Everything around Su Jing was blurry.
She tried to look around and distinguish things, but as if someone covered her eyes, Su Jing could not sense anything.
”Aish, you shouldn't have over-exhausted your inner Qi like that.”
The voice was loud enough to kick her senses awake. Su Jing froze and rapidly breathed as a rush of air hit her lungs. This was almost painful, scratching her dry throat.
”What's with her?”
”She's clearly holding on to the master to make him pity her!”
The voices around her grew more restless. Su Jing felt nauseous, and while she tried to stop the uncomfortable sensation around her throat, the first man again talked.
”Why did you use so much of your Qi? Your cultivating vessels are wasted, young girl.”
Immediately after, a warm sensation slowly surrounded her cold body.
Su Jing focused her eyes, and soon, the once-blurry shapes morphed into objects and people. In front of her was a man with a long white beard cascading down his chest, seeming to be the one who was talking.
She also noticed how poor her condition was - her legs hurt, her back was sweaty and painful, and her lips were dry. Her hands felt heavy, and she couldn't help but stare at the strange orb she was holding.
Glimpsing at it, Su Jing almost felt lost in its white mass.
"This young girl should give me back the testing sphere. It may ease down your disturbed Qi."
Su Jing's trance was cut short, and she felt an odd energy leaving her body as he took the orb. In the next moment, it turned grey in his fingers, looking like a rock.
"And remember to not overuse your roots. If you continue to do that, they will certainly turn weaker.”
Su Jing, now that she had a slightly clearer head, couldn't help but get confused by his words. Roots? Was she a tree? She looked down at her hands and was sure her body was human.
”Have you understood me? You do not seem like listening to me at all.”
The master stared at her, furrowing his brows.
Su Jing flinched, only now observing the aura around him - a powerful one. She nodded quickly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Y-yes. I understand.”
The intense, disapproving glares from around bore into the back of her head, becoming unbearable for her.
”So be it then,” the old man said, leaning his head slightly, ”Tian Hui Sect only opens its door to the best, but fear not, the Dao is vast and ever-flowing. Your journey may take unexpected turns with enough patience.”
Once more, Su Jing was puzzled by what he mentioned, but one thing was obvious - she was being turned away.
She did not belong here or in that place.
As the realization sank in, Su Jing's confusion grew. She wanted to ask him, but he turned towards someone else walking in this direction.
Her words got stuck in her throat.
”Greetings to the old master. This one is grateful for the opportunity.”
The girl's voice sounded as she bowed, side-glancing at Su Jing fugitively. Her eyes had a cold allure, albeit beautiful - as if stars were scattered in the black, bottomless irises.
Su Jing unexpectedly felt mesmerised by her beauty. The red dress she wore was a little coarse, but it enhanced how good her natural traits were.
The master nodded to the newcomer before returning to Su Jing. "Remember what I have said. The path of cultivation is not to be taken lightly. Take care of your Qi and roots, and perhaps one day you may find your place in the Dao."
With that, he turned away to the new girl, leaving Su Jing feeling more lost and chaotic than ever.
Her only option was to walk away. Hesitantly, Su Jing left and put herself through the masses of people. Some deliberately obstructed her path, jostling her shoulder as she passed.
After finding a peaceful corner in the back, Su Jing trembled, massaging her inner palm as she looked back towards the master and the other girl.
”Feng Zhi Hao is really a shameless one for coming here.”
”Did not she get almost evicted from her clan?”
”Perhaps she thinks she can get to the immortal realm to meet her fiance, Prince Jin.”
”Hahaha, as if! Wishful thinking to be as good as her talented sister, Feng Huo Hua!”
Su Jing made no sense of what the nearby people gossiped about. They seemed to like to belittle the beautiful miss.
Ignoring them, she tried to search throughout her overused clothes for hints about her identity. Su Jing only found a few coopers and a bunch of old red fruits, and those too appeared almost withered.
The situation wasn't looking too good. Su Jing could only persist in assessing the affair here.
The girl from before had the rocky sphere in her hands, used like a measuring tool. She continued to hold the sphere, making it shine in many pretty colours - red, green, blue, grey, and even gold.
"You have an affinity with all five elemental roots—water, wood, earth, fire, and metal..."
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Baffled, the man continued to look at the sphere as if still not believing it was an all-elemental root. The people instead erupted in an uproar, laughing and making multiple jokes about the girl, Feng Zhi Hao.
”Hahaha, what did I say? Still a disgrace to the bone!”
”No wonder the Feng Clan did not even send one servant - it's clear they had abandoned her!”
The people snickered, perplexing Su Jing, who looked at how indifferent the lady looked.
