"Zhou Tiezhu!"
"The grandson of the old patriarch and the eldest legitimate grandson of the Zhou family, one of the two prominent surnames in the village!"
*Ning Daoran's deepest impression of him was always the same...*
*This kid's gaze seemed to reflexively focus on the middle, giving him a somewhat wise appearance.*
"What's up?" Ning Daoran asked with a smile.
Zhou Tiezhu grinned and replied, "Grandpa asked me to fetch you, said a cultivator has come to the village to pick out those with spiritual roots! He told you to hurry over and give it a try~~~"
"What? A cultivator?"
*Ning Daoran's heart skipped a beat, and without hesitation, he grabbed the Big Stupid Deer and sprinted toward the village!*
...
The long-lost bustle of the village.
Ning Daoran and the Big Stupid Deer entered the village to find people dressed in white and green robes. They looked like they had immortal charm, exuding an aura of immense power.
"Everyone, I am a deacon of the Outer Sect from the Chaotic Sect and have come here to test the spiritual roots of the younger generation in this village. If any possess spiritual roots, our sect will make arrangements accordingly."
An elder in a deep blue long robe said warmly, his complexion glowing with vitality, faintly resembling someone who had retained youth despite their age.
A group of village children gathered, waiting for their spiritual roots to be tested. Nineteen-year-old Ning Daoran joined them, standing out like a crane among chickens.
A few unfamiliar children stood nearby. They were from other villages, already identified as having spiritual roots, soon to be taken to an Immortal Sect. The children of Dragon Flying Village looked at them with open envy in their eyes.
A disciple of the Chaotic Sect approached with a green jade ruler in hand, passing it over the waiting children one by one. Yet the ruler didn't react at all.
Before long, the elder deacon frowned: "Could it be that there isn't even one person in this village with spiritual roots?"
The old patriarch's face became visibly tense.
Finally, it was Ning Daoran's turn. The ruler passed over him, and suddenly, a ripple of green light flashed across it.
"Oh?"
The sect disciple conducting the test froze for a second, his initial joy quickly giving way to disappointment. "It's just a ninth-grade mixed spiritual root..."
"Oh?"
The elder deacon turned to Ning Daoran and smiled, "You stay here for now; arrangements will be made shortly."
The old patriarch's expression immediately transformed with a hint of relief.
By noon, the spiritual root testing concluded. Among the entire young generation of the village, Ning Daoran was the only one with spiritual roots.
"Let me take a look."
The elder deacon stepped forward and pressed a finger on Ning Daoran's wrist, instantly sensing a wave of warmth.
"You've practiced the Body Tempering Technique, haven't you? Operate it for me."
"Yes!"
Ning Daoran carefully operated the incomplete Body Tempering Technique.
"Oh... The Body Tempering Technique hasn't reached the entry-level. It appears you've just reached the first layer of Qi Refining. How old are you this year?"
"Nineteen."
"Not even twenty."
*The elder deacon thought to himself: 'A ninth-grade mixed spiritual root, first layer of Qi Refining, Body Tempering Technique incomplete, not yet twenty years old—this is truly a situation that's hard to savor but impossible to discard entirely.'*
*Such a spiritual root could be taken or left—it all depended on his whim.*
He looked at Ning Daoran. "Would you be willing to join the Chaotic Sect as a servant or perhaps as an outer disciple? While the supreme path may not be within reach, living a lifetime free from want surely isn't a problem."
Ning Daoran nodded heavily.
*Of course, he was willing! After joining the sect, he could find a quiet place to cultivate spirit rice. That sounded better than anything, and it would mark his first step on the immortal path. Naturally, he agreed!*
Beside him, the Big Stupid Deer also nodded emphatically, letting out a cry.
"Haha..."
The elder deacon chuckled. "Is this your spiritual beast?"
"Yes, senior."
"Interesting."
The elder deacon turned to the old patriarch. "We'll take this boy to the Chaotic Sect. Tonight, we'll stay in the village, and early tomorrow morning we'll begin our journey back to the sect."
"Good, good!"
The old patriarch nodded repeatedly.
...
Afternoon, at the old patriarch's home.
Ning Daoran and the Big Stupid Deer were eating steaming, fragrant noodle soup topped with scrambled eggs, heads close together.
