The shop assistant leaned close to Qian Sihai's arm and whispered in a low voice, “Uncle Qian, what exactly is her background?”
“Didn't you say earlier that Starry Abyss was the pavilion's grand treasure and not for sale, refusing to budge no matter who came?”
Qian Sihai stroked his short beard, his gaze deep as he stared in the direction where they had disappeared around the street corner. “Sigh, I can't pin down her origin. But there aren't even three families in the entire Southern Region who can casually throw out nearly twenty thousand mid-grade spirit stones without batting an eye.”
“Furthermore, that guard's cultivation is unfathomable. When I swept my early-stage Golden Core divine sense over, it was like a clay ox entering the sea!”
He paused, then added, “She is undoubtedly a Nascent Soul powerhouse.”
“When such a figure comes to our door, let alone a non-sale item, even if we had to pack up all the treasures at the bottom of our chest and gift them over, we would still have to present them with both hands.”
The assistant gasped and patted his chest. “My goodness, thank goodness you came out in time, Uncle Qian. I was just about to lead her to the ready-to-wear section on the first floor. I almost caused a massive disaster.”
Qian Sihai glanced at him sideways and scolded him half-jokingly, “How long have you been here, kid? What kind of world have you seen?”
“Learn more in the future. The cultivation world is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Some people are not to be offended.”
The assistant quickly bowed and scraped. “Yes, yes, yes. It's all thanks to Uncle Qian's care. Otherwise, my uncle wouldn't have specifically sent me to apprentice under you.”
“Cut the chatter,” Qian Sihai gave him a light kick and ordered, “Go, do as I said.”
“Understood, I'll go right away!”
Shen Qingci browsed three more shops along the way, fully equipping herself with a storage ring and several common medicinal pills, before slowly walking back toward the inn. As they passed the main entrance of the inn, she tilted her head and gave Shen Hanzhou a look.
Shen Hanzhou understood tacitly and turned to step into the inn's lobby. The waiter was dozing off on the counter. Shen Hanzhou lightly swept her fingertip across his forehead, and a wisp of pale gold spiritual energy silently seeped inside.
The waiter suddenly shuddered, his eyes blank for a moment. Then, his eyelids drooped again as he continued to yawn sleepily. The impression in his mind of the poor rogue cultivator who had stayed in the third-class single room last night had been completely wiped clean.
From this day on, no one in the world would remember that struggling little rogue cultivator. Instead, the cultivation world gained an Eldest Miss Shen with an unfathomable background.
Shen Qingci stared at the inn for a good while. “System, after her reincarnation, is the original host doing well?”
“A life free of worries, with endless joy.”
She smiled and said sincerely, “That's good then!”
...
As the sun rose higher, the crowd in Dengxian Market all converged in the same direction.
Outside the mountain gate of the Azure Cloud Sect lay the Dengxian Square.
The square was extremely vast, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of cultivators. It was paved entirely with azure black stone, with dozens of zhang tall white jade spiritual pillars standing at its four corners.
Spirit-testing stones as large as millstones floated at the tops of the pillars, rippling with gentle spiritual light in the morning glow. At the end of the square, the majestic mountain gate of the Azure Cloud Sect stood tall. Amidst the churning clouds and mist, one could faintly see the mountain path winding straight into the clouds.
By the time Shen Qingci arrived with Shen Hanzhou, the square was already packed to the brim. Royal descendants of the appropriate age from the three major dynasties and more than ten vassal states of the Southern Region had all arrived. There were also countless descendants of noble families from various provinces and counties, as well as young rogue cultivators, occupying more than half of the area in a dense crowd.
The outer perimeter was crowded with rogue cultivators and attendants watching the spectacle, making the place noisy and bustling.
“Have you heard? For this disciple recruitment ceremony, Sword Venerable Jinglian will also select a personal disciple!”
“Really? The Sword Venerable hasn't taken a disciple in a hundred years. Is he willing to take one this time?”
“Who knows? Either way, we won't get a chance to catch a glimpse of the Sword Venerable's true face anyway.”
The surrounding discussions were endless, but Shen Qingci acted as if she hadn't heard a thing.
At the third quarter of the Hour of the Snake, a long chime of a bell rippled out from the depths of the mountain gate, suppressing the noise of the entire square.
