Divine Root Bone

The moment Zhang Yang's palm touched the spirit stone, a blindingly bright silver light erupted, illuminating all the runes on the four steps of the white jade bone-testing platform. The spiritual light shot straight upwards, reaching the beams of the hall, and the entire side hall was bathed in a silvery-white glow. The stone platform trembled slightly, and a faint hum of spiritual patterns could be heard. The spirit-testing stone became hot, and a torrent of spiritual energy flowed outwards along the surface of the platform—the limit that this bone-testing platform could withstand.

"Quickly! Seal off the strange phenomenon immediately! Eradicate the spiritual light of heaven and earth!"

The Grand Elder, who was in charge of the discipline in the distance, shouted sharply, and his mid-Foundation Establishment spiritual energy field exploded with full force!

At this moment, seven streams of spiritual energy at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment intertwined and merged, transforming into a massive cyan spiritual net that instantly overturned above the Spirit Testing Platform. The lingering aura of innate talent and the boundless spiritual energy were forcibly suppressed, devoured, and obliterated by the spiritual net.

On the Spirit Testing Platform, the soaring radiance of the innate spiritual energy slowly faded, but the lingering spiritual aura still enveloped the entire Azure Cloud Main Peak.

The extraordinary phenomenon that had just shaken the mountains spread throughout every corner of the sect in just a few breaths. Streaks of azure light rushed from each of the branch peaks and landed steadily around the Spirit Testing Platform.

In an instant, all seven serving elders of the Qingyun Sect gathered together!

The seven people were dressed in standard blue robes, their auras were identical, and they were all at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

According to the ironclad rules of Foundation Establishment in the Cangxuan Continent:

Foundation Building Stages 1 to 3 constitute the initial stage of Foundation Building.

The fourth to sixth levels of Foundation Building constitute the intermediate stage of Foundation Building.

The seventh to ninth levels of Foundation Establishment constitute the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Reaching the ninth level of Foundation Establishment but failing to break through to Core Formation is the peak of Foundation Establishment!

All seven elders were stuck at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and a light blue spiritual aura naturally spread around them, their pressure spreading silently.

This is a divine ability exclusive to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Under the aura, the densely packed outer and inner disciples below the stage instantly stiffened, their meridian spiritual power was completely locked, unable to circulate at all, their legs went weak, and they all knelt down, none daring to raise their heads to look directly at the elders on the stage.

"Terrifying! Absolutely horrifying!"

The elder of the Scripture Pavilion stared intently at Zhang Yang, the young man in the center of his mind, his voice trembling with disbelief:

"The top-tier talent that our Qingyun Sect hasn't seen in three hundred years has actually appeared in a newcomer who just entered the sect!"

The other elders nodded, their expressions a mixture of surprise and joy, but deep in their eyes lay a deep sense of apprehension and worry.

"Joy is great joy, and sorrow is also great sorrow."

The elder in charge of the outer sect frowned, his spiritual energy field fluctuated slightly, and his tone was extremely solemn.

"We are all at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. We can manage to guard our sect and protect our mountain, but if we provoke a powerful enemy, we are utterly powerless to resist! The Black Fiend Sect of Black Fiend Mountain next door has been eyeing us covetously for a long time. We've heard that the sect leader has already reached the late-Foundation Establishment stage, and is ruthless and domineering, with a penchant for plundering talented disciples from various sects!"

The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room instantly plummeted.

The elders, all at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, looked at each other, feeling utterly helpless.

A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator faces an insurmountable gap in cultivation level when confronting a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. The opponent only needs to release their Foundation Establishment spiritual light, and their surrounding spiritual field will shrink and their spiritual energy will stagnate, rendering them utterly powerless to fight.

Once the Black Fiend Sect learns that their Qingyun Sect has produced a disciple with unparalleled talent, they will surely spare no expense to forcibly seize him!

Just when all the elders were worried and at a loss!

A vast, profound, and overwhelming spiritual energy slowly descended from the sky above the main hall of Qingyun!

Om-!

