At the grounds of the Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony.
Lively young boys and girls filed in one after another from outside, scattering in groups of twos and threes across the square.
Yet viewing the plaza from above, one could easily tell that even among peers of the same age, the youngsters had divided into distinct social circles.
The liveliest was naturally the circle around Zhou Yuhao, while the most prestigious was a group made up of only three youths.
Not far away, another large crowd of flatterers clustered around Zhou Yuqi.
This might have looked out of place.
After all, as long as one tested positive for a spiritual root, anyone could step onto the immortal path. What the future held would depend on individual fortune and hard work; there was no fundamental need to curry favor with peers.
Before absolute strength, so-called status and worldly prestige counted for nothing.
In reality, however, absolute strength had to be cultivated, and cultivation relied on resources.
Those resources were not limited to spirit stones, elixir pills, spiritual veins, and cave dwellings; they also included the guidance of elders and instruction in techniques.
What made those three circles so eagerly pursued was a shared trait: every one of them was backed by Golden Core relatives and senior elders.
Moreover, their households were never short of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Zhou Yuhao's grandfather was Zhou Xiaocheng. The small circle of three was backed by the Clan Head himself. And the sudden surge of flattery around Zhou Yuqi was directly linked to his father's recent breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.
By currying favor with them now, if one later tested positive for a spiritual root, the path of future cultivation would proceed far more smoothly.
Of course, even acting as a lackey was not a role just anyone could play.
At the very least, the several dozen children born of mortals sent over from Coral Town could not squeeze into those circles at all. They could only shrink into the corners, watching those youths with envious eyes.
Suddenly!
A stir rippled through the grounds, and youths from two of the three circles began to move.
The three belonging to the Clan Head's lineage and the seven or eight cultivators led by Zhou Yuhao all surged toward the entrance to welcome a boy and a girl.
The ordinary youths from Coral Town were utterly bewildered.
"Who are those two?"
"Why are the descendants of the Clan Head and elders going out of their way to fawn over them?"
"*Hiss*... could that boy be our Zhou family's legendary child prodigy?"
"You mean Zhou Fuyou, the genius who was sharp from early childhood, well-versed in martial scriptures and Daoist canons, and whom the Clan Head had once personally adopted?"
Regardless of the Coral Town youths' surprise and curiosity, the moment the Zhou siblings entered the venue, their peers enthusiastically surrounded them.
"Boss, you're finally here!" Zhou Yuhao waved warmly, calling out in greeting.
Zhou Fuyou glanced at him. Saying nothing, he gave a nod.
Zhou Yuhao chuckled, taking no offense. Instead, he turned to greet the girl beside Zhou Fuyou.
"Sister Maomao, you look so pretty today! What do you guys think, isn't she pretty?"
The youths trailing behind him shouted in unison, "Pretty!"
Zhou Qingyu's eyes crinkled with a smile. "Little Rat, you have such a sweet mouth."
Their harmonious rapport made it impossible to tell that six years ago, they had traded venomous insults and come to blows.
Yet this was reality.
Ever since that incident, Zhou Yuhao had deliberately sought good relations with the siblings.
Though Zhou Fuyou remained aloof, his sister Zhou Qingyu soon took to playing with them.
Zhou Fuyou raised no objection. He knew very well that this was Grandfather Cheng's wish—that they remain friends and brothers!
Besides, his sister had always lacked friends, and a childhood without them was far too lonely.
With such a group to keep her company, she would not become too withdrawn.
After a brief chat, Zhou Qingyu asked, "Little Rat, are you confident about today?"
Zhou Yuhao lowered his voice. "Of course I am! Father tested me in private—I have a Water-Wood dual spiritual root. It might not be a Heavenly Spiritual Root, but it's the best pair among dual spiritual roots!"
Zhou Qingyu blinked, envy clearly shining in her eyes.
Curious, she asked, "Why is a Water-Wood dual spiritual root the best pair of all dual spiritual roots?"
*Because of the cycle of five-element generation—water generates wood. Someone possessing this dual spiritual root who focuses on wood-attribute cultivation arts will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.*
The thought flashed through Zhou Fuyou's mind.
Ignoring Zhou Yuhao's posturing, he turned his gaze toward the three youths from Eldest Uncle's household.
One by one, the three greeted him.
"Brother Fuyou!"
Zhou Fuyou forced a smile. Strained as it was, it was an answer nonetheless.
He then cast his eyes across the entire grounds, taking in every youth present for the Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony.
