The True Spirit Sect was located within a secluded valley, embraced by three mountains. Two opposing cliffs formed a narrow gap like a line of sky, and the Smoke Boat passed through it to enter the valley. It was as if they had entered another world.
Hills and rivers were densely spread throughout, and lakes were embedded in the land like stars. The territory was vast and remote, a realm unto itself. In the center, a waterfall cascaded down.
A magnificent great river split the valley in two. Cao Wenguan explained, "This is the Heaven-Piercing River. To the east is the Outer Sect, and to the west is the Inner Sect."
The Deacons steered the Smoke Boats to a stop outside a great hall with green tiles and said, "We have arrived at the Spirit Illumination Hall. Follow us inside!" The disciples disembarked from the boats and followed their respective Deacons into the hall.
Wang Fang had already been initiated into the sect, so he did not participate in the subsequent proceedings and left ahead with Wang Chuyan. The interior was extremely spacious, with Grey-clad Disciples walking back and forth. The four sides were enclosed by walls, and a skylight in the center focused a beam of sunlight onto a pure white shadow screen.
Zhao Chun knew that this was the Spirit-reflecting Shadow Screen that Cao Wenguan had mentioned, used for testing Spiritual Roots.
"The disciples from the Flying Gourd Small World have arrived. We must trouble Elder Lin to come out and inspect the new disciples' Spiritual Roots."
Hearing this, a Grey-clad Disciple bowed and invited a short, stout old man with crane-white hair and a youthful complexion to come out from within. Elder Lin gave a grand wave of his hand, acknowledging the Deacons' greetings.
He pressed his right hand against the shadow screen and only removed it when its surface began to glow faintly with white light. He then said, "Begin!" The Deacons had the disciples line up in the order they had arrived and approach the shadow screen one by one.
Zhao Chun's group was the third to last. Cheng Tan's group was first. The one at the front was a rather thin and frail boy.
He stood before the shadow screen, and the screen first flickered with white light before finally coalescing into a swirling pattern of four colors: red, brown, green, and yellow. Elder Lin said, "A Four-Element Spirit Root, with all four potentials equal." A Grey-clad Disciple came forward and handed a Wooden Tablet engraved with the character for "four" to the boy.
The boy, still not understanding what had happened, was dazedly led to the side. The next few also passed, all with Four-Element or Five-Element Spirit Roots. Cheng Tan's expression grew worse and worse.
When the last girl was also tested to have a Four-Element Spirit Root, his face went from dark to pale, as if he had just suffered a severe illness.
"Deacon Cheng Tan, Selection Mission, rated Lower Grade."
Elder Lin shook his head and said, "Next!" The children went up one by one. After the second Deacon was also rated Lower Grade, a promising seedling finally appeared in the third group.
A boy, as thin and withered as a monkey, was announced to have a "Three-Element Spirit Root, with strong wood and earth potential, and weak water potential."
Knowing his talent was superior to the others, he joyfully accepted the Wooden Tablet engraved with "three," bowed deeply twice to Elder Lin and the Deacon who had led him, and then waited at the side. With this Three-Element Spirit Root, the Deacon was rated Middle Grade, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.
Next was the one who had talked back to Cheng Tan. He had a large number of people behind him, thirteen in total, but unfortunately, he also only produced one Three-Element Spirit Root, leaving him sullen and silent. Cao Wenguan had only brought six people.
If not for that Sister Yuan having even fewer, with only four, he would have been last. The selection mission to a Small World was a task no Deacon wanted to take. The spiritual qi there was thin, making it difficult to find geniuses.
Therefore, finding a single Three-Element Spirit Root disciple was enough to be rated Middle Grade and receive the full reward. But Cao Wenguan was an Elder's disciple. He should have been assigned a selection mission in this world, found five Three-Element Spirit Roots, and received a double reward.
If I hadn't been pushed out by petty people, how could I have fallen to this state? Cao Wenguan ground his teeth and thought to himself. Liu Ziyi always vied to be the leader of the group on ordinary days, so naturally, he wanted to be the first to go now.
After the shadow screen flashed, he stared fixedly at the four-colored swirl on the screen as if in disbelief. How could he have a Four-Element Spirit Root? It shouldn't be like this!
"Four-Element Spirit Root, leaning towards water and wood. Step down!"
Elder Lin waved his hand. He had seen too many people like Liu Ziyi, who held too high expectations for themselves but lacked the courage to face reality when the time came. Liu Ziyi looked completely crushed, his face a picture of misery.
He was dragged away by a Grey-clad Disciple, who, fearing he wouldn't accept the Wooden Tablet, stuffed it directly into his sleeve. Xie Baoguang and Zhang Mingzhan instantly became nervous. They successively received the "four" and "five" tablets.
The three of them stood together, all with their heads bowed, completely devoid of their earlier spirit. Peng Zheng's heart pounded like thunder. He closed his eyes and kept muttering, "Deities, please protect me!
