Chương 97: Chapter 98: Absolutely Exceptional Talent

"The Xuanxiao Sect has asserted its dominance over North Yue State! Every disciple under my banner shall be rewarded!" Sect Master Qingxiaozi's voice boomed across the assembly, carrying a weight of newfound authority.

"Those injured in the conflict may report to the Hall of Rewards and Punishments once healed to claim a High-tier Profound-grade Manual. Regular disciples shall receive fifty low-grade spirit stones. Let this be a reminder: cultivate with diligence and bring further glory to our sect!"

"We obey the Sect Master's decree!" The disciples roared in unison, their faces flushed with excitement as they knelt in a sea of reverence.

"Elder Reyn, remain here. The rest of you are dismissed," Qingxiaozi added, a satisfied glint dancing in his eyes. As the crowd dispersed, every disciple passing by Reyn paused to offer a deep, respectful bow. The younger male disciples looked at him with a fervor bordering on fanaticism, while many of the female disciples stole glances with reddened cheeks, their eyes shimmering with unspoken admiration. Reyn found himself shifting uncomfortably under the weight of such collective adoration.

"Junior Brother Reyn truly is no ordinary bird trapped in a pond," Ji Yueli murmured as she approached, performing a graceful, sweeping bow. A soft crimson hue crept up her neck as she added, "When you soar to the heights of greatness in the future, please do not forget this humble sister." Before he could respond, she lowered her head and hurried away, her silhouette vanishing into the retreating crowd. Reyn stood dazed for a moment, a strange ripple of emotion stirring in his chest.

He took a deep, steadying breath, forcing his racing heart to settle into a calm rhythm. Moments later, within the secluded depths of the Xuanxiao Sect's back mountain secret chamber, the atmosphere shifted from celebratory to solemn. Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi sat cross-legged on meditation cushions, their gazes sharp and inquisitive.

"Elder Reyn, there are no outsiders here," Qingxiaozi began, his voice low.

"Is it possible for you to offer us two old fogies an explanation for certain... developments?" Reyn stood respectfully below them, pausing for a heartbeat before bowing.

"Even if the Sect Master and Master had not asked, I intended to reveal everything." Dan Chenzi's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, his voice heavy with gravity.

"When I first brought you into the sect, I personally inspected your body. You possessed no spiritual roots. Yet, in a mere year, your cultivation has surged to a level comparable to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. How do you account for this?"

"To be honest, Master, I was equally perplexed," Reyn replied, his expression a mask of earnest confusion.

"After you bestowed the Myriad Wood Life-Transformation Scripture upon me, I practiced with everything I had, determined not to bring shame to your name. Initially, progress was agonizingly slow, and my Qi absorption was mediocre at best. But after a time, for reasons I cannot fathom, my absorption speed suddenly exploded. The harder I worked, the faster the spiritual energy refined itself within me. I was terrified that something had gone wrong with my body, so I kept it hidden, fearing the consequences."

Reyn's face contorted with a well-acted look of shame as he dropped to one knee.

"If not for the crisis today, I would likely have continued this deception. I beg the Sect Master and Master for forgiveness." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. As Reyn spoke, the expressions of the two elders shifted from suspicion to sheer, unadulterated shock. They exchanged a look of profound realization, their voices trembling as they spoke a single term in unison: "A Hidden Spirit Root!"

Reyn felt a wave of internal relief, but he maintained his facade of ignorance.

"A Hidden Spirit Root? What is that?" Qingxiaozi looked at Reyn as if he were a priceless artifact unearthed from a primordial ruin. After a long silence, he threw back his head and laughed, his beard quivering.

"The Ancestors have blessed us! Heaven truly intends for the Xuanxiao Sect to rise again!" Dan Chenzi was equally agitated, his face flushed with a rare excitement. It took several long moments for him to regain his composure.

"Senior Brother, you are more well-versed in the ancient records than I. Please, explain it to him." Qingxiaozi nodded, his voice taking on a lecturing tone.

"In the mortal world, spiritual roots are rare, and most are of poor quality. A disciple with a Mid-grade root might never see beyond the Foundation Establishment stage without a miracle. An Upper-grade root offers a glimpse of the Golden Core. To even dream of the Nascent Soul stage, one usually requires a one-in-a-million Heaven Spirit Root." He paused, his eyes gleaming.

"Low, Mid, Upper, and Heaven—these are the tiers known to the modern world. However, in the Primordial Era, there existed another: the Hidden Spirit Root! Such a root cannot be detected by conventional means; the possessor appears no different from a commoner. But once they step onto the path of cultivation, their speed is staggering—surpassing even the legendary Heaven Spirit Roots. Ancient texts claim that those with Hidden Spirit Roots are favored by the Heavens themselves, destined for supreme greatness!"

This was why the two elders had lost their composure. In their eyes, Reyn was no longer just a lucky disciple; he was a future titan of the cultivation world.

"So that's it!" Reyn let out a long sigh of feigned relief, his shoulders relaxing visibly.

"We cannot be absolutely certain yet, but we will know shortly," Dan Chenzi said, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Senior Brother, do not hold back. Bring out that item for the test."

"Haha, very well!" Qingxiaozi reached into his sleeve, a hint of pride on his face.

"When I retrieved this treasure from that ancient cultivator's grotto years ago, I knew it would serve a purpose one day. It seems that day has arrived." He placed a crystal-clear orb, roughly the size of a man's fist, onto a stone pedestal. It shimmered with an ethereal, translucent light.

"Reyn, step forward. Channel every drop of your True Essence into this Testing Orb. It will reveal the truth of your lineage," Qingxiaozi commanded, his eyes filled with anticipation. Reyn's heart skipped a beat, but he masked his tension instantly.

"Sect Master, can this truly detect it? I thought the records said Hidden Spirit Roots were undetectable?"

"Hoho, you've done your reading, I see," Qingxiaozi chuckled, clearly pleased by Reyn's knowledge.

"Standard methods fail, but this Testing Orb is a relic of the Primordial Era. Through my years of study, I have found it capable of resonating with the unique frequencies of a Hidden Spirit Root." Reyn nodded, suppressing a bitter smile. Under the watchful eyes of two Golden Core experts, there was no room for trickery. He walked to the pedestal, placed his palm against the cold surface of the orb, and began to pour his power into it.

The orb acted like a bottomless vortex, greedily devouring Reyn's spiritual energy. He continued until his face turned pale from the drain. Suddenly, the orb let out a low hum, vibrating slightly before repelling his hand.

"The results are coming," Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi whispered, their eyes glued to the crystal. Reyn braced himself for disappointment, knowing he was no 'legendary genius.' He expected the elders to realize he was a fraud the moment the orb reacted. But then, a cry of pure joy erupted from the two elders.

"No color! Not a single speck of pigment!" Qingxiaozi shouted.

"It is exactly as the ancient texts described! Reyn is a Hidden Spirit Root cultivator beyond any doubt!" Reyn stood there, blinking in stunned silence. Wait... what?