Chapter 261: Chapter 222: Exotic Spiritual Root

A dozen earth bombs whistled towards them. Junior Brother Zhang hurriedly threw out a defensive talisman and cast a spell, generating a water ring to block them. But they heard a series of cracks, and the earth bombs broke through the defense in an instant.

At the same time, the ground under Junior Brother Zhang’s feet suddenly surged with earthen waves and swirling sand, pulling him to the ground and interrupting his next spell.

This is the Quicksand Technique!

The earth bombs gently trembled just before hitting Junior Brother Zhang, then veered and struck the ground fiercely beside him. There was a series of thuds, and dust rose everywhere.

Lin Le stood there, astonished. As the dust cleared, it revealed Junior Brother Zhang’s pale face. He nervously checked himself, realizing he was uninjured, and breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and gratefully bowed: "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin, for showing mercy. I concede."

The referee announced loudly: "Winner, Lin Le!"

Lin Le looked incredulously at his hands, wondering what just happened. "I only used an Earth Shield spell, yet not only was the Earth Escape solid and strong, it transformed into earth bombs. Besides, I didn’t even use the Quicksand Technique!"

The disciples watching the match were dumbfounded for a moment, then suddenly cheered. In their view, Lin Le only used one spell, yet successively unleashed earth attribute magic techniques, instantly securing victory.

Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Lin, whose cultivation has always been understated, has such skills!

Isn’t this just like the stories where one pretends to be a pig to eat a tiger? Truly thrilling.

The junior cultivators around began excitedly discussing it. It seemed that Senior Brother Lin’s rapid rise to a high position at such a young age was justified, and his cultivation hadn’t lagged behind, impressive indeed.

However, Lu Qian’s gaze fixed tightly on the scene, scanning over the puzzled Lin Le and the excited, waving Wu Yan on the sidelines.

This was not Lin Le’s doing!

Yet, the elders watching alongside himself, Yang Jiye’s attention wasn’t focused on this match, and even the elder with the strongest divine sense, Master Xuan Ji, hadn’t noticed anything amiss, only being surprised by Lin Le’s outstanding performance.

This could only be detected with a Foundation Establishment Level divine sense!

Lu Qian’s mind raced as he briefly instructed Yang Jiye and Jiang Qingfeng beside him, then stood up and transformed into a rainbow, leaving swiftly.

The just-exited Lin Le was tightly embraced by Wu Yan: "Brother Le, you’re amazing!"

The surrounding cultivators laughed kindly, giving space for this young couple. Lin Le blushed but whispered: "Even I don’t know what just happened..."

Wu Yan giggled and was about to speak when Jiang Qingfeng dismissed the others, approached Lin Le, and said softly: "Lin Le, Wu Yan, the Sect Leader wants to see you both, I’ll take you there."

"Yes, Elder Jiang." Lin Le was full of doubt; why was Sister Yann involved as well? He respectfully responded, noticing Wu Yan’s face suddenly turned pale, as she grasped his hand tightly.

The two followed Jiang Qingfeng toward the Sect Leader’s courtyard. The closer they got, the more nervous Wu Yan became, palms sweating.

Upon entering the reception room, seeing Lu Qian seated in the main position, Wu Yan immediately knelt.

Lin Le, always perceptive, guessed at something, and promptly knelt loudly: "Sect Leader, has Sister Yann caused trouble? Please be lenient!"

Lu Qian waved his hand, closed the door, and applied a Silence Talisman. His expressionless face made Lin Le increasingly anxious, while Wu Yan trembled and almost lay flat on the ground.

Jiang Qingfeng stood behind Lu Qian, equally filled with doubt. Lin Le was always well-liked and esteemed by his juniors, surely having no issue. Wu Yan, Lin Le’s sworn sister, had been brought by Mrs. Lin to live with Lin Le, residing in his small building with no history of misconduct.

What was going on?

After an unbearable silence, Lu Qian finally spoke: "I offered you a chance to escape, yet you didn’t act. Is it wishful thinking or reluctance to leave Xiaolin?"

He was addressing Wu Yan! Lin Le suddenly turned, staring in shock at the girl beside him.

Wu Yan’s eyes filled with tears as she replied in a trembling voice: "I know stealing cultivation techniques is a mortal sin. Bichao Mountain... the place where Brother Le resides is my home. Where could I possibly escape to? Sect Leader, Brother Le is unaware of this matter. Please punish only me..."

Lin Le inhaled sharply, eyes wide in disbelief, and Jiang Qingfeng was equally amazed. Lu Qian, however, was puzzled, as this didn’t match his assumptions. This Wu Yan wasn’t an infiltrator sent by another sect?

"Explain how you stole the cultivation techniques, in detail."

So Wu Yan began explaining meticulously, revealing that she learned from cultivation technique scriptures not promptly put away while organizing his study. Lin Le interrupted, "That’s impossible, Sect Leader. Sister Yann and I were born together at Meihua Square. As a child, I witnessed her being tested for spiritual roots; there was no reaction from the Ascension Mirror. She doesn’t have a spiritual root!"

Lu Qian didn’t immediately respond to Lin Le but fixed his sharp gaze on Wu Yan: "Are you truly not an infiltrator sent into our mountain?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Wu Yan shook her head in confusion, while Lin Le bowed heavily: "Sect Leader, Sister Yann has grown up with me since childhood. After bringing her into the mountain gate, she hasn’t stepped out in three years. I pledge my life; Sister Yann isn’t an infiltrator!"

Lu Qian’s expression softened; had he truly guessed wrongly? Reflecting, it made sense; how could an infiltrator remain hidden for so long and risk exposure to help Lin Le? Such undercover turncoat stories only exist in novels.

He gently said: "Since that’s the case, both of you stand and speak."

"Lin Le, during the recent match, it was Wu Yan who subtly helped you win." Lu Qian’s words left Lin Le astounded, incredulously looking at Wu Yan, "Her technique was exquisite, spiritual power moved imperceptibly—I was the only one to notice. I previously suspected it came from other sects."

"Most crucially, those techniques were of considerable proficiency, not that of Early-Stage Qi Cultivation. Naturally, I suspected Wu Yan harbored cultivation and infiltrated the sect."

"Now, though the matter is clear, I must conduct a final examination, Wu Yan, come forward."

Though shocked and bewildered, Lin Le unconditionally trusted Lu Qian, immediately holding Wu Yan’s hand, leading her forward.

Seeing Wu Yan’s anxious expression, Lu Qian’s heart raced as well.

If she’s truly not carrying outsider cultivation and infiltrated the sect, then according to her, reaching Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation in three years, with spiritual roots undetectable by the Ascension Mirror, and releasing spiritual power without traces, there’s only one explanation!

Lu Qian eagerly extended his hand, gently placing it on Wu Yan’s head, letting his divine sense softly seep into her.

"Relax, relax..." Lin Le also consoled softly beside her, as Lu Qian’s divine sense carefully explored, soon judging by the spiritual power flow within her body—it truly followed the path of "Kunyuan Evergreen Skill." She had reached the sixth level of Qi Cultivation!

In just three years, simply following the technique, she had reached the sixth level of Qi Cultivation!

Lu Qian’s divine sense entered her dantian, initially seeing it empty without spiritual roots. But with Lu Qian’s full divine sense search, a nearly transparent, pure and colorless spiritual root appeared encompassed by his divine sense!

Lu Qian’s breath instantly stopped.

Single Spiritual Root, or Celestial Spiritual Root!

And it’s an Exotic Celestial Spiritual Root!