Chapter 98: First-Rank Cultivation Aptitude, Comparable to a Flawless Spiritual Root

Bai Tianxiang pointed at the aptitude pillar. “Elder Xian Xiangqiu, aptitude: seven-tempered Heavenly Spirit Root!”

“Cultivation talent: fourth grade. Bone and physique: Mirror-Clear Glazed Body!”

“As for her cultivation, there is no need to say more. She is a peak Soul Transformation powerhouse who reached that realm within a hundred years!”

When everyone heard this string of aptitude, talent, bone structure, and cultivation level, the hundred-year peak Soul Transformation alone was enough to shake the heart.

If the people of Qingyun Sect in Yunzhou knew of Central Plains’ saying that one forms Core in thirty years, Nascent Soul in a hundred, and Soul Transformation in a thousand, they would only be even more astonished by this hundred-year Soul Transformation.

“Enough. The preliminary round of the Qingyun Dharma Assembly lasts half a month. After that comes the Top Hundred competition, so let us make haste and begin testing.”

Li Yao asked curiously, “Senior Sister Bai, you said there will be a Top Hundred competition afterward. If we want to obtain a spot in Qingyun Roselight Cavern, what rank do we need?”

A faint smile appeared on Bai Tianxiang’s face. The Qingyun Dharma Assembly was a grand event held by Qingyun Sect of the Central Plains to select outstanding disciples.

It was also a way to search for gifted young cultivators from the various lands. Hidden pearls lay in the deep sea; though the other four regions were not as powerful as the Central Plains, that did not mean they lacked geniuses. Xian Xiangqiu was the best example.

For this reason, this grand gathering included young talents from the Qi Refining stage all the way to the Core Formation stage.

Among them, the Foundation Establishment participants had to be under fifty years of age, while Core Formation cultivators had to be under one hundred.

Do not be deceived by the six sacred lands’ standard of Core Formation by thirty and Nascent Soul by a hundred. In truth, being able to reach Core Formation within a hundred years already counted as genius.

One must know that Foundation Establishment cultivators lived two hundred years, and Core Formation cultivators five hundred. To break through to Core Formation before the age of one hundred and fifty meant there would still be three hundred and fifty years left to attempt the Nascent Soul realm.

Aptitude, talent, and bone structure merely tested whether a person was a genius, whether they could quickly cultivate to the corresponding realm.

Cultivation itself was the final result of the first three.

For the major powers of the Central Plains, results were what mattered most.

Xian Xiangqiu was so gifted that only when she reached Soul Transformation did Xuanhua Sacred Land finally extend its hand in recruitment.

It had merely been delayed until her peak Soul Transformation stage, that was all.

Bai Tianxiang was already over three hundred years old, yet she had only reached the middle stage of Core Formation. Still, with two hundred years remaining, if she could break through to Nascent Soul, she too would count as a genius.

The farther one progressed in cultivation, the more precious every breakthrough became. With lifespan doubled at each higher realm, there was always another chance to climb further upward.

That was precisely why cultivation grew more frantic the higher one climbed. To improve one’s realm, one could pay any price.

As for why Yu Qingsong was not similarly frenzied, on the one hand it was because of the righteousness and burdens of the sect, which required him to hold the line.

On the other hand, he was still only in the middle stage of Core Formation. Even if he were given another hundred years of life, he still could not break through to Nascent Soul. He wanted to go mad, but there was no way for him to do so.

Though there was no way, he still clung to a thread of breath, waiting for the sect to produce new Core Formation cultivators, while he himself retreated in bitter seclusion and fought to rise higher.

Even reaching the late stage of Core Formation and gaining a few extra decades of lifespan would be a good thing.

That was why the disciples of Qingyun Sect in Yunzhou were so unfamiliar with Sect Master Yu: like a dragon whose head was seen but not its tail, they had only heard his name and never seen his person.

Those present were all Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Bai Tianxiang was not surprised that they wanted to know about the Qingyun Roselight Cavern quota.

With a smile, she said, “After the Top Hundred competition comes the Top Ten competition, ten chosen from a hundred.”

“Among those hundred, opponents are selected by lot. As long as one accumulates ten victories, one can advance into the Top Ten.”

