8: Chapter 8: No spiritual root, haha, the pre-selected personal disciple is indeed a good-for-nothing.

The minor farce came to an end with Xiao Nianyin's final word.

The Hehuan Sect's decennial Disciple recruitment competition officially began.

The candidates followed their numerical order, stepping forward one by one to place their hands on the three massive 'Spirit-Testing Stele' in the center of the square.

The stone steles would light up with different colors and intensities of light based on the tester's Spiritual Root Aptitude.

Xu Ruyu was not treated differently just because he was Xiao Nianyin's Personal Disciple; he was mixed in with the crowd. Through the dense mass of heads, he saw that when Lei Xuan stepped forward, the Spirit-Testing Stele erupted with a blinding purple lightning light that shot into the sky, drawing gasps of amazement from the entire audience.

This was the first time Xu Ruyu had seen such a scene with his own eyes.

It turned out those extraordinary scenes depicted in novels really did exist.

Just as Xu Ruyu was secretly shocked, the deacon responsible for recording announced loudly, "Lei Xuan, High Grade Lightning Spiritual Root, Grade A Aptitude!"

As Lei Xuan walked off the field proudly from the Spirit-Testing Stele, his gaze crossed the crowd to look provocatively at Xu Ruyu. That look seemed to say: See that? This is the performance a Genius should have!

You handpicked piece of trash, just wait to be stepped on by me!

Xu Ruyu, however, turned a blind eye to Lei Xuan's gaze, directly ignoring his provocation.

Other candidates also tested one after another; some lit up with red firelight (Fire Spiritual Root), some with blue waterlight (Water Spiritual Root). Their Aptitude varied, but very few could reach Grade A.

Soon, it was Xu Ruyu's turn.

"Number 79 of the Bing group, Xu Ruyu!"

The deacon's voice rang out, and everyone's eyes instantly focused on him.

What kind of Spiritual Root Aptitude did this mysterious man, who was handpicked by the Sect Master to be a Personal Disciple, actually have?

Xu Ruyu took a deep breath and walked toward the Spirit-Testing Stele under the gaze of countless eyes.

He could feel Xiao Nianyin's gaze on him as well; though calm, there seemed to be a hint of... expectation hidden within?

Expectation for what? Expecting me to make a fool of myself?

Xu Ruyu smiled bitterly in his heart.

With a nervous heart, Xu Ruyu walked to the front of the stone stele and, following what he had seen others do, pressed his hand against the cold surface of the stele.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

The stone stele had no reaction.

There was neither light nor any vibration.

Xu Ruyu shook his head helplessly and turned to look at Xiao Nianyin in the distance, thinking to himself: See, see, see, you saw that, my Revered Master? You just had to take me away...

Seeing Xu Ruyu's predicament, the entire field fell into a dead silence.

"This... what's going on?"

"Is the Spirit-Testing Stele broken?"

"That's impossible, it was fine just now..."

"Could it be that he... has no Spiritual Root?!"

After a moment of dead silence, whispers began to rise in the field, growing louder and louder.

Seeing this, the most indignant Lei Xuan couldn't help but sneer aloud, "No Spiritual Root? A Mortal without a Spiritual Root can also become the Sect Master's Personal Disciple? Hahahaha, what a huge joke!"

Other candidates who bore hostility toward Xu Ruyu also joined in the laughter, their eyes filled with mockery as they looked at him.

Xu Ruyu's heart also sank.

Did he really have no Spiritual Root? Then why did Xiao Nianyin take him as a Disciple? Was it really just because his ability in "that area" was strong?

He subconsciously looked at Xiao Nianyin again, only to see her face remained calm, as if everything before her was within her expectations.

Right then, a sudden change occurred!

The Spirit-Testing Stele that had been completely unresponsive suddenly began to vibrate violently!

It wasn't just one; all three Spirit-Testing Steles were vibrating simultaneously!

Immediately following that, the three stone steles erupted with a dazzling, brilliant white light!

The light was so intense and pure that it seemed as if it would swallow the entire square!

"Wh-what light is this?!"

"I've never seen it before..."

