215: This year's promising youngsters are proving a bit challenging for their coach.

The sun was sinking in the west.

The Tianqiong Mountain Range was dyed with a layer of blood-red twilight.

Upon the Heart-Questioning Heavenly Staircase, that thin and weak figure was still crawling.

Yes, crawling.

Shen Nanxi's legs had long since lost all sensation under the immense pressure; his ten fingers dug into the hard white jade steps, nails cracking, leaving behind shocking trails of blood.

But he was still climbing.

Like a wild dog with a broken spine that refused to let go.

At the foot of the divine mountain, the originally noisy crowd had mostly dispersed, and those who remained held their breath, watching the youth with complex gazes.

No one mocked him anymore.

This near-masochistic obsession was enough to make any mockery turn pale.

At the top of the staircase, upon the Divine Mountain Square.

Several figures had already been standing there for a long time.

"Huff... huff..."

The Scarlet Sun Saint, Xiao Zhan, lay spread-eagled on the ground, his chest heaving violently, sweat soaking through his scarlet battle armor, but a wild grin hung on his face.

"Satisfying! This is so damn satisfying!"

Not far away, Yue Qinghan held her sword; her white clothes were stained with blood, yet she still stood straight, her cold eyes fixed intently on the towering stone stele in the center of the square.

The scholar Mo Yan sat cross-legged, the book in his hand long gone, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing, his pale face showing a flush of relief after surviving a disaster.

There was also that Demon Race girl, huddled in the shadows at the edge of the square, hugging her knees and warily scanning her surroundings like a startled little beast.

They had reached the top.

Out of tens of thousands, only these few had finished this Heart-Questioning Path.

Buzz—

The space trembled slightly.

Several figures with terrifying auras appeared out of thin air on the square.

The one leading them was none other than Grand Elder Mo Yuan.

Behind him followed Ye Chenfeng, Su Linger, Zhao Wuyou, and the other Personal Disciples.

The vast pressure belonging to an Immortal, even if only a sliver was unintentionally leaked, made the newly arrived prodigies feel suffocated.

"Congratulations to you all."

Mo Yuan's gaze swept across everyone, his voice booming.

"By passing the staircase, you are now Named Disciples of our Divine Sect."

"But this is not enough."

He pointed to the giant stele in the center of the square, which was swirling with seven-colored divine light.

"This is the heart-questioning dao stele."

"Go, place your hands upon it."

"It will tell you who you truly are and how far you can go."

Xiao Zhan leaped up with a kip-up and wiped the sweat from his face.

"I'll go first!"

He strode toward the stele, took a deep breath, and pressed his rough hand heavily against its surface.

Boom!

The dao stele vibrated.

A dazzling purple pillar of light shot into the sky, within which the faint sounds of iron hooves and clashing weapons could be heard, as an illusory War God manifestation roared toward the heavens inside the light.

"Skeletal Root: Purple-Gold (War God Tyrant Body)!"

"Heart-Nature: Top-Tier!"

"Evaluation: A natural-born general, born for battle, fighting until the very end."

A burst of exclamations erupted from the crowd.

"Purple-Gold!"

"This is a top-tier Aptitude, second only to Divine Grade!"

Xiao Zhan looked at the pillar of light and grinned widely.

"Not bad, you've got guts."

A voice full of magnetism rang out.

Zhao Wuyou, holding the dragon emperor halberd, took a step forward, his body surrounded by golden light as if a Primordial Dragon God had descended to the Mortal world.

He looked at Xiao Zhan, a hint of appreciation in his golden vertical pupils.

"My name is Zhao Wuyou."

"My Dao was forged through combat."

"Are you willing to follow me to study battle techniques and become my eldest Disciple?"

Xiao Zhan felt the terrifying dragon pressure from the other man that made even his Soul tremble, and a burning Battle Intent instantly erupted in his eyes.

Without a second word, he bowed his head in obeisance.

"Disciple Xiao Zhan greets Revered Master!"

Zhao Wuyou nodded with satisfaction and waved his sleeve, a gentle force lifting Xiao Zhan up while simultaneously healing his internal injuries.

"Next."

Mo Yuan continued to preside.

Yue Qinghan silently walked forward.

She didn't have a grand momentum like Xiao Zhan; she simply pressed her slender, pale palm gently against the stele.

