I had only taken a few steps away from the open platform when a voice rang out behind me.
"Shen Yuan."
I stopped. Turning around, I saw the village chief hurrying toward me, his expression tight and cautious. The crowd around us instinctively quieted, their gazes following his every movement.
"Hold on," he said in a low voice. "Don't leave yet."
I frowned slightly. "Chief?"
"I told the envoy about you children who awakened spirit roots," he said, his words rushed. "The envoy wishes to see you all. All the other children have already been gathered at my office."
My heart sank, though only slightly. So it had come to this.
"The envoy is waiting," the chief continued, his tone firm. "Don't waste her time."
Before I could say another word, he reached out and grasped my arm, guiding almost dragging me toward his office.
As we walked, I could feel countless eyes on my back. Curiosity. Envy. Fear. I kept my breathing steady and followed silently.
The moment I crossed the threshold of the chief's office, an invisible pressure pressed down on me. It wasn't violent, nor was it oppressive but it was unmistakable. Just the natural cultivation pressure of someone far above my level.
At the center of the room sat the blue-robed envoy of the Sun Moon Spirit Sect.
She was seated with perfect posture, one elegant hand resting against the chair's armrest, slender fingers tapping lightly as if lost in thought.
Her deep blue robe clung to her mature figure in ways that suggested both elegance and danger, the fabric hugging her curves while maintaining an air of untouchable dignity.
Despite being seated, the way the robe draped across her body revealed a figure that had fully matured, voluptuous yet refined, the kind of beauty that made men forget to breathe.
Her face was cold, beautiful in the way that winter frost was beautiful, distant, untouchable, and dangerous. Her eyes were sharp, intelligent, and seemed to see through everything they touched.
Behind her stood two jade-green robed disciples. Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Their auras were restrained, but even so, they radiated quiet authority.
In front of the envoy stood four children. Huo Chen, Yun Ruoxi, Feng Yanran, and Liu Hu. When I entered, all eyes turned toward me.
"Bow," the chief whispered urgently. Without hesitation, I knelt on one knee. The four children did the same. The chief knelt fully, his forehead pressed to the floor.
"This humble one greets the envoy, my lord," the chief said.
"I greet the envoy, senior," we echoed.
The envoy's tapping fingers stopped. "Stand," she said calmly, her voice clear and cold like a mountain spring.
We obeyed. Her gaze swept across us slowly, deliberately lingering on our faces, our breathing, the faint fluctuations of qi around our bodies.
When her gaze passed over me, I subtly acted nervous and anxious, letting my breathing become slightly uneven.
But with the system's robe concealment doing its work, to her perception, I was merely a newly initiated Qi Refining cultivator, nothing more.
The envoy finally leaned back slightly, her posture remaining perfect, and looked at the chief. "Chief,"
She said, her voice even but carrying undeniable authority, "you reported that these children underwent spirit root testing two days ago."
"Yes, my lord," the chief replied respectfully.
The envoy nodded once, a small, elegant movement. "And yet," she continued, lifting one slender finger, "I sense that two of them have already stepped into cultivation."
Her finger moved. It pointed directly at Huo Chen. Then it shifted, and pointed at me.
The air in the room seemed to freeze. Huo Chen stiffened beside me. I remained calm, though my heart beat once, heavily.
The chief's eyes widened, and for a brief moment, genuine shock flashed across his face.
"Yes… yes, my lord," the chief said carefully. "It has indeed only been two days since the spirit root testing."
The envoy's eyes narrowed slightly, though her expression remained composed. "Two days," she repeated, her tone thoughtful. Then she looked at us again, her gaze more penetrating.
"Tell me," she said, "how long did it take each of you to step into Qi Refining?"
Huo Chen swallowed and stepped forward.
"This junior took two days, senior," he said honestly. "I cultivated without rest, day and night."
The envoy nodded slowly, her expression unchanging. "That is within reason for a three-element root with proper dedication."
Then her gaze turned to me, and I felt the weight of her attention like a physical thing. "And you?" she asked.
