Top floor of Baiyu City.

Zheng Yi sat on the Dragon Throne, watching with great interest the enormous procession snaking its way toward him from the distance.

The Spirit Testing Array was located in the square in front of Baiyu City, about twenty meters long and five meters wide.

As long as the participants stepped into the array, those with a Spirit Root would exhibit a reaction.

At that time, Tianxingzi and Xuan Jizi, who controlled the array, would immediately sense it.

To Zheng Yi's left sat Empress Lu Lin'er.

To the right were Noble Consorts Cui Xiabing and Xu Qingluan.

As for Noble Consort Yang Huan, she hadn't participated in such activities for several years.

Next were Yue Chan, Zhuang Yuheng, Yang Liuqing, Jie'er, Yu'er, and others.

Beside Jie'er and Yu'er sat Tianxingzi's granddaughter Su Xi.

It seemed she was living well in the Imperial Palace, as her originally small face had turned into a chubby one, looking quite adorable.

After all, they were all cultivators and took great interest in such matters.

"Hehehe..."

"Come catch me!"

"Sister, slow down, chase Sister..."

"Prince, be careful..."

On another side, a dozen or so nannies and palace maids were playing with the princesses and princes.

Zheng Yuxia, Zheng Yuhuan, and others were already around eight years old, looking like carved jade and quite adorable.

The eldest prince, Zheng Chengji, was already over four years old, and most of the others were around two or three years old, having a great time playing with their siblings.

"Your Majesty~!"

Lu Lin'er quietly asked, "Ji'er is almost five. Would it be possible to test his Spirit Root?"

Cui Xiabing, sitting to the side, said, "Empress, according to Cultivation Realm knowledge, the wisp of Innate Qi within a mortal dissipates around five years of age, at which time the Spirit Root reveals itself."

"Testing now would likely yield no results."

"Is that so?"

Lu Lin'er's charming face was full of doubt, and she said in curiosity, "It's only a few months' difference at most..."

Cui Xiabing smiled and said, "If my elder sister insists, after this Spirit Testing Ceremony concludes, when testing the other princesses, I will also test Ji'er for you, how about that?"

"Thank you, younger sister."

Lu Lin'er smiled and said, "Yuhuan also has a Spirit Root, and she has successfully introduced Qi into the body; she is already a third-layer Qi Cultivator now."

"If Ji'er also possesses a Spirit Root, and both siblings stay by Your Majesty's side, how wonderful that would be~"

Zheng Yi frowned and said, "If Ji'er possesses a Spirit Root, it would indeed be a good thing for our Royal Family."

"But..."

He then looked to his right, where Zheng Yuhuan was the most playful among the dozen princes and princesses.

At this moment, she was riding on a eunuch and playing war games with her other siblings, having a blast.

"Yuhuan has been a third-layer Qi Cultivator since she was five, but it's been over three years already, how is she still only in the third layer?"

"Yuyao, who is the same age as Yuhuan, is only a few months older, yet Yuyao is already at the sixth layer!"

"How exactly are you educating the child?"

Yes.

Zheng Yi's eldest daughter, Zheng Yuyao, was now already a sixth-layer Qi Cultivator!

Her rate of cultivation was faster than his!

After all, with Earth and Wood dual attributes and a top-grade Spirit Root...

And being in the Imperial Palace filled with abundant Spiritual Qi, she truly had remarkable talent!

As for Zheng Yuhuan, although she had Fire, Gold, and Earth attributes, theoretically, if she practiced diligently, her speed shouldn't be much slower than Zheng Yuyao's.

Unfortunately, until now, Zheng Yuhuan's cultivation remained at the third layer of Qi Cultivation.

One must admit... It's still too slow!

Lu Lin'er hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, I was wrong."

"I just thought Yuhuan was still young and a bit playful... It won't happen again; in the future, I'll strictly supervise Yuhuan's practice..."

Zheng Yi said sternly, "She's already eight, not that young."

"Here's what we'll do: after this Spirit Testing Ceremony, I've already had a palace built called 'Yuelong Palace.'

"At that time, all children possessing Spirit Roots will practice there, instructed by Tianxingzi and Xuan Jizi."

"From now on, Yuhuan will attend classes there."

"Your Majesty..." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Hmm?"

"I will obey!"

Lu Lin'er glanced in Yuhuan's direction, her heart filled with tenderness.

At this moment, Tianxingzi approached.

"Your Majesty."

"Someone, get a seat for him."

"No need, Your Majesty, I just have a few words, then I'll go—the Spirit Testing Array can't be left unattended."

"Very well, what is the issue at hand?"

"It concerns the Heart Inquiry Array."

Tianxingzi said, "Thousands of years ago, when sects in the Cultivation Realm opened their doors to recruit disciples, they would set up a Heart Inquiry Array or similar tests."

"So the disciples selected this way, whether in cultivation or in their pursuit of the Dao, are very stable. Why now..."

Zheng Yi smiled gently and said, "Is the Daoist Priest asking why I do not set up a Heart Inquiry Array?"

"Yes..."

"The people of Great Yu are all my subjects; how could I look down upon them?"

Zheng Yi said, "Moreover, the celestial path is blocked now, and no one ascends anymore."

"But presently, it is fate that only the Capital Region of Great Yu is rich in Spiritual Qi. I must return this gift to my people."

"Heart Inquiry, Heart Inquiry... It questions the people's desire for the Dao, but it's also about my concern for the people, is it not?"

"But Your Majesty..."

"Say no more, Daoist Priest." Zheng Yi said, "This Spirit Testing Ceremony, no Heart Inquiry will be set."

