They truly never expected to be able to test their spiritual roots, or rather, they never imagined that such a kind-hearted young lady would be a cultivator.
The cultivators they had heard of never cared about ordinary people; even those renowned for healing the sick and saving the dying would not stoop to notice them, mere street urchins.
They exchanged glances. Then, the eldest child, after wiping his hands on his not-so-clean clothes, stepped forward and placed his hand on the spirit testing stone.
He looked at the spirit testing stone with anticipation, and the other beggars watched with longing eyes. However, to their disappointment, the stone remained unresponsive.
"It's alright," the child said, comforting himself before Lin Yan could even speak, and then made way for the next.
The next child stepped up. One by one, these children came forward to have their spiritual roots tested. Out of dozens of children, only a few possessed them.
When they learned they had no spiritual roots, the children hung their heads in dejection. Those who did have roots, though initially wanting to rejoice, saw the low spirits of the others and felt no inclination to smile.
"Don't be discouraged. Not having spiritual roots doesn't mean you can't cultivate martial arts. I encountered some martial arts masters before and obtained some martial arts manuals from them. I can teach you those as well."
"Really?" The dejected children immediately looked up at Lin Yan with surprise and joy.
"It's true," Lin Yan affirmed.
When Lin Yan left, she didn't take any of the children with her. Although two of them showed good potential, the place she was heading to was not suitable for bringing children along.
Wan Si Rui once again sold the formation disks he had made, exchanging them for a bag of spirit stones.
After leaving the shop, Wan Si Rui took a roundabout route before returning to his sect.
He now required more and more spiritual energy, and the spiritual energy within the Ling Xiao Sword Sect had begun to become insufficient for him.
This wasn't about the sheer amount of spiritual energy he needed, but rather that too many people were cultivating in the Ling Xiao Sword Sect. Everyone used spirit gathering formations, yet there wasn't enough spiritual energy to gather. Thus, he felt somewhat "underfed" during his cultivation.
Even now, at the Qi Refining stage, he felt this way. What would he do when he reached Foundation Establishment and Golden Core?
Thinking of the news the shopkeeper had recently given him, he felt a stir of interest. He harbored no particular affection for the Ling Xiao Sword Sect anyway, so he might as well try his luck elsewhere.
Given his talent, he was certain he would be accepted. Then, he wouldn't have to worry about cultivation resources anymore.
The thought made him feel a surge of excitement. Before he began cultivating, he had felt content just entering the Ling Xiao Sword Sect. But having truly experienced this somewhat brutal cultivation world,
He realized that while this place was one where the strong ruled, it was not fundamentally different from the mortal realm. It still depended on family background and origins.
Given this, why wouldn't he seek a grander stage?
Wealth, companions, Dharma, and location – all are indispensable. If he wanted to go further, the Ling Xiao Sword Sect could offer him no assistance.
After tidying his room, Wan Si Rui prepared to accept a long-term mission from the mission hall and then leave the sect.
Only true disciples ignited life lamps. Although they were inner disciples, as long as they hadn't reached Foundation Establishment, they were no different from outer disciples.
It wouldn't matter if he left now. If he could enter a major sect in the Central Continent, he wouldn't have to remain in this small sect any longer.
Just as Wan Si Rui was contemplating leaving the sect, another batch of disciples emerged from the trial ground jointly developed by all the sects in the Southeast Domain.
Every disciple who emerged had unstable spiritual energy within them and appeared extremely pale.
As soon as they appeared, they were helped aside by the junior disciples of their respective sects.
During this period, they had figured out the opening patterns of the trial ground, and this was already the fifth batch to emerge after Lin Yan's departure.