Chapter 2: The Unwitting Recruit: Testing of the Spiritual Roots

Xin Yang, bewildered and at a loss, found himself wandering through the dark and foreboding forest, his mind plagued with questions about the strange realm he had seemingly been transported to. He couldn't shake off the nagging thought that he should be encountering immortals soaring through the skies, wielding powerful swords and unleashing mystical powers, yet he saw none. And even more pressing, he wasn't sure if he possessed the abilities of a cultivator himself.

But as he stumbled upon the hushed whispers of two men, a seemingly Brother He and Brother Wan, a glimmer of hope shone through. Carefully hiding behind a bush, he listened in on their conversation. It seemed they were up to something and in a rush to complete their task before they were caught. And with that, an idea struck Xin Yang.

With a burst of energy, he sprinted towards the men and exclaimed, "Brother He, Brother He!" pretending to be out of breath. The men, startled by the sudden intrusion, looked at him quizzically. Xin Yang quickly fabricated a story, claiming to be a disciple sent by Senior Brother Wan, with dire news that the Elder was calling for them, or else they would be hanged.

The men, caught off guard and fearful of the Elder's wrath, decided to believe him and make a hasty retreat. Xin Yang, seizing the opportunity, followed closely behind, pretending to keep pace with the men as they bolted through the forest. Along the way, Brother He, feeling important and pleased at being addressed as "Young Master", questioned Xin Yang about his cultivation level.

Xin Yang, thinking on his feet, claimed to have just begun cultivating, and Brother He, accepting the explanation, deemed him a new servant. But Xin Yang couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, and that he was being played for a fool by the two men.

As the men disappeared from sight, Xin Yang decided to go in his own path, and as he cautiously advanced, he caught a glimpse of a gathering in the distance. Curiosity getting the better of him, he made his way towards the gathering, where an elderly man atop a ledge was calling for people to come forward and place their hands on a slab. And it was there, that Xin Yang stumbled upon a crucial piece of information that would change the course of his journey, the existence of spiritual roots and the ranking system of talents.

Xin Yang, confused and disoriented, cautiously approaches the sound he had heard. As he draws near, he comes upon a gathering of people, all attentively listening to an elderly man perched atop a ledge. The man beckons for the gathering to come forward, one by one, and place their hands upon a mysterious slab.

Xin Yang, intrigued by this strange event, rushes to join the crowd. He finds himself surrounded by an array of individuals, each eyeing one another warily. It is then that a young man, arrogant and preening, steps forward, introducing himself as the young master of the Fu clan. As he steps forward to place his hand upon the slab, the crowd murmurs and a group of women screech in excitement.

Xin Yang watches in confusion as the young master's hand is bathed in a red light upon the slab. The elderly man explains that the color represents one's spiritual root, with red indicating a high-level talent, yellow a medium-level talent, and green a low-level talent. Orange, the highest level of talent, was last seen over 100,000 years ago.

As the crowd takes their turn at the slab, Xin Yang feels a mounting sense of trepidation. He does not yet understand the significance of this test, nor does he know if he is even a cultivator. Eventually, it is his turn. As he reaches out to touch the slab, he closes his eyes and is immediately engulfed in a green light.

As Xin Yang struggled to come to terms with the revelation of his low-level talent, the elder in charge of the testing ceremony began to explain the next steps for those who had been accepted into the Blessed Light Sect. The elder, an experienced cultivator with a vast knowledge of the realms, spoke with a sense of authority and gravitas that commanded the attention of all who were present.

He spoke of the rigorous training and cultivation that lay ahead for those who had been accepted, and the trials and tribulations that they would have to overcome in order to ascend to higher realms and reach the pinnacle of power. He spoke of the perils and dangers that they would face, and the sacrifices that they would have to make in order to achieve their goals.

But despite the daunting nature of the journey ahead, Xin Yang felt a sense of excitement and anticipation building within him. He knew that the path ahead would not be easy, but he was determined to do whatever it takes to reach the top and become a true immortal.

As the ceremony came to a close and the newly accepted disciples were led away to begin their training, Xin Yang could not help but feel a sense of unease and foreboding. He knew that there were powerful forces at play in the realm, and that there were those who would stop at nothing to prevent him from reaching his full potential.

But he also knew that he was not alone in this journey, he would rise to the challenge and emerge victorious.