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?"
"The envoy wishes to see you," he said. "All the children who awakened spirit roots have already been gathered."
My heart sank—only slightly.
So it had come to this.
"The envoy is waiting," the chief continued, his tone firm. "Don't waste his 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.
Cultivation pressure.
At the center of the room sat the blue-robed envoy of the Sun Moon Spirit Sect.
He was seated comfortably, one arm resting against the chair's armrest, fingers tapping lightly as if lost in thought. His robe was a deep, dignified blue, embroidered with faint crescent-moon patterns that shimmered subtly in the light.
Behind him stood two jade-green robed disciples.
Late-stage Qi Refining.
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."
"I greet the envoy, senior," we echoed.
The envoy's tapping fingers stopped.
"Stand," he said calmly.
We obeyed.
His gaze swept across us slowly, deliberately—lingering on our faces, our breathing, the faint fluctuations of qi around our bodies.
When his gaze passed over me, I subtly tightened my control.
Perfect.
To his perception, I was merely a newly initiated Qi Refining cultivator—nothing more.
The envoy finally leaned back slightly and looked at the chief.
"Chief," he said, his voice even but heavy with authority, "you reported that these children underwent spirit root testing two days ago."
"Yes, my lord," the chief replied respectfully.
The envoy nodded once.
"And yet," he continued, lifting a finger, "I sense that two of them have already stepped into cultivation."
His 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.
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."
The envoy's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Two days," he repeated.
Then he looked at us again.
"Tell me," he 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."
The envoy nodded slowly.
"That is within reason."
Then his gaze turned to me.
"And you?" he asked.
I stepped forward half a pace and bowed.
"One day," I replied calmly.
The reaction was immediate.
The kids beside me frozen. astonished. jealous.
The envoy straightened slightly.
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.
"Yes, senior."
Silence descended upon the room.
The envoy studied me for a long time, his gaze sharp and penetrating.
Then he asked, "Where did you obtain your cultivation techniques?"
"I received mine from the village chief," I answered.
His gaze snapped to the chief.
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 suited for nourishing the body. Nothing profound."
"And you?" the envoy asked Huo Chen.
"My elder brother gave it to me," Huo Chen replied. "It is not a sect technique."
The envoy nodded.
Then he said, "Spirit roots. All of you state them."
Huo Chen spoke first. "Three-element spirit root."
The envoy nodded. "Acceptable."
Yun Ruoxi stepped forward next. "Three-element spirit root."
Feng Yanran followed. "Four-element spirit root."
Liu Hu swallowed nervously. "Four-element spirit root."
Finally, the envoy looked at me again.
"And you?"
"Five-element spirit root," I said.
The reaction was far stronger this time.
The envoy's pupils contracted visibly.
The jade-robed disciples exchanged shocked glances.
"A five-element spirit root…" one of them murmured.
The envoy leaned back slowly and exhaled.
"One day to Qi Refining with a five-element root," he said quietly. "Such comprehension…"
He shook his head.
"A pity."
Not mockery.
Not disdain.
Regret.
He looked at me again.
"I do not wish to see such talent buried in a remote village, do you want to enter the sect ?" he said.
I bowed deeply.
"This junior thanks senior for his kindness."
Then I said carefully, "But I do not wish to enter the sect as a cultivator."
The room fell silent again.
"Senior, I know my spiritual roots are lacking," I continued softly. "Pursuing the Dao regardless would be a self-deception."
"I wish to live as a spiritual farmer."
The envoy studied me for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"I understand."
With a flick of his sleeve, a crescent-shaped jade token appeared in his palm. He sent it to me using spritual energy.
"If you wish," he said, "you may register as a spiritual farmer under the Sun Moon Spirit Sect."
My eyes flickered slightly.
He continued.
"Even if you do not pursue combat cultivation, this identity will protect you to some extent and also you may exchange sect contribution points for resources, seeds, and techniques unavailable to commoners."
"If you change your mind in future, take this token and go to the outer sect's reception hall."
"The offer stands for a year."
"Thankyou Senior Envoy."
He turned to the other four children.
"Do you wish to join the Sun Moon Spirit Sect?"
"Yes!" Huo Chen said without hesitation.
