Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 720: Bone Foundation Test

“What's with the attitude?!” The Vast Sea Daoist Lord immediately flared up upon seeing the Innate Daoist Priest’s friendly greeting met with nothing but a disdainful snort.

That person narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the Vast Sea Daoist Lord. Aside from the Yu Emperor and the first Imperial Preceptor, I’ve never encountered anyone who dares to speak to me like this.

In his eyes, the Vast Sea Daoist Lord was already a dead man.

If not for the occasion being inappropriate, I could crush this mortal a thousand times over with a mere thought.

Noticing an argument about to break out between the two, the Innate Daoist Priest hastily stepped between them. “Fang Ya, that’s enough. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have greeted him directly. He’s probably shy around strangers; let’s be understanding.”

If this were the Great Yu era, the Innate Daoist Priest would have assumed the other party was unwilling to engage with him; he had much experience with this. Cultivators in the Great Yu era might not speak for half a day, communicating only with a snort or a glance, as if everyone was deaf and mute.

But now was the Great Xia era. Based on his observations over the past few months, people in Great Xia were relatively optimistic and cheerful, unlikely to be so impolite as to snort coldly.

This person is probably just timid and shy around strangers.

Gun Junye sighed softly but said nothing.

The person was about to speak when a commotion from the crowd interrupted him.

Mist rose and morphed into an auspicious cloud that lifted Dai Bufan. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Dai Bufan wore a solemn expression as he addressed the densely packed crowd of participants in a clear voice.

“I am Dai Bufan, the person in charge of the entrance trials.

“The entrance trials this time consist of three rounds. Those who pass all three may become disciples of the Dao-Seeking Sect.

“Now, we shall begin with the first round—the bone foundation test. Line up in order of arrival. I will test your bone foundation.

“The rules for the first round are simple. Anyone under sixteen years of age who either possesses a minimal aptitude of Triple Spirit Root or a special constitution will pass the first round.”

Those accompanying the participants consciously moved away from the Dao-Seeking Sect’s mountain gate to await the final results, hoping their juniors would be fortunate enough to join the Dao-Seeking Sect.

Dai Bufan sat upright behind a table, and before him was a long queue. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou stood on his sides like two guardian deities, their hands clasped behind their backs.

Their eyes roved restlessly, searching for Gu Junye, but they couldn’t locate him after looking for a long while; there were simply too many people.

The first person sat down and extended a hand. Like a physician diagnosing one’s pulse, Dai Bufan placed two fingers on his wrist and circulated his cultivation technique, examining this individual’s condition.

“Age is suitable. Metal-Water Dual Spirit Root. Not bad. What is your name?”

The first person felt overwhelmed and flattered. “I am Pang Yu!”

“Alright, you pass. Go ahead.”

The first person had a Dual Spirit Root. Dai Bufan felt that today's luck was good. It seems this intake will recruit many disciples with decent aptitude.

He tested thirty people in a row, and all had either a Dual Spirit Root or a Triple Spirit Root.

The mortals coming to participate in the Dao-Seeking Sect’s entrance trials could be divided into two categories—those who heard about the recruitment and came at their own expense to try their luck and those whom Dai Bufan had previously identified as potentially meeting the sect’s standards.

Dai Bufan had sought out qualified mortals in advance because he was worried they might otherwise go to the Five-Elements Sect or the Prison Suppression Sect.

The Five-Elements Sect, the Prison Suppression Sect, and the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace would conduct covert preliminary screenings before recruitment. They would then show themselves to candidates who passed and inform them that they could go to their respective sects.

Since the other immortals did this, if the Dao-Seeking Sect didn’t follow suit, they would be at a disadvantage.

In fact, many disciples mentioned in their mission reports that they had run into other immortal sect disciples. There were even instances where a single mortal was secretly observed by multiple immortal sects.

When such candidates were notified by several immortal sects that they could participate in the entrance trials, they would typically choose the Dao-Seeking Sect.

