120,000 people!

Zheng Yi never imagined that there could be so many young people aged 5-16 in the Capital Region.

But upon reconsideration, he quickly understood why.

For the past decade or so, Great Yu has been full of unrest, with millions of refugees.

Among these millions, most are healthy adult men and women.

A few of them have joined Zheng Yi's various factories, serving Great Yu and Zheng Yi.

For these refugees, Zheng Yi provides not only housing, food, and aid but even jobs, allowing them to earn wages.

Such treatment is considered a huge blessing for them.

Now, the industrial park hosts over 200,000 workers, even forming two large satellite towns outside the Capital City.

Almost every home has a statue of Zheng Yi, enough to call him a living Buddha for the masses!

And among the millions of refugees, Zheng Yi has the most loyal supporters.

Most of the new army's soldiers come from them, possessing an inherent loyalty to Zheng Yi.

Thus, it was not surprising to find 120,000 young people aged 5-16 among these refugees.

Zheng Yi had initially planned for more. If he had postponed the date for the Spirit Testing Ceremony to allow the news to spread further,

more than 120,000 would have come to the Capital City to participate in the ceremony!

Zheng Yi hesitated, asking, "With so many people, do we have enough testers?"

According to Zheng Yi's plan, his cultivators would be divided into two groups to test the participants.

Chen Liancang and Tianxingzi would test the males.

While Xuan Jizi and Cui Xiabing would test the females.

This arrangement ensures the identities and safety of Cui Xiabing and the others.

As they are Zheng Yi's consorts, public appearances are not advisable.

Moreover, this method has another advantage.

Cui Xiabing and others can notice females with exceptional root bone, talent, and especially appearance and figure, leaving them for the harem.

Whether they are titled as consorts will be Zheng Yi's decision.

But unexpectedly, there were suddenly 120,000 people.

Each person must test over 10,000 people!

This...

Might take a long time to complete.

If it doesn't work, perhaps Cui Xiabing and a few consorts should also help with the male group testing?

Chen Liancang immediately said, "Your Majesty need not worry; Daoist Master Tianxingzi has a solution."

"Oh? What solution?"

"As Daoist Master Tianxingzi said, he can set up a Spirit Testing Array. Any mortal passing through it can be tested for a Spirit Root."

Chen Liancang continued, "Unfortunately, according to Tianxingzi, he only has five Spirit Stones, which can only sustain the array for five hours."

"Five hours is enough to test 100,000 people."

"The remaining 20,000 will be tested by us personally."

"Spirit Stones?"

Zheng Yi was stirred. With a flick of his hand, ten Spirit Stones appeared, which he threw to Chen Liancang.

"These are ten Low-grade Spirit Stones; they are all for Daoist Master Tianxingzi."

"Let him set up the array properly, take his time with the testing, and ensure no mistakes are made."

"S-S-Spirit Stones!"

Chen Liancang was a bit surprised but still respectfully said, "O-Old servant obeys!"

He had no clue where Zheng Yi got these ten Spirit Stones, but his years in the Shadow Guard made him utterly loyal to Zheng Yi.

He didn't care where the Spirit Stones came from, as long as he could fulfill Zheng Yi's orders faithfully.

Putting aside how shocked Tianxingzi was upon seeing these ten Spirit Stones, as the Spirit Testing Ceremony began, the Taihe Sect gates in the Imperial Palace opened, and the children waiting for the ceremony entered in turn.

Guided by the Imperial Guards, they followed a passage forward.

The Spirit Testing Array was set up on the plaza outside Baiyu City.

Zheng Yi, sitting atop Baiyu City, could see the crowd below clearly.

As the participants entered through the Taihe Sect gate, they circled Baiyu City and exited through the West Gate, completing the ceremony silently.

Anyone bearing a Spirit Root could be seen clearly by Zheng Yi and others atop Baiyu City.

"Wow... this, this is the Imperial Palace!"

"So, so big!"

"So majestic...!"

Countless people were astonished as the Taihe Sect slowly opened, utterly amazed.

Within the Taihe Sect, Liu Cheng'en stood at the door, imposing as he said, "All participants in the Spirit Testing Ceremony, please follow the guidance and proceed forward without whispering or silently discussing..."

Numerous notices and arrows lined the pathway, all guiding participants forward.

Despite Liu Cheng'en repeatedly instructing them not to whisper or discuss quietly, the excited crowd couldn't be entirely quiet, and discussions arose intermittently.

For this Spirit Testing, every ten people formed a line, guided forward by dedicated eunuchs.

Even the five- or six-year-old children obediently stood in line.

After all, during the past month, their parents and relatives repeatedly instructed them, and the precocious children knew what to do.

First to enter were the boys.

Rows of five- or six-year-old children entered consecutively.

Followed by children around ten and even teens of fourteen or fifteen.

They looked around with curious, wide eyes.

Ninety-nine percent of these people might be entering the Imperial Palace for the first and last time in their lifetime!

"Spirit Testing, Immortal Cultivation...!"

In the crowd, countless youths looked up towards Baiyu City, filled with excitement.

