### Chapter 34: "Miss, Please Behave Yourself!"
Although disgusted by Lord Zhou's gaze, Liu Mei forced herself to nod despite her revulsion, saying, "The Lord of the city naturally has a chance at immortality. Otherwise, why would we have come to this place?"
"However, the extent of your potential needs to be tested with this spirit stone to determine whether you are fit for cultivation."
She extended her hand, revealing a transparent crystal ball, and smiled, "Junior Brother Lin, please help the Lord of the city with the test."
Lin Fengmian, seeing that she could no longer tolerate the lord's behavior, held back a laugh and nodded.
The overweight city lord, despite his considerable size, hurried over with surprising agility.
"Please place your hand on the spirit stone," Lin Fengmian gestured.
The plump lord placed his hand on the stone, but it showed no reaction.
Confused, he asked, "Immortal, is the stone broken?"
"No," Liu Mei replied tactfully. "If someone has the potential for immortality, the stone will emit light."
"Do not be disappointed, Lord. We cultivators cut ties with the mundane world. Perhaps your life is more enjoyable than ours."
She gracefully produced a bottle of elixirs and lightly flicked her wrist, sending it toward him.
"These are longevity pills that strengthen the body. Please accept them as a gift."
The city lord, who had been disappointed, brightened upon seeing the pills and said, "Many thanks to the immortal! If you need anything, feel free to ask."
Liu Mei smiled and said, "We plan to select disciples from your city. Anyone under thirty, regardless of gender, may come for the test. If there are any from your household, they will be given priority."
"Of course, of course! I will have the necessary arrangements made immediately." The city lord beamed.
That evening, the city lord hosted a banquet for Lin Fengmian and the others.
As they conversed, the city lord suddenly asked, "I've heard that cultivators practice a special dual-cultivation technique. Do you, by any chance, know of it?"
At first, Liu Mei and the others were startled, thinking they might have revealed something. But when they noticed his lecherous gaze, they realized it was purely lust-driven curiosity.
Amused but annoyed, Liu Mei replied, "City Lord, you're joking. We practice orthodox Daoist methods, focusing on purity and discipline. We don't engage in such techniques."
The city lord, clearly disappointed, looked regretfully at them.
Lin Fengmian couldn't help but think, *This lord actually knows about dual-cultivation techniques! You're lucky you're dealing with pros here. These women could drain every ounce of fat from you.*
That night, Lin Fengmian and the others were assigned separate quarters within the city lord's estate, as they were openly members of a righteous sect and couldn't share rooms.
The next morning, a large crowd gathered in the city's square. After the city lord's announcement about immortals accepting disciples, many citizens had come to observe, with those eligible for testing lining up eagerly.
Amidst the murmurs, someone exclaimed, "Look! The immortals!"
All heads turned upward to see nine figures, men and women, standing on various magical artifacts, descending gracefully like deities.
Those who had never witnessed such a sight knelt in reverence, chanting, "Immortals, Immortals!"
Lin Fengmian and the others landed on a stage that had been set up in advance.
Standing at the front, Liu Mei spoke softly, "We are disciples of Yushu Sect. By order of our elders, we have come to select potential disciples from your city."
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
Liu Mei smiled gently, casting a spell with a wave of her hand. From a nearby well, water surged upwards and transformed into a magnificent phoenix, soaring above the crowd.
The water phoenix, crystal-clear and radiant, shimmered in the sunlight, drawing everyone's attention.
Liu Mei tossed a few elixirs into the air, which the phoenix caught before diving back into the well with a melodious cry.
"I've added a few medicinal herbs to your city's well. Drinking from it will promote longevity and health, a small blessing for all."
This display left the crowd in awe. Any remaining doubts about their identity as immortals vanished as people rushed to the square.
Lin Fengmian and three others began testing the townspeople with spirit stones, encountering a variety of individuals.
At one point, a burly, middle-aged man stepped up, and Lin Fengmian asked skeptically, "Brother, are you really under twenty?"
The man chuckled awkwardly, "Immortal, I just aged a bit fast."
"Take him away," the guards grumbled, dragging him off. "His kid's old enough to buy soy sauce."
Later, a flirtatious woman, having failed the test, provocatively loosened her clothing and batted her eyes at Lin Fengmian. "Immortal, surely I must have some potential. Try again?"
Lin Fengmian could only smile wryly. "Miss, please behave yourself!"
*If you're going to do this, at least wait until nighttime! I can't respond to you like this in broad daylight!*
As they continued working, Liu Mei and the others moved through the city, treating various ailments. They restored sight to the blind and helped crippled children walk, earning the praise of the townspeople, who marveled at their seemingly divine abilities.
Seeing the grateful smiles of the people, Xia Yunxi also smiled warmly, like a celestial being. While Lin Fengmian wasn't surprised by her kindness, he was caught off guard by Liu Mei's similar expression. *Could she really be as kind as Xia Yunxi had said?*
By the end of the day, after testing over a thousand people, they found three men with spiritual roots. Though they were of lesser quality, mixed roots, it was enough to make them the envy of the city.
After a long day, Lin Fengmian and the others finally got some rest, having arranged for the three "new recruits" to stay at the city lord's mansion.
Just as they were about to relax, Liu Mei entered and said to Lin Fengmian, "Junior Brother Fengmian, could you deliver these beauty pills to the lord's wife and test them for spiritual roots while you're there?"