Tang Yao did not answer the sect master. Nothing she said would be as convincing as a direct test.
Before long, the young attendant brought the Spirit Testing Stone before Tang Yao.
Vermilion Bird suddenly spoke in her Divine Sense: Wait.
Looking at the stone's crystalline glow, Tang Yao asked Vermilion Bird: What will happen if I put my hand on it?
Vermilion Bird was embarrassed. Probably... the stone will turn white and show 100% purity, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
Usually, only a trash spirit root or an all spirit root gives off a white glow.
If someone knowledgeable covets your spirit root and word gets out, you'll have a lot of trouble.
Or you might be mistaken for having a trash spirit root and swept out the door.
Tang Yao nodded thoughtfully.
Even without Vermilion Bird's warning, she had not intended to simply reach out and take the test, but she had not expected a trash spirit root to be white too.
Tang Yao reached toward the Spirit Testing Stone, activating her spirit root within her body and converting it into fire Spiritual Qi, which would also make it convenient to use the Crimson Flame Sword again later.
In an instant, the Spirit Testing Stone turned a searing red, radiating dazzling light throughout the hall.
The air abruptly fell still.
The entire hall was so quiet that not a crow or sparrow could be heard. Everyone exchanged looks. The characters projected into the air by the Spirit Testing Stone read: fire spirit root, 100% purity, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
The elders instantly turned to stone. Those characters were like a slap that left their faces stinging!
Hadn't they said Tang Yao's talent was ordinary? Who on earth had been spreading those rumors? A fifteen-year-old Half-Step Golden Core! And they called that ordinary?
And on top of that-a pure fire spirit root!
In the inter-sect tournament a few months from now, first place would undoubtedly belong to their Azure Cloud Sect again!
While everyone rejoiced, a pair of venom-steeped eyes in the shadows stared fixedly at Tang Yao.
Sect Master Ren rose excitedly, unable to suppress the exhilaration in his eyes or quite control his voice. "Does anyone still object to Tang Yao becoming the Azure Cloud Sect's head disciple?"
The air instantly froze, and a group of old men immediately crowded around Tang Yao.
"Our sect's chief disciple should be young friend Tang! Here's a first-meeting gift for you!"
"Yao'er! Your martial uncle spoke harshly just now, so please don't take it to heart! If you ever have any questions about cultivation methods, come ask me!"
"A-Yao, whenever you want to travel, your martial uncle will support you. Just make sure you remember to come home!"
Elder Yun spat disdainfully and muttered, "I said it all along. How bad could someone with an innate sword bone possibly be? He was just hiding his abilities!" As though still unsatisfied, he deliberately bumped a certain elder's shoulder and snorted. "Trimming your sails to the wind!"
Sect Master Ren smiled awkwardly. "Yao'er, don't take it to heart. They were just too concerned about the sect's reputation earlier and thought you were an idle, unlearned playboy."
An elder in the crowd immediately chimed in, "I'll beat up anyone who spreads those rumors again! Our Yao'er is so handsome. Does he look like some wastrel young master?"
The others all agreed. "Exactly, exactly! Our martial nephew really is a fine-looking young man, with all the bearing I had back in my day!"
"Pah! You? Stop gilding your own face!"
The contrast in their attitudes made Tang Yao want to laugh. After all these years, she finally understood just how powerful the rose-tinted glasses teachers wore when looking at good students could be.
When your grades were good, everything you did was cast in a beautiful light.
When your grades were poor, that was another story.
Sect Master Ren turned to the young attendant beside him. "Go and call Xue'er and the others over. Have them meet their eldest senior brother."
The young attendant bowed respectfully, then withdrew from the hall.
A while later, three figures followed the young attendant into the hall and cupped their hands in greeting. "Master." They then turned toward the elders and lowered their heads. "Martial uncles."
For a moment, Mu Shixue's feelings were hard to put into words. The young attendant had told her they were coming to meet Tang Yao. She did not understand where she fell short of Tang Yao. Apart from having an innate sword bone, what else did Tang Yao have...?
Why had Tang Yao come back? The elders had clearly already resolved to make her the Azure Cloud Sect's chief disciple.
Mu Shixue deliberately lowered her head, biting her lower lip tightly and refusing to look at Tang Yao.
Tang Yao studied the three "old acquaintances" before her. Mu Shixue no longer had the effortless composure she had shown in Myriad Ancient City. Her displeasure with Tang Yao was almost written across her face. As for the other two...
Tang Xin was indifferent and expressionless. The elders had repeatedly pressed her about Tang Yao's whereabouts before, and now the entire sect knew that the siblings of the Tang Household did not get along. She no longer needed to put on an act of deep sibling affection with Tang Yao.
Meng Qi noticed something was wrong with Mu Shixue. Anyone his senior sister disliked, he absolutely would not like either, so he showed Tang Yao no friendliness.
Watching this, Sect Master Ren sighed and shook his head. Xue'er's temperament was still unsteady. The most effective solution would be for Tang Yao to defeat Xue'er and make her accept it wholeheartedly.
"Yao'er, the individual competition for new disciples is in half a month. Make sure you prepare after you leave. The top ten will qualify to enter the Ten Thousand Swords Grotto."
"Xue'er, show your senior brother around the sect. You may all leave." Sect Master Ren waved his hand as he finished speaking.
Mu Shixue agreed, her expression hidden as she lowered her head, then led Tang Yao out of the hall.
Tang Yao followed behind without being prompted.
Seeing that all three were silent, she called out with a grin, "Little sister."
Tang Xin gave a hum of acknowledgment, slowed her steps, and tilted her head to look at Tang Yao.
"How have your studies at the sect been these past two months?" Looking at Tang Xin, who was a head shorter than her, Tang Yao quite naturally slung an arm around her neck.
Tang Xin stiffened, furrowed her brows, and said coldly, "Thanks to you, I haven't had a moment's peace. Everyone kept asking where you'd gone."
Tang Yao smiled awkwardly.
Mu Shixue suddenly turned her head and stopped, her face expressionless. "Xin'er, take your elder brother to Long Mountain Residence. I'll head back first."
Long Mountain Residence had always been the dwelling of the Azure Cloud Sect's chief disciple.
As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Qi beside her immediately grew anxious. He looked nervously at Mu Shixue. "Senior sister, are you feeling unwell? Let me take you back."
"I'm fine. I'll go back myself." Mu Shixue shook her head and pushed away the hand Meng Qi had extended to support her.