Chapter 15: The War for Talent, Preliminary Round

The Falling Immortal Sect.

The Spirit Root Testing Plaza.

Thousands of people gathered here.

To their astonishment, they discovered that their companions who had previously died had miraculously been resurrected.

They embraced one another, wept, joked, and poured out their hearts.

The assessment had forced them to experience life and death, allowing them to grasp the true essence of life at the brink of mortality.

It had to be said.

This move by the Falling Immortal Sect was truly brilliant.

Not only did it allow this batch of newcomers to experience the preciousness of life, but it also forged a stronger sense of cohesion among them.

For a sect, cohesion is its true foundation.

"What are you looking for?"

Wang Ze asked, looking at Li Jun's serious expression.

"Nothing."

Li Jun replied with a smile.

In truth, he was searching for that Demon Warrior.

Logically speaking, leading the crowd to fight the forest wolves, slaying the Wolf King, and charging onto the Sunset Mountain platform should have earned him the primary credit.

Such an achievement would be of immense help to his development within the Falling Immortal Sect.

But man proposes, and heaven disposes.

Then, a Demon appeared.

And someone had engaged in combat with it.

It was thanks to this person that they held the Demon at bay; otherwise, they all would have died.

Thinking on it.

This person was likely a competitor for the top spot.

Regarding a potential rival, he wished to understand them thoroughly.

To know oneself and one's enemy is to be invincible in a hundred battles.

He believed that one day.

He would become the Sect Master of the Falling Immortal Sect.

Meanwhile.

In a corner of the plaza.

Zheng Tuo's expression was more serious than ever, maintaining a two-meter safety distance from those around him.

What should I do!

Being targeted by a Demon means I won't be able to eat or sleep in peace; I could be taken out at any moment.

Too careless, too careless, too careless.

If I had known, I shouldn't have interfered with Chi Xiao.

Not only did I fail to win the beauty's heart.

But I also got glared at several times.

My shoulder was bitten.

And now I've drawn the attention of a Demon.

Zheng Tuo reflected on himself.

He took out a small notebook and recorded this mistake.

He had been making quite a few mistakes lately!

However, looking up at his surroundings.

He felt it was all worth it.

The spirit of heaven and earth converges to form the essence of all things.

The Falling Immortal Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a land of cultivation.

Just looking at the scenery was enough to refresh the mind, as if ascending the immortal path.

Ten years of preparation.

Finally, he had joined the Falling Immortal Sect.

Zheng Tuo gave himself a hundred percent affirmation.

"Congratulations to everyone for successfully passing the assessment. From this day forward, you are disciples of the Falling Immortal Sect. Next, we will conduct the Spirit Root testing, and you will be assigned to peaks based on your spirit root attributes," announced the Vice Sect Master, Yun Yangzi.

A massive cheer erupted across the plaza.

Joining the Falling Immortal Sect meant they had officially stepped onto the path of immortality.

Subsequently.

Disciples of the Falling Immortal Sect appeared to organize everyone to enter the formation one by one for spirit root attribute testing.

Spirit Roots.

They were not for eating, nor for looking at, and certainly not for show.

They were the lifeblood of a cultivator.

Spirit roots were divided into seven grades.

Grades one, two, and three formed one level.

Grades four, five, and six formed another level.

As for grade seven.

It was something that could be encountered but never sought, belonging to the realm of legend.

As the bridge connecting the physical body to spiritual energy.

The higher the grade of the spirit root, the faster one could absorb spiritual energy.

The faster one absorbed spiritual energy, the higher the chance of becoming an immortal.

In front of the testing formation, as a person entered.

The person's spirit root grade and attribute immediately appeared on the stone tablet beside the formation.

"Zhao Wu, third-grade spirit root, fire attribute."

The elderly man presiding over the formation sounded like a peddler in a marketplace.

His voice was loud and his pitch was perfectly precise.

As the tested youth left the formation.

Several senior brothers and sisters immediately stepped forward to chat with him.

"Junior Brother, you have a third-grade fire attribute spirit root. You could join my Immortal Cauldron Peak. You should know, our Immortal Cauldron Peak is the head of the five peaks. Not only are we the strongest, but our alchemy is unparalleled. Since your attribute is fire, joining Immortal Cauldron Peak would be the most suitable choice."

The senior brother from Immortal Cauldron Peak acted like a pyramid scheme leader.