By the stove, a woman removed her apron, her eyes openly showing her disdain as she glanced at the man and deer.
She harbored little goodwill toward the two freeloaders, and even knowing Ning Daoran was about to join a sect didn't lessen her animosity.
"Nephew."
The old patriarch said earnestly, "Don't rush off after you finish eating; I have something for you."
He pulled out a wrinkled handkerchief from his pocket and gently pushed it forward on the table.
"What's this?"
Ning Daoran held the old patriarch in high regard since he was an elder and hadn't treated him poorly all these years.
As he unfolded the handkerchief layer by layer, he discovered two small, transparent crystal stones within, glossy and radiant.
*Ordinary people wouldn't find them remarkable, but for a cultivator like Ning Daoran at the early stage of Qi Refining, the stones' intense concentration of spiritual energy was unmistakable!*
*Spirit stones!*
*It was the first time Ning Daoran had seen spirit stones. It was said these were necessities in the cultivation world, capable of being used as solid currency.*
*Although they were two low-grade spirit stones, they were undoubtedly treasures for someone like Ning Daoran, who had only just introduced spiritual energy into his body!*
"Nephew..."
The old patriarch sighed, his eyes revealing traces of nostalgia as he said, "Your father and I were brothers who bled and bowed together, so I'm more like your uncle."
"Your parents died young, leaving you alone and without support. Over the years, I've watched helplessly as your uncle. There isn't much I can do for you—just this."
His voice was calm. "We mountain villagers are seen as lowly people by cultivators. Though I am a patriarch, my insight remains shallow. These two spirit stones aren't much, but consider them a token of congratulations for discovering your spiritual root."
"If one day you truly become an immortal master, a cultivator who emerges from Dragon Flying Village, you must bless this land that raised and nurtured you..."
"Alright."
Ning Daoran immediately accepted the spirit stones. Then he took the Big Stupid Deer to the door, turned back, and bowed deeply to the patriarch before finally leaving.
The old patriarch smiled and waved goodbye.
...
Evening.
Ning Daoran was dragged back home for dinner by a little girl in a red cotton jacket.
Her name was Little Hehua, the daughter of Widow Bai in the village.
Ning Daoran had once saved Little Hehua from drowning in a pond, so their relationship was exceptionally close.
Little Hehua's mother had already prepared supper—a homely meal of stewed beans and meat, yet unbelievably fragrant.
*Widow Bai's face was indeed beautiful. Since losing her husband to illness, many single men in the village couldn't help but drool at the sight of her.*
"Eat slowly."
Widow Bai watched Ning Daoran and the Big Stupid Deer eat messily, laughing as she remarked, "I heard this morning that during the spiritual root test, you turned out to be the only one in the village with spiritual roots."
"Yes."
Ning Daoran nodded, "Tomorrow, I'll leave the village to cultivate in the mountains. Aunt Bai, you and Little Hehua take care of yourselves."
"Ah, finally some good fortune for you..."
*Widow Bai sighed softly, her delicate face showing a hint of melancholy. She spoke slowly, "You've had a tough life, losing your parents so young, just like us..."*
*As she spoke, she stole a glance at Ning Daoran, her frostbitten, delicate face tinged pink. In a timid voice, she muttered, "There's something I've always hesitated to say aloud. Have you ever thought about settling down here?"*
*Her voice was barely audible, "I just happen to... need a man in this household. Little Hehua is close to you..."*
"What?"
*Ning Daoran was shocked, nearly choking on his food.*
*The widow's hint was already clear, though... still...*
"I live well enough with Old Lu, even if life's a bit tough," he said with a grin.
"Awoo~~~"
The Big Stupid Deer let out a cry in agreement.
Little Hehua didn't understand the deeper meaning. She simply said, "Mom, Brother Ning said he'd come back someday. It's okay—we'll see him again."
Widow Bai smiled and nodded, saying no more.
...
*That night, Ning Daoran tossed and turned in bed.*
*Finally, he could enter a sect and quietly cultivate spirit rice. After all, growing spirit rice was his biggest focus!*
*Five points of Grass and Tree Holy Spirit, fifty times faster growth speed—spirit rice that usually takes a year to mature could now ripen in a week. What a divine opportunity!*