"Emotion Points +50!"
Ruan Jun's chest rose and fell in anger. "Xuan Jue may be an introductory technique, but for disciples who've never practiced Qi Refining, even entry-level comprehension can take days at the shortest, even months at the longest. It's not something just anyone can so easily achieve! Your aptitude is already poor, and yet you're acting incredibly lazy. If you can actually refine qi from cultivation, I might as well go smash my head open right here in this square."
"Senior Brother Ruan, since you've said that, I'm actually looking forward to it," Yun Jin gave him a radiant smile.
"Looking forward to what? Don't tell me you seriously think—" Ruan Jun started, ready to ridicule her.
Yun Jin suddenly grabbed a large handful of sunflower seeds and stuffed them into her mouth.
Here's the thing.
With the simplified version of Xuan Jue, the more she ate, the more spiritual energy she could absorb.
Since she had been slowly nibbling earlier, the energy condensed wasn't as obvious.
But now? It was different.
Seeing her continue to be so blatantly arrogant, Ruan Jun was enraged. He was about to personally drive her out.
In the next moment.
The surrounding five-colored spiritual energy surged and gathered around Yun Jin, wisps of light danced between her fingertips.
Ruan Jun's eyes widened, with an expression like he'd just seen a ghost.
Even Ye Danxia froze.
She had also only just started cultivating and had yet to sense any so-called spiritual energy.
But when her spiritual roots were tested earlier, the Sect Master clearly said she had a Celestial Spirit Root, she would be the most elite genius!
And she still hadn't been able to sense anything yet! But Yun Jin already had?
No…This is impossible!
She must be using some kind of illusion!
Ye Danxia glared fiercely at Yun Jin, refusing to believe what she was seeing.
"Senior Brother Ruan," Yun Jin smiled calmly as she manipulated the five-colored energy into the shape of a colourful flower. "This should count as passing the entrance exam, right?"
Another wave of Emotion Points surged again! Combined with the earlier "friendly contributions" from Ye Danxia and Ruan Jun, her balance had now passed one thousand.
Ruan Jun's face turned hideous.
What is this?!
Qi manifestation combined with this level of control, this was beyond just passing the entrance exam! This Yun Jin acted like someone who had cultivated Xuan Jue for years!
But how could this be possible?
Only half a stick of incense had passed since they were handed the booklets!
She'd achieved all this in less than half a stick of incense?!
How could someone like that even exist?!
"Still not enough?" Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, the wisps of light weaving freely through the air under her control.
Ruan Jun stood there in complete shock.
Up on the platform.
Zhao Wuji and the other Peak Masters had also turned their attention toward Yun Jin, their expressions shifting.
Spiritual energy fluctuation!
In half a stick of incense, a candidate had already managed to cultivate spiritual qi?
No. Not only had she successfully cultivated, from the look of things, she had clearly achieved perfect control over the five-element spiritual energy!
This girl, who had just been ordered to be removed by the sect master, actually had such a terrifying aptitude for comprehension!
The old man also glanced toward Yun Jin, revealing an intrigued expression.
This is interesting.
The light wisps Yun Jin controlled finally stopped midair, forming a painting.
Ruan Jun glanced at it in a daze.
That painting was actually the front gate of Tianxing Sect!
She could even draw a picture using spiritual energy!
This…Was this still a human being?
All the candidates participating in the test abandoned their thought to continue cultivating, and the entire plaza erupted into an uproar!
Yun Jin, with that one theatrical display, harvested another wave of Emotional Points.
Up on the platform, everyone exchanged glances.
With such aptitude for comprehension and terrifying spiritual control, just what kind of monster was this Yun Jin?
And yet, all of them shared the same regret:
Too bad she had the Five Element Root.
Yes. Too bad it was the Five Element Root.
No matter how strong your comprehension is, if your cultivation can't keep up, everything is still meaningless.
Noticing the astonished gazes from the platform, Ye Danxia began to panic. She subconsciously glanced at Ruan Jun.
That one look from Ye Danxia filled Ruan Jun with courage.
No matter how talented Yun Jin was, she had made Junior Sister Ye upset. She doesn't deserve to stay!
As her senior brother, he had a duty to protect her by driving out this troublemaker!
Ruan Jun shouted, "Yun Jin! Do you think Tianxing Sect is your playground? This isn't about talent, this is about your attitude! With that lazy personality of yours, removing you is perfectly justified!"
Yun Jin smiled slightly.
The next moment, her clear voice rang out across the plaza.
