The moment the words began to manifest on the stone tablet, a golden radiance emanated, gradually casting a luminous glow across its surface as if the very essence of the inscriptions awakened with a celestial brilliance.
Lin Yan looked at this scene and smiled inwardly because the moment to shine had finally arrived.
Here it comes...
The two elders when saw that golden lustre had come to radiate from the stone tablet, they almost choked on their drink.
'Heavenly Spiritual Root' almost everyone who knew what it was, thought at the same time.
Mo Daozi looked shocked but then showed a kind-hearted smile. He was very well aware of what it means to be a Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator. The entire sect would try to woo him just like they did when he awakened his Fire Spiritual Root.
Every Elder would make sure to take him as their personal disciple. It clearly implies that your difficulties would be halved in the path of cultivation journey if only you had a Heavenly Spiritual Root.
Feng Xiang and Cheng Rui observed the content on the stone tablet in anticipation.
Unlike the previous times, this time they had already decided who would take the Heavenly Spiritual Roots individual according to their affinity.
If the affinity leans toward Fire, Alchemist Cheng will mentor him. In the case of Metal, the disciple would be entrusted to Great Elder Feng Xiang. Should it reveal an inclination towards Water, the guidance would fall under the care of Junior Sister Xia. As for Air and Wood, Elder Sun and Sect Master Wang would willingly assume the role of mentors.
Finally, the words began to materialize on the surface of the stone tablet.
Root - Wood
Talent - Average
'It's wood'
Both of the Elders thought at the same moment. They didn't feel sad as it only meant that their sect now had one more Heavenly Spiritual Root user, although they did feel a little unfortunate.
Suuu...
Lin Yan sensed a gentle breeze caress his face, and in the blink of an eye, his surroundings transformed. He now stood atop a colossal mountain peak.
Hmm. Where did the hall go?
...
At the Exam Hall.
When Lin Yan suddenly disappeared from the hall, two elders had an obvious look on their faces.
Mo Daozi didn't know what had happened so he quickly arrived near them and asked in a worried tone, "Great Elder. Master. That kid disappeared! What should we do?"
Feng Xiang and Cheng Rui heard him say that and sighed to relax their mind.
Feng Xiang didn't want to stay so he left the master and disciple duo to themselves.
Cheng Rui looked at Mo Daozi and smiled inwardly before he took out some Spiritual plants from his storage ring and threw them toward Mo Daozi, "No need to worry yourself. Sect Master took him. Sigh... Sect Master is always like this," as he said that, he thought something and continued, "Take those Spiritual plants and concoct as many pills as you can."
Mo Daozi heard his Master say with a serious look so he could only nod earnestly while thinking, 'Again? Do you want me to die that badly old man?'
Cheng Rui cast his gaze upon his disciple, witnessing the embodiment of his imparted teachings, and couldn't suppress a burst of hearty laughter that echoed through the air.
He was delighted to know that his disciple could concoct average-level grade-nine pills now. Due to this reason, he didn't have to work his ass off all day long anymore.
Mo Daozi took his leave as he didn't want to stay with his Master any longer and began to arrange new disciples to the Outer Sect and their respective cultivation abode.
He gave them one last look and had a single thought in his mind, 'Trashes.'
...
Lin Yan was about to freak out when he found himself in an unknown area, however, a voice soon sounded in his ears that caused him to turn his head sideways and look at the source of the sound.
"It's truly beautiful," remarked a man with jet-black hair, his voice resonating, as if it held a certain command over the surroundings. His gaze was fixed upon the forest, its verdant expanse captivating him. Despite the maturity in his voice, his appearance reflected that of a youthful man in his early thirties.
As he said that he turned to look at Lin Yan, who was also looking at him with his hazel eyes, and then said, "Isn't it?"
Lin Yan didn't want to anger him in any way so he could only say something that would impress the other person, "Yes. Nature is indeed beautiful."
The long black-haired man heard what Lin Yan said and smiled, then said, "Do you know who am I?"
Lin Yan shook his head calmly before he said, "But I can guess."
The white-robed man listened to him and said, "Go on."
Lin Yan was a geek in his previous life so he could somehow relate this scenario to the books he had read. He made a thoughtful expression before saying respectfully, "Sect Master?"
The man who was the Sect Master of the Mystic Wood Sect heard Lin Yan successfully recognize his identity and laughed in a joking manner, "Ha ha, Is that too obvious?"
Lin Yan nodded and didn't say anything else.
Wang Tian focused that Lin Yan was wearing a storage ring on his finger so he thought of something before asking out, "Hm. Have you already started cultivation?"
When Lin Yan listened to the Sect Master say that to him, he suddenly became nervous. Not wanting to lie to someone who had the strength and authority in his hand, he blurted out the truth, "Yes. Four weeks ago."
