Chapter 70: Why Did It Have to Be Spirit Sword Peak?

Hu Qiao’er did not immediately agree to Jiang Che’s request to return to the village.

Jiang Che was puzzled.

Wasn’t Hu Qiao’er here to take him back?

His own Hu Qiao’er, wasn’t she here to take him home?

Jiang Che stood there, dazed, but Hu Qiao’er still held his hand, her gaze drifting to the platform where many were going to test their Linggen.

At the side, Wang Hao was rubbing his fists and waiting to show off on stage.

On the high platform, Yun Yan let out a long sigh.

Yun Yan watched as more than twenty people below finished testing their Linggen one by one.

The best result was only double Linggen.

He couldn’t help but shake his head hard, his grizzled beard trembling with him.

Next to him, Wen Ping spoke again in her hoarse voice, “It can’t be helped. After thousands of years of human development, single Linggen geniuses are ever rarer, and those with good character are even fewer!”

Hearing this, Yun Yan wore a troubled expression and complained, “Then, junior sister, have we set the first round too high? Should we change it?”

His eyes swept across the disciples below, but his mind was working fast: That Luo Yan guy is definitely going to shamelessly poach disciples again soon.

As for Su Qinghan… she probably wouldn’t, right?

If she really wanted to recruit someone, she could just spend money to bring in a powerful expert.

Why bother competing with us for these greenhorns starting from scratch? The uncertainty is too high.

As for why he didn’t think of Xiyue, it was mainly because Xiyue didn’t lack talent.

Her great dynasty had a huge population and she didn’t care about these people.

Very soon, only three remained to test their Linggen: Jiang Che, two others, and a lecherous-looking fellow.

“Name.”

“Jia… Xianren…”

Jia Xianren reported his name, clearly reluctant.

He had just spotted Jiang Che and was overjoyed, but with so many people watching, he couldn’t just snatch him away—he’d have to wait for an opportunity.

“Water, Wood, Fire—triple Linggen. Next.”

Jia Xianren’s aptitude was poor, so he held little hope.

At this moment, Wang Hao, unable to restrain himself, walked up to the stage. Many people watched this kid.

He imitated the earlier participants, rubbed his palms together, took a deep breath, his face brimming with irrepressible excitement and anticipation.

“Name.” The presiding elder didn’t even lift his eyelids, perhaps because today’s results were disappointing, his voice was a bit dry.

“Wang Hao! My name is Wang Hao!”

“Hmm, place your hand.”

Wang Hao hesitated no more, full of confidence as he slapped his palm onto the stone pillar!

Buzz…

The stone pillar quivered slightly, and a beam of light suddenly flared atop it!

A golden light appeared.

Jincheng Root?

And it’s so bright?

The stares from all around grew wide and round.

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows. Even Yun Yan couldn’t help wanting to take a closer look.

“Oh yeah!”

Wang Hao was overjoyed.

But gradually, the pillar lit up red, then brown, blue, and green, one after the other.

Five colors mingled, like several candle flames about to be snuffed out, barely maintaining a bit of brightness, utterly lacking in momentum.

Wang Hao’s face formed a 囗 shape.

“Hahaha! Five Linggen! A new record!”

Someone in the crowd burst out laughing.

On the platform, Yun Yan couldn’t help but sigh again, thinking he’d found a treasure.

Voices rose and fell all around, and Wang Hao was so ashamed he couldn’t lift his head.

This isn’t right. He was a transmigrator—how could he be trash? Even if the system hadn’t activated, he shouldn’t be.

Listening to the chorus of boos and laughter, Wang Hao’s face burned, as if he’d been slapped several times in public.

He suddenly raised his head, a fierce light in his eyes, his nails digging deep into his palms.

“Enough!”

He shouted, his voice rising above the noisy discussion.

“So what if my aptitude is the worst? Listen, I, Wang Hao, my fate is mine to decide, not Heaven’s! Even if Shenxiao Sect won’t accept this ‘waste’ today, I will make my mark in the world one day! Do not bully the poor youth!”

