Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 791 Introductory Test

The mountains are serene, shrouded in deep mist, with a majestic mountain gate, its green-tiled roofs peeking through the clouds. A babbling brook flows before the steps, and on either side, sacred herbs sway in the breeze, red maples blaze like fire, and jade trees are adorned with jewels. The pavilions are scattered about, their carved beams and painted rafters exuding an ethereal aura, revealing a tranquil and otherworldly charm.

Yang Zhengshan stood in Qingyu City at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the sect that stood tall among the mountains, his eyes filled with awe.

He had heard countless people mention the Xuanqing Sect and had inquired about its situation from various sources, but this was the first time he had ever seen the Xuanqing Sect's mountain gate up close.

Surrounded by mountains, with peaks rising one after another, pavilions and towers stand tall, all shrouded in misty clouds.

Such a fairy-tale scene is truly the envy of others.

Regardless of what Xuanqing Sect is like, just this sect's headquarters is enough to prove its strength and power.

Compared to this, the Land of Spiritual Origin is really nothing.

Although the land of spiritual origins also has an ethereal atmosphere, it lacks a certain charm, a charm accumulated over thousands of years.

"Grand Uncle, the inn has been arranged, we can check in now!"

Just as Yang Zhengshan was awestruck by the Xuanqing Sect's mountain gate, Yang Xiangheng came up behind him and said softly.

Standing here, Yang Xiangheng seemed afraid to speak loudly.

The overwhelming sense of awe and oppression emanates from the mountain, inspiring awe in everyone.

"Ah."

Yang Zhengshan looked up at the imposing sect headquarters one last time, then turned and walked into the inn next door.

Qingyu City is a city of the Xuanqing Sect, directly managed by the sect, and serves as the sect's window to the outside world.

Tomorrow is the day Xuanqing Sect recruits disciples. Yang Zhengshan and Yang Xiangheng personally led Yang Qinting, Yang Yanzhe, and two others to participate in Xuanqing Sect's entrance examination.

At this moment, Qingyu City was extremely lively, with so many people coming to participate in the sect entrance examination that it was almost bursting at the seams.

Yang Zhengshan arrived at a guest room on the third floor of the inn. Four teenagers, Yang Qinting, Yang Yanzhe, Yang Yanping, and Yang Yanbo, were standing by the window, looking excitedly at the scene on the street.

“Great-grandfather! Look over there! Isn’t that the Golden Fire Dragon of the Xuanqing Sect?” Yang Qinting said, pointing to the sky.

Yang Zhengshan looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a dragon flying across the sky. The dragon was more than ten feet long and covered with red gold scales. Flame patterns were visible between the scales, and it moved like flowing red gold lava.

Its head resembles a dragon, yet it is even more ferocious; its horns are as if forged from molten gold; its eyes blaze like crimson flames; its fangs are as white as swords. Its four claws are stronger than refined steel, and sparks fly when it stomps the ground. Its tail is like a crimson ribbon, wrapped in raging flames.

Yang Zhengshan's eyes gleamed with a spiritual light, "That's right, that's the Golden Fire Dragon of the Xuanqing Sect!"

The Golden Fire Dragon is a rare beast kept by the Xuanqing Sect. It is said that the Xuanqing Sect has four Golden Fire Dragons, all of which are martial god-level beasts, and one of them is even comparable to a martial immortal.

They seemed to be quite lucky; upon arriving in Qingyu City, they actually encountered the legendary Golden Fire Dragon.

"What a magnificent and wondrous beast!" Yang Qinting exclaimed enviously. "Sooner or later, I will surely possess such a beast!"

Yang Zhengshan laughed loudly: "In that case, you'll need to cultivate diligently without ceasing, at least until you reach the Martial God Realm."

"Of course!" Yang Qinting clenched his fist, raised his eyebrows, and his eyes shone brightly. "Not only will I advance to the realm of Martial God, but I will also strive to reach the ranks of Martial Immortal!"

"That's ambitious!" Yang Zhengshan gave him a thumbs up.

Young people are always full of vigor and vitality, and even if it sounds a bit arrogant, we can't discourage them.

"Hehe, I'm glad my great-grandfather doesn't think I'm bragging!" Yang Qinting laughed.

"How could that be? Your great-grandfather thought highly of you!" Yang Zhengshan patted him on the shoulder.

Yang Qinting was the first junior to leave the Spirit Source Land, and also the first junior in the Yang family to enter the sect for cultivation on his own. Yang Zhengshan naturally placed high hopes on him.

……

Nothing happened that night, and the next morning...

The Xuanqing Sect has begun its disciple recruitment process.

There were no special ceremonies or extra tests. A few outer sect deacons of the Xuanqing Sect led a group of outer sect disciples to test everyone's aptitude outside Qingyu City.

The path of immortality values ​​aptitude and comprehension, and so does the path of martial arts.

