The sun was almost touching the mountain peak in the west when Ye Lin finally arrived at the summit of White Stone Mountain. His breath was ragged, sweat drenched his body, and his hands trembled from exhaustion. But the stone given to him by Wu Ming was still clutched tightly in his hand.
At the top of the mountain, he saw a sight that surprised him slightly. Of the twelve participants who took the test, only seven had managed to reach the summit on time. The plump Li Wei was nowhere to be seen, nor were Chen Ping and several other participants.
Zhang Mei Hua stood in the center with a calm but firm expression. Wu Ming was at her side, whispering something in a voice that the participants couldn't hear.
"Good," Zhang Mei Hua said, looking at the remaining participants. "Those of you who have made it here have passed the first physical test."
Zhang Mei Hua's eyes then fell on Ye Lin, who was standing slightly apart from the other participants. "And you..."
Ye Lin tensed up. His heart pounded, waiting for a punishment or perhaps an expulsion.
"Wu Ming has told me about you," Zhang Mei Hua continued in a tone that was hard to decipher. "Ye Lin, isn't it?"
"That's right, Elder Zhang," Ye Lin replied, bowing deeply.
"You were not officially registered as a participant, yet you managed to complete the physical test with an extra burden and even helped another participant who was in trouble," Zhang Mei Hua said, walking closer. "That shows an interesting character."
Ye Lin didn't dare to lift his head. He was still confused whether this was a good sign or a bad one.
"However," Zhang Mei Hua's tone became colder, "rules are rules. You cannot take the next test without paying the administration fee."
Ye Lin's heart immediately sank. He had expected this, but it still felt very painful.
"But," Zhang Mei Hua continued in a slightly softer tone, "I will give you a chance to prove yourself. If you can show something extraordinary in the spiritual test, I will consider making an exception."
Ye Lin's eyes lit up with hope. "Spiritual test, Elder?"
"Yes. A test to measure a person's spiritual root and cultivation potential," Zhang Mei Hua explained. "This is the most important of all the tests."
Zhang Mei Hua asked all the participants to sit cross-legged in a circle formation. In the middle of the circle, she placed a fist-sized crystal ball that emitted a soft bluish light.
"This is the Spiritual Test Stone," Zhang Mei Hua said, pointing to the crystal. "This stone will measure the quality and type of spiritual root you possess."
She then explained in more detail. "There are five basic elements in cultivation: Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, and Wood. Most cultivators have an affinity for one or two elements. Those with an affinity for three elements are very rare. Those with four or five elements... are almost non-existent."
The participants listened attentively. Ye Lin, although not sitting in the official circle, listened from his slightly separated position.
"Besides the type of element, this stone will also measure the quality of your spiritual root. There are five levels: Low, Medium, High, Very High, and Legendary," Zhang Mei Hua continued. "To become a disciple of the Spring Blossom Sect, you must have at least a Medium-level spiritual root."
Wu Ming added, "The most important thing is not how many elements you have, but how pure and strong your connection is to those elements."
The test began with the first participant, Zhao Ling. The thirteen-year-old girl walked toward the crystal stone nervously.
"Place both of your hands on the crystal and close your eyes," Zhang Mei Hua instructed. "Empty your mind and feel the energy flowing."
Zhao Ling followed the instructions. After a few seconds, the crystal began to glow with a soft green light that grew brighter.
"Wood Element, Medium quality," Zhang Mei Hua announced. "Good. You have passed."
Zhao Ling smiled with relief and returned to her position.
The next participant was Lin Xia, the girl Ye Lin had helped earlier. When she touched the crystal, a light blue light appeared with a fairly bright intensity.
"Water Element, Medium to High quality," Zhang Mei Hua said with a slightly impressed tone. "Very good."
One by one, the participants took the test. Some showed a red light (Fire), gray (Metal), and brown (Earth). Most had Medium quality, with a few reaching High.
But there were also some disappointments. A participant named Liu Gang only produced a very dim light, indicating a Low-level spiritual root.
