"What is this attitude!" Vast Sea Daoist Lord blocked the forefather’s kind greeting, only to be met with a scornful cold snort, and immediately grew angry.

The person narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Vast Sea Daoist Lord carefully. Besides Emperor Yu and the original Imperial Teacher, he had yet to see anyone dare to speak to him in such a manner. In his eyes, Vast Sea Daoist Lord was already a dead man.

Were it not for the inappropriate circumstance, he could crush this mortal to death a thousand times over with just a thought.

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, Daoist Xiantian quickly stepped between them, "Fang Ya, that’s enough, that’s enough. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have greeted them directly. They are probably shy. Try to understand."

If it were the Great Yu Era, Daoist Xiantian would think the other party simply didn’t want to talk to him—a feeling he was very familiar with. During the Great Yu Era, a cultivator could go half a day without speaking a word. If they weren’t snorting coldly, they were using their gaze to signal, just like deaf-mutes.

But now it was the Great Xia Era and, according to his observations over this past half a year, the people of Great Xia were more optimistic and cheerful. They wouldn’t coldly snort so rudely. The other party was most likely shy and fearful.

Gu Junye sighed softly but did not speak.

Just as the person was about to speak, a commotion amongst the crowd interrupted him.

A mist of water rose, forming auspicious clouds, lifting Dai Bufan aloft.

With hands clasped behind his back and a solemn expression, Dai Bufan spoke loudly to the throng of people who had come to take part in the examination:

"I am the main person in charge of this examination, Dai Bufan."

"This examination has three rounds. Those who pass all three rounds may become disciples of the Seek Dao Sect."

"We shall now begin the first round of the examination, the Spirit Root test."

"You must form a line in order, awaiting my assessment of your Spirit Roots."

"The rules for the first round are simple. Anyone under the age of sixteen, with Three Spirit Roots or higher or possessing a special physique, may pass the first round.

Accompanying persons should keep a distance from the gate of Seek Dao Sect and wait for the final result, hoping that their younger generation may have the fortune to join the Seek Dao Sect.

Dai Bufan sat at the table, in front of him a long queue, with Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou standing behind him with folded arms like two protectors.

Both of their eyes were restless, searching for Gu Junye’s position. However, after looking for quite some time, they couldn’t find him due to the crowd being too large.

The first person sat down and extended their hand. Dai Bufan took the pulse like a doctor. With just a simple touch of two fingers, he activated his cultivation technique and quickly understood the person’s situation.

"Appropriate age, Gold and Water Dual Spirit Roots, good. What’s your name?" Discover hidden content at Freewebnovel

The first person, when asked their name, was pleasantly surprised: "My name is Pang Yu!"

"Alright, you’ve passed. Go on through."

The first one had Dual Spirit Roots, which made Dai Bufan feel that his luck was good today; it seemed they were going to recruit many disciples with decent talent this year.

He tested thirty people in a row, all with Dual Spirit Roots or Three Spirit Roots.

There are two types of mortals who come to participate in the examinations of the Seek Dao Sect. One type hears about recruitment and pays their own expenses to try their luck. The other is singled out by Dai Bufan, suspected of having the qualifications suitable for the Seek Dao Sect.

Dai Bufan seeks out qualified mortals in advance because he is worried they might head to the Five Elements Sect or the Prison Suppressing Sect instead.

The Five Elements Sect, Prison Suppressing Sect, and Laurel Fairy Palace would conduct covert pre-examination investigations before recruiting and would appear in person to inform those who pass that they are welcome at their sects.

Such practices were common among the immortal sects, and if the Seek Dao Sect didn’t do the same, they’d be at a disadvantage.

In fact, many disciples mentioned in their mission reports that while on their tasks, they encountered disciples from other immortal sects. There had even been cases of one mortal being observed by multiple immortal sects.

When several immortal sects inform someone that they can participate in their entry tests, they usually choose the Seek Dao Sect.

