A few days later, Siron began cultivating his internal energy techniques. Having always dreamed of being a true hero wielding a sword, he naturally chose a sword technique as his martial skill.
Seris Velan took his brother to Karn's Forge to select a finely crafted sword. With their weapons in hand, the two brothers officially embarked on the path of astral cultivation.
From that point on, their days were consumed by relentless training, with little rest. Anything requiring deep contemplation and mental comprehension was tackled inside the astral space, where time flowed twentyfold faster. Once they achieved clarity in their understanding, they would emerge to practice their martial skills in the real world. Even sleep occurred within the astral space, maximizing every available moment for cultivation.
For Seris, mastering the spear became a meticulous endeavor. The spear thrust had to be swift and precise, focusing the entire force at the tip. A proper thrust was like a hidden dragon rising from the depths or a fierce tiger returning to its den. Thrusts were classified into upper, middle, and lower levels, with the middle thrust being the most critical. As the saying went, "The middle thrust is the king of spears; the center line is the hardest to defend against."
Although his motions became almost mechanical from repeated practice, the precision of Seris' actions remained razor-sharp. Every basic thrust was repeated two thousand times a day, forging a flawless foundation.
Nearby, Siron practiced his swordsmanship with equal dedication, diligently working through the fundamental techniques of his chosen path.
Meanwhile, atop the highest tower of Astralhaven Academy, in a luxurious room adorned with celestial motifs, the highly esteemed Headmaster—a figure even the Lord of Astralhaven would show reverence toward—stood humbly.
Sitting at the head of the room was an elderly Daoist, his hair snowy white yet his face youthful. Three long strands of beard hung gracefully from his chin, and his immaculate blue Daoist robe gave him the appearance of an ethereal being who had descended from the heavens.
Seated at the head of the room was an ancient seer, his long white hair flowing down his back, yet his face carried the youthfulness of one who transcended time. His three lengthy strands of beard swayed gently, and his pristine robe of shimmering blue made him appear like an astral being descended into the mortal world.
In truth, this elder was no ordinary figure; he was a cultivator from the Celestial Starry Veil Sect, at the Stellar Formation level, dispatched to the mortal realms on a special mission: scouting individuals with Astral Roots.
The task of a scout was straightforward—wander the mortal realm, searching for those with exceptional Astral Roots and unparalleled potential. It was an effort of patience and sharp intuition.
Years had passed since the elder began his mission, and not once had he encountered someone of truly extraordinary caliber. The sect's strict standards allowed only those with the potential for two Astral Roots to be recruited directly into their ranks.
In the astral world, there were eight primary Astral Roots—Luminous, Inferno, Terra, Metallic, Aqua, and the three variations: Ice, Gale, and Storm. Only a rare few among the mortals possessed Astral Roots, and even fewer were considered exceptional.
Most mortals had four or five Astral Roots, but such combinations were often viewed as cumbersome. Individuals with five Astral Roots were seen as "Wasted Potential," their paths to cultivation requiring immense resources and their progress agonizingly slow.
Those with four Astral Roots had a slight advantage but were still largely passed over by prestigious sects like Celestial Starry Veil.
Cultivators with three or two Astral Roots, however, were considered worthy prospects. The fewer the roots, the more focused and potent their connection to the astral forces, making their potential far greater.
Yet the true gems of the astral cultivation world were those with only a single Astral Root, referred to as "Celestial Astral Roots." These individuals were so rare that encountering even one in a generation was considered a blessing. A cultivator with a Celestial Astral Root could ascend through the realms with ease, facing no barriers from the Astral Foundation level to the Stellar Core stage.
While most cultivators faced bottlenecks during their ascension—some taking years or even lifetimes to break through—those with a Celestial Astral Root advanced effortlessly, requiring no external aids such as Astral Essence Pills to reach the highest levels of astral cultivation.
Recruiting a disciple with a Celestial Astral Root was akin to securing the future of a powerful Stellar Core cultivator for the sect. Such potential was priceless, and the sect would spare no effort to nurture this rare talent.
Today, as the elder soared over Mistveil Heights Academy on a stream of radiant energy, an artifact in his possession began to stir.
Without hesitation, he retrieved the Astral Sensing Orb from his robes. After muttering a few incantations, the orb glowed with an intense silver light, signaling the presence of an individual with extraordinary Astral Roots nearby.
