Chu Ning heard the voice and looked over, only to see a middle-aged man in a Cyan Creek Sect robe standing calmly at the front of the line.
His eyes were deep and ancient, as if they could see through people's hearts. Even though he maintained a gentle smile on his face, it was impossible to meet his gaze directly.
This man held a testing Jade Pillar in his hand and spoke to the person at the very front of the line:
"Put your hand here."
The person placed their hand on it, and the Jade Pillar showed no reaction at all.
"No Spirit Root."
After the middle-aged man spoke, that person left looking utterly disappointed.
"No Spirit Root."
"No Spirit Root."
...
Nearly ten people were tested in a row, all without Spirit Roots.
"It seems that people with the qualification for cultivation roots are quite rare," Chu Ning couldn't help but murmur inwardly.
Today's test in Cyan Creek City, compared to the entire number of people of the same age in the nearby area, accounted for less than one in a thousand, and among the ten people tested, less than one had the qualification.
This also meant that those who could cultivate with Spirit Roots were truly one in ten thousand.
At this time, it was the eleventh person's turn, who placed their hand, and the Jade Pillar instantly showed five colors.
"Five Elements Pseudo Spirit Root, it's barely capable of cultivation."
The middle-aged man spoke with an unchanged expression, but the person being tested was overjoyed.
Among those participating in the test, apart from a few, the rest cast envious glances.
During this time, Chu Ning had learned that in the Cultivation Realm of this world, a single-attribute Spirit Root was called a Celestial Spirit Root, a dual-attribute Spirit Root was called an Earth Spirit Root, and a three-attribute Spirit Root was called a True Spirit Root.
The cultivation speed of these three types of Spirit Roots was fast, with the Celestial Spirit Root being the fastest.
Whereas Four-Attribute Spirit Roots and Five-Attribute Spirit Roots were called Pseudo Spirit Roots, with slow cultivation speeds.
Therefore, sects usually selected disciples with three Spirit Roots or more for intensive training, while those with Pseudo Spirit Roots were generally recruited as servant disciples of the sect, tasked with chores such as planting, breeding, and mining while cultivating.
Of course, some Major Sects had even higher requirements.
But even being a sect's servant disciple completely separated one from ordinary mortals, especially since servant disciples also had the opportunity to enter the Outer Sect through cultivation.
Some servant disciples occasionally found fortunes, progressing into the Inner Sect and even further.
This is why, even when hearing about the Five Elements Pseudo Spirit Root, many still expressed envy.
The tests for the Ding line continued, and the following seven people were all found to have no Spirit Roots and were immediately eliminated.
Finally, it was Chu Ning's turn. He stood before the testing pillar, curiously examining the Jade Pillar before him.
"Place your hand here."
The middle-aged man's voice came through, and Chu Ning, slightly expectant, placed his hand into a groove.
The Jade Pillar quickly flashed, revealing blue, white, red, and yellow lights.
The middle-aged man continued in his flat tone:
"Wood, Water, Fire, Earth Four-Attribute Pseudo Spirit Root."
As the middle-aged man finished speaking, those around them all looked over, especially the young ones who had been eliminated, looking at Chu Ning with an indescribable mix of envy and jealousy.
Although Chu Ning also had a Pseudo Spirit Root, it was somewhat better than the previous person's.
Among the nineteen people in the Ding line, Chu Ning clearly had the best talent.
At this moment, Chu Ning's heart was not calm at all.
"The four colors should represent four Spirit Roots, and the blue probably represents the Wood Attribute. I'm not sure if it's an illusion, but it feels like the blue is brighter, perhaps related to my Yin Wood Spirit Body."
Despite having this notion, Chu Ning had no intention of stating it openly. After thanking the middle-aged man, he left the line and, following the guidance, moved towards the group of those who passed the test.
During these days, he had heard a lot of information about Spirit Roots, but never had anyone mentioned Spirit Bodies.
"A Spirit Body must be a very special existence. Even if it's not a special attribute given by my golden finger, it must be extremely rare.
Before understanding the specific situation, I must not casually reveal my secret."
Chu Ning made up his mind.
The human mind is unpredictable; being low-key, cautious, and discreet is the way to survive.
The test continued, taking quite some time due to the large number of people.
By the time the entire test concluded, it was already noon.
The most sensational moment during the test was when someone was found to have a dual-attribute Earth Spirit Root.
But this was undoubtedly extremely rare. Not to mention the Earth Spirit Root, even the True Spirit Root with three attributes was only found in a dozen individuals.
The other dozens of people had Pseudo Spirit Roots like Chu Ning.
"The Cyan Creek Sect's selection has concluded this time, the next selection will be in three years."
The voice echoed across the sky, and in the next moment,
in the envious gazes of the crowd, Chu Ning and the others who passed the test boarded a few Spiritual Boats in groups, soaring into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Those standing on the ground gazed at the sky, unwilling to disperse for a long time, as everyone realized that from now on, they were on separate paths from the mortals.
...
"This must be a Magical Artifact; cultivation is truly wondrous!"
Chu Ning felt the experience completely different from flying on an airplane in his previous life, looking at the figure of the middle-aged man in a cyan robe standing on the Spiritual Boat with inexplicable excitement and anticipation in his heart.
Other youths at this moment were even more excited and enthusiastic.
A hundred miles of journey, reached in an instant.
The middle-aged man who tested Chu Ning steered the Spiritual Boat, arriving in front of a house at the foot of a mountain range.
Quickly, another middle-aged man with a beard, not tall, looking in his forties, emerged from the house, stepping quickly before the middle-aged man, and respectfully said:
"Elder Chen!"
The middle-aged man nodded slightly, then said to the person:
"Steward He, these are the disciples with Four or Five-Attribute Pseudo Spirit Roots, first train them at your Hundred Arts Hall. Cultivate the promising ones further."
After speaking, without waiting for a response, he turned to Chu Ning and the others:
"This is He Changyou, Steward He of the Hundred Arts Hall. He will take you to the Hundred Arts Hall to serve as servant disciples. The sect will also arrange for someone to teach you some basic Cultivation Methods.
Do not underestimate yourselves or slack off, cultivate well, and one day you will formally enter the sect and walk the grand path."
"Yes!!"
Chu Ning and the others responded in unison.
Elder Chen nodded slightly, then suddenly produced a Jade Scroll in his hand, handed it to He Changyou, and without further words, turned and rode the wind away, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Once he left, He Changyou, previously respectful, straightened his back, and looking at the newcomers, he said with considerable authority:
"Now I will assign you rooms, there's the Kitchen, Spirit Beast Room, Spirit Plant Room, etc. Those going to different rooms will handle different tasks and cultivate different Cultivation Techniques."
Hearing this, Chu Ning immediately became serious, as for him, it was undoubtedly best to go to a room where he could cultivate Wood Element Techniques and Spells.
But he didn't know on what basis the assignments were made.