Outer Sect Exam

Lin Yan walked toward the Luan mountain range at his own pace leisurely. He did not know the timing so he got ready quite early.

He could still the moon high in the sky. At this time, it wasn't crimson. Only on the last day of the month would it be bright red.

After a little time passed with strolling here and there. Lin Yan reached the entrance gate of the Mystic Wood sect. There were no guards positioned at the entrance gate. In truth, there was no point in doing that.

The whole desolate region was only a few hundred thousand kilometres large and most of it was covered in enormous mountain ranges. Due to this reason, there was only a single massive Town which was Moonlight Town with dozens of villages surrounding it. The population of the entire desolate region was only over a hundred thousand people, of which only over a thousand were cultivators; the rest were mere mortals. So, no mere mortal was brave enough to trespass the sect's ground without any permission. As for the bandits, there was not a single one.

The other two sects were also in a friendly relationship with the Mystic Wood sect.

Given that their ancestors were siblings over a millennium ago, external disputes between the sects were nonexistent outside the sect grounds.

Lin Yan entered the picturesque mountain range, characterized by a gentle slope near the entrance.

The entrance gate, crafted from luminous jade, gleamed under the morning sun's initial rays.

After seeking guidance from fellow servant disciples about the route, he eventually discerned the path leading to the outer sect gate.

As Lin Yan ventured into the outer region of the Mystic Wood Sect, the landscape became adorned with an increasing number of towering giant trees.

This was the reason why there was the wood term in the name of the sect.

Everywhere the eyes could reach, a lush expanse of green trees stretched as far as the eye could see.

Taking in the enchanting scenery along the journey, Lin Yan eventually reached the area marking the commencement of the outer sect.

He saw that there were stairs paved into the mountain and seemingly reaching up to the ethereal clouds.

Wow! If the outer sect is like this then what about the inner and core region?

Lin Yan stared in awe, his attention fixated on the stairs. Yet, in the next instant, a chuckle escaped him, and he began ascending towards the peak.

After a few moments passed Lin Yan finally reached the main entrance of the Outer sect.

The pillars of the entrance gate were intricately carved from solid wood, their colossal size resembling that of a towering wood golem.

He observed the expansive two-story jade building directly ahead, taking note of the intricately engraved name on its front wall.

Outer Sect Entrance Hall. Hmm. It's lame. Why would they name it so obvious? Hmm. There are some people inside. Let's see it myself.

Lin Yan stepped into the pagoda-like structure and found dozens of individuals around the age of fifteen arranged in two groups before a large stone tablet.

Directing his attention to the front of the lined-up group, Lin Yan spotted a handsome young man seated atop a wooden structure. His silent gaze swept over each person in front of him.

He observed the presence of two elderly men seated at the rear of the hall, comfortably lounging on furniture while indulging in drinks.

Lin Yan did not try to do anything stupid and joined the line too. He looked at the three people who were grouped behind the white-robed handsome young man. They have a relieved look on their faces while they stare at the lined-up people with indifferent faces.

Lin Yan used his inspect on them and understood why they had that look when looking at the young people at the front. All three of them had a low talent and triple Spiritual root.

They must have passed the exam I guess. Weird, how did so many people arrive earlier than me? Did they come here the previous night or something?

Lin Yan was shocked but his face became even more shocked when he noticed the status of the white-robed man at the front.

[ Name: Mo Daozi ]

[ Age: 25 ]

[ Destiny Child: Nature Blessed Ring ]

[ Bloodline: Blazing Dragon (Locked)]

[ Cultivation: 2nd layer of the Qi Refining ]

[ Talent: High Level ]

[ Spiritual Root: Fire ]

HUH? What? Are you kidding me? A freaking destiny child? No fucking way...

Lin Yan stared at Mo Daozi's status intensely. He never even thought that there would be a destiny child in this cultivation world. But here it was, seated leisurely in front of him. He was too shocked at first but when he looked at the locked bloodline and his cultivation realm, he only had a single thought going in his mind.

I'll fuckin take that ring...

