Chapter 00160: No Spirit at All
# No Spirit at All
Chapter 160
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 160: No Spirit at All
Ding Huan stood behind Lou Buzhi, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over him.
After hearing the next name called, he hurriedly stepped up to test the magical artifact.
He was sure he had a spiritual root, but he was uncertain if it could be detected due to his genetic spiritual root.
As the artifact was activated, he didn't even see a single beam of light, let alone any glowing points.
The examiner, who had been supervising the assessment of spiritual roots, rarely expressed any opinions, even when Lou Buzhi's spiritual root was outstanding.
But upon seeing Ding Huan's results, he couldn't help but exclaim, "I've tested spiritual roots for twenty-one years, and this lack of spirit is truly a first for me."
He was genuinely astonished.
Even an ordinary person without any spiritual root would usually show at least a hint of spirit during testing.
But Ding Huan had not even produced a single glowing point—this was truly something one rarely witnessed.
Nearby, some people had begun discussing his situation.
It was true that while there were those with spiritual roots, most people actually did not possess any.
It could be said that out of ten thousand people tested, only a few might have a spiritual root.
Those with better quality spiritual roots were even rarer, perhaps only one in a hundred thousand.
Having no spiritual root did not mean lacking spirit entirely.
As long as there was spirit, the testing device would reveal some points of light.
But someone like Ding Huan, who couldn't even produce one, was indeed a rarity.
Ding Huan sighed, not feeling too despairing.
He had considered this possibility; after all, he had a genetic spiritual root.
Many people were engaged in genetic fusion, as it existed even in the Threefold Celestial Star Land.
Yet, no one had ever brought up genetic spiritual roots before.
What puzzled him most was why there were no spirit points at all.
That was strange.
Ding Huan could only comfort himself, thinking that the testing device must be too low in grade to detect his unmatched talents.
“Brother Huan, let's go,” Lou Buzhi said, sensing Ding Huan's distress and taking the initiative to pull him outside.
“Excuse me, friend,” a man suddenly interrupted, stepping in front of Lou Buzhi and Ding Huan with an air of urgency.
Ding Huan quickly realized that this man was not blocking him; all his attention was on Lou Buzhi.
“What can I help you with?” Lou Buzhi asked, seeing that the man was clearly looking for him.
“I am an Elder from the Shuanghun Sect. I noticed that your friend has exceptional qualities. If he were to join our Shuanghun Sect, he would undoubtedly become a core disciple,” the man said earnestly, bowing slightly.
Ding Huan couldn’t help but marvel at the similarity to the post-examination recruitments of prestigious schools.
Lou Buzhi was an exemplary candidate, and a prominent sect was approaching him.
However, the Shuanghun Sect was definitely not the right choice; it was essentially a second-rate sect, and if Lou Buzhi joined, it would only be sending him to be a mere servant.
Shuanghun Sect? Earlier, Brother Huan had told Kuqi not to join, but now someone from the Shuanghun Sect had come looking for him.
While Lou Buzhi was eager to join the alchemy sect, he understood that the Shuanghun Sect must have its own alchemy division.
Therefore, joining would not conflict with his cultivation.
“I greatly admire the Shuanghun Sect, but I have already promised my friend that I want to visit the Yanyue Sect first,” Lou Buzhi replied apologetically.
To Ding Huan’s surprise, the man exhibited a hint of regret upon hearing Lou Buzhi's words, yet he did not press further.
What Ding Huan didn’t know was that, while Lou Buzhi had excellent qualities, he was rather unremarkable in appearance—being somewhat overweight—and the invitation was merely a casual remark.
In terms of qualifications, double spiritual roots were still inferior to single spiritual roots, and what the man valued most was that Lou Buzhi was fit for alchemy.
“You made the right choice, Brother,” Lou Buzhi asked after they had walked a bit further, clearly wanting Ding Huan's opinion.
Ding Huan sent a voice message back, “Joining the Shuanghun Sect would be akin to seeking death; staying away was the correct choice.”
Lou Buzhi let out a sigh of relief.
Despite only being with Ding Huan for a little over a month, he had built a strong trust in him.
This had created a habit of relying on Ding Huan's words; after all, since the beginning, Ding Huan had never led him astray.
Without Ding Huan, he might not have even had the chance to stand where he was now, choosing a sect.
“So where shall we go next?” Lou Buzhi continued to inquire.
He mentioned the Yanyue Sect earlier because he knew it was a large sect.
He thought that they would treat him well since he was seeking to join a big sect.
Ding Huan pointed towards a nearby sect and said, “Look, isn’t there an alchemical sect over there? Let’s check it out.”
Lou Buzhi’s eyes lit up as he saw the Qingdan Sect.
“This sect seems quite large…” Lou Buzhi said instinctively.
But then he remembered and exclaimed, “Brother Huan, I just realized, the Qingdan Sect is huge too! It’s a power not inferior to the Yanyue Sect. Let’s go to the Qingdan Sect!”
Ding Huan shook his head. “You can go; I and Lao Liu will not. I have no qualifications, and Lao Liu likely doesn't either, so he can only follow my lead.”
Lao Liu also possessed a genetic spiritual root, which likely wouldn’t grant him qualifications in this place.
“Brother Huan, what if my qualifications allow me to bring friends with me? Wouldn’t that be even better?” Lou Buzhi recalled that Ding Huan had once brought Qi Xinyue and Lao Liu onto a ship with a magical elixir, wondering if he could do the same.
