398: Chapter 399 Fourth-Grade Spiritual Root!

Ye Changge returned her a helpless look.

"She is of our own Bloodline, I cannot let her go back crying. Besides—" His voice transmission carried a hint of a smile,

"The herb garden is already lacking a manager. Xiaoqiu has a meticulous nature; perhaps she can really make something of it."

Lu Shiyin smiled, saying no more.

On the platform, Ye Pingan watched his father soothe the little girl's emotions with just a few words, and he inwardly admired him.

He steadied himself, reopened the register, cleared his throat, and announced in a clear voice:

"Everyone, the Spirit Testing Ceremony continues."

"Second, Ye Xiao!"

In the back row of the crowd below the platform, a young woman dressed in plain white clothing trembled slightly.

She looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a pretty face and a hint of timidity and nervousness between her brows. She was one of Ye Changge's concubines, surnamed Bai, named Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi's background was similar to Chen Niang's; she was also a maid redeemed from the White Jade Pavilion in her early years.

But her path had been more treacherous than Chen Niang's.

When she was fourteen or fifteen, her Family was destroyed. After drifting about, she was sold into the White Jade Pavilion as a Cauldron,

If not for Ye Changge passing by and redeeming her, she would likely not know where she had ended up by now.

After being redeemed and brought home by Ye Changge, she had always been virtuous and dignified, quietly acting as an inconspicuous concubine.

Over time, she had given birth to six children for Ye Changge, but whether due to bad Luck or some other reason, the first five children were all tested to have no Spiritual Root.

Every time one was tested, she would secretly cry when no one was around.

After crying, she would wash her face, continue tending to the spirit fields, and take care of the children, never saying a word.

And now, it was the sixth child's turn for the spirit test.

"Mother." A young boy with somewhat handsome features walked out from behind her,

He was about ten years old, his back straight as a board, his little face tense, his lips pressed into a line, and his clenched fists were slightly white.

His name was Ye Xiao, and he was Bai Zhi's sixth child.

Bai Zhi crouched down, looked into her son's eyes, her voice trembling slightly, but she tried her best to remain gentle:

"Xiao'er, do not be afraid. Regardless of whether you have a Spiritual Root or not, you are Mother's good child. Go on up; just place your hand on that pillar."

Ye Xiao stared at his mother's slightly reddened eyes, clenched his fists tightly, and nodded vigorously: "Mm!"

He took a deep breath, turned around, and climbed up the Spirit Testing Platform, his steps firmer than Ye Xiaoqiu's just moments before.

He stood before the white marble spirit testing pillar.

Ye Xiao hesitated no longer; gritting his teeth, he slammed both hands onto the pillar!

A warm, smooth sensation came through.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

The spirit testing pillar suddenly began to tremble slightly!

Immediately after, a crimson light surged from the bottom of the pillar, like a flame being ignited, climbing all the way up!

One section, two sections, three sections, four sections, five sections—six sections!

Of the ten sections on the spirit testing pillar, a full six lit up!

The red light was intense and bright, flowing endlessly within the spirit testing pillar, coating Ye Xiao's little face in a warm hue.

The pillar became slightly warm, and a searing aura faintly radiated from it; this was the distinct characteristic of a Fire-attribute Spiritual Root.

The entire venue went silent for a moment.

Immediately, a low exclamation erupted from the crowd!

"Six, six sections?! That is... a Fourth Grade Spirit Root?!"

"Heavens, Fourth Grade! And it's a Fourth Grade Spirit Root with a Fire affinity!"

"This is a seed for Foundation Establishment! As long as a Family or Sect is willing to nurture him, he will almost certainly be able to achieve a Dao Foundation!"

Ye Pingan was also stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered. With barely concealed excitement and a hint of envy in his voice, he announced loudly:

"Ye Xiao, Fourth Grade Spirit Root, Fire affinity!"

As his voice fell, the entire crowd erupted.

Below the platform, Bai Zhi stood there blankly, the tears in her eyes finally unable to be contained as they rolled down.

She covered her mouth abruptly, but an uncontrollable sob still escaped.

Five children.

A full five children.

She had given birth to five in total, and all had no Spiritual Root.

After every spirit test, she would cry secretly at night, and after crying, she dared not let Ye Changge see, fearing he would think she was ungrateful.

But how could the loss and self-reproach in her heart be easily dispelled?

She always wondered if her own fate was too thin, dragging the children down?

Was it because her own Spiritual Root was too poor that the children also lacked talent?

But now,

Bai Zhi gripped her clothes tightly, staring at her son on the platform wrapped in red spiritual light, tears blurring her vision.

Her sixth child was actually a Fourth Grade Spirit Root!

A Fourth Grade Spirit Root with a Fire affinity!

Bai Zhi felt her legs go weak, her body swaying slightly, barely able to stand.

The other concubines nearby quickly supported her, each full of envy and sighs:

"Sister Bai Zhi, congratulations! A Fourth Grade Spirit Root!"

"This is the first child in our Ye Family with a Fourth Grade Spirit Root!"

"Sister Bai Zhi, you have truly come to the end of your suffering..."

Ye Changge, watching this scene from below the platform, revealed a perfectly appropriate expression of surprise.

He had actually long known the information about Ye Xiao being a descendant with a Fourth Grade Spirit Root through the System.

But now, in front of everyone, he naturally would not show a look of "already expected it," but instead put on an expression of great joy and laughed aloud:

"Haha! Good!"

He strode forward, personally ascended the Spirit Testing Platform, grabbed Ye Xiao's shoulder, and said with undisguised gratification and pride:

"My Ye Family of Longmai Mountain has produced a descendant with a Fourth Grade Spirit Root at our first Spirit Testing Ceremony! This is an auspicious omen from heaven, a sign of our Ye Family's flourishing Luck!"

He turned to look at the crowd below, his voice clear and resonant, carrying the unique Spiritual Pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, clearly reaching everyone present:

"At the same time, pass down my order: today at the ceremony, all participants may go to the foot of the mountain to receive one Spirit Stone and one dou of Spirit Rice to celebrate this joy!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted again!

The Mortal farmers below who had originally just come to watch the excitement widened their eyes, and then erupted into thunderous cheers:

"Long live Ancestor Ye!"

"Thank you, Ancestor Ye!"

"May the Ye Family flourish for generations!"

"May Young Master Ye Xiao's path of Dao be evergreen!"

Voices of congratulation surged like a tide.

Ye Changge held Ye Xiao's little hand and walked down the Spirit Testing Platform step by step. The crimson spiritual light behind him had not yet fully dissipated, casting a layer of warmth over his back.

Below the platform, Bai Zhi was already bathed in tears.

Five children.

A full five children, all with no Spiritual Root.

She had never complained a single word to Ye Changge.

She knew what her background was—a maid redeemed from the White Jade Pavilion; it was only because the Master was kind-hearted that he gave her a home. Being able to live securely and watch her children grow up safely was already a tremendous blessing. How could she dare to ask for anything more?

But now,

her sixth child was a Fourth Grade Spirit Root. A Fourth Grade Spirit Root with a Fire affinity.

Bai Zhi felt her chest tighten severely, tears blurred her vision, and her knees felt somewhat weak.