized and had a great fortune ahead of him.

The remaining people continued with the tests.

Finally, it was Zhou Xun's turn.

"Fire spiritual root 15, Wood spiritual root 21."

By calculation, he also had one of the six Medium Spiritual Roots present.

A cultivator's spiritual roots were not immutable.

Before the age of eighteen, it was common for spiritual root sensitivity to increase with age.

Some influential cultivation clans even possessed rare spiritual medicines and unusual secret techniques that could nurture their disciples' spiritual roots from a young age, enhancing their sensitivity.

Therefore, although Zhou Xun had tested as having an Inferior Spiritual Root at Red Leaf Square when he was ten years old, now, eight years later, his spiritual root sensitivity had increased by five points. While this was somewhat beyond the norm, it wasn't unheard of.

Others would simply assume Zhou Xun was lucky.

After the spiritual root tests, the warden led Zhou Xun and the others on a tour of the entire Danbao Pavilion, explained the arrangements for the next month, and then departed.

The thirty of them were assigned to alchemy rooms in pairs.

The alchemy rooms were not large, only about two to three zhang in area.

In the center was an alchemy furnace, with underground fire connected beneath it.

The person sharing an alchemy room with Zhou Xun was Wang Erniu.

Earlier, Wang Erniu had been taken away by Lin Zhishan to meet Grandmaster Yun Ku.

Grandmaster Yun Ku had personally re-tested Wang Erniu's spiritual roots. After confirming their accuracy, he had immediately decided to take him on as a disciple.

However, Wang Erniu had been stubborn, claiming he already had a master and would not take another.

Grandmaster Yun Ku naturally wouldn't force the issue and had sent him back.

After returning, Wang Erniu recounted his experiences to Zhou Xun.

Hearing that Wang Erniu had refused Grandmaster Yun Ku, Zhou Xun admired Wang Erniu's deep loyalty while also regretting that he had given up such an opportunity.

Wang Erniu, however, didn't seem to care.

"I was originally just a cowherd boy from a mountain village. I'm already very content to be an immortal cultivator!"

The alchemy room was lined with ancient texts on both sides.

They were all introductions to various alchemical materials in the cultivation world.

There was even a basic pill recipe – the Pigu Pill.

Looking at the thick tome in his hands, Zhou Xun couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

He never imagined that a pill recipe would be such a thick book. In his impression, a pill recipe should have just been a simple piece of paper.

When he opened it, he finally understood.

It turned out that this tome recorded several methods for refining the Pigu Pill.

It included all the problems that might be encountered during the refining process, as well as various solutions.

It could be said that by thoroughly understanding this book, the refining of the Pigu Pill would be mastered, and practical practice could follow.

As for those single-page recipes, they were merely the formulas for the pills. The refining techniques for the required spiritual herbs, various precautions, and solutions to problems encountered during refining would not be included.

Only true alchemy masters could potentially refine a pill using just a simple formula.

Zhou Xun quickly understood this principle.

In his past life, he hadn't heard of anyone being able to manufacture a product just from a list of ingredients.

On the first day, there were no assigned tasks; they were only meant to familiarize themselves with Danbao Pavilion.

Zhou Xun decided to stay in the alchemy room and read through the various texts. He had never had any prior exposure to alchemy.

Fortunately, he had now awakened his Divine Sense, which granted him the ability to recall anything he saw.

Learning became much easier.

As Zhou Xun was engrossed in reading the texts, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Wang Erniu quickly got up and opened the door!

It was the Warden Lin.

Warden Lin was first startled to see Wang Erniu open the door, but immediately his face broke into a kind smile:

"Oh, it's Erniu. You're assigned here too!"

"Greetings, Warden Lin. Do you need something, Warden?" Wang Erniu first bowed, then asked with some confusion.

"I just came to check on you and nephew Zhou!" Warden Lin's expression was kind, like a friendly neighbor.

Zhou Xun also came out upon hearing the commotion and stepped forward to bow.

"Greetings, Warden Lin!"

"Indeed, it seems what I said that day was correct. You were truly selected!" Warden Lin revealed a satisfied expression.

He assumed Zhou Xun was unaware of his actions and had come to show his face.

Seeing this, Zhou Xun sneered inwardly, but maintained a grateful expression outwardly.

"I must thank you for this matter, Warden Lin!"

Hearing this, Warden Lin laughed heartily, as if his goal had been achieved, and waved his hand:

"I merely made a recommendation; the final decision was made by Grandmaster Yun Ku! Oh, right, I have an alchemy manual here. You should study it diligently in your spare time to become a true alchemist soon!"

As Warden Lin spoke, he took out a booklet from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Zhou Xun.

"Thank you, Warden Lin!" Zhou Xun bowed again.