The adults present heard what Linghua said, but the parents were already used to it, whereas Elder Gu simply didn't care.
"Come, follow me in."
He beckoned the group, having them trail behind him into the pagoda. He only stopped after reaching a large glowing sphere that sat at the end of countless rows of bookshelves.
"This is better than your usual Talent Tester Stone," Elder Gu began. "Even if your daughter's Spiritual Roots are top-notch, it will still be able to tell us just how top-notch they are."
"Thank you, Senior Gu!" Lan Yue fervently shook his hand before carrying Linghua over to the large glowing sphere.
After she got a good distance away, Elder Gu turned to Fang Ren. "...How is the marriage going…?"
"Why are you asking that in such a pity-filled tone?? Lan Yue is just a little eccentric, is all…"
Even Fang Ren didn't know if he believed what he was saying. But in the end, he got into this marriage knowing full well what sort of woman he was pledging fidelity to.
"If you'd like, I can always suggest a different talented Elder to marry you—"
"I appreciate the intent, Senior Gu, but I love my wife."
Fang Ren spoke in a clear, serious tone, his gaze one of earnesty.
"She may be a bit silly at times, but I love that part of her just as much as everything else. And even if I was given the choice, I wouldn't change a single thing about her."
Elder Gu absentmindedly stared at Fang Ren's side view. His infatuation and adoration while looking at his wife was as obvious as could be.
"An admirable man like you is hard to come by these days," he finally said. "It reminds me of my youth. Back when my Meng was still alive."
"Death comes for us all, Senior Gu—"
*Whack!*
"I'm not about to die, you brat, so stop looking at me like I'm next on the chopping block!" Elder Gu cursed, veins bulging on his forehead. "Instead of making jokes, you should be paying more attention to the results of your daughter's aptitude test. This moment could very well determine her whole future—whether she possesses the potential to become a Cultivator or not."
"Yes, Senior Gu," said Fang Ren. "Let's focus on her. I believe in my daughter; she'll definitely obtain good results. But even if she doesn't, nothing will change. I'll love her all the same—"
*Whack!*
"Can you stop being so damn noble for a second!?" Elder Gu grumbled. "It's pissing me off."
"Yes… Sorry, Senior Gu," Fang Ren replied with saddened puppy-dog eyes.
Meanwhile, at the High-grade Talent Testing Stone, Fang Ren got a really good look at its Spiritual Energy–infused surface. He marveled at the sight, shocking his mother and sister.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing, dear?? Your younger brother actually had a change in expression!" Lan Yue beamed. "I was getting worried for a while there, thinking that he was broken or sick. Turns out you just had to show him a big shiny rock!"
"Xue…" Linghua stared deeply at him, seemingly wanting something. "Can you make that same expression while saying, 'I love you, big sis, more than anyone else in the whole wide world!'?? Pretty please!"
At the request of his sister, Xue Ren's face returned to how it normally looked.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Linghua caved in first. She bit her nails while lamenting her fate.
"Am I asking too much??"
'Yes, you are.'
Xue Ren answered for her.
"Mother, why won't my Xue love me the same way I love him?? It's so unfair…!" Linghua complained while sniffling. "I… I just want…"
"I know, my dear," Lan Yue said with a warm smile, pulling her daughter close. "And it's not that Xue Ren doesn't love you. It's just that he doesn't know how to express it properly yet. When he's older, I'm sure this aloof phase of his will be over and done with. Then he'll be unable to stop himself from hugging you all day long!"
"R-Really, Mother…?"
"Naturally, fufu."
'Don't hope for too much.'
Nevertheless, after all that silliness was out of the way, Linghua finally placed her hand on the giant glowing sphere.
Almost immediately, a reaction occurred as a brilliant golden-blue light shone from the sphere. This light became brighter and brighter, making even Elder Gu raise his brows in surprise.
"This sort of reaction… It's already in the territory of Top-notch Spiritual Roots!" he shouted. "Has a Top-notch Spiritual Root Talent actually been born in the Bluemoon Sect?? This is huge news! Even the Sect Leader will want to know!"
However… the Spiritual Root awakening wasn't yet finished.
OOOM!
Another increase in the intensity of the blue light!
CRACK—
Cracks actually started to emerge on the surface of the High-rank Talent Tester Stone!
Unprecedented!
"H-Holy… Holy Grade Spiritual Roots!?"
Elder Gu couldn't believe his eyes, and neither could Fang Ren. But even though the increases in light intensity had begun to slow down to a crawl, the element had still yet to be shown.
"Even with mythical Holy-grade Spiritual Roots, unless the acquired Element is at least of the Advanced Type, the true potential of the Spiritual Roots will never be shown—"
WAAA!
A blinding starry glow dyed the colorless light of the Testing Stone to match that of the Milky Way. Dazzling and profoundly beautiful.
"U-Ultimate Type Space Element…!? And with a high affinity as well!??"
— Next time on Spamming Fireball: Once-in-ten-thousand-year Genius, Baby Takes First Step! —