Ding Huan pondered briefly and thought it might be a plausible idea.
After spending so long in the Threefold Celestial Star Land and examining numerous records, he subconsciously formed a belief: people from the cultivation world could easily enter the mortal realm whenever they wished, but for mortals to enter the cultivation world was challenging.
Similarly, it was equally daunting for those in the cultivation world to reach the Ascension Realm, while the powerful figures from the Ascension Realm walked freely in the Threefold Celestial Star Land.
As an alchemical sect, the Qingdan Sect had countless aspirants coming to participate in the selection.
When Ding Huan witnessed spirit roots appearing one after another, along with several single roots among them, he knew that relying on Lou Buzhi’s presence to bring him and Lao Liu into the Qingdan Sect was uncertain at best.
“And here’s my spiritual root qualification.” When it was Lou Buzhi’s turn, he hurriedly presented his qualification test paper.
“Hmm, quite good. Double spiritual roots, with wood and fire—purity at ninety…” the man in charge of assessing qualifications nodded as he examined the paper.
After looking it over, he gestured towards the testing artifact nearby. “You may step up; I’ll retest your spiritual root qualifications.”
Lou Buzhi quickly complied, ready for the retest, which presented no issues.
“Excellent! You can join us at the Qingdan Sect and start as an outer disciple.” The man nodded, evidently pleased.
Ding Huan felt a heavy weight in his heart; just as he had suspected, Lou Buzhi’s qualifications merely allowed him to be an outer disciple.
An outer disciple bringing someone into the sect? That would be a joke.
Lou Buzhi hurriedly spoke up, “Esteemed senior, this is my friend. He has no spiritual root qualifications; I would like…”
Before Lou Buzhi could finish, the man understood his implication and waved his hand without hesitation, “No, you cannot bring anyone into the Qingdan Sect. Not only friends—your own family cannot accompany you either.”
“Then can I take him into the cultivation world?” Lou Buzhi pressed, panic rising.
The man looked grave as he said slowly, “Not just at the Qingdan Sect, but at any sect, a newly admitted disciple cannot bring ordinary mortals into the cultivation world. Furthermore, your qualifications are only acceptable; they are not extraordinary.”
Seeing Lou Buzhi was about to speak again, Ding Huan quickly interrupted, “Buzhi, go to the Qingdan Sect and focus on your cultivation and alchemy. Don’t worry about me; we will part ways here. Goodbye.”
“Brother Huan…” Lou Buzhi was suddenly void of direction.
He had always followed Ding Huan, letting him make decisions, and now, with Ding Huan leaving abruptly, he felt lost.
It wasn’t until Ding Huan disappeared from sight that the man, who had approached him for entry, gently patted Lou Buzhi's shoulder, “This is only a process of adaptation. Once you have entered the cultivation sect, you will soon bid farewell to everything before. Years from now, you will find today's thoughts and suggestions laughable, for you will no longer be in the same world. It’s fine if you don’t understand my words now; you will come to comprehend them later.”
...
Lao Liu felt quite dejected; he had really wished to follow Lou Buzhi into the cultivation world, but the man made it clear that Lou Buzhi had no ability to take them there.
“Let’s go, we need to leave this place.” After realizing he lacked spiritual root qualifications and couldn’t even enter the cultivation world, Ding Huan knew that staying in the Fairy Fate Square was pointless.
Right now, the first step for him was to enter the cultivation world.
Otherwise, no matter how much knowledge of cultivation he had in his mind, it would merely be for show.
Compared to ordinary cultivators, Ding Huan understood far better how important the rules of heaven and earth were to cultivation.
Even if he possessed over a hundred thousand Spirit Crystals, and even had a fragment of the spiritual source vein and foundational techniques, the possibility of making a name for himself in the mortal realm was nearly impossible.
“Brother Ding…” Just as Ding Huan was about to leave Fairy Fate Square, a voice called out to him from a distance.
“Kuqi?” Ding Huan turned to see Kuqi.
He soon noticed that Kuqi was with the Wanfu Sect.
Clearly, Kuqi had listened to his advice and chosen the Wanfu Sect instead of the Shuanghun Sect.
As Ding Huan approached, Kuqi came forward. “Brother Ding, I chose the Wanfu Sect. Have you found a sect you’re fond of?”
Ding Huan forced a smile, “Congratulations to you! But I have no qualifications and am about to leave here.”
Kuqi was taken aback; he thought Ding Huan had come here knowing his qualifications, as no one would linger about in a corner for days without reason unless they had something to gain.
After all this time, Ding Huan had no qualifications at all—what was he doing here?
“Do you have any plans, Brother Ding?” Kuqi was uncertain how to comfort him.
Ding Huan didn’t hold back, revealing, “I plan to find a way to enter the cultivation world first.”
“But aren’t you without qualifications?” Kuqi blurted out instinctively.
Ding Huan chuckled lightly, “What’s it matter if I have no qualifications? No one says you must have qualifications to seek opportunities in the cultivation world.”
“Exactly! I truly admire your broad-mindedness, Brother Ding. If you want to venture into the cultivation world, there is indeed a way.” Kuqi immediately offered.
Upon hearing this, Ding Huan felt a spark of hope, “Please, enlighten me, brother Kuqi.”
(Today's update ends here; good night, friends! Your support in monthly votes is greatly appreciated!)
(End of Chapter)