I stepped forward half a pace and bowed respectfully. "One day, senior," I replied calmly.
Though I lied. It was only less than one hour in truth.
The reaction was immediate. The children beside me froze, their faces showing astonishment and barely concealed jealousy.
The envoy leaned forward straightened slightly, her perfect posture becoming even more pronounced.
One of the jade-robed disciples inhaled sharply. The other stared at me openly now, no longer bothering to hide his surprise.
"One day?" the envoy repeated, and for the first time, a hint of something flickered in her cold eyes. Interest, perhaps. Or curiosity.
"Yes, senior." Silence descended upon the room. The envoy studied me for a long time, her gaze sharp and penetrating, as if trying to see through to my very soul.
Then she asked, her voice taking on a sharper edge, "Where did you obtain your cultivation technique?"
"I received mine from the village chief, senior," I answered truthfully.
Her gaze snapped to the chief like a whip. The chief's heart clearly skipped a beat, but he did not hesitate.
"Yes, my lord," he said quickly. "I gave Shen Yuan a basic Longevity Breathing Technique. It is the one I practiced myself, suited for nourishing the body and prolonging life. Nothing profound or special."
"And you?" the envoy asked Huo Chen, her attention shifting smoothly.
"My elder brother gave it to me, senior," Huo Chen replied. "It is not a sect technique, just a normal cultivation method he bought outside."
The envoy nodded, seeming satisfied with these answers. Then she said, her voice commanding absolute attention, "Spirit roots. All of you, state them clearly."
Huo Chen spoke first, his voice steady. "Three-element spirit root, senior."
The envoy nodded. "Acceptable."
Yun Ruoxi stepped forward next, her movements graceful despite her nervousness. "Three-element spirit root, senior."
Feng Yanran followed. "Four-element spirit root, senior."
Liu Hu swallowed nervously, his voice trembling slightly. "Four-element spirit root, senior."
Finally, the envoy's gaze returned to me, and I felt her full attention settle like a mountain's weight. "And you?"
"Five-element spirit root, senior," I said clearly.
The reaction was far stronger this time. The envoy's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, her pupils contracting visibly. The jade-robed disciples exchanged shocked glances, their composure cracking.
"A five-element spirit root…" one of them murmured, unable to contain his surprise.
The envoy leaned back slowly, and for the first time, I saw her cold facade crack slightly. She exhaled softly, and there was something in that breath disappointment? Regret?
"One day to Qi Refining with a five-element root," she said quietly, almost to herself. "Such comprehension… such natural talent for cultivation…"
She shook her head slowly, and when she looked at me again, her eyes held genuine regret. Not mockery. Not disdain. True regret, the kind one feels when witnessing wasted potential.
"A pity," she said softly, and her voice carried a warmth that hadn't been there before. "Such a terrible fate."
She looked at me directly, and her expression softened almost imperceptibly. "I do not wish to see such talent buried in a remote village," she said.
And there was something almost gentle in her tone. "Do you want to enter the sect? Even with five elements, your comprehension is extraordinary. With enough resources and guidance, you could still achieve something worthwhile."
I bowed deeply, showing proper respect. "This junior thanks senior for her kindness and consideration."
Then I said carefully, choosing my words with precision, "But I do not wish to enter the sect as a cultivator."
The room fell silent again, the tension thickening. "Senior, I know my spiritual roots are lacking,"
I continued softly, keeping my voice respectful and resigned. "Pursuing the Dao of combat cultivation while knowing this reality would be self-deception. It would only bring me suffering and regret."
"I wish to live as a spiritual farmer instead, senior."
The envoy studied me for a long moment, her cold eyes searching my face. Then, surprisingly, she nodded with what seemed like approval.
"I understand," she said, and her voice carried genuine respect. "It takes wisdom to know one's limitations and courage to accept them without bitterness."
With a flick of her sleeve, a crescent-shaped jade token appeared in her palm, floating gently through the air. She sent it to me using spiritual energy, and I caught it carefully.