Deities, please protect me! Deities, please protect me!" As if a deity had truly helped him, he opened his eyes to see three colors appear on the shadow screen—brown, red, and yellow—and then heard Elder Lin say, "Three-Element Spirit Root, with all three potentials equal."
"Thank you, Elder! Thank you, Deacon!"
Peng Zheng was practically ecstatic. Cao Wenguan also nodded slightly. Although it was one with three equal potentials, it was enough for him to be rated Middle Grade.
After him, Zhou Pianran was only a Five-Element Spirit Root. She was dejected for a moment, but then calmly accepted the Wooden Tablet and went to stand beside Peng Zheng. It wasn't that Zhao Chun wasn't nervous.
She naturally hoped for outstanding talent and a smooth, unobstructed path. But to place all her hopes on a result that was like a gamble, she feared disappointment would outweigh expectation. Nothing was absolute.
Even with a Five-Element Spirit Root, she would still carve out a place for herself. After calming her emotions, she resolutely stepped forward and stood before the shadow screen. A dazzling white light flashed again, followed by several streaks of color.
First came a brilliant bright yellow, entwined with a bright red, and at the end, a slender light green appeared. It was a Three-Element Spirit Root! Seeing Elder Lin's expression when the first few Three-Element Spirit Roots appeared, Zhao Chun knew that this was likely a decent, standard level in the Cultivation World.
That was pretty good then! She couldn't change her innate conditions, but as long as she was diligent in her postnatal efforts, the path of cultivation was still viable!
"Three-Element Spirit Root," Elder Lin nodded, then added, "Strong metal and fire potential, weak wood potential."
"Many thanks, Elder, Deacon."
Zhao Chun accepted the Wooden Tablet and bowed to them both. When Zhou Pianran saw that she had tested as a Three-Element Spirit Root, she was envious and said, "You're amazing! You'll definitely succeed in your cultivation in the future."
"A Spiritual Root only affects the upper limit of one's cultivation; it can't replace personal effort. Even with a good spiritual root, success is difficult without years of ascetic cultivation," Zhao Chun said softly.
She knew she might sound disingenuous at this moment, but these were her true feelings. There was nothing she could do if others didn't listen. As expected, Zhang Mingzhan said coldly, "Putting on an act!"
Zhou Pianran quickly tugged on Zhao Chun's sleeve and said in her ear, "Don't listen to him. I know you're genuinely trying to encourage me, it's just... I'm really not interested in these things."
She lowered her eyes and said in a very small voice, "I... I'm very homesick. I don't want to be a disciple here.
The Deacon said we could be sent back after five years. My talent is so poor, so I'll be able to go home then. During that month at the Daoist temple, my mother came to see me secretly.
She said she often thinks of me so much she can't sleep. I've never been away from home for so long..." Her eyes gradually reddened.
Zhao Chun raised a hand to wipe away her tears as she continued, "I was really happy to be selected. My two older brothers are disappointments, and even my parents are looked down upon because of them.
I thought entering the Daoist temple was just to become a nun, so I wanted to help them earn some face, but I didn't know I would have to come to such a faraway place." Zhao Chun comforted her, "Everyone has their own aspirations. If you don't want to cultivate, no one will force you.
If you change your mind later and want to, that's fine too. There are many paths; it's all up to you to decide which one to take." After a thought, she added, "Don't cry.
Your parents definitely hope their daughter can be happy while she's away." This finally stemmed Zhou Pianran's tears. They were all young children.
Zhao Chun herself had no attachments, but she couldn't assume everyone was as solitary as she was. Among the selected candidates, there were likely many like Zhou Pianran. Zhao Chun only hoped they could maintain their true selves and achieve their wishes soon.
As they spoke, another group finished their spirit illumination. The leading Deacon was named Bao Yu, the same tall and stately cultivator. At this moment, he let out a long sigh.
Looking at the line of children with Four and Five-Element Spirit Roots, he couldn't manage a smile and disappointedly accepted the result of a Lower Grade rating. Sister Yuan, who had a close relationship with him, leaned by his side and comforted him in a low voice. The four children behind her also stepped forward in turn.
The first three all had Five-Element Spirit Roots. Only the last one brought a change. The shadow screen did not show a swirl.
Instead, the entire screen filled with an inky green, surrounded by some light blue star-like dots of color. Elder Lin was instantly overjoyed.
"A Wood-Water Dual Spirit Root! Wood is primary and water is subordinate, and the water potential is extremely faint! Good! Excellent!"
The True Spirit Sect had thirty thousand Outer Sect Disciples and one hundred thousand Probationary Disciples. Every year, they would recruit several thousand more from the outside. Among these, those with Four-Element and Five-Element Spirit Roots made up the vast majority, while Three-Element Spirit Roots accounted for just over twenty percent.
