The Test

This test turned out to be much simpler than expected, after all it was just to test the Qi Condensation realm level of cultivation. Lin Xiaolu sat cross-legged with his sister, one hand propping up his chin, looking rather bored as he watched his fellow disciples go up on stage one by one.

On the high platform, the various Elders and Sect Leaders didn't pay much attention here either, chatting with each other when it wasn't the turn of their own sect disciples to go on stage.

Testing the first layer of Qi Condensation was relatively easy. So far all the children who had gone on stage reached the first layer of Qi Condensation.

"Nine Infants Branch - Dongfang Dan!"

After the presiding senior brother called out, the chubby Dongfang Dan waddled up puffing and panting. He bowed to the Elders and Sect Leader on the high platform, then, looking like he was inflating a balloon, his fat face flushed red as he shouted loudly: "Ha!"

The next moment, a yellow aura began emanating from his body.

"Qi Condensation first layer, test passed," the presiding senior brother announced loudly.

On the high platform, Ye Qingluan, who was stuffing an orange segment into her red lips, smiled and glanced at Elder Zhao Xuanyi of the Nine Infants Branch, teasing: "Zhao Xuanyi, is this fat little guy your Earth Spirit Root disciple?"

The Elder named Zhao Xuanyi proudly nodded: "Reporting to the Sect Leader, this child is named Dongfang Dan, he is the younger son of the East Minister of Great Yue Country, born with an Earth Spirit Root."

Ye Qingluan nodded, casting an appraising look at Zhao Xuanyi, praising: "You old rascal have good taste."

"The Sect Leader flatters me," Zhao Xuanyi laughed as he cupped his fists in thanks, then looked towards the silently meditating Spirit Sword Elder, praising: "Speaking of having good taste, that would be Elder Brother Fang. Now in Emei, who doesn't know that the Spirit Sword Branch has accepted an exceptional child named Chen Nianyun, not only is his aptitude extremely high, he also possesses the one-hundred-year-rare Undying Sword Body constitution. Compared to Elder Brother Fang, I'm afraid my discernment is nothing much."

Ye Qingluan just gave him an inscrutable look, not commenting as she continued eating her orange.

Soon, the inner sect disciple presiding called up several more children to test, then announced the next name on his roster.

"Medicine Origin Branch - Yu Chuchu!"

The group of children looked towards a little girl, who went up on stage with a well-behaved smile, curtseying sweetly to the Elders and Sect Leader before gracefully displaying the spiritual energy in her body.

As the faint purple aura emanated from her, the presiding senior brother was startled and shouted loudly: "Qi Condensation second layer - test passed!"

This caused a stir among the children below. Yu Chuchu was already at the second layer of Qi Condensation? When did that happen?

On the high platform, the Elders congratulated Medicine Origin Elder Sun Tangliang on taking in a good disciple.

Ye Qingluan also teased: "Elder Sun, not bad, not bad at all. This little lass has potential, nurture her well and Emei will have another alchemy expert in the future."

"Hahaha, Sect Leader flatters me," Elder Sun Tangliang stroked his beard modestly, "Chuchu is quite average in talent actually, she just cultivates very diligently. In terms of understanding alchemy and medicine theory, she is still not as good as my other disciple, Tang Hanqing."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingluan almost burst out laughing. She joked: "You're quite humble about it, but why do I feel like you're showing off?"

"Hahahaha, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Elder Sun Tangliang laughed as he waved his hand.

At this moment, Lin Xiaolu eyed the Sect Leader on the high platform. Seeing her sitting with one leg crossed over the other, peeling oranges while chatting merrily with the other white-haired Elders, he felt something was off.

This scene didn't look like the Emei Sect Leader at all, it was more like a group of old grandpas chatting with their granddaughter.

And why did the Sect Leader seem unintelligent, shouldn't the Sect Leader be very serious, or kindly and benign?

How could she even sit cross-legged?

He turned to Li Miaoxin beside him and voiced his doubts:

"Senior sister, how come our Sect Leader doesn't seem very proper? She's even sitting cross-legged! I haven't done that."

Li Miaoxin smiled softly when she heard this and explained in a low voice: "That's because although our Sect Leader is old in age, her mindset is only that of a sixteen or seventeen year old girl."

"Huh?" Lin Xiaolu's mouth gaped open, looking at Li Miaoxin in utter disbelief.

Over two hundred years old, with the mentality of a sixteen or seventeen year old girl? What the heck was that about?

Seeing his lack of comprehension, Li Miaoxin patiently explained: "Our Sect Leader spends almost all her time in secluded cultivation. It's said that in over two hundred years, apart from cultivating, the time she has spent interacting with people and living life adds up to just over a decade. This has resulted in the Sect Leader behaving mostly like a young girl, despite her age."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaolu was stunned again and again. He simply couldn't imagine it - over two hundred years of arduous cultivation, and the time spent enjoying life altogether was just over a decade?

That was probably not including several years of childhood right? So this Sect Leader had only enjoyed about ten years of normal life in over two hundred years?

Did immortal cultivation and longevity even have any meaning then?

He blankly looked at the Sect Leader on the high platform, whose every gesture resembled that of the girl next door. In the eight year old's eyes glinted a trace of confusion.

In the field, the presider continued calling up several children, but without exception, they were all at the first layer of Qi Condensation. For a while, no one else appeared who had reached the second layer like Yu Chuchu.

It wasn't until the children were just about all called up, and the presider's roster flipped to the last page, that he announced again: "Spirit Sword Branch - Chen Nianyun!"

At the shout, whether it was the children in the field or the Elders on the high platform, all eyes turned to look.

They saw a youth in daoist robes emerge from the edge of the field.

As soon as the youth appeared, the children craned their necks curiously to look, discussing in whispers. Even Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but glance over a couple times.

He hadn't seen Chen Nianyun for over half a year, not since that time he had tricked the fool into eating the two medicinal pills in tangyuan, which led to Chen cursing the teacher in class and getting taken away. Seeing Chen Nianyun now provoked some complex feelings in Lin Xiaolu, also a trace of sighing.

Long time no see, the brat had grown so tall already, his father is most gratified!

On the high platform, the Elders were also full of praise as they looked upon the proud and steady youth below, directly proclaiming that the Spirit Sword Branch had accepted an exceptional disciple.

Ye Qingluan cast a sideways glance at Spirit Sword Elder Fang Wuxiu and laughed: "Wuxiu, this is the disciple of yours who possesses the Undying Sword Body constitution?"

The cloudy-eyed Fang Wuxiu turned to Ye Qingluan, smiling: "Replying to the Sect Leader, Nianyun does indeed possess the Undying Sword Body constitution, he is a natural-born sword cultivator."

"Hahahaha, Emei has another youthful genius. Congratulations Elder Fang." Elder Zhao Xuanyi buttered up with praise.

After he finished speaking, Elder Wu Ming of the Talismans and Seals Branch also heaped praise on Chen Nianyun: "This old man sees that the youth has a steady gait and upright posture. At such a young age, in his every action can already be faintly sensed the bearing of the sword. He is truly extraordinary! Ah, I really envy Elder Brother Fang for accepting such a good disciple."