"Five elements," he announced. "Complete five-element spirit roots. Mortal grade."
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
"All five… together?"
"That's impossible—no, it's always rare."
"Five-element roots have appeared in history, but each one is recorded."
An older child swallowed. "But… mortal grade?"
Murmurs erupted instantly.
"Five elements are always rare, regardless of grade."
"But mortal roots can barely support one element, let alone five."
"The internal conflict alone will cripple cultivation."
One of the elders shook his head slowly. "Rarity does not equal advantage."
Another added, "A single-element mortal root is already difficult. Five means five-fold rejection."
"So every breakthrough—"
"—will demand balance he will find hard to maintain," an elder finished.
Lu Zhen exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders. Then he smiled slightly.
Lu Chenfeng's eyes narrowed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Five colors… and still mortal."
Yet doubt lingered.
An elder stepped forward, silencing the courtyard.
The crystal dimmed at last. Lu Haotian stared at the three columns of the spirit crystal, the five colors—red, green, blue, yellow, white—shimmering weakly in the Mortal column. His stomach dropped. Mortal grade… all five elements…? He blinked, then blinked again, as if looking harder would change it. The words from the elders and whispers of the crowd blurred around him. His hands trembled slightly, and he felt his throat tighten. "This… this can't be right…" he muttered under his breath. His heart raced, a mix of confusion and frustration. He had trained for so long, pushed himself every day, and yet… this
Lu Haotian stepped down from the platform, the verdict sealed.
Yan Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Record it," he said calmly.
Lu Haotian stepped back.
He did not look excited.
Behind him, the patriarchs resumed their quiet exchanges.
Zhao Yong's lips curled into a mocking grin as he leaned forward, eyes glinting with amusement. "Mortal-grade, you say? Hah… I had expected at least one of your children to shine. Seems even the Lu Clan cannot produce anything extraordinary these days."
Huo Lie smirked, leaning back comfortably. "Indeed. Mortal-grade roots… rare, yes, but not in the way you'd hope.
"The test has just begun," Zhao Yong said lightly.
"Indeed," Lu Tianhao replied.
Huo Lie laughed. "Let's see who has the final laugh."
As the testing continued, Lu Haotian stood silently.
The crystal's faint glow lingered in his thoughts.
And for the first time, the future did not feel quite so far away.
One by one, children stepped forward.
Most of them produced faint glows. Weak whites. Dull browns. Some barely made the crystal react at all.
"Mortal-grade earth root."
"Mortal-grade fire root."
"Mortal-grade water root."
Disappointment showed on many faces. Parents sighed quietly. Some children cried.
That was normal. This was a backward city. Talent was rare.
Then the City Lord's daughter stepped forward.
She placed her palm on the crystal.
The crystal flared bright blue—clear and cold—layered with a solid, heavy glow beneath it.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
"Water attribute," one elder said softly.
"Earth grade," another added, unable to hide his shock.
City Lord Yan Qingshan's expression didn't change, but pride flashed briefly in his eyes.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Earth grade…"
"A water root…"
"She'll definitely enter a major sect…"
Next came the clan children.
The Zhao Family stepped forward first.
Zhao Kai placed his hand on the crystal. It glowed a deep, flowing blue. Strong. Steady.
"Water attribute. Earth grade," the examiner announced.
Zhao Kai smiled politely and stepped back, eyes calm.
Zhao Yu followed. His glow was weaker, but still steady.
"Mortal-grade water root."
The Bai Family's turn came next.
Bai Xue'er stepped forward.
The crystal responded with a sharp, clean glow, pale white with a hint of wind-like movement.
"Wind attribute," the examiner said after a pause. " Earth grade." She stepped back quietly, eyes already scanning the crowd.
Then the Huo Family.
Huo Zhan laughed loudly before placing his hand down.
The crystal flared red, hot and fierce.
"Fire attribute," the examiner announced. "Earth grade."
Huo Zhan grinned openly, clearly pleased.
"Of course," he muttered.
The Shen Family followed.
Shen Wuyou placed his palm carefully against the crystal.
A thin, sharp glow appeared. Metallic, cold.
"Metal attribute. Earth grade."
Some elders nodded. Practical. Reliable.
Now it was the Lu Family's turn.
Lu Chenfeng stepped forward.
The moment his hand touched the crystal, it erupted.
Red and blue light burst forth, swirling together.
Gasps rang out.
"Dual attribute—fire and water!"
"Both earth grade!"
Lu Chenfeng lifted his chin, pride written all over his face.
Lu Yanran stepped up next.
The crystal glowed greenish-white, light and sharp.
"Wind attribute. Earth grade."
Applause broke out among the Lu Family elders.
Whispers followed.
"The Lu Family really is strong…"
"Their direct line is impressive…"
The spirit root test ended quietly after the final children were recorded. For Hei Yan City, it was an ordinary year: a few Earth-grade roots among the clans, one rare Earth-grade among ordinary families, and one five-element mortal-grade root that left people whispering.