Clang!

A clear, resonant sword hum echoed through the clouds.

No pillar of light shot up from the dao stele; instead, a cold, full moon appeared.

The moonlight was like water, yet it contained an extreme sharpness, as if it wanted to slice this world in two.

"Skeletal Root: Purple-Gold (Taiyin Sword Body)!"

"Heart-Nature: Excellent (Clear Sword Heart)!"

"Evaluation: Only the sword is in her heart, severing all Mortal ties."

Ye Chenfeng's figure appeared silently beside the dao stele.

He looked at Yue Qinghan as if looking into a mirror.

"Your sword is very cold."

Ye Chenfeng spoke, his voice flat.

Yue Qinghan looked up at the man in green before her.

She had seen his back in the staircase's illusion—the man who had cleaved open the Heavenly Gate with a single sword strike.

"A sword is inherently a weapon of slaughter," she replied.

"No."

Ye Chenfeng shook his head.

"The sword is a weapon of slaughter, but the one holding it must have warmth."

"Learn the sword from me."

"I will teach you how to make your sword more than just a tool for killing."

Yue Qinghan was silent for a moment.

Then, holding her sword, she bowed deeply.

"Disciple obeys."

Next was Mo Yan.

He walked to the stele, gave a slightly embarrassed smile, and then placed his hand on it.

Buzz—

Countless golden characters flew out from the dao stele, arranging themselves in the air to form brilliant essays. A surge of noble righteous Qi resonated, even causing the spiritual cranes on the divine mountain to cry out in unison.

"Skeletal Root: Purple-Gold (Noble Sage Body)!"

"Heart-Nature: Top-Tier!"

"Evaluation: A heart full of brilliance, using the brush and tongue as weapons."

Bai Jinnian, who had been fanning himself nearby, had his eyes light up.

He stepped forward, closed his folding fan, and gave Mo Yan a gentle smile.

"Read ten thousand books?"

Mo Yan was stunned and subconsciously replied, "Travel ten thousand miles."

"Good."

Bai Jinnian pulled out a spare writing brush from his robes and handed it over.

"I happen to be lacking someone to grind my ink. Are you interested?"

Mo Yan looked at the brush, sensing the Dao charm flowing upon it, and solemnly took it with both hands.

"Disciple is willing to go."

Finally.

The Demon Race girl who had been shrinking in the corner was forced to stand out by everyone's gaze.

With her head lowered, she shuffled to the dao stele and touched it quickly, pulling her hand back as if she had been burned.

Boom!

A mass of pitch-black Devilish Qi instantly exploded, enveloping the entire dao stele.

The Devilish Qi surged, and a giant shadow demon could be seen flickering within it, emitting a heart-chilling coldness.

"Skeletal Root: Divine Grade (Shadow Demon Emperor Blood)!"

"Heart-Nature: Excellent (Pure Heart)!"

"Evaluation: Born in darkness, yearning for the light."

The entire field fell silent.

Divine Grade!

A Divine Grade had actually appeared!

And it was a member of the Demon Race!

Mo Yuan's brow furrowed slightly, and he was about to speak.

A pitch-black figure appeared behind the girl as if growing out of her shadow.

Ye Wushang.

He was still dressed in black, carrying that demon blade wrapped in cloth strips, his face as pale as a dead man's.

He didn't look at the dao stele; he only looked down at the shivering girl.

"Do you want to live?"

His voice was very cold, like ice shards.

The girl looked up, her purple eyes filled with fear, but hearing that word, she still nodded vigorously.

"I do."

"Then follow me."

Ye Wushang turned around without even waiting for her to perform the greeting rites.

"I will teach you how to kill."

"Kill everyone who wants you dead."

The girl was stunned for a moment, then she moved her short legs and stumbled after him, tightly grabbing the corner of Ye Wushang's robe.

At this point.

The most top-tier prodigies had all found their places.

The atmosphere on the Divine Mountain Square was enthusiastic.

Except, one person was missing.

"What about that kid?"

Wang Duojin was snacking on melon seeds, peering down the mountain.

"It's already dark, and he hasn't climbed up yet?"

Only then did everyone remember that there was still Shen Nanxi.

Ye Chengshan (Ergou) stood at the back of the crowd, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles were white.

