Chapter 2

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou now had only one thought in their minds: it was over; they had actually discussed how to cheat in front of the examiner.

Senior Sister Yun Zhi seemed unaware of their cheating plan, casting a glance at them before looking away and proceeding to organize the test.

It was evident that she held great prestige among the disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect, and could be described as someone whose orders were strictly followed.

These Profound Heaven Sect disciples were all figures who could stir up winds and clouds in the outside world, sought after by others, and were the pride of heaven. That these geniuses all obeyed her orders without the slightest defiance or slackness showed just how high Senior Sister Yun Zhi’s status was.

"Bone structure is the first hurdle on the path to immortality. If your bone structure is insufficient, no matter how many resources are poured into you, you cannot cultivate. The content of the first test is to measure bone structure. Everyone, step forward in turn. If anyone lacks confidence in their bone structure, you may leave on your own."

No one left.

Those who came to participate in the Profound Heaven Sect’s examination all had an understanding of their own bone structure; there were very few like Lu Yang, who had only come to try his luck because he lived nearby.

The Profound Heaven Sect did this to prevent those whose bone structure did not meet their requirements from trying to muddle through and sneak into the sect.

Generally speaking, bone structure is tested using a bone-testing stone, which is very large and conspicuous. Judging by the empty space in front of the Profound Heaven Sect, it was clear they did not intend to use one.

A Profound Heaven Sect disciple sat at the very front, named Dai Bufan. The cultivation technique he practiced was quite special; once spiritual energy circulated through the other person's body, he could know what their bone structure was, what cultivation technique they practiced, and where their vital points were... he was like a fish in water during combat.

Dai Bufan was like an old traditional Chinese physician taking a pulse; with two fingers placed on the wrist, he could accurately know the other person's bone structure.

"Metal, Water, and Fire triple spiritual roots? It'll do. You may pass."

"Water and Fire dual spiritual roots. Not bad."

"Water and Wood dual spiritual roots. Your foundation was damaged once; it must have been a major trauma when you were twelve. Logically, it should have left hidden dangers, but your life was not meant to end there. You met an expert, and that expert was kind-hearted, curing you. Their medical skills were exquisite, and they mended your foundation."

The person was slightly shocked, not expecting Dai Bufan to be so accurate: "When I was twelve, my mother died of illness, and my stepmother held all the power. Fearing that my existence would affect her son's status, she plotted to harm me. I fell into a coma, and when I woke up, I was fine. My father told me that an expert had passed by and saved me, but they didn't leave their name when they left."

After that person left, a Profound Heaven Sect disciple stepped forward to congratulate Dai Bufan on his cultivation advancing further: "Just by taking a pulse, you deduced the cause and effect of the matter, as if you had seen it with your own eyes! Senior Brother Dai's cultivation has improved; it is worth celebrating!"

Dai Bufan said indifferently: "Oh, it's nothing. That expert was me. I was in a hurry to get on my way at the time and forgot to leave my name after saving them."

"..."

While speaking, Dai Bufan waved his hand at the next tester: "Eighteen years old, over the age limit. You may go back."

A cute-looking little monk, led by a big monk, came before Dai Bufan and performed a formal salute.

Dai Bufan glanced at him and tossed the little monk to the big monk: "What are you doing here, little novice from the Hanging Temple? You have the imprint left by the Abbot of the Hanging Temple in your body. Go, go, go back to your Hanging Temple."

"I remember the Hanging Temple is one of the five great immortal sects?" Lu Yang whispered to Meng Jingzhou.

Meng Jingzhou nodded and said seriously: "The Hanging Temple has the fewest disciples among the five great immortal sects. At its minimum, it only has the Abbot and one disciple, and even at its most, the number of people does not exceed ten. This little monk hasn't started cultivating yet, but he is already a disciple of the Hanging Temple; he must have profound Buddhist nature."

He watched the little novice being taken away by the Hanging Temple senior brother, looking as if he were facing a formidable enemy: "I originally thought that in the future cultivation world, I would be the one looking down on all the heroes. I didn't expect there would still be people qualified to be my opponents."

Lu Yang didn't know where Meng Jingzhou got his confidence: "Aren't you worried at all that Miss Yun Zhi will kick us out?"

