Chapter 901

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

In the blink of an eye, a full month had passed.

The integration of Qingmu Sect and Fengrao Commandery had already entered the right track.

That sky-supporting, sun-shading spirit tree outside the city remained evergreen year-round, its spiritual light undispersed, visible from far away.

Now all of Fengrao Commandery, from high officials and nobles down to peddlers and laborers, even the children playing by the roadside, knew that a cultivation holy land existed outside the city — Qingmu Sect.

In the past, what children yearned for was imperial officialdom's fame and fortune, the life of wealthy families.

Now, everyone's sole goal was to enter Qingmu Sect, thereby cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao, even defying heaven to change their fate.

Moreover, Qingmu Sect threw its doors wide open; anyone with a spiritual root, regardless of gender, age, or noble or humble birth, could enter to cultivate.

Outer Disciples needed no initiation ceremony, no heavy gifts; they only needed to complete daily basic chores — watering, weeding, patrolling, tending spirit fields, spirit beast feces — to earn points.

Points could be exchanged for spirit stones, and even more for Foundation Establishment Pills, Breaking Limit Pills, such rare pills that have a price but no market outside.

Once the news spread, the entire Dongyu was shaken.

After all, in other places, everyone hides these things away, unwilling to bring them out easily.

……

……

This day, Xu Zhangqing wore a cyan robe, walking slowly on Fengrao Commandery's main street, with Li Sancai and Wang Han following beside him.

Gazing at the crowds heading toward Qingmu Sect, Li Sancai could not suppress the doubt in his heart and couldn't help but speak: "Sect Master, there is one thing I do not understand.

Our Qingmu Sect's resources are abundant, but they cannot withstand such squandering.

Those people past fifty, with mutually clashing spiritual roots, their comprehension already declined — even if they enter the sect, this lifetime they'll at most reach Foundation Establishment.

Giving so many resources is pure waste; why throw the doors wide open?"

Xu Zhangqing heard this and did not answer directly, instead turning his head to look at Wang Han beside him, smiling faintly: "Wang Han, you've struggled in the mortal world for many years.

You tell me, why am I doing this?"

Wang Han collected his smile, pondered a moment, then said slowly: "Subordinate's foolish view: Sect Master's move is not to cultivate a number of top cultivators in the short term.

You want to drive Qingmu Sect into the very bones of Fengrao Commandery at the fastest speed.

Make common people feel Qingmu Sect is a lifesaving straw, is hope.

Make the powerful feel Qingmu Sect is the general trend, is a backer.

Wait until everyone yearns for it, everyone supports it, and people from surrounding commanderies and counties will swarm in.

Once the crowds gather, markets, auction houses, exchange meetings will naturally arise.

By then, resources will only gather more and more, reputation will spread wider and wider, and Qingmu Sect will truly be able to stand firm in Dongyu."

Xu Zhangqing nodded slightly, a few traces of praise appearing in his eyes; he then looked at Li Sancai, tone flat yet carrying a few hints of deep meaning: "Do you think the path of cultivation only looks at age and aptitude?"

Li Sancai said in surprise: "Is it not?"

These years, it was precisely because of aptitude that his realm could not advance.

Plus his age growing ever larger, he had long lost the lofty ambitions of his youth.

Xu Zhangqing blinked: "I know a person who only tested out a spiritual root in his twenties; after entering Dongting Immortal Sect, others bitterly cultivated, he fished.

Others went into seclusion, he fished.

Others fought to snatch resources, he still fished.

Yet this fellow's cultivation never fell behind; on the contrary, he far surpassed countless heaven-defying talents."

Li Sancai's pupils shrank, then he blurted out: "Is... Zhao Ziyue?!"

"Precisely Lao Zhao."

Xu Zhangqing nodded lightly, gaze looking into the distance, carrying a few traces of reminiscence: "Separated thirty-odd years, wonder where he is now?"

Finished speaking, he turned to instruct Wang Han: "You go contact the commandery officials, use all channels, inquire about Zhao Ziyue's whereabouts.

The moment there's news, report up immediately."

Wang Han bowed and accepted: "Subordinate obeys!"

As the three spoke, they arrived at the Spirit Root Testing Square in the center of Fengrao Commandery.

Of course, it wasn't called this name before; it was renamed later.

This place was already a sea of people, yet clearly divided into several distinct layers; at a glance one could see the class chasms of the mortal world.

The outermost perimeter was a group of ragged, sallow, emaciated lowly people, refugees.

Their clothes were covered in patches, some even barefoot, timidly squeezed in the outermost circle, not daring to take a single step forward, even their breathing lightened, afraid of bumping into nobles.

Each could only gaze from afar at the Spirit Root Testing Stone Stele, eyes full of humble longing.

One layer inward were ordinary commoners, all in coarse hemp clothes washed white, standing in the middle with their children, restrained.

None dared make loud clamor, silently queuing, eyes carrying hope for changing their fate.

Further inside were wealthy merchants' sons, dressed in fine silks, Naling Jade Pendants hanging at their waists, attendants and servants following beside them.

They felt superior, occupying the forward positions, expressions carrying a few traces of arrogance, yet also not daring to openly cut in line.

