Night lay heavy, and mist wreathed the bamboo grove. The Gray Spirit Root disciples' quarters had fallen silent; only Qin Yu's bamboo hut still glowed with dim yellow lamplight.
Suddenly, steady footsteps sounded outside.
"Qin Yu."
Zhang Hao's voice came through the bamboo hut's thin door, low but clear.
Qin Yu immediately rose and pushed open the door, bowing respectfully beneath the moonlight. "Deacon Zhang."
Zhang Hao stood with his hands behind his back, moonlight falling over his white robes, his presence extraordinary. He gazed at Qin Yu, undisguised approval appearing in his eyes for the first time. "You're already prepared to face the competition after tomorrow."
Qin Yu's chest jolted. He quietly clenched his fists, his eyes blazing. "I won't let you down!"
Zhang Hao nodded slightly, his voice low but carrying a trace of gravity. "Becoming an outer sect disciple isn't merely a change in status. It means a difference in resources and strength. Since I've decided to put you forward, I can't let you go empty-handed."
With that, he flicked his sleeve. A dark-gold jade slip slowly floated out, giving off a faint spiritual glow.
"This is the Spiritual Breath Essence Condensation Method, a secret method that only outer sect disciples of the Cloud-Leveling Hall may practice. It can condense the Spiritual Qi absorbed during breathing exercises into threads and store them within the mass of primordial Qi in your Dantian. It far surpasses the crude breathing methods you usually use."
He explained slowly, his voice steady and forceful:
"Practicing this method can triple the speed at which you accumulate Spiritual Qi. Your Qi will also become condensed and stable, making it less likely to leak out. In the competition, this will be your greatest trump card."
Qin Yu's eyes lit up. He solemnly accepted the jade slip with both hands, his voice young but firm. "I'll remember! Thank you for nurturing me, Deacon Zhang!"
Zhang Hao gazed at him, moonlight reflecting against the fire in his eyes, as though he meant to see through his soul.
"Remember, Qin Yu, I can give you an opportunity, but whether you take that step depends entirely on you. If you can gain a foothold in tomorrow's competition, you'll no longer be a Gray Spirit Root disciple, but a true member of the Cloud-Leveling Hall's outer sect."
He paused, his voice low and laden with meaning. "And I, Zhang Hao, will stake my dignity as a deacon to put you before everyone."
Qin Yu raised his head, fiery light flashing in his youthful eyes, and nodded firmly. "I'll win!"
The night wind howled, and the bamboo grove rustled. Beneath the moonlight, the boy's hands trembled slightly as he gripped the jade slip-not from fear, but from fierce excitement.
From this moment on, he was no longer merely one of the Gray Spirit Root disciples. He had set foot on the true path of an outer sect disciple.
Deep into the night, the oil lamp flickered gently inside the bamboo hut. Qin Yu hugged the newly acquired jade slip tightly to his chest, excitement surging within him. Yet he did not immediately sit down to cultivate. Instead, he lifted his head and looked at Yang Zheng, who was reclining on the wooden bed.
"Brother Yang, there's something I need to tell you." Qin Yu's voice was low, but carried excitement he could scarcely conceal.
Yang Zheng rolled over and sat up, rubbing his eyes. "What is it? Why are you being so mysterious today?"
Qin Yu took a deep breath and recounted every detail of how Deacon Zhang Hao had summoned him that evening and acknowledged that he was ready to compete for a place among the outer sect disciples. Finally, his eyes shone as he said clearly, "Tomorrow, Deacon Zhang will personally take me to the outer sect disciple assessment."
The hut fell silent.
Yang Zheng froze for a long moment, then suddenly slapped the wooden bed and sprang to his feet, his eyes shining. "Great! Yuzi! You really did it! Haha, I knew you were no ordinary Gray Spirit Root!"
He threw an arm around Qin Yu's shoulders, laughing heartily. "Deacon Zhang is personally taking you to the outer sect assessment! So many people in the entire Gray Spirit Root disciples' quarters wouldn't dare dream of that! Brother, I'm proud of you!"
Warmth filled Qin Yu's heart, and a smile appeared on his lips. He said softly, "Brother Yang, all this way, you've stayed beside me and helped me. That's why I never felt alone."
Yang Zheng's eyes grew hot. He patted Qin Yu firmly on the chest. "You'll really make me cry, saying that. Remember, whether you become an outer sect disciple tomorrow or not, you'll always be my brother, and the person I, Yang Zheng, admire most in this life!"
Beneath the oil lamp, the two boys sat shoulder to shoulder, their smiles pure and sincere. Though the bamboo hut was humble, the feelings they shared at that moment made it immeasurably warm.
Qin Yu looked at the jade slip in his hand, his gaze firm as fire.
