novelapdf Chapter 67: Unqualified
Chapter 67: Unqualified
"This is a great cultivator from the Azure Flame Immortal Sect, at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!" Liu Yuelong said proudly.
"Another Foundation Establishment cultivator..." Tang Yifan's face was burning with excitement.
Such a person would be a rare sight in the martial arts world of the Great Wei Dynasty.
The unexpected appearance of two at once filled Tang Yifan with excitement and anticipation for the path to immortality.
As he spoke, the winged python was already suspended above the platform.
The middle-aged scholar-like man leaped down and landed on the lotus-shaped platform where Luo Qiuping was.
Liu Chen and another young man followed suit and fell down.
"Greetings, Master Jiang!" The people below the stage bowed.
This middle-aged scholar was none other than Jiang, whose given name was Li.
"No need for formalities!" Jiang Li waved his hand, smiling faintly, appearing gentle and refined.
Everyone straightened up.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Luo, it's been many years! Your cultivation has improved considerably!" The middle-aged scholar bowed to Luo Qiuping.
"How can it compare to Fellow Daoist Jiang? Your Flying Azure Python has already entered the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Look at its raised forehead; it seems to be on the verge of transforming into a dragon!" Luo Qiuping returned the greeting, then glanced at the Azure Python suspended in the air and said meaningfully.
"Hehe, my Abi only managed to improve her bloodline by luck by obtaining a trace of dragon blood. It's not that easy for her to transform into a dragon!" This Jiang Li was actually a cultivator in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He waved his hand slightly and smiled, though he looked very modest.
But his words were full of smugness.
With the help of this Azure Python, he is now a prominent figure among mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators!
The Azure Flame Immortal Sect sent him here to demonstrate the sect's strength and prevent the noble families under its jurisdiction from looking down on him.
"Now that fellow Daoist has arrived, let's begin the testing and selection of promising talents!" Luo Qiuping said.
"Of course!" Jiang Li said with a smile.
As he spoke, Jiang Li moved his hand, and a jade pillar flew out of his storage bag and landed on the altar in front of him.
The pillar is three feet tall.
The top is inlaid with a jade mirror, which is engraved with an array that can measure a person's spiritual root attribute.
Such treasures are only possessed by immortal sects and Foundation Establishment families.
Third-rate families like the Lu family simply cannot afford such a treasure.
Therefore, they can only judge the level of spiritual roots by the cultivation talent of their clansmen.
"All of you celestial offspring, please line up below according to your clans and prepare for the test..."
Jiang Li looked at the people below the stage with a rather authoritative expression and spoke.
"Yes!" Immediately, the immortal seedlings from the seventeen towns stepped forward and lined up in rows.
The people from Longhu Town are in the middle of the line.
The Lu family has seven members.
The Liu family consists of five people.
The Huang family consists of four people.
The number of people is not large.
These seventeen towns combined have a population of only ninety-one.
……
"Li Yu'er, 14 years old, highest attribute compatibility 18, inferior spiritual root. First level of Qi Refining, unqualified."
"Tang Yan, 15 years old, highest attribute compatibility 17, inferior spiritual root, first level of Qi Refining, unqualified."
The so-called inferior spiritual root is when the highest compatibility of a single attribute with spiritual energy is below 20.
This kind of spiritual root makes cultivation extremely slow; it's difficult to even reach the late stage of Qi Refining, and there's almost no hope of Foundation Establishment.
……
On the platform, next to the testing pillar, Liu Chen looked at the data on it and spoke loudly.
Beside him, another young man named Zhao Hui was registering the names of those who had passed the exam.
In the blink of an eye, more than thirty people had been tested.
Only five of them possessed low-grade spiritual roots, barely enough to be accepted into a celestial sect as menial disciples.
Seeing one person fail after another, Tang Yifan began to get nervous.
"Ninth Brother...this superior spiritual root is so rare, does that mean I have no chance of joining a cultivation sect?"
Tang Yifan tugged at Yang Jiuli's sleeve and whispered.
"Don't panic. Judging from your cultivation speed, you definitely don't have an inferior spiritual root!" Yang Jiuli whispered.
"It's good that it's not a low-grade spiritual root; at least I can join a Foundation Establishment family!" Tang Yifan breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, everyone in front had finished their tests, and it was Liu Yuelong's turn.
"Everyone, I'll be going now!" Liu Yuelong said to Yang Jiuli, Qin Zhixue, and the others before walking up the steps.
He went to the testing stone on the lotus-shaped altar and reached out to touch the mirror surface.
Instantly, light patterns intertwined on the mirror surface, seeping into his body and beginning to detect his spiritual root.
"I wonder what kind of spiritual root Liu Yuelong will have!" Tang Yifan murmured, looking at the steps ahead with a face full of curiosity.
hum!
However, the test stone was found to have radiant patterns.
A row of data is displayed.
"Liu Yuelong, 16 years old. Highest attribute compatibility 31. Low-grade spiritual root, Qi Refining Level 3, eligible to enter a sect as a menial disciple." Liu Chen read out the data, immediately causing a commotion below.
People began to congratulate Liu Dajiang, the patriarch of the Liu family.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Liu!"
"Your grandson is truly gifted!"
"With such talent, once he joins a celestial sect, he will surely rise to prominence and become another great cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining!"
Each family offered their congratulations.
In their view, being able to enter the immortal sect, even as a menial disciple, is enough to bring honor to one's ancestors and leave the small town.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!" Liu Dajiang was slightly overweight with graying temples, but his face was radiant with joy.
"Qualified seedlings, please wait to the side!" Liu Chen said.
Liu Yuelong bowed and stepped aside, standing to the side with the five people who had passed by earlier.
Luo Qiuping and Jiang Li kept their eyes closed, seemingly not holding much hope for the test.
A mere low-grade spiritual root is not even worthy of their attention.
Even though Liu Yuelong passed the test, they didn't even open their eyes.
"Next..." Liu Chen continued.
At this moment, it was Yang Jiuli's turn.
"Go for it, Ninth Brother!" Tang Yifan cheered from behind.
Lu Wenzheng and his sister also gave each other encouraging looks.
Yang Jiuli smiled knowingly and walked up.
"Isn't this person way too old?" When Yang Jiuli stepped forward, both Liu Chen and Zhao Hui frowned slightly.
With just one glance, they could tell that Yang Jiuli was already over twenty years old.
However, due to the fear of overlooking geniuses, the selection threshold age was raised to 26.
"Put your hand on the mirror!" Liu Chen said indifferently.
"Yes!" Yang Jiuli nodded slightly, then reached out and placed his hand on the mirror.
Below the Lotus Platform, Tang Yifan and Qin Zhixue stared wide-eyed, holding their breath!
The group appeared quite nervous and expectant.
Yang Jiuli has always appeared calm and mysterious, making Qin Zhixue and Tang Yifan feel that he is omnipotent.
He is the backbone of the three.
Liu Yuelong also looked towards the Lotus Platform.
hum!
The mirror shone brightly.
Data is displayed in the air.
Liu Chen began reading.
"Yang Jiuli, age 24. Highest attribute compatibility 39, low-grade superior spiritual root, first level of Qi Refining..."
At the end, Liu Chen paused and looked at Jiang Li beside him.
Jiang Li did not open her eyes.
Upon seeing this, Liu Chen continued reading, "The test subject is too old; their potential has been exhausted. They are unqualified!"
"Not up to standard... This... Ninth Brother's spiritual root is clearly better than the previous ones!" Tang Yifan said indignantly.
However, Zhao Hui, standing behind Liu Chen, suddenly glared at him.