Was she really that weak? It was strange to think that - Su Jing remembered her sparkly eyes, but all those gossip words seemed contradictory.
”Ah, what the hell?! That Feng trash?! What is she doing here?”
Startled by the voice, Su Jing turned her head, only to see a young man with a proud expression walking toward the crowd.
Su Jing did not wish to be in his way, so as the guy approached, she stepped to the side. Unfortunately, because of the big flock, someone from behind accidentally bumped into her, causing her to stumble and lightly hit her shoulder into another.
"Who is that? Xiu Xiu, let's go. We don't have time to chichat with those mortals.”
Su Jing got that he was talking to the one she hit. Su Jing steadied herself and looked towards the person, only to see - a beautiful and delicate young lady!
"I'm sorry, are you alright? Did I hurt you?" She talked with a worried tone, grasping Su Jing's palm.
Feeling her soft hands around her fingers made Su Jing shake her head, at a loss for words, "I'm fine."
She should be the one saying sorry for crashing into her! Su Jing was just about to say that but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat seeing the ugly look the fancy guy was throwing her.
He looked impatient.
Perhaps understanding Su Jing's embarrassment, the girl smiled gently and nodded before running back after the guy.
Su Jing watched as they made their way through the crowd. People started to look curiously at the two of them.
The wealthy guy quickly went to the master, while the girl seemed hesitant to be in view.
”Saluting the Sixth Elder of Tian Hui Sect. ”
The old man stepped closer, having an ugly expression on his face, ”Young Master Zhu, what brings you here? I recall you were supposed to train in this realm on your own."
Zhu's gaze did not immediately meet his. He gave a contemptuous glance towards the shimmering sphere in Feng's hand as he passed by her, while Feng Zhi Hao did not even bother herself to look towards him. This seemed to make him angry but he kept this in since the master was in front of him.
”I came here to test my roots, Sixth Elder. Together with my junior sister.”
The master frowned, glancing over at the girl who came with him.
”You two aren't permitted since you came from the immortal realm. This testing is only for those of the mortal realm.”
His words were sharp, cutting straight to the issue.
Zhu seemed to expect this answer, as he turned slightly towards Feng Zhi Hao, "Do these mortals even stand a chance to pass? They're all clearly garbage."
The gathering gasped, jointly with Su Jing.
Annoyed, the master wanted to reprimand him, but he was rudely interrupted as Zhu continued to taunt Feng Zhi Hao.
"And the Feng Clan from Qi Country had really hit rock bottom? Sending such a lowly character..."
Feng Zhi Hao stood unmoving, her body still not acknowledging the young master.
The Sixth Elder, however, was not as composed. His brows furrowed deeply.
"Then you should have taken the test you missed in the immortal realm. I suggest you leave immediately and wait for a few more years."
His words showed that he had no intention of changing his mind, which made Zhu furious. Before he could say anything else, the girl from before intervened. She went closer and gracefully stepped in front of the master.
"Esteemed High Elder of Tian Hui Sect. Please forgive my senior brother. He was asking this because of me."
The master looked her up and down, clearly conflicted now that this girl had intervened, "Young Miss Bai, you know it's not your place to be here."
The young girl, whose family name was Bai, seemed a bit embarrassed by the old man's words. She glanced at the ground for a moment, but then lifted her head and spoke with a determined voice, "I don't dare to oppose the High Elder. My clan is undoubtedly awaiting my return at our Hou Yi Sect, but now, after I travelled in the mortal realm, I...”
She paused, taking a deep breath, as if to gather her courage before continuing. "I want to join the Tian Hui Sect and become a disciple."
The crowd gasped, and the master also looked surprised. Su Jing didn't know anything about the places she mentioned, but it appeared that this young lady wanted to escape from her apparent noble family.
Fugitively, Su Jing saw Feng Zhi Hao gazing at the girl, appearing thoughtful.
The master kept silent, making the girl nervous that he wasn't responding.
”Young Miss Bai Xiu Ying had actually thought about the consequences of this decision? Why drop the path of following into the steps of your alchemist clan?”
Zhu Tai Chang seemed to want to intervene but Bai Xiu Ying signalled him to stay put.
”I have learned a lot from my clan but, I want to follow my own path in my cultivation journey. Swordsmastering had become one of my greatest interests, and I believe that the Tian Hui Sect can offer me the opportunity to prove myself.”
She clenched her fist, signalling how resolute she was regarding this idea.
Su Jing could see that she had two small swords attached to her belt, making it more believable that what she said was true.
But again, swordmastering? Alchemy? Su Jing really couldn't catch on what was happening around here!
