Amidst the crowd, a tall elder with a scholarly deanor gazed at the disorder below and spoke solemnly.
His na was Chen Sanxing, the patriarch of the Chen Family. Before the arrival of the Immortals, he had served as a minor official at the County Governnt Office for several years.
After the Immortals descended and Yu Country beca a re shadow of its forr self, Chen Sanxing returned to Yunshui Town to manage his family’s business with a few brothers and nephews.
The clan stewards beside him nodded slightly.
"Brother Chen’s consideration is wise; if we let these people ascend the mountain, it would be chaotic like a market, and the master might think we lack discipline."
Once the stewards agreed, the clansn hurriedly went to the foot of the mountain to announce the execution.
In front of the Shen Family’s ancestral hall, Shen Wenxing, Huang Qingzhou, and Huang Qi sat together with Zhao Jinhua standing beside them.
"Young Master, quite a crowd!"
Watching the dragon-like procession slowly approach the hall from the foot of the mountain, Zhao Jinhua chuckled as he spoke.
Shen Wenxing glanced at the long line and nodded slightly.
He estimated that at least two or three thousand people had co here to participate in the screening.
He just hoped they would discover several Immortal Seedlings with Spirit Roots so their efforts wouldn’t be in vain.
"Father-in-law, Brother Qi, let’s prepare."
The Shen Family did not possess an array like the Ascension Pavilion for Spirit Root detection. This screening had to be conducted personally by the three cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Huang Qingzhou and Huang Qi nodded, and the three of them stood at the top of the steps.
Soon, six clan stewards brought all the children ready for the screening from the foot of the mountain to the forefront.
"Young Clan Leader, Master Huang, everyone is here." Chen Sanxing greeted them respectfully with cupped hands.
Shen Wenxing nodded: "Let’s begin."
The six stewards cupped their hands and stepped aside to let those in line proceed three at a ti to the front.
For those with Divine Sense, checking if soone has a Spirit Root is quick.
They only need to touch the body and release their Divine Sense to sense it briefly, allowing them to discern through the body’s affinity with the Spiritual Qi in the world whether they possess Spirit Roots.
"Next."
"Next."
...
One child after another stepped forward and then departed, as if going through a routine.
Nearby, Chen Sanxing and a few others stood at a distance, all craning their necks with expressions of tension and anticipation.
Their feelings were complex; they hoped no Immortal Seedlings would appear in their village to maintain their affiliated clan’s status.
Yet, if an Immortal Seedling appeared, it would allow their clan to stand out before the main family, presenting them with a rit, potentially benefiting from it.
Under their anxious watch, the screening unknowingly reached a third of its progress.
Among the six, soone had already displayed a look of despondency.
"Hmm?"
Just then, Huang Qingzhou, standing to Shen Wenxing’s left, placed his palm on a young girl’s shoulder, his face suddenly showing surprise.
Fearing a mistake, he carefully sensed it again.
Five Elents Spirit Root, four elents balanced, Wood Elent...
"Shi Tou, take a look at this."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing extended his hand to the young girl’s shoulder.
"Is it a Wood Spirit Root?"
Shen Wenxing’s face revealed a slight smile, nodding.
"Girl, what is your na?"
He slightly bent down, looking at the young girl around seven or eight years old in front of him.
The little girl’s family appeared to be poor; her patched floral blouse showed signs of wear, her face slightly sallow from poor nutrition, and her hair was tied into crooked braids.
Facing Shen Wenxing’s gaze, the girl seed unaware of the situation, her eyes filled with fear, instinctively stepping back, too scared to speak.
In the distance, the six clan stewards noticed the situation here and all craned their necks to look.
"That girl seems to be from our Xiu Mountain Village!"
Chen Sanxing, who was taller, instantly recognized the girl standing before Shen Wenxing.
"Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
Seeing the girl not responding, Chen Sanxing hurriedly waved and shouted, "I know her!"
Shen Wenxing rose, glanced at him, and beckoned him to co forward and speak.
Before him, Lu Cong and the others, witnessing this, showed a flash of envy in their eyes but still cupped their hands, saying, "Brother Chen, congratulations."
Chen Sanxing, with a smug look, cupped his hands back to them.
"Make way, please make way."
He squeezed out from behind them and quickly ascended the stone steps, coming forward.
After carefully examining the girl to ensure he didn’t mistake her identity, he respectfully cupped his hands to Shen Wenxing, saying, "Young Master, this is Chen Youran, the young daughter of Chen Zaicheng from our Xiu Mountain Village, seven years old."
Shen Wenxing nodded slightly.
Chen Sanxing had already realized that the talented but unluckily impoverished Scholar Chen might finally have a fortunate turn.
Imdiately, he squatted down with a laugh, saying, "Youran, do you recognize old ?"
"By rank, your father calls Seventh Uncle; you should call Seventh Grandpa."
The little girl appeared confused, still remaining silent.
Chen Sanxing continued, "Was it your father who brought you here?"
Chen Youran shook her head slightly, her voice like a mosquito, saying, "Mother brought here... Father went to town to sell his writings."
"Alright." Seeing Chen Sanxing continuing to forge connections, Shen Wenxing interrupted, saying to Chen Youran, "Stand behind ."
"Clan Leader Chen, please bring the girl’s mother here later."
Chen Sanxing stood up, cupped his hands, and withdrew obediently.
"Continue!"
Huang Qi shouted, and those at the bottom of the mountain continued to step forward.
After a long screening process, nearing the end, Huang Qi discovered another boy around eleven or twelve suspected of having a Spirit Root.
After thorough confirmation, they determined the boy had the Fire Elent Spirit Root.
The boy wasn’t as timid as Chu Youran; faced with Shen Wenxing’s inquiry, he directly provided his na.
"Young Master, I’m from Black Stone Village, my na is Shi Miao."
"My father’s surna is Shi, and my mother’s surna is Miao."
Shen Wenxing, satisfied, nodded and let him stand behind, alongside Chen Youran.
"It’s getting dark; we need to hurry up."
Huang Qingzhou spoke, and the three increased their speed slightly.
Soon, all the children were screened.
Eventually, among nearly three thousand children from Yunshui Town, only Chen Youran and Shi Miao were found with Spirit Roots as Immortal Seedlings.
The other children were gradually led down the mountain by the stewards.
Shen Wenxing brought Shi Miao and his father, along with Chen Youran and her mother, inside the ancestral hall.
"From today, the two will stay on the mountain for cultivation; all their needs are the responsibility of the Shen Family."
"From today, your families will each be awarded fifty taels of silver, exempt from taxes, and if these children achieve success in their cultivation, the Shen Family will provide further rewards."
The two, upon hearing, excitedly cupped their hands: "Thank you, Young Master!"
Shen Wenxing waved his hand, saying, "No need for such courtesy, go back."
After sending them away, Shen Wenxing instructed Zhao Jinhua to arrange accommodations for the two, while preparing to return ho and inform his father of the news.
On the way back to the manor from the ancestral hall, Shen Wenxing suddenly noticed an elder in a gray-blue robe, with white hair and beard, walking at a slow pace from the foot of the mountain.
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