The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

The next day at dawn, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.

Like a farmer heading to a market, Xu Changqing dragged along Xu Xining, who was still half asleep and walking in circles, leading a large group of people as they made their way to the largest bluestone square in the center of Qinghefang Market.

For this grand ceremony, the Qinghe Sword Sect specially moved all the independent cultivators who originally had stalls to the outer perimeter, clearing out this area of ​​about 100 feet in radius.

Eight "spirit-testing pillars," each as thick as two people could hug, stood around the perimeter, covered with intricate array patterns that faintly emanated spiritual light.

The square was already packed with people, with various families and independent cultivators crowding the area.

Xu Changqing led his team, struggling to squeeze a path through the crowd.

"Make way! Make way, everyone!"

Xu Yanfeng, carrying a large knife on his back, stretched his neck to squeeze inside, while also protecting the three younger ones behind him from being trampled.

Having finally found a place to stand on the outskirts of the square, before I could even catch my breath, a sarcastic snort came from the side.

"Oh, isn't this Chief Xu?"

Xu Changqing's brow twitched, and he looked in the direction of the sound.

A path automatically parted in the crowd not far away, and a group of people dressed in purple brocade robes swaggered over.

The leader was an old man with gray hair, but his face was unusually ruddy. He wasn't holding any magic weapon, but he was spinning two iron walnuts, making a cracking sound.

It was Zhang Shichang, the second elder of the Zhang family.

Xu Changqing cursed his bad luck inwardly. He hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home, and he'd just run into this old geezer.

But he still had to maintain appearances, so he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, giving a forced smile.

"Elder Zhang, how have you been? It's amazing that you, an old man, are still leading the team personally. You're truly still going strong."

Zhang Shichang sensed the barb in his words, but he wasn't annoyed. He simply swept his cloudy yet shrewd eyes over the Xu family members.

His gaze lingered on Xu Yanfeng's large knife and Xu Xining's coat for a moment, then he curled his lips in utter disdain.

"Is Chief Xu starving? Why is he dragging these oddballs out of the family to make up the numbers?"

He pointed to the group of teenagers behind him.

They were all dressed smartly, with jade pendants and sachets hanging from their waists, and they stood tall and proud, looking much better than the peasants from the Xu family.

"Our Zhang family is aiming for the inner sect this time. Clan Chief Xu, let me give you a piece of advice: the registration fee is no small amount for your Xu family. Don't end up with nothing and not even be able to afford the return trip."

Xu Yanfeng had a fiery temper; upon hearing this, his eyebrows shot up and he gripped the hilt of his knife.

"You old fool, who are you calling a crooked goose!"

"presumptuous!"

A tall young man stepped out from behind Zhang Shichang, unleashing his imposing aura as a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator, directly confronting Xu Yanfeng.

Xu Changqing took a step forward, his body remaining still, but he stood directly in front of Xu Yanfeng, effortlessly dispelling the oppressive aura.

He held Xu Yanfeng's hand, looked at Zhang Shichang, and still had a smile on his face.

"The child is ignorant, Elder Zhang, please don't be offended."

"However, Elder Zhang should worry more about his own affairs. I heard that a batch of your goods was on its way recently... cough, the Daze is rough, Elder Zhang should take good care of his own ship."

Zhang Shichang's face instantly darkened.

The shipment disappeared inexplicably; that good-for-nothing Liu Sandao couldn't even find a body. This matter has always been a thorn in his side.

"Hmph, sharp-tongued."

Zhang Shichang snorted coldly and said no more, then waved his sleeve.

"Let's go inside. Let's not squeeze in with these poor bastards; it's bad luck."

The Zhang family strode in arrogantly, and the surrounding rogue cultivators quickly gave way, afraid of provoking this local tyrant.

Xu Changqing watched their retreating figures, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Pah! What is that?!"

Xu Yanfeng spat fiercely in that direction.

"Chieftain, you should have let me go up and chop him a couple of times!"

"Cut my ass! That's the foundation of a Foundation Establishment family. You'd be offering yourself up as food."

