125: Chapter 125 Green Snake's Secret Test
"What about a Heaven-Made dao root?"
Xu Qing asked.
"...In any case, this Elder has never heard of such a dao root appearing in the Cultivation World."
Elder Li was an old woman.
The vast knowledge of Elder Li was certainly something Xu Qing had never heard of before.
And even this old woman had never witnessed the legendary Heaven-Made Spiritual Root.
That legendary Heaven-Made Spiritual Root...
Xu Qing was a bit envious.
The plan this time...
...was mainly to rely on Elder Li's Earth-Formed Spiritual Root to attract the attention of the higher-ups and quickly become a Disciple within the upper echelons of the Xuanji Sect.
Then, find an opportunity to come into contact with the deity transformation imprint, erupt suddenly, and seize it.
However, even with an Earth-Formed Spiritual Root that appeared once in a thousand years...
...the chance to touch the deity transformation imprint was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Besides, the Xuanji Sect was now split into three; heaven only knew where the deity transformation imprint was currently located.
"Elder Li, what kind of dao root does Daya have?"
Pretending to be a Mortal climbing a mountain was truly a bit boring, so Xu Qing couldn't help but strike up a conversation.
"Mother's Aptitude is naturally an Earth-Formed dao root as well!"
"...But didn't you say it's a dao root seen only once in a thousand years?"
Elder Li's hand movements paused.
Seeing the opportunity, Xu Qing continued to twist the knife.
"In this thousand years of the Cultivation World, only Daya and you, Elder, are Earth-Formed dao roots?"
"...No."
"There are quite a few; Nascent Soul Cultivators basically all are, and there are a few among the Nascent Soul Perfection stage..."
Xu Qing didn't say anything more.
He just silently climbed the mountain for a while.
"Once in a thousand years?"
Xu Qing muttered under his breath.
"Do you have an issue?"
"No."
Xu Qing decided that from now on, no matter what happened that made him want to complain, he absolutely would not.
Otherwise, his life would be in danger.
However, this girl Li Xiaomo had a fairly good temper.
He, as her grandfather, felt very gratified.
Climbing all the way...
...until they reached the peak.
The mist swirled without dissipating, and the Immortal Qi surged endlessly. Looking down from above, it was truly a case of 'seeing all the mountains as small beneath one's feet.'
Many people around were panting heavily, yet they could not hide the excitement on their faces.
As a side note...
Elder Li had already removed her veil and changed her appearance.
The reason it wasn't mentioned was that Xu Qing was face-blind, so he hadn't noticed at all along the way.
"At this moment, the mountain is sealed!"
A voice full of vigor rang out.
It spread across the entire peak, and even the mist surged under the vibration of the sound.
The mountain peak thus disappeared from outside the southern city of the Capital.
Along with the people who had climbed to the top.
Perhaps for a while afterward, a legend of an Immortal's hidden abode would spread in the vicinity.
"You have all come by chance; you are all Disciples destined to be with my Xuanji Sect."
"Now, let us test your Immortal Aptitude!"
The mist at the very top of the peak churned.
A figure floated out from within and landed steadily on the ground.
His Dao Cultivation was as high as a hundred years.
He was a mighty Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator!
Xu Qing couldn't help but gasp, marveling in his heart.
"To think it's a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a hundred years of Dao Cultivation!"
A certain drama-queen snake was now firing on all cylinders.
Though he was only Foundation Establishment, given the aura of his entrance, people would believe it if someone said he was a Nascent Soul.
However, those on the Immortal mountain right now were all Mortals.
A menial task like testing Dao Cultivation was indeed unlikely to be performed by a Golden Core or Nascent Soul.
It was perfectly reasonable for a Foundation Establishment powerhouse to do it.
The Foundation Establishment powerhouse performed hand seals and brought out a fist-sized treasure orb.
"You go first."
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator pointed at a man.
The man was very sturdy with dark skin, seemingly accustomed to farm work.
He approached the legendary Immortal timidly, looking quite at a loss.
"Focus your Qi and calm your spirit."
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator said softly.
The man felt his anxious emotions swept away as if by a dust brush, quickly calming down. He couldn't help but marvel in his heart that these were indeed the methods of an Immortal.
"Place your hand on it and empty your mind."
The man did as told, placing his large hand on the treasure orb.
The orb lit up with a red light, then turned yellow, growing more and more intense.
The dense yellow light gradually transitioned into a faint orange light, then ceased to change further.
"Medium dao root, Immortal Aptitude passes."
"You may wait to the side for the upcoming Immortal Gateway Trial."
Ignoring the dazed man, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator pointed to the side.
"Next..."
Xu Qing looked at the orb, quite curious.
"That orb is called a Spirit Testing Orb."
"A red light indicates an inferior dao root. Each subsequent color change represents a higher level of Spiritual Root."
"The sequence is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple."
Elder Li informed Xu Qing via sound transmission.
After all, Xu Qing's true form was a snake demon; it was normal for him not to understand the human Cultivation World.
"Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple... why is there no cyan?"
Although Xu Qing wanted to complain like that, he held it in.
Don't ask.
He had just made a solemn vow that no matter how much he wanted to complain, the Green Snake would not.
The testing of Aptitude proceeded in order.
About two-thirds of the people failed to reach the medium dao root level and were filtered out.
Of the remaining third, only one person had a superior dao root.
It seemed Elder Li was telling the truth.
High-quality dao roots were indeed rare.
Soon, it was Elder Li's turn.
Xu Qing felt that this Elder Li had been impatient for a long time.
She was probably telling herself in her heart...
...'Don't rush, don't rush, wait until the end, then amaze the whole crowd.'
And this was a Nascent Soul Perfection Cultivator? Green Snake Disdain.jpg.
"Focus your Qi and calm your spirit."
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator instructed.
Elder Li reached out and placed her hand on the orb.
Red, orange, and yellow passed in a flash, completely different from the previous tests!
Even the testing Foundation Establishment powerhouse widened his eyes.
At this moment, the green light followed, lighting up.
The green light lasted for a short while before the color changed again.
A dazzling, translucent azure-blue light erupted, the beam shooting straight into the clouds!
An E-E-Earth-Formed dao root!"
"To think it's the legendary Earth-Formed dao root that appears once in a thousand years!"
Hearing this, Xu Qing couldn't help but purse his lips.
Right, right, right, once in a thousand years.
The clouds at the peak churned again, and three figures descended.
Without exception, they were all Golden Core Cultivators!
"An Earth-Formed Spiritual Root seen once in a millennium! To think we've recruited a Disciple with such Aptitude this time!"
"Heaven blesses my Xuanji Sect!"
"What is the young lady's name?"
"Where does the young lady live?"
"Move aside, don't block this Venerable One."
Several Golden Core Cultivators surrounded Elder Li.
Xu Qing, standing to the side, had long been squeezed out, pushed away, and ignored.
Elder Li shot Xu Qing a flaunting look.
She had an expression that said, 'A thick barrier now stands between us.'
"...Test, there's still me!"
"I haven't been tested yet!"
Xu Qing found the Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Unexpectedly, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator casually tossed the treasure orb to him.
"Test yourself, miss. I'm going to go make my face known."
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator just dropped the orb and ran toward Elder Li.
The treasure orb just floated in the air, motionless.
"Where is your integrity!"
"Where has your integrity gone!"
"Without a shred of professionalism, your Xuanji Sect deserves to be split!"
Xu Qing grumbled as he pressed his hand onto the orb.
Since it was like this...
...he would test secretly and then amaze everyone.
The orb's red light lit up, then turned orange, yellow, green...