20: Xuan level top grade

[Proclamation from the Azure Profound Upper Sect:]

[Those with a bone age of at least six but less than twenty shall ascend the stage in order for inspection.]

[The inspection results are divided into five ranks!]

[Those with a Spiritual Root of less than one inch are Unranked.]

[Those between one and three inches are Yellow-Grade.]

[Those between four and six inches are Profound-Grade.]

[Those between seven and nine inches are Earth-Grade.]

[Those between ten and twelve inches are Heaven-Grade.]

[Those who are Unranked or Yellow-Grade Low Grade shall enter the sect as Utility Disciples.]

[Those who are Yellow-Grade Medium Grade or High Grade shall be Candidate Outer Sect Disciples.]

[Those who are Profound-Grade Low Grade, Medium Grade, or High Grade shall be Candidate Inner Sect Disciples.]

[Those of Earth-Grade shall be Candidate True Disciples.]

[Those of Heaven-Grade shall be the Sect Head's Personal Disciples.]

[Those who cause a disturbance or disrupt order shall be expelled!]

[Those who impersonate others shall be executed!]

"Ascend the stage and be inspected!"

As the voice faded, the golden scroll dissolved into starlight and vanished.

Beside the Ascension Platform, several Town Guard captains immediately roared at the top of their lungs, cracking their whips to drive the crowd into a long line.

The line was like a twisting serpent, crawling forward slowly and with difficulty.

Li Dashan's family was pushed into the middle of the line by the crowd.

Li Qingfeng was protected in the middle by his father and two older brothers, his face pale and his teeth chattering.

He looked at the towering wooden stage ahead and the two god-like figures upon it; the immense pressure almost made it impossible for him to breathe.

Madame Zhang gripped his arm tightly, her fingernails nearly sinking into his flesh.

Time ticked away.

The sun climbed from the east to the center of the sky.

On the Ascension Platform, the inspection process was startlingly fast.

The male Immortal Master held a palm-sized, translucent white Jade Plate in his hand.

The youths being inspected walked onto the stage trembling. The male Immortal Master only needed to touch their foreheads lightly with the Jade Plate, and a pillar of light of varying colors and heights would instantly erupt from the center of the plate!

Most of the time, the pillar of light did not glow at all.

Whenever this happened, the male Immortal Master's eyes didn't show even a hint of emotion. As if processing a worthless object, he coldly spat out a single word:

"Off."

The Town Guards would then drive the despondent youth and their family away from the stage like shooing flies.

Occasionally, the pillar of light would glow with a yellow light of over one or two inches. The man remained expressionless, his tone completely flat:

"Yellow-Low (or Yellow-Medium), Utility."

The chosen youths and their families often wept with joy, but not even a ripple of emotion appeared in the eyes of the two Qingxuan Disciples.

A few showed a slightly brighter yellow (Yellow-Grade Medium Grade or High Grade).

Only then would the male Immortal Master's expression shift slightly, a tiny hint of scrutiny appearing in his eyes as his tone softened a fraction:

"Candidate Outer Sect, wait over there."

The youths would then run ecstatically toward the designated area beneath the Flying Shuttles, causing a suppressed commotion and envious whispers among the crowd.

As for Profound-Grade? Not a single one!

The long lines moved forward slowly; the agonizing wait was like torture.

The hearts of the four members of the Li family sank bit by bit.

Li Qingfeng watched the dejected youths being driven off the stage one by one, his face growing paler and his body shaking uncontrollably.

Madame Zhang held him tightly, her tears falling silently.

Li Dashan stared fixedly at the stage, his lips pressed white, the veins on his hands bulging as he gripped their bundle.

Li Qingshan and Li Qinglin also held their breath, their eyes filled with anxiety.

Finally, only a few people remained in front of them.

Li Qingfeng was given a forceful push forward by his father, stumbling onto the steps of the Ascension Platform.

His legs felt weak, and he could barely stand. The immense fear caused his stomach to churn, making him nearly vomit on the spot.

On the stage, the stern male Immortal Master's gaze fell upon him like an icicle.

Li Qingfeng felt as if his very blood were freezing.

Expressionless, the male Immortal Master held the translucent white Jade Plate and, just as he had done a thousand times before, reached out toward Li Qingfeng's forehead casually and without expectation.

The Jade Plate was ice-cold. The moment it touched his skin—

"Buzz—!"

A hum, far clearer and crisper than any before, suddenly erupted from the Jade Plate!

Immediately following, a pillar of green light, at least half a foot high and both condensed and pure, shot up from the center of the Jade Plate like green jade breaking through the soil!

The pillar of light was crystal clear, emitting a warm and vibrant luster that shimmered brilliantly under the midday sun!

"Gre... Green?! Profound-Grade?!"

"What a tall pillar of light!"

The deathly silent crowd below instantly erupted into cries of disbelief!

