Liu Jiang Fusheng's short-sleeved martial attire fluttered wildly in the gale. He shielded his face with his arm, struggling to remain upright.
At that moment, atop the highest peak of the Dayuan Sect, the Tianbao Xiong Ge, stood an ancient bronze bell tower. Traditionally, the Dayuan Sect only struck the bronze bell to signal an emergency. Since its founding, the Vermilion Pavilion Bell had only been rung three times.
Now, with no external force applied, the Vermilion Pavilion Bell began to sway on its own. Dong—Dong—The bell's resonance was deep, powerful, clear, and sustained, audible for miles around. All the disciples, elders, and mountain lords of the sect heard the chimes and were greatly alarmed, rushing out to investigate.
What was happening?!
Were ancient demons attacking, was there a mountain collapse, or was someone challenging their sect?
The Dayuan Sect, entirely comprised of martial cultivators, stood at the pinnacle of cultivation realms in terms of combat prowess and readiness to engage.
Simultaneously, high-level cultivators in the twenty-eighth heaven detected the energy fluctuations of the Asking Immortal Stone within their own realms. The old monsters lurking in the Sumeru Illusion, Endless Sea, Xianxi Cave, and Mohe Zen Monastery suddenly changed expression and emerged from seclusion to observe the rapidly shifting celestial phenomena.
The Asking Immortal Stone was erupting with primordial light, a celestial omen signifying the descent of a prodigy!
Daoist Zhiyang, who was observing everything up close, stared in disbelief. "Heavens, this, this is a pure lotus seed with a Heavenly Spirit Root!"
Spirit root grades were generally divided into Inferior, Medium, Superior, Earth, and Heavenly.
The types were numerous; common ones included Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and so on. However, rare varieties were more prized, such as Liu Jiang Fusheng's pure lotus seed, a Heavenly Spirit Root that could advance along with the cultivator's realm.
In other words, the young husband's cultivation potential was not merely one in ten thousand, but one in a million, an existence utterly unattainable.
Gu Junshi was also somewhat stunned. Ever since learning what kind of overpowered protagonist her young husband was, she had anticipated that he would either be slapping faces or on his way to do so. The discoveries in her dreams were only outlines, with no detailed chapters, limiting her knowledge. Now, she was witnessing his first step towards ascension firsthand.
The disciples from the lower peaks of the Dayuan Sect saw the commotion at the sect gates and rushed over. They beheld the youth by the Asking Immortal Stone, bathed in a faint blue luminescence, with strands of hair flying about him as if a halo enveloped him. Astonished, they gathered around.
"My heavens, was the anomaly just now because the Asking Immortal Stone detected the emergence of a Heavenly Spirit Root?"
"Good heavens, there really are people with Heavenly Spirit Roots! I thought Senior Brother Danya's Earth Spirit Root was terrifying enough, but I didn't expect there to be even greater wonders."
A female disciple whispered in awe and admiration, "So this is what someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root looks like."
So docile and gentle, and still so young, his frame slightly slender. In a few more years, who knew how breathtakingly beautiful he would become.
They gathered together, exclaiming in admiration, marveling at the young husband like a rare specimen, discussing and commenting. Seeing this, Liu Jiang Fusheng quickly withdrew his hand, and the anomaly vanished. He stood there, frowning uncomfortably.
At this, Daoist Zhiyang hurried over, shooing the crowd away while deliberately putting on a stern face. "Scat, scat! This is my disciple, your seventh senior uncle in the future. Show some respect."
Seeing the appearance of their Mountain Lord Wumei, the disciples from the lower peaks bowed. After their salutations, the lively disciples of Wumei Mountain, as excited as monkeys, chirped, "Mountain Lord, what's the martial uncle's name? And, with such rare Heavenly Spirit Root talent, are you sure you can beat the Sect Leader and the other mountain lords?"
Daoist Zhiyang roared, "Who dares to snatch him from me? I brought him back, so naturally, he should be my disciple!"
Just then, a powerful voice boomed from a distance, "Wumei, don't speak too soon."
The hundred introductory disciples from the upper peaks were all transported to the mountain gates via the teleportation array. Unlike the ordinary disciples of the lower peaks with their mixed attire, they wore unified sect uniforms: cyan robes with white crowns, exuding elegance and transcendence.
