"Hmm? That poem..."
Mingxu froze, stunned that someone as seemingly destitute as Lu Bingxuan could recite such refined verses.
Seeing Mingxu's hesitation, Lu Bingxuan's heart swelled with confidence. This is it! That line has fueled countless overpowered MMO characters—asking for a chance to prove my Heavenly Root shouldn't be too much.
"Are you certain?"
"If you're wrong, I'll have to take you up to the White Jade Platform. That's where the spirit stone capable of testing Heavenly Roots is located, and the sect master along with the Five Lineage Masters will be watching."
Mingxu pressed further, clearly torn. The poem was no ordinary creation, certainly not something a commoner could recite casually.
Adding to his dilemma was the fact that a fire-element Heavenly Root had just appeared. For someone to now claim a water-element Heavenly Root seemed too coincidental, yet also tantalizingly plausible. Mingxu couldn't help but entertain a sliver of hope.
"I'm absolutely certain," Lu Bingxuan replied calmly, maintaining a composed demeanor. Any sign of rashness might have exposed him as a liar.
Mingxu studied him closely, but Lu Bingxuan met his gaze with unwavering steadiness. For someone so young, his composure was remarkable—an intriguing trait that swayed Mingxu's decision.
"Very well. I'll take the gamble!" Mingxu gritted his teeth, resolving to take the risk. At worst, he'd endure some ridicule if proven wrong.
With a wave of his hand, Mingxu enveloped Lu Bingxuan in a beam of light, shooting them both out of the Spirit Testing Hall and straight toward the floating palaces above.
Watching them disappear, Steward Liu could only shake his head. Mingxu's gone mad. There's no way this is real.
The beam pierced the layers of clouds, revealing the breathtaking White Jade Platform above. The floating palaces gleamed like a celestial city, their surfaces as pure as jade. Cranes soared through the mist, adding to the heavenly ambiance.
The platform was a pristine white plaza, seemingly forged by divine means. At its center stood a translucent spirit stone that radiated purity and power—far superior to the stones in the Spirit Testing Hall.
Dozens of young men and women stood on the platform, their bearing noble despite their lack of cultivation. They exuded an aura befitting the mortal imagination of immortals.
Beneath five colored banners—white, blue, black, red, and yellow, representing the five elements—stood the chosen few who had already been accepted as inner disciples of their respective lineages. The rest of the crowd, either still waiting for their turn or deemed unqualified, lingered nearby.
This was only the third round of testing today, with many more heirs from royal families and noble clans yet to arrive. The sheer scale was a testament to the might of the Changsheng Dao Sect, whose domain encompassed hundreds of kingdoms.
"Mingxu, why have you brought someone here?"
Hovering above the central platform was an ethereal figure formed from pure energy—the projection of the sect master. Above each banner, similar projections represented the Five Lineage Masters.
Though this event was significant, it wasn't important enough for the sect leaders to attend in person. Their spiritual projections, however, radiated an oppressive grandeur.
"Honored Sect Master, esteemed Lineage Masters," Mingxu began, bowing respectfully. "This disciple claims to have been blessed in childhood by an immortal, forming a rare affinity with the Dao. He suspects himself to possess a Heavenly Water Root. The Spirit Stone in the Testing Hall was unable to confirm it, so I brought him here for verification."
The Red Banner's master sneered, "Mingxu, are you really so gullible? An immortal's blessing? And you believed him?"
The ridicule stung, but Mingxu held his ground.
Standing behind the red-robed master was a youth clad in imperial dragon robes. His gaze fixed on Lu Bingxuan as soon as he heard mention of a Heavenly Water Root. Having just been identified as a Heavenly Fire Root himself, he recognized the potential rivalry. If true, Lu Bingxuan could become his greatest adversary.
"Let him try," said the Black Banner's master, the head of the Water Lineage. Despite his skepticism, he trusted Mingxu's judgment and figured there was no harm in verifying.
The other masters exchanged knowing smirks, clearly expecting an embarrassing failure. Even the disciples on the platform began whispering among themselves, with the Fire Lineage's members offering the most biting remarks.
The Sect Master and the Lineage Masters paid no attention to the murmurs, seeing it as harmless banter among juniors. Mingxu, however, felt the humiliation keenly, especially since Lu Bingxuan remained unflinching amidst the scorn.
"Go ahead," Mingxu urged. "Touch the spirit stone. If you truly possess a Heavenly Water Root, the Water Lineage will take you under its wing and nurture you as one of our own. But it all depends on whether you can prove yourself."
Lu Bingxuan nodded and approached the translucent spirit stone at the platform's center.
The jeers only grew louder.
"Seriously? He's actually trying? Look at him—does he think Heavenly Roots grow on trees?"
"Maybe Water Lineage has gone insane after Fire Lineage's big win. Now they're just grabbing random strays off the street!"
Pausing before the spirit stone, Lu Bingxuan glanced at the mockers and finally lost his patience. If the system screws this up, I'm dead anyway. Might as well go out with a bang.
He slowly raised his hand—not toward the stone, but toward the crowd—flipping them off with an unmistakable gesture.
Though unfamiliar with the meaning, the crowd instinctively understood its contempt. Coupled with his scornful expression, it silenced the jeers, leaving them simmering in embarrassment.
"Only the weak bark like dogs," Lu Bingxuan declared. "And I promise you—I'll break your legs someday."
With that, he turned back to the spirit stone and placed his hand on its surface.
For a moment, nothing happened. The stone remained inert, and Lu Bingxuan's heart sank. System! If you mess this up, I'm toast!
Suddenly, the stone blazed to life. Its surface turned pitch black as an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy swirled outward, forming a veil of mist that blanketed the platform.
"Indeed," the Sect Master's projection pronounced, "this is a Heavenly Water Root. Congratulations to the Water Lineage."
The platform fell deathly silent.
The louder their earlier mockery, the harder it was to swallow the truth. And the truth was clear: Lu Bingxuan wasn't just capable of fulfilling his threats—he was destined to dominate.