Passed

However, even more astonishing events were yet to unfold. The very next moment, the detector erupted with a blinding, frigid white light. Even those standing dozens of meters away could distinctly feel a surge of icy coldness emanating from it.

The intensity of the light served as a direct indicator of the tester’s innate talent within that specific elemental domain.

Beyond anything else, this frigid radiance alone was remarkable; it signified the brilliance of a rare, ice-attributed spiritual root.

“An Ice Spiritual Root? And of exceptional quality at that,” Senior Sister Wu exclaimed, her voice laced with profound astonishment.

Judged purely by spiritual roots, Bai Lan’s Ice Spiritual Root now stood as the most exceptional talent. The reason it manifested as an Ice Spiritual Root, rather than an Yin-Yang Spiritual Root, was that his Chaos Body remained in a state of fusion, not yet fully awakened. The Ice Spiritual Root was, in fact, Bai Lan’s inherent spiritual root.

Furthermore, it was a supreme-grade Ice Spiritual Root paired with a Snow Divine Body. Even within the same elemental attribute, spiritual roots possessed distinct tiers. A high-grade Ice Spiritual Root and a supreme-grade one were simply not comparable.

This subtle distinction might not be apparent under normal circumstances, but in the heat of battle, the immense difference would become strikingly clear.

The Water Spiritual Root that Xue Linglong had just manifested was, in truth, a supreme-grade Water Spiritual Root.

There was no need to fuss over grades or qualities. Bai Lan’s Ice Spiritual Root alone was more than sufficient qualification for him to become an outer disciple.

“Are we finished here?” Bai Lan asked, a faint smile gracing his lips.

“Naturally! An Ice Spiritual Root is an exceptionally rare attribute, comparable to the aptitude of multiple spiritual roots,” Senior Sister Wu declared, beaming. “Here, take this. It’s your identity token as an outer disciple. From this day forward, you are an outer disciple of the Luoshen Sect.”

Their particular testing station had just identified a talent of considerable caliber. Upon her return, Senior Sister Wu would undoubtedly receive a reward, hence her evident delight.

Bai Lan accepted the token without the slightest hesitation, then calmly made his way to Xue Linglong’s side.

“It’s settled. Let’s head off,” Bai Lan said with a smile to Xue Linglong. “We need to collect our outer disciple robes and other necessities. Once that’s done, we can search for a residence on Eternal Blossom Island, specifically in the areas outside the core region. The previous generation of outer disciples likely left behind numerous dwellings.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Linglong felt an increasing sense of peculiarity about Bai Lan. He spoke as if intimately familiar with Eternal Blossom Island. Yet, knowing Bai Lan disliked excessive questioning, and being a perceptive girl herself, Xue Linglong wisely refrained from pressing for more details.

Thus, beneath the envious gazes of those remaining behind, the two stepped onto a path adorned with drifting flower petals, winding through the floral forest, and soon vanished into the distant horizon.

An hour later, at the entrance to the Luoshen Sect’s core valley, they collected their outer disciple attire. The uniform consisted of white silk robes, though these garments possessed a distinctly girlish aesthetic, surprisingly reminiscent of modern Earth styles.

The ensemble included knee-length white skirts, white ‘ice-silk’ tights akin to modern pantyhose, and white embroidered shoes. These shoes bore a slight resemblance to Earth’s high heels, albeit not contemporary styles, likely featuring a modest heel of three to four centimeters.

As Bai Lan clutched the set of clothing, his expression became incredibly complex. He had initially presumed the outer disciple attire would closely resemble that of the inner disciples, but the reality proved vastly different.

It felt as if these garments belonged to an entirely different dimension. Furthermore, Bai Lan had a strong aversion to such overtly feminine attire. A mid-length skirt, reminiscent of modern Earth designs, along with these peculiar socks and shoes—what in the heavens were these abominations?

Seriously? Am I destined to stray further and further down this path of… oddity? Bai Lan grumbled inwardly.

Having finished his internal lament, Bai Lan cast a sidelong glance at Xue Linglong, who stood beside him, her face wreathed in smiles. The young girl was utterly enamored with the garments before her, her gaze never once straying from them.

Ultimately, she was still a child. To her, these were incredibly beautiful garments. In the outside world, she would never have been able to afford them, for they were crafted from silk, each piece easily costing hundreds of silver taels—a luxury reserved only for the affluent.

