Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Entrance Exam (3)
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Yuk-gyeong's Single Spiritual Root revelation made even the Iron-faced Elder Geum, who had been standing silently at the main gate with his eyes closed, snap his eyes open.
Elder Geum was so startled that he lost his composure for the first time in over a decade.
When was the last time he had been shocked?
It was when he faced his archenemy, the Demon Lord Ghost Killer Divine Army Baek Do-geon, cornered in a desperate situation, and witnessed the hidden ultimate technique he had kept in reserve.
Even then, Elder Geum's reaction was merely a twitch of his eyebrows in surprise.
That ultimate technique had been the Ghost Killer Divine Army suddenly stripping off all his clothes, dancing naked toward the sky in a bizarre ritual!
Back then, it was just a twitch of the eyebrows, but now...
He jumped in shock and even cried out!
In other words, Elder Geum was more shocked now than when he saw his archenemy performing a naked ass-shake show.
The disciples had never seen the Iron-faced Elder Geum shout in excitement, so they were greatly startled.
Elder Geum pulled his hands from his sleeves and strode forward.
He approached Yuk-gyeong personally, lifted his sleeve, and welcomed him.
"You will undoubtedly pass the entrance exam. Climb the mountain. I will greet you myself."
Yuk-gyeong was dazed by the elder's warm reception but nodded, thinking it made sense.
In the novels, Single Spiritual Roots were described as extremely rare, with immense potential. Sects would even fight over them to recruit one.
Just look at Hye-chun's case—they hadn't even gone to fetch the head sect elder to receive her more courteously?
Clearly, the envoy had left Hye-chun in her hometown village temporarily at her own request.
After all, it was standard for mortals to bid farewell to their families and prepare their Dao Hearts before becoming cultivators. Otherwise, cracks could form in their Dao Hearts.
But Yuk-gyeong had no lingering attachments to his family from his previous life, so there was no risk of that for him.
In any case, Yuk-gyeong bashfully followed behind Elder Geum as he led the way. Single Spiritual Root supreme, exam skipped—pure bliss.
Just as Elder Geum was about to escort Yuk-gyeong to the head sect with such favor...
That was when it happened!
"Elder! This violates the rules!"
One inner sect disciple stepped forward to block the elder's actions.
There were three inner sect disciples assisting with the entrance exam.
The lowest-ranked one had tested the Spiritual Roots, while the other two assisted the elder and oversaw the entire exam.
Among them, the highest-ranked inner sect disciple, who was supervising the whole exam, stepped up to halt Elder Geum.
Wearing a purple robe adorned with jade ornaments, he looked more affluent than the other inner disciples, with an air of nobility about his face.
He was a standout even among inner sect disciples.
His strikingly handsome features made even his sharp, upturned eyes seem charming.
Elder Geum frowned at his defiance, anger rising.
"What? Jang Yeong-ok. What do you think you're doing? Are you ignoring the words of an elder like me?"
This was a grave offense.
For an inner sect disciple to block an elder's actions? This was insubordination of the highest order.
And to do so publicly, in front of everyone.
It could not be overlooked without punishment.
"No, Elder. I'm simply saying this violates the head sect's rules."
"Jang Yeong-ok. Are you flaunting your authority, claiming to know the head sect rules better than I do?"
"No, Elder. What I'm saying is that the head sect's rules must be followed. Even you cannot arbitrarily break them."
"Are you trying to lecture me now? Is that it?"
"How dare a mere disciple do such a thing."
"If not, how dare you speak such words before me?"
"Elder, many people are watching right now. How can we violate the head sect's rules and arbitrarily pass someone? This would tarnish the Radiant Moon Sect's reputation terribly."
"Is that so? Jang Yeong-ok, you're not opposing me because you trust your clan's backing, are you?"
"How could a disciple do that? If you think so, I will enter the Seclusion Cave on my own feet and face the wall in penance."
"Hmph, since you insist so strongly, I cannot let it slide. This child will take the entrance exam as well. I will look into this matter later."
"Even the elders of my Jang Clan won't let me off easily. Please, do not be angry."
Elder Geum gazed at Jang Yeong-ok with deep, inscrutable eyes whose thoughts were unknowable.
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Among the two clans considered prestigious in the Radiant Moon Sect, Jang Yeong-ok of the Jang Clan actually had ulterior motives.
On the surface, it was about not violating the head sect's rules, but that damn Single Spiritual Root bearer was bad luck on top of that.
First and foremost, the existence of a Single Spiritual Root bearer threatened the Jang Clan's interests.
The head sect's resources were limited.
At present, the Jang Clan was enjoying an unprecedented boom. They had produced a once-in-decades Dual Spiritual Root bearer and secured two elder positions.
It was a time when they needed more support from the head sect than ever.
A Single Spiritual Root bearer benefited the sect but not the Jang Clan.
Yeong-ok did not welcome such an existence.
He would try to weed him out during the entrance exam, but as long as Elder Geum oversaw it, there was no way to intervene.