"What's there to fear? Haven't you seen how it's written in storybooks? The great sect is blind, makes false accusations, and kicks the genius youth out of the sect. The genius youth takes it as a humiliation, works hard, encounters constant opportunities, soars into the sky, and becomes an existence that the great sect looks down upon—oh, no, that's wrong—looks up to."

Lu Yang was silent for a while before reminding him: "...But Miss Yun Zhi doesn't seem to need to falsely accuse us."

"That makes sense."

Consequently, Meng Jingzhou panicked too.

"The energy in your body is endless, circulating on its own. Looking at your attire, you don't seem to be from a cultivation family. Could it be that you accidentally consumed a Green Wood Immortal Fruit in your childhood? You may pass."

"Eh, your constitution is quite interesting." Dai Bufan placed his fingers on a bronze-skinned, burly man, his eyes lighting up, "Ancient Barbarian bloodline; it's been a long time since I've seen one."

The burly man was tall and sturdy, his head shiny and bright, and his skin reflected the sunlight. Judging by his appearance, people would believe he was twenty-five or twenty-six, but Dai Bufan did not question his age, which meant he was under sixteen.

Lu Yang could only say that he had developed really well.

The crowd stirred slightly. The Ancient Barbarians were once powerful enough to pull up mountains and swallow the sun, flourishing to the extreme before vanishing in the long river of time.

The Central Continent had not seen the Ancient Barbarian bloodline for a long time, and everyone thought this ancient bloodline had disappeared. Now, one had actually appeared in the Profound Heaven Sect's test.

Dai Bufan yawned. He had already checked half the people; why hadn't he seen even a single spiritual root? Had they all been snatched away by other sects?

Meng Jingzhou stood up generously. Dai Bufan didn't hold much hope, but when his index and middle fingers rested on Meng Jingzhou's wrist, his eyes suddenly widened, and he stood up with a start: "It's actually a single..."

Hearing Dai Bufan say this, discussions broke out below. It was actually a single spiritual root!

What a single spiritual root meant was that the bottlenecks at every realm were much looser than for others. They were destined to become great cultivators of the immortal path; entering the imperial court, they could hold high positions, and in the wild, they could occupy a territory and declare themselves king!

Everyone focused their gaze on Meng Jingzhou, their eyes eager. There was no harm in befriending such a person early; there were only benefits!

The elders hurriedly instructed their juniors that once they entered the Profound Heaven Sect, they must build a good relationship with Meng Jingzhou.

The Meng family, a single spiritual root, a Profound Heaven Sect disciple—these three identities combined made him a future power-wielder of the Profound Heaven Sect and a great immortal cultivator whose name would go down in history!

"Single-status spiritual root." Dai Bufan said the full name of Meng Jingzhou's spiritual root, and the scene went silent.

Meng Jingzhou was furious. What kind of ghost thing was a single-status spiritual root? Was he to be single for life!

"I'm inexperienced, don't try to fool me!" Meng Jingzhou's veins bulged, and he slapped the table with a bang, very angry.

"Junior Brother Dai, do not tease others." An ethereal, immortal-like voice came. Yun Zhi appeared from a cloud of mist and glared at Dai Bufan, who shrank his neck in guilt.

Meng Jingzhou calmed down slightly. That's right, Dai Bufan must be lying.

Yun Zhi said to Meng Jingzhou again: "However, Junior Brother Dai did not deceive you. You are indeed a single-status spiritual root; that is the academic name. It's just that in the cultivation world, everyone is more accustomed to calling it by its common name: Pure Yang spiritual root."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

He finally knew why the elders in his clan and his parents hadn't told him about his spiritual root.

All that "you'll find out when you reach the five great immortal sects"—it was clearly because they were embarrassed to tell him!

No wonder that ever since he tested his bone structure, his parents had asked him if he wanted a younger brother or a younger sister.

A mutated single spiritual root, a Pure Yang spiritual root, extremely rigid and extremely yang, the nemesis of ghosts and demons.

Maintain the Pure Yang body, and cultivation advances a thousand miles a day; break the Pure Yang body, and cultivation drains a thousand miles a day.