Chapter 162: 162. Chapter 160: No Spiritual Nature at All

162. Chapter 160: No Spiritual Nature at All

Ding Huan stood behind Lou Buzhi and hurried forward to the test device upon hearing his turn.

He was deeply uneasy—he was certain he had spiritual roots, but he wasn't sure if gene-based spiritual roots could even be detected.

The device activated, but not even a single beam of light appeared, let alone a speck.

The examiner of spiritual root potential almost never gave evaluations; even when Lou Buzhi's roots were exceptionally excellent, he uttered not a single word.

But now, seeing Ding Huan's spiritual nature, he couldn't help but remark:

"I've tested spiritual root potential for twenty-one years—I've never seen a constitution as utterly devoid of spiritual nature as yours."

He truly couldn't hold back—even ordinary mortals with no spiritual roots at all still produced a few light specks due to minimal spiritual nature.

Yet Ding Huan produced not even a single light speck—it was truly unprecedented.

Some people around were already whispering.

Indeed, among those tested, those without spiritual root potential far outnumbered those with it.

In ten thousand tests, at most a few yield spiritual roots; those with relatively good roots might appear only once in a hundred thousand.

Lacking spiritual root potential doesn't mean lacking spiritual nature entirely.

As long as there's spiritual nature, the test device will show light specks.

Someone like Ding Huan, who produced not even one speck—no one had ever seen such a case.

Ding Huan sighed, but felt no great despair.

He had anticipated this scenario—it was, after all, gene-based spiritual roots.

Gene fusion was something many practiced; even the Threefold Heaven Star Continent had gene fusion.

But gene-based spiritual roots? No one had ever mentioned them.

The only thing he couldn't understand was why there were no light specks at all—that was strange.

Ding Huan could only console himself: this test device was too low-grade to detect his supreme excellence.

"Brother Huan, let's go."

Lou Buzhi, worried Ding Huan was upset, took his hand and pulled him away.

"Excuse me, friend."

A man hurriedly blocked the path before Lou Buzhi and Ding Huan.

Ding Huan instantly knew the man wasn't addressing him—his gaze was fixed entirely on Lou Buzhi.

"What is it?" Lou Buzhi understood this was meant for him.

"I'm an official of the Shuanghun Sect. I've seen your exceptional potential—if you join our sect, you'll be a core among cores."

The man bowed, speaking earnestly to Lou Buzhi.

Ding Huan realized—it was just like university recruitment after the college entrance exam.

Lou Buzhi's scores were high, so prestigious schools came to recruit him.

But the Shuanghun Sect? Absolutely not—that's a diploma mill; if Lou Buzhi joined, he'd be cannon fodder.

Shuanghun Sect?

Earlier, Brother Huan told Ku Qi not to join the Shuanghun Sect—and now one of them showed up.

Though Lou Buzhi longed to join a alchemy sect, he knew such sects like Shuanghun must have alchemy divisions.

So joining Shuanghun Sect wouldn't conflict with his cultivation goals.

"I deeply admire the Shuanghun Sect, but I've already promised a friend I'd visit the Yanyue Sect."

Lou Buzhi apologized.

To Ding Huan's surprise, the man showed regret upon hearing this—but didn't press further.

Ding Huan didn't know that while Lou Buzhi's potential was good, his average looks and fat build meant the offer was merely perfunctory.

Even in terms of potential, dual-spirit-root was still significantly inferior to single-spirit-root.

What they valued was merely Lou Buzhi's suitability for alchemy.

"Brother Huan, was my choice right?"

After the Shuanghun Sect man left, Lou Buzhi walked a bit farther before asking Ding Huan.

Ding Huan whispered: "Joining Shuanghun Sect would be suicide. Not joining was the right choice."

Lou Buzhi exhaled in relief; though he'd followed Ding Huan for barely over a month, he trusted him completely.

This had trained him to obey Ding Huan's words—so far, Brother Huan had never led him astray.

Without Ding Huan, he might never have had the chance to stand here choosing a sect.

"Where do we go now?" Lou Buzhi asked again.

He'd mentioned Yanyue Sect earlier because he knew it was a major sect—he wanted to join a major sect, and Shuanghun wouldn't bother him much.

Ding Huan pointed to a nearby sect:

"Look, isn't that an alchemy sect? Let's go check it out."

Lou Buzhi saw Qingdan Gate.

"This sect seems to occupy a large area…" Lou Buzhi muttered.

Then he suddenly remembered, delighted:

"Brother Huan, I recall now—Qingdan Gate is huge! It's a major sect on par with Yanyue Sect. Let's go to Qingdan Gate."

Ding Huan shook his head:

"You go. I and Lao Liu won't. I have no potential, and Lao Liu probably doesn't either—we can only stay with me."

Lao Liu, too, had gene-based spiritual roots—he wouldn't register any potential here.

"Brother Huan, what if my potential can bring others along? Wouldn't that be better?"

Liu Buzhi thought of how Ding Huan had once used an Immortal-Demon Pill to bring Qi Qi Xinyue and Lao Liu aboard the boat—what if he could do the same?

Ding Huan pondered briefly and felt this might be a solution.

