The tests proceeded calmly after Elder Tian's demonstration. No one dared question anything further.
Those who had passed gathered behind the elder, while those who had failed left with their heads down.
Some sniffled with tears in their eyes, others let long sighs escape, but all remained silent.
Soon, more than two hundred faced the test, but only forty passed.
"Next!" Elder Su's voice rang out as a pale beauty stepped forward with a graceful step.
Ling Tian had to admit, she was even more attractive now that she was his woman.
Stopping in front of the pillar, she gracefully raised her hand and touched the stone structures, which immediately shook. In the next moment, eight lights lit up on the pillar.
Elder Su parted his lips to deliver his verdict, yet something gave him pause. His weathered eyes narrowed as he moved a step forward to look at the age pillar.
"S-seventeen years of age. Elementary Spirit Realm, Eighth Stage, approved," the elder spoke, is stuttering but quickly regains his composure before calling for the next one.
In over a hundred years of recruiting for the Sect, he had only seen someone at the Eighth Stage of the Elementary Spirit Realm, while only at seventeen, a handful of times.
The elder exhaled, visibly moved. A true genius, after all these years.
Whispers rippled through the crowd around him.
"Eighth Stage at seventeen? What a genius — who is she?"
"Isn't that the Young Lady of the Yun Clan? I had no idea she was this gifted."
"Quiet, Elder Su is looking over here."
Yun Xi returned to his side shortly after.
"As expected of my woman," he murmured, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
She met his smile with one far lovelier.
A few more were called until Han Jian stepped forward. He seemed to have calmed his mind, but as soon as he noticed Ling Tian in the corner of his eyes filled with anger.
Stopping in front of the pillar, he took a slow breath and pressed his hand on the stone structures.
He could feel Han Jian's aura when they met, and his aura was very unstable.
Tch... as expected, he must be a rich, arrogant young master, using their wealth just to make them have high cultivation!
His family had no doubt poured a fortune into inflating his cultivation, all to make their noble lineage appear more gifted than those born without money.
Fortunately, he had no time to dwell on the irony of someone like him complaining about another man's fortune.
The pillar was trembling as the lights slowly came on.
Elder Su's eyebrows rose slightly, but soon a smile took over his face.
"As expected of Young Master Han, you are already close to being an inner disciple. Twenty years of age. Elementary Spirit Realm, Ninth Stage, approved."
As he joined the rest of the passers, Han Jian cast a teasing glance in Ling Tian's direction.
You dare to obstruct this young master. Let's see if you common people can beat that! Han Jian thought, trying to force some confidence into his face.
Then he saw the girl that standing closely next to Ling Tian, and he noticed that it was a young lady of the Yun Clan. He saw he when she took her test just now, it made him happy that they will be in the same sect.
Han Jian met her at a noble clan meeting a few years ago. He had had a crush on since long ago, and even tried to ask his family to arrange a marriage between them. But now, looking at her standing closely with another man, a commoner at that, which made his heart burn even more.
Who the hell are you? Yun Xi is mine! Why the hell is she standing next to you?! A commoner.
Han Jian gritted his teeth, trying to control his murderous intent, but a little still leaked out, all focused on Ling Tian.
With that inflated ego of yours… You are only looking for your own death. What a pathetic little man...
Ling Tian shook his head. He didn't know why he was so angry at him, but that level of murderous intent was barely affecting him; Elder Su sensed it perfectly.
The old man's eyes focused on Jian for a few brief moments before he sighed. His expression looked disappointed as he called for the next person to be tested.
Soon, it was Ling Tian's turn.
He stood in front of the pillar and touched it lightly. A light took over the structure, and exactly eight lights came on.
Han Jian's eyes shone more darkly than before, his body trembling as rage overflowed to his face.
Elder Su parted his lips to deliver his verdict, yet his weathered eyes twitched once more.
Another one?! The elder exhaled, barely concealing his excitement.
The girl from before had already been remarkable, and now another genius revealed himself within the same selection.
From the aura radiating off Ling Tian's body alone, he could already sense that the boy's spiritual roots would be extraordinary, perhaps even rivalling the girls. The two of them would likely become pillars of the Sect one day.
"Eighteen years of age. Elementary Spirit Realm, Eighth Stage, approved," Elder Tian finally announced the result.
Han Jian's face crumpled as he clenched his fists tightly.
Ling Tian returned to his spot, where Yun Xi's bright voice greeted him immediately.
"As expected of you, Tian. You truly are incredible!" Xi'er beamed, her smile radiant with admiration.
The scene only made Han Jian even angrier with jealousy.
Why is Yun Xi acting so close to that bastard? What is their relationship?
"Don't get too cocky, you commoner; there's still the spiritual roots test and combat test. Even if you have high cultivation, a commoner like you won't be able to defeat an inner disciple. You will fail!" Han Jian growled between his teeth.
The rest of the tests were less exciting. Lots of failures and a few high-level spirit roots, nothing more.
"Good," Elder Su smiled as he looked at the crowd.
The numbers had dropped considerably - the five hundred who had passed the will test had been reduced to just one hundred and twenty.
The quality was lacking, but the numbers were acceptable.
"Follow me, we're going to the next test to start the Spiritual Roots test," Elder Su's voice echoed as he started walking.
Everyone had anxious, curious expressions as they moved to the other place.
Even if they were rejected, just seeing the inside of the Sect would be enough for some of them.