Chương 48: Chapter 48: Spirit Testing Stone
With the crowd being so dense and packed, the seven of them soon got separated as they tried to squeeze through. However, this didn't bother them much. As long as they could all make it to the front, they would be able to see each other.
After some effort, Lin Xiao, dragging Sun Yigao along, finally broke through the wall of people and reached the front row. In the center of the crowd was a large, circular clearing with a tall platform at the center.
On the platform stood three people dressed in blue robes, each holding a long sword. Their expressions were stern and carried an air of arrogance as they looked down at the people below.
Lin Xiao had thought the recruitment process would take a while to start, so he began scanning the crowd to locate the other five. However, just as he was about to do so, one of the three on the platform stepped forward and loudly announced:
"The recruitment of disciples for the Shangyang Sect begins now. Those under twelve years old, form a line and step forward."
He then pointed to a half-transparent stone block that stood about half as tall as a person beside him and continued:
"One by one, come up here and place your hand on this Spirit Testing Stone—First one, step forward—"
Lin Xiao was a bit surprised by how quickly they began. He had assumed that a high-ranking expert would make an appearance to oversee the proceedings, but the three on stage were merely cultivators at the third or fourth level of Qi Refinement—about the same level as him, with some even lower than his.
Just then, a young girl was the first to step onto the stage.
As Lin Xiao kept an eye out for the other five, he soon spotted Qin Jianghe breaking through the crowd not far away. But before they could exchange glances, Lin Xiao noticed Qin Jianghe staring in shock at the girl who had just stepped onto the platform.
Lin Xiao thought for a moment and then realized the truth.
That girl must be the one Qin Jianghe was betrothed to.
No wonder her attitude had changed—she must be planning to join the Shangyang Sect. But Lin Xiao didn't judge her for it; after all, it was natural for people to seek better opportunities. However, seeing Qin Jianghe's embarrassed and angry expression, Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel sorry for his poor, unlucky financial elder.
On the platform, Feng Xuanye stood idly, holding his sword and looking bored. A remote little town like this wasn't likely to have any good talent, which is why Elder Bai had assigned him and the two other disciples who were only at the third level of Qi Refinement to this task. It was clear that Elder Bai had little regard for this place.
But what Feng Xuanye didn't understand was, if Elder Bai had so little faith in these small places, why didn't he just advise the sect not to recruit here in the first place? He had heard that in previous years, the sect didn't even bother coming to such remote areas. Apparently, there had been some directive from higher up to expand the recruitment this year... though he couldn't figure out why.
After all, their monthly stipends were already paltry, and now with this expansion, where would the sect find the resources to support all these new disciples?
As Feng Xuanye's mind wandered, his attention was suddenly caught by a bright flash of white light from the Spirit Testing Stone!
"A single spirit root! And it's a variant lightning spirit root!"
Snapping out of his daze, Feng Xuanye couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, though he quickly controlled his volume so that the crowd below couldn't hear him. However, Lin Xiao, with his enhanced hearing, caught every word.
Lin Xiao was equally shocked.
What? So this world still uses spirit roots to determine cultivation talent? And it's the classic 'the fewer, the better' setup?
On the stage, the girl standing before the Spirit Testing Stone was none other than the one Qin Jianghe had been betrothed to. After discovering she had a variant lightning spirit root, the other two Shangyang Sect disciples immediately announced it loudly.
Feng Xuanye quickly guided Niu Xiaoxue to a waiting area and even pulled an umbrella from his storage pouch to hand to her:
"Unless something unexpected happens, you'll be my junior sister from now on. The sun is quite harsh today, Junior Sister Xiaoxue. Please use this umbrella for shade."
Niu Xiaoxue looked at the tall and handsome young man in front of her and felt confident she had made the right choice. If she had married Qin Jianghe from Xiushui Village, her life would have been predictably ordinary. But now?
Judging by the reaction of these immortals after her spirit root test, it was clear that her cultivation talent was extraordinary, earning their respect and courtesy. She was sure that she would be able to make a name for herself here!
Filled with confidence, Niu Xiaoxue accepted the umbrella from her future senior brother and smiled as she thanked him:
"Thank you, Senior Brother. May I ask your name?"
Feng Xuanye quickly replied:
"My apologies, Junior Sister. My surname is Feng. You may call me Senior Brother Feng."
Feng Xuanye wasn't trying to curry favor with her just because she had a rare variant spirit root, nor was he trying to take advantage of the young girl. Although he was only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, coming from a family of cultivators had exposed him to enough scheming and infighting.
By showing kindness now, he was merely trying to build good relationships. Establishing connections could come in handy later, especially if someone might spare him in a tight spot. All he wanted was to quietly cultivate until he could ascend to immortality. It might be naive, but that was his goal, and he intended to stick to it.
He hadn't even wanted to come out and recruit disciples this time, but unfortunately, he had been dragged into it.
Meanwhile, back on the platform, people continued to line up for the spirit root test. However, after Niu Xiaoxue's turn, there wasn't even a single person whose test caused the Spirit Testing Stone to light up, let alone show good talent.
The three disciples of the Shangyang Sect started stifling yawns on the platform.
Lin Xiao and his group, watching from below, found it increasingly dull. Especially with Qin Jianghe looking dejected beside them.
By now, the seven of them had managed to make eye contact with each other, and seeing Qin Jianghe's downcast expression, they all naturally gathered around him.
With nothing interesting happening on stage, they started consoling Qin Jianghe.
Jiang Youfu said:
"Jianghe, what's so great about getting married? Once you have a wife, you'll have to share all your good food with her, your fun toys with her, and even your new clothes will go to her first. Look at me—I don't want to get married at all."
Qin Jianghe looked at his friend's chubby figure and didn't feel like responding.
Liu Yunan chimed in:
"There's really nothing good about having a wife. Look at me—I can't even support my mom and sister. If I had a wife too, I'd be living off scraps!"
Qin Jianghe glanced at Liu Yunan's thin, reed-like frame and still didn't feel like replying.
Tietou added:
"What's the use of having a wife? She can't help me with the heavy lifting or go swimming with me without a shirt. It'd be boring!"
Qin Jianghe didn't even bother lifting his head. He had no interest in talking to these fools.
Lin Yun then said:
"Look at me—I'm already fifteen and haven't even discussed marriage yet."
Feeling that his argument wasn't strong enough, he patted Sun Yigao's chest and added:
"And look at Yigao here—he hasn't either."
Sun Yigao, suddenly dragged into the conversation, looked a bit helpless.
Seeing this, Qin Jianghe couldn't help but smile.
Immediately, the group surrounded him and began playfully teasing him.
"Oh, so you were just pretending to be upset to get us to cheer you up, huh?"
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