C5 Exploded

"Wow! The Jade Testing Stone is flashing red! Doesn't that mean this person's Root has reached a level of excellence?!"

"It's more than just a level! Do you see that? There's a hint of purple within the red glow. This isn't merely excellent—it signifies an exceptionally high Root!"

"I recognize this person! He's the Second Prince from the Red Jade Dynasty!"

"I'm not surprised. The Red Jade Dynasty is on par with the top ten powers of the Imperial City. It makes sense that their Second Prince would have such a formidable Root."

Amidst the surrounding chatter, the tester remained unfazed, his expression stoic as he gazed towards the mountain gate.

As expected, a bearded elder emerged swiftly from within.

He gave the Second Prince an approving nod.

"There's no need for you to continue with the subsequent tests."

"Come, follow me into the mountains. From this moment on, you are my disciple, Dust Taoist!"

The crowd reacted with a mix of envy and admiration upon hearing this.

The Second Prince, however, seemed slightly disappointed to see only one elder emerge, but he still bowed respectfully.

He then followed the Dust Taoist through the mountain gate.

Bai Yu witnessed the entire scene, his expression one of puzzlement.

Fortunately, Ouchen Mingyue was quick to explain.

"The white light from the Jade Testing Stone is merely the basic requirement for entry into the Star Cloud Sect."

"Even as an initiate, you'd only be an Outer Sect Disciple tasked with menial duties."

"But if your Root shines red or beyond, like the Second Prince, you'll be personally chosen by one of the sect's elders to become a disciple!"

As she spoke, a flicker of anxiety crossed Ouchen Mingyue's face.

Her Imperial City, though ranked above the Red Jade Dynasty, wasn't significantly superior.

If her test results fell short of the Second Prince's Root, what would that imply?

That her Imperial City was inferior to the Red Jade Dynasty?

This thought made Ouchen Mingyue's grip tighten, her youthful face etched with tension.

Bai Yu, however, appeared utterly indifferent.

After all, his visit to the Star Cloud Sect wasn't about seeking discipleship.

He had made up his mind. After seeking out Chen Daoran and clarifying the reasons the elder had mentioned, he would depart from the Star Cloud Sect and return to Clear Brilliance Mountain. Over four hundred years had passed, and Bai Yu had come to regard that place as his home.

The testing proceeded swiftly. During this time, two individuals exhibiting the Root were discovered and promptly taken on as disciples by other elders. By the time Bai Yu and Ouchen Mingyue's turn came, there were hardly any candidates left at the gate. They exchanged glances, and before Bai Yu could utter a word, Ouchen Mingyue stepped forward.

"I'll go first!" she declared.

Bai Yu gave a nonchalant nod. He had no intention of vying with the young woman over this matter. After all, whether one was first or last made little difference to him.

Oblivious to Bai Yu's thoughts, Ouchen Mingyue interpreted his nod as an acknowledgment of his own self-awareness. A slight smile played on her lips as she confidently approached the Jade Testing Stone. Standing before it, she inhaled deeply and, with a touch of nervousness, placed her hand upon it.

"Buzz!"

The stone emitted a humming vibration, and the purple glow intensified dramatically. Before the onlookers could react, several elders burst forth from within the mountain gate, their eyes brimming with delight at the sight of Ouchen Mingyue.

"How many years has it been? How many years since we've seen a disciple with such exceptional Root?" one exclaimed.

"Never mind the years! I'm claiming this disciple! No one better challenge me!" another declared.

"And why should you? Because you think you're more impressive? No way! This disciple is mine! Anyone who dares to dispute that will have to contend with me!"

Bai Yu watched, astonished, as the elders bickered fiercely over the prospect of mentoring Ouchen Mingyue. The sect's dignity seemed to diminish with each passing moment.

Eventually, after a heated exchange, a female elder took Ouchen Mingyue under her wing. Bai Yu cast a final glance their way, noting with a hint of amusement, "Indeed, quite impressive..."

