Her palm touched the jade tablet.
A soundless breath echoed through the mountain air.
Then—ripples spread outward across the Mirror Spring, as if the entire world were holding its breath.
The surface of the pool stilled.
Then the 水 (Water) mirror—so often gentle, often overlooked—flared to life.
A burst of radiant sapphire light erupted from the tablet, arcing straight toward the mirror. The water in the spring danced upward as if drawn by invisible hands. The wind shifted. The spiritual energy in the air grew heavy and cool, like mist after a storm.
The sapphire glow deepened—pure, cold, endless—until it painted the sky.
Gasps broke from the crowd.
"Water!"
"Wait, it's still getting brighter—!"
"Is that… is that Heaven-grade?!"
The testing elder took a step forward, eyes narrowing. He raised his palm toward the mirror as if to verify the resonance himself. Then, slowly, he turned toward the crowd.
"…Heaven-grade Water Spirit Root."
The pavilion erupted in hushed shock.
"Three already?!"
"Is something wrong with the array?"
"No—it's real. The mirrors don't lie!"
Qin Lian barely heard them.
Her heart was pounding. Her hand trembled as she pulled it back from the jade, fingertips tingling. A strange sensation rushed through her chest—like someone had opened a door inside her ribcage and filled it with the sound of rainfall.
Her knees were steady. Her breath even. But her soul felt different now. Brighter. Awake.
She turned.
Yan Zhenwu stood beneath the shade of the pavilion, arms still crossed, looking at her with that same soft expression he always wore. But his eyes… his eyes held something else now.
Pride.
Quiet, wordless pride.
She walked toward him, slow and light-footed, like her body had become part of the mountain breeze.
When she reached his side, he didn't say a word. Just offered her a tiny nod. Qin Lian smiled.
The test continued.
A few more disciples approached the array. Most were common—Mortal-grade Fire, Earth, or dual roots that barely glowed. The crowd began to quiet.
Then—
A girl stepped forward, her hair tied back in silver cords, her expression unshakably calm. She touched the jade stone—
And the 木 (Wood) and 金 (Metal) mirrors both flared at once.
But it was the 木 mirror that surged violently—a deep green that pulsed like living vines. The elder narrowed his eyes, placing both hands against the jade.
Then he announced:
"Dual-root—Wood and Metal."
The crowd murmured again.
But he raised his hand.
"…Heaven-grade Wood root. Metal is secondary."
The girl bowed with poise, her face unreadable.
Four.
There were now four confirmed Heaven-grade Spirit Roots from this year's ceremony alone.
Unheard of.
Somewhere in the crowd, a senior disciple muttered, "The stars must be aligning this season…"
The elder allowed a few more final testings. Several children were dismissed—no root detected. A few others were told they could remain as attendants or apply again next year. None protested. Not everyone was destined to cultivate.
Then the elder stood tall and unrolled a scroll.
"All those who have successfully awakened a spirit root—regardless of grade—are formally invited to join the Verdant Sky Sect as outer disciples."
He raised his hand, and an inner disciple stepped forward, carrying a lacquered box filled with small wooden tokens carved with cloud-shaped runes.
"When your name is called, step forward and receive your sect token. This will allow you entry through the main gates tomorrow morning."
The names were read aloud in a steady voice:
"Lin Xiu. Huang Wen. Mei Lanyue. Zhao Ren…"
One by one, the children stepped forward to receive their tokens with both hands, bowing formally.
When Qin Lian's name was spoken, she stepped forward with her back straight. She received her token from the elder with a deep bow, and when she turned around—her eyes found her grandfather again.
He didn't wave. He didn't say a word.
But the way he looked at her was all she needed.
By the end, a neat line of disciples stood beneath the pavilion, each with a token tied in red thread.
The elder rolled up the scroll.
"You will report to the Verdant Sky Sect's southern gates at sunrise," he announced. "There, your names will be confirmed, and you will begin formal registration. You are to wear plain robes and bring no weapons. Attendants will guide you to your new lodgings."
Then he bowed slightly.
"Welcome, future cultivators. May your path be upright, and your hearts unshaken."
Applause rose gently across the pavilion—restrained, but sincere.
A few disciples wept softly. Others clutched their tokens like they were priceless treasure.
Qin Lian simply held hers in one hand, thumb brushing the carved cloud symbol.
Her path had opened.
Her new life had begun.
And as she stood there, surrounded by other chosen disciples, a soft voice beside her said, "Four Heaven-grades… this generation may shake the world."
She didn't know if that would be true.
But she did know one thing.
She would walk this path, not as the tired nurse from Beijing—
But as Qin Lian.
The girl who touched still water and woke the sky.