"At least, not now."

"Let's wait until we have more Great Yu Cultivators, then we can implement Heart Inquiry."

"This... I will obey."

"Spirit Root!"

At this moment, Xuan Jizi, who was controlling the Spirit Testing Array from afar, suddenly exclaimed, catching everyone's attention.

She made a gesture with one hand, and a piece of cloth flew out from her storage bag, descending below.

Even Zheng Yi looked over in surprise.

So quickly detected the spirit root?!

Tianxingzi also quickly turned around and walked over.

Soon, Xuan Jizi wrapped a young boy in his arms and flew up to the high platform.

"Wah wah wah..."

A burst of crying came, and the child actually started wailing, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

"Who's crying over there!"

Suddenly, Zheng Yuhuan rushed over with people, wide-eyed at the still crying little boy, teasingly saying, "Shame, shame! You're so big and still crying, haha..."

The little boy suddenly froze, staring dumbly at the dazzling Zheng Yuhuan, not knowing what to say.

"Sister, come play with us~"

"Sister, who is he?"

"I don't know him! But he's been crying here all the time, really annoying~"

The little boy froze again.

One after another, exquisitely carved little girls appeared beside him, and the fear he originally felt turned into inferiority. He instinctively pinched the hem of his clothes, lowered his head, and only dared to glance at Zheng Yuhuan and the others with his eyes.

"Alright, bring him over."

Zheng Yi commanded, and Zheng Yuhuan turned around and ran.

"Hmph! No fun~!"

The little boy was brought over by Chen Liancang, and the Spirit Testing Ceremony continued.

Zheng Yi looked at the little boy and comforted, "Little brother, don't be nervous. Tell me, what is your name? Where do you live? What do your parents do?"

"I, I... Greetings to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long live..."

In his excitement, the little boy knelt on the ground and shouted loudly.

"Oh? You know I am the Emperor?"

"Ye-yes!"

The boy quickly said, "My house even has a portrait of Your Majesty. Before every meal, my father and mother bow to you!"

"Oh?"

Zheng Yi became interested, "Are your parents workers in my factory?"

"Ye-yes!"

The boy quickly said, "Both my parents work at the second glass factory. My dad said, the food we eat, the house we live in, is all given by Your Majesty, and we could never repay your kindness..."

"Hahaha..."

Before the boy could finish speaking, Zheng Yi burst into laughter.

This little boy is clearly influenced by his parents.

But, well... it's a good thing.

"What's your name? And your parents' names?"

"I, I'm called Shi Xiaofeng."

Shi Xiaofeng said in a low voice, "My dad's name is Shi Daniu, and my mom, my mom, I think is called Cai Niang~"

"Go, bring his parents here."

"Yes!"

The Shadow Guard quickly left, while Zheng Yi instructed, "Shi Xiaofeng, right? You stay to the side for now, and wait for the other brothers and sisters, okay?"

"Al-alright..."

Shi Xiaofeng quickly stood up, instinctively looking towards where Zheng Yuhuan and others were playing.

"Go, let him play with the princesses and princes."

Shi Xiaofeng's face suddenly turned excited, and a palace maid whispered, "Understood!"

Tianxingzi curiously asked, "Your Majesty, why not test his spirit root attribute?"

"Let's wait for everyone to finish testing."

"Yes!"

The testing continued, as one team after another walked across the square under Baiyu City.

More than ninety-nine percent of the people had no spirit root, and their expressions couldn't help but turn somber.

Some were unwilling to leave, hoping to stay in the array a few seconds longer, wishing for a reaction.

These people were mostly royal relatives and members of prominent clans.

Usually, they acted recklessly in the capital, fearing no one.

But now, this was the Imperial Palace!

Under the urging of numerous Imperial Guards and Guards, these people were all driven out.

Just then, amidst the authentic hair in the square before Baiyu City, cries of surprise rang out.

"Glowing!"

"It's glowing!"

"Spirit root! This person also has a spirit root!"

With a 'wah,' the crowd surged again, many looking in astonishment at a young man within the array.

Beside him, several brocade-clad young men also opened their mouths in shock.

"Xu, Xu Fengxiong! You, you really have a spirit root!"

"Damn! It's Xu Fengxiong! Someone from the Xu Family!"

"The Xu Family is going to prosper again! Xu Mujun was just one, now there's another Xu Fengxiong with a spirit root!"

The chaos within the array quickly caught the attention of Tianxingzi and Xuan Jizi on Baiyu City.

Tianxingzi formed a seal with one hand, and a leaf-shaped flying magical artifact descended suddenly, stopping above Xu Fengxiong.

"Young man, come aboard."

Amidst the envious gazes of many peers, Xu Fengxiong furrowed his brow slightly, but then shook his head, tapped the ground with one foot, quickly leaped up, and steadily landed on the leaf-flying ship.

The flying ship quickly took off, bringing Xu Fengxiong to the high platform.

"Your humble servant Xu Fengxiong, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Oh?"

Zheng Yi looked at Xu Fengxiong with interest, asking, "Do you hold an official position?"

Xu Fengxiong hesitated and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I hold the position of Brave Cavalry Captain in the Imperial Guard."

"Hmm?"

Zheng Yi frowned and said, "Brave Cavalry Captain? That's a position for elite cavalry in the army. How can you possibly hold such a position at under sixteen?"

Xu Fengxiong said helplessly, "Your Majesty, your humble servant is Xu Fengxiong."

"Xu Mujun is my granduncle."

Zheng Yi said indifferently, "I see..."