The tolling of the bell reached the young boys and girls still on the stairs, sounding like a death knell; their chance was gone!
Even if their spiritual roots were good afterward, the Lingxiao Sword Sect would not accept them. The Lingxiao Sword Sect, with its focus on sword cultivation, valued not the spiritual root talent of its disciples, but their character and perseverance.
The gravity on the stairs seemed to vanish with the striking of the bell, and those who had collapsed on the steps.
Some of the younger boys, without waiting for the next test, turned and headed down the mountain. Others, however, continued to ascend, determined to participate in the next test.
Even with the slimmest of chances, they wanted to try!
"Gold, earth, wood; a three-elemental spiritual root, intermediate. Next." The boy showed no surprise, indicating he had long known his spiritual root attributes.
Another boy stepped forward. Wan Si Rui waited behind, knowing he possessed spiritual roots, though he was unsure of their attributes.
They should be excellent, otherwise, he wouldn't have broken through directly on the stairs. He wasn't in a hurry to test his spiritual roots; he believed that geniuses like himself were always reserved for last.
Just as the storytellers said, true geniuses always appeared at the end to shock everyone.
Wan Si Rui believed he was such a genius. During his time in the plaza, he had already noticed many people from the Lingxiao Sword Sect stealing glances at him.
Their attention must surely be due to his talent.
The boy who had reached the mountain gate before him stepped forward and placed his hand on the spirit-testing stone.
At this moment, Wan Si Rui also learned the boy's name: Xu Yi. Then, he learned his spiritual root attributes.
"Dual spiritual roots of gold and fire, coarse gold, fine fire; upper-grade potential." The elder examining the potential was very kind to Xu Yi.
"Take this token and rest over there."
"Thank you, Elder." He cupped his hands in a salute and walked to the side, finding a place to sit and rest.
Others saw the token he received. With this token, he could directly enter the Lingxiao Sword Sect and become an inner disciple. Unlike them, even if they entered the Lingxiao Sword Sect, they would have to start as outer disciples.
The better ones might enter the inner sect within a year or half a year; the rest might waste their years in the outer sect.
Seeing the boy receive the token, they were filled with envy. These envious gazes filled Xu Yi with pride, believing he could revitalize his family.
Wan Si Rui watched as Xu Yi accepted everyone's attention. He slowly walked forward until he was at the front of the line.
"Name?"
"Wan Si Rui."
Upon hearing his surname, Wan Si, everyone else turned their gaze towards him. It wasn't for any other reason than the rarity of the surname, which reminded them of a vast family.
However, seeing the boy's current state of destitution, he surely wasn't from that family. After all, people from that family wouldn't let their kin suffer such hardship.
"Age?"
"Fourteen."
"Calm your mind and place your hand on the spirit-testing stone."
Wan Si Rui obeyed and placed his hand on the stone, feeling a bit anxious. He believed his talent was excellent, but he didn't know his exact spiritual root attributes.
A dazzling golden light shot out from the stone, astonishing everyone.
"Single elemental spiritual root of gold, excellent-excellent grade potential!"
His name was displayed. In that instant, he recalled Xu Yi's proud expression and realized it was now his turn to be the center of attention.
Taking his token from the elder, Wan Si Rui suppressed his excitement, not allowing any pride to show. It was now his turn to be the focus of everyone's attention.
"You go too..." Before the elder could finish, a faint rumble of thunder was heard.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw the sky darken, with clouds pressing low.
"Is that a heavenly tribulation?" the elder frowned. That direction was only where Junior Uncle Tantai was.
"It is a heavenly tribulation. Who is undergoing the tribulation?"
"That direction is... is Senior Sister?"
All eyes in the plaza shifted towards the location of the heavenly tribulation.
"Senior Sister only reached the Foundation Establishment realm not long ago. Is this a Golden Core heavenly tribulation?"
"Senior Sister's advancement is too fast!"
"Truly worthy of being Senior Sister!"
Wan Si Rui listened to everyone's discussion and also looked in that direction. Why? Why did this "Senior Sister" have to undergo tribulation at this time?
The thunder grew louder, and the might of the heavenly tribulation escalated. All the disciples and elders in the plaza were somewhat distracted.
"Continue!" the elder said to Wan Si Rui. "You go wait on the side. A senior brother will take you to the disciple quarters later."
"Next!"
The spiritual root tests continued, but everyone noticed that the people of the Lingxiao Sword Sect were accelerating the pace.
The disciples maintaining order kept looking in the direction of the heavenly tribulation, a trace of worry on their faces.
"Esteemed Senior Brother, may I know who is undergoing tribulation over there?" Xu Yi stood up and walked to the side of a disciple, asking with concern.
"It's our sect's Senior Sister. Senior Sister is only nineteen years old and reached Foundation Establishment just over a year ago. I didn't expect her to be undergoing a Golden Core heavenly tribulation now."
The disciple was worried. He didn't doubt Senior Sister's ability to overcome the tribulation, but he worried if her rapid advancement to Golden Core might lead to an unstable foundation.
However, they also understood the immense pressure on Senior Sister. Advancing to Golden Core at this time was also to build momentum for the sect.
"Esteemed Senior Brother, who is Senior Sister?" Xu Yi was very curious. He could discern not only worry for Senior Sister but also immense respect.
"Our Senior Sister's name is Tantai Wang Shu. You'll be able to meet her after she overcomes the heavenly tribulation. Although Senior Sister is somewhat aloof, she is very caring towards those in our sect." The disciple, knowing Xu Yi's good talent, spoke a few more words to him.
Wan Si Rui also overheard these words, but as he looked at the heavenly tribulation, a complex, inscrutable light flickered in his eyes.
The thunder grew louder, but the lightning still remained within the clouds, not a single bolt striking down.
This caused everyone great concern. The elders not in seclusion had gathered outside Lin Yan's small courtyard. Many disciples had also rushed over.
"This place will soon be affected by the heavenly tribulation. You should all retreat a mile away," Xu Lan said to the disciples with lower cultivation.
The disciples quickly retreated but were unwilling to move far. They watched the center of the heavenly tribulation with worry, and the increasingly imposing tribulation evoked a sense of awe towards Golden Core heavenly tribulations.