From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

Incense smoke rose from the incense burner in front of Qing Yang Zi.

All the smoke and his white Daoist robe made him look like an immortal.

"You can now come up to me one by one. I shall check your cultivation root with the inquiry stone."

Qing Yang Zi raised his hand, and on his palm was a piece of stone with some scriptures carved on it.

From where he was sitting, Lin Fan could see that there were also some patterns from the Six Yao on it.

He wondered how it would work to identify the cultivation roots of these enrollment seekers.

It didn't take long for him to find out. One of the men sitting in front stood up and walked up to Qing Yang Zi.

When the man got near, the stone lit up with an orange glow; part of the glow then formed into the shape of a hammer.

"Artifact forging root."

The man wasn't too pleased but still squeezed out a smile, bowed to Qing Yang Zi, and thanked him.

Other men following him weren't as lucky; they didn't have any cultivation root and had to make a choice to either join as menial disciples or give up and go back home.

Being a menial disciple would mean that they wouldn't get many cultivation resources and teachings.

Their daily duties would be doing mundane chores to keep the Qing Feng sect running.

Most of them declined.

Among those who accepted, they would just stick around for a few years, and when they left Qing Feng sect, they would open training schools making use of their reputation for time spent in Qing Feng sect.

Amidst all the sighing from their disappointment, the next one up was Tan Rui.

When he came near to the stone, a red glow lit up; slowly, the glow formed the shape of a sword.

"Sword cultivation root."

Tan Fei, standing behind Qing Yang Zi, gave Tan Rui a slight nod.

All of those waiting or having finished their test looked upon Tan Rui with envy.

Sword cultivator, the best in Qing Feng sect.

The current and past sect masters were from the Sword Peak; the lineage of sword cultivators went back a long way in Qing Feng sect.

Tan Rui's presence in the limelight was, however, short-lived.

When Ho Ming went up, the stone lit up in a red glow again, but this time, the glow formed into two swords.

"This is a good year! Double sword cultivation root," Qing Yang Zi smiled and stroked his long beard when he saw the two swords formed.

"Double sword cultivation root, what does that mean?" Ho Ming asked with a confused look, not knowing what it meant.

"It's a rare cultivation root; one out of a thousand would have it.

"Most sword cultivators can only learn one sword cultivating technique. Those with double sword cultivation root, however, can learn two cultivating techniques.

"Don't worry, Qing Feng sect will provide you with all you need."

Qing Yang Zi patted Ho Ming on his shoulder.

Ho Ming looked back at Lin Fan with joy; he hoped that Lin Fan would be able to join him at the Sword Peak now.

With a huge smile, Lin Fan acknowledged Ho Ming, but his heart wasn't really in the Sword Peak.

His Beast Abilities didn't fit the sword cultivation techniques, and most importantly, he knew he most likely didn't have Sword cultivation root.

Having that thought in mind, Lin Fan stood up and got near to the inquiry stone.

The others watched with a vicious stare.

They thought about what Lin Fan had accomplished along the way; jealousy and envy simmered inside them.

A gust of wind blew; the stone shone brightly in a glow of bright blue light.

Qing Yang Zi's eyes widened as this was the first time he'd seen this.

Then the blue light formed shapes of beasts: a wild rabbit jumping, a wolf howling, a fire deer shooting fire from its antlers and a boulder bear charging.

Finally, it all died down, and there was silence.

What in the world was that?

Everyone thought in their mind.

Qing Yang Zi frowned and stroked his long beard with his other hand.

"So... What's my cultivation root?" After a few moments, Lin Fan broke the silence and asked.

"I, eh... it's something I've never seen before. I might have to check the manuscripts in the library to find out. But as of now, you pass."

Qing Yang Zi gave an awkward laugh, as being the sect master, he was seen to be an all-knowing elder.

With his experience dealing with business, Lin Fan also joined in to alleviate the awkwardness.

When the laughter died down, Lin Fan asked, "And which of the peaks should I join?"

Hearing this question, Tan Fei stepped forward and said, "Sect master, with all the current spending, I think it might not be wise to accept this young man with such a dubious cultivation root.

"If you take him in, including him with the ten new disciples that we accept today, the Alchemy Peak might not be able to supply enough pills and elixirs for all of them.

"We have to make a choice, I'm afraid."

He stole a glance at Lin Fan and gave out a smirk.

If we can't deal with you using force, I shall deal with you using other methods.

Qing Yang Zi stroked his beard furiously as he tried to think of a way to counter Tan Fei.

His hands were, however, tied as he needed the income from the Alchemy Peak to ensure he had funds to keep Qing Feng sect going.

Tan Fei and the Tan family had gained substantial influence throughout the years.

"The Physiques Peak will take him!" Zhang Xi, standing on the other side of Qing Yang Zi, chimed in.

This was her chance to get a new disciple into the Physiques Peak.

Tan Fei didn't relent and said, "But with the low contributions from Physiques Peak, I don't think we can help with the pills and elixirs for Physiques Peak anymore if you take him as a disciple."

"Even as an outer disciple?"

"Yes. Not even as an outer disciple."

"Wait," Qing Yang Zi stopped them and interjected.