By joining the Dao-Seeking Sect, perhaps they could also become protagonists in Saga of the Dao-Seeking Sect.

“Triple Spirit Root. Are you Zhuang Ping?” Dai Bufan suddenly asked.

“Yes, I am Zhuang Ping. Is there anything wrong?”

“Nothing. You may go ahead.” Dai Bufan suppressed the urge to ask further, recalling Ji Hongwen’s mission report.

Out of kindness, Ji Hongwen had reported the case to the authorities, sending both the higher-ups of the Sea-Listening Sect and Zhuang Ping’s mother to prison. He was even considerate enough to assist with arranging prison visitation procedures for Zhuang Ping.

Originally, I thought Zhuang Ping wouldn’t choose the Dao-Seeking Sect. I didn’t expect him to actually come.

About half the participants had completed the bone foundation test. Aside from a few trying to slip through the tracks, most had passed the first round.

“A Dual Spirit Root temporarily faked with pills? Did you think I wouldn’t notice? You fail.” Dai Bufan shot a glance, signaling Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to take action. They escorted the person away to be dealt with later.

Using pills to fake one’s spirit root was undoubtedly for fraudulent purposes. A mere mortal couldn’t access such a level of pills; there must be someone behind it.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou stepped forward and hauled the person away, handing him over to Man Gu and Li Haoran. Then, they resumed their positions like door deities flanking Dai Bufan.

Finally, someone Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were familiar with arrived.

Gu Junye exchanged a glance with the Xuanyuan Sword Master and the Unbreakable Saint. After all, the three of them had once fought valiantly across the realms, warring the heavens above and the abyss below and quelling turmoil in the human realm. The camaraderie forged through such bloody battles can’t be erased by mere cycles of reincarnation!

He confidently extended his arm.

“Water Spirit Root? Are you Gu Junye?” Dai Bufan was surprised. From Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou’s report, it was clear they held Gu Junye in extremely high regard.

“Indeed.”

Gu Junye possessed a Water Spirit Root, the same as Dai Bufan’s.

Dai Bufan also discerned that Gu Junye had undergone long-term physical training. Such a level of tempering is impossible without tremendous perseverance. This indicates that he has a steadfast Dao heart.

He pondered. If his other qualities are truly as impressive as Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had claimed, passing the trials shouldn’t be a problem. Should I accept him as a disciple on Shifu’s behalf, like what Senior Sister Yun did with Lu Yang?

Oh, wait, our situations are different. The sect leader was imprisoned and couldn’t take disciples, but my own shifu is still alive and kicking. There’s no need for me to be a proxy; I can just have Shifu take him as a disciple directly.

“Alright, you may go ahead.” Dai Bufan waved his hand. He found Gu Junye’s tone somewhat amiss, but didn’t think much about it. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Gu Junye moved away, revealing the next person, whose appearance wrung Dai Bufan’s heart painfully.

“Hello, my name is Qi Tong. I’m here to participate in the trials.”

Dai Bufan had long heard that their Founding Ancestor also intended to participate in the trials. Although he was mentally prepared, encountering him in person still felt very awkward.

Should I offer my seat to the Founding Ancestor and let him sit here?

Dai Bufan placed two fingers on his Founding Ancestor’s wrist and instantly determined his spirit root.

“Wood Spirit Root. You pass.”

This didn’t involve pulling strings and connections through the back door; the Innate Daoist Priest genuinely had a Wood Spirit Root.

The Innate Daoist Priest originally had a Triple Spirit Root, but after dispersing his cultivation to cultivate anew, it improved to a Dual Spirit Root. Following that, Yun Zhi personally went to the Luoshui Guard headquarters to explain the situation. She removed the Golden Cicada Shell from Tao Tingfeng and brought it back.

With the help of the Golden Cicada Shell, the Innate Daoist Priest’s aptitude reached the zenith, becoming a Single Spirit Root.