Bai Chen lived in the most remote area of Shunhe Square.
Even so, when the azure light shot straight into the sky, he could hear the cheers from other parts of the square.
People from all over Cangmang State who came to attend the Hexu Sect's Disciple Recruitment Ceremony were all rushing towards the eastern side of the square, heading in the direction of the Hexu Sect's Mountain Gate.
Bai Chen didn't dare to delay either.
He had never experienced a sect opening its mountain gate for recruitment, but such matters were better done sooner rather than later.
Hastily tidying up his appearance, Bai Chen packed his belongings and headed towards the Hexu Sect.
Entering the main street of Shunhe Square, he quickly merged into the crowd heading towards the Hexu Sect, all surging towards the mountain gate together.
The climate of Cangmang State was somewhat like that of the Guangdong province on Blue Star.
The Hexu Sect's recruitment time was on the third day of the third month each year.
At this time, the temperature was only slightly warm at noon, and quite pleasant at other times.
But there were so many people heading to the Hexu Sect that Bai Chen felt a bit stifled.
Bai Chen glanced around.
On the Xuancang Continent, unless someone had an exceptionally outstanding talent, others would only show their Spiritual Root attributes at the age of fifteen.
So most of the crowd consisted of fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys and girls.
There were a few older people mixed in.
It was unclear whether they were only now coming out for testing due to lack of information, or if they were defying fate, trying their luck here after hitting walls elsewhere.
In any case, there were so many people that it was a bit overwhelming.
Bai Chen could even smell the faint scent of sweat from the youths around him.
After walking for a while, two unfamiliar youths nearby, perhaps pressed together by the crowd or nervous, started a conversation.
A dark-skinned youth in a coarse short jacket clutched the hem of his clothes, swallowed, and spoke first to the person beside him.
"Hey brother, are you also fifteen this year, testing your Spiritual Root for the first time?"
The youth being spoken to wore a slightly worn blue robe, and upon hearing this, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"No, I went to the Xuanjian Sect last year for testing, but unfortunately, I have Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots, and they didn't even accept me into the Outer Sect."
On the Xuancang Continent, the best Spiritual Root is the single spiritual root, followed by the dual spiritual root.
Cultivators with single or dual spiritual roots absorb and convert Spiritual Qi at a rate and efficiency that is worlds apart from other practitioners, earning them the title of "Heaven's Chosen."
But such cultivators are as rare as phoenix feathers across the continent.
Most cultivators have Triple Spiritual Roots.
Those with Quadruple Spiritual Roots or more are considered Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots due to their slow progress.
And among Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots, the most useless is the Quintuple Spiritual Roots.
While some sects might still accept those with Quadruple Spiritual Roots as menial disciples, almost all sects on the Xuancang Continent refuse those with Quintuple Spiritual Roots.
Hearing that the youth in blue had Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots, the youth in coarse clothing let out a sound of sympathy, a hint of pity in his eyes.
"Miscellaneous Spiritual Roots... so you're trying your luck with the Hexu Sect."
"Yes."
The youth in blue's eyes were filled with helplessness.
"Otherwise, why would I travel so far to the Hexu Sect? In Cangmang State, they're the only ones who don't discriminate against Spiritual Roots. As long as you have a Spiritual Root, you can enter the Outer Sect. Even if I end up as an Outer Sect Disciple for life, it's better than farming back home."
The youth in coarse clothing nodded, "True, once you enter the mountain gate, you might even have some opportunities."
On the Xuancang Continent, the Hexu Sect is considered an anomaly.
They accept the Quintuple Spiritual Roots that others reject.
So every year, when they open their mountain gate for recruitment, the number of people coming to "interview" at the foot of the Hexu Sect is the highest on the entire Xuancang Continent.
Just as the two finished speaking, a chubby youth in a brocade jacket approached them.
His attire and accessories looked quite luxurious, indicating a well-off family background.
He smiled warmly and cupped his hands towards the youth in coarse clothing and the youth in blue.
"Brothers, I'm also fifteen this year. My father says that whenever I touch jade, it heats up, so maybe my Spiritual Root isn't bad. If we manage to enter the mountain gate, we'll be fellow disciples, so let's look out for each other."
The chubby youth's voice was loud, his face full of smiles.
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, so the youth in coarse clothing and the youth in blue quickly returned the gesture.
"Of course."
The chubby youth cupped his hands to the two, then turned his gaze to Bai Chen, who was quietly moving alongside them, and greeted him with a smile.
"Hey brother, let's look out for each other in the future."
Since someone was speaking to him, Bai Chen couldn't ignore it. He turned to the chubby youth and nodded with a smile, "Sure, sure."
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The chubby youth was just casually greeting people, casting a wide net.
But when he saw Bai Chen's face, his eyes widened.
"Oh, I say, brother, your complexion... are you feeling unwell?"
His words were rather tactful.
Bai Chen's "makeup" today was the sickly look.
His face was painted pale, his lips a faint pink with no hint of blood.
His brows drooped, with a faint shadow under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for several nights.
His hair was loosely tied with an old wooden hairpin, a few strands blown by the wind sticking to his sweaty forehead, making him look even more haggard.
It seemed like a gust of wind could knock him over.
With such a frail appearance, saying "feeling unwell" was being polite.
The chubby youth's eyes were wide with disbelief.
Could someone who looked like they might collapse after a few steps really seek immortality and the Dao?
Seeing the chubby youth's shocked expression, Bai Chen suddenly felt playful.
He covered his mouth and coughed twice, weakly saying, "It's nothing, I'm in good health."
The chubby youth's eyes were almost overflowing with shock.
In good health, looking like that?
Bai Chen watched his shocked expression, expecting a rebuttal, but instead, the chubby youth pulled out an oil paper package from his pocket and shoved it into Bai Chen's hands.
"Take this, it's osmanthus cake made by my family's cook, it'll keep you full!"
He glanced at the distant mountain gate.
"The recruitment location for the Hexu Sect is in front of the Spirit-Guiding Hall, and there's a long flight of stairs to climb.
"You're too frail, it's good to have something on hand to fill your stomach."
Bai Chen was stunned, holding the oil paper package.
He had thought that with his sickly appearance, he'd either be teased or avoided.
With so many people at the recruitment ceremony, who would care about someone who looked like they might faint at any moment?
After all, someone who struggled just to stay alive couldn't be expected to enter the mountain gate.
But unexpectedly, this chubby youth, despite his carefree demeanor, had a kind heart.
After handing the oil paper package to Bai Chen, the chubby youth turned to the other two and sighed.
"I expected a lot of people to come for the Hexu Sect's recruitment ceremony, but I didn't think there'd be this many. I'm starting to worry that my father's talk of my extraordinary talent is just a father's pride in his son, seeing what he wants to see."
The youth in coarse clothing and the youth in blue just smiled, not saying anything.
After all, they didn't know each other, and it wouldn't be good to casually say the chubby youth would definitely succeed, only for him to fail and hold a grudge.
But Bai Chen said, "You'll definitely enter the sect smoothly."