Chapter 169 - 162: Spirit Root Determination

Chapter 169: Chapter 162: Spirit Root Determination

Basically, after a person’s talent was assessed, their own preference was taken into account. If the sect they wanted to join was willing to have them, they would be accepted on the spot.

If they didn’t have a particular sect in mind, or if the one they wanted to join was the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, then the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect would get the first pick.

But the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect had no shortage of disciples, so they wouldn’t accept everyone with less-than-stellar talent.

In fact, for every Immortal Seedling selection, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect would set a quota beforehand.

Once that quota was met, they would stop recruiting, even if there were other candidates who met their minimum requirements.

Only then would the other sects get a chance at the disciples rejected by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

The other sects would then take turns picking from the remaining pool, one by one.

Under this selection method, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect undoubtedly reaped the greatest benefits.

But there was nothing to be done about it. Who could argue, when the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect was the largest and most popular sect in the Far West Land?

Even if the sects went to conduct their own selections town by town, the outcome would hardly change.

Those who believed they had good talent would certainly prioritize the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s selection process, leaving the other sects as a second choice.

Ultimately, the Immortal Seedling selection was merely a way for the various sects to patch up their ranks; it wasn’t their primary method of recruitment. As such, the competition between them wasn’t particularly fierce.

Besides, if a disciple with truly outstanding Spirit Root Talent appeared, as long as they hadn’t officially committed to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, the other major sects could still make tempting offers to persuade them to join.

"Elder Liao, the Array has been set up."

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s Array Master said respectfully to Liao Shitong.

Liao Shitong was an Inner Sect Elder of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and was quite well-known among its many elders.

The Immortal Seedling selection, held once every five years, was no small matter for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

As the one leading the dozen or so participating sects, an ordinary elder wouldn’t have been able to command the situation.

Other sects might not necessarily find disciples with good talent through the Immortal Seedling selection, but for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, that wasn’t an issue.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s biggest concern was that when a good prospect appeared, other sects would snatch them away with promises of various benefits.

Therefore, the elder leading the delegation had to have considerable authority to compete with the other sects.

"Then let’s begin."

Liao Shitong nodded and said to his subordinates.

Soon, a long line formed in the plaza. One by one, youths under the age of sixteen were guided into the Spirit Root testing Array.

Cultivators from all the major sects formed a large circle around the Array.

Whether or not they could join a sect and become a Cultivator would be decided on the spot.

But even in the Cultivation Realm, those who possessed a Spirit Root were always a tiny minority.

Youth after youth walked into the Array, but it remained inert. In the end, they could only leave in disappointment.

After over a hundred boys and girls had been tested, the Spirit Root testing Array finally reacted.

"A Mixed Spirit Root with three elements: fire, wood, and earth. The primary is a lower-grade, top-tier Fire Spirit Root."

A faint, three-colored light bloomed from the Array.

The fiery-red light was the most distinct, while the lights for wood and earth were rather dim.

The Array Master announced immediately after a single glance.

Liao Shitong watched impassively, saying nothing.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect naturally wouldn’t be interested in someone with this level of Spirit Root Talent.

"The Purple Cloud Sect is willing to take you as a disciple. Are you willing to join us?"

Without even asking the boy for his preference, an elder from the Purple Cloud Sect spoke up.

"I am willing."

The young man hurriedly replied and walked toward the Purple Cloud Sect’s contingent.

"A lower-grade, top-tier Spirit Root... what a pity. If it had been a single Fire Spirit Root, he might have had a chance to join the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect."

Further back in the line, Jiang Zuo, Cao Guangshan, and Cao Xuezhu were waiting their turn.

Although they were too far away to hear the conversation, news of the result traveled back quickly.

Cao Guangshan, who was very familiar with the various sects’ recruitment standards, couldn’t help but comment with a touch of regret.

"That’s right."

Jiang Zuo nodded.

He had been traveling for over a decade, so he had come to understand a great deal about these things.

For Cultivators, especially those with poor talent, the more singular the Spirit Root, the better.

Superfluous Spirit Roots were useless to them; in fact, they would only slow down their Cultivation speed.

However, that didn’t mean that fewer Spirit Roots were always better.

If someone possessed multiple Spirit Roots, and all of them were of excellent quality, that was a different story entirely.

A Spirit Root determined whether a Cultivator could practice a Cultivation Technique of a certain element. Possessing multi-elemental Spirit Roots meant one could learn a wider variety of combat methods.

When casting Magic of an element that wasn’t one’s primary Cultivation Technique, there would be some power loss during the conversion through the Spirit Root, but it was still a significant advantage in a fight.

Moreover, Spirit Roots themselves provided a natural resistance to Magic of the corresponding element. The better the Spirit Root Talent, the higher the resistance.

In a battle between equals, this was yet another major advantage.

"Don’t worry, Xuezhu," Cao Guangshan encouraged her as he noticed the yearning look on her face at the mention of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. "Grandpa said your talent is excellent. You’ll definitely get into the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect!"

In the Far West Land, the name of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect was known to all.

Joining the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect was the dream of countless youths.

Getting into the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect often meant a limitless future.

It wasn’t just about one’s own future; their entire family would rise through the ranks, ascending to new heights overnight.

Though most disciples who joined the sect never made it past being Outer Disciples, this didn’t stop ordinary people from dreaming.

