Chapter 477: Test Of Perseverence
“This, this is the little five-element const.i.tution.” When Chen Jin put his hand on the test instrument, the middle-aged man could not help but exclaim. But when he looked at the instrument again, he seemed disappointed.
Although only a faint blue-green light was emitted from the test instrument, there was also a wisp of dazzling violet within the color.
Chen Jin cupped one of his fists with his other hand and said, “May I ask, Senior, what is this little five-element const.i.tution?”
“The so-called little five-element const.i.tution is a type of special const.i.tution. It is well known that everyone has spiritual roots, but with varying degrees of strength. Some people have one single root, so it is very pure. This kind of spiritual root is called the celestial root. This kind of person would have a certain probability of possessing the special const.i.tution corresponding to the spiritual root. For example, for a genius who only has one single fire spiritual root, he may have the body of a flaming sun and a fire body of eruptive flames. Of course, this is relatively common, those of a higher level could possess the acquired body of fire. In legends, it is said that are even higher levels of bodies cla.s.sed within the overarching body of spiritual fire–there is also the innate fire body, the body of the primordial fire, etc. But even within the ranks of cultivators who have a celestial root, there’s not even one in a million who possess a special const.i.tution. Most of the cultivators with a celestial root have no special const.i.tution, but because the roots are relatively singular and unadulterated so the speed of their cultivation is much faster than that of other cultivators with ordinary spiritual roots. As long as they cultivate to a certain level, they can gradually upgrade the adapted spiritual energy in their bodies’ to an acquired spirit. It is rare to see someone like you, who has the mixed spiritual roots of five elements, to also possess a special const.i.tution.” The middle-aged man said calmly.
“Oh? So what is the difference between one’s const.i.tution and spiritual roots?”
Perhaps the middle-aged man had expected that Chen Jin would have this question in mind, he continued to speak, “The spiritual roots are used to understand the Path of Heaven and Earth and a force used to communicate with nature. The stronger the roots, the higher the potential, and theoretically, one’s level of cultivation would also be higher. But it is not enough to only understand the Path of Heaven and Earth. If there is not enough magic power in the body, its still impossible to elevate one’s cultivation to a higher realm. Some people can elevate their cultivation to a higher realm, but they are limited to the current realm due to insufficient magic power. Some people have enough magic power but because they don’t have enough understanding of the Path they can’t continue to advance to the next level and have to stay in their current realm. With a special const.i.tution, one would have a greater affinity for the spiritual energy and it becomes easier to absorb the spiritual energy. It is almost impossible to have a special const.i.tution when you possess mixed spiritual roots of five elements. I don’t know how you came to have a special const.i.tution either.”
Hearing this, Chen Jin secretly shook his head. It seems that his natural apt.i.tudes were bad. Leaving aside the mixed spiritual roots of five elements, even the special const.i.tution was created from through the Sage plan. It seemed that he was a piece of junk before.
Not waiting for Chen Jin to complete his thought, the middle-aged man regained his calm composure and said, “Although I cannot pa.s.s you based on your mixed spiritual roots, you have a special const.i.tution, so you pa.s.s as well. Go stand over there. Next.”
Chen Jin’s gloomy expression disappeared. As an old freak who had lived for more than two hundred years, this little thing was not a blow to him. He slowly walked over and when he halted in his spot, he heard Fang Bin whispering, “Congratulations for successfully pa.s.sing this test, Brother Chen.”
“Erm, congratulations to you,” Chen Jin said. At the same time, he also realized that something was a little strange and he asked, “Why does everyone come alone without their family elders accompanying them?”
Without waiting for Fang Bin’s reply, the old man behind him started to speak, “Because this is a test in itself. The nature of cultivation is to struggle for mastery with nature, to fight with the Heavens, to compete with the land and to compete with other people. There is no concept of time in the cultivation of immortality, you practice Daoism in the morning and by evening, you realize that decades have pa.s.sed. It is very normal for cultivators to be separated from the families. If you are preparing to start on the road of Daoism but still let your family come to send you off, you can just forget about cultivation.”
All the youths around them were silent. After listening to the old man’s words, they seemed to be thinking about something. Only Chen Jin’s face remained indifferent. Seeing Chen Jin’s expression, the old man could not help but have a more favorable opinion of him. One so young had such a mindset. It was just that his spiritual roots were rather poor, otherwise, he was a good candidate. When his words ended, the old man closed his eyes slightly and stopped speaking. However, Fang Bin was confused and did not know what to think for a while. After a moment, he became resolute and steady again.
