Immortal Clan: I have a Tree of Creation

The immortal in green nodded slightly in response.

There were no more words, as if their minds had drifted away from the mortal world.

Lu Qingxuan waited a few more breaths, and seeing that there were no further instructions, he carefully took his leave and backed out of the heavy door of the back hall.

Outside the gate, under the eaves, County Lieutenant Zhao Tieying and County Assistant Li Mao stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.

Upon seeing Lü Qingxuan emerge, Zhao Tieying instinctively took half a step forward, lowered his voice, and said with his usual competence, "Sir..."

Lu Qingxuan paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Tieying's familiar yet sharp face.

The county magistrate was the most respected person in the county, holding the official rank of seventh grade, but he was a visiting official, meaning he was from out of town.

This was an arrangement made by the imperial court to check and balance the local authorities.

Zhao Tieying was not a native of Anshan, but his ancestors came from Anshan and he later returned to Anshan to make his way in the world.

County Commandant Zhao Tieying was Lü Qingxuan's most trusted confidant when he first came to Anshan and had little influence.

Unfortunately... some things have happened in recent years.

Like a tiny thorn, it quietly pierced Lü Qingxuan's heart.

Once trust is broken, it is difficult to mend it completely.

He subtly shifted his gaze and looked at Li Mao, the county magistrate who appeared somewhat mature and composed, standing to the side.

Li Mao was a true native of Anshan, and he climbed his way up to the position of county magistrate step by step.

Unfortunately, precisely because of this, he could not be regarded as a confidant by the county magistrate and was intentionally or unintentionally marginalized on a daily basis.

Li Mao sensed the gaze, but his eyes remained calm, showing little emotion.

"County Magistrate Li," Lü Qingxuan said in a cold voice, "you are in full charge of overseeing the arrangements for the drill ground."

"The selection of disciples by the immortal master is a grand event in our county that has been going on for a century. We must not be negligent in the slightest, nor can we allow any trouble to occur."

"If you don't have enough manpower, you can allocate it yourself. All necessary supplies can be drawn directly from the warehouse, and you can report back to me afterwards."

A flicker of surprise flashed across Li Mao's eyes before he bowed.

He bowed deeply, his voice steady and powerful: "Your humble servant obeys! I will certainly not fail in your trust."

Having said that, he didn't say anything more, turned around and hurried off to arrange manpower, his actions revealing a long-lost efficiency.

Zhao Tieying stood frozen in place, a look of undisguised astonishment flashing across his face.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

But when faced with Lü Qingxuan's calm and unwavering gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words.

He simply bent his waist even deeper and silently retreated into the shadows.

No one noticed that a barely perceptible sneer flickered across Zhao Tieying's lips.

......

Just past noon, the spacious drill ground behind the Anshan County Government Office was already bustling with activity.

The bluestone-paved ground was swept spotless, and the temporary straw mats were neatly arranged.

Hundreds of children aged between four and fourteen.

Under the guidance of the yamen runners and the anxious gazes of their parents, they sat down cross-legged in order.

The children were dressed in various ways, some bright and clean, others patched up. Their little faces were filled with confusion, curiosity, excitement, and also bewilderment and fear about their unknown fate.

The sounds of children whispering, parents giving quiet advice, and suppressed sobs mingled together.

Zhou Chengnan squatted down in front of Zhou Yuanqing and pressed hard on his son's thin shoulder.

The thirteen-year-old boy had handsome features and a tall, upright posture.

His composure and restraint stood out among the children.

"Qing'er, remember your father's words."

"Ascendants are ordained by Heaven and cannot be forced. Simply be true to yourself; do not try to stand out like others, and certainly do not... risk your life."

A complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

"If things cannot be done... I only wish for your safety."

As a father, he naturally wants his son to have a bright future more than anyone else.

But no matter what, even the immortal path that everyone yearns for cannot compare to the peace and security of one's son.

Zhou Yuanqing took a deep breath and nodded emphatically: "Father, I understand."

His gaze was clear and firm, and his five fingers quietly clenched together on his knees.

Just then, a slight commotion broke out at the entrance to the training ground.

All eyes turned in the same direction.

A figure in cyan had appeared on the high platform at some unknown time.

The immortal surnamed Su was still dressed in a simple Taoist robe, with a slender figure and a thin halo around him.

I couldn't see her face clearly, but I could sense an aloofness and detachment that kept people at a distance.

She stood there, seemingly detached from the hustle and bustle, and the sweltering air above the training ground seemed to cool down.

