Chapter 640: Entrance Examination

The sky and earth were one.

The vast, white snow connected the heavens to the earth.

Ye Lin stepped out from the teleportation array, and the aunties guarding the area immediately swarmed over.

"Big brother, it's cold out; do you want to find a cave to warm up?"

Ye Lin waved his hand in refusal; he wouldn't even take it if it were free, let alone paid.

Just as he exited the teleportation array, Ye Lin was startled by the scene before him.

Compared to last time, there were significantly more people this time; heads were packed densely everywhere.

The Immortal Cloud Sect is a renowned immortal sect in the eastern part of the Longevity Continent, with countless powerhouses within; every time they recruit disciples, they attract people from tens of thousands of miles away.

These people all possessed immense strength, and Ye Lin, appearing here at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Gathering Realm, seemed somewhat out of place.

Therefore, aside from the aunties offering lodging, almost no one paid any attention to Ye Lin.

Even the peddlers selling various examination guidebooks ignored him; without reaching the Earth Fiend Realm, the possibility of passing the disciple examination was extremely slim, and being only at the Spirit Gathering Realm made it a complete fantasy.

Ye Lin was happy to have the peace and quiet, so he waited silently.

Three days later, the place became even livelier, and even those aunties stopped soliciting customers because all the lodging in the area was fully booked.

Those who arrived later either used the ground as a bed and the sky as a blanket, or set up their own tents.

Fortunately, at this moment, the Immortal Cloud Sect's decennial examination was finally about to begin!

A beam of immortal light was seen spreading out in all directions, centered on the Immortal Cloud Sect.

The snow on the ground, which was deep enough to cover one's calves, was swept clean in an instant.

The originally gray, overcast sky became sunny and bright, and the heavy snow across the sky vanished without a trace.

Ye Lin was left speechless; this feat was no mere illusion, but a genuine, earth-shattering divine ability capable of altering the very weather.

There truly are experts within the Immortal Cloud Sect!

A voice, ancient and majestic, rolled out like thunder, spreading in all directions.

"The 1, 15th entrance examination of the Immortal Cloud Sect is about to begin. All those who wish to participate, please gather at the mountain gate!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone became excited, and countless eyes turned toward the mountain gate of the Immortal Cloud Sect.

That place was the immortal holy land they dreamed of!

The massive crowd surged toward the mountain gate of the Immortal Cloud Sect like a swarm of locusts.

At the foot of the mountain, hundreds of massive stone tablets stood tall, and everyone tacitly formed lines in front of them.

That ancient and majestic voice sounded once more.

"Root bone talent is the most important thing for a cultivator. The better the root bone and the higher the talent, the higher the utilization rate of resources like heavenly treasures, and the faster the cultivation speed."

"The Immortal Cloud Sect has never accepted cultivators with poor root bones, for it is a waste of the sect's time and a squandering of your own years."

"Therefore, if you wish to step through the gates of the Immortal Cloud Sect, please first test your root bones. If your root bones are insufficient, then go home."

Before anyone knew when, an old man with an immortal air, dressed in white robes embroidered with auspicious clouds, looked down upon the massive crowd from above.

Seeing this old man, everyone's eyes were filled with excitement; this old man was undoubtedly an elder of the Immortal Cloud Sect!

This was definitely a top-tier powerhouse who had surpassed the Five Tribulations of the Dao; being able to witness the demeanor of such an expert was worth the trip!

The massive crowd began to move forward slowly.

Ye Lin stretched his neck to observe the front.

He saw an Immortal Cloud Sect disciple standing next to a stone tablet, and a young man in black who had come for the examination stepped forward and placed his hand upon it.

In an instant, the stone tablet lit up, revealing text.

Bone Age: 27

Realm: Early Earth Fiend Realm

Spirit Root: Mixed Spirit Root

Physique: Fire-Phase Spirit Body

The Immortal Cloud Sect disciple nearby nodded.