Bai Tianxiang said this much, then added, “In past years, the Top Ten would all receive a spot in Qingyun Roselight Cavern.”

“But this year is different. You should have heard Elder Xian mention it already. Since it concerns Xuanhua Sacred Land, only five spots will be opened this year.”

“Therefore, the final struggle for the top five will be especially fierce.”

As she spoke, she suddenly paused. “Oh, right. Elder Xian’s spot is not included among those five. In other words, six people will be competing for the radiant light within Qingyun Roselight Cavern this time.”

Cao Xuan and Yu Wan exchanged a glance, both of them hearing the implication in Bai Tianxiang’s words.

So even after entering Qingyun Roselight Cavern, there would still be competition?

However, they did not ask further for the moment. After all, the rankings had not even been determined yet.

Bai Tianxiang also did not say more, because within the Central Plains they actually did not care much about this one spot.

In their eyes, even if the people from Yunzhou were allowed to benefit from it, how much could they possibly take?

If there were a pleasant surprise and Yunzhou truly produced another genius, then taking Xian Xiangqiu to the Central Plains together would not be out of the question.

“Who comes first?”

Everyone set that topic aside and began the testing directly.

Seeing that no one else stepped forward, Liu Yu immediately volunteered and took the lead.

He walked first to the initial white jade pillar, stretched out his right hand, and light flared.

Turning around, he looked at Bai Tianxiang with a face full of pride. Well? My nine-tempered spirit root, did that shock you?

Bai Tianxiang looked disappointed and said flatly, “Nine-tempered spirit root.”

Liu Yu looked at her expression and tone, then glanced at the envious look on Jin Tiexua’s face.

No, sister, shouldn’t you be making the same expression as Junior Brother Jin?

You are only at Core Formation because you have cultivated a little longer than I have. I am also destined to reach Core Formation in the future. Why is my nine-tempered spirit root not enough to win your approval?

Liu Yu felt speechless inwardly. Could it be that Elder Xian’s Heavenly Spirit Root had raised everyone’s standards, and my genius of a nine-tempered spirit root was no longer impressive?

Still, he continued on to the next three testing pillars.

At last Bai Tianxiang summarized, “Liu Yu, nine-tempered spirit root, eighth-grade cultivation talent, no special physique, age thirty-three, cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage.”

When she finished, she directly condensed a token and handed it to Liu Yu.

“This is your identity token. I have also registered you for the Foundation Establishment division of the Qingyun Dharma Assembly. You can check the specific rules within the token.”

Liu Yu accepted the token in low spirits. He had originally thought he might use his talent and cultivation to astonish this Core Formation cultivator from the Central Plains.

If not for saving face, he would have wanted to tell Bai Tianxiang right now: I am late Foundation Establishment, with a nine-tempered spirit root!

And I am only thirty-three years old. That makes me a genius among geniuses, all right?

Afterward, the direct disciples came up one after another.

“Jin Tiexua, eight-tempered spirit root, ninth-grade cultivation talent, no special physique, age twenty-seven, cultivation at the middle Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Xing Mengfan, nine-tempered spirit root, eighth-grade cultivation talent, no special physique, age twenty-five, cultivation at the middle Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Li Yao, eight-tempered spirit root, eighth-grade cultivation talent, no special physique, age twenty-nine, cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage.”

After Li Yao came down from the platform, curious about this cultivation talent, she asked directly.

Bai Tianxiang answered, “Cultivation talent is roughly your comprehension in cultivation.”

“Generally speaking, it is tied to one’s aptitude.”

“But in the Central Plains, there was once an ancestral figure of a sacred land who had only an ordinary three-tempered spirit root. By rights, let alone Foundation Establishment, even breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining should have been difficult!”

“Yet in the end, that ancestral figure broke through to the Tribulation Transcendence realm and even ascended to the upper realm!”

“Only later did people learn that the ancestral figure’s cultivation talent had reached a terrifying first-grade level!”

Bai Tianxiang wore an envious expression. “Any technique or art, he would master it at a glance. He could infer one thing from another and achieve sudden enlightenment to improve it, standing shoulder to shoulder with the legendary flawless spirit root!”

Upon hearing Bai Tianxiang’s words, several peak masters and Li Yao all turned to look at Cao Xuan!