Yun Ze had spent half a month amidst the immortal gathering, no longer a novice stepping onto the immortal path, ignorant of everything. Naturally, he understood the weight carried by the words 'Immortal Mansion Emissary.'
The Immortal Mansion, a colossal entity governing all cultivators across the Nine Great Profound Heavens, had its presence wherever cultivators existed.
Take this Ascension Assembly, for instance.
It was merely a gathering for Qi Refining stage rogue cultivators to join immortal sects, yet the Immortal Mansion still intervened to supervise.
Without the Immortal Mansion's involvement, no sect would dare to rashly convene an Ascension Assembly!
This was the domineering nature of the Immortal Mansion!
As a representative of the Immortal Mansion, the power and status of an Immortal Mansion Emissary would naturally tower above all immortal sects!
Even if the emissary were merely a donkey, the members of the immortal sects would have to treat it with utmost reverence!
This was, of course, not due to the donkey itself, but the colossal entity it represented!
This was why, upon Yu Xian's entry into the Ascension Assembly, everyone on the high platform rose to their feet in anticipation, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
Upon learning Yu Xian's true identity.
Regardless of whether it was Yun Ze or the surrounding rogue cultivators preparing to participate in the Ascension Assembly, they all stared up at Yu Xian in stunned silence, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The next moment, as if realizing something, they all turned to look at Yun Ze.
Only half a month had passed, and they all remembered how this kid had addressed Yu Xian when the Earth Soul Liquid was auctioned.
A servant!
The Immortal Mansion Emissary was his servant!?
The crowd was not foolish. With a moment's thought, another answer formed in their minds.
Judging by the kid's expression, he clearly didn't know the other party's true identity either.
Perhaps during the auction of the Earth Soul Liquid, he was merely a shield pushed forward, and the one who truly desired the Earth Soul Liquid was the one on the nine-tiered platform!
With this realization, the crowd's gaze towards Yun Ze returned to normal, and they turned their attention back to the high platform.
Regardless of the truth, their purpose here was not gossip, but ascension!
With the Immortal Mansion Emissary's arrival, the Ascension Assembly should begin!
"First item, Spirit Testing!"
A dull voice sounded again, and the area below instantly fell silent, not even a whisper of noise remaining.
"Everyone proceed to the first tier of the high platform and choose any sect for spirit testing. Those without spiritual roots will be eliminated. Those with Yellow Grade high-grade spiritual roots or above two elemental spiritual roots will proceed to the second tier of the high platform. Others may join sects on the first tier of the high platform."
It was finally starting!
As the words fell, everyone present immediately sprang into action!
There were at least nearly ten thousand people present, and only three sects on the first tier of the high platform!
The Ascension Assembly lasted only one day, and it was impossible for each sect to test over three thousand people!
This meant... the competition had already begun!
To join an immortal sect, one had to secure a front-row position!
Yun Ze quickly analyzed the situation, hoisted Bu Bu onto his back, and weaved through the crowd with his Shadow-Chasing steps!
He reached the front of the first tier of the high platform at his fastest speed!
The platform was over ten meters high and required climbing!
As Yun Ze approached, he felt his spiritual energy being heavily suppressed, much like when he had first emerged from the forest and encountered the black-robed figure.
However, it wasn't as complete a suppression as before; only about sixty percent of his spiritual energy was suppressed.
Furthermore, it only suppressed spiritual energy, not spiritual artifacts.
Yun Ze stepped on Shadow-Chasing and leaped onto the platform. He swept his gaze around and saw that some people had already begun their spirit testing, with dozens more queuing behind them.
He set Bu Bu down and found a sect with a short queue.
Just as he joined the line, the person in front of him finished their spirit test.
"Fire and Earth spiritual roots, Yellow Grade low-grade."
The person in charge of the spirit testing uttered the eight characters indifferently and then looked at the individual, "You may proceed to the second tier of the high platform for the next round of testing, or you may remain here and join our Lin Jian Sect. What is your choice?"