After spending so long on the Threefold Heaven Star Continent and reading so many records of the Threefold Heaven domains, a notion had formed in his subconscious.

That was: people from the Dao Cultivation World could easily arrive at the Mortal World, as if they could come anytime.

But for someone from the Mortal World to go to the Dao Cultivation World, it was harder than climbing to heaven.

Similarly, it was just as difficult for someone from the Dao Cultivation World to reach the Ascension World, yet the great masters of the Ascension World wandered freely across the Threefold Heaven Star Continent.

As a major alchemy sect, Qingdan Gate had sent countless disciples here to participate in the selection.

When Ding Huan saw one double-spirit-root after another appear, even a few single-spirit-root masters, he knew it was highly unlikely that Liu Buzhi's spirit-root quality alone could get him and Lao Liu into Qingdan Gate.

"This is my spirit-root qualification."

When it was Liu Buzhi's turn, he quickly pulled out his qualification test scroll.

"Hmm, quite good—double-spirit-root, wood and fire, wood-spirit root purity ninety…"

The man responsible for testing disciples' qualifications read the scroll while nodding.

After finishing, he pointed to a testing artifact nearby:

"Step up. I'll retest your spirit-root qualification."

Liu Buzhi hurried onto the platform—the retest showed no issues.

"Excellent. You may join Qingdan Gate as an outer disciple."

The man nodded approvingly.

But Ding Huan's heart sank—he had guessed correctly. Liu Buzhi's qualification was barely enough to enter as an outer disciple.

For an outer disciple to bring someone into the sect? That was a joke.

Liu Buzhi quickly said:

"Senior, this is my friend—he has no spirit-root qualification. I was wondering if…"

Before Liu Buzhi could finish, the man understood his intent and waved his hand without hesitation:

"No. You cannot bring anyone into Qingdan Gate. Not your friend, not even your parents or relatives."

"Then can I bring him into the Dao Cultivation World?" Liu Buzhi pleaded.

The man looked at Liu Buzhi slowly and said:

"Not just Qingdan Gate—in any sect, a newly admitted disciple cannot bring a common mortal into the Dao Cultivation World. And your qualification is merely adequate, not extraordinary."

Seeing Liu Buzhi still wanted to speak, Ding Huan quickly interrupted:

"Buzhi, go to Qingdan Gate and focus on your cultivation and alchemy. Don't worry about me—we'll meet again someday."

"Huan-ge…" Liu Buzhi suddenly looked lost.

He had always followed Ding Huan, letting Ding Huan make every decision—now that Ding Huan was leaving, he felt utterly adrift.

Only after Ding Huan vanished did the man who had recruited him pat Liu Buzhi's shoulder:

"This is just part of the adjustment process. Once you reach a Dao Cultivation sect, you'll quickly bid farewell to everything before."

Years later, you'll find today's thoughts and requests laughable—you'll no longer be from the same world. You don't understand me now, but you will later."

…

Lao Liu was deeply discouraged—he had really wanted to follow Liu Buzhi into the Dao Cultivation World, but the man had made it clear: Liu Buzhi had no ability to bring them.

"Let's go. Leave this place." After learning he had no spirit-root qualification and couldn't even enter the Dao Cultivation World, Ding Huan knew staying at the Immortal Connection Square was pointless.

For him now, the first step was to enter the Dao Cultivation World.

Otherwise, all the Dao Cultivation knowledge in his mind was just decoration.

Compared to ordinary cultivators, Ding Huan now understood better than anyone how vital the laws of heaven and earth were to cultivation.

Even if he had hundreds of thousands of Zhan Shen crystals, half a spirit vein, and a Foundation Establishment technique.

To rise in the Mortal World was nearly impossible.

"Brother Ding…"

As Ding Huan prepared to leave the Immortal Connection Square, a voice from afar called out to him.

"Ku Qi?" Ding Huan turned and saw Ku Qi.

Then he saw Ku Qi's sect: Wanfu Sect.

Clearly, Ku Qi had taken his advice and chosen Wanfu Sect instead of Shuang Hun Sect.

Seeing Ding Huan approach, Ku Qi stepped forward:

"Brother Ding, I chose Wanfu Sect. Have you found a sect you like?"

Ding Huan smiled bitterly: "Congratulations. I have no qualification—I'm just about to leave."

Ku Qi froze. He had assumed Ding Huan, like them, knew his qualification before coming here—otherwise, why would he have lingered in that alley for days?

So all this time, Ding Huan had no qualification at all—then why had he come?

"Brother Ding, do you have any plans?" Ku Qi didn't know how to comfort him.

Ding Huan didn't hide it:

"I plan to find a way to enter the Dao Cultivation World first."

"But Brother Ding, you don't have any qualification?" Ku Qi blurted out.

Ding Huan smiled:

"So what if I have no qualification? No one says you need qualification to seek opportunities in the Dao Cultivation World."

"Exactly! That's why I admire your openness, Brother Ding. There is one way to reach the Dao Cultivation World." Ku Qi said at once.

Hearing this, Ding Huan perked up:

"Please, Brother Ku, advise me."