Chapter 18: Mortal

Yao Bao decision truly baffled Yao Tian, he thought for sure that he would join the same sect as Song Shou.


'Did that dangerous woman do something?'


With no person capable of answering him, he decided to just continue and focus on the assessment as with the previous intense atmosphere having died down while Teacher Wan continued calling out names of potential cultivators and evaluating them.


"Wu Wen!...'Body Reinforcement Realm' early stage of Muscle refining... Spirit Qi compatibility low... skeleton age 7 years old.


"Gong Kong!..."


"Tao De!..."


"Cai Yuhi!..."


More and more people got their turn, went on the stage to be tested and got chosen by one of the sects.


Many succeeded but there were still failures and most of these failures were apparently people like him. Villagers from far away who came to realise their dreams.


Before coming to Redwood their superiority was very apparent. They believed themselves to be children of heavens, soon to be Jiang Chen's who would gain all the power in the world.


They were raised surrounded by praises and admiration from the villagers as they were the only ones who could cultivate in the village.


From all these factors it was to be expected for some to grow arrogant and delusional. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how one would look at it, reality came down crashing their dreams and hopes while beating them up till near death.


Some cried, some refused to believe reality and some even blamed the orb of being faulty. But no one even bothered listening to them, they either left the stage willingly or be forced to leave.


"Duan Hai..."


One by one, each people got their turn, more than a hundred of both boys and girls from various ages, talents and origins were qualified enough to become cultivators.


"Lin Ru!" As Teacher Wan called out the next name, all of the crowd's attention concentrated on the figure of a small girl making her way up the stage.


Unlike the previous participants, everyone recognised this girl to be of high status. From her expensive clothes to her graceful posture, everything about her screamed nobility.


She was an adorable kid with chubby cheeks and large twinkling black eyes. Her hair was tied into a ponytail while she was trying to make a serious face but failed as it made her look more like a bunny than anything else.


"Hey, it's one of the Lin clan's members. Never thought that I would see one of the 4 main family's clan members participating in this event."


Some of the people in the crowd were familiar with the girl but grew confused about why she was present.


"That's just not just any Lin clan member you fool! She is the clan Patriarchs youngest daughter and she was rumoured to be one of the most gifted ones out of her siblings."


"Then why is she here? Shouldn't she immediately be accepted as an inner or even core disciple of the Floating Sea Sect?"


"I bet the clan just wanted to show off their clan's geniuses."


"Too bad that they won't be able to do so with that Yao Bao present."


"Tell me about it man. A special constitution? Now that's a true monster."


After the spectacle that was given by Yao Bao previously, it was nigh-impossible for anyone to top that.


"You remember that award they promised to the most promising disciple? I bet my entire wine collection that they had planned to give it to Lin Ru. Ha! Now their precious resources are going to an outsider who isn't even associated with their clan nor sect."


In the sitting area reserved for the Lin clan. Some of the older clan member's became frustrated over some of the gossips they kept hearing.


Even if they did not want to admit it, they had indeed planned for Lin Ru to be under the spotlight during the test, only for it to be stolen by an outsider.


While in the other end, the Nie clan's members were absolutely buzzing with joy and excitement.


How could they not be?


A person born with a freaking special constitution joined the sect associated with their clan! They couldn't wait to go back to their clan and announce the news to everyone. And now they had all the means to suppress the Lin clan as well as the other major clans.


"Young Mistress Xia, it seems that the Nie clan are getting too overconfident now that they have Yao Bao within their ranks." One of the members of the line clan couldn't help but voice out their discomfort to their Young miss.


The girl in question was way older than the people participating in the test. She seemed to be already in her adulthood or at least in her late teenage years. Her features were refined and ladylike, with black irises set on a frosty expression that showed no outward emotions. Neatly combed black hair that naturally hung down her back. Her skin was very clear with a slight tan that added more to her person. One could even say that she looked like a grown-up Lin Ru. She had on a tight blue-coloured robe with a sigil of the Floating Sea Sect proudly displayed on her left chest. Even with her attire, it hardly hid any of her natural curves. She also had a certain aura around her being that demanded absolute submission which left many who wanted to pursue her hesitate and reconsider their choices.