He wanted to go give the youth a hand, but he knew the rules were the rules.

If he helped, this Heart-Questioning Path would be ruined.

Finally.

Just as the last ray of sunlight was about to disappear over the horizon.

A bloody, mangled hand gripped the white jade railing at the edge of the square.

Then came the other hand.

Shen Nanxi used his last ounce of strength to drag his already numb body onto the square.

He lay on the ground, gasping for air, as blood pooled beneath him into a small puddle.

He didn't even have the strength to stand up anymore.

But he still painfully raised his head to look at that dao stele.

His eyes were terrifyingly bright.

"Go ahead."

Mo Yuan sighed and flicked a gentle wave of spiritual power, which lifted Shen Nanxi and sent him to the front of the dao stele.

Shen Nanxi tremblingly reached out his hand.

He pressed it against the stone.

Everyone held their breath.

What kind of talent would such a ruthless person, who climbed the Heart-Questioning Heavenly Staircase with a Mortal body, possess?

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

The dao stele showed no reaction.

Until the fifth breath.

A faint, dim red light barely lit up from the bottom of the stele.

Red light.

The lowest-tier Mortal Grade Aptitude.

He was even inferior to some ordinary Utility Disciples.

"Skeletal Root: Mortal Grade (Trash Spiritual Root)."

"Heart-Nature: Divine Grade (Pure Dao Heart)."

"Evaluation: Ambition as high as the sky, but fate as thin as paper."

There was a deathly silence.

Shen Nanxi stared blankly at that piercing red light, and the light in his eyes dimmed bit by bit.

Trash Spiritual Root.

In this cultivation world, this was a death sentence.

No matter how good his Heart-Nature was, without a Spiritual Root, he couldn't absorb Spiritual Qi and would ultimately remain just a Mortal.

"What a pity."

Shi Potian shook his head, his face full of regret.

"Although his Heart-Nature is Divine Grade, with this Skeletal Root... even if he enters the Sect, I'm afraid even Foundation Establishment will be difficult."

The surrounding Elders also sighed one after another.

The cultivation world was just that cruel.

Sometimes, hard work truly wasn't worth mentioning in the face of talent.

Xiao Zhan, Yue Qinghan, and the others looked at the swaying youth, a hint of pity flashing in their eyes, but they were helpless.

Shen Nanxi withdrew his hand and lowered his head, his body trembling slightly.

He didn't cry.

He just silently turned around, preparing to walk back down the mountain.

He had lost.

He had lost to fate.

Right then.

"Wait."

A lazy voice abruptly rang out across the square.

Everyone was startled and quickly turned around.

They saw that at some point, a grandmaster's chair had appeared out of thin air beside the dao stele.

Chu Xuanjin was reclining on it, holding a steaming cup of tea.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

The Elders and Disciples quickly bowed.

Chu Xuanjin waved his hand, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing on the back of the youth who was about to leave.

"Kid, you're just leaving like that?"

Shen Nanxi stopped, turned around, and looked somewhat dazed at this suddenly appearing young Taoist.

"I... I have no Aptitude."

His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of despair.

"Who said you have no Aptitude?"

Chu Xuanjin set down his teacup, stood up, and walked to the dao stele.

He extended a long finger and lightly tapped the stone stele.

"This broken stone can only see the surface."

"It doesn't know a damn thing about the Dao."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire field was in an uproar.

Chu Xuanjin didn't pay attention to everyone's reaction.

An imperceptible golden light flashed in his eyes.

[Heavenly Dao Dharma Eye, Open!]

In the eyes of others, Shen Nanxi was a Trash with a Trash Spiritual Root.

But in his eyes.

Inside this youth's body, there was a very special fluctuation.

It was a rhythm that resonated with a specific Law between heaven and earth.

[Name: Shen Nanxi]

[Realm: Mortal]

[Skeletal Root: Mortal Grade (Disguised) / Hidden Physique: Innate Talisman Source Body (Divine Grade)]

[Luck: Golden (Late Bloomer)]

[Evaluation: A natural-born Talisman Dao Supreme. His body is the most perfect talisman paper, and his blood is the top-tier cinnabar. Using his body as a talisman, he can suppress all the gods and demons of the heavens!]

"Tsk."

Chu Xuanjin sighed inwardly.

