Chapter 125 : The Grand Ceremony Continues

Chapter 125: The Grand Ceremony Continues

As expected, Xiao Ying asked why True Person Mingzhu had taken Long Tao away alone.

Since it involved sect secrets—and the earlier Dao Heart Oath—the three of them naturally could not tell her the truth.

Long Tao could only laugh it off, saying that he had previously had some financial matters to settle with Moon-Washing Peak, and that everything had now been resolved.

Although Xiao Ying was deeply suspicious of this answer and muttered indignantly for a while, she could not find any fault in it for the moment.

In the end, she tugged at Long Tao’s sleeve and pulled him along to continue watching the ceremony.

About two hours later, as noon approached, the spirit root testing segment finally neared its end.

This year’s situation was fairly good: three Heavenly Spiritual Roots, twenty-nine Dual Spiritual Roots, and nearly twelve hundred people with Three to Five Spiritual Roots.

Although the number who passed was large, the total number of participants this year had also exceeded previous years.

In the plaza, some youths who failed to test any spirit roots broke down on the spot, covering their faces and weeping.

Some even fainted, unable to withstand the blow.

This had become a fixed scene at every ceremony.

In truth, each town had its own Spirit-Testing Stones.

But there were always those who clung to obsession, firmly believing themselves to be pearls covered in dust.

Convinced that the Spirit-Testing Stones in small places were inaccurate, they insisted on enduring countless hardships to come to the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect and gamble once more.

In fact, even after failing here, most of them would not give up.

Instead, they would rush to other small and medium sects, repeating the cycle of hope and disappointment over and over again, until they finally faced reality… or failed to face it and lost their sanity completely.

Twelve hundred people sounded like a lot, but it was not truly many.

Within the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect’s sphere of influence, the population numbered close to ten million.

Based on the probability that one in every fifty people would be born with spirit roots, Long Tao had once roughly estimated that every three years there should be at least around five thousand cultivation-eligible youths.

But a sect was not an imperial dynasty.

It did not have clearly defined borders or strict administrative systems.

It could not require every household with a child possessing spirit roots to report to the Heavenly Sect.

In addition, the sect maintained friendly relations with many from the Demon Race.

Some who could not accept rejection were extremely resistant and chose to join other sects instead.

Combined with the influence of surrounding forces and various other reasons, the final result was simply this.

Of course, those twelve hundred people could not all enter the sect just yet.

Three major trials still awaited them.

These were the Four Great Tests commonly used by most sects: spirit root detection, Illusion Trial, Ascending Stairway to temper one’s will, and cultivation technique aptitude assessment.

Long Tao privately referred to them as Subjects One through Four.

Naturally, each sect also had its own special examinations.

For example, the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect required candidates to contemplate certain objects.

If one gained insight from them, it indicated a special talent and might lead to being exceptionally accepted as a Personally Transmitted Disciple by certain Peak Masters or elders.

“Young Master, I see the Young Lady! Over there!”

At Xiao Ying’s cry, the other three followed her gaze.

As Foundation Establishment cultivators, Nan Yuchen and Zhu Huaisu had excellent eyesight.

They quickly spotted a young girl who looked very much like Long Tao—similar brows and eyes—but set upon her oval face, she appeared especially lovely and delicate.

Nan Yuchen also confirmed that she was the girl he had encountered a few days ago while buying sweet pastries.

“So it really is her. So she’s Senior Brother Long’s younger sister.”

Unlike Nan Yuchen, Zhu Huaisu noticed the other girl standing beside Long Tao’s sister.

The temperament and bearing of that girl made her feel as though she were seeing her former self.

“Xiao Ying, do you recognize the girl beside her?”

“Huh? The one next to her?” Xiao Ying stared for a while.

Though she no longer cared about appearances, she immediately noticed the luxurious garments on the girl and answered without hesitation, “Definitely don’t know her. I know all of the Young Lady’s friends. None of them dress that expensively.”

“I feel that girl’s identity must be quite special—at least a young lady from a prominent family. But among the well-known daughters in the Nine-Xia Realm, even if I don’t personally know them, I should at least have seen them before. Strange… I’ve never seen that style or pattern of clothing either. But it’s quite beautiful.”

Zhu Huaisu was clearly more curious about the strange noble young lady and her attire and jewelry, watching her with great interest.

Nan Yuchen and Xiao Ying, meanwhile, kept their attention mostly on Long Xi.

Only Long Tao… was still searching for the man in black—Ye Jingchen.

He quickly found his target.

It seemed Ye Jingchen had not fled because of the issue during the spirit root test.

That made sense—after planning for so long, he would not withdraw over such a minor problem.

He had been the one to disguise his spirit roots in the first place.

Errors from the Spirit-Testing Stone were entirely possible.

But he certainly would not have imagined that one of the strongest Nascent Soul True Lords of the current era had been interfering behind the scenes.

…

After everyone had taken a brief rest, the second trial—the Illusion Trial—began.

Several elders gathered the youths who had passed to the center of the plaza.

Then, simultaneously forming hand seals, streams of radiant light shot from their hands and sank into the enormous formation patterns that had been inscribed on the ground earlier.

In an instant, a hazy mist rose, enveloping all twelve hundred new disciples.

“Wow! That’s scary. Is this mist the illusion that tests one’s character?”

Xiao Ying had never experienced it before and was naturally curious.

“Yes. Inside, you’ll enter various illusions and encounter different scenarios. The first few events test basic morality and human nature. As long as someone isn’t too bad, they can usually pass. For example, an elderly grandmother with difficulty walking might ask you to help move something. A normal person would help, right? It’s like that.”

“That sounds way too easy. Even bad people would pretend to be good.”

Long Tao had anticipated her doubt and smiled.

“It’s not that simple. After entering the illusion, your memory is affected. You forget that you’re in a test. Your behavior follows your true nature entirely, so the choices you make are genuine. It’s very difficult to disguise.”

“It can even do that?! That’s scary. Sometimes I’m not that enthusiastic either. If someone asked me for help, I might refuse.”

“Haha, most people are like that. That’s why you’ll encounter many scenarios in the illusion—big and small. For example, if you became a mighty figure with power reaching the heavens, what would you do? How would you react when faced with disaster? Every choice reveals your true nature. In the end, it’s judged comprehensively.”

As he spoke, Long Tao ruffled Xiao Ying’s hair.

Nan Yuchen added,

“Senior Brother Long is right.

Some people may seem cold in minor moral choices, but in major matters they’re decisive, capable of making correct decisions, and can even resist significant temptations. The sect won’t reject such people outright. They’ll consider keeping them.”

“I see… I still don’t feel confident. I feel like I’d definitely score poorly.”

The other three had shared the same worry in their time.

This trial did not examine aptitude—only one’s true heart.

But who truly knew their own heart? Long Tao remembered that he had been completely taken in by a beauty trap within the illusion.

Fortunately, his choices in other moral matters had been fairly decent.

Elder Wu, who had once given him a major lecture, had revealed that although his aptitude was poor, certain performances within the illusion had satisfied him greatly, which was why he had always taken particular care of Long Tao.

…

After a quarter of an hour, the mist gradually dispersed.

The youths in the plaza slowly regained clarity in their eyes.

But their reactions varied.

Some crouched down and cried while clutching their heads.

Some shook their heads and sighed.

Others still seemed immersed, looking dazed and muddled.

Only a small number displayed confident expressions.

Of course… the final results would not be announced so quickly.

Character was something the elders needed to evaluate comprehensively.

There was not much time to rest before the third trial began—

The Heavenly Ladder.