Yang Zheng looked at him, his heart full of pride and anticipation.
The night breeze brushed gently through the bamboo grove, as though offering them its gentlest blessings.
At dawn, the morning bell boomed, its sound shaking mountains and rivers. The day of the Cloud-Leveling Hall's outer sect assessment had finally arrived.
Qin Yu woke early, nervousness and excitement mingling within him. He pushed open the bamboo door and saw Deacon Zhang Hao already standing outside the grove, his white robes stirring in the wind, his presence steady as a mountain.
"Let's go." Zhang Hao's gaze was calm, but carried a hint of unquestionable authority.
Qin Yu nodded solemnly. Silently repeating Yang Zheng's encouragement from the previous night, he followed Zhang Hao onward.
As they approached the Cloud-Leveling Hall's main peak, voices already seethed outside the mountain gate.
Beneath the heavens, the Cloud-Leveling Hall towered like a mountain. White jade steps stretched a hundred zhang, leading straight into the clouds. A great gilded plaque hung above the hall's entrance, the three ancient characters for "Cloud-Leveling Hall" sweeping like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, exuding ancient majesty.
Clouds and mist rolled across the square, spiritual light shimmering through them like an immortal realm.
Several thousand youths had gathered, all prodigies and youngsters from across the Great Yan Continent. Most were fifteen or sixteen, dressed in cloth garments of various colors or brocade robes custom-made by their lineages, their eyes full of nervousness and anticipation.
Beyond the crowd, several hundred more disciples watched from afar, some wearing worried expressions, others quietly hopeful.
At the center of the square stood spirit stone pillars several zhang tall, shimmering with faint light. These were the trial instruments for the outer sect disciple assessment. Each spirit stone pillar contained the spiritual power of heaven and earth and could test whether a youth was qualified to enter the gate of cultivation.
Spiritual light flowed between the spirit stone pillars, and clouds took the shape of dragons. At times, golden luminous mist rose; at others, azure runes appeared, as though the principles of heaven and earth had all gathered here. White cranes circled overhead, and the hall's bells echoed again and again, creating a solemn, sacred atmosphere.
With his hands behind his back, Zhang Hao slowly led Qin Yu into the square. The surrounding disciples cast curious, scornful, or indifferent looks at them.
Qin Yu's youthful face was taut, his heart pounding. Yet when he saw the towering Cloud-Leveling Hall, a determined flame kindled in his eyes.
This was the first time he had truly stood on the threshold of destiny.
Zhang Hao swept his gaze over the square, his voice low. "Qin Yu, remember: from today onward, you aren't a Gray Spirit Root menial, but someone who will compete against these thousands of youths."
The boy drew a deep breath and nodded. "Yes!"
Sunlight broke through the clouds, spilling over the spirit stone pillars and the thousands of youths. Woven through with golden radiance and spiritual mist, the entire square resembled a grand gathering of an immortal sect.
The Cloud-Leveling Hall's outer sect disciple assessment officially began.
The morning bell's lingering notes had yet to fade. Spiritual mist churned across the Cloud-Leveling Hall's square, and brilliant light shone in every direction.
Just then, the sky suddenly shuddered, and streaks of rainbow light flew out from the depths of the main hall. Several elders came treading through the air, their imposing presence pressing down like mountains as they landed on the square's raised platform.
The man at their head had a white beard hanging to his chest and wore azure-and-gold robes. His brows and features were sharp as swords, and his eyes seemed capable of piercing people's hearts as they opened and closed. He was the Cloud-Leveling Hall's grand elder in charge of outer sect selection, his cultivation unfathomable.
As the elders landed, the thousands of youths in the square fell silent at once, as though even the air had frozen.
The grand elder raised a hand, his voice like thunder. "The Cloud-Leveling Hall's outer sect disciple assessment officially begins today! All children under sixteen may step forward and touch a spirit stone pillar to reveal the quality of their spirit roots! Anyone who manifests a spirit root will be considered to have passed; however, those whose spirit roots fall below low grade may not enter the outer sect!"
His voice echoed between heaven and earth, solemn and inviolable.
The thousands of youths breathed rapidly, their eyes burning. Beneath the sunlight, the spirit stone pillars shimmered with mysterious radiance, as though heralding destiny's judgment.
At the edge of the crowd, some deacons and disciples discussed in low voices.
"Hey, isn't that Zhang Hao? He actually brought a child with a Gray Spirit Root?"
"Haha, the same old habit. He's bent on raising some so-called prodigy, only to end up covered in dust and disgrace every time."
"A Gray Spirit Root disciple? Did he come here to make a spectacle of himself? I doubt he can even reach the lowest threshold for the outer sect."