Wang Tian nodded and asked in a friendly tone, "Good. Then you must be at the early stages of the Mortal Body Realm already."
Lin Yan didn't know what to say to this question.
He could tell him he was already in the middle stages of the next realm but that would cause too much attention to him.
He didn't want that as he knew that too much attention would be always harmful to oneself.
He looked at the Sect Master and answered with a sincere tone, "No, Sect Master. I had a breakthrough last night and reached the next realm. Hm. Something called Qi Refining realm I guess."
Wang Tian heard him clearly and freaked out. He looked at him with an unbelievable face and inquired, "Q-Qi Refining?"
Why does he look so shocked? Isn't it easy to reach the next realm when you have a heavenly spiritual root?
Lin Yan didn't know what to say he could only nod at him and say, " Yes, Sect Master."
Wang Tian didn't believe him at first but now? Now, when he listened to him acknowledge again that he had reached Qi Refining in just four weeks, he was left dumbfounded.
"Prove it to me, " Wang Tian spread his hands and faced his palm against Lin Yan and then continued, "Use all your strength in your punch."
Lin Yan could only do as he was told. However, he deliberately used less than half-strength he could muster, not even trying to use enough force as he had two times the physical strength than usual.
With great velocity, the punch directly clashed against the Sect Master's palm.
When Wang Tian felt the force behind Lin Yan's punch he was shocked even more, 'Far greater than the initial stage. Heavens!'
As his gaze fell upon Lin Yan, his eyes ignited with an unmistakable passion, each flicker reflecting an intensity that seemed to set the very air ablaze.
Did I hurt him? He wouldn't kill me, right?
Lin Yan had an absurd thought in his mind but his worry was for nothing as he heard the Sect Master say, "Do you want to enter my Mystic Wood Sect?"
Isn't that the reason I came here in the first place?
Lin Yan looked seriously at Wang Tian and nodded, his nod sincere and respectful.
As Wang Tian saw him nodding he calmed his nerves down and relaxed, then said, "So? Do you want to be my disciple?"
Lin Yan showed a surprised look on his face as he too calmed his beating heart down.
So, that was the reason you brought me here for? Freaking me out for such a small matter...
Lin Yan didn't think of any reason to deny such a great proposal, so he quickly joined his palm and fist together as a greeting sign and said respectfully, "Lin Yan greets Master."
Wang Tian nodded again and again heartfully. He was happy that finally after so many years he could nurture an outstanding disciple under his care.
After a few moments of enjoying the inner satisfaction, he had a thoughtful expression on his face before he said, "There is no reason for you to be an outer sect disciple now... Hmm. Let's do it this way. From now on, you are allowed to cultivate here in one of my abode... The entire region you are seeing right now comes under the core region," Wang Tian said as he spread his arms in a dramatic tone, after observing that no reaction came from Lin Yan he coughed and then continued, "This region is the best for Wood Spiritual Qi cultivation. You have an average talent, so, there is no need to slack off, okay?"
Lin Yan didn't think that the Sect Master, who was his Master now would be so thoughtful, to give him one of the best places for cultivation this easily.
He looked at Wang Tian and said, "Thanks Master, I'll do my best."
Wang Tian happily nodded, took out two things from his storage ring and gave them to Lin Yan, "This is the Cultivation technique I'm cultivating right now. It's especially helpful for those who have Wood Spiritual Root. And this is my disciple token," Wang Tian stopped as he showed Lin Yan his personal disciple token which had Sect Master carved on it, then continued, "You can use it for obtaining your monthly basis Pills from the Treasure Pavilion."
Lin Yan nodded and took the worn-out technique and square-shaped wooden token.
He looked at his Master and asked, "Master, Where is the Treasure Pavilion?"
Wang Tian heard him and face-palmed himself, then said, "Ah, right. I picked you up directly so how can you know the directions? Sigh... Hm. How about this? You can use this day to familiarize yourself with the sect. When you are done, just come back here. This is the highest peak of the Luan mountain range so you can easily find it again. Now, go on."
"As you wish, Master," Lin Yan responded respectfully as he carefully placed the token and the cultivation technique book into his storage ring. With a swift motion, he started to descend to the foot of the mountain. However, he remembered that he hadn't used the inspect skill on his master yet. So, he employed the inspect skill, thoroughly examining his Master's status with a discerning gaze.
[ Name: Wang Tian ]
[ Age: 105 ]
[ Cultivation: 9th layer of Dantian Forging ]
[ Talent: High ]
[ Spiritual Root: Wood & Wind ]
Hmm. Not bad...
Hehe, time to spot new targets.
Let's go.
Slurp...