The Testing Hall was exactly that. Two halls branching off to either side that curved to meet again, both leading to the same destination. A vista of serenity. A garden of spiritual plants abundant with World energy, patterned and encouraged to grow by attuning to unique Qi features.

The fire aspect was the most interesting, as patches of Sungrass moved the changes in pattern morphed. As the wind stirred the leaves the resulting illusion, flickering tendrils of flame in bright colors of yellows, oranges, blues, and whites formed. An array that kept the heat from escaping, and the wind to a gentle zephyr, protected the plants. They allowed just enough wind to enter to stir the leaves without fanning the flames. Trapping a potential raging bonfire in a state of flux.

The path led to a large courtyard and a raised dais. Behind the dais were the falls that gave the Sect its name. A massive convergence of dozens of tributaries at the top, streams, creeks, and two rivers all joining together to plummet down a steep cliff. The water of the falls emptying into a river that churned furiously, dispersing the water droplets into a mist. A fog that perpetually blanketed the area.

The water that was fed by the falls flowed downstream. The Water Qi that was generated pervaded the area, steeping the bottom of the falls with dense Water Qi that blanketed the mountain. The falls re-energized the Qi continuously, allowing those individuals that had water as one of their aspects to take advantage of the profuse Qi to increase cultivation levels.

There were dozens, perhaps a hundred in total, young aspirants kneeling in front of the dais, watching as other candidates walked the line, reaching out, and placing their hands in specially prepared vats of metal. Each vat powered by a level 5 beast core. Each vat contained metal dust. Metal, ground, and based on its position on the Periodic table.

It had been found that Spirit Roots resonated with certain metals, the higher the electron count, the more meridian and channels would form. Each acolyte placed their hands in the ground metal dust; Iron, Nickle, Silver, Tin, Barium, Platinum, Gold. Some esoteric agency I wasn't familiar with monitored the body's reaction and when the Spirit root harmonized with metal, the beast core would liquefy the metal dust.

It worked very similar to jumper cables and a person that had not awakened or cleared their meridians yet would be jolted, a minute particle of metal becoming the framework that their cultivation level set would be built around.

It was why early testing was done in primary schools. Lunch served in those schools were tailored to the dietary requirements, the stored energy needed to open pathways that were needed for the Spirit Root to form.

That had been the cause of my problem. I'd been tested at Iron rank. The most common cultivation rank. Most of the populace went about their daily lives at that level. They had just enough ability to process Qi to use the array formations that helped with daily life. A jump in tier was not unheard of, but I had jumped five tiers. My body had been breaking down fat, muscles, organs, and bone to get the energy needed to form my Spirit Root.

Thankfully, the Sect was prepared for this eventuality and began feeding me pills that worked as a stopgap until they could begin an I.V. drip with a dense solution of non-aspect Qi.

When the last of the acolyte awakening was concluded, and those people who had failed to bond and connect paths that ranked at least Silver were summarily dismissed and escorted away, it was time to determine what our affinities were. It seemed harsh. Silver Ranked soul roots was the bare minimum the Sect would accept for disciples. Those at Iron, Cobalt, and Copper grade were left to fend for themselves.

Those young men and woman that hadn't made the cut off would try to find other Sects to accept them, but chances were slim. The Silver rank was the minimum standard for most institutions. Some elite Sects even required Tin level spirit roots for admittance. It was more likely that they would have to depend on widely used public cultivation material and family resources to figure out how and if they could form a Dantian to condense Qi.

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Of the hundred or so individuals that had been waiting and observing, those that remained, the lucky few that had awakened to Silver and above had drastically decreased. There were two dozen. Three-quarters of those that had tested had failed. Of those that remained, I had to be one of the stronger. I wasn't sure if any Gold spirit roots had been discovered, but my Platinum rank would increase the number of resources the Sect was willing to supply as I worked my way through the Realms.

"Elder Zorac will lead you to the next step in gaining mastery and unlocking your potential from this point. She is an affinity specialist having spent hundreds of years studying the different aspects and their potential.