The power in his declaration quieted the scene for a moment.

On the high platform, the always upright Feng Shouzuo snorted lightly, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes.

This kid’s got some backbone.

The presiding elder, however, was unmoved by the grand speech, and only grew impatient at the delay.

He blew out his beard and waved his sleeve, “Hey, enough! Down! I never said the Trial ends here! Whether you’re accepted depends on your next performance! Hurry, don’t dawdle! Next!”

Wang Hao’s hot-blooded momentum suddenly froze. He stiffened, staring blankly at the elder, “Huh? There’s…there’s another Trial? I’m not…I haven’t been eliminated?”

“Who said anything about elimination? Hurry up and get down.”

Wang Hao scratched his head in embarrassment.

Below the stage, Hu Qiao’er let out a soft laugh. Of all of them, he’d been the most confident on the way here.

She’d just been worrying for him, but never imagined Wang Hao could say such words.

“Hurry up, only you two left.”

“Ah Che, I’ll go first.”

As soon as she spoke.

Jiang Che reached out, trying to grab her, but didn’t even catch the hem of her clothing.

He hadn’t paid the slightest attention to what was going on around him just now.

He still didn’t understand what Hu Qiao’er meant.

Seeing Hu Qiao’er’s plain clothing, the crowd immediately assumed she was from a village, and shook their heads—she probably didn’t have much hope.

“Senior, greetings. My name is Hu Qiao’er.”

“Alright, begin.”

The elder raised his eyebrows, surprised by this polite little girl.

Hu Qiao’er took a deep breath and placed her hand on the pillar.

One second, two seconds—no reaction.

Jiang Che was carefully taking in everything around him.

He didn’t know why, but he hoped Hu Qiao’er’s aptitude would be very poor—so poor that even Shenxiao Sect wouldn’t want her.

The air was silent for several seconds. Even Hu Qiao’er grew nervous—could she have no Linggen at all?

But at that moment, a towering green light shot up, piercing the sky! Instantly, the entire square was awash with vibrant life!

“Single… single attribute Wood Spirit Root!” the presiding elder exclaimed.

Almost the moment the green light soared, a figure flashed before Hu Qiao’er like a phantom!

It was Luo Yan, Vice Sect Master of the Holy Demon Sect.

He put on what he thought was a warm smile.

“Hello, Hu Qiao’er, right? I am Vice Sect Master of the Holy Demon Sect. You saw your talent just now, but in the Shenxiao Sect, you are not the only one with such aptitude.”

“I sincerely invite you to join our Holy Demon Sect. I can even make an exception to accept you as a personal disciple, and resources will be tilted in your favor.”

Upon seeing the single-attribute Linggen, Luo Yan could not suppress his excitement and immediately came to poach.

Yun Yan’s mouth twitched, while Xu Qianlan stifled a laugh beside him, as if to say, “Aren’t you going to do something?”

But Hu Qiao’er was frozen in place—she hadn’t expected her own talent to be like this.

Then she heard the middle-aged man mention “Demon Sect,” and a trace of caution rose in her heart.

“Demon Sect? Isn’t that… not so good?”

Luo Yan seemed to have expected the question, and quickly waved his hand in explanation, “Not at all, not at all. Cultivators of demon arts aren’t all bad people. Our sect often encourages disciples to punish evil and help the people, to build a good reputation.”

“Is that so?”

Hu Qiao’er eyed Luo Yan with suspicion.

But the next moment, she no longer looked at Luo Yan, but turned to face Jiang Che.

“Ah Che, if I choose to join Lingjian Peak, what will you think?”

At this, everyone’s attention turned to the blind youth.

Jiang Che unconsciously held his breath.

A stab of pain pierced his heart, but why did she have to ask him? And why, of all places, Lingjian Peak?

Had Hu Qiao’er found something out?

“Ah Che?”