Prodigies with Heavenly Spirit Roots were too scarce and were often swept up by the Great Sects; it was never the True Spirit Sect's turn. Therefore, Dual Spirit Roots were considered talents to be nurtured with special focus within the sect.
One had to know, that twenty-odd percent of Three-Element Spirit Roots in the sect still amounted to nearly thirty thousand people, but the number of Dual Spirit Roots dropped sharply to less than a thousand! Among the five existing cultivators at the Core Formation Stage or above, including the Sect Master, all but Elder Qiu were Dual Spirit Roots.
It could be said that possessing a Dual Spirit Root meant one would at least reach the Foundation Establishment cultivation base, and had hopes of reaching Core Formation! Elder Lin sized up the boy from head to toe with satisfaction and said, "Not bad.
In this year's selection, you are the third Dual Spirit Root, but the other two both have evenly balanced attributes. In terms of talent, they are not your equal. What is your name?
How old are you?"
"This junior is Zheng Chenqing, twelve years old this year!"
The boy was also a steady one. There was joy on his face, but he did not lack the proper etiquette. His face was handsome and his posture was tall and straight.
Elder Lin felt more and more that he was a good seedling.
"The sect has a rule: those with outstanding talent may directly enter the Inner Sect. You do not need to stay with the others. Follow this old man to meet the Sect Master first."
"Also, Yuan Minru, rated Upper Grade. The rest of you may disperse immediately!"
There was no one after Zheng Chenqing. Elder Lin manifested a Smoke Boat and left with him. Regardless of what the other Deacons thought in their hearts, they all congratulated Yuan Minru.
Bao Yu, in particular, was beaming, all his previous disappointment completely gone. The other disciples were even more envious, wishing they could be Zheng Chenqing.
"Our mission is now concluded. Past the Spirit Illumination Hall is the Disciple Residence. Just take your Wooden Tablets and show them to the people inside," Cao Wenguan said, pointing inward.
The trip to the Small World had kept them in that spiritually barren place for a full half-year. The few of them were extremely exhausted. After instructing the disciples to go in by themselves, they too manifested their Smoke Boats and left one after another.
The remaining disciples formed their own groups and walked inside. Zhao Chun noticed that besides herself and Peng Zheng, the other two with Three-Element Spirit Roots were the most sought-after. More than ten people followed beside them, their faces full of glory.
Even Peng Zheng had replaced Liu Ziyi as the leader of their trio. He already had well-defined features, and after shedding his former subservient demeanor, he truly had an imposing and dignified air. Zhao Chun naturally stayed with Zhou Pianran.
Only Xie Baoguang was left. He was on bad terms with the other three and didn't dare to go over, yet he wasn't familiar with Zhao Chun either. It was only after Zhou Pianran saw Zhao Chun nod that she called him over to join them.
"Thank you," Xie Baoguang said, his face slightly red as he mumbled.
To Zhao Chun, it was just a small effort. She shook her head to indicate there was no need for thanks, and the three of them walked inside. The Disciple Residence was a room with a layout similar to the Spirit Illumination Hall, only simpler.
Inside, there was a row of long tables where several Grey-clad Disciples sat. People had already formed queues in front of them. The total number of people from the eight groups was just over a hundred.
After splitting into a dozen or so lines, the number in each line became smaller. Zhao Chun queued for a short while before reaching a table. She handed over her Wooden Tablet.
Seeing the "three" engraved on it, the Grey-clad Disciple's attitude was much better than it was toward others. He first handed her a set of keys, then deftly gathered some things and passed them to her, saying, "Female Disciples live in the Daylily Garden. Go out and walk straight east to get there.
You have a Three-Element Spirit Root, so you get twenty Essence Stones per month, and ten doses each of Heart-Clarifying Powder and Qi-Increasing Powder. You may count them yourself." Zhao Chun opened the cloth bag.
Inside were twenty thumb-sized, bluish-green pebbles, which must have been the Essence Stones. There were also twenty small yellow paper packets, with "Heart-Clarifying Powder" and "Qi-Increasing Powder" written on them respectively. She nodded, gave them a quick count, and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
A bit more kindness appeared on the Grey-clad Disciple's face. He replied, "It's no trouble, just part of my duties." Zhao Chun walked back with her things.
Zhou Pianran and Xie Baoguang were also finished. One of them, with a Four-Element Spirit Root, received ten Essence Stones and five doses of each of the two medicinal powders. The other, with a Five-Element Spirit Root, was even more meager, getting only five Essence Stones and one dose of each powder.
It was also because Zhou Pianran's ambitions did not lie in cultivation that she didn't fuss over these things, which saved Zhao Chun the effort of finding words of comfort. The Male Disciples lived in the Green Bamboo Garden to the west. The two girls waved goodbye to Xie Baoguang and then walked side-by-side towards the Daylily Garden.
When I was writing about the Spirit-reflecting Shadow Screen, the concept of an LED display kept popping into my head, and it suddenly felt very cyberpunk, doge.
(End of this chapter)