"Thank you, senior. This junior wishes to ascend further!"
"As you wish."
The spirit testing official spoke indifferently and tossed him a token.
The recipient caught it, bowed his thanks, and proceeded towards the second tier of the high platform, his joy evident on his face!
This was the chance to enter an immortal sect!
Even a weak immortal sect was still an immortal sect!
A hint of envy flickered in Yun Ze's eyes as he surveyed the names of the three immortal sects.
Lin Jian Sect, Gu Xi Sect, Chang Chun Sect.
Gui Wu Sword Sect was not among them.
This meant that sect was likely higher up!
Yun Ze couldn't help but look up, his brow furrowing slightly.
Once one ascended the platform, even the second tier was shrouded in a layer of mist, making it impossible to see through, let alone higher tiers.
"Hey!"
The person in front of Yun Ze turned and looked at him, "Fellow Daoist, what are you looking at?"
Yun Ze snapped back to attention, looking at the person before him, whom he didn't recognize.
He casually fabricated a reason, "Nothing, I was just curious why the names of these three immortal sects all have the character 'Sect' (门) in them."
"Ah, that. I happened to hear a senior mention it."
The cultivator suddenly began to expound, "You must know that sects cannot be named casually; there are ranks and hierarchies! For traditions with Golden Core stage cultivators, they can only be called 'Sects' (门). However, one level higher, for traditions with Nascent Soul Ancestors, they can be called 'Sects' (宗), and only then are they truly considered immortal sects!"
Yun Ze's brow furrowed.
This meant that Gui Wu Sword Sect was at least on the second tier or above.
If he wanted to find Chen Xiao, he would need to test as having Yellow Grade mid-grade spiritual roots, or spiritual roots of two or more elements!
"Hey, fellow Daoist, you asked me a question, so shouldn't I ask you one too?" the cultivator looked at Yun Ze, his eyes filled with curiosity.
He likely wanted to ask about him and Yu Xian.
Yun Ze nodded calmly.
"You've already asked one."
"I..."
The cultivator was instantly speechless. Knowing Yun Ze didn't want to talk, he stopped pestering and obediently rejoined the queue.
The queue wasn't long, and soon the person in front of Yun Ze began their spirit test. He also saw the spirit-testing ball that Senior Xiao had mentioned.
The spirit-testing ball was entirely black, about the size of a fist, and not particularly attractive.
As long as spiritual energy was infused into it, it could detect the spiritual root aptitude of the spiritual energy's owner.
The higher the spiritual root grade, the more transparent the spirit-testing ball would become.
If one had elemental spiritual roots, the spirit-testing ball would be colorless. The more colors it displayed, the more elemental attributes one's spiritual roots possessed.
The person stepped forward, placed their hand on the spirit-testing ball, and began to infuse spiritual energy into it.
As the spiritual energy flowed, the ink-black spirit-testing ball only lightened slightly, displaying a yellowish-brown color.
"No... Impossible!"
The person's face turned pale, and they began to frantically inject their spiritual energy, veins bulging on their forehead, seemingly unable to accept this outcome!
However, it was a pity that the color of the spirit-testing ball only lightened a little more.
"One hundred breaths have passed."
The middle-aged man in charge of spirit testing spoke indifferently, delivering his verdict, "Earth spiritual root, Yellow Grade low-grade. Go wait to the side."
"...Yes."
The person's face was ashen, their eyes devoid of curiosity. They stood to the side with their hands lowered.
"Next."
Yun Ze stepped forward and bowed to the official, "Senior."
"Hmm, begin."
The official looked at Yun Ze, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.
Most of the people before had been unremarkable, with nothing particularly noteworthy.
But this was someone brought in by *that* person, so perhaps... there might be a surprise!
"Yes."
Yun Ze placed his hand on the spirit-testing ball and slowly infused his spiritual energy.