Chapter 1362: Immortal Transformation Grass
Although the others were curious as to why the test hadn’t concluded when the time was up, none dared to speak up.
They followed the gaze of the two elders, and were instantly taken aback.
Of course, some suspected trickery and couldn’t help but show disdain.
Another hour passed.
As the vitality of the Ancient Stone Flower seed reached its peak, suddenly, with a crisp cracking sound, the seed broke open its hard shell, revealing two tender leaves.
In a moment, it began to sprout at a speed visible to the naked eye, growing five large leaves.
In the next moment, a red flower bud appeared before everyone, vibrant with life and reflecting multicolored light.
Bang——
A sudden clap of thunder burst across the sky, as a cluster of dark clouds unexpectedly appeared, and a fine rain began to fall.
When the clouds dispersed and golden light poured down, the Ancient Stone Flower bloomed into an incredibly beautiful flower.
In an instant, the two elders appeared before the Ancient Stone Flower simultaneously, their excitement evident.
Moments later, Yu Wuxing looked at Yang Yan with burning eyes and asked in an extremely excited voice, "How did you make it bloom?!"
Yang Yan had long sensed the unfathomable power from the two elders, and quickly replied respectfully, "I do not know, I just felt as if I were the seed when urging it, and thought about sprouting and blooming, and managed to do it."
The two elders were even more shocked, unable to help exchanging glances.
Yun Yazi exclaimed, "Affinity with plants! His affinity with plants is exceptionally high."
After speaking, Yun Yazi seemed to realize he had misspoken, so he said nothing further, his expression becoming especially solemn.
He then gave a discreet look to the head cultivator, who quickly snapped out of his shock and promptly announced Yang Yan as the first in the second round of testing.
The crowd gritted their teeth but dared not say anything further.
For either the sect’s upper ranks’ protection of Yang Yan or his own talent was undeniable in such a situation.
They did not doubt that to question in this circumstance would not affect Yang Yan in the slightest and might even lead the two elders to revoke their own eligibility with just one word.
However, regardless of what was said, Yang Yan had indeed stolen all their limelight.
Clearly, some had successfully nurtured the seeds, which was considered passing the test, but none other than Yang Yan had made it bloom.
In comparison, it was almost like being a failure.
Feather Spirit Sect’s Elder Yu Wuxing put away his smile and said loudly, "The third round of testing will take place in three days!"
He thought for a moment, scanned each person with a stern glance, and warned, "No one is allowed to cause trouble during these days. Any violator, regardless of their power or backing, will be pursued to the ends of the earth by our Feather Spirit Sect until they are annihilated and never reincarnate."
Everyone understood that this was clearly favoritism towards Yang Yan.
Upon these words, any spiritual sense spying on Yang Yan vanished without a trace.
Yang Yan nodded gently to the elders and then turned away from the exam venue without expression.
Having successfully passed the second round of testing, Yang Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Returning, he immediately gathered his internal Wish Power and continued refining it.
During this period, his internal Wish Power had dwindled heavily.
It had more than once aided Yang Yan in perilous situations, and with the current loss of Spiritual Power, he had to reassess its importance and attempt to use it more perfectly.
Last night he didn’t sleep at all, trying his best to align his body with it, though possibly due to the brief time, he achieved little.
Yet, due to repeated adjustments, the interaction between Wish Power and Immortal Power became notably more harmonious.
At least they no longer opposed each other, colliding and consuming each other.
Yang Yan stretched languidly; with three days until the final test, today he planned to explore the "Dong City" to see if he could trade for some pills or alchemical materials he needed.
Knowing this was within Feather Spirit Sect’s area, while other treasures might be uncertain, various pills and herbs were definitely worth the anticipation.
The Feather Spirit Sect was located at the foot of a massive red volcano, with thick smoke rolling from its crater and flames occasionally bursting forth.
As an alchemical sect, the place not only brimmed with Spiritual Qi but also allowed direct usage of Earth Core Fire.
It was for this reason that Feather Spirit Sect could ascend powerfully over the millennium, standing firm in this misty region, becoming a pilgrimage site for countless nearby cultivators.
The rear of the sect was all sheer cliffs of red mountainside.
Here, numerous caves of varying sizes had been carved out, some used for secluded cultivation, others as connected shops, being the only market in the vicinity.
This was the so-called Dong City.
Anyone able to ascend to this place was inherently extraordinary, and thus the traded items here were naturally no less remarkable.
Yang Yan walked toward a deeper cave connected to the upper level, reportedly one of the top three caves, specializing in pills or related materials.
Compared to the cold and desolate entrance, the further in he went, the more crowded it became.
Though inside a cave, these caves were exceptionally spacious, with the stalls on either side reaching up to four or five stories high.
The central path was wide, the narrowest part at least seven or eight meters across.
Inside, cultivators and their reared Spirit Beasts busily moved back and forth, adding to the bustle.
The scene was certainly grand, yet Yang Yan maintained a calm demeanor.
He fully released his Spiritual Sense, secretly searching for the things he needed.
However, as he went along, though there were many good items, they were somewhat distant from Yang Yan’s desires.
Therefore, he was not in a hurry to purchase, intending to keep looking.
Just then, a commotion caught Yang Yan’s attention.
A rather unremarkable stall was crowded, with an old man surrounded by people in the center.
The elderly man appeared ordinary, clothed in gray, with a peculiar square object at his waist.
The square was gray and greasy, perhaps from being fiddled with over time, it had accumulated an oily sheen.
"What I ask is straightforward," the old man lifted his head, smiling benignly at everyone, "As long as someone can lift the stone before me, all these things belong to them. If they fail, I only ask them to answer some questions."
Before the elder lay a herb, a piece of iron, and a box of unknown contents.
"Immortal Transformation Grass!"
Someone knowledgeable in the crowd recognized one of the treasures.
The crowd instantly erupted.
Even Yang Yan felt a twinge of excitement.
This was a millennia-old treasure, capable of directly elevating one’s soul.
Truly rare and hard to come by.