* Stare *


Instead of answering him she just fixed the guy a hard glare that screamed 'Don't talk to me!'.


"R-Righ-t, for-forgive me f-for bothe-bothering you, Young miss!" He said while bowing and immediately keeping to his own.


She was not called the 'Ice princess' for nothing.


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As Lin Ru arrived in front of Teacher Wan, the latter passed her on the orb and repeated the instructions as he did for the others before her.


"Concentrate and focus your mind on the orb while sending some of your Qi into it."


As she followed his instruction, her entire being focused on the orb while she circulated her cultivation to its absolute limit.


The orb immediate went from transparent to deep yellow.


"Hm, yes 'Body Reinforcement Realm' peak of Muscles refinement."


As he finished saying that the orb continued to change into a deeper shade and became orange.


"Hoo, now that's a nice surprise. 'Body Reinforcement Realm' peak of Bones refinement."


But it didn't just stop there, the orb immediately changed into a deep red colour.


"Wha-What...'Body Reinforcement Realm' peak of Veins refinement?"


* Woah! *


The crowd was very impressed and marvelled at the fact that such a young girl had such high cultivation.


"No wonder the Lin clan wanted to show off their youngest princess, she is a prodigy."


"Yea, if Yao Bao weren't present today then she would have easily been the strongest participant in this year's test."


"Aye, it seems that the Heavens didn't want the Lin clan to shine on this occasion...wait LOOK AT THE ORB!"

As soon as the man shouted, many paid closer attention to the orb only to discover that small glitters of gold were starting to appear on its surface. But not just that...the air...it...was getting colder?


Lin Xia who constantly had a frosty expression finally showed a slight smile that could easily be missed if one didn't pay attention. 'This will show them.'


Teacher Wan who was near Lin Ru immediately knew what was going on as he just witnessed a similar occurrence not just a few moments ago.


"Another one!?"


The orb burst with golden lights and Lin Ru's surrounding temperature immediately dropped several degrees to the point that even frost could be seen forming around her feet.


"Praise the Heavens! Another prodigy born with a special constitution has appeared in our small Redwood Town. With full cycle 'Body Reinforcement Realm' and perfect Spirit Qi compatibility no less!" This truly has been a momentous occasion for Teacher Wan. He got to test not one but two monsters! Was this a sign? Did this signify the beginning of something? He did not know but he felt blessed.


The Nie clan's features turned ugly. They thought that they finally had the upper hand against all of the major clans, but now the Lin clan had their own cultivator born with a special constitution.


Why the heck was the legendary special constitution appearing multiple times out of nowhere now!?


Lin Ru stood on the stage proudly, she threw a challenging glare at Yao Bao for having stolen her spotlight earlier on. She then made her towards Elder Fang without any of them having extended an invitation to her.


As with her clan's allegiance, her choice of the sect was already predetermined.


Yao Bao was confused as to why none have done so as his previous experience proved otherwise.


"You must wonder why none of us extended an invitation? And to why she just joined Elder Fang's side?" Asked Da Yu who watched Lin Ru with interest.


"Umm...yes" Yao Bao was still shy around Da Yu as he replied meekly.


"Well, it's not that surprising as her Lin clan is heavily associated with the Floating Sea Sect. The same could be said with us as we are supported by the Nie clan, the Rumbling Mountain Sect by the Meng clan and the Raging Wind Sect by the Tang clan. This is the reason why Lin Ru automatically joined the Floating Sea Sect."


"I see...thank you for the explanation, Elder Su."


"Oh don't worry after all you are gonna become my cute little disciple so I have to treat you as such. Also, pay attention your brother's turn will soon be up."


Though she expected Yao Tian to be the special one in the family, she could not dismiss the possibility for there to be another dark horse that would soon rise.


