Chapter 59

As the sky was just beginning to brighten, Qin Sang stopped her cultivation and went out.

The innkeeper had told her that the market usually didn’t have so many cultivators. Only during the middle of the month did cultivators from around the entire Youshan area gather here, each seeking what they needed.

These few days were the best time to gather information.

Qin Sang actually wanted to make a few friends, but unfortunately, every cultivator was very cautious. Every time she tried to get close, she would invariably be scrutinized with a wary look, as if she had some ulterior motive. Then they would display an attitude that kept her at arm's length.

The Tan brothers were a rare exception.

Thinking of the words "missing," "accidental death," and "enemy's assassination" on the Song family genealogy, Qin Sang understood.

Qin Sang thought to herself that if she wanted to gather information, she would have to find a place with many people, like in Sanwu City, and make some connections.

Places like Xianming Tower and Huanxi Alley were undoubtedly the best, but entering them required spending spirit stones.

Qin Sang gritted her teeth and walked into the Qingstone Street. Suddenly, she noticed a crowd gathering deep in the street, very lively. She suddenly remembered that today was the middle of the month.

It seemed that the Divine Artifact Pavilion was about to open, and indeed, it was a grand scene. These proud cultivators were all queuing up to enter the Divine Artifact Pavilion.

Qin Sang had no money to buy anything, but she wanted to broaden her horizons, so she also headed towards the Divine Artifact Pavilion.

The main hall of the Divine Artifact Pavilion was very spacious, with racks of magical artifacts, much like a shop in the mortal world. Many cultivators were gathered around the racks, selecting items on their own, and there were no attendants nearby.

Qin Sang secretly used the Qi Divination Technique to observe and saw that the black-robed old man standing at the entrance of the Divine Artifact Pavilion had his hands behind his back, standing like a mountain, calmly looking at the shop. His spiritual energy was so concentrated that he was likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

No wonder no one dared to steal or rob.

Qin Sang was inwardly surprised and became even more respectful. However, just as she was about to step in, the black-robed old man suddenly extended his hand to stop her.

So many people had entered before, and no one had ever been stopped. Qin Sang felt uneasy as the black-robed old man sized her up and said, "Junior Qin Sang greets Senior."

"Are you a wandering cultivator? How old are you?" the black-robed old man suddenly asked.

Qin Sang was slightly taken aback and replied, "Reporting to Senior, I am a wandering cultivator, and I am twenty-two years old."

"Twenty-two years old... Fifth Level of the Qi Refinement stage, hmm... Oh? Your cultivation method is the 'Yuming Scripture,' follow me..."

The black-robed old man nodded and turned to walk into the inner room.

Qin Sang was shocked that her details were seen through at a glance and was also confused. But the black-robed old man was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he could crush her like an ant. She could only follow him cautiously and asked, "Senior, this is my first time at the Divine Artifact Pavilion. May I ask why you stopped me?"

The black-robed old man looked at Qin Sang strangely, "You brought a token, do you think I would harm you? Give me the token, and you can go in."

Token?

Qin Sang thought of the jade plate and hurriedly took it out, handing it to the black-robed old man. She was secretly puzzled, not knowing what the token was for, but it didn’t seem to be a bad thing. If it was an internal auction, she could simply not bid and just observe.

As they spoke, the black-robed old man pushed open the door to the inner room. Qin Sang was slightly stunned by the scene inside.

At the entrance of the room was a table, and a pale-faced, brocade-clad young man was playing with a blood-red snake, leaning lazily against the table. He was clearly at the Eighth Level of the Qi Refinement stage.

There were some cushions inside, and five people, around Qin Sang’s age, were sitting in meditation on them. Their cultivation levels were all around the Fourth to Fifth Level of the Qi Refinement stage, and two of them were the Tan brothers she had met the day before.

The sound of the door opening startled everyone inside.

The brocade-clad young man quickly put away his lazy demeanor and stood up respectfully, saying, "Uncle Yue."

He then glanced at Qin Sang and smiled, "Uncle Yue has brought another junior brother, and the harvest this time is greater than before."

Everyone in the room was secretly sizing up Qin Sang. The Tan brothers clearly recognized him, and Tan Hao opened his mouth but was secretly pulled back by Tan Jie.

Seeing that they didn’t want to acknowledge their acquaintance, Qin Sang also refrained from greeting them.

However, the Tan brothers’ small movements didn’t escape the black-robed old man’s notice.

"Do you know them?" the black-robed old man turned his head and narrowed his eyes at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang didn’t dare to hide it and briefly recounted how they had met.

The black-robed old man nodded and didn’t delve further. He pointed at Qin Sang and said to the brocade-clad young man, "Test his spiritual roots."

"Yes."

The brocade-clad young man walked up to Qin Sang, and after a series of tests, his face suddenly showed a look of intense surprise. He frowned and stared at Qin Sang, seemingly unable to believe the result. He then repeated the test carefully.

Seeing the brocade-clad young man’s expression, Qin Sang knew what was happening. It seemed that Tan Ming hadn’t lied to her; she indeed had no spiritual roots.

Was the Divine Artifact Pavilion recruiting disciples?

Was the jade plate a token similar to the Shaohua Mountain Sword Intent Decree?

The innkeeper had said that the Divine Artifact Pavilion was backed by a powerful sect. Joining a sect would be good, but the problem was that she had no spiritual roots.

Without spiritual roots but with cultivation, wouldn’t she be sent for dissection?

Qin Sang hadn’t expected to be tested for spiritual roots upon entering. With a Foundation Establishment cultivator watching, she couldn’t run. She was extremely anxious, thinking of ways to escape.

The black-robed old man frowned and shouted, "Liang Yan, what are you doing?"

Qin Sang was suddenly startled and heard the brocade-clad young man say, "Reporting to Uncle Yue, this junior brother has false spiritual roots... and all five elements. At first, I thought the test was wrong. According to the sect’s rules, this junior brother is not qualified to enter and cultivate."

"What?"

Not just the black-robed old man, but everyone’s expressions were strange. They had already used the Qi Divination Technique to see Qin Sang’s cultivation level. She was young but genuinely at the Fifth Level of the Qi Refinement stage, indicating good talent. Who would have thought she had false spiritual roots with all five elements.

A young man with a strange look stared at Qin Sang. His cultivation was only at the Fourth Level of the Qi Refinement stage, not as high as Qin Sang’s, but he had three spiritual roots!

False spiritual roots were called such for a reason. Cultivation speed was extremely slow, and the hope of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage was slim. False spiritual roots with all five elements were even slower, and no sect would accept them.

What no one knew was that Qin Sang was the most shocked of all.

I actually have spiritual roots, Tan Ming lied to me!

I’ve never wronged him, why did he do this? If it weren’t for Tan Ming, I would already be cultivating at the Han family. Why go through all this trouble?

Qin Sang was so angry that she momentarily forgot what five-element spiritual roots meant.

The black-robed old man frowned, "False spiritual roots reaching the Fifth Level of the Qi Refinement stage at this age is not impossible, but your cultivation method is the 'Yuming Scripture'... Have you had any extraordinary encounters?"