Chapter 174: A Spark of Hope

Chapter 174: A Spark of Hope

Time seems to stretch abnormally as the old cultivator womans and my eyes lock onto each other.

I quickly remember in this culture, staring so intently at your elders and not moving your eyes away is exceptionally rude.

By this time, shes already moved her eyes away, and the damage is done. I can see the slight shaking of her head before she does so. She seems to be quite magnanimous for the standard of cultivators in this world.

That would make sense, as something horrible would have already happened to me when I first came here, if she hadnt had that type of personality. I really was placed in a good position when I got here.

If I remember correctly, her name should be Senior Song.

Without skipping a beat, she looks out towards the crowd of people here and everyone falls silent as a subtle pressure lies on them. It wasnt spiritual pressure, but just the one that comes up with people when they know someone important is about to speak.

The cultivator near her steps forward.

Hello everyone, and congratulations on making it to this point of the testing. By making it this far, youve shown you have either the physical ability or resourcefulness to make it this far. The Elder who will oversee this will be Senior Song, beside me.

He quickly steps aside to allow Senior song to step forward. A raspy, but strong, voice sounds out over the area.

As youve all likely already been told, we will test your spirit root. Get into a line, so we can proceed.

Contrary to the cultivator before, her word to curt and simple. She appears to want to move through this quickly.

Thats probably not going to happen. Not if I have anything to say about it.

She takes out a mirror. My scan immediately shows that its made of some type of metal that is like bronze.

One side of its just like a normal mirror, while the other has a picture of a sun in motion. The patterns subtly move across its surface, while the entire object seems to shimmer with a strange glow.

Senior song heads to the middle of the courtyard, and orients the mirror towards the sun so it reflects on the ground in front of her.

Strangely, the pattern on the back reflects on the ground before us.

It looks to be similar to the Chinese magic mirrors from my world. The same thing can actually happen there, except the patterns moving on the back, of course.

Honestly, I was expecting an orb of some kind. Though, I should probably keep reminding myself not to rely on stereotypes from another world

My scan informs me that the method that this sect uses differs from ones that others use. With everything prepared, everyone forms into a very long line that stretches around the courtyard.

Negotiations between different people begin in setting up where they will go in the line. There are political advantages and disadvantages to going before or after someone.

Quite a few people are watching me to see where Ill place in in the line. I wait outside the line until mostly everyone goes in. This takes quite a while, as quite a few people really wanted to go behind me.

Once the line is set and everyones inside it, I step out of it and head to the back of the line. Immediately, looks of dissatisfaction fill everyone's faces, especially the person who is already in the last place.

He quickly masks this and falls silent.

As it goes through all my people, all I need to do is mentally check off on where they are. I make a personal note to chat with them about it later and make a list of where they stand.

I just dont have the spare capacity to focus on it right now.

Of course, when you desperately are hoping for more time, time seems to fly by even quicker.

It is not until I am up and I push the slightest bit more into my scan that it finally completes.

It gives me an idea of what I need to say.

Being the last person, she seems relieved to finally have this group over with. Her eyes are clear as she looks into mine uncaringly. She doesnt seem to have held onto my words and looks earlier, but I make sure to look away properly this time. I can sense a nod from her.

No need to antagonize her more than necessary.

I say nothing, but just step into the circle of reflected light, with the sun now spinning around me.

It revolves once.

Twice.

Three times.

And continues on and on. With no apparent stop.

This is strange, as every previous person got between 1-4 revolves around them, before an answer.

It reminds me of the circles you would see on the computer as its trying to figure something out. We stand there for 30 seconds before I feel her laying a low scan on me to determine the issue. She doesnt go far with it, just enough to see if there is an issue. She removes it just as quickly.

After two minutes pass, its clear she is about to say something when it stops suddenly before my face. Like it did for the others, but much more suddenly.

Temporary. Peony Earth 4. Actual above three ranks worth. Unable to determine.

Theres just silence before her eyes reveal pleasant surprise.

Her mouth opens to say something.

Is there a chance for her to push me into the inner court without making the requirement?!

It looks like I might be able to make it without

However, another cultivator is moving at high speed, his arms moving in straight lines, with his eyes locked on Senior Song.

Clearly about to tell her something in relation to me.

Sigh.