Comprehension is difficult to detect, and the Xuanqing Sect has no means to test comprehension.

However, the Xuanqing Sect still has many methods for testing qualifications.

Immortal cultivation aptitude is judged by spiritual apertures, while martial arts aptitude is judged by innate talent and spirituality.

Root bone encompasses physique, bones, meridians, and dantian. Some people are born with strong physiques, some are born with unobstructed meridians, and some have dantians that are different from ordinary people. Those with excellent root bone can achieve twice the results with half the effort in cultivation, while those with poor root bone may never be able to break through to the acquired realm even after a lifetime of hard work.

The spiritual spring water has the effect of enhancing potential, which in essence is to improve one's physical constitution, make one's body stronger, make one's bones harder, and make one's meridians and dantian more resilient.

This is why people living in the Land of Spiritual Origin have almost the same aptitude.

Those extraordinary geniuses are only a minority; most people are just ordinary people.

As for spirituality, it refers to the degree of compatibility between physical constitution and spiritual energy. This is something that is cultivated later in life. For example, Yang Qinting ate various spiritual fruits from a young age and also cultivated the "Wood Transformation Body Nourishing Method". Therefore, his body has a high degree of compatibility with the wood attribute, which makes it easier for him to cultivate wood attribute techniques in the future.

Innate talent is a gift, while spirituality is the manifestation of resources.

Although martial arts training must begin after the age of fifteen, spiritual cultivation can start from a young age.

Xuanqing Sect set up three magic arrays on the open bluestone ground. Two stewards stood guard in front of each array, while a group of outer disciples maintained order, allowing the young participants to enter the arrays one by one.

Yang Zhengshan stood at a distance, watching Yang Qinting and the other three people who were queuing up, and then looked at the teenagers who had already started to be tested.

The three magic arrays were not large; they were merely testing arrays.

At that moment, a boy was being tested. When the boy passed through the first magic circle, he did not react at all. The two deacons did not say anything either, but simply raised their hands and pointed behind them, indicating that the boy should walk to the back.

The boy then entered the second magic circle, which emitted a hazy, milky-white light.

“Medium physical attributes, eliminated!” a deacon immediately shouted.

The boy was stunned; he seemed not to have expected to be eliminated so quickly.

Before the boy could react, the deacon next to him grabbed him and pulled him out of the magic circle, indicating that he should leave from the side.

Then the boys and girls followed suit and underwent the test.

"Superior physical constitution, next!"

"Medium spirituality, eliminated!"

"Medium physical attributes, eliminated!"

"Superior physical constitution, next!"

"Superior spirituality, suitable as an outer disciple!"

One by one, the young people walked through the three magic arrays, and several deacons took turns calling out the young people's aptitudes.

After observing for a while, Yang Zhengshan discovered that Xuanqing Sect only recruited disciples with superior physical attributes and spiritual talent.

"The requirements are so high? I wonder if Qinting can pass them!"

Previously, Yang Zhengshan had full confidence in Yang Qinting, but now he suddenly felt that Yang Qinting might not be able to enter the Xuanqing Sect.

He felt that Yang Qinting's innate talent and spirituality were not bad, but that was just his opinion; he didn't know what the Xuanqing Sect's testing standards were.

Yang Zhengshan looked at the long queue again. There were probably more than two thousand people who came to participate in the testing. Judging from the teenagers being tested, the probability of being selected was about one in twenty.

That means there are about one hundred people who can join the Xuanqing Sect.

The number was neither too many nor too few. The testing was quick; it was just a matter of walking up and down the stairs. Moreover, the deacons kept urging the teenagers to get tested, so in less than an hour, more than a hundred people had already completed the testing.

"Grand Uncle, do Yanzhe and the others have a chance?" Yang Xiangheng asked nervously.

Yang Zhengshan glanced at the location of the four boys. They had arrived quite early, and at this rate, it would be their turn in about half an hour.

"Just wait, it's not a big deal if we can't join the Xuanqing Sect!" Yang Zhengshan said.

He didn't even have absolute confidence in Yang Qinting, let alone Yang Yanzhe and the other two.

While Yang Yanzhe and the other two may meet the physical requirements, their spirituality is unlikely to do so.

Although the Yang family of Lingxi has become much richer in resources over the years, and has spent much more on its descendants than before, Yang Yanzhe and his generation are still far behind those scions of aristocratic families who have been immersed in medicinal baths since childhood.

"Sigh, I know the chances are slim! I'm just a little unwilling to give up!" Yang Xiangheng said in a low voice.

Yang Xiangheng also had his own ideas. Now the Yang family is entirely supported by Yang Zhengshan. Although his brothers have improved their cultivation a lot in recent years, they are well aware that with their aptitude, it is estimated that it will be difficult for them to reach the Heavenly Gang stage.

Therefore, he placed his hopes on the younger generation, hoping that one of them could reach the Heavenly Gang stage to ensure the continuation of the Lingxi Yang family.