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"Zheng My!"


"Lian Tu!"


It would soon be his turn, he knew it as barely anyone was left, aside from him.


'Why am I still here? I will only end up humiliating myself and Yao Bao. I am nothing
but a regular farm boy from a small village.'


'Maybe, I also have a special constitution. Maybe, I do have a cultivation base but I just suck at noticing it.'


Just like this hundreds of different thoughts scrambled into Yao Tian's brain. A part of him was certain that he would fail, but another part of him was hopeful of his chances.


"Yao Tian!"


There is was.


Taking a deep breath, Yao Tian tried calming his nerves with little success. Getting up from his seat, he gave his friend a nod the latter returning him one with a smirk and a thumbs up.


'At least, he is confident in me.'


As he walked on the stage, he tried not to pay any attention to growing whispers in the crowds. But aside from looking like a weirdo and covering his ears in public, he couldn't really but hear some of the things uttered by the crowd.


"Oh my gods, there is a second person with the name 'Yao'. Is he related to Yao Bao?"


"Yea, I think that they are brothers. He is obviously the older sibling, I bet he is probably a freak like his brother."


"Oh come on, he can't be another one born with a special constitution. For centuries we haven't seen a single one born with such a gift in Redwood it would be kinda crazy for there to suddenly be three in one day."


"Probably not but at least he should have a higher cultivation base...cause he looks to be in his teenage years."


As he expected, hearing their mumblings really didn't help his state of mind.


"Oho! Another Yao, if he is anything like Yao Bao our sect will do everything to get him on our side." This similar thought echoed in each of the present elder's minds.


"As always, concentrate and focus your mind on the orb while sending some of your Qi into it." Repeated Teacher Wan as he handed Yao Tian the orb.


'Okay, just have to concentrate my mind. I'll follow the same instructions he gave to Yao Bao earlier.'


Closing his eyes he created the picture of his body being the well he travelled to every day to get some water for the house. The well representing his Spirit Qi reserves.


With a bucket in hand representing his control, he tried filling it with water.


...


But nothing happened, the orb remained transparent.


He tried again...


...again...


...again...


... and again.


But just like how he first tried to breakthrough while consuming the Qi pills. Try as hard as he might, nothing changed.


"Is there something wrong?" Asked curiously, Teacher Wan. The boy had been at it for quite a while, twice as long as the previous Yao Bao yet the orb did not glow even in the slightest.


"Um, I think that there may be something wrong with the orb, Teacher Wan. Is it possible...for you to check on your own?" He really hoped that it might be something else. Something that could only be sensed by someone else.


"Something wrong with the orb?" Said Teacher Wan suspiciously. Many before him have used the same excuse only to end up failing


Never has the orb been ever wrong. This was a priceless artefact used for centuries if not millennia by many generations of cultivators.


The elders watching also grew suspicious with Da Yu's face becoming increasingly dim.


This could only mean one thing.


'Guess the older brother ended up being a dog while the younger was born a lion. Truly what a pity.' She did not expect this turnout, after seeing Yao Tian for the first time she was sure that there was something special about him.


Deciding to test suspicion, Teacher Wan placed his hand on Yao Tian's shoulders using his own Spirit Qi to scan the young man's body. But as he did so, the old man came across a revelation.


* Sigh *


"Yao Tian, I'm afraid that you have failed to pass this assessment."


"..."


""""WHAT!?""""


Many cries of shock and confusion came from many people's including Yao Tian's brother and his friend.


Even when he was prepared for it, Teacher Wan's words still felt like a heavy punch to the guts.


"May I know why I failed..." Even knowing that he failed, he still wanted to know why he failed, why he couldn't cultivate in the first place. All the time spent cultivating only to end up with nothing.


* Sigh *


Sighing once again, Teacher Wan sent Yao Tian a look that both conveyed pity and sadness.


"You, unfortunately, do not possess any meridians...


you will never be able to cultivate in your lifetime. You will always remain as a...


mortal."