"I'm sorry, Liu Gang," Zhang Mei Hua said with a tone of regret. "Your spiritual root is not enough for cultivation. Perhaps it will develop in the future."
Liu Gang lowered his head in disappointment and walked away from the circle.
After all the official participants had completed the test, there were six who passed: Zhao Ling (Wood-Medium), Lin Xia (Water-Medium to High), Wang Hao (Fire-Medium), Chen Li (Metal-High), Sun Yu (Earth-Medium), and Ming Xin (Water-Medium).
Zhang Mei Hua then looked at Ye Lin, who was still sitting separately. "Now it's your turn, Ye Lin."
Ye Lin felt all eyes on him. The other participants looked at him with a mix of curiosity and cynicism. After all, he was an orphan who had snuck in without permission.
"Remember," Zhang Mei Hua said as Ye Lin walked closer, "you must show something extraordinary if you want to get an exception."
Ye Lin nodded and crouched down in front of the crystal. His hands trembled as he was about to touch the smooth and cold surface of the crystal.
"Calm yourself," Wu Ming whispered from the side. "Don't force it. Let the energy flow naturally."
Ye Lin took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He placed both of his hands on the crystal and tried to empty his mind as instructed.
A few seconds passed without any change. The crystal remained dark.
"Maybe he really has no talent," one of the participants whispered mockingly.
"I knew it. How could an orphan have a good spiritual root," another added.
Ye Lin heard the whispers, but he tried to stay focused. He remembered his encounter with the gray-eyed old man in the forest. He remembered the system in his mind. He remembered all the struggles he had gone through.
Slowly, something began to feel different. A warmth emerged from within his chest, flowing through his arms to the crystal.
Suddenly, the crystal began to glow. But its light was not like what the other participants had shown. Instead of a single solid color, the crystal displayed a constantly changing light.
First appeared a red light (Fire), then blue (Water), then green (Wood), gray (Metal), and brown (Earth). The five colors appeared alternately with increasing intensity.
"What is this?" Wu Ming whispered with wide eyes.
Zhang Mei Hua, who was usually calm, now showed a very clear expression of shock. "All five elements...?"
But what surprised everyone was not just the presence of all five elements, but the intensity of the light. Each element shone with a brightness that indicated a High quality, with some even reaching Very High.
"This is impossible," one of the participants muttered in a hoarse voice.
"I have never seen anything like this before," Zhang Mei Hua said, walking closer. "Five elements with all of them being of high quality..."
The crystal's light continued to shine for several minutes, as if it didn't want to stop. Ye Lin himself felt a strange sensation throughout his body. It was as if a strong, yet controlled, energy was flowing.
When the crystal finally dimmed and returned to normal, the atmosphere became completely silent. Everyone stared at Ye Lin with looks of disbelief.
"Ye Lin," Zhang Mei Hua said with a slightly trembling voice, "sit down and don't move."
Ye Lin followed the command even though he didn't understand what was happening. He felt fine, with no pain or discomfort.
Zhang Mei Hua then did something she had not done for the other participants. She took out a smaller, clearer crystal stone from her pouch.
"This is an Advanced Examination Stone," she said, sitting in front of Ye Lin. "It is usually only used for very special cases."
She placed the small crystal on Ye Lin's forehead. The crystal immediately shone with a soft but stable white light.
"Wu Ming, record this," Zhang Mei Hua said in a serious tone. "Five-element spiritual root. Fire and Water at a Very High level. Wood, Metal, and Earth at a High level. Purity of energy... extraordinary."
Wu Ming wrote with a trembling hand. "Elder, this means..."
"Yes," Zhang Mei Hua interrupted, looking at Ye Lin with a different gaze. "This is a legendary spiritual root. Something that might appear once in a thousand years."
The participants who heard that were stunned. Those who had mocked Ye Lin were now looking at him with a mix of admiration and envy.
"But how is that possible?" Lin Xia asked in a quiet voice. "He's just an ordinary orphan..."
Zhang Mei Hua heard the question and replied, "A spiritual root has nothing to do with social status or wealth. It is a gift bestowed by heaven. And Ye Lin... seems to have been chosen by heaven itself."
