After two months of travelling, Gregory has safely guided Jun and Minnie back to the Thousand Pill Pavilion, and along their journey he shared knowledge and tips that the two children will find useful during their cultivation.
Gregory is quite attentive and approachable to Jun and Minnie since successfully recruiting them will yield him benefits as well, and if they prove to be good seedlings worthy of attention from the pavilion, he will receive even more. That is why he answered all questions of the two.
And now that they are here, he guided them to the cultivator in charge of administration of new members.
"You two wait here for a bit." Gregory left Jun and Minnie while he talked to the administrator.
When he came back, he was now holding the identity token for Jun and Minnie.
"Take this and pass through that door; someone will guide you inside," Gregory instructed.
"You will not come with us, senior?" Jun asked.
"Unfortunately no, since I have a lot of things to do and I need to report to my superior as well."
"Is that so?" Minnie said.
"I wish you two good luck," Gregory said and turned around to leave.
"Thank you very much, senior," Jun and Minnie expressed their gratitude at the same time.
After saying their thanks, they passed through the door, and what welcomed them was an open square filled with kids their age.
The two observed their surroundings, checking out the other kids; some appear shy and scared, while the others show off a confident aura.
After a few moments a man in his 40s appeared.
"Listen, everyone."
All the kids in the square turned their attention to the man speaking.
"I welcome you all to the Thousand Pill Pavilion."
Everyone cheered loudly while the man watched with a smile on his face, but it was not a smile of happiness but of amusement.
"But that does not mean it will be smooth sailing from now on. This is not even the starting point. Inside the pavilion, you all are nothing but ants and not someone important. Your bloodline and your families wealth and fame do not matter inside; only strength does, so work hard and survive," the man finished his speech while everyone was still contemplating his words. Jun, who was quite bright, already got the hang of it, and with Gregory's lessons as they traveled, he got the gist of it.
Jun looked at his side, and he saw Minnie with a determined expression.
After the man's speech, several young cultivators aged 14 to 16 appeared and guided the Jun and the others in groups of twenty; since he is close to Minnie, they are in the same group.
"Good day, everyone. My name is Kelly, and I will guide you to the spirit root testing area." The girl named Kenny quickly introduced herself, and she then walked ahead, while Jun and the rest followed her lead.
Not long after, they arrived in the testing area. It is just a normal room with a crystal ball the size of an adult head at the center and a few old men.
"Elders, I brought the new recruits." Kelly bowed towards the old men.
These old men are some of the elders of the Thousand Pill Pavilion, which represents the three main peaks and the other departments.
Every testing area has elders representing different peaks and departments; it is arranged like this so that whenever someone has a spirit root suitable for their respective peaks and department, they can invite them to their ranks.
"The first one, please step forward," the elder in charge of the testing urged the first kid. The kid was quite nervous, and this made the elder laugh a little.
"Do not be scared; you all are already a part of the Pavilion since you possess a spirit root. This test is to determine the element of your spirit root and which peak or department you will belong to."
After the elder explained, everyone calmed and became eager to get tested.
The first kid to get tested placed his hand on the crystal ball, and after a few moments it glowed. A yellow color, then gray, then red, and finally green.
'A low-level spirit root,' said Jun in his mind. He already has an idea about the test since Gregory explained it to them; he also explained the different levels of spirit roots.
Spirit roots that have four and five elements are low level, and those who have them will have a slower cultivation and will have a hard time progressing in their cultivation training.
The elder, without expression, said.
"four element spiritual root, with high purity in earth and metal elements and a minor purity of fire and wind"
The representative elders started to discuss amongst themselves.
And after a few moments an elder called out to the boy.
"Come here, boy. From now on you are a member of the recruitment department." The boy went behind the elder with a smile on his face.
The next kid came up eagerly.
The crystal ball glowed with five colors; he was then recruited by an elder from the procurement department.
One after another the kids get tested, but none of them possess a remarkable spirit root; they either have four- or five-element spirit roots.
Until Minnie gets tested, and the crystal ball glows with three colors, this surprises the elders.
"A high purity in the fire and wind elements and minor purity in the wood element," the elder in charge of the test announced.
The result made the other elders frown while the others beamed.
"She is suited for my protector peak; with her fire and wind element, she can produce destructive flames if guided properly."
"She is obviously the most suited as an alchemist, an elder argued"
The other interested elders started a heated debate, while Jun stares at Minnie in shock; he never imagined that a kid his age and from the same village would be fought over by these esteemed cultivators.
Gregory mentioned to them that those with a three-element spirit root and above are greatly nurtured by the Pavilion.
He could only imagine how Minnie's life would change.
After a few rounds of discussion, it is decided that she will join the Alchemy Peak.
Which is also the best peak; not only do they boast great fame and authority, but they are also the richest since spirit pills are consumables that are high in demand, so new alchemists are very much welcomed.
Jun could only hope that he also possessed a three-element spirit root.
After a few rounds of testing, no one as remarkable as Minnie appeared, and it is now time for Jun to be tested.
He quickly walked up to the crystal ball.
"Place your hand," the elder said.
Jun did as instructed.
A few moments later the crystal ball glowed, but to Jun's disappointment he had a four-element spirit root.
Minnie gave him a smile and an encouraging look; Jun smiled back at her.
"High purity in the wood and water elements and minor purity in the earth and wind elements," announced the elder.
The other elders discussed, and it seems like they are about to make a decision when an elder from one of the three main peaks spoke.
"I will take this boy," the elder said.
"Elder Lucille, are you sure? This boy has four-element spirit roots," one elder said.
"Of course I'm sure; his spirit root element is greatly suited for my Spirit Garden, so why shouldn't I take him in? Hahahahahahah," the elder from the Spirit Garden explained, then laughed freely.
The other elders did not ask any more questions, and the testing proceeded.
After the final kid's test,
Jun and the rest followed the elders back to their new home.