As the big doors of the hall closed behind him with a loud sound, Ese walked down the wide stairs made of white stone. Each step echoed in the quiet mountain air. The wind brushed his robes, but his face stayed calm and quiet. His thoughts were already far away.
His mother had given him strict orders, with a cold look on her face.
She wasn't always like this.
Ese remembered when his mother, Xia Wenweng, used to smile more. She used to sing to him softly and hold his little hand. But everything changed when his father went missing. Since then, she had become serious and cold—more like a leader than a mother.
Ese didn't blame her.
He understood what it was like to be alone.
He had always been alone—both in this life and the one before.
That's right. Ese was not from this world. He had lived a whole life before—one filled with computers, books, and quiet days spent by himself. People called him a geek. He didn't mind. He died quietly in that world, and woke up again in this one—as a baby with all his memories still inside him.
Everything felt new at first. Being born again was strange. But he got used to it. He liked quiet places. He didn't care about talking to others.
His small house in the inner sect was simple and silent—just the way he liked it. He opened the door, walked inside, and lay on his bed made of straw and cloth. Tomorrow was the spiritual root test.
The Root-Reading Jade would show what kind of future he had.
At least, that's what everyone else believed.
---
The next morning was cool and foggy. Ese washed himself with cold water from the spring, dressed in clean robes, and walked alone to the sect's dining hall. He sat in a corner and ate a simple meal by himself.
He liked the quiet.
After eating, he went to the big stone stadium built into the mountain. That's where the spiritual root testing would happen. The place was already full of noise and people.
A long line of students stood at the gate. Sect brothers were checking each person's ID tablet.
When it was Ese's turn, the disciple held out his hand.
"Your tablet," he said.
Ese gave it silently.
After looking at it, the brother nodded. "You may go in."
Ese walked into the big hall. His eyes widened a little. The stadium was huge, with many seats going up in rows. In the middle was a stone platform. Above it floated a glowing jade stone.
The Root-Reading Jade.
Other young students were already there. Some looked nervous. Some looked excited. Many had brought their parents—mothers, fathers, and elders in long robes.
Ese quietly found a seat near the back. No one really noticed him.
Then, a thin elder in gray robes stepped onto the stage. He looked plain and spoke in a soft voice:
"Let the Root Appraisal Ceremony begin."
Even though he spoke quietly, everyone heard him clearly.
A boy sitting near Ese whispered, "How can we hear him? He's barely talking."
Another replied, "That's qi voice. You can use it when you start cultivating."
The students around them gasped softly. It was like magic to them.
But Ese didn't say anything. His eyes stayed on the floating jade.Spiritual roots were what made a person able to cultivate. They were divided into five main grades: Human Grade, Earth Grade, Sky Grade, Heaven Grade, and the rarest of all—Celestial Grade. Each grade was also split into Low, Mid, High, and Top Tier.
The better your spiritual root, the faster and stronger you could become.
Anyone with a spiritual root was allowed to join the sect. But there was one strict rule: if you couldn't break through from the Body Cultivation stage to the Qi Refining stage within three years, you would have to leave the sect and return to the mortal world—or spend the rest of your life as a servant in the sect. There were no second chances.
The elder stood on the stage, holding a long scroll. His voice, calm but powerful, echoed through the hall as he began calling names.
One by one, the young disciples stepped forward.
"Number 77," the elder called out. "Human grade, mid-tier spiritual root. Next!"
The crowd clapped lightly. Having a spiritual root, even a human one, meant the person could become a cultivator.
"Number 97," the elder announced a moment later. He paused. "No spiritual root detected. Step aside."
A quiet hush fell over the crowd. The boy lowered his head and walked away with shaking steps. Without a spiritual root, he couldn't cultivate. His dream ended before it began.
The ceremony continued.
Some were happy, some disappointed. Most had average results.
Then—
"Number 114," the elder called.
Ese's heart thumped. That was his number.
He stood up from his seat and walked toward the stage. The crowd turned their eyes to him, some whispering. After all, he was the son of the Sect Leader.
As he stepped onto the platform, he looked up at the floating jade—The Root-Reading Jade. It shimmered softly, waiting for him to place his hand.