Along the way, Bi Xinya talked without pause, her voice bright and restless as she jumped from one topic to another. Lin Yuan listened at first, but before long his attention drifted, drawn instead to the pendant resting quietly against his chest.
The pendant looked ordinary, yet the moment it touched his skin, he felt a faint, invisible barrier form around his body. It was subtle, but unmistakable, like a thin layer separating him from the cold air. The biting chill that had always clung to him faded, replaced by a gentle warmth that spread slowly through his limbs.
So this is spiritual energy… the power of this world?
Spiritual energy was something every temple child had heard of countless times, yet almost none truly understood it. The elders described it as the breath of the world, a force hidden within mountains, rivers, wind, and all living things. Some called it the pulse of existence itself, while others claimed it was a formless mist drifting silently between heaven and earth.
Most mortals would live their entire lives without ever sensing it. Lin Yuan had never expected to be any different, not with a body that struggled even with the simplest tasks. The idea of perceiving something so abstract had always felt distant, almost laughable.
But now… something had changed.
Bi Xinya suddenly turned back, her brows furrowing in annoyance. "Are you even listening? I said Su Tianya's brother is going too!"
Lin Yuan blinked, pulled back from his thoughts, and offered a small, apologetic smile. "Sorry… I was thinking."
She stared at him suspiciously for a moment before snorting and continuing forward. "You always are. One day you'll think yourself into a grave."
Lin Yuan didn't reply, but his fingers brushed the pendant again. A faint, quiet satisfaction rose within him, something he hadn't felt in a long time. For once, his body wasn't betraying him.
They passed the old stone well and the row of clay houses lining the temple's outer path. Normally, by this point, his teeth would already be chattering uncontrollably, yet today his steps felt steady and light.
He kept touching the pendant, unable to stop himself.
"…Don't play with it too much," Bi Xinya muttered without turning around. "It isn't a toy."
"I know," Lin Yuan replied calmly. "I'm just… getting used to it."
A group of children ran past them, laughing loudly, but their pace slowed when they noticed him. Surprise flickered across their faces, followed quickly by something sharper.
"That sick boy is going too?"
"Huh, I thought he couldn't even leave his courtyard."
Lin Yuan lowered his gaze slightly, his expression unchanged. He had long grown accustomed to such words, and among all the children in the temple, he was indeed the weakest.
Bi Xinya abruptly stopped and turned, her eyes sharp with anger. "Say that again and I'll break your teeth."
The boys froze for a moment, then quickly ran off, unwilling to test her temper.
"You didn't have to do that," Lin Yuan said quietly.
"I wasn't doing it for you," Bi Xinya huffed. "I just hate idiots."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly. He understood her well enough to know that was simply how she expressed concern.
They continued along the narrow path winding toward the temple courtyard. The closer they got, the louder the sounds became—voices, footsteps, the low hum of gathering people.
Bi Xinya quickened her pace, glancing ahead. "We're almost late."
The temple courtyard had never felt so vast. Children clustered in groups, whispering nervously or laughing too loudly to hide their unease. Parents stood behind them, adjusting coats, smoothing hair, offering quiet encouragement.
At the center stood the High Priest, Elder Chen Kuo, his wooden staff resting firmly in his hand. His presence alone seemed to steady the entire courtyard, like a pillar that held everything in place.
Lin Yuan paused briefly at the entrance, his steps slowing.
Bi Xinya noticed immediately and nudged him forward. "Don't freeze now. It's just a test."
He didn't respond. He could feel the weight of countless gazes falling on him—curious, dismissive, and filled with quiet pity.
Lowering his head, he stepped inside.
"Line up, children," Elder Chen Kuo called out, his voice firm and clear. "Those who have reached nine winters, step onto the stone path."
Bi Xinya joined the line without hesitation, her posture straight and confident. Lin Yuan followed behind her, his hands tucked calmly within his sleeves.
"Why's he here? He'll faint before touching the stone…"
"Does he even have a spiritual root?"
"He's probably Barren."
Bi Xinya started to turn, but Lin Yuan shook his head slightly. "Let it go."
She clicked her tongue but remained silent, though her eyes still burned with irritation.
Elder Chen Kuo lifted a circular jade disk with both hands. The moment it rose into the light, faint patterns stirred across its surface, like veins awakening beneath stone.
"For those who have not heard this clearly before," he said, "today's test consists of two stages."
The courtyard quieted almost instantly.
"First, we measure the spiritual root."
A low hum spread from the artifact, resonating faintly with every person present.
"The spiritual root determines your affinity with spiritual energy," he continued. "It governs how easily you can sense, absorb, and circulate it."
He raised his hand slightly.
"There are five grades."
"Heavenly."
"Origin."
"Imperial."
"Divine."
"Primordial."
A subtle tension spread through the crowd.
"Most of you will possess a Heavenly root," Chen Kuo said calmly. "That is the foundation of ordinary cultivators."
"Origin roots are rare. They allow smoother flow and faster absorption."
He paused.
"As for the higher grades… those belong to legends."
A few nervous chuckles broke out, easing the tension slightly.
"When you place your hands upon this jade, it will resonate with your root."
He gestured forward.
The first child stepped up and placed both hands on the disk. Pale ripples spread outward, faint and uneven.
"Heavenly root."
One after another, the same result repeated.
"Heavenly."
"Heavenly."
"Heavenly."
The pattern continued, predictable and steady, just as the elder had said.
Then—
"Bi Xinya."
She stepped forward immediately, chin slightly raised, confidence written all over her face.
"Watch carefully," she muttered under her breath as she passed Lin Yuan.
Her hands touched the jade.
For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then—
The entire surface brightened.
Instead of scattered ripples, the light gathered inward, forming smooth, flowing streams that spread across the disk like a calm river. The glow was deep, steady, and unmistakably different.
"Origin root."