In the northwestern end of Liangzhou, there was a place perpetually shrouded in mist. Ordinary people who mistakenly entered it would become disoriented after just a few dozen zhang, unable to find their way north, and would end up circling around and returning outside, never able to pass through the mist.
Behind the mist, one could vaguely see a transverse steep cliff wall. The cliff was at least a hundred zhang high, stretching east and west for who knows how many li, quite spectacular.
On this day, a shiny black carriage slowly drove into the mist. It turned left and right inside for about half a ke before finally passing through the mist, stopping in front of a small wooden house at the foot of the cliff.
Three older men and women first jumped down from the carriage, followed by three younger boys.
The three boys each had distinctive features. One was sturdy, with big eyes, thick eyebrows, a round waist, and broad shoulders-even at a young age, he didn't look easy to mess with.
Another had a normal build, with a face that would have been handsome if not for his rat-like eyes and two sharp rabbit teeth, making him look somewhat sleazy.
Compared to the first two, the last boy, though somewhat tanned and lean, was much more well-proportioned. His face was originally just not ugly, but contrasted with the other two, he appeared rather handsome. His ink-black eyes occasionally emitted flashes of wisdom.
The newcomers were none other than Lu Li's group, who had been traveling continuously for six days.
Chu Qing seemed afraid that Zhou Xinyi and He Jun might steal his credit, so he ordered the two to return the carriage, while he took the opportunity to lead Lu Li and the other two toward the left side of the cliff.
Lu Li was pondering that the cliff looked very smooth, with no extra buildings around, thinking this shouldn't be the Qingyang Sect. After walking for a while, he discovered there was actually a narrow path leading straight up the mountain.
The path was no more than three chi wide, with stone steps that looked as if they had been chiseled out forcefully, and they were very steep.
Seemingly afraid that Lu Li and the others might fall from the stone steps, Chu Qing had the three walk ahead.
The three used their hands and feet, climbing with great difficulty. Although they had hunted and exercised regularly, these steep stone steps still exhausted them. Especially Qin Shouren, climbing in the middle, suddenly looked back and found himself already above the clouds. A cool breeze blew, his legs went weak, and he nearly tumbled down.
Lu Li didn't dare to look back at all, just kept urging Qin Shouren to hurry up.
It took a full ke before they finally climbed to the top of the cliff. Ahead, the view suddenly opened up-a vast bluestone square first caught their eyes. The square was surrounded by various ancient buildings, and in the distance stood numerous peaks, shrouded in clouds and mist, looking quite dreamy.
To the right front where they stood, a towering stone tablet was engraved with the three large characters 'Qingyang Sect'.
All three had their mouths agape, looking exactly like country bumpkins entering the city.
"You can look at these things later. Junior Brothers, follow me first. I'll take you to test your spiritual roots," Chu Qing said, appearing somewhat impatient.
Hearing this, Lu Li and the other two quickly followed.
East of the square stood a pavilion called the External Affairs Hall, where the Qingyang Sect specifically handled sect affairs, including recruitment, task assignments, and more. Chu Qing led the three directly inside, then followed the stairs to the second floor.
In the second-floor hall, a green-robed old man was leisurely drinking tea. Seeing Chu Qing arrive, his eyebrows raised, and he stood up, asking, "What's going on here?"
The green-robed old man was named Yu Tong, the Second Elder of the Qingyang Sect, also serving as the head of the External Affairs Hall. He only came to the External Affairs Hall during the sixth and seventh months each year when the Qingyang Sect recruited newcomers, to help test spiritual root attributes. Usually, he was in his cave dwelling for secluded cultivation.
It was already the end of the seventh month. This year's recruitment had ended, and he was about to pack up and return to his cave dwelling to cultivate, but here came a few more youngsters.
However, Chu Qing wasn't from the External Affairs Hall, nor was he responsible for this year's recruitment, so Yu Tong was somewhat puzzled.
Chu Qing quickly stepped forward, speaking respectfully with a hint of pride, "Reporting to Second Elder, while out on a mission, this disciple encountered a fated chance with these three youngsters. They have all awakened their spiritual roots. I request Second Elder to help test how many spiritual roots they have."
The Second Elder was a Foundation Establishment master; only at the Foundation Establishment stage could one examine others' spiritual roots.
Yu Tong heard this, gave a surprised look at the anxious Lu Li and the other two, then looked at Chu Qing with astonishment, saying, "You actually had such a fated chance!"
Three at once-this kind of fated chance wasn't something just anyone could encounter.
In the Qingyang Sect, there was a rule: anyone who could bring newcomers to the sect would receive a reward from the sect. The better the talent, the higher the reward. Besides the Qingyang Sect's reward, if the disciple one introduced was fortunate enough to enter the upper sect, the upper sect's reward would be even richer.
Thus, many in the Qingyang Sect were very keen on going out to find suitable seedlings. However, finding seedlings with spiritual roots was like fishing a needle from the sea-all based on fate. Some searched their whole lives without finding a single cultivation seedling. For Chu Qing to encounter three at once while doing missions was almost like stepping in dog shit.
"Heh heh, not bad, not bad," Chu Qing's mouth was almost grinning to his waistband. He urged, "Second Elder, please take a look quickly. If there's a heavenly spiritual root, we'll be rich."
"Heavenly Spiritual Root?" Yu Tong rolled his eyes at Chu Qing. "Dream on."
Then he looked at Lu Li, "What's your name?"
Lu Li, hearing their conversation, was already extremely nervous. When the other called him, his mind buzzed. Only when called again did he snap back, stepping forward with a cupped fist salute, "I... I'm called Lu Li."
"No need to be so nervous," Yu Tong smiled and beckoned to Lu Li. "Come forward."
Lu Li thought that whether he extended his head or retracted it, he'd still get the chop. Taking a deep breath, he walked over.
Yu Tong nodded, then grasped Lu Li's wrist, starting the examination. Lu Li immediately felt as if his internal organs were being seen through. Chu Qing stared intently at this scene, feeling the excitement of opening a blind box.
A moment later, Yu Tong's eyebrows furrowed, then his face began to twitch uncontrollably, muttering, "Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, dark....... Pah!"
"This old man has never seen such trash spiritual roots!"
"What?" Chu Qing was stunned. "Second Elder, did you make a mistake? They all awakened after eating just one spirit pill, so at minimum they should be five spiritual roots. How could it possibly..."
"Humph! This old man would never deceive you!" Yu Tong's smile vanished. "Next one."
"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, dark..."
"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder..."
Finally, after testing all three, Yu Tong's face had turned livid. He really couldn't understand how these three treasures had awakened.
And Chu Qing's face had also darkened. Normally, pseudo spiritual roots could still get a reward, but if they were mixed spiritual roots...
"Senior, can we... stay?"
Although both men looked displeased, Lu Li couldn't help but ask for a result. Of course, if it wasn't possible, he wouldn't insist. If he couldn't obtain cultivation techniques here, he'd have to think of other methods.
Since he had already awakened spiritual roots, no matter how trash they were, Lu Li would continue down this path.