Ling Tian followed Elder Yuan into a chamber that was remarkably austere compared to the rest of the Qi Lian wing. The room was adorned with simple furnishings and permeated by the faint fragrance of incense, yet the singular distinctive feature was a seven-colored stone roughly the size of a man, embedded at the chamber's center.
Yuan Li turned to Ling Tian and spoke in a measured tone, "Before we commence the examination, I require several questions answered."
Upon hearing Yuan Li's words, Ling Tian's curiosity stirred, and he responded, "Of course, Elder, please proceed."
Yuan Li began methodically posing his queries, "What is your name? Which clan do you hail from? What is your cultivation level, and what manner of spiritual root do you possess?"
Ling Tian reacted with astonishment, "Is that all? Very well, I suppose I could have expected more."
Thereafter, he commenced answering each question systematically. However, when he revealed possession of the Five-Element spiritual root, Yuan Li's demeanor shifted imperceptibly toward indifference—though no visible change manifested upon his visage, Ling Tian sensed it through his acute mental perception.
Following several routine inquiries, Yuan Li concluded his interrogation and spoke with patient deliberation, "Very well. Now place your hand upon the Pristine Mind Stone and focus intently upon it. Whenever you perceive a beam of different coloration, that would be preferable."
Ling Tian studied the Pristine Mind Stone and posed, "And how shall I discern whether I have succeeded?"
Yuan Li showed little concern regarding Ling Tian's abundance of questions and responded with grave authority, "There exist seven distinct hues that can manifest within the Pristine Mind Stone, ranked from worst to superior: white, green, deep blue, sky blue, violet, and finally the two highest results—gold and golden-violet."
At this juncture, Yuan Li paused to afford Ling Tian time to assimilate this information.
He then continued, "Regarding your inquiry—obtaining the white hue signifies your mental strength corresponds to that of an ordinary person. Green indicates your mental strength is twice that of an ordinary person. As for deep blue, it represents four times the standard, and constitutes the threshold of success."
Ling Tian felt profound shock at this revelation and contemplated with awe, "If this proportion remains constant, then one possessing golden-violet caliber mental strength would manifest sixty-four times that of an ordinary individual."
Yet suddenly, a perplexing thought occurred to Ling Tian, "If cultivation augments mental strength, then surely with sufficient cultivation level, any person could attain the golden-violet threshold."
As if cognizant of Ling Tian's musings, Yuan Li spoke in his customary grave tone, his expression bearing its habitual indifference, "Do not overthink this matter, boy. This is precisely why you must place your hand upon the stone and channel your spiritual essence, for the Pristine Mind Stone measures mental strength proportionally to one's cultivation level."
Ling Tian experienced renewed astonishment at Yuan Li's words. As he gazed upon the stone, he contemplated, "A stone that measures mental strength relative to one's cultivation—this is truly a treasure. It seems the renown of Qi Lian wing as the sacred ground for alchemy across the Eastern Continent has not arisen without reason."
"Enough discourse," Yuan Li commanded, his voice assuming a more decisive tenor. "Place your hands upon the stone and concentrate with the utmost intensity you can muster." He urged Ling Tian to commence the examination.
Ling Tian responded with fervent eagerness as he approached the Pristine Mind Stone, "Very well."
Yet within his mind, he harbored uncertainty, "Should I truly expend the entirety of my mental strength?"
He rapidly resolved this deliberation, regarding the stone with resolute determination whilst thinking, "No. Even a single droplet of Serene Lotus Water can elevate the mental strength of one at the Foundation Establishment stage. I have consumed considerably more of this treasure."
After this consideration, he extended his hand whilst contemplating, "Furthermore, should I discover my mental strength proves insufficient, I can always augment it further. This constitutes the safest course of action. Let me assess—I suspect fifty percent suffices."
With that, he placed his palm upon the Pristine Mind Stone, channeled his spiritual essence into the stone, and commenced his focused concentration.
As his concentration deepened, Ling Tian abruptly perceived a white beam traversing freely within the stone.
Thereupon, the stone commenced its radiant glow in white luminescence, yet swiftly transformed from white to green, then to deep blue with such rapidity that Ling Tian scarcely glimpsed the green beam.
In that very moment, he comprehended the profound potency of Serene Lotus Water, for before he could adequately redirect his attention, a beam of sky blue had commenced its motion within the stone, causing the entire stone to radiate in sky blue luminescence.
Only then could Ling Tian finally manage to diminish his concentration somewhat, and he reflected with shock, "Damnation—I barely expended twenty percent of my mental strength. It appears I gravely underestimated the efficacy of a treasure such as Serene Lotus Water."
Upon witnessing the sky blue radiance emanating from the stone, Yuan Li's eyes kindled with elation, yet that satisfaction was promptly extinguished by the sobering reality that Ling Tian possessed five spiritual roots.
Upon conclusion of the examination, Ling Tian announced with confidence, "I believe I have succeeded, Elder."
Yet inwardly, sorrow gripped him, for he harbored no desire to attract such attention. "Well, at least I did not obtain the violet hue, or it would prove impossible to escape the scrutiny of others. All I desired was to live as an ordinary person. Why must this be so extraordinarily difficult? I am fated to be either abominably mediocre or genuinely talented—this is truly vexing," he thought whilst internally ridiculing himself.
Yuan Li's grave countenance reasserted itself, and he spoke with tones carrying subtle disappointment, "Indeed. You are presently qualified to study alchemy under Qi Lian wing, though first you must accept certain conditions."
Ling Tian offered no response, having anticipated such a stipulation, and awaited the enumeration of terms.
Upon observing Ling Tian's silence, Yuan Li proceeded, "Foremost, Qi Lian wing shall provide you with a technique for flame manipulation, supplemented by alchemical formulae of first-grade level, together with the requisite materials and an alchemy furnace."
Ling Tian marveled at these extraordinary terms, yet he possessed sufficient acumen to recognize that all things bear a price, and he inquired softly, "And in exchange?"
Yuan Li expounded, "In exchange, upon achieving a success rate of thirty percent, Qi Lian wing shall dispatch monthly provisions sufficient to yield ten batches of Qi-restoration pills. Qi Lian wing requires only three batches from your production—any surplus may be retained by yourself."
Ling Tian experienced profound shock at the generosity of these terms, for it appeared he was the sole beneficiary—a circumstance that troubled him, as it seemed inconceivable that Qi Lian wing would undertake such an arrangement without deriving benefit themselves.
However, following deliberation, Ling Tian perceived the deeper mechanism at work. "Although I appear the immediate beneficiary, in the prolonged term, Qi Lian wing shall emerge as the greater profiteer. They shall not merely recoup the spiritual stones through the three batches alone, but shall additionally afford their core members the temporal freedom to advance their alchemical mastery, rather than squandering their efforts refining low-grade pills."
Upon reaching this comprehension, Ling Tian finally achieved tranquility and resolved to accept Qi Lian wing's proposals, though in truthfulness, he possessed no alternative recourse at present.
Upon perceiving Ling Tian's acquiescence, Yuan Li withdrew a metallic plate and commenced inscribing Ling Tian's name upon it. Subsequently, he sealed it employing a mysterious technique bearing Qi Lian wing's emblem—a sphere radiating arcs of lightning—and transmitted it to Ling Tian whilst declaring in his characteristically grave and indifferent tone, "We welcome your engagement with Qi Lian wing."
Ling Tian accepted the plate, expressing his gratitude, "I am grateful, Elder."
Yet inwardly, he silently jeered, "What welcome،your countenance betrays virtually no expression whatsoever. Could you not have mustered even a fabricated smile?"