As they were talking, Li Shan, who had been hiding in the back, came up to them.

When Zhang Shichang was here, the old man shrank back and didn't dare to say a word, but now that Zhang Shichang is gone, he's all lively again.

"Clan Chief Xu, don't bother with that old man."

Li Shan lowered his voice and pointed to the tail of the Zhang family's group.

"Chief Xu, did you see that little girl in white who was following behind Zhang Shichang just now?"

Xu Changqing recalled for a moment.

Among those arrogant teenagers from the Zhang family, there was indeed one who was a bit different.

She was a girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old, thin and frail, and she wasn't wearing the Zhang family's standard purple robe, but rather a plain white dress.

He kept his head down, never glancing at the Xu family's side, nor joining the others in mocking him. He simply stood quietly in the corner, barely noticeable.

"I saw it. What? Elder Li has come back to life?" Xu Changqing casually teased.

"Go away, let's get serious."

Li Shan glared at him, then mysteriously pulled Xu Changqing aside.

"That girl's name is Zhang Qingling. She is the illegitimate daughter of Zhang Shichang's dead son."

"An illegitimate daughter?"

Xu Changqing raised an eyebrow.

Illegitimate children are not uncommon in cultivation families, but bringing them out on such an important occasion is quite interesting.

He had heard of Zhang Shichang's son; he was a notorious playboy who was later swallowed by a monster in the swamp, leaving no trace of his body.

"you do not say."

Li Shan clicked his tongue twice, clearly aware of the Zhang family's messy affairs.

"That young master Zhang has been dead for several years. This girl suddenly came to our door a while ago, saying that she had a token."

"Originally, the Zhang family didn't acknowledge him. He was a little bastard born to some random woman. Zhang Shichang was ashamed and almost kicked him out."

"This girl is really unlucky. After being taken back to the Zhang family, because she was an illegitimate child with an improper background and had no parents to protect her, she was trampled on by everyone in the clan and was not even as good as a servant."

"But who would have thought that this wild girl, who was neither loved nor cared for, would actually be a promising candidate for cultivating immortality?"

Li Shan held up three fingers and waved them in front of Xu Changqing, his tone full of sour jealousy.

"Three spiritual roots have been detected!"

"Moreover, it possesses the three spiritual roots of metal, water, and wood, which complement each other perfectly. With this aptitude, it would definitely be considered an inner sect prospect in the Qinghe Sword Sect!"

"That's why the Zhang family kept him here, and they treasure him like the apple of their eye. They came to the ceremony to make a name for themselves and their family."

Xu Changqing's heart sank upon hearing this.

Three spiritual roots.

While this talent might not be considered top-tier in the cultivation world, it was certainly a once-in-a-decades genius within a small family like theirs.

Of the three younger members of the Xu family, two have four spiritual roots and one has five spiritual roots.

The difference is not small.

"No wonder that old ghost was so confident."

Xu Changqing stroked his chin.

"Turns out he was holding a royal flush."

He turned to look at his sons, who were still indignant about the humiliation they had just suffered.

Xu Xining was squatting on the ground, picking up the heel of his shoe that had just been stepped on, Xu Xiwen was wiping his short sword, and Xu Xiyue was tugging at Xu Yanfeng's sleeve with a worried expression.

This configuration is indeed a bit shabby.

"Chieftain, is there no hope for us?"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Xu Changqing withdrew his gaze, straightened his clothes, and spoke calmly.

"So what if you have three spiritual roots? There are plenty of geniuses who die in the Great Swamp."

Just then, a melodious bell rang out from ahead.

"when--"

The deep, resonant sound of the bell instantly drowned out the clamor of tens of thousands of people in the square.

A Foundation Establishment elder of the Qinghe Sword Sect, carrying a long sword on his back and standing on the void, slowly appeared in mid-air.

He looked down at the dense crowd below, his voice booming like thunder throughout the entire arena.

"The time has come! The founding ceremony of the Qinghe Sword Sect shall begin!"

"All participating disciples, hold your number tags and come forward one by one for the spirit test!"