Sure enough, the System did not deceive me.

This kind of top-quality hidden gem could only be picked up by him.

This youth's Physique was special; conventional Spiritual Qi cultivation was indeed like trying to hold water in a sieve for him.

But if he cultivated the Talisman Dao, it would be a thousand miles a day.

Unfortunately, in the current cultivation world, the Talisman Dao had declined and was mostly used as a supplementary method; no one could see this kid's true potential.

Even if they did see it, no one would know how to teach him.

Shen Nanxi stood there, his head hanging even lower.

"Alright."

Chu Xuanjin smiled and walked up to Shen Nanxi.

He was a head taller than the youth.

He looked down into the youth's eyes, which were desperate yet still clean.

"Since none of them can teach you."

"Then, I will teach you."

Shen Nanxi snapped his head up, looking at this god-like man before him in disbelief.

"You... what did you say?"

"I said."

Chu Xuanjin reached out and gently patted the youth's shoulder.

A warm, moist current instantly flooded into Shen Nanxi's body, repairing his damaged Meridians.

"Be my eleventh Disciple."

"What do you think? Do you dare?"

The entire field was deathly silent.

Everyone's eyes widened, doubting they had heard correctly.

Sect Master's Personal Disciple!

That was a position at the very top of the entire cultivation world!

Even Purple-Gold prodigies like Xiao Zhan and Yue Qinghan could only be Disciples under the second generation.

This kid with a Trash Spiritual Root, what right did he have?!

"Sect Master! You mustn't!"

Shi Potian grew anxious and quickly stepped forward to dissuade him.

"This child's Skeletal Root is extremely poor; if you take him as a Personal Disciple, I'm afraid it will invite criticism and damage the Sect Master's prestige..."

"Prestige?"

Chu Xuanjin glanced at him, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking arc.

"Old Stone, do you think my prestige is supported by my Disciples' talent?"

Shi Potian froze, and cold sweat instantly broke out.

"I wouldn't dare!"

"Then shut up."

Chu Xuanjin turned back and looked at Shen Nanxi again.

"What? You're not willing?"

"No... that's not it!"

Shen Nanxi finally reacted.

With a "thud."

He knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead slamming hard against the white jade stone floor.

"Revered Master is above!"

"Disciple Shen Nanxi kowtows to Revered Master!"

"Good."

Chu Xuanjin nodded with satisfaction.

In his mind, the pleasant System notification arrived as expected.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully recruiting a Disciple with Divine Grade potential!]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Cultivation Empowerment (Directly promoted to Immortal Emperor Late Stage)!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: God-tier Talisman Dao Compendium 'Ten Thousand Talismans Heavenly Scripture'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Acquired Supreme Treasure · Sky-Measuring Ruler!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Special Building · Heavenly Talisman Pavilion!]

Boom!

An aura terrifying to the extreme flashed within Chu Xuanjin's body for an instant.

Immortal Emperor Late Stage!

He suppressed the surging power within his body, his face remaining calm and unruffled.

He waved his hand casually.

A Jade Slip emitting an ancient aura and a talisman brush swirling with seven-colored light floated in front of Shen Nanxi.

"This is a meeting gift."

"Since you have entered my Sect."

"From today on, I want you to know."

"So-called Trash are just geniuses placed in the wrong position."

"I want you to use the brush in your hand to draw a path that leads to the heavens!"

Shen Nanxi tremblingly took the Jade Slip and the talisman brush.

Tears finally burst from his eyes... Night fell.

This Disciple recruitment ceremony that had shaken the entire Azure Cloud Continent finally came to a close.

The various forces dispersed, carrying shock and awe as they spread everything that happened today throughout the world.

Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

Inside the Sect Master Hall.

Chu Xuanjin sat in the high seat, looking at the group of vibrant new and old faces below.

Ye Chenfeng, Su Linger, Wang Duojin, Zhao Wuyou, Gongsun Yan, Ye Wushang, Bai Jinnian, Chen Qianhuan, Hua Ying, Lei Jingtian, Shen Nanxi.

Eleven Personal Disciples gathered in one hall.

Plus the outstanding talents of the new generation like Xiao Zhan and Yue Qinghan.

This batch's lineup could be called luxurious.

---

PS: Xie Lan, provided by user "Yi Qing Yi Luo".