The leader was none other than the four Mountain Lords of the Dayuan Sect who appeared together. One was Mountain Lord Wuwei, whose mountain was filled with iron-willed, robust men. Another was Mountain Lord Nianhua, whose mountain was populated by beautiful female disciples. Then there was Mountain Lord Zicao, whose mountain housed the most meticulously refined male disciples among the five peaks. Lastly, Mountain Lord Jiutun, whose mountain had the fewest disciples, all of whom were cultivation monsters.
As for the disciples of Wumei Mountain, they were the most motley crew, a mix of all sorts. Daoist Zhiyang’s choice of disciples also reflected his temperament, with no fixed criteria.
"Wumei, you old fellow, trying to snatch my disciple again?"
"What kind of path do your Wumei Mountain disciples cultivate? Physiognomy, divination, or geomancy for setting up stalls? With his Heavenly talent, he should join my Great Dao Wuwei and cultivate blade techniques!" Mountain Lord Wuwei was twice as tall and robust as Daoist Zhiyang, with a fierce, scarred face that marked him as a formidable figure.
Mountain Lord Zicao, a refined man, was outwardly cultured but inwardly hypocritical. He spoke in a measured tone, "In my humble opinion, his appearance is not ordinary, and he shares a similar lineage with my disciples. Sound killing would be more suitable for him."
The usually taciturn Mountain Lord Jiutun finally managed to utter, "Sword cultivation isn't bad either."
At this, Mountain Lord Nianhua, leading a line of her stunning disciples, smiled enchantingly. "Originally, this Mountain Lord never accepted male disciples, but a Heavenly Spirit Root once in a millennium is an exception. Little disciple, would you like to come to my Nianhua Mountain?"
*Tsk*—She resorted to seduction!
The four male Mountain Lords simultaneously snorted with disdain and contempt.
"Bah, old hag, he's already married. Save your tricks," Daoist Zhiyang declared, hands on his hips, laughing heartily.
"Married?"
Everyone present froze at the news. After all, Liu Jiang Fusheng looked so young. Which of the youthful cultivators in the cultivation world at his age wasn't focused solely on advancing their cultivation? Marriage was approached with extreme caution, with most relationships being fleeting encounters between kindred spirits.
Suddenly, Daoist Zhiyang's laughter ceased as he remembered Gu Junshi's presence. At this moment, Liu Jiang Fusheng, who had had no chance to speak, finally voiced his thoughts. "I am indeed married. A Yi came with me this time, and she will also undergo the entrance test."
As he finished speaking, the corners of his eyes curved slightly upward, his pure pupils fixed in Gu Junshi's direction.
His wife was here too?
They all became curious about the wife of this Heavenly Spirit Root youth and looked around. They saw Gu Junshi, who had been subtly trying to conceal her presence, standing by the Asking Immortal Stone, her hand gently placed upon it.
That was his wife?
Judging by her appearance and demeanor, they seemed a fitting match, although her face appeared slightly older than the youthful boy.
One second… two seconds… three seconds…
Those silently counting the seconds were left speechless.
Had she truly touched the Asking Immortal Stone?
After waiting for so long, the Asking Immortal Stone only emitted a faint glow, as if struggling with constipation. Compared to the massive surge previously caused by Liu Jiang Fusheng, it was pitiful.
…This was clearly a废灵根 (waste spirit root).
Unexpectedly, the youth with the Heavenly Spirit Root had married a wife with a waste spirit root. Amidst their sympathy, they coldly analyzed that their romance was likely doomed to end here.
Liu Jiang Fusheng lowered his head, the corners of his mouth curving into a sweet yet peculiar arc.
It seemed her test… had failed.
At this, Daoist Zhiyang burst into hearty laughter as if seeking revenge. "Hahahaha, did you see that? You—"
Gu Junshi remained unfazed by her surroundings. Her fingertips curled slightly, a faint smile gracing her lips. She watched as the Asking Immortal Stone’s last faint glimmer was swallowed, and conversely, the cracks on its jade-white surface gradually widened. *Crack, crack*… A grating sound of internal fracturing, barely audible, spread outwards. Finally, the immortal stone in her hand catastrophically exploded.
*Boom*—
Shards of stone rained down, dust billowed, and silence descended.
Daoist Zhiyang was petrified, his eyes bulging as if they would pop out.
Holy crap!
The Asking Immortal Stone, the *immortal stone*, had actually cracked!
Liu Jiang Fusheng abruptly raised his eyes, his expression stiffening on his face.