The sun had set behind the mountain in the blink of an eye. The first stage of the exam had ended. With the addition of four or five children to the group after Chen Jin, there was no difference before and after.
“Okay, the 30 of you have pa.s.sed the first stage–the apt.i.tude test. Now, the second stage of the exam, the test of perseverance, will begin. The a.s.sessment content is also very simple. Disciple Lin and I will walk in front of you and you will follow behind us. If you can follow behind us until just before dawn and arrive with us at the mountain gate, you would pa.s.s the test. If you get lost, you would lose your right to continue partic.i.p.ating in the exam. Do you understand?” the old man asked.
“Yes, we understand,” the crowd said.
After that, the old man did not turn back as he walked ahead. In the next scene, they saw the two old men move at a seemingly slow pace, but the speed was extremely fast. The group of youths rushed behind them, fearing that they would be lost.
As for Chen Jin, the speed of the two old men was still not fast enough. As long as he wanted to, he could easily overpower their speed. But to keep his abilities under wraps, he could only do what the youths did. He pretended to sweat buckets as he rushed along on the road.
In the beginning, everyone was able to follow behind the old men. Although they were panting harshly, the pace was not so hard on them to the extent that they lagged so far behind as to get lost. Then, they arrived at the foot of the mountain and the two men at the front seemed to have no intention of slowing down. The youngsters behind could only push themselves to follow, but they still lost two or three people.
Dawn had not yet broken. In front of a huge stone wall, there were only a dozen or so teenagers left from their group. Naturally, Chen Jin and Fang Bin were included. There was no need to talk too much about Chen Jin. His cultivation was already at a high level and it was normal to be able to keep up. It would be strange if he could not keep up. Fang Bin’s body had a trace of immortal power that was left by Chen Jin. Whenever he was lacking in strength, the immortal force inside him would automatically provide strength. Therefore, it was natural that he was not tired even after walking for a whole night. Fang Bin also found it very strange. He thought it was the test was too simple, but after seeing the few people around him and how ashen and dirty they looked, he knew that the a.s.sessment was not simple.
“Okay, all of you have pa.s.sed. Everyone, enter.” As this sentence ended, the first ray of morning light landed on everyone’s faces. Some people looked excited, some were filled with antic.i.p.ation and some looked dubious.
In front of them was a huge stone wall, there was no path that they could enter. How did they even enter?
They had no time to overthink the instructions. The old man and the middle-aged man walking into the stone wall side by side, without any hindrance.
“This array is a superb achievement. Compared to the arrays and formations created on earth with its rarefied spiritual energy, this is so much stronger.” Chen Jin muttered his head but did not rush into it.
It didn’t take long before a youth, who seemed to know something in advance, to quickly run towards the wall. The same stone wall did not cause any obstacles for him. After a wave of fluctuations, the stone wall returned to its calm again and the figure of the youth disappeared within the front of everyone.
When there was one who took the lead, there would naturally be a second. Soon the second teenager gritted his teeth and slowly walked towards the wall. At the face of the wall, he seemed to still be somewhat hesitant. Who knew that an eccentric girl would sneak up behind him. Before the teenager could even think things through, only a loud “Ah!” remained of him as he was pushed into the wall. After pus.h.i.+ng the teenager in, the girl dusted off her hands. Looking like a child-sized adult, she muttered to herself, saying that “Brother Hua Qiang is just so timid. He’s older than me yet he’s so cautious and indecisive. I am not afraid even though I’m eight years old, what is he afraid of when he’s already 15?”
Chen Jin saw this scene and could not keep from laughing lightly. The girl suddenly turned around and said, “What are you laughing at. Although Brother Hua Qiang is timid, he still went in. What are you waiting for? Do you dare to go in? It’s a stone wall, you could just break your head into a b.l.o.o.d.y mess.”
Chen Jin saw how cute this little girl was and suddenly his temperament was roused. He decided to be a bit screwy, “Why wouldn’t I dare, I’ll enter right now and hide your Brother Hua Qiang so you’ll never find him again.” He took Fang Bin along with him and walked towards the wall.