Elder Geum was a neutral figure in the sect's factions. As the disciple of the Flower Jade Immortal Maiden from the secular world, the boy attendant Geum Seung-won who entered the Radiant Moon Sect with her had become the current Iron-faced Divine Army. Now that she was gone, Elder Geum belonged to no faction and was difficult to handle.
If he had been from the Jang Clan side, they could have found an excuse to oust him, but Elder Geum made that impossible.
Thus, he openly rebelled and voiced his opinion to Elder Geum.
The important thing was to notify Elder Geum.
That the Jang Clan was deeply displeased with this Single Spiritual Root bearer's existence.
Yeong-ok wasn't acting on his own. Would a mere inner sect disciple dare defy an elder? Even if Elder Geum slapped him to death with one palm, he would have no grounds to complain.
The reason he could do this was solely because the Jang Clan backed him.
An elder of the Jang Clan had said it directly.
No disciple who would drain the head sect's resources should be allowed. The next hundred years would be crucial for the Jang Clan.
So, Yeong-ok trusted that the Jang Clan's elders would handle today's matter well. At worst, a few months facing the wall in the Seclusion Cave. And upon return, the clan would support him even more strongly.
Yeong-ok coldly eyed the smug-faced Single Spiritual Root youth.
Now that you've fallen out of the Jang Clan's favor, you won't last in the sect.
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Yuk-gyeong felt uneasy noticing that the man in the purple robe, standing as an entrance exam overseer and claiming to be an inner sect disciple, was subtly glaring at him.
Blocking his free pass entry was suspicious enough, but it was clear he didn't like him.
Oh dear, were there already jealous and envious stares even before entering the head sect?
Yuk-gyeong thought so, yet still felt queasy inside.
He seemed to be an inner sect disciple, which meant he probably had considerable influence within the head sect. What reason could such a person have to target a newbie like him? They weren't blood enemies or anything.
Yuk-gyeong immediately saw through him that there was some deeper agenda.
He hated Single Spiritual Roots or something. What could it be?
Ah, maybe he begrudged the head sect resources that would be poured into nurturing a Single Spiritual Root bearer? He knew from cultivation novels that such factions existed within sects sometimes.
A massive organization like a sect contained many small groups. Among them, blood-related clans often prioritized their own interests over the sect's.
Petty fools.
I hope I'm not getting kicked out now?
"Resume the Spiritual Root testing and the exam."
Elder Geum ordered the exam to continue and stepped back.
Yuk-gyeong worried about being expelled, but Elder Geum did no such thing.
The exam simply proceeded.
The tense atmosphere from the insubordination lingered. Especially the inner and outer disciples peeked around nervously even as they resumed the exam.
In that awkward mood, the Spiritual Root testing continued to the end.
Yu Yeong-yeong,
"Three Spiritual Roots! Over here."
Passed with flying colors.
It seemed her inner sect disciple sister had already tested her at home. She showed no tension whatsoever.
This is why blood ties matter.
Others came blindly, not even knowing if they had Spiritual Roots, like heading into a wall. But someone like Yeong-yeong had tested in advance—if she had them, join the sect; if not, give up early.
Saving precious time.
Connections through school, region, blood—always there if you look.
Not that he begrudged Yeong-yeong's success. Blood ties are a talent too, after all.
Yuk-gyeong was glad Yeong-yeong would be joining the Radiant Moon Sect with him. Like starting a job with a friend you met at the interview.
"My goodness, a Single Spiritual Root. You have an amazing gift."
"I got lucky. All thanks to my parents."
Parents my ass. If anything, thank Hye-chun.
Knowing Yuk-gyeong had a Single Spiritual Root, Yeong-yeong grew even friendlier. She had been friendly before, but now she acted like she'd share any info her sister gave her.
Yuk-gyeong smiled faintly at her cute demeanor.
He didn't want to call this snobbery. It was human nature—to want to befriend the noble and distance from the lowly.
And Yeong-yeong's attitude wasn't overt; it was just friendly enough not to frown at.
"Let's get along well from now on. We're classmates now, but you might be my senior brother later."
"With your Three Spiritual Roots, you're talented too—no need for comparisons."
From the initial hundred-plus, only four children under twenty and three young adults over twenty remained.
Elder Geum glanced over the survivors, pointed to one outer sect disciple, and said,
"Spiritual Root testing complete. Take these remaining ones through the rest of the trials."
"Yes, Elder."
Elder Geum mounted a crane that appeared from somewhere and flew off, and the inner sect disciples vanished as well.
Now, only a few outer sect disciples and the entrants remained.
The outer sect disciple designated by the elder clapped to gather attention.
"Everyone, come this way. We're entering the sect grounds."
The entrants meekly followed the outer sect disciple's words.
Crossing the main gate, they all entered the head sect.
That gate seemed to divide the mundane world from the cultivation world.
They were now people who had left the mundane world for the cultivation world.
Of course, not everyone who proved to have Spiritual Roots could become Radiant Moon Sect disciples.
Perhaps the real trials began now.