The spirit root test was held at one of the sect's spacious open training grounds. A large version of the aptitude-testing artifact had been placed on a raised stage, shielded from the sun by a wide canopy. It was intentionally made bigger and more impressive than usual specifically for events like this.
Back when Leyvi was still a Qi Refining Realm disciple of the sect, he used to come and watch the spirit root testing events. Without surprise, most of the children had no spirit roots at all, and those who did only possessed low-grade or middle-grade ones.
This year, around 500 children will participate in the test. Priority was given to all children or relatives of sect members.
If there were still available slots afterward, which there usually were, the sect would then conduct spirit root tests in the surrounding villages and towns. This was exactly how Leyvi and Anda had been recruited back then.
Although it was difficult for cultivators to conceive children together, most of them had many mortal relatives with large families. As long as the children were twelve years old, they could come and take the test.
Mortals could have children easily, but the chance of them possessing a spirit root was quite low. On the other hand, cultivators had a much lower chance of conceiving, but their children were far more likely to have spirit roots. Even so, it was still possible for them to be born without one.
Because of this little possibility, some cultivator parents would privately test their child's spirit root ahead of time so they would not be embarrassed in public.
Vivian and Bobori could have also tested Jojori's aptitude privately if they wanted, but they did not feel the need to. Why should they feel embarrassed if their son did not have a spirit root? Whether Jojori had one or not, he would still be their beloved son.
Unbeknownst to the couple, Leyvi had prepared quite a surprise for them. A week ago, he had already upgraded Jojori's spirit root from middle-grade to top-grade wood element.
A top-grade spirit root would definitely create a great spectacle during today's event. After all, Mountain Dew Sect had not seen a top-grade spirit root for a very long time.
And since Jojori possessed a wood element spirit root, Leyvi was certain that Lilian would dote on him even more in the future. She might even pass down the precious cultivation manual she had inherited from her Divine Mentor to him.
Leyvi could already imagine Jojori's bright future as the hope of the Mountain Dew Sect.
And so, the event began, starting with the children of the sect members' mortal relatives.
One by one, their names were called. Each child walked up onto the stage and placed their small hands on the large detection stone for several seconds.
No reaction. No reaction. No reaction.
The children stepped onto the stage full of hope and expectation, only to walk back down looking dejected or even crying, their dreams of becoming cultivators extinguished. This was a common and heartbreaking scene at any public spirit root testing event. Leyvi had witnessed it many times before.
After forty children had been tested, the aptitude-testing artifact still had not reacted even once. This prompted those unfamiliar with the process to voice their doubts.
"Is the artifact functioning properly?"
"Should we change to a new one and restart the test?"
Murmurs of uncertainty spread through the crowd.
However, their doubts were immediately cleared when the next child placed her hand on the stone. The aptitude-testing artifact finally reacted.
"Low-grade earth element spirit root," a sect elder presiding over the event announced.
The little girl cheered joyfully and ran toward her aunt, who was a disciple of the sect. Having a spirit root meant she would automatically be accepted into the sect as a disciple.
However, a low-grade spirit root meant she would struggle in cultivation even more than Leyvi had with his middle-grade one in the past. Without a lucky encounter or immense wealth, her limit would likely be the Foundation Building Realm at best.
The testing continued.
"Low-grade fire element spirit root."
"Middle-grade metal element spirit root."
"Low-grade earth element spirit root."
"Low-grade wind element spirit root."
After four hundred children had been tested, only thirty-six of them possessed spirit roots so far. The number of low-grade spirit roots was three times higher than middle-grade ones.
"Sigh… Are we not going to have a high-grade spirit root this year either? How long has it been?" Sect Master Gunung lamented softly.
Leyvi, who sat beside him, chuckled inwardly. You'll be jumping with joy very soon, Sect Master.
At this moment, a young girl stepped forward and placed her hand on the stone. The aptitude-testing artifact on the stage reacted strongly. The glow it produced was much brighter than any of the previous ones.
"T-TOP GRADE WATER SPIRIT ROOT!"