This orb, granted exclusively to sect scouts, reacted when in proximity to mortals possessing rare Astral potential. Its brilliance was unmistakable, and with a quick sweep of his astral sense, the elder locked onto the Dean of the academy, descending swiftly toward his office.
The Dean, taken by surprise but quick to grasp the gravity of the situation, listened intently as the celestial visitor explained his mission. Though the Dean knew the recruit wouldn't remain in the academy, having such astral luck bestowed upon his institution was an honor of great significance.
Soon after, the bell of the academy rang out with a deep, reverberating tone.
"Boom~"
The bell's peal echoed throughout the entire academy, causing everyone to halt their activities and gaze toward its origin. The academy bell was not rung lightly, and its significance was known by all.
"Boom~"
"Boom~"
The bell rang three times in succession, signaling a call to the central Grand Convergence Grounds, a sprawling open area that spanned over twenty acres, designed to accommodate all the academy's students at once.
When Seris Velan arrived at the grounds, he noticed that his comrade, Cygni Solis, had already taken his place, and he naturally stood beside him.
The benefits of their rigorous drills were evident. Within moments, the students of the martial division were assembled in a disciplined and silent formation, their demeanor resolute. On the other side, the students of the scholarly division struggled to form any semblance of order, instead gathering in scattered groups, murmuring among themselves.
Moments later, the Elderly Dean, accompanied by a figure who seemed to shimmer with astral energy, ascended a platform overlooking the crowd. From a distance, the Dean appeared to be explaining something important to the radiant visitor.
The ethereal elder then reached into his robes and retrieved a small, ornate disc that pulsed with celestial light. He waved his hand gently, and the disc floated upward on its own, drifting above the assembled students as it glowed with increasing intensity, weaving through the air as if searching for something—or someone—of immense significance.
The crowd was in awe. The floating artifact had no visible means of propulsion, and it didn't resemble anything that could fly on its own. None of the students or faculty had ever seen such an extraordinary display.
"Is this the power of the celestial techniques we've heard about? Could that elder really be a Star-Seeker?" some students murmured in disbelief. Others immediately knelt down, revering the elder as if he were a celestial being. A few skeptics believed it was some sort of arcane technology, but the majority were mesmerized.
The elder, however, was undisturbed by the murmurs and speculation. His attention was solely on controlling the Astral Testing Disc, which occasionally flickered with faint light as it glided through the air.
Seris Velan noticed that when the disc passed directly over him, it emitted a brief but noticeable glow before fading as it moved away.
After completing its orbit of the Astral Convergence Grounds, the disc returned to the elder's grasp. With a fluid motion, the elder traced a series of signs in the air. Suddenly, as if guided by invisible energy, one of the students from the crowd was lifted effortlessly and appeared on the raised platform.
The elder continued this process, selecting more students seemingly at random, each one drawn to the platform as easily as a star being pulled into orbit. Some of the students were visibly terrified, fearing they had been ensnared by some celestial force, while others brimmed with excitement, hoping they had been chosen for greatness.
Suddenly, Seris felt a pressure surround him, and before he could even process the sensation of being lifted, he was standing on the platform next to the others. Moments later, Jin Da Bao, his younger brother, was pulled up as well. The fact that they had both been selected stirred a mix of emotions within Seris—whether this was a blessing or something more ominous, he couldn't say.
Once he had selected just over a hundred students, the elder signaled for them to approach the Astral Testing Disc one by one, placing their hands on its surface.
The first student placed their hand on the disc, and immediately, a cascade of lights—blue, red, yellow, white, and black—radiated from it. The elder gave a cursory glance before waving the student aside.
"Next!"
One by one, students approached the disc, most of them producing four or five colors of light. The elder barely spared a moment for each, his gaze quickly moving on to the next.
Only when a student revealed just three distinct colors did the elder pause slightly, giving a more thoughtful look, though he still said nothing more before calling the next.
When it was Seris's turn, the disc emitted four colors—blue, red, yellow, and black. The elder gave him the same brief glance and moved on.
Then it was Cygni's turn. As soon as his hand touched the disc, a dazzling white light erupted, much brighter than any of the others. While most students' lights only extended a few inches from the disc, Jin's light stretched nearly a full foot.
The elder, who had been calmly stroking his beard throughout the process, suddenly froze. His hand quivered, and in his surprise, he yanked several strands of his own beard without noticing. His eyes gleamed with excitement, and for the first time that day, his calm demeanor faltered, revealing how momentous this discovery truly was.