The others nodded eagerly.
"Good," the envoy said.
"But first...you will undergo a test."
With a wave of his hand, an array plate appeared.
"This is a Heart Demon Testing Array," he said.
"You will face your deepest desires, fears, and greed."
"All you need to do is Break through the illusion in the least amount of time."
After the envoy finished explaining the heart-demon testing array, the room fell into a heavy silence.
The other children were instructed to wait, standing to the sides of the hall.
The array plate was placed at the center, its surface slowly lighting up with faint, shifting patterns.
"Huo Chen," the blue-robed envoy called calmly.
Huo Chen's body stiffened. He inhaled deeply, clenched his fists, and stepped forward.
Without saying a word, he walked into the formation and stood at its center.
The array activated.
A low hum filled the room.
The light around Huo Chen twisted, forming hazy silhouettes only he could see. His brows knitted together almost immediately, veins bulging slightly at his temples.
Time passed slowly.
I counted silently.
One incense stick.
When the final wisp of smoke burned away, the array's light faded.
Huo Chen staggered, catching himself before he fell. His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat soaking through his clothes.
"Good," the envoy said.
Huo Chen exited the array and was instructed to stand beside me. When he reached my side, his hands were still trembling, though his eyes were sharp and resolute.
He passed.
Next, the envoy turned his gaze slightly.
"Yun Ruoxi."
Yun Ruoxi stepped forward gracefully, though I noticed her fingers curled tightly into her sleeves. She entered the array without hesitation.
The formation activated once more.
Her expression remained calm at first, but soon a faint pallor crept onto her face. Her breathing grew uneven, her lashes trembling as though she were resisting something heavy pressing down on her heart.
One incense stick burned.
The light dispersed.
Yun Ruoxi swayed, then steadied herself and stepped out. Though her face was pale, her gaze was clear.
"She passed," the envoy said simply.
Then came Feng Yanran.
The moment she entered the formation, the array reacted more violently. The light surged higher, casting flickering shadows across the hall.
Her jaw clenched tightly. A soft grunt escaped her lips as she struggled, her body rigid as if locked in battle with an unseen enemy.
Time dragged on.
One incense stick burned away.
Then half of another.
Only then did the formation finally quiet.
When Feng Yanran stepped out, her back was damp with sweat, but her eyes burned fiercely.
"One and a half incense," the envoy noted.
Finally, the envoy looked toward Liu Hu.
To be honest, I didn't think he would pass.
Liu Hu swallowed hard, his face pale even before entering the array. His steps were hesitant, and for a moment I thought he might retreat.
But in the end, he stepped inside.
The formation activated.
Almost immediately, his face twisted in fear. His body shook violently, and more than once it seemed as if he would collapse entirely.
Time passed.
One incense.
Then another half.
My brows furrowed slightly.
Just when I thought he could go no further, Liu Hu let out a hoarse shout, gritted his teeth, and forced himself upright.
Two incense sticks burned nearly to the end.
Then the array finally 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.
"Two incense," the envoy said, his tone carrying a hint of approval.
Against my expectations…
He passed.
After that, the envoy's gaze shifted slowly—until it landed on me.
"Shen Yuan."
The air seemed to tighten.
I stepped forward.
"Senior," I asked calmly, "what are your instructions?"
The envoy looked at me intently.
"Do you want to try this test. I wish to see," he said slowly, "how long you can endure."
"Senior," I said respectfully, "this junior knows he cannot change the fate of having five elements."
The envoy's brows lifted faintly.
"If I discover that I possess good comprehension talent ," I continued, my voice steady, "it would only make my heart bleed and fill my days with regret for what could never be changed. Please forgive this junior."
I bowed deeply.
The envoy looked at me for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Alright," he said. "I understand your concern
—
The test ended, the envoy looked at four of them.
"You all have passed," he said.
"From this moment onward, you are outer sect disciples of the Sun Moon Spirit Sect."
Tokens were distributed.
"I will depart this evening," he continued. "If you are ready, come with me."
"Otherwise, arrive at the sect within one month. Or your status will be revoked"
"Now go do your things"
We bowed deeply. Left the office hall.
As I stepped out into the sunlight, my thoughts were heavy.