Chapter Seventy-Eight: Mid-Grade Spiritual Root, Underage

After deciding to merge the Xu family’s businesses into the Cloudstream Sect, Elder Yang immediately sent people to follow Xu Yangfeng to Xu’s estate to oversee the transfer, while Xu Xiaozhan remained behind.

“Thank you.”

Noticing Liu Pan’s gaze, Xu Xiaozhan hurriedly offered his gratitude. He knew full well that, had Liu Pan not spoken up, the entire Xu family would have been doomed.

“You’re Xu Xiaozhan, right?” As Liu Pan spoke, his eyes roamed over Xu Xiaozhan, sizing him up.

He was truly curious about this future wealthiest man of the Tianfeng Continent. Although Liu Pan had written about him in his book, the details were scant.

Moreover, it was Liu Kuang, the protagonist of his story, who had met Xu Xiaozhan, not Liu Pan himself. Strictly speaking, this was the first time the author had met Xu Xiaozhan in person.

Xu Xiaozhan paid no mind to Liu Pan’s appraising gaze, simply nodding in response, then hesitating before asking directly, “Why are you helping us?”

From Xu Xiaozhan’s perspective, the Xu family had escaped disaster thanks to Liu Pan and Liu Kuang, but everything in this world was done with a purpose.

There was no kinship between Liu Pan, Liu Kuang, and the Xu family, and the current trouble had been sparked entirely by the Xu family’s previous “disrespect.”

Knowing full well that the Xu family had offended them, yet still risking the ire of the Cloudstream Sect to save them—it was hard to believe such an act was without motive.

Moreover, rescuing someone from the jaws of a force as formidable as the Cloudstream Sect was a risk to one’s life. What did Liu Pan and Liu Kuang have to gain?

Liu Pan understood Xu Xiaozhan’s doubts, but clearly, he could not resolve them.

Yet, how should he forge a connection with this future titan of commerce?

Frowning, Liu Pan pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of something. His eyes flashed, and a smile appeared as he said, “To be honest, I originally acted simply because you seemed agreeable. But now that you ask, I find myself with a new idea.”

At this, Liu Pan’s spiritual sense instantly expanded, and seeing no one nearby paying special attention to them, he lowered his voice and spoke with a hint of mystery, “How about this—you join our organization?”

…

Standing in line for the entrance exam, Liu Pan glanced at Xu Xiaozhan behind him, a subtle smile curling his lips.

Though he’d saved Xu Xiaozhan’s family, Liu Pan felt that swearing brotherhood or forging immediate bonds was too abrupt.

Yet such a rare opportunity for friendship could not be wasted, so after some thought, he proposed the idea of an ‘organization’.

The more he considered it, the more perfect it seemed for people like them. Only an organization could maintain relationships while maximizing everyone’s freedom.

In his novel, Liu Kuang crossed paths with many, but when he finally reached the summit, he stood alone.

Thus, forming brotherhoods or binding ties only complicated things. The more tangled the relationships, the greater the influence on personal ambitions.

Liu Kuang, due to Liu Pan’s interference, had already deviated entirely from the plot. Though the Great Wilderness Blade still existed, Liu Pan believed Liu Kuang would eventually reach the peak.

But for the others… Like now, after all that had happened, Liu Pan could not guarantee Xu Xiaozhan would definitely become the continent’s wealthiest man.

After much consideration, Liu Pan concluded that the simpler the network of relationships, the better. His idea for the organization was straightforward: each person acted independently, and he would serve as the central contact. As for the organization’s goal, it would simply be for everyone to pursue their own ambitions.

After briefly explaining his impromptu organization to Xu Xiaozhan, the latter fell silent for a moment before agreeing. After all, Liu Pan and Liu Kuang had risked so much to save his family; it was unthinkable they had no ulterior motive.

But since the organization offered freedom, Xu Xiaozhan saw no reason to hesitate. There were no obligations, and he could do as he pleased.

As for Liu Pan as an intermediary, Xu Xiaozhan felt that, should Liu Pan ever ask for his aid, given the debt owed for saving his family, he would be bound to oblige.

Xu Xiaozhan’s agreement surprised Liu Pan not at all. As for Liu Kuang, Liu Pan naturally included him in the organization.

Since Liu Kuang and Xu Xiaozhan had already met, Liu Pan reminded Xu Xiaozhan that, since everyone acted independently, it was best not to force contact—let things unfold naturally.