Lin Yan made up his mind and began to look at Mo Daozi's fingers, checking out for the damn ring.

It isn't in his hand, huh? Clever bastard. He must have hidden it somewhere in his robe. Hmm? Neck. He must be wearing it on his neck...

Lin Yan did not look at him anymore and used inspect skill on everyone present as he was bored.

He found out that there were only two more people in the line who had triple Spiritual Roots.

Everyone else was only wasting their time.

He didn't care about them so he didn't give them a second look.

After that, Liin Yan focused his attention on the two elders at the corner of the hall and used inspect skills on them.

[ Name: Cheng Rui ]

[ Age: 420 ]

[ Cultivation: 4th layer of Dantian Forging ]

[ Talent: Average ]

[Spiritual Root: Wood & Fire ]

[ Name: Feng Xiang ]

[ Age: 458 ]

[ Cultivation: 6th layer of Dantain Forging]

[ Talent: Average ]

[ Spiritual Root: Water & Metal ]

Hmm. Dantian Forging realm. It must be one or two realms later the Qi Refining realm. Hmm. They look like elders of the sect from their attire and the way they are drinking with no care whatsoever. But, why are they here in the outer sect exam? Hmm... Maybe for recruiting personal disciples?

Lin Yan gave the drinkers one last look before he focused his attention on the front and waited patiently for his turn.

He observed all the young people leaving one by one, their faces miserable, some even started to cry immediately after seeing no reaction from the stone tablet.

Lin Yan didn't pity them, according to him, they should feel relieved. As they could get to live their lives normally.

The cultivation world was extremely cruel, not everyone could just walk on the path of immortality.

Lin Yan thought deeply in his mind and decided that he wouldn't hide anything from the sect.

He had to be an attention whore this time if he want more resources and awareness of all the girls in the sect that he, Lin Yan had arrived.

Fuc... How cringe. But it doesn't matter, I guess. That stone tablet can show talent and spiritual roots so I can't hide anything from them. Hm. Oh right. It doesn't show the cultivation base... Interesting.

After a few moments passed, everyone was gone, leaving only Lin Yan and two more young men in the queue.

...

"Sigh... Looks like we won't see a single heavenly spiritual root this year too," Feng Xiang said while gulping down all the spiritual beer that he was holding in his hands.

Cheng Rui, who was also the second-tier alchemist master of the sect, sighed in frustration when he heard his senior brother say that and answered, "Indeed, Senior Brother. It seems like the heavens aren't too keen on witnessing our Mystic Wood Sect return to its former glory."

Feng Xiang nodded at his junior brother and looked at Lin Yan and the other two children in the queue, then said, "Hmm... There are still a few children left. Let's wait a little longer. Perhaps one with the heavenly Spiritual Root may really appear," as Feng Xiang said that, he recalled that the Mystic Wood Sect currently possessed only three disciples with the heavenly Spiritual root, whereas both the Golden Body Temple and Sword Reliance Sect boasted four each. In this moment of contemplation, he could only harbour the hope that heaven wouldn't forsake the Mystic Wood Sect.

...

After a few moments passed, only one of the two children passed the exam. At this point, it was finally Lin Yan's turn.

He looked at the stone tablet in front of him and thought what would happen if it showed no result for him. He was thinking too much at the moment that he forgot he had to put his hand on the stone tablet.

"Don't worry about anything, it's harmless," Mo Daozi said in a calm tone as he looked at Lin Yan, who was almost equal in height to him.

Lin Yan snapped and looked at him, then nodded. He quickly put his right hand on it and felt some energy entering his hand, then to his entire body. It was not harmful but it wasn't comfortable either.

[ Alert! Unidentified energy attempting to assess the Host's Spiritual Root and talent... ]

> [ Let it be ]

> [ Restrain it ]

Lin Yan looked at the options that suddenly appeared in front of him. He didn't think about it for a moment and chose the first option. He used his second hand for that while pretending to show that he was putting both hands on the stone tablet.

In the next moment, words began to appear on the stone tablet.