Chapter 246- The Black-Bellied Demon Cultivator’s Senior Brother VS The Righteous Young Junior Brother (11)
The half-basket of oranges was quite heavy, and yet Mu Jin, with his slight build, had carried them all the way up the Ascending Zongyun Ladder just to give them to him. This thoughtful gesture made Ning Yizhou feel a warm sense of appreciation.
Although Ning Yizhou didn’t have a particular fondness for oranges, he suddenly felt a strong urge to take one out and taste it immediately. His attitude toward Mu Jin became even more kindly.
Mu Jin could clearly sense the man’s goodwill, which made him very happy. Although he wanted to stay by Ning Yizhou’s side and talk with him more, he knew he had to follow protocol and go to Mao Kun for registration.
After providing his information, Mu Jin stood aside with Mu Shaoyuan, but his gaze never left Ning Yizhou, his eyes full of respect and admiration.
Ning Yizhou had always been well-liked in Qingliu Sect, with many people admiring him. Given that he had saved Mu Jin, no one found Mu Jin’s gaze unusual.
Meanwhile, Mu Shaoyuan, the protagonist, had already known why Mu Jin was here. Seeing Mu Jin looking so satisfied and fulfilled, he couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing.
As more people successfully climbed the Ascending Zongyun Ladder, Mu Jin and Mu Shaoyuan were eventually taken away by others to be temporarily housed in the Qingliu Sect’s outer quarters. Once the ladder closed, they would be taken to the main hall for a spiritual root test.
Since Mu Jin and Mu Shaoyuan were the first to reach the top of the ladder, they were assigned to the same room. Although Mu Jin was a little annoyed about sharing a room with someone who wasn’t his beloved, he knew there was no better option, so he didn’t complain and settled in quietly.
The sect had someone bring them meals, which, although not the finest delicacies, were clearly much better than what Mu Jin was used to eating at the foot of the mountain. The dishes were imbued with some spiritual energy, and after just one bite, Mu Jin’s eyes lit up with delight at the taste, prompting him to eat more.
For the next few days, he stayed in the outer sect with Mu Shaoyuan. Although Mu Shaoyuan had been in Qingliu Sect for quite some time, he had yet to formally apprentice under anyone, and he was eager to retake the spiritual root test.
Even though he had been tested in the past, Mu Shaoyuan felt that his body had changed somehow after absorbing the Xiaguang Stone. He wanted to use this opportunity to confirm whether these changes were real.
As they spent more time together, Mu Shaoyuan’s opinion of Mu Jin greatly improved.
Although he had always had a good impression of Mu Jin, when he first heard Mu Jin constantly talk about wanting to thank Ning Yizhou, he wondered if Mu Jin, who had no background, might be trying to curry favor with Ning Yizhou, hoping to latch onto him for support. He even speculated whether Mu Jin had some ulterior motive towards him.
Of course, Mu Shaoyuan wouldn’t think less of Mu Jin for such thoughts. After all, everyone has their own way of surviving, and as long as it doesn’t harm others, he didn’t see anything wrong with it.
However, over the next few days, he noticed that Mu Jin stayed quietly in his room, only occasionally wandering around the area. When he encountered others, he rarely spoke, always maintaining a quiet demeanor. He wasn’t the type to scheme or actively socialize.
Only when Mu Shaoyuan initiated conversation did Mu Jin talk about his past life at the foot of Qingliu Sect’s mountain and how Ning Yizhou had once saved him.
The genuine emotion in the other’s words made Mu Shaoyuan blush, realizing that he had indeed misjudged Mu Jin and unfairly suspected him. Mu Jin, on the other hand, couldn’t figure out why the protagonist seemed to be treating him better than before, but he didn’t concern himself with such trivial matters.
After seven days, the Zongyun Ladder was finally retracted by Qingliu Sect. As for those who hadn’t managed to ascend to Qingyun Peak, it simply meant their aptitude wasn’t sufficient, and their destiny with the immortal sect had yet to be fulfilled.
Those who remained were brought into the grand hall of Qingliu Sect to undergo the spiritual root test. This test was of great importance to Qingliu Sect, as those who could cultivate immortality were already one in a million.
If a particularly gifted individual were to be discovered and accepted as a disciple, it would greatly benefit the future development of the sect. The peak masters of each peak were eager, hoping to recruit at least one promising disciple.
The successful climbers of the Zongyun Ladder eagerly stepped onto the platform to test their spiritual roots. A dual spiritual root was already considered quite good, but most people had four or even five spiritual roots.
Even so, this still marked their entry into the world of immortality. If they studied diligently in the outer sect, they would naturally hold more status than ordinary people.
Mu Jin didn’t have any specific desire to test early or late, but he intentionally positioned himself behind the protagonist. After all, a single spiritual root was exceedingly rare, and as someone with a single wood spiritual root, he knew he would draw attention.
However, he also knew that once Mu Shaoyuan’s mutated thunder spiritual root appeared, it would undoubtedly overshadow him, which was exactly what Mu Jin wanted.