"But… This Xuan Jue only needs a single glance to be understood. Just eat a bit and you can advance. Why would I need to try that hard? No way…Senior Brother Ruan, don't tell me… you spent a long time before learning it?"
Ruan Jun nearly exploded. "It took me three days to pass the exam. That was already considered top-tier talent!"
"Three days??" Yun Jin's eyes went wide in disbelief. "What kind of fool needs three days to learn something this basic? Look at me, I just need to eat a bit and it works."
She once again cracked a few seeds.
Instantly.
The surrounding spiritual energy rushed toward her in waves.
There was no need to sit and meditate, the energy naturally completed a cycle and nestled obediently into her Dantian.
"So what exactly was the hard part that took you three days?" Yun Jin asked Ruan Jun, her expression completely serious, as though she did not understand at all.
"Emotion Points +100!!"
Yun Jin glanced at Ruan Jun in mild surprise.
Oh?
He could actually have such intense emotional fluctuations.
Seems like this male side character had some hidden potential, it might be worth farming him for more points in the future.
Ruan Jun's lips trembled with rage.
He hadn't paid close attention to Yun Jin before.
But now, watching her intently, he realized that not only had she cultivated qi, she was on the threshold of the first level of Qi Refining!
In such a short time??
What kind of monster was she?
With a Five Element Root?
Does this world have this kind of Five Element Root?!
Ruan Jun helplessly looked up at Zhao Wuji.
Yun Jin looked up too, locking eyes with the Sect Master. "When you read the rules, you didn't say we couldn't lean on pillars or eat sunflower seeds, right?"
Zhao Wuji squinted. "I did not."
"Then according to the rules, since I was the first to finish the test, I should be qualified to enter the sect."
The old man laughed and added, "That is indeed the rule."
He was starting to admire this Yun Jin.
Zhao Wuji's eyes glinted with displeasure.
Before the root testing, he had already favored Ye Danxia. As for Yun Jin, she looked far too flashy, entirely unbecoming of a sect disciple.
Her comprehension was indeed remarkable, but Five Element Roots were still Five Element Roots. The further you cultivate, the harder it takes to advance.
Throughout history, no cultivator with a Five Element Roots had ever reached the Nascent Soul stage.
No matter what, he does not want this disciple.
But…
It's also not good to break Tianxing Sect's rules.
Zhao Wuji said coldly, "You may remain, but unless a Peak Master takes you in, you'll go to the outer sect."
Outer sect vs. inner sect, the differences in resources were massive.
For outer sect disciples, standing out is even more difficult than ascending to immortality.
No Peak Master dared to speak up against Zhao Wuji, who seemed to dislike Yun Jin. Those who had initially shown some interest in her talent, now grew quiet.
Accepting Yun Jin for her comprehension alone wouldn't have been half bad, but it definitely wasn't worth opposing Zhao Wuji over such poor quality spirit roots.
Zhao Wuji said faintly, "You see? No one wants to accept you. If you still insist on staying, then—"
Yun Jin ignored him and directly turned to the old man, "Will you accept me?"
The old man nearly choked on his wine in surprise and coughed for several seconds, then forced himself to swallow it down.
No way was he going to waste good liquor.
"Girl! You want to be my disciple? Do you even know who I am?" the old man uncontrollably asked.
Yun Jin replied calmly, "I can see that you like drinking. I have a secret family recipe that can brew the best wine you've ever tasted."
Gulp.
The old man swallowed hard.
He tried hard to resist. "I already have my hands full with three disciples. Adding another…"
"I can brew the long-lost Baihua wine," Yun Jin said.
Gulp.
The sound of swallowing was even more exaggerated.
The old man couldn't help but ask, "Since it's already lost, how can you still brew it?"
Yun Jin was getting impatient, "I have my ways. Just answer whether or not you would take me as your disciple?"
The old man struggled wildly between his alcoholism and his rationality. After a long while, he finally decided to be honest, "If you truly want to become my disciple, there are a few things you must know in advance.
First, I suffered a serious injury in my early years. Due to that, my cultivation hasn't improved in many years, and likely never will.
Second, I am the Peak Master of the Tenth Peak, Heavenly Sword Peak, of Tianxing Sect. However, this Peak Master title is not permanent. Every three years, a ranking competition is held among the ten peaks. Any peak that places last ten times in a row will be stripped of its Peak Master status.
I've already come in last for nine times. In the sect's next competition, three months from now, I'll most likely lose my position, meaning I won't be able to protect you anymore.
If you're fine with these two matters, you may take me as your master."