From afar, many small flags were visible.
The flags were of various colors, but each bore different patterns and inscriptions.
"Maoshan, Wudang, Shaolin, Qingcheng, Longhu, and so on."
They were all banners of various Daoist sects.
Each sect had set up its own challenge on the Path of Heart Refinement.
Anyone under thirty years old could participate in the test.
Upon passing, they would receive corresponding rewards.
This was a recent initiative by the Alliance, keeping pace with the times.
It had proven to be very popular.
Upon seeing this, Old Mo was already eager:
"I'll go take a look first!"
With that, Old Mo ran over.
Yunlong and Yunhu also chuckled:
"We're going ahead too!"
Having said that, the two of them also ran forward.
I wasn't in a hurry and walked over slowly with Xia Qiuxi and Chen Yao.
The first we encountered was the Wudang sect's testing point.
A small canopy was set up, similar to a ring-toss booth at a funfair.
There were two testing projects here.
Looking at their names, the first was called Spiritual Root Strength.
The second was called Silver Needle Piercing.
After looking at the descriptions and diagrams below, it was quite simple.
The first, Spiritual Root Strength, involved covering a special rod engraved with runes.
The rod was over two meters long and had twelve rune segments.
As long as one continuously channeled their Dao energy, the rune segments on the rod would change color and light up.
The stronger the Spiritual Root Strength, the more rune segments would flash.
Each person's physique and Dao energy strength differed.
The flashing runes would range from one to twelve segments.
The more rune segments that lit up, the greater the reward.
The second project, Silver Needle Piercing.
Using silver needles the size of embroidery needles, one had to hit bullseyes at distances of ten, fifteen, and twenty meters.
The rewards also increased accordingly.
It was quite novel, and over ten people were gathered around, watching and analyzing.
At this moment, a young man in a Maoshan Daoist robe spoke:
"Fellow Daoist, I'd like to challenge these two projects."
The Wudang disciple in charge of the challenge projects was also very polite:
"Please, Fellow Daoist. The first project allows only one attempt.
The second project provides six silver needles; please make the most of your opportunities."
The Maoshan disciple chuckled:
"I understand. Let's begin!"
"Go, Brother Long!"
"Brother Long, with your aptitude, your spiritual root test should light up at least four runes."
"Brother Long, set an example for us!"
"..."
The Maoshan disciple did not blush and waved his hand:
"Alright, I'll set an example!"
With that, he approached the fixed iron rod.
And covered it with his hand.
Following that, he unleashed his full cultivation and channeled his Dao energy.
The next second, I sensed the fluctuations of Dao energy within him; he was at the peak of Qi Gathering.
This fellow's cultivation was decent.
Next, I saw the rune-engraved iron rod, like a live wire, due to the infusion of Dao energy.
It began to change color from his hand upwards.
The originally black iron rod gradually turned pale green and continued to spread upwards.
Seeing this, the Wudang disciple immediately spoke:
"This Fellow Daoist has wood-attribute spiritual roots. Keep going!"
The Maoshan disciple continued to channel his Dao energy.
The runes above also began to be stained green one after another, lighting up green.
Only a faint glow, very weak.
The runes on the rune-engraved iron rod also began to turn green continuously, one, two, three, four...
By the time it reached the fifth, the speed of the green spread clearly slowed.
Finally, it stopped moving, and no matter how the Fellow Daoist channeled his Dao energy, he couldn't make the green spread any further.
Due to the one-minute time limit, he then released his hand.
The Maoshan Daoist disciple said with regret:
"Alas, what a pity, only five runes lit up."
But the onlookers exclaimed:
"Brother Long, five is great."
"Indeed, Brother Long. Lighting up four runes is already rare.
You lighting up five shows your spiritual root talent."
"..."
Many people around praised him.
The Wudang disciple also smiled and handed over the wrapped gift:
"Fellow Daoist, this is your reward, one pill of Hemostatic Powder."
In our circle, this was considered a relatively common medicinal pill.
When crushed, it turned into a hemostatic powder, even more effective than Yunnan Baiyao.
It could achieve a hemostatic effect in a short period.
It also had no side effects.
Because its production involved more than just simple pharmaceutical compounding; it also required some secret alchemical methods.
Therefore, this item, if sold outside, might not be obtainable for twenty to thirty thousand yuan per pill.
Old Mo watched and excitedly said:
"This looks fun, I'll try it later too."
As he spoke, the Maoshan Daoist disciple had already put away his pill and went to challenge the next test.
Six silver needles were needed to hit bullseyes at ten, fifteen, and twenty meters.
The difficulty was high.
For most people, let alone hitting the bullseye.
Being able to throw a silver needle five meters was already good, let alone hitting bullseyes at ten or twenty meters.
The Maoshan disciple took a deep breath, and finally, under the gaze of everyone.
He gripped the silver needle and began to throw.
"Swish!"
The silver needle was infused with Dao energy and shot out rapidly.
The first needle, failed, missed the target!
The second needle, failed!
The third needle, failed!
It was only on the sixth needle that he managed to hit the ten-meter target by luck, and even then, it was on the very edge.
But even so, he was still better than many.
This drew a round of cheers.
"Brother Long is amazing!"
"Brother Long is strong!"
"That's right, I've watched eight or nine Fellow Daoists challenge here, and only Brother Long hit the target."
"..."
The Maoshan disciple, called Brother Long, also waved his hand.
Finally, he received three pills of hemostatic powder as a reward.
A total of six hits, which was quite good.
I glanced at it, then smiled and said to Xia Qiuxi beside me:
"Qiuxi, this project suits you."
After all, Xia Qiuxi was skilled in acupuncture needles; fixed targets should be relatively easy for her.
Xia Qiuxi also smiled:
"I can try it later!"
While Xia Qiuxi and I were talking, Old Mo had already excitedly pushed his way into the crowd.
He was waving his hand excitedly, shouting at the Wudang disciple:
"Wudang Fellow Daoist, let me try, let me try..."