39: Twelve years, testing spiritual roots
Time flies, years pass by.
Twelve years later, Qingzhu Mountain presented a myriad of scenes. The buildings where the Servants lived at the foot of the mountain were stacked layer upon layer, like a small town.
Several flights of bluestone steps paved various parts of the mountain, leading upwards. The Immortal Caves where Cultivators resided subtly followed the flow of Spiritual Veins, hidden among the trees, reached by diverging bluestone paths.
Today, Qingzhu Mountain has no less than a hundred permanent Cultivators. They have reclaimed Spiritual Fields to plant spiritual rice, cultivated spiritual bamboo, and even the saplings nurtured from the White Peach mother tree have begun to bear fruit and generate income.
Family Ancestral Hall.
The plaques on the wall were empty, with only the generational characters written by Lu Chen, strong and vigorous.
He sat in the main seat in the courtyard, while over thirty boys and girls with their hair tied with golden pins stood nervously and uneasily in the courtyard.
Lu Chen's expression was grave. These were all his children, and a few of them had already been granted their generational names by him in advance, remaining calm.
He knew very well that more than half of these children would leave Qingzhu Mountain today. The children's uncertain fates held no secrets in his eyes.
"According to the Lu Clan's rules, Spirit Root testing can only be done one by one. Line up now and come in one at a time later."
After Lu Chen finished speaking, he got up and entered the Ancestral Hall, closing the door. The Formation covered this place, and he would not allow his descendants' talents to be exposed.
Within the Cloud Azure Sect's territory, the maximum Spiritual Root immortal sprout that Cultivator Families like theirs could keep was Three Spiritual Roots. If a higher-grade immortal sprout appeared and was not sent to the Cloud Azure Sect, it would be considered an act of rebellion, and the entire clan would be exterminated.
But Lu Chen had never thought of sending his children to the Cloud Azure Sect, at least not now.
The gap between the Lu Clan and the Cloud Azure Sect was too great now, like an ant and an elephant. Once a child joined the Cloud Azure Sect, it would be difficult for them to have a sense of belonging to the Family, and they might even turn back to exploit the Lu Clan.
"Father, I'm coming in..."
Lu Yucheng pushed the door open. As the eldest brother, he naturally became the first to have his Spiritual Root tested. Furthermore, some of his siblings had only seen Lu Chen once in a long time over the years.
But privately, he and Lu Chen both lived in Courtyard Number One, carefully nurtured by Lu Chen, and he already knew that he definitely possessed a Spiritual Root. Today was just a formality.
"Chenger, place your hand on it."
Lu Chen gestured for the latter to place his hand on the Spirit Testing Stone he had prepared.
"Okay."
Lu Yucheng placed his hand on the stone, and the originally dim Spirit Testing Stone began to glow from within.
Golden, blue, and black mystic lights burst forth, illuminating the entire room.
"Your talent is consistent with your mother's, both Gold, Water, and Earth, but you are a bit better, of the Upper Grade."
Lu Chen smiled. Such talent, even in the Cloud Azure Sect, was considered a Foundation Establishment seed. Although he couldn't directly enter the inner sect, he would quickly rise in the outer sect.
Through various channels, he could become an inner sect Foundation Establishment seed.
It's just that talented individuals emerge endlessly, and potential doesn't necessarily mean it will be realized, but his Lu Clan now had successors.
"Go inform the next person to come in, then wait with me on the side."
Hearing this, Lu Yucheng's face showed a smile. After all, he was still a child. Lu Chen allowing him to wait on the side undoubtedly proved his position in his father's heart.
"Okay."
Lu Yucheng responded, his steps somewhat light as he went to the door to call the next sibling in.
"Father."
Lu Yuyao stepped forward, her small head held high with pride. Her personality was quite contrary to her mother's.
Li Qingyao was introverted and quiet, yet her precious daughter was like a proud little swan, which was also largely due to Lu Chen spoiling her over the years.
