Dark clouds gathered above the towering peaks of Azure Mountain Sect.
A cold wind swept across the stone plaza, carrying the smell of rain and wet earth. Hundreds of young hopefuls stood shoulder to shoulder in long lines, their eyes fixed on the massive jade altar at the center of the square.
This was the Spirit Testing Ceremony.
For mortals born in the surrounding kingdoms, this ceremony decided everything.
Those with spiritual roots would enter the path of cultivation.
Those without… would live and die as ordinary people.
At the altar sat an elderly man wearing flowing gray robes. His long white beard fluttered gently in the wind as he examined a glowing crystal sphere resting on a jade pedestal.
He was Elder Chen, one of the sect's outer elders.
His voice echoed across the plaza.
"Next."
A tall boy stepped forward nervously.
The elder placed the crystal sphere against the boy's chest.
The crystal suddenly flashed with bright red light.
Gasps spread across the crowd.
"High-grade Fire Spiritual Root," Elder Chen announced.
The boy's face turned pale with excitement.
"Accepted as an outer disciple."
Cheers erupted among the crowd.
Many young cultivators looked at the boy with envy.
Others clenched their fists.
Everyone wanted that opportunity.
Everyone wanted to step onto the immortal path.
"Next."
One by one, the youths stepped forward.
"Low-grade Water Root. Servant disciple."
"Dual Earth-Wood Root. Outer disciple."
"No spiritual root. Rejected."
Each announcement changed someone's fate forever.
Among the crowd stood a quiet boy wearing worn brown robes.
His name was Li Tian.
He looked younger than most others, perhaps sixteen years old. His clothes were simple, and his black hair was tied loosely behind his back.
But his eyes held a calm determination.
For years he had traveled across mountains and rivers just to reach this place.
Today would decide his future.
"Next," Elder Chen called again.
Li Tian stepped forward.
His footsteps echoed across the stone floor.
Some of the disciples whispered when they saw his clothes.
"Look at him."
"He looks like a beggar."
"Probably another useless mortal."
Li Tian ignored them.
He stood before the elder and bowed respectfully.
"Name?"
"Li Tian."
Elder Chen nodded slightly and picked up the crystal sphere.
"This will determine your spiritual root. Relax your mind."
The crystal was placed against Li Tian's chest.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then the crystal flickered faintly.
A small trace of light appeared inside it.
Li Tian's heart began to race.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
The light flickered again.
Then suddenly—
It vanished completely.
The crystal turned dull.
The plaza fell silent.
Elder Chen frowned slightly as he examined the crystal.
Then he sighed.
"Spiritual root… broken."
The words echoed across the plaza like a hammer striking stone.
For a moment, Li Tian didn't move.
Broken?
What did that mean?
Then laughter erupted around him.
"Hahaha!"
"A broken root?!"
"That's even worse than having none!"
"Total trash!"
Some disciples covered their mouths while laughing.
Others looked at Li Tian with pity.
Elder Chen shook his head.
"A broken spiritual root cannot absorb spiritual energy properly," he explained calmly. "Cultivation would be nearly impossible."
Li Tian felt the world spin slightly.
Nearly impossible…
All the years he spent dreaming of becoming a cultivator suddenly felt meaningless.
"However," Elder Chen continued, "you may remain as a servant disciple if you wish."
Servants cleaned the sect grounds, cooked meals, and handled basic labor.
They were the lowest class within the sect.
But at least they could stay near cultivators.
Li Tian lowered his head.
"I understand."
He turned and began walking away from the altar.
Behind him, the ceremony continued.
"Next!"
But Li Tian barely heard the voices anymore.
Rain finally began to fall.
Soft at first.
Then heavier.
As he walked down the long stone steps of the plaza, something cold suddenly pulsed against his chest.
Li Tian stopped.
Beneath his robe, a black ring rested on his finger.
It was old… ancient even.
He had found it years ago near the ruins of a destroyed temple in his village.
Until today, it had always been silent.
But now—
The ring trembled.
A faint dark light flickered across its surface.
Then a voice echoed inside Li Tian's mind.
Deep.
Ancient.
Cold.
"After ten thousand years…"
Li Tian froze.
"…I have finally found a suitable host."