The line moved forward slowly, and every so often, another person was found to have a Spirit Root.

However, they were mostly individuals with ordinary talent. The best to have appeared so far was someone with a middle-grade, mid-tier Spirit Root, who was accepted by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

Most, however, had lower-grade, low-tier Spirit Roots.

None of the major sects would accept those with such poor talent.

Their only options were to seek out smaller sects in the hope of being accepted, or simply become Loose Cultivators.

"It’s almost our turn!"

Cao Guangshan said excitedly.

In front of them, there were only a dozen or so people left.

"Well, I’m going in!"

Soon, it was Cao Guangshan’s turn.

"Good luck, big brother!"

Cao Xuezhu said, mustering her courage.

Cao Guangshan nodded firmly and stepped into the testing Array.

"Lower-grade, top-tier Earth Spirit Root. A Mixed Spirit Root of earth, metal, and water."

As Cao Guangshan stepped inside, the testing Array lit up with three colors.

He actually had a Spirit Root too!

Cao Guangshan couldn’t help but grin.

’I only came to accompany Xuezhu; I never expected to have a Spirit Root myself. If I weren’t in this Array, surrounded by Immortal Masters, I’d be laughing out loud right now!’

"Kid, that Spirit Root of yours is a good fit for our Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s Cultivation Techniques. What do you say?"

A lazy voice spoke from the direction of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect.

The speaker was a ruddy-faced old Daoist.

A few others who had been interested in Cao Guangshan fell silent upon hearing him speak.

This was Luo Taidong, the Seventh Elder of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect. He was at the Perfection stage of the late-Three Flowers Realm. In terms of seniority and power, no one present could compare to him. Even Liao Shitong was two hundred years his junior.

Luo Taidong wasn’t originally part of the Immortal Seedling selection team. He was the Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s resident elder at Zhenhe Pass.

Seeing the selection team arrive, he had come over out of boredom to see the excitement.

With his arrival, the original leader of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s delegation could only stand behind him and defer to his decisions.

"I’m willing!"

Cao Guangshan said hurriedly.

He knew his talent wasn’t good enough for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, so getting into the Black Tortoise Dao Sect was an excellent outcome.

The Black Tortoise Dao Sect wasn’t on the same level as the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, or even several of the other sects present.

But any sect that used the "Sect" character in its name was one that had produced an Ascension Great Cultivator in its history. They possessed an extremely powerful Sect Protection Array; even a Great Cultivator at the Manifestation Realm would have to think twice before launching an attack.

Seeing her big brother get into the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, Cao Xuezhu was happy for him. She then stepped into the testing Array.

And then...

The testing Array erupted in a blinding flash of light, its brilliance dwarfing that of all the previous candidates.

"Top-grade, mid-tier Water Spirit Root, and top-grade, low-tier Wood Spirit Root!"

The Array Master couldn’t help but cry out in excitement.

"Dual Top-grade Spirit Roots?!"

Seeing this, everyone surrounding the testing Array was stunned.

Dual Top-grade Spirit Roots were a once-in-a-century sight.

And a combination of Water and Wood Spirit Roots at that!

"Young lady, is there a sect you wish to join?"

Liao Shitong, who had been expressionless until now, couldn’t help but speak in a gentle voice as he looked at Cao Xuezhu in the Array.

If not for the rules and the need to maintain appearances, he would have immediately declared her a disciple.

Even for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, a disciple of this caliber only came along once every two or three hundred years.

The elders from every sect present turned their gazes to Cao Xuezhu.

According to the rules, when an Immortal Seedling of such supreme talent appeared, they had to ask for her preference first.

Before that, saying anything more would be breaking the rules.

However, her stated preference wasn’t the final decision.

After Cao Xuezhu named her desired sect, other interested sects could still offer lavish promises to try and sway her.

"I want to join the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect."

Not yet realizing just how incredible her talent was, Cao Xuezhu replied in a clear, crisp voice.

"Excellent! On behalf of the sect, I promise that upon your return, an elder will accept you as a Direct Disciple! From now on, you need only focus on your diligent Cultivation. The Five Elements Spiritual Soil to forge your Dao Foundation and the Five Elements Spirit Seed to forge your Divine Body—the sect will prepare them all for you!"

Liao Shitong immediately stroked his beard and smiled.

He knew that with Cao Xuezhu’s talent, many sects would surely try to compete for her.

So, he didn’t hold back and directly made her a momentous promise.

Upon hearing this, the representatives from the other sects fell silent.

Direct Disciple, Five Elements Spiritual Soil, Five Elements Spirit Seed.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect had offered everything they possibly could. The other sects couldn’t top that.

Since Cao Xuezhu already favored the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, trying to compete now would be pointless, aside from offending the powerful sect.

"Is that your sister?"

Luo Taidong glanced at Cao Guangshan standing beside him, his face filled with incomparable joy.

"Yes, that’s my little sister! Amazing, isn’t she!"

Cao Guangshan said with a goofy grin.

"It’s Zhou’s turn now! My grandpa said Zhou should have pretty good Spirit Root Talent too!"

Cao Guangshan added hurriedly as he saw Jiang Zuo walk into the Array.

"Oh?"

Luo Taidong looked over with great interest.

As Jiang Zuo walked into the center of the Array, it flashed with light.

However, as everyone stared at the Array, their expressions turned a little strange.