A thin-faced deacon sneered. "Zhang Hao, Zhang Hao, you're an old hand at the Cloud-Leveling Hall. Why won't you give up? Competing for outer sect discipleship isn't child's play. Aren't you inviting humiliation by squeezing a Gray Spirit Root in here?"
Zhang Hao stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unchanged, as though he had not heard those cold remarks at all. Only deep within his eyes did a trace of cold light flash.
He slowly spoke to Qin Yu in a low voice. "Ignore them. Remember, you only need to silence them with your strength."
Qin Yu pressed his lips tightly together, nervous inside. Encouraged by Zhang Hao's steady tone, however, his gaze gradually grew firm.
Spiritual light surged through the spirit stone pillars in the square. Spiritual mist condensed into hundreds of luminous images in the air, as though the youths' future destinies were slowly unfolding.
And amid the crowd, a young boy was preparing to take the step that would change his destiny.
As the assessment progressed, youths stepped forward one after another to touch the spirit stone pillars. Spiritual light flashed; some manifested the Qi of the five elements-metal, wood, water, fire, and earth-drawing cheers from the crowd. Others produced not the slightest light and were driven from the testing area by the deacons, their expressions dejected.
"Next-"
As the deacon's voice fell, every gaze immediately converged on the figure behind Zhang Hao.
"That's him? The Gray Spirit Root menial?"
"Haha, sure enough, Zhang Hao still wants to raise up trash."
"I'm afraid he's going to lose every scrap of face again this time."
Low mockery rose here and there. Even a deacon shook his head and sighed. "He's really inviting humiliation."
Qin Yu drew a deep breath, his heart pounding, but still walked step by step toward the center of the square. Beneath countless mocking gazes, his youthful face looked especially lonely, yet a stubborn light shone in his eyes.
Zhang Hao watched from a distance, his gaze calm as still water.
When Qin Yu pressed both hands against the spirit stone pillar, there was indeed no reaction at first. Three breaths, five breaths, seven breaths... waves of mocking laughter gradually rose across the square.
"Hahaha, he really is trash!"
"A Gray Spirit Root? This is the prodigy Zhang Hao wanted to raise?"
"What an utter disgrace!"
Even some deacons shook their heads and sneered, already sealing the coffin on Qin Yu in their minds.
But-
Just when everyone thought the outcome was settled, the spirit stone pillar suddenly shook with a thunderous crash!
Boom-!!
An unprecedented shock erupted from within the stone pillar. The ground across the entire square trembled, and dust flew.
Light exploded across the pillar-first gray, then the light of the five elements, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, flashing in succession. Finally, they suddenly overlapped into blazing platinum divine radiance that shot straight into the highest heavens!
The sky was torn open in an instant. Clouds churned, and Spiritual Qi swept in like a tsunami. Spiritual mist condensed into countless runes that flickered in the air, like an eternal heavenly scripture writing itself.
"This... this is impossible!"
"All five elements manifesting together? This is already the legendary... all-attribute spiritual root!"
"No! Look-!"
Everyone stared in horror. The light of the five elements did not stop there, but continued gathering and merging, finally forming an unprecedented luminous image upon the spirit stone pillar:
Illusory rings appeared behind Qin Yu, layer upon overlapping layer, finally condensing into an enormous black-and-gold halo!
The halo turned. All the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth surged wildly, shaking mountains and rivers, as though the entire Cloud-Leveling Hall were being pulled along.
The grand elder abruptly rose, his pupils contracting. "This... this is... could it be the legendary phenomenon spiritual root that transcends the five elements, transcends heaven and earth!"
Another elder cried out involuntarily, "Beyond the five elements-is this truly a phenomenon spiritual root?"
Across the square, thousands of youths gaped, dumbfounded. Disciples and deacons alike were struck speechless, leaving only heartbeats and trembling in the air.
Against the boundless black-and-gold halo and the divine radiance of the five elements, Qin Yu's figure seemed to become the sole focus of heaven and earth.
As the halo revolved, the sky suddenly thundered. Streaks of golden lightning tore through the heavens, as though the Heavenly Dao were bearing witness to his appearance. Spiritual mist churned into dragons, phoenix cries rang through the nine heavens, and all of heaven and earth trembled.
Qin Yu's eyes widened, his chest heaving. The Spiritual Qi within him resonated with the outside world, as though it would break through every shackle.
"I... passed!"
At that moment, the square was deathly silent. Countless people who had once mocked him turned deathly pale, with only a single thought left in their minds:
This wasn't a useless root... but this spirit root was by no means ordinary!
Deacon Zhang Hao stood with his hands behind his back, irrepressible exultation and pride flashing deep within his eyes.
At last... I bet right! Hahahahaha...