"If you wish," she said, her tone becoming more businesslike, "you may register as a spiritual farmer under the Sun Moon Spirit Sect. You can grow spirit herbs, spirit grains, and other cultivation resources for the sect."
My eyes flickered slightly with genuine interest. She continued, "Even if you do not pursue combat cultivation, this identity will protect you to some extent. You may also exchange sect contribution points for resources, seeds, and techniques unavailable to common farmers."
"If you change your mind in the future," she added, and her gaze softened again, "take this token and go to the outer sect's reception hall. Show them this token, and they will accept you without further testing."
"The offer stands for one year."
I bowed deeply, genuine gratitude in my posture. "Thank you, Senior Envoy. This junior is deeply grateful for your grace."
She waved her hand dismissively, but I noticed the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of her lips,but gone so quickly I might have imagined it.
Then she turned to the other four children, her expression returning to its cold, professional mask. "Do you wish to join the my Sun Moon Spirit Sect?"
"Yes, senior!" Huo Chen said without hesitation, his voice filled with determination.
The others nodded eagerly, their eyes bright with hope and ambition. "Good," the envoy said, her tone approving. "But first, you will undergo a test."
With a wave of her hand, an array plate appeared from her storage ring, floating down to rest on the floor. The plate was inscribed with complex patterns that seemed to shift and writhe like living things.
"This is a Heart Demon Testing Array," she explained, her voice taking on a teaching quality. "You will face your deepest desires, fears, and greed. The illusions will be as real as life itself, drawn from your own heart."
"All you need to do is break through the illusion in the least amount of time possible. If you pass within the required time, you will be accepted into the sect as outer disciples."
After the envoy finished explaining the heart-demon testing array, the room fell into a heavy silence.
The children were instructed to wait, standing to the sides of the hall with tense expressions.
The array plate was placed at the center by one of the green-robed disciples.
He formed a hand seal, activating it, and its surface slowly lit up with faint, shifting patterns that seemed to pulse with otherworldly light.
"Huo Chen," the envoy called calmly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Huo Chen's body stiffened. He inhaled deeply, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, and stepped forward with determination written across his young face.
Without saying a word, he walked into the formation and stood at its center.
The array activated immediately. A low hum filled the room, vibrating through the air and making the hairs on my arms stand up.
The light around Huo Chen twisted and warped, forming hazy silhouettes that only he could see.
His brows knitted together almost immediately, veins bulging slightly at his temples as he struggled against whatever he was witnessing.
Time passed slowly. I counted silently, watching the incense stick burning steadily in its holder. One incense stick.
When the final wisp of smoke burned away, the array's light faded like morning mist. Huo Chen staggered, catching himself before he fell.
His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat soaking through his clothes and dripping onto the floor.
"Good," the envoy said, and there was approval in her tone. "Your performance is acceptable."
Huo Chen exited the array on unsteady legs and was instructed to stand beside me.
When he reached my side, his hands were still trembling, though his eyes remained sharp and resolute saying I passed.
Next, the envoy turned her gaze slightly, and her cold eyes focused on the next candidate. "Yun Ruoxi."
Yun Ruoxi stepped forward gracefully, though I noticed her fingers curled tightly into her sleeves, betraying her nervousness.
She entered the array without hesitation, her back straight and proud.
The formation activated once more. Her expression remained calm at first, serene even, but soon a faint fear crept onto her delicate face.
Her breathing grew uneven, her lashes trembling as though she were resisting something heavy pressing down on her heart. Small beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
One incense stick burned steadily. The light dispersed like morning fog. Yun Ruoxi swayed slightly, then steadied herself with visible effort and stepped out.
Though her face was pale, her gaze was clear and focused.
"She passed," the envoy said simply, and I detected a hint of approval in her otherwise cold tone. "Well done."
Then came Feng Yanran. The moment she entered the formation, the array reacted more violently than before.