Joining the Seek Dao Sect, perhaps I too could become the protagonist of "Legend of the Dao Sect".

"Three Spirit Roots, are you Zhuang Ping?" Dai Bufan suddenly asked.

"Yes, I am Zhuang Ping. May I ask what this is about?"

"Nothing much, you may proceed." Dai Bufan suppressed the urge to continue questioning and remembered the mission report from Ji Hongwen.

Ji Hongwen kindly reported the crime, sending both the upper echelons of the listening sect and Zhuang Ping’s mother to the prison, even taking care of Zhuang Ping’s process for visiting the prison, which was extremely considerate.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I originally thought Zhuang Ping wouldn’t choose the Seek Dao Sect, yet unexpectedly he really did come.

Half of the people had already completed the bone test. Aside from a few who were trying to bluff their way through, most had passed the first round of tests.

"Using elixirs to temporarily forge Dual Spirit Roots, did you really think I couldn’t see through it? You have failed." Dai Bufan gave a look, signaling Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to take action, leading the person away for later processing.

Using elixirs to falsify Spirit Roots must be for fraud. A mere mortal couldn’t possibly obtain such high-level elixirs on their own; there must be someone else behind it.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou stepped forward and took the person away, handing him over to Man Gu and Li Haoran. Afterwards, they continued to stand by Dai Bufan’s side, like guardian deities.

At last, a familiar face arrived for Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Gu Junye gave a meaningful look to the Sword Master Xuanyuan and the Saint Invincible, for they had once fought side by side across the world, assaulted the Heavenly Realm above and hunted the Abyss below, and settled the chaos within the realm of humans. Such a bond forged in battle couldn’t be eroded by mere reincarnation!

He then generously extended his arm.

"Water Spirit Root? Are you Gu Junye?" Dai Bufan exclaimed in surprise, for from the reports of Lu Yang and the others, it wasn’t hard to tell that they highly regarded Gu Junye.

"Indeed, I am."

Gu Junye possessed a Water Spirit Root, the same type of Spirit Root as Dai Bufan.

Dai Bufan also realized that Gu Junye had undergone long-term training, something that couldn’t be achieved without great perseverance, indicating a resolute Dao heart.

Dai Bufan pondered if Gu Junye really was as outstanding as Lu Yang and his colleague had praised, passing the tests shouldn’t be a problem. Should he offer to take him as a disciple on behalf of his own mentor, just like Senior Sister Yun did with Lu Yang?

Oh no, that’s not right; the two situations are different. The Sect Leader was imprisoned and couldn’t take disciples, while his own master was alive and well, bouncing around energetically. There’s no need to take a disciple on his mentor’s behalf; it’s best to let his master do it.

"Alright, you may proceed." Dai Bufan waved his hand, somehow feeling that there was something off about Gu Junye’s tone, but didn’t think too much of it.

As Gu Junye walked away, he revealed the person standing behind, causing Dai Bufan’s heart to clench.

"Hello, my name is Qi Tong, and I’m here to participate in the tests."

Dai Bufan had long heard that the Ancestor of their sect was going to participate in the tests as well. Although mentally prepared, the reality still felt awkward.

Should he offer his seat to the Ancestor, letting the Ancestor sit where he was?

With a touch of his two fingers, Dai Bufan instantly measured the Ancestor’s Spirit Root.

"Wood Spirit Root, passed."

This wasn’t favoritism; Daoist Xiantian did possess a Wood Spirit Root.

Daoist Xiantian’s original talent was Three Spirit Roots, but after starting over after disbanding his cultivation, his talent changed to Dual Spirit Roots.

Later, the Eldest Senior Sister personally visited the headquarters of the Luoshui Guards to explain the situation, where she extracted the Gold Cicada from Tao Tingfeng and brought it back.

With the help of the Gold Cicada, Daoist Xiantian’s talent reached new peaks, transforming him into a cultivator with a Single Spiritual Root.