The male Immortal Master, who had been as cold as an iceberg, had a sharp glint burst from his eyes for the first time!

He jerked the Jade Plate back, staring fixedly at the green pillar of light. The eternal frost on his face cracked for the first time, showing a clear shift—surprise, unexpectedness, and even a hint of... satisfaction!

"Profound Rank Upper Grade! Six inches and three-tenths!"

For the first time, the stern man's voice carried a clear emotional tremor. It was no longer a cold pronouncement but held a sense of confirmation and a subtle hint of... regard!

He looked at Li Qingfeng, his gaze no longer treating him like dust but as if he had discovered a piece of unpolished jade!

"Candidate Inner Sect!"

The woman beside him also spoke, her voice crisp yet similarly carrying a hint of emotion.

She looked at Li Qingfeng and gave a slight nod in acknowledgement.

"Not bad. Candidate Inner Sect."

With a wave of the stern man's hand, the dazzling green pillar of light instantly vanished. He looked at Li Qingfeng, and though his tone was still plain, it was much gentler than before:

"Name, age, place of origin."

"Li... Li Qingfeng! Thirteen years old! From Li Family Village!"

Li Qingfeng finally snapped out of it and answered loudly, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

The man nodded slightly and said no more, gesturing to a Town Guard. "Take him over." His tone brooked no argument.

A Town Guard immediately adopted a respectful expression and jogged over, leading the still-dazed Li Qingfeng toward the open space beneath the Flying Shuttles.

There, the dozen or so people chosen previously, including the few youths selected just now, cast gazes of envy, awe, or jealousy.

Below the stage.

These few brief words exploded like thunder in the ears of Li Dashan's family!

Profound Rank Upper Grade! Candidate Inner Sect!

Madame Zhang's legs gave way, and she would have collapsed if Li Qingshan hadn't been quick enough to catch her. She covered her mouth tightly as tears poured out—tears of pure joy!

Li Dashan's entire body shook violently. He suddenly straightened his hunched back, his weather-beaten face flushing instantly. His lips trembled as he tried to shout something, but not a single word came out; only hot tears surged from his eyes!

"Qingfeng! It's Qingfeng!" Li Qinglin's face was red with excitement as he frantically shook his eldest brother's arm.

Li Qingshan's dark face was also flushed red as he nodded vigorously.

Li Qingfeng himself felt as though he were still in a dream.

Looking at the Immortal Master's softened expression and hearing the words "Candidate Inner Sect," the massive shock left his mind a complete blank.

He simply followed the Town Guard subconsciously, stumbling toward the empty area, his footsteps as light and unsteady as if he were walking on cotton.

Li Qingfeng looked back and saw his parents' and brothers' bloodshot eyes and excited faces. He waved his hand forcefully, trying to grin, but tears streamed down uncontrollably.

The male Immortal Master stopped looking at him, his gaze turning back to the last few youths waiting for inspection—who were already pale with fright—and his coldness returned:

"Next."

The inspection ended quickly.

In the end, out of the tens of thousands of eligible youths in the entire Black Mountain Town area, only eight were accepted: five Utility Disciples (three Unranked and two Yellow-Grade Low Grade), two Yellow-Grade High Grade Candidate Outer Sect Disciples, and—Li Qingfeng, a Profound Rank Upper Grade Candidate Inner Sect Disciple!

The elegant female Immortal Master, who hadn't said a word from beginning to end, finally stepped forward and waved her sleeve.

A soft green light swept up the eight new Disciples, including Li Qingfeng, and delivered them steadily into the Flying Shuttle. The hatch closed silently.

The two cold Flying Shuttles emitted a low hum as runes flowed over them, and they slowly ascended into the sky.

"Qingfeng—!"

Madame Zhang finally cried out, breaking free from her son's support and stumbling forward.

"Third Brother—!" Li Qingshan and Li Qinglin also shouted, their eyes red.

The Flying Shuttles rose higher and higher, gaining speed until they turned into two streaks of light, vanishing into the northern horizon in an instant.

Leaving behind only a deafening roar of commotion that erupted after the dead silence beneath the Ascension Platform, and countless gazes filled with complex, indescribable emotions.

Li Dashan stood straight-backed in the crowd, letting tears flow down his furrowed, weathered face.

His rough hands tightly gripped the now-empty coarse cloth bundle, his knuckles white, while his gaze followed the direction where the Flying Shuttles had vanished, as if trying to carve that streak of light into his very bones.

He made it! Qingfeng! He entered the Immortal Sect! And as a Candidate Inner Sect Disciple!

He turned abruptly, a smile blooming on his tear-stained face like an old tree blossoming for the first time.

Facing the equally tearful Madame Zhang and his two sons, he roared with all his might:

"Let's go home! Build a house! Wait for the third son to return—bring honor to our ancestors!"