More than ten outer sect deacons of the Azure Cloud Sect, dressed in blue-and-white robes, arrived on flying swords and lined up in front of the square.
Leading them was an outer sect elder with white hair and beard, possessing a peak Golden Core cultivation. He stood before the platform with his hands behind his back, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the crowding heads below.
“The Azure Cloud Sect's disciple recruitment ceremony shall proceed according to custom. The rules are as follows.”
“Those with a bone age of sixteen and below may participate in the testing, regardless of their cultivation.”
“Those with a bone age exceeding sixteen must reach the sixth level of Qi Refining to participate in the testing.”
“Those with a bone age exceeding twenty will not be admitted in this ceremony.”
“Those with four spiritual roots shall enter the Miscellaneous Chores Yard. Those with three spiritual roots, or dual spiritual roots with a purity of less than seventy percent, shall enter the outer sect. Those with dual spiritual roots and a purity of seventy percent or higher shall enter the inner sect. Those with a single spiritual root shall enter the ranks of core disciples, to be personally selected by the various peak masters.”
As his voice fell, a loud buzz arose across the square.
Although most people had already figured out the rules beforehand, when they actually heard the words “single spiritual root enters the core,” many youths still clenched their fists, their eyes filled with yearning.
“Core disciples... If I can become a core disciple, smoke would rise from my ancestral graves.”
“Stop dreaming. A three-spiritual-root is already rare. It's lucky enough just to squeeze into the Miscellaneous Chores Yard.”
Two young rogue cultivators in the queue conversed in low voices, their words filled with envy.
Twelve long tables were set up below the high platform, with long queues forming in front of each. Deacons verified bone ages and registered names and origins in turn, then guided everyone to wait at the spirit-testing platform in the center of the square.
“Wang You, bone age fifteen, metal-wood-fire-earth four spiritual roots, enters the Miscellaneous Chores Yard.”
“Li Xiulan, bone age fourteen, water-wood-earth three spiritual roots, enters the outer sect.”
“Zhao Yunshan, bone age sixteen, fire-wood dual spiritual roots, purity sixty percent, enters the outer sect.”
“Chen Mo, bone age sixteen, water-wood-earth three spiritual roots, enters the outer sect.”
“Zhang Yao, bone age fourteen, metal-fire-earth three spiritual roots, enters the outer sect.”
“Zhou Hu, bone age fifteen, metal-wood-water-fire four spiritual roots, enters the Miscellaneous Chores Yard.”
The announcements rose and fell. Some people beamed with joy, while others looked dejected.
“Why! I've cultivated for ten years to only reach the fifth level of Qi Refining. I was just a tiny bit away!”
“What are you crying for? The path of four spiritual roots is difficult to walk in the first place. Entering the Miscellaneous Chores Yard at least allows you to absorb the spiritual energy of the Azure Cloud Sect. It's much better than being a rogue cultivator outside.”
Standing at the side of the square, several grey-clothed disciples of the Miscellaneous Chores Yard expressionlessly handed out number tokens to the new recruits. The outer sect enjoyed slightly better treatment, with blue-clothed deacons leading them to register and record their details.
Shen Qingci stood at the outer edge of the crowd, looking at the field with an indifferent expression. Her gaze swept over the area a few times, quickly landing on a group of young men and women directly in front of the spirit-testing platform.
That was the candidate area for core disciples.
Those who could stand there were all excellent seedlings who had tested to have a single spiritual root, quietly waiting to be personally chosen by the peak masters of each peak.
Currently, there were only four or five people in that area. Every single one of them was dressed in splendid clothing and bore arrogant expressions, clearly indicating they were descendants of wealthy families.
Shen Qingci did not linger on these geniuses. She shifted her gaze toward the eastern side of the square.
A youth dressed in a grey cloth robe stood alone at the edge of the crowd, his head slightly lowered, completely unremarkable. The passersby walked in a hurry, and no one was willing to spare him even a half-glance.
Shen Qingci recognized this person.
The destined male lead of 《Nine Heavens Palace》, the chosen one whose current Luck Value was as high as nine hundred and ninety-nine.
At the moment, he had not yet gone up to be tested. He was mixed in the queue of rogue cultivators, waiting quietly just like all the other nameless youths. However, Shen Qingci knew very well that the moment he stepped onto the spirit-testing platform, it would be the start of his overpowered protagonist storyline.
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