As expected, when Mu Shaoyuan began his test, the transparent orb flashed with thick lightning bolts. Normally, a thunder spiritual root would show up as thin white strands, but Mu Shaoyuan’s result had not only white but also tinges of purple, with the lightning bolts being exceptionally thick—clearly indicating a mutated thunder spiritual root.
If an ordinary single spiritual root is considered a rarity that appears once in a hundred years, then a mutated thunder spiritual root is something that’s almost impossible to find in a thousand years. A talent like this naturally made the peak masters and elders green with envy, each eager to win such a disciple for themselves.
By the time Mu Jin stepped forward to test and the result showed a wood spiritual root, the attention on him had already waned. While people still acknowledged his excellent aptitude, their enthusiasm wasn’t as intense.
Of course, there was one person who was genuinely happy for Mu Jin, and that was Ning Yizhou. Ning Yizhou had always believed that Mu Jin had good potential, but he hadn’t expected him to possess a single wood spiritual root.
Demonic cultivators do not have spiritual roots; his own dual gold and wood spiritual roots were merely a facade. In truth, demonic cultivators cultivate the demon core within their bodies. Their aptitude is also determined innately, closely tied to their bloodline.
Seeing that Mu Jin had a single wood spiritual root, Ning Yizhou felt a sense of joy. He had always wondered why he felt an inexplicable fondness for this young man, but now it made sense. Even though demonic beasts that have developed intelligence typically don’t like human cultivators, they often feel a natural affinity for those with wood spiritual roots.
After all, demonic cultivators and spiritual beasts tend to be close to nature, and clearly, wood spiritual roots represent the epitome of this connection.
No wonder he felt comfortable being around the young man, enjoying the scent of his presence. Ning Yizhou realized that whenever he encountered junior disciples in the sect with multiple spiritual roots, those with a wood spiritual root always seemed more pleasing to him.
When all the tests were completed, the most outstanding individuals were naturally Mu Jin and Mu Shaoyuan. Both had single spiritual roots, instantly attracting a fierce competition among the peak masters and elders.
Among them was Luo Kangde, the Peak Master of Chuanyun Peak. Luo Kangde had a fiery temper, and although his cultivation level wasn’t particularly high, his master was of very high seniority. There weren’t many talented people on Chuanyun Peak, but Luo Kangde had a great rapport with his master, which eventually led to him becoming the Peak Master of Chuanyun Peak.
Over the years, Chuanyun Peak had been well-managed under his leadership, so it held a certain status within the sect. However, Luo Kangde was also well-known for fiercely protecting his disciples, and most elders in the sect wouldn’t dare to provoke his students.
Mu Shaoyuan, being a once-in-a-millennium genius, naturally became the focus of the most intense competition. The situation escalated to the point where the elders even started arguing. Mu Jin, observing a group of elders, each hundreds of years old, quarreling like children, found it somewhat amusing.
Eventually, after much deliberation, it was decided that Mu Shaoyuan would join Qing Lei Peak. The Peak Master of Qing Lei Peak also possessed a thunder spiritual root, although it wasn’t as rare as Mu Shaoyuan’s mutated thunder root. However, the Peak Master had unique insights and extensive experience in cultivating thunder spiritual roots.
With his guidance, Mu Shaoyuan would be able to avoid many pitfalls in his cultivation, and seeing this, the others finally gave up the competition.
Mu Jin initially thought that when it was his turn, the situation might be less intense. However, seeing the prime talent of Mu Shaoyuan being claimed by the Qing Lei Peak Master seemed to make the competition for Mu Jin even more heated.
“Young man, how about joining us at Jingyue Peak? Our peak has beautiful scenery and many disciples with wood spiritual roots, making it an ideal place for your cultivation,” said a charming woman with a warm smile, addressing Mu Jin.
“You can’t send him to Jingyue Peak! It’s full of women there; he might find it quite inconvenient. I think you should come to Dan Peak instead. At Dan Peak, we focus on alchemy and medicine. With your wood spiritual root, you could help grow various spiritual herbs and plants. You’re best suited for Dan Peak,” suggested the Dan Peak Master, who had an air of a sage, stroking his white beard with a lofty demeanor.
“What’s so great about Dan Peak? Sitting in front of a furnace all day making pills sounds awfully boring. I think you should come to Chuanyun Peak!” Luo Kangde, seeing the peak masters of Jingyue and Dan Peak already extending their invitations, was not to be outdone. He quickly turned to Mu Jin and said, squeezing out a smile on his rugged face that almost made Mu Jin burst into laughter.
But then, the tall and imposing Peak Master of Qing Lei Peak scoffed and said, “Chuanyun Peak has never had a disciple with a wood spiritual root. How exactly do you plan to teach him? I think you should come to Qing Lei Peak instead.
At Qing Lei Peak, while we have many disciples with thunder spiritual roots, we also have quite a few with wood spiritual roots. My top disciple has both wood and earth spiritual roots, and he can assist you in your cultivation. Besides, you seem to have a good relationship with Shaoyuan, so you two could keep each other company. How about it? Want to join us at Qing Lei Peak?”