Eight Gods Pavilion, Spirit Root Testing

Gazing back at the training ground as it gradually shrank into a black dot, Qin Yi fell into thought. What exactly was the world of immortal cultivation like? Was it really that terrifying? If immortal cultivation was so terrifying, why did people still fight tooth and nail for the chance to cultivate?

Zhao Qian, standing at the very front, suddenly spoke. "Stand firm, little ones." The moment he finished, the giant eagle suddenly accelerated, sending the children swaying back and forth. A few of the more timid ones burst into tears. Fortunately, the eagle's back was large enough that they weren't blown off.

Seeing their predicament, Zhao Qian rapidly formed hand seals. A ball of blue light appeared above his head and gradually expanded, soon forming a pale blue barrier around them. Qin Yi and the others were extremely interested. After all, the Qin Kingdom was only an ordinary mortal kingdom in a remote region. Not only were cultivators scarce in the imperial capital, but fighting was also forbidden within the city. Even mortals weren't allowed to fight, let alone cultivators.

Only Qin Shiyu didn't make a fuss. There were a few cultivators in the imperial family, and she had studied the basics of the immortal cultivation world under them for a time. According to them, they were merely the most ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivators. This made Qin Shiyu somewhat curious about Zhao Qian. Could he be one of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators her imperial father often spoke of?

Six hours later, the giant eagle circled above a mountain peak. Zhao Qian took a token out of his Storage Bag and sent a stream of Spiritual Qi into it. The token suddenly began spinning rapidly, then burst with blue light. Qin Yi noticed ripples gradually appearing in the air ahead, and a moment later, a huge fissure split open in the space before them.

Through the fissure, Qin Yi could faintly make out eight towering peaks that rose into the clouds. Immortal cranes, giant eagles, and many flying creatures he had never seen before circled the peaks.

Seeing the children's curious expressions, Zhao Qian called out, "Welcome to the Eight Gods Pavilion. This will also be your home from now on."

Before his words had faded, the giant eagle suddenly accelerated and plunged into the fissure. The children curiously looked around at the world, which resembled an immortal realm. Even Qin Shiyu, who had seen the most, was filled with curiosity about the Eight Gods Pavilion.

A smile spread across Qin Yi's face. So this is the world of immortal cultivation. Old man, you really didn't lie to me...

The giant eagle flew swiftly toward the peak in the center. As it passed through the clouds, Qin Yi and the others saw a huge platform with many people already gathered on it.

The giant eagle landed steadily on the platform. Zhao Qian took a pill from his Storage Bag and tossed it to the eagle, which swallowed it in one gulp before taking flight and departing.

"Follow me. There are a lot of people here, so don't get lost."

Zhao Qian led Qin Yi and the others through the crowd to a pillar engraved with sword patterns. "The Eight Gods Pavilion was founded jointly by seven Golden Core patriarchs and a Nascent Soul mighty figure. This pillar contains a strand of sword intent from a Golden Core mighty figure who was one of its founding masters. A genius once comprehended the sword here. If you're interested, you can give it a try too."

Qin Yi and the others stepped forward to examine the pillar. Qin Yi stared intently at the pillar with such an extraordinary origin. A quarter of an hour passed, then another...

Another quarter of an hour went by. Qin Yi shook his head and muttered, "What kind of lousy pillar is this? My eyes hurt from staring at it, and I still can't see anything."

After another hour, several streaks of light flew over their heads. When the light faded, three figures appeared. One was a plump old man dressed in shabby, untidy clothes, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist. His eyes were half closed, as though he hadn't fully woken up. Beside him stood a tall, thin middle-aged man in luxurious clothes, his gaze sharp as he constantly surveyed his surroundings. At the front stood a dignified, elegantly dressed woman. Her face was like an iceberg, and she looked extremely stern.

"Grand Elder."

Several figures rushed into the sky from around the square. Qin Yi counted them carefully. There were eighteen in all. "Looks like the Eight Gods Pavilion has a deep foundation."

The Grand Elder stepped forward, her icy voice carrying across the square. "In the immortal cultivation world, cultivators are many and resources are scarce. Today will decide your fate. Remember, those with great talent are destined to rise, while the weak can only cling to life."

"Now, the Spirit Root testing begins."

As soon as she finished speaking, the eighteen guides turned into streaks of light and scattered. Zhao Qian returned to Qin Yi and the others, now holding an array flag. "Come with me."

When they reached the edge of the square, Zhao Qian planted the array flag in a small hole in the ground. Streaks of light immediately converged across the ground, forming a large six-pointed star array.

"Enter the array one at a time."

Qin Shiyu walked briskly into the array. Three streaks of light rose from the ground and circled her, transforming into three balls of red, blue, and yellow light.

Zhao Qian smiled at the sight. "Good talent. A Water, Fire, and Earth Triple Spirit Root. You can enter the inner sect."

Qin Shiyu patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. She then looked toward Qin Peng and Qin Yi. Qin Peng gave her a reassuring look, while Qin Yi nodded at her.

"Next."

Qin Peng strode into the array. In the next instant, three streaks of light likewise circled around him. When their light faded, they became three balls of red, yellow, and green light. Qin Peng's yellow ball, however, was brighter than Qin Shiyu's.

"Metal, Fire, and Wood Triple Spirit Root. You can enter the inner sect."

"Next."