Thus, the organization was born, but reality pressed on, and Liu Pan found himself back in the queue for the Cloudstream Sect’s disciple entrance exam. Xu Xiaozhan, after brief thought, joined the queue as well, preparing to become a member.

It struck Liu Pan as perfectly reasonable that Xu Xiaozhan, the future wealthiest man, would forgo business to join the Cloudstream Sect.

In his book, Liu Kuang and Xu Xiaozhan met in Burning Sky City, where Xu Xiaozhan was then a disciple of the Rockcliff Sect. For Xu Xiaozhan to journey from Cloudstream City to Burning Sky City without passing through a sect would be most peculiar.

With few candidates taking the test, Liu Pan and Xu Xiaozhan soon reached their turn.

Perhaps because the examiners had seen Liu Pan’s association with Liu Kuang, a figure possessing spiritual power, they relaxed the standards for Liu Pan’s test.

For the assessment of cultivation and vital energy, the process was perfunctory; the examiner didn’t even glance at the instrument before letting him pass. It made Liu Pan marvel—the difference connections make.

Soon, Liu Pan stood before the instrument for testing spiritual roots. Compared to the second-rate Baiyang Sect’s equipment, the Cloudstream Sect’s device was worlds apart.

Knowing he possessed a pure ice root, Liu Pan didn’t hesitate, placing his hand on the instrument and channeling his vital energy.

As his energy flowed, the bead representing the ice root quickly lit up, and the attendant beside the device announced his aptitude: “Mid-grade ice root.”

Hearing this, Liu Pan was stunned. Mid-grade ice root? Mid-grade? He could hardly believe his ears.

But seeing the brightness of the ice bead, he realized the attendant had not erred.

Still—mid-grade?

Had he never cared about his own aptitude, Liu Pan would have found nothing amiss.

But he had always believed himself to possess the Extreme Frost Physique. Among such individuals, who didn’t have the highest-grade ice root? So why…?

In a daze, Liu Pan only snapped back to reality after the attendant reminded him twice that the test was over.

Muttering an apology, Liu Pan hurried to the bone age testing station.

The bone age assessment was again conducted by a Martial Master. Without further thought, Liu Pan placed his hand forward.

Soon, another piece of bewildering information reached his ears: “Over fifteen, not yet sixteen—passed.”

Over fifteen, not yet sixteen? Others might take pride in such a result, but Liu Pan felt nothing but bewilderment.

Not yet sixteen? Not yet fully grown?

He’d felt confused when confirming his identity at the Liu family in White Forest Town; now, after the bone age test, he was utterly at a loss.

What was going on with this body…?

After Liu Pan’s test, Xu Xiaozhan swiftly completed his own.

He possessed mixed roots of gold, earth, and wood; his wood root was above average, the others negligible. His cultivation was at the peak of Martial Apprentice, bone age seventeen—he was already an adult.

Because of the Xu family incident, Liu Pan and Xu Xiaozhan had been tested last.

Thus, the Cloudstream Sect soon announced the end of this round of disciple recruitment. With his head full of confusion, Liu Pan “drifted” along with the newly admitted disciples into the sect.

Cloudstream Sect boasted over six thousand disciples and claimed nearly a hundred peaks. Such strength made it a typical four-star sect on the Tianfeng Continent. One could only imagine how vast the nine or ten-star sects must be.

Lost in thought, Liu Pan paid little attention to how long he’d been marching with the crowd, until Xu Xiaozhan beside him pulled him back to awareness. He found himself on a broad plaza, the procession now halted.

“What are you thinking about?” Xu Xiaozhan asked, frowning.

After the exam, Xu Xiaozhan had noticed Liu Pan seemed distracted. He’d asked several times, but Liu Pan merely waved him off, claiming it was nothing. But this… drifting like this, and still saying nothing was wrong? Who would believe it!?

“Nothing,” Liu Pan waved his hand again, then glanced around. Suddenly, his gaze fell on Xu Xiaozhan, and he asked, somewhat puzzled, “Why are you following me? Didn’t I say after the exam we should keep our distance?”

Xu Xiaozhan was speechless. He had maintained his distance after the exam, but then noticed Liu Pan seemed lost, and others were eyeing him strangely. Remembering how Liu Pan had displayed so many spiritual herbs in front of everyone at the exam plaza, Xu Xiaozhan felt concerned and stayed close.

But who would have thought that after regaining his senses, Liu Pan would say such a thing? It was simply…

“You really don’t have any problems?” Xu Xiaozhan frowned.

Just as Liu Pan was about to reply, a stir ran through the crowd. Both men looked up to see a silver airship approaching the plaza…