Chapter 12

As Length Qiuqiu walked away, Deacon Chen's expression returned to its usual calm and steady demeanor.

"Little brother… and uhm, his pet?" He glanced at Baobao before waving his hand. "Follow me."

With that, he led Xiao Yao and Baobao into a separate room, noticeably quieter and devoid of other disciples. In the center of the room, a transparent crystal floated in midair, radiating a faint, mystical glow.

"Now little brother, you need to just place your hand on this crystal. It will analyze your spiritual roots and record your information," Deacon Chen explained, gesturing toward it.

"Understood, Deacon Chen," Xiao Yao replied before glancing at Baobao. "Baobao, stay here."

Baobao flapped his wings and gave an salute, as if saying, 'Go ahead, I'll wait here.'

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yao stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal's smooth surface. Contrary to its cold, glass-like appearance, it was unexpectedly warm. Almost immediately, he felt something foreign entering his body—an energy probing deep within him.

His spiritual root responded instinctively, pulsing as if resonating with the crystal. A moment later, the crystal's color shifted—starting as a faint blue before darkening rapidly. In mere seconds, most of its surface was consumed by a deep, inky hue.

As the light within the crystal faded, Xiao Yao unconsciously withdrew his hand, feeling a strange sensation lingering within him.

"Congratulations, Little Brother Xiao!" Deacon Chen's voice rang out beside him, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. "You possess a high-grade Water Spiritual Root. With this, you are eligible to join one of the Seven Major Peaks of our sect."

(Spritual roots(low to high): Miscellaneous -> low -> mid -> high -> top -> natural)

A smile appeared on Deacon Chen's face as he looked at Xiao Yao approvingly. However, deep within his eyes, a flicker of thought passed—one unnoticed by Xiao Yao, who was still digesting the unexpected news.

"Thank you for explaining, Deacon Chen," Xiao Yao said, bowing as he finally snapped out of his thoughts.

"No need, no need! There's no need to bow, Little Brother Xiao," Deacon Chen waved his hands dismissively, a good-natured smile on his face. "With your spiritual roots, you'll likely surpass me in just a few decades. Who knows? I might be the one bowing to you then."

Hearing this, Xiao Yao paused for a moment before nodding. "If you say so, Deacon Chen." With that, he turned and walked back to where Baobao was waiting.

Deacon Chen then led him out of the testing room and into another chamber filled with stacks of documents, ink, and various registration materials.

"Now that you've passed the spiritual roots test and are qualified to join one of the Seven Major Peaks, do you have a preference for which peak you'd like to choose?" Deacon Chen asked as he casually sorted through some papers.

Xiao Yao shook his head and clasped his hands. "Deacon Chen, I'm new to the sect and know almost nothing. Please guide me."

A pleased smile appeared on Deacon Chen's face as he absentmindedly rubbed the ring on his finger. "Well, let me first give you some general knowledge. As you already know, our sect has seven major peaks and 108 smaller ones. The smaller peaks serve different purposes, but some of them hold influence comparable to the Seven Major Peaks."

He paused briefly before continuing, "For example, the Law Enforcement Peak, the Resource Hall Peak, and the Mission Hall Peak—all three have powerful elders in charge, some even on par with Peak Masters. So while the Seven Major Peaks are the most prestigious, these three are not to be underestimated."

"That said, when it comes to true cultivation potential and overall power, aside from the presence of formidable elders, the Seven Major Peaks still stand above the rest."

Listening carefully, Xiao Yao gained a deeper understanding of the sect's internal structure. Meanwhile, Baobao was also nodding along, pretending to understand. However, the confusion in his round eyes made it clear that most of this was going right over his head.

"Ahem, now, returning to the Seven Major Peaks," Deacon Chen coughed lightly, bringing both Xiao Yao and Baobao out of their thoughts.

"The Seven Major Peaks are as follows: Main Sect Peak, Alchemy Peak, Iron Blood Peak, Five Elements Peak, Cherry Plum Peak, War Peak, and finally, Wildbone Peak."

He paused for a moment before explaining further.

"The Main Sect Peak is where the Sect Master resides. Only nine disciples are chosen per generation, making them the sect's most elite members. These disciples have either top-tier or even natural spiritual roots, making them the true face of the sect. Naturally, joining it is out of the question for you."

He gave Xiao Yao a glance before continuing, "Next, we can also eliminate a few more peaks from your choices. The Alchemy Peak is specifically for alchemists with wood, fire, or related spiritual roots. The Iron Blood Peak is reserved for body-refining cultivators, which doesn't suit you either. And as for Cherry Plum Peak—well, that one only accepts female disciples."

Deacon Chen chuckled slightly, giving Xiao Yao an amused look. "So, unless you're hiding something from me, that one's not an option either."

"Now, the options you have are as follows," Deacon Chen continued.

"First, there's War Peak—a place for cultivators who specialize in weapons as their primary focus, with spells as a secondary skill. The disciples of this peak are renowned for their sheer combat strength and prowess in battle."

"Next is Five Elements Peak—unlike other peaks that focus on a specific path, this one is home to disciples with a wide variety of spiritual roots. The peak emphasizes spell cultivation, making it a well-rounded place for those who wish to master elemental techniques."

"And finally, there's Wildbone Peak—the most bizarre among them all. This peak is home to those who practice unconventional cultivation methods, such as poison cultivation, gu techniques, and even certain demonic arts that are permitted within the sect as long as they do not harm others."

Xiao Yao fell into deep thought after hearing all the options, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each peak.

Seeing him lost in contemplation, Deacon Chen's eyes flickered slightly before he spoke, "Brother Xiao Yao, to be fair, in my opinion, the most suitable choice for you would be Five Elements Peak. War Peak might be strong, but from what I see, you don't seem like the type to dedicate yourself entirely to mastering a single weapon."

"As for Wildbone Peak… well, it does have some unique inheritances related to the water element, but… how should I put it… it's a bit… difficult," he said, his voice trailing off as if struggling to find the right words.