"Although it is a mixed spirit root, your physique is good; it is an innate fire-phase body. You pass."

After each person stepped forward and touched the stone tablet, the corresponding bone age, realm, and root bones would appear on it.

Mingled in the crowd, Ye Lin gradually understood what this stone tablet was testing.

The so-called spirit root is determined at the moment of reincarnation.

For example, a water spirit root has a natural affinity for the water element, and cultivating water-related divine abilities and techniques can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

The more singular the spirit root and the higher its grade, the stronger the affinity for the elements of heaven and earth.

From low to high, they are divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, with each level further divided into peak, high, middle, and low grades.

Among these, the mixed spirit root is the worst kind; the spirit roots within the body are chaotic, and it does not even have a grade.

As for physique, it is divided into innate physique and acquired physique.

Innate physique is brought from the mother's womb, while acquired physique is obtained through later cultivation.

Generally speaking, an innate physique is definitely stronger than an acquired one; only some heaven-defying acquired physiques can surpass an innate one.

However, the difficulty of cultivating such an acquired physique is no less than being reborn.

The quality of a physique can generally be divided into Mortal Body, Spirit Body, King Body, Emperor Body, Saint Body, God Body, and Immortal Body.

Among these, the God Body and the Immortal Body are on par, and which is stronger has been a subject of endless debate on the Longevity Continent.

Because the Immortal Body is natural, while the God Body is an acquired physique, battles between the two often result in a split outcome.

It is said that above the Immortal Body and God Body, there exist forbidden-level physiques, but the existence of forbidden bodies disrupts the balance of the Heavenly Dao; once they appear, they invite heavenly punishment and cannot survive.

The massive crowd kept moving forward, and the testing proceeded in an orderly fashion.

"Yellow-grade peak wood-fire dual spirit root, Mortal Body; it's passable, you may pass."

"Although the spirit root grade is Profound-grade low, it is gold, wood, water, fire, plus a mutated lightning spirit root; it is too mixed, and it is a Mortal Body. You should seek opportunities elsewhere."

"Bone age over a thousand years, mixed spirit root plus Mortal Body; old man, go home, old man. You are better suited to go home and cultivate in seclusion."

Generally speaking, as long as one possesses a Yellow-grade low single spirit root or a physique above a Spirit Body, one can pass.

If both the spirit root and physique are quite good, one will receive special attention from the Immortal Cloud Sect.

If one can test for an Earth-grade single spirit root or a physique above an Emperor Body, one is basically guaranteed admission.

And if it is a Heaven-grade single spirit root or a Saint Body, it would likely alarm an elder of the Immortal Cloud Sect to come out and snatch the person personally.

It is a pity that root bone talent cannot be forced; until it was Ye Lin's turn, not a single brilliant talent had appeared.

The best disciple had an Earth-grade middle gold spirit root and a Purple Flame King Body!

"The disciples of this generation are somewhat ordinary." The elder with an immortal air, Zhou Yan, who was in charge of presiding, sighed.

"Master, there is nothing to be done about it. Ever since the extraterrestrial demons appeared a thousand years ago, the Longevity Continent has gradually entered the Age of Dharma Decline, and the talent of those born later has become worse year by year."

Behind Zhou Yan, a disciple echoed.

"You are wrong. Precisely because the world is gradually entering the Age of Dharma Decline, there should... all the more be monsters with heaven-defying talents emerging."

Zhou Yan shook his head faintly.

"Just as a person has a final burst of clarity before death, before this world completely enters the Age of Dharma Decline where cultivation is impossible, there must be a true Golden Age!"

There was a hint of worry in Zhou Yan's eyes.

The talent of those who came to participate in the Immortal Cloud Sect's disciple examination this generation was so mediocre; it seems the Golden Age has not favored their Immortal Cloud Sect.

Just as Zhou Yan was chatting with his disciple, Ye Lin, down below, also placed his hand on the stone tablet.