About a hundred in total!
According to clan records, this was the largest cohort in recent years.
Moreover, among this group, the number of youths who tested positive for spiritual roots would likely not be small.
Once the Zhou family recovered its vitality in the future, the numbers would probably be even greater.
Zhou Fuyou's gaze came to rest on one face.
It was his childhood playmate, Zhou Yuqi.
Surrounded by a crowd, Zhou Yuqi looked over with a complicated expression.
Ever since the Clan Head refused Seventh Uncle's offer of adoption back then, relations between Zhou Fuyou and Seventh Uncle's household had cooled, and he had never set foot in their home again.
Zhou Yuqi seemed to have received some form of admonition as well, rarely associating with him.
His only friend was gone too.
A twinge of disappointment surfaced in Zhou Fuyou's heart, but he felt no regret.
Regarding the matter of the nourishing tonics from years past, he would certainly settle accounts with Seventh Uncle in the future. Remaining too close would only make it harder to strike.
"Silence!"
A voice suddenly rang out.
Qi Refinement cultivators strode in from all directions, restoring order and lining the youths up one by one.
Five Foundation Establishment cultivators ascended the high platform, each taking a seat at one of its corners.
"Is it starting?" Zhou Fuyou muttered softly at the sight.
Before he realized it, his sister had stepped up beside him, her expression a mix of tension and anticipation.
"Brother."
Zhou Fuyou looked at her, his eyes full of encouragement.
Everything stood ready, yet the testing did not begin immediately.
Amid the youths' breathless anticipation, streaks of flowing light soared over from the family's central district.
Leading the way were three figures:
Clan Head Zhou Junxiao, Elder Zhou Xiaocheng, and the newly promoted Elder Zhou Haiye!
The appearance of three Golden Core Masters—even without flaunting any magical power fluctuations—cast an invisible pressure that silenced the entire square.
Behind them were the clan's Foundation Establishment True Cultivators, most of whom were parents of the youths awaiting testing.
Looking down at the hundred youths below, Clan Head Zhou Junxiao showed a look of satisfaction, then asked softly, "Have the guests not arrived yet?"
Just as Zhou Xiaocheng was about to speak, Zhou Junxiao snapped his head up.
"They're here!"
From beyond the family grounds, three flying boats—one grand, one ornate, and one lavish—flew toward them in unison.
Before they even drew near, several figures drifted off them one after another.
Zhou Junxiao smiled slightly. "Brother Lin, Brother Yin, you've arrived!"
Then, his gaze turned hesitantly toward an alluring mature woman.
"And this is...?"
The Yin family patriarch introduced respectfully, "Mo Wanting, Dean of the Yuheng Court of the Dao Palace's Seven Stars Court."
Zhou Junxiao's expression shifted slightly, and he bowed respectfully. "I am Zhou Junxiao, the current Clan Head of the Zhou family. Greetings, Dean of Yuheng."
Mo Wanting offered a faint smile. "Fellow Daoist Zhou, there is no need for such formality. I was merely passing by Bailu Marsh by chance and heard that your family was holding its Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony, so I stopped by to take a look. You are aware of our Seven Stars Court's duties; I hope you will forgive my uninvited presence."
How could Zhou Junxiao possibly mind?
Across the Tiannan Continent today, families stood like trees in a forest, yet there was only one true sovereign: the Tiannan Dao Palace!
Within the Dao Palace, whether it was the Palace Master or the Four Hall Masters, all were far beyond their reach; but the Seven Stars Court was remarkably close at hand.
The duty of the Seven Stars Court was to scout talents of outstanding aptitude and funnel them into the Dao Palace's Four Halls.
Countless families longed for representatives of the Seven Stars Court to visit their doorsteps.
Furthermore, rumor had it that all seven courts of the Seven Stars Court were controlled by the Mo family.
The Mo family was once one of the Twelve Great Houses, and the very family of the previous Sect Master, Mo Shouzhuo!
They had relinquished the Four Halls, taking only the institution of the Seven Stars Court for themselves, thereby gaining tremendous influence over the various families of Tiannan today.
At this moment, Zhou Junxiao's heart pounded with nervous excitement.
If Dean Mo Wanting of the Yuheng Court took a few clansmen from the Zhou family today, then the Zhou family could truly be considered integrated into the Tianyuan Dao Sect in the future!
"Someone, prepare seats for our honored guests!"
After giving the order, Zhou Junxiao pulled Zhou Xiaocheng aside.