Except for the Leyan Family, everyone present was shocked by this sudden revelation.
Sect Master Gunung and the sect elders had their eyes widened in disbelief. They had been hoping for a high-grade spirit root to appear, but a top-grade one had shown up instead. What a lucky day for Mountain Dew Sect.
Meanwhile, Leyvi was dumbfounded. Today's spotlight was supposed to belong to his nephew, but another child with a top-grade spirit root had appeared instead. Although this was a great thing for the sect, the timing could not have been more coincidental. He felt like he was being trolled.
Next to him, Anda was struggling to hold back her laughter. After all, she knew exactly what Leyvi had been planning.
After recovering from their initial shock, the sect elders immediately began arguing among themselves over who would take the talented young girl as their direct disciple. Who wouldn't want such a promising talent under their guidance?
"Alright, alright. Everyone, stop arguing. You're scaring the young girl," Sect Master Gunung said, raising his hands to calm them down. "Our sect values freedom. How about we let her choose her own master?"
This kind of scene rarely happened. Usually, Core Formation Realm elders only took direct disciples after someone reached the Foundation Building Realm. Even then, the disciple still needed to be young and talented in their chosen profession. Anda herself had been an example of this in the past.
To Sect Master Gunung, it did not matter much who became her master. The sect would pour resources into nurturing her regardless.
The elders quickly calmed down and returned to their seats. They realized they might have given the poor girl a bad first impression with their sudden enthusiasm.
"Mawarini, right?" Sect Master Gunung asked with a gentle, doting smile. "You may choose anyone among these elders as your master. They will guide you in your cultivation from now on."
Mawarini looked quite nervous from all the sudden attention, but she had already made up her mind about who she wanted.
She stepped down from the stage and walked timidly in a certain direction.
"E-Elder… can I become your disciple?" Her small voice asked nervously.
Sect Master Gunung and the other elders were dumbfounded. The person she had chosen was none other than Anda.
Sect Master Gunung smiled wryly. He had told her she could choose anyone from the elder seats, and Leyvi and Anda were indeed sitting among them.
Anda was still technically a member of the sect, but she had already established her own cultivation family elsewhere with Leyvi. If she took the young girl as her disciple, he doubted Mawarini would develop a strong sense of belonging to the Mountain Dew Sect in the future.
"Hehe. Little girl, why do you want me as your master?" Anda asked, clearly amused.
"B-Because… I think Elder is cute," the young girl replied honestly.
"Pfft!"
Several elders spat out their drinks in surprise, while the others sat there dumbfounded. How was that even relevant when choosing a master for one's future cultivation path?
Even Anda was caught off guard by the innocent answer. Surprisingly, she could tell that the young girl was being completely sincere.
What Anda did not know was that when Mawarini's top-grade talent was revealed, everyone had been shocked and started fighting to become her master. Only Anda had been sitting there giggling softly, which Mawarini found cute and far less scary than the others. That was why she had chosen her.
Anda smiled, a hint of mischievousness sparkling in her eyes. "I'm sorry, young girl, but I don't live in the sect anymore, so I won't be taking any disciples."
Mawarini's face immediately fell. She looked like she was about to cry.
"…However," Anda continued smoothly, "I suggest you take Elder Vivian as your master instead. I am her disciple. That means if you become her disciple, you will have me as your Senior Sister. How about that?"
At that moment, Anda had already started scheming far beyond what her husband originally planned.
Leyvi merely intended to raise Jojori into the future pillar of the Mountain Dew Sect, but Anda had instantly taken the idea a step further.
She had even picked out a potential future love interest for him.
If Mawarini became Vivian's direct disciple, then she and Jojori would naturally meet each other frequently while growing up.
With similar cultivation talents and positions as the sect's future pillars, the two of them would inevitably grow close over time. Perhaps they would even eventually become the sect's future power couple.
The more Anda imagined it, the more mischievous her smile became.
It would be quite entertaining if things truly developed exactly as she envisioned in the future.