Even their steps quickened unconsciously.

"My elders said that those among mortals with a Spirit Root are one in ten thousand! Among so many of us, I wonder how many will succeed?"

In the crowd, a group of obviously noble youths walked together, discussing in low voices.

They were adorned with gold and silver, their breath long and deep, clearly possessing extraordinary martial arts internal power.

There were also those who were elegant, but their steps were unsteady, resembling scholars.

"I think our Young Master Xu has the best chance, don't you all agree?"

"Hahaha, I agree too!"

"Young Master Xu, I've already reserved Huanghe Tower today, could you do me the honor?"

A few young people were constantly flattering one among them, their smiles exceptionally bright.

And the person receiving their flattery was a young man with resolute eyes.

He had sword-like eyebrows and a radiant gaze, clearly possessed of superior internal power.

Unlike the others, he was not wearing a silk robe but a black training outfit, making his stature even more upright.

Xu Fengxiong, grandson of the fourth house of the Xu Family, also the grandnephew of Xu Mujun, and the nephew of Xu Qingluan.

With Xu Mujun's successive victories in the southern wars and his 'self-defaming' actions, he brought many benefits and honors to the Xu Family.

Of course, it also attracted countless criticisms and hostility.

The majority of the Xu Clan members were dazzled by Xu Mujun's achievements, and with Zheng Yi's indulgence, most became arrogant and domineering.

Indulgence in pleasure was minor, but many clan members were lazy, unpractical, and licentious, causing many troubles for the city's security.

Yet under the renown of Xu Mujun and Zheng Yi's deliberate indulgence, no officials dared to interfere.

Even if there were grievances brought to the Chief Magistrate of the Capital, they usually resulted in nothing more than appeasement.

This made the Xu Family increasingly arrogant and self-important, even daring to challenge royal relatives.

A few months ago, an incident occurred where a Xu Family youth named 'Xu Zhanbing,' in a drunken frenzy, accidentally killed a passerby.

This caused a great uproar at the time, with many witnesses and undeniable evidence.

But in the end...

The victim's family dropped the charges, and the Chief Magistrate of the Capital was left helpless.

The youth was sentenced to exile in Nanyue, and disappeared halfway there.

Just days ago, Xu Zhanbing was seen again in the Capital, but he vanished quickly.

The Xu Family's reputation in the Capital grew increasingly polarizing.

Those who admired them, truly admired them.

But those who despised them, despised them even more.

Yet, among the Xu Clan, there were still clear-headed individuals.

Such as the young Xu Fengxiong before them!

Only fifteen years old, he was already a first-grade powerhouse, progressing swiftly and known as the 'Xu Family's Young Phoenix,' expected to carry the future of the Xu Family.

Even Zheng Yi had occasionally heard of his reputation.

In response to the praises around him, Xu Fengxiong said calmly, "My life's goal is to become someone like Uncle Grandaunt, to traverse battlefields and fight for the nation."

"If it weren't for the constant pressure from the clan and even Aunt's personal persuasion, I wouldn't have come to this Spirit Testing Ceremony!"

His words drew more admiration from the crowd.

"Ah...!"

Suddenly, a cry of surprise was heard.

A young noble dressed in fine clothing had walked too quickly and accidentally stepped on a child ahead, causing the child to cry out immediately.

"Damn dog, don't block the way! Didn't you see there are people behind us!"

The young noble cursed immediately, and Xu Fengxiong frowned as he glanced over.

Lu Yijun, a member of the Lu Clan.

The child who was stepped on quickly apologized, his eyes red from crying.

"S-sorry, young master, it stopped suddenly ahead, I-I couldn't help it."

"Oh? It stopped ahead?"

"What's going on?"

The group exchanged glances, craning their necks to look ahead.

Lu Yijun also hastily said, "Watch your step in front of the young master, block the way again, and I won't let you off."

"Y-yes, young master..."

Xu Fengxiong cast another glance and then ignored it, it's just commoners, no need to offend the Lu Family over this.

From afar, the procession was already near Baiyu City, a colorful ribbon suddenly fluttered down from Baiyu City into the crowd.

"Wow...!"

This sudden change stunned countless people.

"What, what is that?"

"An immortal! It's an immortal!"

"Look! There's someone tied to that ribbon!"

"It's a child!"

"A spirit root! He has a spirit root!"

"My god... someone actually has a spirit root!"

"It's a child!"

A chorus of exclamations arose, Xu Fengxiong also widened his eyes.

This...

Capturing someone out of thin air?

Is this what an immortal cultivator can do?

Compared to Uncle Grandaunt's innate power, how would this measure?

At the end of the ribbon, a little boy was indeed entangled.

Amidst the boy's panicked cries, he was swiftly brought back up to Baiyu City.

Moments later, a command resounded.

"The Spirit Testing Ceremony, continue."

The procession continued forward, but nearly everyone was no longer focused there, all eagerly watching the top of Baiyu City, hoping the ribbon would appear again.

"Spirit root?"

"That child has a spirit root!"