"I give you one incense stick's time. Contact the youths' parents immediately and inquire whether they have tested their children's spiritual roots in advance. If there are outstanding candidates, compile a list. When the testing begins, intersperse them among the mortal children, placing those with better aptitude further toward the end."
Zhou Xiaocheng glanced in Mo Wanting's direction and instantly understood the Clan Head's intention.
If a truly dazzling talent appeared too early and captured Mo Wanting's attention, anyone who came afterward, even with decent aptitude, would easily be overshadowed if they were even slightly inferior.
Building up gradually made it far easier to increase the chances of clan youths being selected by the Tiannan Dao Palace.
"Understood, I will attend to it at once!"
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly recalled something.
"Clan Head, what about Zhou Fuyou's spiritual root aptitude?"
Zhou Junxiao froze for a moment.
He truly did not know!
It was not that he had not wanted to test Zhou Fuyou early, but the Old Ancestor had once instructed not to interfere too much with matters concerning the boy.
Furthermore, the child was exceptionally independent, so nothing had been done in that regard.
Now that Zhou Xiaocheng asked, Zhou Junxiao gritted his teeth and said, "Place him at the very end! Put his sister at the end as well, right before him."
***
"Why hasn't it started yet?"
As time trickled by, the youths grew increasingly restless.
Surrounded by so many high-level cultivators, the sheer weight of their gazes exerted immense pressure.
On top of that, whether or not one possessed a spiritual root determined a lifetime, leaving them on pins and needles.
Some of weaker will were already soaked in sweat under the glare of the sun.
Zhou Qingyu was no exception, but with her brother beside her, she felt considerably calmer.
"Brother, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing." Zhou Fuyou withdrew his gaze from the high platform. His expression was calm, but his eyes carried profound meaning.
That bearded, immensely imposing Lin family patriarch—by blood and genealogy, he ought to be considered his maternal grandfather!
Yet his mother had not been particularly valued within the Qingtong Lin family back then, so that grandfather likely did not even remember having two grandchildren in the Zhou family.
Suddenly, his sister's joyful cry came from beside him.
"It's starting!"
With the sun climbing toward midday, the long-prepared Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony finally commenced.
On the high platform.
The five Foundation Establishment True Cultivators sat at each corner, presiding over a massive formation.
Newly promoted Golden Core Master Zhou Haiye floated down from the guest gallery, landing on the platform with a compass in hand.
Looking down from the stage, he called out softly,
"Zhou Li!"
"Here!"
A robust youth answered nervously, ascending the high platform and stepping into its dead center.
The five Foundation Establishment True Cultivators exchanged glances, each casting a spell seal.
Instantly, five colors swirled across the platform as spiritual mist steamed upward.
Zhou Haiye said gently, "Open your mind. Do not resist. Focus your senses and feel whether there is anything that resonates with you."
The youth named Zhou Li nodded, closed his eyes, and exerted every effort to perceive.
Meanwhile, the compass in Zhou Haiye's hand began to tremble faintly.
After about a dozen breaths, three streaks of radiance surged into Zhou Li's body simultaneously.
"Metal, Wood, Fire—Three Spiritual Roots!"
Hearing the announcement, the youth snapped awake as if from a dream.
Zhou Haiye smiled slightly. "Three spiritual roots; you may embark upon the immortal path. Go stand at the back!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Li's face bloomed with wild joy.
He was merely the child of mortals from Coral Town, not even entered into the Zhou genealogical registry. Having tested positive for spiritual roots was an instant ascent to the heavens!
He could cultivate now, bring his parents into the clan grounds to enjoy comfort, and even had the chance to be recorded in the Zhou clan genealogy.
How could he not be ecstatic?
Above, in the viewing gallery.
The Yin family patriarch congratulated Zhou Junxiao, "Congratulations, Brother Zhou, an auspicious start! This youth is plainly dressed and bears no generational character in his name, clearly hailing from the mortal branch. For such a branch to produce three spiritual roots shows that this generation of Zhou descendants enjoys immense blessings!"
Zhou Junxiao smiled modestly, his peripheral vision reflexively darting toward the alluring woman.
Mo Wanting still leaned lazily against her seat, seemingly uninterested in anything.
*Even three spiritual roots fail to meet the Dao Palace's standards?*
Zhou Junxiao thought to himself, growing increasingly anxious about the remaining tests. His mood had become identical to that of the youths below.
The Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony proceeded methodically.
