Chương 31: The Spirit Root Testing Assembly

Today, Green Bamboo Town was unusually lively. All the children between the ages of six and ten, accompanied by their parents, had gathered in the town's central square. The town's clan elders had organized everything in an orderly fashion. They were waiting for the arrival of the clan's cultivators. In the world of cultivation, there was no such thing as family planning. Nor were there many forms of entertainment. After people finished their day's labor, they continued their "evening work" well into the night.

So every family had many children. This year alone, there were over three hundred children of the right age in Green Bamboo Town. And as time went on, the number of young children in the clan would only grow. Within Green Bamboo Town lay a tier 1, low grade Spirit Vein. Parents who gave birth to children with spirit roots could live in the houses built directly atop this Spirit Vein.

There, bathed in spiritual energy, they could maintain their health, reduce illness and the ravages of aging, and live out their natural lives in peace. For every ordinary person, the greatest dream in life was to bear a child with a spirit root. That alone would be enough for a lifetime. —— Before long, Zhang Huaijin and his two companions arrived at Green Bamboo Town. Looking at the eager eyes in the square, Zhang Huaijin sighed inwardly.

How many of these three hundred children will actually possess spirit roots? Every child's eyes were filled with hope. The path of cultivation was incredibly cruel. But it was a path that only those with spirit roots could walk. When Zhang Huaijin and the others arrived, the Zhang clan cultivator stationed in Green Bamboo Town also appeared. His name was Zhang Haimo. Among the third generation clan members, he was ranked eighth. He possessed a Four Spirit Root and was at the third level of the Qi Refining Realm.

The tier 1, low-grade Spirit Vein in Green Bamboo Town was more than sufficient for cultivators at the early stage of the Qi Refining Realm, their cultivation wouldn't be affected in the slightest. Many clan cultivators were happy to take up posts at various Spirit Veins. Besides not hindering their own cultivation, they also received an annual stipend from the clan. Ever since Zhang Lixian had become clan leader a few years ago, he had established clear rules and regulations.

The clan members' cohesion had grown stronger and stronger with each passing year.

"Second Brother, the clan actually sent you to this year's Spirit Root Testing Assembly?" Zhang Haimo, dressed in a gray robe, looked up with a hint of admiration in his eyes. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Among the third generation of the Zhang clan, Zhang Huaijin was now unquestionably the best. He also held great prestige among his kinsmen.

"I just came out of seclusion and had nothing to do, so I thought I'd help here." Zhang Huaijin replied with a warm smile. Although they were both members of the third generation, their blood ties had grown quite thin over the years. Zhang Lixian had seven or eight children. But only three of them had spirit roots. There was a full fifteen year age gap between Zhang Hanren and Zhang Huaijin. Zhang Huaijin actually had three older brothers, but none of them had spirit roots.

They had been forced to leave the Green Bamboo Mountain and move to the Green Bamboo Town. Around the age of fifteen, they started taking wives, having children, and building their own families, all to help the clan spread its branches. That was the sorrow of those without spirit roots. Zhang Yunli, Zhang Hunin, and Zhang Haimo greeted one another. Close in age, they had always gotten along well.

"Alright! There'll be plenty of time to catch up after the testing. Let's focus on the main task first!" Zhang Huaijin said firmly. As soon as Zhang Huaijin spoke, the other three fell silent. —— The Zhang clan's Spirit Root Testing Assembly had officially begun. In Zhang Huaijin's palm appeared a jade ruler, entirely emerald green, covered in intricate patterns and about three feet long. This object was called the Spirit Measurement Ruler. It could detect what type of spirit root a child possessed.

This item was quite rare. The entire Zhang clan had only one. But as the clan's foundation grew deeper over time, they could spend resources to have a proper testing platform built. Then things wouldn't be so troublesome anymore.

"Yunli, you go first." Zhang Huaijin handed the ruler to Zhang Yunli. The Spirit Measurement Ruler was a special type of spirit artifact. Activating it required consuming spiritual energy. That was precisely why the clan had sent multiple cultivators. That way, even if one cultivator's energy ran dry, the testing wouldn't have to stop.

"Alright!" Zhang Yunli wasn't nervous at all. She stepped up to the front of the line. The first child, around six years old, was taking the test for the first time. His eyes were full of excitement. He had grown up listening to tales of cultivators. Every child hoped they would have a spirit root and become a revered immortal cultivator! Even having just a Qi Refining Realm cultivation base would still earn them the title of cultivator, they would have set foot on the immortal path.

Zhang Yunli channeled her spiritual energy, and the Spirit Measurement Ruler touched the child's forehead. A brilliant green light blazed forth. But in the next moment, the green light dimmed and died.

"No spirit root. Next!" Zhang Yunli's voice rang out. She could see the hope in the child's eyes rapidly collapse. His gaze became gray and vacant, filled with bitterness and confusion. Ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh. Among ordinary people, it was considered good if even one child in a hundred had a spirit root. And most of those were Five Spirit or Four Spirit Roots.

If a child with a Three Spirit Root appeared, even in a Foundation Establishment clan, that child would be a guaranteed Foundation Establishment candidate. They would have the potential to reach Foundation Establishment. A ripple passed through Zhang Yunli's heart, then quickly calmed. The testing continued. Zhang Yunli's spiritual energy steadily drained. Gradually, a flicker of frustration arose in her heart. Fifty children had been tested, and not a single one had a spirit root.

More than half of her spiritual energy was already gone.

"Hunin, take over for Yunli!" Zhang Huaijin instructed. Zhang Hunin stepped forward and replaced Zhang Yunli. The testing resumed. —— This process was incredibly tedious. For these children, it was truly a matter of heaven or hell. Zhang Yunli sat down cross legged and silently began recovering her spiritual energy. Her heart was now filled with complicated emotions.

"There's one! There's one!" When they reached the 108th child, the Spirit Measurement Ruler erupted with four distinct, brilliantly colored lights, each a different hue.

"Zhang Rexu, Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire! A Four Spirit Root!" Zhang Hunin's voice carried a note of joy. After working hard for most of the day, they had finally discovered someone with a spirit root. This child was the offspring of a third generation clan member. In other words, this child was the firstborn of the fourth generation of the Zhang clan. While Zhang Hanren was already married, he had not yet had children. So Zhang Rexu, by clan rules, became the first child of the fourth generation.

Having discovered one child with a spirit root, Zhang Huaijin perked up. Zhang Hunin felt the same way. Time passed slowly. Zhang Hunin's spiritual energy ran dry, and Zhang Haimo took over. The scene became tedious again. But the… When testing the 189th child, the normally calm Spirit Measurement Ruler suddenly erupted with a dazzling green light! The green light blazed several meters high into the air.

"This is..." Zhang Huaijin's eyes widened.

"A Wind Spirit Root..." His eyes suddenly flashed with light.