The testing began, and the first three VIP children stepped up to face the crystal ball.
The first child was a 12-year-old girl with short black hair. She wore a simple, light pink robe. She looked nervous as she approached the crystal ball and was directed to the female cultivator.
When she put her hand on the ball, it stayed dark. This meant she had no spiritual root and couldn't become a cultivator. Her face fell, and went back to her parents.
The second child was a 12-year-old boy with neatly styled dark hair. He wore a fancy green robe, showing his family's wealth.
He went to the male cultivator with the jade belt. When he touched the crystal ball, it glowed faintly, showing a level 2 spiritual root. This was a decent result but not the best.
The boy looked relieved but disappointed. He still had options to join other sects or become a casual cultivator; he was directed to move behind the cultivator as he was going to be taken away to cultivator's area.
The third child was a 13-year-old boy with dark hair. He wore a dark red robe that showed his family's high status.
He was directed to the younger male cultivator. When he touched the crystal ball, it glowed faintly, showing a level 1 spiritual root.
This was the lowest level. The boy looked disappointed, and his family seemed upset. He also was directed to stay behind the cultivator
The crowd watched closely. Some felt sympathy for those with no reaction and others were relieved or disappointed based on the results.
Wealthier families were worried, hoping for the best, while poorer families were the same, but still waiting for their turn, nervous and worried about their own childrens results.
After 18 children had taken the test, only 2 had been selected, leaving the crowd worried.
Three more children were called up, including Zhang Lian, who was 20 th on the list. Her face was covered by a veil, like many other women's.
Zhang Lian was directed to the male cultivator with a relaxed posture.
As she approached, she felt worried about her result . She could feel her palms sweating as she placed her hand on the crystal ball, hoping for a good result.
However, as she touched the ball, nothing happened. The crystal ball remained the same, and Zhang Lian felt a sad feeling in her heart.
At that moment, a light appeared in front of her, catching her attention. The cultivator, seeing no reaction from the ball, and seeing Zhang Lian not moving.
"Hey, girl, move along. Others are waiting," the cultivator said Coldheartly. He had little interest in the outcome for the mortals.
Shaken by the cultivator's tone, Zhang Lian snapped back to reality. As she turned to leave, she thought about the movement.
When she touched the crystal she heard a strange voice in her mind, saying, "System has absorbed your level 5 ice spiritual root talent and the system will be activated in 1 hour." She also saw a loading blue screen at that moment with 59;00 minutes waiting time.
Her initial reaction was "Fuck" what Just happened, but quickly come to her senses and went back to her parents.
Zhang Lian returned to her parents, her steps heavy with worry. Her parents, seeing her distressed state, rushed to comfort her.
Her mother gently placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, dear. It's rare to have spiritual roots.
Sometimes things don't go as planned, but it doesn't tell your future." Her father added, "You've done your best. We're proud of you no matter what."
They hugged her tightly, trying to comfort her. Zhang Lian took a deep breath and nodded, feeling a little better. But she was more angry then said due to the words she received in her mind, which said she had lv 5 ice spiritual root talent but got absorbed by System.
The cultivator, indifferent to the results, moved on to the next child. He only cares about his task, not bothered by the outcomes or the emotional state of the candidates.
After Zhang Lian's test, her father asked, trying to calm her, "Should we head home now or stay and watch the rest of the tests?"
Zhang Lian, still troubled by the unexpected outcome and wanted to find out more about this system thing, replied quietly, "I want to go home, Daddy."
Seeing their daughter's reaction, her parents chose not to intervene with her thoughts, as they had similar feelings to when they failed to awaken their spiritual roots.
They gathered their things and made their way back to where their carriage was parked. The mood was ok now, with Zhang Lian's parents exchanging glances but letting their daughter Handel have these feelings herself.
The trip back took about an half hour. The carriage moved smoothly through the busy streets of the city, gradually leaving the crowded testing grounds behind. Zhang Lian sat quietly inside, her thoughts heavy.
Her parents tried to comfort her in the carriage, but the atmosphere remained the same.
Upon arriving home, Zhang Lian's family entered their large, beautiful residence. The estate was impressive, with a grand entrance and well-maintained gardens.
The house itself was a big, two-story mansion, constructed with fine materials. The front was lined with flowering bushes, and a road led up to the entrance.
The estate was well-guarded, with a few guards stationed at the entrance. They stood alert, ensuring the safety of the family
As Zhang Lian and her parents stepped out of the carriage, the guards greeted them respectfully and opened the door.
Zhang Lian and her parents entered their home and Zhang Lian, feeling sad and angry, went straight to her own room. The room had a large space, decorated with soft colors and comfortable furnishings. A large window with a view of the garden outside, providing a peaceful feeling.
As Zhang Lian sat down on her soft bed, her mind was thinking, thinking a lot. The strange voice she had heard during the test kept coming in her mind.
"What is this system? Why did it absorb my talent?" she wondered. "Why did it only appear now? Where does the sound come from?" "What was that blue screen with numbers?"
She felt a mix of frustration and curiosity. Her thoughts were filled with questions. She remembered the voice saying that System will activate in 1 hour. Almost 30 minutes had passed, so she waited patiently while lying on her bed thinking about it.