"Among the Spiritual Root colors recorded by the Spirit-Testing Stele, is there white?"

The deacons were in a panic, and even the Elder in charge of recording stood up, his face full of shock.

The white light lasted for a full ten breaths before slowly dissipating.

On the three Spirit-Testing Steles, a line of ancient text emerged on each.

Left stele: "Spiritual Root: None."

Middle stele: "Physique: Unknown."

Right stele: "Potential: ???"

The entire field was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned.

No Spiritual Root? Unknown Physique? Potential is three question marks?

What kind of test result was this?

Lei Xuan was also dazed, then sneered, "No Spiritual Root? Hahahaha, he really is a piece of trash!

Without even a Spiritual Root, how is he worthy of being the Sect Master's Personal Disciple? Is this Hehuan Sect a trash recycling station?

To think I, Lei Xuan, specifically came here wanting to join its ranks.

Now seeing this, the Hehuan Sect is nothing more than this!"

His words drew agreement from many people.

Xu Ruyu felt bitterness in his heart.

He indeed had no Spiritual Root, at least according to traditional cultivation knowledge.

But he could feel that the Saint Realm Power belonging to Xiao Nianyin within his body had fluctuated slightly when the white light erupted.

At that moment, Xiao Nianyin's voice rang out again, calm and majestic:

"Finished testing? Then continue to the next stage."

She looked at the Elder in charge of the assessment: "Elder Li, have Ruyu's test results been recorded?"

Elder Li snapped out of his shock and hurriedly said, "Re-recorded..."

"Good then," Xiao Nianyin said indifferently, "Continue the assessment."

She didn't take the bizarre result to heart at all, nor did she intend to explain.

This composure instead made everyone even more confused.

What exactly was so special about this Xu Ruyu?

Xu Ruyu walked back to Xiao Nianyin's side and whispered, "Revered Master, I..."

"No need to say more," Xiao Nianyin interrupted him. "I said that having you participate in the assessment was just a formality.

No matter what the assessment result is, it cannot change my attitude.

Remember, you are now this seat's Personal Disciple.

That is enough."

Her voice was not loud, yet it clearly spread across the entire square.

Everyone understood the subtext of these words: The Disciple I, Xiao Nianyin, take in needs no explanation to anyone.

This was the overbearing nature of a titan of the Demonic Path.

Xu Ruyu took a deep breath and nodded.

He knew that from now on, he would become the focus of the entire Hehuan Sect, and even the entire Cultivation World.

Jealousy, hatred, doubt, hostility... everything would come rushing in like a tide.

But he had no way back.

Either die, or stay by my side—Xiao Nianyin's words echoed in his ears.

And now, he had already made his choice.

Then, let me see just how wonderful this Cultivation World really is.

Xu Ruyu tightened his grip on the wooden plaque, a flash of determination—or rather, a desperation of having nothing left to lose—flickered in his eyes.

The assessment had only just begun.

Standing to the side, Xiao Nianyin watched Xu Ruyu's appearance of feigning composure while unable to hide his inner panic, and the corners of her lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Silly boy...

She thought to herself that the Spiritual Root test of the first stage only measured Aptitude in the traditional sense.

With this seat's Saint Realm Foundation in your body, it's only normal for the Spirit-Testing Stele to detect something strange.

However...

Xiao Nianyin cast her gaze toward the other side of the square, where a temporary illusion entrance had been set up, with faint pink mist drifting from the entrance.

The second stage, the 'Great Fox Illusion', tests Heart-Nature, will, and... desire.

Even this seat was by you...

Thinking of the scene last night where she was overturned by this youth and pinned down to be lashed, Xiao Nianyin only felt her face heat up, and the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

She quickly suppressed that strange throb in her heart and resumed her icy expression.

That illusion can evoke a person's deepest desires and fears.

With your... ability in that area, and the... endurance you showed last night...

Xiao Nianyin's gaze became profound.

In this second stage, you will surely amaze everyone.

She watched Xu Ruyu's back as he walked toward the illusion entrance, a hint of expectation that even she hadn't noticed flashing in her eyes.