The light surged higher, casting flickering shadows across the hall that danced like demons. Her jaw clenched tightly, muscles standing out along her neck.
A soft grunt escaped her lips as she struggled, her body rigid as if locked in battle with an unseen enemy.
Time dragged on painfully. One incense stick burned away completely. Then half of another, the smoke curling slowly upward.
Only then did the formation finally quiet, its light dimming to nothing.
When Feng Yanran stepped out, her back was damp with sweat, her clothes clinging to her frame making her curves more visible, but her eyes burned fiercely with determination and pride.
"One and a half incense sticks," the envoy noted, her tone neutral. "Acceptable, though you struggled more than the others. Your heart demons are strong."
Finally, the envoy's gaze shifted to the last child, and her expression became slightly more stern. "Liu Hu."
To be honest, I didn't think he would pass.
Liu Hu swallowed hard, his face pale even before entering the array, looking almost sickly in the dim light.
His steps were hesitant, and for a moment I thought he might retreat entirely, might give up before even trying.
But in the end, he stepped inside, his small fists clenched at his sides. The formation activated with that same low hum.
Almost immediately, his face twisted in fear, raw terror written across every feature.
His body shook violently, and more than once it seemed as if he would collapse entirely, his knees buckling. Sweat poured down his face like rain.
Time passed slowly. One incense stick. Then another half. My brows furrowed slightly as I watched him struggle. Can he really endure this much longer?
Just when I thought he could go no further, that he would break and fail, Liu Hu let out a hoarse shout that echoed through the hall.
"Ahhh!!!"
He gritted his teeth hard enough that I thought they might crack, and forced himself upright through sheer willpower.
Two incense sticks burned nearly to the end, smoke curling toward the ceiling. Then, finally, the array dimmed.
Liu Hu fell to one knee the moment he stepped out, panting heavily, his entire body trembling as if he had been dragged back from the edge of a cliff, from the very brink of death or madness.
"Two incense sticks," the envoy said, and surprisingly, her tone carried a hint of approval. "Your will is stronger than your cultivation. That is commendable."
Against my expectations, he passed. I felt a small measure of respect for the boy. Whatever he had faced in there, he had refused to break.
After that, the envoy's gaze shifted slowly until it landed squarely on me. Her cold eyes seemed to see through everything, piercing through all my pretense.
"Shen Yuan."
The air seemed to tighten, growing heavy with anticipation. I stepped forward calmly, meeting her gaze without flinching.
"Senior," I asked respectfully, "what are your instructions?"
The envoy looked at me intently, and for a moment, something flickered in her cold eyes curiosity? Interest? It was hard to tell.
"Do you want to try this test?" she asked slowly, her voice softer than before.
"I wish to see how long you can endure, to know whether your comprehension is truly as extraordinary as you claim. I am also curious to see if your mental fortitude matches it."
I bowed respectfully. "Senior," I said carefully, "This junior knows he cannot change the fate of having five elements."
The envoy's brows lifted faintly, surprise showing on her usually impassive face. "If I discover that I possess good comprehension talent and strong mental fortitude,"
I continued, my voice steady and resigned,
"it would only make my heart bleed. It would fill my days with regret for what could never be changed, for potential that can never be realized. Please forgive this junior for declining."
I bowed deeply, showing the proper respect. The envoy looked at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable.
Then she nodded slowly, and when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly gentle.
"Alright," she said. "I understand your concern. That is... wise of you."
She paused, then tilted her head slightly, and I saw a hint of a smile touch her lips barely there, but real.
"However, I will give you a proposal."
"If you take this test to satisfy my curiosity, then I will give you a chance to request something I can do within my limits."
"Consider it... compensation for facing something that might bring you pain."
I hesitated. If I reject her now, that would be refusing to give her face. She's been kind to me, shown genuine concern. That could create problems later.
"What do you say?" she asked, and there was something almost playful in her tone. "Are you willing?"
I bowed again. "Yes, Senior Envoy. This junior will attempt the test."
… To be continued