Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

Wu Fan nodded slightly and silently followed the steward's footsteps, passing through the noisy registration area and arriving at a side hall deep in the pavilion.

In the center of the side hall, a cultivator dressed in a blue robe sat calmly before a desk, his expression serene, with a faint aura of power emanating from him. He was the Foundation Establishment manager in charge of coordinating the disciple recruitment process.

The Qi Refining Steward quickly stepped forward, bowed, and explained Wu Fan's situation in a low voice, then handed over the letter of recommendation.

The Foundation Manager reached out and took the envelope. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes at first, but he slowly unfolded the envelope, read it carefully, and then his expression returned to its usual calm.

He looked up at Wu Fan, his tone unreadable, and simply said:

"So it was recommended by the Bai family of Qingxi."

He paused, then waved his hand and instructed the Qi Refining Deacon beside him:

"Take him to the side hall on the east side to wait. After verifying the authenticity of the recommendation letter according to the rules, he does not need to participate in the assessment of independent cultivators. After the ceremony, he can enter the valley with everyone else."

"Your disciple obeys."

The Qi Refining Steward bowed and accepted the letter of recommendation with both hands. He then took out a jade slip from inside and handed it back to Wu Fan. His face remained expressionless, and he simply made a gesture to guide the way.

"Fellow Daoist, please follow me to the east side hall."

Wu Fan understood, reached out and took the letter of recommendation, carefully putting it into his pocket.

It seems that the recommendation letter from the Qingxi Bai family is not very significant. Compared to the recommendations from those top cultivation families, it is not worth mentioning at all. No wonder the Foundation Establishment manager looked so indifferent.

However, he didn't care. As long as he could successfully join Falling Star Valley without causing trouble or attracting attention, that would be the best outcome.

Following the Qi Refining Steward to the east side hall, there were already a few people waiting inside, all of whom, like him, held letters of recommendation or had special connections.

The deacon stopped and said to Wu Fan:

"Fellow Daoist, please wait here for a moment. The sect will verify the authenticity of the recommendation letter as soon as possible. Once it is verified, you will not need to participate in the subsequent secret realm assessment and the Hundred Arts test for independent cultivators. After the entire disciple recruitment ceremony is over, you can go to Falling Star Valley with the other selected disciples. Afterwards, the sect will have someone to arrange your accommodation, cultivation level testing, and other miscellaneous tasks."

"Thank you for your help, deacon."

Wu Fan bowed and thanked him.

The deacon nodded slightly, then turned and left to continue processing the registration.

Wu Fan found a corner to sit down and began to close his eyes to rest.

......

The apprenticeship examination at Falling Star Valley is extremely rigorous, lasting for seven days.

From spiritual root testing and bone assessment to mental character trials, the elimination rate of these participating immortal seedlings and independent cultivators is over 90%.

The first day was for registration, which involved verifying the candidates' basic information, age, cultivation level, and family background—the same process Wu Fan had just gone through.

Those under the age of eighteen who possess spiritual roots will be given a token and will wait at the designated testing area outside Yuelu Mountain.

On the second and third days, the spiritual root aptitude was tested.

The Falling Star Valley Association uses the Spirit Star Compass to examine the spiritual root grade of each of the immortal seedlings.

According to the rules for accepting disciples within the Falling Star Valley sect, only those with medium-grade or higher spiritual roots are qualified to join.

If one possesses a superior spiritual root, they can be directly selected as an inner disciple. However, this single round of spiritual root testing alone is enough to eliminate the majority of those seeking the Dao.

However, even those with low-grade spiritual roots are not entirely without a chance. As long as the number of spiritual energy in their bodies reaches fifteen or more, they can participate in the subsequent preliminary test of their character after the qualification re-examination on the fourth day.

The tests of character on the fourth and fifth days are the mental and emotional tests set up in Falling Star Valley, also known as the "Illusory Test of Character".

Whether they are immortal seedlings or cultivators who have exceeded the age limit, all must participate in this trial.

This formation serves two purposes: firstly, to verify the accuracy of the information registered by everyone on the first day, whether their family background is clean, and whether they are spies planted by other forces.

Secondly, it also serves to examine whether the cultivator's temperament is extreme and whether their Dao heart is firm.

Generally speaking, cultivators with medium-grade or higher spiritual roots can pass this test smoothly, unless they are inherently wicked, in which case Falling Star Valley will consider whether to refuse them entry.

However, if one's spiritual root reaches the level of an earth spiritual root or even a heaven spiritual root, this rule probably won't apply.

Those low-grade spiritual roots and immortal seedlings with more than fifteen strands of spiritual energy, if they can demonstrate an extremely firm mind in the illusionary trial, can also be exceptionally admitted by Falling Star Valley.

Even cultivators with mid-grade spiritual roots can be promoted to inner disciples if they demonstrate exceptional character.

Even Wu Fan, who had a letter of recommendation, had to participate in this "Trial of the Heart in the Illusionary Realm," and it was through this that he learned about the entire process of Falling Star Valley's recruitment of disciples.

On the sixth day, the Hundred Arts Assessment of Falling Star Valley will take place, which all promising talents must participate in.

Disciples whose spiritual roots are compatible with the cultivation techniques will undergo basic tests, such as drawing spiritual energy into the alchemy furnace and drawing simple runes.

Anyone who displays talent in these areas will be directly assigned to the inner or outer sect under a Foundation Establishment cultivator who is in charge of all the sect's arts and crafts. This is an excellent path for the outer sect disciples.

If Wu Fan does not have a letter of recommendation and wants to enter Falling Star Valley, he will need to participate in the assessment on this day.

Even those over-aged rogue cultivators who want to join Falling Star Valley must undergo an assessment of their various skills here.

As long as one possesses a skill that reaches the first-tier superior level and is proficient in it, one can pass the assessment and directly become a disciple of Falling Star Valley.

The seventh day arrived in the blink of an eye, and the grand disciple-acceptance ceremony of Falling Star Valley finally came to an end.

The remaining immortal seedlings and the rogue cultivators who passed the Hundred Arts Assessment are being systematically distributed by the deacons and disciples of Falling Star Valley.

All the seedlings and those who passed the various skills tests have been divided into two groups.

More than 90% of them were assigned to the outer sect, while less than 10% of those with outstanding talent were directly admitted to the inner sect.

The crowd stirred slightly; some were secretly pleased while others were disappointed. Only those rogue cultivators who had passed the "Trial of the Illusion" but had no skills to rely on were led aside.

Wu Fan stood quietly in a corner of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the group of rogue cultivators with their various expressions.

Of the two boys waiting beside him, one leaned close to the other's ear and whispered:

"Brother Qi, what are the sect's plans for those who, despite lacking expertise in various arts, have passed the test of character?"

The young man addressed as "Brother Qi" raised an eyebrow slightly, let out a soft scoff, and responded in a low voice:

"What else can be arranged? It's nothing more than a fight to the death."

The young man who had asked the question earlier looked surprised and was about to press for more details when the deacon in blue robes turned around, his gaze sweeping over the group of rogue cultivators, and said loudly:

"Those of you who have no skills to rely on, but have passed the test of your hearts, come with me to another place to meet."