"Water, Fire, Wood Three Spiritual Roots, Upper Grade. Not bad."
Lu Chen read it out in a good mood. Water gives birth to Wood, and Wood gives birth to Fire. Strictly speaking, although Lu Yuyao's talent was equal to her elder brother Lu Yucheng's, hers would undoubtedly be a bit better.
"Congratulations, Second Sister!"
Lu Yucheng cupped his fists in congratulations. Their generational ranking was determined by the order of Spirit Root testing. Since Lu Yuyao tested her Spiritual Root second, she would be the eldest daughter of the Lu Clan from now on.
This was also why Lu Yucheng was the first to enter. His mother was the matriarch, so no one would go before him, regardless of reason. Even if someone did enter, Lu Chen would most likely drag them out.
"Big Brother, congratulations to you too!"
Lu Yuyao was not foolish either. The fact that Lu Yucheng could stay here indicated that his talent was definitely not poor. She congratulated him then.
She then put on an expectant expression, staring intently at Lu Chen.
...You stay too.
Lu Chen knew what his daughter meant. He did not refuse; Lu Yuyao was also on his core cultivation list.
"Oh yeah!"
Lu Yuyao jumped three feet high.
"Then Father, Big Brother, I'll go call the next younger sibling in!"
Knowing she could stay, Lu Yuyao cheered, eagerly vying for the chance to run errands, and rushed to the door to call people.
With two consecutive children possessing Spiritual Roots and remaining in the room, the remaining children's nervousness eased.
Unfortunately, two consecutive children had no Spiritual Roots. They went in and came right back out, looking dejected, once again dampening the atmosphere that had just lifted.
"Father, I..."
Lu Yuyang looked at the five-colored mystic light that appeared, dim and weak, his face pale.
He was Huang Meier's child, and Lu Chen had also placed high hopes on him, giving him a name in advance. But his Five Spirit Roots talent wasn't even Upper Grade; how could he live up to Lu Chen's past expectations?
"It's alright, little brother."
Lu Yucheng stepped forward, patted the latter's back, and comforted him. Lu Chen had given names to three children in advance, and he knew them all.
Since Lu Yuyang could be valued by his father, he must have something extraordinary about him.
Lu Chen's gaze narrowed slightly.
"Yanger, come here!"
He beckoned. Among the three children, Lu Chen's most favored was not Lu Yucheng, but the Five Spirit Roots Lu Yuyang before him. The Luck feedback the latter gave him was stronger than the other two combined.
It couldn't just be simple Five Spirit Roots.
Lu Yuyang obediently stepped forward. Lu Chen placed a hand on his shoulder, and with his Divine Sense, explored carefully over a dozen times before finally discovering the puzzling aspect.
Inside Lu Yuyang's niwan palace, it was a fiery red, incredibly fierce.
"Pure Yang Constitution..."
When Yin reaches its extreme, it reverses. Huang Meier, with her Pure Yin Constitution, combined with him, a Foundation Establishment Expert, actually gave birth to a Pure Yang Constitution.
Pure Yin and Pure Yang are completely different concepts. Although Lu Yuyang's Pure Yang Constitution barely met the standard for a Spiritual Body, special Physiques can be cultivated and strengthened.
A top-tier Pure Yang Constitution is an Immortal Body. Even if the process is incredibly difficult, Lu Yuyang indeed possesses the Foundation to become a top-tier expert.
Such a Prodigy, even with just Five Spirit Roots, if the Cloud Azure Sect knew, they would forcibly take him. If there was already a Prodigy with a Pure Yang Constitution in the Cloud Azure Sect, then Lu Yuyang's fate would be to be refined into a human elixir.
Becoming a resource for the other party to purify their Physique.
"Child, this name truly was not given to you wrongly!"
Lu Chen was in high spirits. His inheritor had appeared. When Yang reaches its extreme, it reverses to Yin. Lu Yuyang naturally already possessed the conditions to follow his Dao.
Even in the Early Stage, he would be much better than him...