The master really seemed tired of entertaining those two. He sighed, and while massaging his forehead, finally turned towards Feng Zhi Hao, who all this time stood unmoving beside those two. Su Jing felt really bad for her - just imagining standing there, not related to them at all!
Feng Zhi Hao caught his look walked towards him and bowed, ”I will not be of bother anymore. I thank the esteemed master for helping me check my abilities. Now I know what I have to do.”
While doing this the sphere got back to its previous numb colour in her hands, stopping the shiny play of lights. The master took it slowly and nodded as if discontent that her turn got interrupted by those two guests.
Zhu Tai Chang scowled but kept his mouth shut, only superiorly smirking towards her. Feng Zhi Hao kept her sight down, not commenting further as she walked off and got lost in the masses.
Some people laughed at Feng Zhi Hao's obvious rejection, loving to over-ridicule those who failed this stage.
”Now,” the old man said, flinging the Chaotic sphere towards Zhu Tai Chang, ”further explanations will have to be done to the Sect Master. Remember to reflect on your decisions and actions.”
Zhu Tai Chang's head was still held high but Bai Xiu Ying quickly forcibly lowered it down in a bow, together with hers, ”We highly thank the elder benevolence. ”
The Elder sighed as he saw those two. Bai Xiu Ying stepped back as she exchanged a quick glance with Zhu Tai Chang.
Zhu Tai Chang rotated the sphere between his fingers.
Immediately, it sparked a bit when Zhu Taichang touched it, like a flame coming to life. Su Jing never saw such a clear red colour, her eyes burning by only watching it be lit.
Zhu Tai Chang, still unruffled by the chaos he had caused, simply grinned.
”Wow, immortals are really out of our league! They did not even start cultivating seriously and look at that power!”
”Till now all the best roots from our realm were rather ordinary. Only a few people got accepted.”
”Of course he is powerful! Have you not heard his name? He is from the Zhu Immortal Clan, the one that is part of the Tian Hui Sect!”
”Oh? Then why did he not enter directly as a disciple?”
”Of course, he has to prove his power first! That is why he stayed here in our realm to train!”
Su Jing did not understand what was so different for them to be considered immortals. Of course, they looked powerful, but she felt that Feng Zhi Hao also looked like that, and yet she was a mortal.
Unconsciously, Su Jing looked down to her own body - and surely, she did not have that vibe around her.
Back to the scene, Bai Xiu Ying held the Chaotic Sphere in her palm.
Once Su Jing saw the deep blue colour engulf the sphere, she was sure this young lady was in opposition to Zhu Tai Chang's power.
Her predictions came true, her flux of energies giving this time a cold, watery sensation. Chunks of translucent quartz were created, showing everyone how strong her powers were.
"A single heavenly ice root."
The master checked out her power, appearing surprised. He did not comment further, however, Su Jing could see that Bai Xiu Ying was also expecting this result.
”My traits are slightly different from my family's. Not the best in alchemy, but good enough for swordsmanship.”
She deactivated the power, giving it back to the Sixth Elder.
”The young master Zhu's junior sister is powerful, too!”
”The most powerful one from our realm only had two roots with barely 60 Qi concentration! We were lucky to be here and see this!”
Su Jing looked at the ”winners” people pointed at, those being only three - two boys and one female. They looked excited when the two young immortals approached their group, readily talking so they could grow close to them.
Su Jing was unsure what to think of all this happening.
Since no more persons seemed to be left to take the test, the master took the sphere and put it in his sleeves, making a conclusion speech to the crowd. With that, people finally started to disperse, not before bowing to the master and getting a last look at the immortals.
Su Jing debated whether to follow them - after all, she was alone in an unknown place. The view around was that of a forest, a cold air embracing her body.
Sitting here just made her have more anxiety. She had no idea how she came here, and this place didn't bring any closeness.
So, after part of the people left, Su Jing clung to a random group of mortals, who still remained there alongside the immortals. Weren't those rejected? Why did they still remain here?
She wanted to ask them, but one of them gazed threateningly at her, as if Su Jing was stealing something from them. Because of that, she kept her distance, choosing to stay behind.
Eventually, the entire group began to move, with the masters and chosen ones leading the way. They headed in the opposite direction of those who had left before, ascending a path that gradually became steeper and more treacherous.
Su Jing found herself trailing behind the stragglers, all the while feeling an intense pain in the soles of her feet. She longed to stop and inspect her legs, but the thought of being left behind in the dense forest kept her going.
When the group finally stopped, the place where they arrived was the base of a mountain. There was an endless line of stone stairs. The rocks circled the mountain till their way was lost in the clouds, where the summits couldn't be seen.