With Zhou Haiye, a newly promoted Golden Core Master, presiding over it, the pace was extremely swift.
Youths went up and came down one after another.
Those who tested positive were naturally ecstatic, feigning composure as they went to stand behind the platform.
Those without spiritual roots could not maintain their composure before the elders, returning to the square in utter desolation.
As for the results?
They were far from satisfactory.
Out of ten, only one or two passed at best.
Among the rejected were no small number of cultivator descendants raised within the clan from birth.
Such harsh reality made the remaining candidates even more apprehensive.
"Zhou Yusheng, Metal-Fire Dual Spiritual Roots!"
The first dual spiritual root had appeared!
Every youth on the field looked at him with profound envy, wishing they could take his place.
His parents in the gallery were beside themselves with excitement.
Clan Head Zhou Junxiao also broke into a gratified smile.
Yet upon seeing the woman merely shift the hand propping up her chin, that satisfaction began to fade.
Even a Metal-Fire dual spiritual root was not enough for the Dao Palace's selection?
Then what did they want?
Did it truly require a Heavenly Spiritual Root?
While Zhou Junxiao was lost in thought, the testing continued below.
"Zhou Ping'an, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—all five spiritual roots present."
The boy named Zhou Ping'an was honest and simple. Hearing that he had spiritual roots, a heartfelt smile appeared on his face.
He reflexively started to walk toward the back.
However, Zhou Haiye called him back.
"Five spiritual roots are equivalent to trash roots. You cannot cultivate. Step down!"
Zhou Ping'an was dumbfounded. Before his smile could even fade, he stood awkwardly on the platform.
Almost in tears, he asked, "Doesn't having spiritual roots mean I can cultivate?"
Zhou Haiye shook his head placidly. "Five spiritual roots won't do."
"B-but, I... I..."
Just as tears began to patter down the boy's cheeks, a charming voice suddenly drifted down from the viewing gallery.
"My Yuheng Court will take him."
The entire square fell dead silent.
Zhou Junxiao was caught completely off guard.
Rejecting dual spiritual roots, yet accepting five spiritual roots that were no different from trash roots?
What was the meaning of this?
He reflexively asked, "Dean Mo, does the Dao Palace also accept disciples with trash spiritual roots?"
His voice was somewhat loud, faintly carrying down to the youths below.
Mo Wanting chuckled enticingly. "Has Clan Head Zhou never heard of a certain person's name?"
Zhou Junxiao looked bewildered.
"He was once a guest elder of the Star Gate, and one of the Northern Sea's Four Great Loose Cultivators; legends of him echo across the Southern Border; the Western Desert bestowed upon him the title of Mara; in the Eastern Desolation he is revered as a Grandmaster of his generation; and across the entire Mountain Sea Realm, he is hailed as invincible beneath Soul Formation!" Mo Wanting stared at Zhou Junxiao with keen amusement. "Clan Head Zhou, that man has deep ties with your Zhou family. Have you still not recalled him?"
Zhou Junxiao's expression shifted drastically. "You mean... Desolate Hermit Luo Chen?"
Mo Wanting's smile vanished, replaced by solemnity. "Yes, none other than him. Rumor has it that Luo Chen embarked upon his path of cultivation with five spiritual roots, yet since making his debut, he has remained virtually undefeated. This proves that five spiritual roots still hold immense promise. In scouring for talent this time, one of the Tiannan Dao Palace's criteria is specifically to recruit disciples of five-spiritual-root aptitude, treating it as an experiment."
Zhou Junxiao parted his lips, hesitating.
In the end, he shook his head.
Who would have thought that the name of a friend of the Zhou family could benefit the Zhou family's juniors today?
That child named Zhou Ping'an had truly struck extraordinary luck.
"Continue the testing!"
With his command, the interrupted ceremony resumed.
Meanwhile, the youths who had been fraught with apprehension now felt an inexplicable spark of hope.
As long as one had spiritual roots, one could cultivate. Even testing positive for the so-called trash roots of five spiritual roots offered a chance to join the Tiannan Dao Palace—effectively providing an alternative way forward.
At the back of the crowd, the Zhou siblings stood quietly.
Zhou Qingyu caught a faint murmur beside her.
"Luo Chen..."
She looked up, only to find a look of bewilderment on her brother's face.
"Brother, what's wrong?"
Zhou Fuyou snapped out of his daze and replied, "Nothing."
Though he said nothing was wrong, his hand reflexively rubbed his brow.
Why did that name feel so familiar?
Why?
Chapter 1033