The chubby boy was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then grinned, revealing two tiger-like teeth as he looked at Bai Chen, scratching his head with his chubby hand.

"Well, I'll take your good words!"

The chubby boy assumed Bai Chen was just being polite and didn't take it seriously.

Only Bai Chen knew he was speaking the truth.

The Talent Entry could only be copied once a month, but there was no limit to viewing others' attributes.

Just now, when the chubby boy handed him an oiled paper package, Bai Chen touched his hand and took a glance at his attributes.

Name: Chen Jinbao

Age: 15

Cultivation Level: None

Spiritual Root: Metal, Earth

Talent Entry: Quick Comprehension of Artifact Patterns (Blue), Metal Affinity (Blue), Skilled in Recording Artifact Patterns (Green), Easy Identification of Forging Materials (Green), Abundant Strength (White)...

Unexpectedly, he had Dual Spiritual Roots, and his talents were no less than Feng Ling'er's.

If Bai Chen had met him earlier, he might have copied his artifact refining talent.

After being praised by Bai Chen, Chen Jinbao felt even closer to him.

He patted his belly and introduced himself to Bai Chen.

"My name is Chen Jinbao, Jin as in gold, Bao as in treasure. I just turned fifteen two months ago. What about you, brother?"

Bai Chen dodged an elbow from someone nearby and softly replied, "My surname is Bai, and my given name is Chen. Chen as in stars. I'm sixteen this year."

"Sixteen?"

Chen Jinbao looked at him in confusion.

"Aren't we all supposed to test our Spiritual Roots at fifteen? Why did you come a year late?"

Bai Chen lowered his eyes slightly and sighed, his tone somber. "My family is poor. My parents had an accident two years ago, and I've been holding on alone in a rundown house for two years. I only managed to save enough for the journey recently."

Strictly speaking, what he said wasn't wrong, but saying it like this made it sound quite tragic.

Chen Jinbao exclaimed in surprise and immediately felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Brother Bai, I didn't know, you—"

Chen Jinbao stammered for a while, not knowing what to say, scratching his head in frustration.

Seeing the chubby boy almost wanting to slap himself, Bai Chen held back a laugh and shook his head. "No blame for those who don't know. I've moved on, it's okay."

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Even though Bai Chen said this, Chen Jinbao didn't dare to bring up family matters again and quickly changed the topic to the strange tales he'd heard about the Hexu Sect.

"Hey, Brother Bai, have you heard of the 'Falling Star Abyss' of the Hexu Sect?"

Bai Chen shook his head. "No."

He wasn't originally from this continent.

His previous self was just from an ordinary family with no cultivators, knowing nothing about these things.

Seeing Bai Chen didn't know, Chen Jinbao leaned in mysteriously, lowering his voice.

"Let me tell you, this is something my dad heard from an old customer who regularly delivers artifact refining materials to the Hexu Sect. They say the back of the mountain used to have no restrictions, but ever since a meteor fell there three hundred years ago, no one is allowed near..."

Bai Chen listened intently, but the chubby boy fell silent.

He looked at Chen Jinbao curiously. "And then?"

"And then..." Chen Jinbao scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "I don't know. That's all my dad told me."

Bai Chen: ...That's it?

He overestimated the chubby boy's ability.

He thought he would hear something extraordinary.

As they spoke, the crowd ahead had moved to the entrance of the Hexu Sect's Mountain Gate.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Suddenly, a clear voice imbued with spiritual power rang out like a great bell, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

This was a sound amplification technique commonly used by Hexu Sect disciples, which could be learned at the Qi Refining Stage. At this moment, it was being employed by a Hexu Sect disciple, and the voice echoed through the mountain forest.

"Form ten lines immediately and ascend the mountain!

"Proceed to the plaza in front of the Spirit-Guiding Hall for a unified Spiritual Root test.

"No crowding, no noise.

"Anyone causing trouble or disrupting order will be disqualified from the test!"

The voice cut through the crowd's chatter, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

The previously noisy crowd instantly quieted down, instinctively forming ten lines and proceeding through the Mountain Gate towards the mountain.

Chen Jinbao, who had been chatting away, dared not speak anymore and joined a nearby line with his head lowered.

Bai Chen followed Chen Jinbao into the line, moving forward with the flow of people.

The path before the Mountain Gate was not a smooth road but a thousand-step staircase carved into the cliff, winding upwards to the Spirit-Guiding Hall shrouded in mist.

The stone steps, weathered by countless years, were polished smooth and warm, with faint spiritual power patterns flowing across them, likely due to the sect's spiritual energy nourishing them over the years.

The higher they climbed, the denser the spiritual energy became, filling their lungs with a refreshing sensation.

Bai Chen was secretly amazed.

They hadn't even truly entered the Hexu Sect, yet the spiritual energy was already so dense.

What would it be like to truly step inside the Hexu Sect?

As they approached the Mountain Gate, the disciples of the Hexu Sect on either side became clearly visible.

They wore long robes with wide sleeves in gradient shades of blue and green, with jade plaques engraved with "Hexu Inner Sect" hanging from their waists.

The dark patterns on their robes exuded spiritual energy, enhancing their extraordinary aura.

The sight filled everyone with admiration.

Bai Chen followed Chen Jinbao upwards, just about to step into the Mountain Gate when an arm holding a long sword suddenly blocked his path.

Bai Chen's pupils contracted as he looked at the person.

He saw that although the person wore the same blue-green standard disciple attire, the jade plaque at his waist had more intricate patterns than the others.

The scabbard of the sword blocking him was also engraved with dense, intricate cloud patterns.

With just a glance at Bai Chen, he inexplicably felt a tightness in his chest, his breath halting for a moment.

Because Bai Chen was stopped, the lines behind and beside him also came to a halt.

Everyone looked in surprise in his direction.

Bai Chen slightly lowered his head and politely cupped his hands. "I wonder if this senior brother has any instructions?"

The person's gaze fell on Bai Chen's face, frowning with displeasure, and he said coldly, "Sneaky and suspicious, do you think you're worthy of stepping into the Hexu Sect's Mountain Gate?"

Chen Jinbao, seeing Bai Chen stopped, turned back worriedly.

Hearing the person's words, his eyes widened.

Sneaky and suspicious?

What does that mean?

Brother Bai is perfectly fine, how is he sneaky?

Bai Chen's heart tightened upon hearing the words, then he understood.

His disguise was merely a common makeup technique.

It might fool ordinary people, but it couldn't escape the spiritual sense of cultivators.

His appearance, in the eyes of a cultivator, was indeed sneaky.

Especially since today was the Hexu Sect's recruitment day, it was understandable for them to be suspicious and cautious.

Bai Chen quickly cupped his hands in apology, his tone sincere.

"Forgive me, senior brother. I lack martial skills and am physically weak. Traveling alone, I had to disguise myself for safety, not intending to offend the sect's dignity. I'll remove the disguise immediately."

With that, he took out a clean plain handkerchief from his sleeve, used some water from his water pouch, and began to wipe his face.