"Hehe, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, even if they don't join the Xuanqing Sect, they can still reach the Heavenly Gang stage!" Yang Zhengshan laughed.

How could Yang Zhengshan not know about Yang Xiangheng's psychological changes?

Previously, Yang Xiangheng regarded Yang Zhengshan as his greatest support, but ever since Yang Xiangheng learned that Yang Zhengshan had many descendants, he felt as if he had lost his support.

This is also human nature.

If Yang Zhengshan had no children, he might regard the descendants of the Yang family of Lingxi as his own.

But Yang Zhengshan has offspring, so the Yang family of Lingxi can only be considered outsiders in front of Yang Zhengshan.

This doesn't mean Yang Xiangheng was dissatisfied with Yang Zhengshan; it just means he no longer placed all his hopes on Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan did not blame him for this.

"I feel much more at ease with your words, Uncle!" Yang Xiangheng's downcast expression eased slightly.

Time passed second by second, and the onlookers were a mix of joy and sorrow, laughter and shouts of anger.

Soon, it was Yang Qinting's turn.

The kid wasn't nervous at all. Before the test started, he even waved to Yang Zhengshan with a confident smile on his face.

Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and nodded slightly at him, watching him walk into the first magic array.

The first magic circle did not react at all, while the second magic circle emitted a bright light.

"Excellent physical constitution, suitable to become an outer disciple!"

The deacon, who had become numb, looked at Yang Qinting and smiled kindly.

"Okay, go get tested over there!"

Yang Zhengshan, who was in the distance, raised an eyebrow. There was actually an excellent grade above the superior grade?

Can someone with excellent innate talent directly become an outer disciple? Is further testing of spiritual ability unnecessary?
That's true. Spirituality can be cultivated later in life. Although it's a bit late to start now, it's not irreparable.

This is why the Xuanqing Sect places the assessment of one's physical attributes first.

"Superior spirituality! What's your name?"

Yang Qinting passed the spiritual test again, and the deacon beside him asked gently.

"Replying to Your Excellency, my name is Yang Qinting, and I come from the Yang family of Lingxi in Nanxia County, Shanggu Prefecture!" Yang Qinting bowed respectfully and said.

"Hmm, very good. Go wait over there. Your senior brother will give you your entry token shortly," the steward said kindly.

"Thank you, sir!" Yang Qinting bowed again, and the steward nodded in satisfaction.

Yang Qinting stepped out of the detection array and grinned at Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan gave him a thumbs up, his eyes full of approval.

Yang Qinting is followed by Yang Yanzhe.

As expected, all three were eliminated.

However, the three of them were not bad in terms of aptitude. Yang Yanzhe had excellent physical attributes and average spirituality. Yang Yanping and Yang Yanbo both had average physical attributes. Although they could not be considered geniuses, they were still considered average people.

There aren't that many geniuses in this world.

Yang Qinting is a genius, but his talent was also cultivated later in life.

Yang Zhengshan estimated that Yang Qinting's superior physical constitution was due to the spiritual spring water.

The three returned dejectedly, looking at Yang Xiangheng with some shame.

"Father, I'm sorry, my aptitude is too poor!" Yang Yanzhe said with slightly red eyes.

Although Yang Xiangheng was mentally prepared, he still couldn't hide his disappointment.

Seeing his expression, Yang Zhengshan shook his head slightly, thinking that this father didn't know how to comfort his child.

We must not let this incident cause the child to lose confidence, otherwise it will affect the child's future cultivation path.

Before Yang Xiangheng could speak, Yang Zhengshan patted Yang Yanzhe on the shoulder.

"Who said you're not good enough? Haha~~ You guys are pretty good at everything!"

"So what if you have poor aptitude? As long as you cultivate diligently, you can still become Heavenly Gang stage martial artists!"

Yang Zhengshan laughed loudly.

"Ancestor!"

Hearing his words, Yang Yanzhe and the other two immediately calmed down a bit.

"Ancestor, can we really become Heavenly Gang stage martial artists?" Yang Yanping asked.

"Of course, you still don't trust our ancestors!" Yang Zhengshan laughed.

Yang Zhengshan lacked the confidence to suggest that they become Martial God Realm experts.

But if it's just about making them Heavenly Gang stage martial artists, Yang Zhengshan can guarantee that.

“We believe in our ancestors!” Yang Yanzhe nodded solemnly.

“Yes, we also believe in our ancestors!” Yang Yanping and Yang Yanbo were no longer disappointed.

Yang Zhengshan looked at the three children with satisfaction.

These three children are actually all good; they have different personalities, but their natures are all good.

Yang Zhengshan was still willing to give them some resources to help them grow to a higher level.

"Shameless talk!"

Just as the group was talking, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes said disdainfully.

Yang Zhengshan frowned slightly and looked in the direction of the sound.

(End of this chapter)