"She is well qualified for this position because she is one of the rare individuals of any Sect or Clan to have more than two aspects. Eighty-Five percent of cultivators that can identify with an affinity have one aspect they resonate with. Of the rest, almost all have awakened two aspects, supportive in nature, they align and blend easily together.

"For the very rare, less than .01 percent of all cultivators the awaken to resonate with three attributes. These attributes also align and blend well together. Water, Air, Lightning as an example. Elder Zorac has three affinities, two of which should oppose each other, but blended with the third allows her to create sub-affinities.

"Water, Fire, and Air. What she has done to master these affinities and how she has learned to combine them makes her the foremost expert on affinities, an expert that even higher Ranked Sects consult. She will help you isolate, identify, and connect with even the most tenuous resonance you may have to your affinity.

"Trust her. The results she has been able to achieve are impressive. Many candidates would have been expelled from the Sect at this next step if it were not for her help. Affinities are not required to cultivate, but Water Flowing Sect does not accept disciples that haven't harmonized with one.

"Based on your spirit root strength there might be other Sects willing to accept you," Elder Rhys said finishing his introduction and explanation. He turned his back and assumed the lotus position, making obvious the discussion was over, and he had nothing else to impart to us nor was he willing to entertain questions.

Elder Zorac was a stunning elf made more memorable by her lack of hair. She had decided to shave her head, perhaps an aesthetic choice, more likely practical. Long hair could be used against you in combat, although I noticed most of the Sect members, male and female alike, all tended to have long flowing locks, she did not.

She was known, even among the local population, for her diligence, both in researching and developing practical skills that made use of affinities in new ways possible. I did wonder if perhaps her lack of hair was from a failed experiment. More likely she was like all dedicated researchers and had shaved it because it was the most efficient use of her time. She wouldn't need to bother about grooming or styling daily. An occasional shave allowed her to focus on matters she thought more important.

"The gardens, the pathways that open to the Testing Hall Courtyard have been placed and grown for efficacy," Elder Zorac said, her voice confidant, her intent to educate clear. "Each plot contains a plant that resonates with a known affinity. Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Lightning, Metal, Space, Gravity, and Void.

"We have layered and placed these plants so that the World energies they absorb and transmute align with the aspects they are modeled after. These plants work in tandem with each other where required. Water and Earth suppressed, the need for soil to sprout and water to grow supplied with materials that have been filtered of any Qi aspect. Layered formations keep the energies from blending and collect the excess energies," she continued.

"All of this excess energy, the aspects that we have identified and nurtured, are then concentrated into a battery matrix that circulates the accumulated energies and allows those who have yet to discover an affinity the greatest chance of identifying the aspect or aspects they resonate with," she explained.

"The process is rather simple and straightforward," she continued as she led us to a square lawn that was adorned with meditation mats placed in a star-burst pattern. "Each of you will enter meditation. The energies here are so condensed that if there is even the slightest resonance between you and the affinity, we will be able to observe the connection.

"Once you can 'ping' the affinity, a term that simply means you can interact with an affinity, we will be able to identify the one you have closely aligned with. At that point, I will join you in meditation and guide your cultivation cycle to respond and flow in harmony with the aspects you resonate with, showing you how to include and incorporate those affinities, fusing a connection that will allow you to temper your future cultivation technique to include the elements you align with."

"Will you be able to guide our meditation for aspects that you have no affinity for?" I asked aloud giving voice to the question that a few others had but had wisely or unwisely chosen not to ask. I didn't think we would be penalized for asking questions, there had been no mention of that in our intake indoctrination, but that didn't mean it was something that you were expected to just know.

"Interesting enough, I don't have to have the same affinity in order to guide an applicant's awakening. The 'mechanics are the same no matter what affinity you have aligned with. You do the actual connecting, your Qi begins to vibrate and mimic the aspects you resonate with. All I do is show you how to grasp and solidify that connection and help you reach the beginning stage of enlightenment for that element.

"And before you ask," she said smiling to remove any sting her words may hold, "if you have more than one element that you resonate with if you are a dual affinity wielder or above, then yes, I can help you gather and connect to all aspects you resonate with.

"And help you create an elemental weave that will allow you to create a balanced core that includes Qi and the threads that connect to the elements."