The spiritual fields around the seven Foundation Establishment stage elders shrank instantly, their spiritual light dimmed considerably, and the flow of spiritual energy within their bodies suddenly became sluggish and halted. Everyone subconsciously bowed and lowered their heads, their faces full of respect.

A figure in white robes walked slowly through the air, his feet not touching the ground, exuding an air of grandeur. He was none other than the Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect!

His cultivation level is at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, which is the standard late stage of Foundation Establishment!

A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a perfectly solidified Dao foundation, possesses an indestructible Dao foundation aura and can fly short distances. They are naturally capable of suppressing all early and mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Within a radius of a hundred miles, they are already top-tier combatants.

The sect leader's gaze fell on Zhang Yang, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and he spoke in a deep voice:

"A prodigy has entered our sect, Qingyun. This is a great opportunity for the sect to prosper! There is no need for you to panic."

The elder of the punishment hall hurriedly bowed and reported:

"Sect Master! The Black Fiend Mountain's Black Fiend Demonic Cult harbors wolfish ambitions. Its sect leader is suppressing us mid-level cultivators. If they find out, they will surely launch an attack, and we are powerless to resist!"

The sect leader shook his head slightly, his expression composed, and the light from his Dao foundation slowly flowed around him, awe-inspiring the entire audience.

"My Qingyun Sect has its own powerful backers!"

"In the Azure Cloud Ancient Cave on the back mountain, resides our sect's reclusive ancestor, whose cultivation is at the peak of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!"

"What is the peak? Ninefold perfection, the Dao foundation is completely formed, the ultimate state before the three hundred years of lifespan are exhausted, only one last opportunity is needed to break through to the Core Formation stage! Although not yet broken through, it is already the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment realm!"

Boom—!

The moment the words fell!

Deep within the forbidden area of ​​the back mountain, a terrifying aura, ancient, vast, and overlooking the mountains, gently swept across the entire main peak of Qingyun Mountain!

Just a wisp of residual power!

The seven elders, all at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, were shaken to their core. Their spiritual energy fields nearly collapsed, and they felt an overwhelming sense of insignificance and awe.

All the disciples below the stage prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling with fear.

Zhang Yang stood upright in the center of the spirit-testing platform, clearly sensing the strict differences in their cultivation levels.

Early Foundation Establishment, Intermediate Foundation Establishment, Late Foundation Establishment, Peak Foundation Establishment...

The four major realms of strength and status are clearly displayed!

He looked at the elders who were standing awkwardly in front of him, at the sect leader whose aura suppressed the entire scene, and then at the unfathomable aura of the ancestor in the back mountain that covered the mountains. He clenched his fist inwardly.

In chaotic times, strength reigns supreme in cultivation!

Today, my sect protects me; in the future, I will use my own cultivation to protect my entire Qingyun Sect!

Unafraid of the Black Fiend Cult, undaunted by any powerful enemy in the world!

The radiant light of the foundational bones that soared into the sky above the Spirit Testing Platform had not yet completely dissipated. The seven elders, whose cultivation levels were all at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment or the middle level of Foundation Establishment, did not dare to hesitate for a moment. They simultaneously activated the small spiritual energy fields around their bodies, and the seven emerald-green spiritual energies twisted into a giant net, covering the entire Spirit Testing Platform from above.

The unique spirit-locking power of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was fully unleashed, completely swallowing and smoothing out the spiritual light phenomenon that had just alarmed the mountains. The chaotic spiritual energy in the surrounding mountains was forcibly calmed down. Even if there were spies from the Black Fiend Mountain and the Black Fiend Demon Sect looking from afar, they could only detect a trace of the most ordinary spiritual fluctuations and could not detect Zhang Yang's extraordinary talent.

The Grand Elder, solemn and dignified, released a faint blue aura around him, causing all the Qi Refining disciples below the platform to feel their legs go weak and their spiritual energy stagnate. He sternly warned, "What you saw on the spiritual platform today, all of you must keep silent and keep it to yourselves. Anyone who dares to divulge even a single word, thus inciting the Black Fiend Demon Sect to covet our disciples, will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Azure Cloud Sect!"

