Lin Chen strode forward and quickly walked onto the Spirit Testing Platform.
As he got closer, he also saw the structure of the Spirit Testing Stone clearly.
It was a transparent stone, about half a person tall, crystal clear with mysterious patterns on it.
Lin Chen placed his hand on the Spirit Testing Stone.
Soon, he felt a stream-like energy making contact with him.
The next moment, two beams of light flashed on the Spirit Testing Stone.
One green and one brown, each about ten feet high.
"Is it Dual Spirit Roots?" Lin Chen felt a trace of joy in his heart.
Although not the pinnacle of aptitude, these one-in-a-thousand Dual Spirit Roots had already exceeded his expectations.
Lin Chen turned his gaze toward the Assessment Elder beside him.
But saw a touch of surprise on his face; after a moment, the elder uncertainly said:
"Lin Chen, Top Grade Earth and Wood Dual Spirit Roots!"
As Lin Chen brushed past this elder, he also heard him muttering:
"Strange, Top Grade Earth and Wood Dual Spirit Roots, just one step short of a True Spirit Root... why are the heights of the two beams of light the same?"
Above Dual Spirit Roots is the True Spirit Root.
For those with a True Spirit Root, there is only one Spirit Root Attribute, with a strong sensitivity to a single type of Spiritual Energy.
Logically, if it were Top Grade Dual Spirit Roots,
the two beams of light should be one long and one short, with a significant length difference.
The sensitivity to one type of Spirit Root would be very high, close to a True Spirit Root, while the sensitivity to the other Spirit Root would be very low, close to an Inferior Spirit Root.
Lin Chen's Earth and Wood Spirit Root light beams were both close to ten feet, which was somewhat abnormal.
However, the elders of the Changchun Sect couldn't discern the reason, merely assuming that Lin Chen's Spirit Roots were unusual...
Only the girl Jiang Liqian, watching this scene from below the platform, seemed to have some thoughts, as if she had realized something.
...
Soon, the sect assessment ended, and the Assessment Elder also announced the list of disciples.
More than ten individuals, including Lin Chen, who had Dual Spirit Roots or above, became Inner Sect Disciples.
The remaining two hundred or so young ones became Outer Sect Disciples.
After the assessment ended, the Sect Leader of the Changchun Sect appeared.
The Sect Leader of Changchun Sect was named Wang Changchun, a tall and slender middle-aged man who appeared very amicable.
But he was a well-known strong figure within a thousand miles, a genuine Golden Core Stage cultivator!
At this moment, he stood on the high platform and said:
"Congratulations to all the disciples on joining the Changchun Sect."
"Our Changchun Sect consists of the five peaks: Sword, Array, Artifact, Talisman, and Pill Peak..."
"Outer Sect Disciples can temporarily reside in the Marketplace at the mountain's base. Those who perform outstandingly can be promoted to Inner Sect Disciples via the triennial Sect Grand Competition..."
"As for Inner Sect Disciples, you may later choose a peak of your interest to join..."
Wang Changchun paused, then looked at the dozen or so Inner Sect Disciples and said:
"Apart from Jiang Liqian... the other Inner Sect Disciples who first integrate Qi into their bodies and advance to the First Layer of Qi Refining will receive sect rewards."
"A reward of one hundred Spirit Stones, a three-foot Storage Bag, and an additional one hundred Contribution Points..."
"The second to reach the Qi Refining Stage will receive fifty Spirit Stones as a reward..."
"The third will be awarded ten Spirit Stones..."
Upon hearing Sect Leader Wang's words, there was an uproar in the Disciple Plaza.
Spirit Stones have extremely high purchasing power in the Cultivation Realm.
A single Spirit Stone can easily be exchanged for a thousand taels of silver...
Many of these disciples who passed the assessment came from wealthy families, with vast fortunes.
But Sect Leader Wang casually offered a hundred Spirit Stones, which equaled their entire family wealth.
Storage Bags are also extremely precious in the Cultivation Realm; usually, only cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining can own one, and a single bag is worth dozens of Spirit Stones.
As for Sect Contribution Points, they are even more valuable.
In the Changchun Sect, one Contribution Point is approximately equal to one Spirit Stone, but Sect Contributions can be exchanged for treasures and pills that are difficult to buy with Spirit Stones.
For example... Foundation Establishment Pill!
Lin Chen observed the stunned expressions of the surrounding disciples and pondered.
Although he did not know the exact purchasing power of Spirit Stones,
he previously managed to acquire just twenty Spirit Stones after barely defeating more than ten Tribulation Cultivators, indicating their considerable value.
"With my Spirit Root aptitude, the opportunity to be the first to enter the Qi Refining Stage might be worth fighting for!" Lin Chen thought to himself.
After announcing the rewards, Sect Leader Wang, having stirred up the enthusiasm among the disciples, departed.
Leaving behind the disciples and elders in the plaza.
The Outer Sect Disciples, led by the Assessment Elder, left Changchun Mountain and headed to the foothill Marketplace.