The very front were Fengrao Commandery's noble scions, aristocratic young masters, clad in brocade robes and jade belts, retinues protecting them, imposing aura pressing.

Some had brows tightly locked, faces showing impatience, clearly feeling that queuing together with lowly people and commoners lost them face; several times they wanted to step forward, all stopped coldly by Qingmu Sect's Guardian Stele Disciples.

Regardless of status high or low, poor or rich, Qingmu Sect's disciples all wore expressionless faces, held spirit tools to maintain order, voices clear and bright: "Sect Master has ordered, those testing spiritual roots are treated equally.

No distinction of noble or base, queue in order.

"Anyone who cuts in line will be permanently disqualified from joining the sect!"

One sentence made everyone trying to break the rules shrink back obediently.

The square was clearly stratified by rank, yet under the rules of Qingmu Sect, they were forced to stand on the same starting line.

Xu Zhangqing stood with his hands behind his back, watching the scene before him, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

This was what he wanted: the will of the people and the trend of the times.

Suddenly, a shout of anger erupted from the ranks of the nobles ahead.

The brocade-robed young master at the front was Liu Chengyu, son of the Vice Prefect of Fengrao Commandery.

He pressed his right hand against the Spirit Root Testing Stone Stele, but the stele showed no reaction, with no spiritual light lighting up.

The Guardian Stele Disciple said indifferently: "No spiritual root!"

"No way?"

"Liu Chengyu has no spiritual root?"

"This fellow is arrogant and domineering, thinking himself so powerful, but unexpectedly he's just a mortal!"

People in one circle saw this and began mocking him.

Liu Chengyu was already haughty and proud; amid the mockery of the noble children around him, he flew into a rage, suddenly turned his head, and kicked the small servant standing behind him with bowed head: "It's all because of you, this star of misfortune, standing at the side bringing bad luck, that caused this young master to not even have a spiritual root!"

The small servant was named A Zhu, thin and frail, and was kicked into a staggering run.

Liu Chengyu still not appeased, raised his hand and slapped him hard again: "Today I must teach you this lowly slave a lesson!"

A Zhu was scared out of his wits and subconsciously dodged.

In the panic, he blindly propped out his right hand, which happened to press against the very center of the Spirit Root Testing Stone Stele.

Hum—

With a light tremor, the stele suddenly lit up.

A warm green spirit light surged into the air, patterns spreading layer by layer, clear and stable.

The Guardian Stele Disciple's eyes brightened: "Wood spiritual root, qualified!"

Instantly, the whole place fell into dead silence.

Liu Chengyu's hand raised in mid-air froze, his eyes staring as if they would pop out.

A Zhu himself was stunned, blankly watching the glowing stele, trembling all over.

The Guardian Stele Disciple announced in a loud voice: "Wood spiritual root, up to standard!"

"You may enter the Outer Sect of Qingmu Sect; Junior Disciple, please register as soon as possible!"

After speaking, A Zhu's breathing gradually grew heavy, and finally he suddenly raised his head.

The small servant who had previously cowered and dared not lift his head now stood straight-backed, all timidity gone from his eyes, leaving only the resentment suppressed for many years and the desire to hold his head high.

Liu Chengyu was shocked and furious, pointing at him and cursing: "You lowly slave, you really had a stroke of dog-shit luck!"

"Hurry up and come over here; today if you don't take your slaps, you're not allowed to eat!"

In the past, A Zhu would have already knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

But now, looking at Liu Chengyu, he instead stepped forward, his voice not loud but every word clear, shaking so the whole place could hear: "Hit me?"

"Are you even worthy?"

"In the past, I had no spiritual root, no backing."

"Now I have a spiritual root; I am a disciple of Qingmu Sect, a cultivator."

"And you?"

"You are just a mortal without even a spiritual root!"

"What is my status, and what is your status?"

"And you still dare to order me around in front of me!"

Liu Chengyu trembled all over with anger, gnashing his teeth: "Fine, you dog slave, truly don't know when to die, watch me beat you to death..."

The Guardian Stele Disciple's gaze was sharp: "Disciples of Qingmu Sect are all protected by the sect."

"Mortal nobles have no right and no qualification to bully or humiliate; otherwise... they will be executed on the spot!"

Liu Chengyu's face turned deathly pale; amid the laughter and contempt around him, he could no longer stand, covering his face as he embarrassingly squeezed out of the crowd.

The Guardian Stele Disciple shouted fiercely: "Whoever dares to make trouble again will have their qualification to test spiritual roots stripped for generations!"

A Zhu bowed deeply to this person, then took the Outer Disciple Wood Token of Qingmu Sect, and walked with head held high and chest out toward the spirit tree outside the city that supported the sky and shaded the sun.

On the square, countless commoners and people watched this scene, their eyes growing ever hotter.

Former masters could become dust; former servants could ascend to heaven in a single step.

In Qingmu Sect, birth doesn't count, status doesn't count; only spiritual roots are recognized.

Xu Zhangqing watched the dramatic scene, his smile deepening: "Sancai, Wang Han, look—this is why I want to open the sect wide and treat all equally."

"What Qingmu Sect recruits is not only disciples, but also the hearts of the people!"