All the disciples bowed and kowtowed, and although they were filled with curiosity, none of them dared to say a word.

On the high platform, the Qingyun Sect Master slowly descended, his Daoist robe shrouded in the unique, indestructible Daoist light of the late stage of the seventh level of Foundation Establishment. His aura gently enveloped the seven elders, and he said in a deep voice, "This matter must not be publicized. Tomorrow, issue the order in the main hall's martial arts arena, saying only that Zhang Yang's aptitude is acceptable, and that he has been granted special permission to skip the outer sect and enter the inner sect directly. Conceal his true extraordinary talent and aptitude, lest the Black Fiend Demonic Sect harbor malicious intentions."

After giving his instructions, the elder dismissed everyone and took Zhang Yang and Lin Wanqing to a side courtyard on the main peak for temporary lodging. He distributed pills and spirit stones to the two of them so they could rest for the night.

The next day, at the break of dawn, the spacious training ground in front of the Azure Cloud Hall was packed with disciples of the entire sect. Outer and inner sect cultivators lined both sides, their voices a cacophony of whispers. Seven Foundation Establishment Stage 5 elders stood on either side of the hall's steps, while the sect leader stood in the center of the high platform, his Dao Foundation light slowly swirling around him. Only when the entire hall was silent did he proclaim in a clear voice:

"Yesterday's entrance examination revealed that newcomer Zhang Yang possesses exceptional potential. According to the sect's old rules, newcomers must undergo rigorous training in the outer sect for many years before being eligible to enter the inner sect. However, today, the sect master has made an exception and granted Zhang Yang special permission to be exempted from outer sect training and directly admitted to the inner sect, receiving all the resources and allowances of the inner sect!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a suppressed gasp of amazement rose from below the stage. Countless disciples who had wasted years in the outer sect looked on with envy, their eyes all fixed on Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang stepped forward and bowed in thanks. As he turned to the side, his eyes fell on Lin Wanqing beside him.

The girl lowered her head, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her eyes revealing an undisguised sense of loss. Her innate talent was only at the lower-grade initial stage, destined for her to cultivate in the noisy and arduous outer sect dormitories. Now, only Zhang Yang, who was traveling with her, had received this incredible opportunity. In comparison, her desolation was palpable.

Zhang Yang did not plead for mercy, but simply turned his head quietly and looked calmly at the seven elders lined up on the steps of the hall.

The moment their eyes met, the seven Foundation Establishment Stage 5 elders, all with keen insight, instantly understood the meaning in the young man's eyes. They exchanged glances, each having already made their own decision.

A moment later, the Grand Elder, who was standing at the very front, stepped forward, his spiritual aura slightly subdued, and announced loudly to the entire audience:

"Newcomers Lin Wanqing and Zhang Yang entered the sect together from the foot of the mountain, taking care of each other along the way. Although Lin Wanqing only possesses a low-grade spiritual root and her aptitude is ordinary, the two of them, traveling together, can support and look after each other on their cultivation journey. Since Zhang Yang has been exceptionally admitted to the inner sect, then another special exception will be made, allowing Lin Wanqing to accompany him into the inner sect so that she can take care of Zhang Yang closely and receive the inner sect's provisions with him!"

These words caused another uproar in the room, with even more envious voices.

No one expected that a newcomer with a low-grade spiritual root could benefit from Zhang Yang's influence and directly skip the outer sect and enter the inner sect. Such an exception has not happened many times in the Qingyun Sect in the past hundred years.

Lin Wanqing, who had been feeling down, suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly brightening as she stared at Zhang Yang beside her, her heart filled with gratitude.

The seven elders exchanged glances and secretly thought that this arrangement was perfect for both sides. To the outside world, they would only say that the two of them were traveling together for convenience, which would not highlight Zhang Yang's special status. It would also conceal his extraordinary talent and greatly reduce the possibility that the Black Fiend Sect would notice anything unusual.