Meanwhile, the more than ten Inner Sect Disciples remained in place, preparing to choose the peak they would join.
Except for Sword Peak, which is led by the Sect Leader, the other four peaks correspond to the cultivation arts of Array, Artifact, Talisman, and Pill.
Clearly, joining a specific peak will lead to mastery of different skills in the future.
At this moment, the Elders and Peak Masters of each major peak have already begun to recruit Inner Sect disciples.
"Our Array Peak is the largest peak in Changchun Sect! The Sect Protection Array at the mountain gate was personally arranged by the Peak Master... By joining our Array Peak, you will enjoy the most cultivation resources!"
"Our Artifact Peak disciples specialize in artifact refining. If you are a Fire Spirit Root cultivator, joining Artifact Peak is the best choice! A magical treasure we forge can sell for dozens of Spirit Stones, making it the best way to earn money…"
"Our Talisman Peak disciples excel in survival skills when traveling outside, capable of overcoming stronger enemies by consuming talismans to fight across levels…"
The Foundation Establishment Elders of several major peaks are currently like vendors in a vegetable market, zealously promoting and striving to attract disciples.
These Dual Spirit Root disciples are all future Foundation Establishment candidates who will become the backbone of Changchun Sect.
There is even the slightest chance they might become Core Formation cultivators.
If they don't seize them now, when will they?
Soon, several Inner Sect disciples were invited to join the Array, Artifact, and Talisman Peaks.
Among them was a True Spirit Root disciple named Li Zhenqian, who joined Array Peak.
Lin Chen did not rush to decide but instead considered the advantages and disadvantages of each peak.
"Array Peak is the largest peak in Changchun Sect and offers the best resources. It's indeed worth considering…"
"But can the skills of arrays be put to use on Blue Star?"
Lin Chen pondered, but he was actually more inclined towards Pill Peak.
After all, his Wood Spirit Root gave him a natural advantage in spiritual medicine and alchemy.
Moreover, the art of alchemy ranks among the top in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, and the pills produced would be very useful even on Blue Star.
The only pity is that Pill Peak seems to be the weakest, with limited cultivation resources...
As Lin Chen was contemplating, Han Jihai, whose hair and beard were both white, walked up to him.
"Lin Chen, I am Han Jihai, the Peak Master of Pill Peak…"
"Are you willing to enter my Pill Peak and become my closed-door disciple?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen looked up and saw the kind old man he had met yesterday.
After hearing Han Jihai's introduction, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.
This old man is actually the Peak Master of Pill Peak?
Just as Lin Chen was about to agree, a voice echoed in the plaza.
"Lin Chen, are you willing to join my Array Peak?"
Lin Chen looked up, and the speaker was an Elder from Array Peak, whose cultivation level had reached the late Foundation Establishment.
After hearing the Elder's invitation, Lin Chen thought for a moment and then shook his head:
"Apologies, senior, I plan to join Pill Peak…"
Seeing Lin Chen reject him, the Array Peak Elder's expression slightly changed but he did not say much.
The choice of which peak a disciple belongs to entirely depends on personal preference, and he had no desire to offend the Pill Peak Master directly either.
Upon hearing Lin Chen's decision, the disciples in the plaza all showed expressions of surprise.
They were evidently shocked by Lin Chen's decision.
Before deciding to join Changchun Sect, they had already made inquiries.
Apart from Pill Peak, the Peak Masters of Array, Artifact, and Talisman Peaks are all at the Fake Pill Realm.
The Peak Master of Pill Peak had failed to reach Core Formation years ago and had little life left, resulting in a decline of Pill Peak disciples and a reduction in resources…
Thus, among the dozen or so Inner Sect disciples present, other than Lin Chen, no one chose Pill Peak.
Even the sole True Spirit Root disciple, Li Zhenqian, slightly shook his head upon hearing Lin Chen's choice and whispered:
"I originally regarded this Lin Chen as a significant opponent because his aptitude is closest to mine…"
"But now it seems, him joining Pill Peak is nothing to worry about!"
The other Inner Sect disciples thought the same.
In the path of cultivation, the most important resources are "wealth, partners, methods, and place."
Among these, wealth refers to cultivation resources and is ranked first!
And in the eyes of these "disciples," Lin Chen joining Pill Peak means he will fall far behind them in cultivation resources.
But Lin Chen did not think that way, as he was not of the Cultivation Realm.
He had the support of an entire High Martial World behind him!
As long as he proved his value and brought back precious resources from the Cultivation Realm to the High Martial World,
He would obtain unimaginable resources…
Compared to that, the resources for a mere peak disciple were insignificant.
Upon hearing Lin Chen's choice, Han Jihai looked gratified and nodded:
"Good! From today onwards, you, Lin Chen, will be my closed-door disciple…"
"Your senior brothers and sisters are currently in seclusion for alchemy. In a few days, I'll ask them to send you a welcome gift."
"I'll first take you to Pill Peak to rest for the night, and tomorrow morning, I will teach you the method of Qi Introduction to the body…"
(Note, the expression in the text states it is from the perspective of the disciples.)