Now, she could wear them herself. Moreover, from the perspective of any ordinary young girl’s aesthetic, the clothes they held were quite exquisite.

Furthermore, the official disciple who had handed out the robes mentioned that these were specially crafted, imbued with a ‘Dust-Repelling and Water-Avoiding Charm.’ This meant they would neither absorb water nor attract dirt—a common feature for disciple attire in the cultivation world, and thus, nothing particularly noteworthy.

Some larger sects even possessed robes capable of withstanding direct attacks.

“Oh? Sister Bai Lan, why do you wear such a troubled expression?” Xue Linglong asked, her smile faltering as she glanced at Bai Lan. “You seem quite unhappy. Is it perhaps that you don’t care for these clothes?”

Noticing Bai Lan’s stern, discontented face, she immediately understood that something was amiss.

Given Xue Linglong’s sharp perception, she noted that Bai Lan had been quite cheerful moments ago, only to become displeased after receiving the robes. It was unequivocally evident that the disciple attire was the root of his unhappiness.

“No,” Bai Lan replied, his face a mask of severity.

“But… I distinctly sense your displeasure, Sister,” Xue Linglong pressed. “Are the clothes not to your liking?”

“You’re imagining things. I am not,” Bai Lan insisted. How could he possibly admit to such a trivial matter?

However, the more Bai Lan denied it, the more convinced Xue Linglong became of his unhappiness. After a few more probing questions, she ceased her inquiries. Yet, as they continued walking, Xue Linglong suddenly halted.

“Oh? Sister Bai Lan, where exactly are we headed?” Xue Linglong asked, perplexed. “We’ve been walking for quite some time now. Weren’t you planning to search for a place to stay?”

Her reminder jolted Bai Lan’s memory, prompting him to pat his forehead with a slight wince of annoyance.

“Ah? I nearly forgot! My apologies, I was momentarily distracted,” Bai Lan chuckled, dismissing his previous displeasure. “Linglong, where would you prefer to reside? You can choose the location; I have no particular preference.”

Xue Linglong surveyed her surroundings. She wasn’t particularly fond of living amidst dense flowers and plants, believing it would harm them. Thus, she pondered an alternative location.

“Oh? Sister Bai Lan, how about we find a secluded spot by the sea to settle down?” Xue Linglong proposed. “I’m quite skilled at catching fish and cooking! If we live by the coast, we can enjoy fresh seafood whenever we wish!”

Observing Xue Linglong’s beaming face, Bai Lan had no inclination to refuse and promptly nodded in agreement. Consequently, they made their way to the coastline of Eternal Blossom Island.

This region resembled a sandy beach, and to their surprise, numerous wooden cabins dotted the landscape—presumably legacies left by previous generations of outer disciples.

Presently, the area was largely uninhabited. Bai Lan, disinclined to reside in a densely built-up zone, guided Xue Linglong along the coastline to a secluded stretch characterized by scattered dwellings and abundant reefs.

Wooden cabins were scarce here.

“Linglong, this spot seems perfect,” Bai Lan suggested. “I find it quite appealing.”

Xue Linglong paused, startled for a moment, then cast her gaze around the vicinity.

“This?” Xue Linglong began, a hint of confusion in her voice. “Sister Bai Lan, do you dislike bustling places? There are so few wooden cabins here, and hardly anyone around. Isn’t it a bit too desolate?” Xue Linglong was not one for solitude.

“Precisely, I prefer fewer people,” Bai Lan asserted. “Linglong, heed my words: you are now a provisional cultivator. Once you begin your true cultivation, you will become a genuine one. As a cultivator, you must never trust others too readily, nor should you meddle in others’ affairs. Only then can you avert trouble.”

“Take today, for instance, I must admonish you. You’re merely a young girl; why did you provoke that princess? She most certainly harbors resentment towards you now.”

Xue Linglong gazed at Bai Lan’s stern expression. Though a flicker of grievance stirred within her, she instinctively understood that Bai Lan’s words were spoken for her own benefit. Far from feeling upset, a comforting warmth spread through her heart.

After all, having wandered alone for such an extended period, she had encountered precious few individuals who genuinely cared for her safety, save for her late mother.

Thus, even if she didn’t entirely agree with Bai Lan’s admonition, she refrained from immediate contradiction.