"Next!" called out Dao Chen from the mountain gate, ready to continue the evaluations.

Bai Yu glanced around and noticed that most of the crowd at the base of the mountain had dispersed, leaving behind only a few onlookers. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, crossing the red line, and nonchalantly placed his hand on the Jade Testing Stone. As the crowd watched with anticipation, a soft white glow began to emanate from the stone.

"Hmm, the Root is quite decent. You may enter first..." Dao Chen's voice trailed off as his gaze sharpened, fixated on the Jade Testing Stone that was now glowing green, his expression one of sheer astonishment.

"The Root is good, it should be... Hmm?!" Dao Chen abruptly stood, his eyes locked on the stone as it shifted from green to red, his mouth agape in disbelief.

"An exceptional Root, this is..." Before he could finish, an elder slowly emerged from the mountain gate. It was the Dust Taoist, the same one who had taken in the Second Prince earlier.

"Hehe, another youngster with an exceptional Root. You'll be following old... What the hell?" Dust Taoist's face transformed with shock as the stone's light suddenly turned a brilliant purple, casting a glow a hundred times more dazzling than Ouchen Mingyue's, engulfing the entire mountain gate in its radiance.

A hush fell over the crowd, their mouths wide open as they stared incredulously at Bai Yu beside the Jade Testing Stone.

"A once in a millennium talent!" Dust Taoist exclaimed, his beard quivering with excitement.

Before he could approach, dozens of elders burst forth from the mountain gate, their faces as astounded as Dust Taoist's. "This disciple is destined to be with me!"

"Destined with your father! Everyone's destined with you, huh? Let me tell you, this disciple is mine!"

"Back off, you old fool! Anyone who challenges me will face the wrath of my magical weapon!"

Bai Yu watched as the elders bickered and cursed, a smirk tugging at his lips. It dawned on him that the elders of the Star Cloud Sect were no different from ordinary folks when it came to a good old-fashioned quarrel.

Amidst the chaos, the Jade Testing Stone underwent yet another transformation, silencing even the quarrelsome elders.

The elders fell silent, their faces etched with disbelief as they watched the Jade Testing Stone. The once brilliant purple glow began to fade, and under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, it erupted into a blinding golden radiance that pierced the heavens! Even the clouds above were bathed in a golden hue, casting a luminous glow across three thousand miles. The Dragon Ascension Jade Testing Stone, a testament to a million years of history, was revealing its power.

The sight left the elders agape, their mouths hanging open in astonishment, unable to utter another word. A golden light! Such a peerless genius was a rarity, perhaps once in ten thousand years. Among them, the elder who had taken Ouchen Mingyue under his wing was visibly shaken, his voice quivering as he managed to say, "The last time the Jade Testing Stone glowed gold, it was our Sect Master, wasn't it?" The others nodded stiffly in agreement, their gazes upon Bai Yu filled with a covetous intensity that made him instinctively tense up.

As the elders were about to approach, a commotion erupted from the mountain gate. Turning their heads, they saw an elder seated cross-legged on a Flying Sword, gliding towards them. Recognizing him, they all bowed their heads in deep respect. "We greet you, Grand Upper Elder!" The Grand Upper Elder acknowledged them with a nod, his eyes alight with fervor as he fixed his gaze on Bai Yu.

"There's no need for contention; this young man will be my personal disciple," he declared, as the crowd looked on in amazement. The Grand Upper Elder's voice was soft and kind as he addressed Bai Yu, "Would you be willing to—Oh my god?!"

His sentence was cut short as the Jade Testing Stone under Bai Yu's control began to tremble violently, and before the astonished eyes of all present, it exploded. Bai Yu, facing the Grand Upper Elder's dumbfounded expression, touched his nose sheepishly and ventured, "That... it just exploded on its own. I don't have to pay for it, do I?"

​