He spoke incessantly, praising his own peak in an attempt to lure the junior brother away.

A third-grade spirit root had reached the average level of the cultivation world and was worth recruiting.

"Bah!"

Someone from Thousand Blade Peak expressed displeasure.

"Since when did your Cloud Cauldron Peak become the head of the five peaks? Did you ask our Thousand Blade Peak? Junior Brother, don't listen to his nonsense. If you want to know which of the five peaks is the strongest, it is definitely our Thousand Blade Peak. Not only do we have the largest number of disciples, but our Peak Master is also the strongest among the five. Join Thousand Blade Peak, and no one will dare bully you."

"Ding Yuan, what do you mean? Are you trying to steal people?"

"Sun Bao, you're talking nonsense. You can only steal people if they are yours to begin with. Has this junior brother agreed to join your Immortal Cauldron Peak?"

The two of them, representing Immortal Cauldron Peak and Thousand Blade Peak respectively, both wanted to take the lead and recruit the first tested disciple to bring good luck to their peak.

"What, you got a problem with that!"

With a wave of Ding Yuan's hand, a group of Thousand Blade Peak disciples appeared behind him, looking fierce and predatory.

"You think I'm afraid of you!"

Before Sun Bao could finish his sentence, a group of Cloud Cauldron Peak disciples arrived to support him, their momentum not lacking in the slightest.

The tension between the two sides was thick, and a fight could break out at any moment.

The thousands of disciples watching the two peaks felt a sense of bewilderment.

"Damn! Why does this feel less like seeking the immortal path and more like entering a den of bandits!"

Zheng Tuo couldn't help but complain.

This setting!

It was too reckless.

"Alright, alright, both of you stop arguing."

A senior sister from Ethereal Peak stepped in to mediate, and only then did both sides restrain their anger somewhat.

However, they still glared at each other, ready to fight at any second.

The testing continued.

The thousands of people present proceeded in an orderly fashion.

On the other side.

In a green mountain not far from the Falling Immortal Sect.

"Bastard, bastard, bastard..."

A sky-piercing roar echoed through the valley.

Endless demonic energy was released.

All living creatures withered instantly upon encountering the demonic energy, dying on the spot.

A once lush green mountain.

In the blink of an eye, it turned into a barren wasteland where not even a bird would land.

The red flames in Mo Jiu's eyes erupted like physical matter.

The entire demon realm trembled like an electric current.

Then... with a *bang*, he turned into a cloud of demonic mist.

He was exploding with rage.

"Send people to guard the base of the Falling Immortal Sect. If you see this person descending the mountain, notify me immediately. I said immediately..."

An angry command from Mo Jiu drifted from within the demonic mist.

"Yes, Master."

The demon servant immediately dispatched scouts to lie in wait at the foot of the Falling Immortal Sect.

"Also, how is the mole? Has he successfully infiltrated the Falling Immortal Sect?"

"Reporting to Master, with your assistance, the mole has been sent into the Falling Immortal Sect. Shall the plan begin now?"

"Mhm, begin."

Mo Jiu reverted to his original form.

Having exhausted his rage, his face was cold and appeared even more intimidating.

"Falling Immortal Sect, you should feel honored to become the first stepping stone beneath my feet, hehehehe... *cough cough*... Damn it, that little brat actually has soul-type attack methods. Once I destroy the Falling Immortal Sect, I will make you regret being a man."

At the Falling Immortal Sect plaza.

Zheng Tuo shivered for no reason.

"Damn, is that Demon talking about me? Does he have to be so vengeful? Can't he be a bit more magnanimous?"

Zheng Tuo thought to himself.

He quickly pulled a cotton coat from his backpack and put it on.

Wrapped tightly, he felt a surge of security.

He also casually took out two Wind-Chasing Talismans and placed them in his sleeves, ready to flee at any moment.

Even so, he was still somewhat worried and prayed for the testing to end quickly.

Once he chose a master, he would ask for seven or eight magic treasures for self-defense before he could feel at ease.

The spirit root testing continued.

After the brief conflict between Cloud Cauldron Peak and Thousand Blade Peak, they entered a "sage mode."

But the sage mode did not last long.

"Li Jun, sixth-grade spirit root, metal attribute."

The testing elder, as if he had swallowed a golden throat, projected his voice to every corner of the Falling Immortal Sect.