After the examination was finished, Zhang Mei Hua asked all the participants to gather again.
"The spiritual test is complete," she said in an official tone. "Six official participants passed with satisfactory results. And one unofficial participant..." she looked at Ye Lin, "showed extraordinary results."
"Ye Lin," she continued, walking closer, "even though you do not have the money to pay the administration fee, your spiritual test results have proven that you are worthy of becoming our disciple. Even more than worthy."
Ye Lin's heart blossomed. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.
"However," Zhang Mei Hua's tone became more serious, "there is still one more test. The character test. And this test might be the most difficult of all."
Wu Ming added, "Having a strong spiritual root does not guarantee that a person will become a good cultivator. Character and mentality are the most important foundations."
Zhang Mei Hua nodded. "The character test will be held three days from now. We need time to prepare the right scenario."
She then looked at all the participants. "Those of you who passed the spiritual test, return to your homes. Prepare your minds and bodies well. This final test will determine who is truly worthy of becoming a disciple of the Spring Blossom Sect."
As all the participants began to prepare to descend the mountain, Zhang Mei Hua held Ye Lin back.
"Ye Lin, stay for a moment," she said. "There is something I want to ask you."
After the other participants had moved away, Zhang Mei Hua sat on a large rock and asked Ye Lin to sit opposite her.
"Tell me about your life," Zhang Mei Hua said in a softer tone. "I want to know how an orphan could have such a legendary spiritual root."
Ye Lin then told her about his life. About the death of his parents, his struggle to survive by working hard, and his encounter with the mysterious old man in the forest.
"A gray-eyed old man?" Zhang Mei Hua asked with interest when she heard that part. "Tell me more details about that meeting."
Ye Lin recounted the entire conversation with the old man, including the question about immortality and his innocent answer.
Zhang Mei Hua listened carefully. When Ye Lin finished his story, she was silent for a long time, thinking.
"Ye Lin," she finally said, "what you experienced might be something very rare. Something that even we don't fully understand."
"Is it dangerous, Elder?" Ye Lin asked with concern.
"I don't know for sure," Zhang Mei Hua replied honestly. "But what is clear is that you are someone special. And special people always attract attention, both from those with good intentions and those without."
She stood up and looked at Ye Lin with a protective gaze. "Because of that, don't tell anyone about your spiritual root abilities except for us. And about that 'voice' in your mind... keep it to yourself for now."
Ye Lin nodded seriously. "I understand, Elder."
"Good," Zhang Mei Hua said with a smile. "Now go down the mountain and get some rest. In three days, the final test will determine your future."
On his way down the mountain, Ye Lin's mind was filled with a mix of feelings. Happiness for successfully passing the spiritual test with extraordinary results. Worry about the upcoming character test. And confusion about what was really happening to him.
He closed his eyes for a moment while walking slowly.
[Status]
Name: Ye Lin
Age: 9 Years
Cultivation Level: Mortal Realm
Techniques: None
"Still the same," he thought. "Even though I felt something different when I touched that crystal."
But then he remembered Zhang Mei Hua's words. Perhaps it was still too early to hope for a change. After all, he wasn't even officially a sect disciple yet.
"The final test," he muttered, looking at the village that was now visible from a distance. "The character test..."
He didn't know what the test would be, but one thing he was sure of: whatever happened, he would face it with all the ability he had.
The sun had completely set when Ye Lin arrived at his hut. For the first time in his life, he felt a truly real sense of hope. Hope that his life would change, that he would get the chance to become something more than just an orphan struggling to survive.
But he also knew that the biggest test was still waiting. And in three days, everything would be decided.
In his mind, the system remained silent as usual. But for some reason, Ye Lin felt that something had changed there. Something subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there.
"Thank you," he whispered to the system, even though he didn't know exactly what he was thanking it for.
That night, Ye Lin slept with a more peaceful feeling than usual. In his dream, he saw himself wearing a cultivator's robe, standing on a high mountain peak, looking at the vast world stretching out before him.
The dream felt so real, as if it were showing a future that was right around the corner.