The eradicator's will

The next day, Liu Haoyu and Shi Yun decided to watch the recruitment of disciples by the Jiuxiao Sect. Liu Haoyu had several reasons for this journey. He wanted the child to experience the vast world beyond the confines of their small town, and he also hoped that their travels might trigger the return of his lost memories. Most importantly, he sought a way to gain power, not only to protect himself but also to safeguard Shi Yun. Along the way, he aimed to educate the boy and instill strength and wisdom in him.

The world was enormous, and the Eastern Wilderness was but a small fragment of the planet. Together with the Western Wilderness, Northern Wilderness, and Southern Wilderness combined, these regions are called the Dahong Wilderness Region. The Dahong Wilderness Region is surrounded by an immense, perilous forest and a boundless ocean. Both were shrouded in mystery and danger, their secrets locked away because no one had ever managed to cross their borders. Liu Haoyu felt certain that leaving this corner of the world was possible for him, and the world outside is only a small step of his journey.

The Eastern Wilderness was predominantly inhabited by mortals and qi cultivators. The cultivators played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability, earning immense respect and admiration from ordinary people. To many, becoming an immortal was a dream worth striving for. Numerous sects existed across the region, with the Jiuxiao Sect ranked among the top three strongest.

The path of cultivation follows these stages: Body Refining realm, Qi Refining realm, Foundation Building realm, Golden Core realm, and Nascent Soul realm. However, beyond the Nascent Soul realm lay unknown realms, that nobody ever reached in the Dahong Wilderness region.

When Liu Haoyu and Shi Yun arrived at the pavilion where the selection was held, they found the place crowded with people. The excited crowd chattered incessantly, the air buzzing with anticipation. Well, humans love witnessing dramas and excitement unfold after all; great source of entertainment for all.

After a while, a group of figures emerged with an imposing aura. At the forefront were three elders and a stunningly beautiful woman, led by the city lord who bowed respectfully. Behind them were disciples of the Jiuxiao Sect, their faces marked by pride and arrogance. The city lord humbly invited the elders and the woman to rest on the prepared chairs.

After sometime, amid the noise and excitement, the beautiful woman stood from her seat and strode forward. Her tone was polite yet firm as she addressed the crowd. "Everyone! Be quiet!" The authority in her voice silenced the murmurs instantly. "We, the Jiuxiao Sect, are here to recruit suitable disciples. My name is Yu Xi, and you may address me as Elder Yu. Let's begin."

She surveyed the crowd and continued, "Boys and girls with a bone age of more than six and less than twenty or exactly twenty, step forward and form a queue. We will test your spiritual roots."

With a wave of her hand, Elder Yu retrieved a transparent glass ball from her space ring and placed it on the table. "Line up," she ordered sharply.

At her command, many young people stepped forward eagerly to form a line. However, a few shameless individuals, clearly older than the age limit, went to join the queue. The public immediately found out and whispered among themselves. Noticing this, Elder Yu's expression darkened, and her voice turned icy. "This glass ball can detect your bone age. Anyone caught lying will be severely punished without mercy."

Panic spread among the dishonest participants, and they quickly slunk away in shame noticing the crowd looking at them as if watching monkeys—clearly, the people felt entertained.

"Let's proceed," Elder Yu said calmly. "Place your hands on the glass ball. Those who can light it will be accepted into the sect."

One by one, the participants stepped up to touch the orb. Most failed to elicit any response from the ball and walked away dejectedly. However, a fortunate few managed to ignite its glow, their faces lighting up with joy and pride.

Watching this, one of the elders seated on the chairs shook his head with a heavy sigh. "What a pity," he lamented. "Another year, and we haven't found a single spiritual root cultivator. Not even a dual-root one."

"Yes," another elder agreed, his tone tinged with disappointment. "The quality of talent declines with each passing year. Spiritual roots are the foundation of cultivation. A single spiritual root is exceptionally rare and grants unparalleled speed and control in cultivation. In contrast, those with multiple roots progress much slower, struggling to balance their elements."

Liu Haoyu heard the conversations clearly as all his senses are extremely powerful. After the final participant was tested, Elder Yu stood and addressed the selected disciples. "Congratulations to those of you who were chosen! Return home now to bid farewell to your families. We depart for the sect tomorrow."

"Yes, Elder Yu!" the newly chosen disciples chorused enthusiastically before leaving the pavilion, their excitement palpable.

Liu Haoyu and Shi Yun observed the entire event in silence before heading back to their inn.

"Master," Shi Yun asked curiously as they entered their room, "are you a cultivator too?"

Liu Haoyu glanced at the boy, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "You'll find out in time, Shi Yun," he said, his tone enigmatic yet reassuring.

Though the answer left Shi Yun with more questions, he trusted his master. For whatever reason, he just believed that his master is extremely powerful.

Liu Haoyu knew that Shi Yun felt interested in cultivation. He will definitely teach him but at the right time. He hoped that Shi Yun would not only cultivate his body, but also his mind and soul.

After a week of exploring and strolling around the town, the two decided to travel all the places of the Dahong Wilderness region. During this time, Shi Yun was the happiest one, he had never been this carefree his whole life. He even feels unreal when thinking of his past situation.