County Magistrate Lü Qingxuan, County Assistant Li Mao, and County Commandant Zhao Tieying stood respectfully behind her with their hands at their sides.

The buzzing voices that had been ringing out just moments before had completely disappeared, and even the sobs of the young children were being tightly muffled by the adults.

Everyone off the field held their breath, awaiting the severe test to come.

Perhaps it's a test of strength, perhaps it's a questioning of the heart, or perhaps it's an even more mysterious and unfathomable method of the immortals?

Everyone secretly prayed that their child would stand out in the upcoming fierce "competition" and soar to great heights.

The immortal in green robes glanced indifferently at the sea of ​​black heads below.

She extended her jade-like, white fingers and gently beckoned.

Lü Qingxuan immediately understood, and presented the thick register with both hands, bowing deeply.

It is a list of more than 100 children with spiritual roots, recorded five years ago during a county-wide spirit-testing campaign.

The immortal in green took it, and with a gentle stroke of his fingertips on the cover of the register, the register turned its pages by itself without any wind.

Just a few breaths later, the page turning stopped.

The immortal in green raised his eyes, his voice clearly echoing throughout every corner of the training ground, so aloof and devoid of any worldly warmth.

"Those whose spiritual roots are less than one inch and nine-tenths of an inch are not worthy of being cultivated."

"Take it back."

There was no explanation, no reason, and he didn't even glance at the children.

It was as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust from his sleeve.

The entire training ground erupted in chaos.

"Wh...what?!"

"So...it's eliminated?!"

"Immortal Master, Immortal Master, please have mercy! My child is only one and a half inches tall, just a little bit short, just a little bit short!"

"Five years! We've waited a full five years, eagerly anticipating this day! And then... just one sentence... and it's all gone?!"

"Father, Mother! I don't want to leave, I want to be an immortal!" The child's cries were heart-wrenching.

Despair, resentment, anger, confusion...

A variety of emotions surged and collided wildly among the crowd.

The parents of the children whose names were mentioned were struck dumb, their faces turning ashen. Some collapsed to the ground, some beat their chests in despair, and some held their children and wailed.

The constables looked at each other, and only after being sternly signaled by Lü Qingxuan did they reluctantly step forward.

They began the difficult task of "inviting" the eliminated children and their parents to leave the stage.

The scene was chaotic and filled with heartbreak and resentment.

On the high platform, Lü Qingxuan, Li Mao, and Zhao Tieying were also dumbfounded.

Even though Lü Qingxuan was a cultivator himself and was mentally prepared, he knew that the actions of senior experts from major sects were not ordinary.

But no one expected it to be so simple, brutal, and almost ruthless.

There were more than one hundred children, each with spiritual roots.

With just one sentence, more than 90% of the children lost all hope.

In the eyes of the immortals of the Qingchi Sect, those whose spiritual roots are less than two inches in diameter are not even qualified to be admitted to the sect.

Zhou Chengnan watched from afar, a surge of relief welling up inside him.

Fortunately, Qing'er's spiritual root is two inches and nine fen, making her one of the few children who meet the requirements.

"In that immortal's eyes, my little bit of spiritual root is probably not even considered a low-grade spiritual root." He couldn't help but feel a little bitter.

Zhou Chengnan's spiritual root was derived from the green fruit of the Tree of Creation.

A single inch of spiritual root is barely the minimum requirement to reach the level of a low-grade spiritual root.

However, it is not difficult to deduce a fact from the attitude of the immortal in blue robes on the high platform.

—A mere inch of spiritual root is still too weak.

County Magistrate Li Mao frowned, but a barely perceptible hint of relief flickered deep in his eyes.

Fortunately, her son possessed a two-inch and two-tenths spiritual root and was not eliminated.

County Lieutenant Zhao Tieying glanced around calmly, seemingly lost in thought.

As one of the most powerful martial artists in Anshan County, he had long since lost interest in spiritual roots and immortal cultivation.

It wasn't that he didn't yearn for it, but rather that he understood better than others how difficult it was to cultivate immortality.

The chaotic scene lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The constables under Zhao Tieying were very efficient, and the venue quickly became empty.

The once bustling crowd of over a hundred children has now dwindled to just five lonely individuals.

Five people—in the vast Anshan County, only five people had spiritual roots reaching the two-inch level.

Zhou Yuanqing pursed his lips tightly and subconsciously glanced back at his father.

Zhou Chengnan smiled and quietly gave his son a thumbs up.

The training ground was completely silent.