The third level seems simpler than the first two; it involves crossing a log bridge.

When Song Qi passed through smoothly, the group of people sitting in front of the water mirror fell silent.

"Is it that simple?"

"She didn't encounter anything at the final level?"

"I want this little girl, don't try to take her from me."

"We don't even know what kind of spiritual root it is, why are you fighting over it?"

As Song Qi stepped off the log bridge, he saw a girl standing not far away, smiling at him.

Although everyone else was smiling as they looked at themselves after each round, her smile was different.

Well, what's more, she has the words "vicious female supporting character" written on her forehead.

Luo Shuyun walked over and stuffed the sign into Song Qi's hand. She lowered her voice and said, "You came out so quickly."

Song Qi looked up at Luo Shuyun and asked, "Why are you taller than me?"

“Not only am I taller than you, but once you've mastered the art, you'll have to call me Senior Sister.” Luo Shuyun smiled at Song Qi, “Let me hear you call me that first.”

Song Qi stared at Luo Shuyun for a few seconds: "How old are you?"

Two hundred and thirty-seven.

"Hello, Grandma." Song Qi greeted her obediently, then gave her a bright smile. "I haven't officially become a disciple yet, so until then, I can only call you Grandma."

Luo Shuyun: ...

Luo Shuyun: Why am I so depressed?

"I'll take you to the lounge." Luo Shuyun gave a businesslike smile, deciding to ignore her for the next few days.

Song Qi could tell what Luo Shuyun was thinking just by looking at her expression. He waved the three signs in his hand and followed behind her, smiling.

“Your five spiritual roots are a bit tricky to deal with.” After walking a few steps, Luo Shuyun couldn’t help but say something.

"I know."

Luo Shuyun frowned: "If no one else will take you in, I will."

Song Qi imagined what Luo Shuyun would say when she called him "disciple": "No need, thank you."

Luo Shuyun snorted: "I've already reached the Golden Core stage, okay?"

"I don't want it either," Song Qi said, indicating his refusal.

"Fine, then I'll go and beg Master to let you stay in the inner sect."

Song Qi watched Luo Shuyun's retreating figure and said, "Let fate decide."

Luo Shuyun twisted the hem of her clothes but said nothing.

There was no one in the lounge yet, so Song Qi found a spot in the sunlight and sat down. Luo Shuyun sat down next to Song Qi.

"Aren't you busy?" Song Qi glanced at Luo Shuyun.

"I'm not busy. I wasn't assigned any tasks this time." Luo Shuyun poured two glasses of water and took a plate of pastries from her storage bag. "Are you hungry?"

She knew she would see Song Qi today; she made it herself yesterday.

"Thank you." Song Qi ate two, her eyes lighting up.

"How is it?" Luo Shuyun looked at Song Qi with anticipation.

Song Qi took another bite, glanced at Luo Shuyun, and said, "It's acceptable."

"Then you shouldn't eat it."

"It's delicious." Song Qi protected the plate. "I really like it."

Fang Yaoyao didn't have much money on her, and she had been eating cornbread for the past few days. In addition, Song Qi was already starving after expending so much energy.

Luo Shuyun nodded with satisfaction: "I'm glad you like it."

Half an hour later, the second person arrived. Song Qi remembered that it was the first person he had overtaken on the stairs.

The other person didn't even look at Song Qi and Luo Shuyun, and found a secluded corner to sit down.

Song Qi didn't mind, and when the main group arrived, he ate all the pastries.

When Fang Hui and Fang Yue arrived, they were just about to marvel at their top five rankings when they saw Song Qi sitting to the side, and their expressions instantly changed.

"You actually made it up here!"

“Yes, the first one was about an hour faster than you two.” Song Qi smiled at the two of them. “Two geniuses.”

Fang Hui and Fang Yue are considered to be the most talented in this generation of the Fang family, one with a water elemental root and the other with both water and wood elemental roots.

The two men naturally understood Song Qi's sarcasm, and their expressions became even more unpleasant.

"What are you so smug about? Even if you were the first one up, it was just good luck. Five spiritual roots, go sweep the outer gate!" Fang Yue clenched his fist.

Luo Shuyun frowned and glanced at the two of them: "They are really well-mannered."

Fang Yue was stunned for a moment before noticing Luo Shuyun. Their eyes had been fixed on Song Qi, and they had completely ignored her.

"Hello, senior sister."

"You haven't even entered the sect yet, so why are you calling me senior sister?" Luo Shuyun said coldly. "The Green Mountain Sect requires its disciples to get along well. If you can't even do that, you should leave as soon as possible."

Fang Hui's expression froze.

"This disciple knows his mistake."

Luo Shuyun snorted coldly, and before she could say anything more, she took out her jade slip: "My master is looking for me, so I'll be going now. See you later."

"Okay." Song Qi nodded. "Goodbye, Grandma."

Luo Shuyun stumbled and turned to look at Song Qi.

Song Qi continued to smile.

After Luo Shuyun left, Fang Hui and Fang Yue sat down in front of Song Qi.

"You have quite the methods."

"What clever methods?" Song Qi took a sip of tea.

"Heh, let me tell you, don't think you can get away with anything just because you've managed to curry favor with Luo Shuyun." Fang Hui stared at Song Qi.

Song Qi looked at Fang Hui, somewhat puzzled: "Do you think I usually greet you first? I usually don't remember you guys, so why would I do anything to you?"

"It's funny, you two look down on me so much, but every time you see me you come over and talk to me." Song Qi rested her chin on her hand, looked at the two of them, and lowered her voice, "So, you two actually like me, your little sister, quite a bit."

Fang Yue looked at Song Qi, his expression stiff: "Ha, nonsense! Sister? There's no one like you in the Fang family!"

“In that case, please don’t bother to greet me when you see me.” Song Qi put down his cup. “There are so many people here, why bother coming over to me?”

The two people were driven away by Song Qi's success.

The Fang family's main force consisted of ten people, but only four appeared in the rest room when all three checkpoints were closed.

During this period, anyone who entered the lounge and recognized Fang Yaoyao would stare at Song Qi with a look as if they had seen a ghost.

They would rest on the mountain for a day, and then gather in the main hall the next morning for those who were eligible to take on apprentices to choose from.

Overnight, news of Song Qi's five spiritual roots had spread among the candidates, and when she went out in the morning, she could feel all sorts of gazes falling on her.

The gaze that had been fixed on Song Qi did not disappear until all the elders had appeared in the main hall.

"Which one of you is Fang Yaoyao?"

Song Qi stepped out, poised and confident.

The elder smiled and looked at Song Qi, nodded, and glanced at the disciple standing below the steps: "Test his spiritual root."

Song Qi took the spirit stone for testing. As the spirit stone began to change colors, she noticed that the faces of all the elders also began to change colors.

"Five spiritual roots?" The elder who called Song Qi out looked rather grim.

Those who had originally wanted Song Qi were now all silent.

“Young lady, the five spiritual roots are not suitable for cultivation.” This elder was already being tactful; most people would simply use the word “useless” to describe the five spiritual roots.

“I made it up, half an hour faster than the second-place finisher, which means I’m no worse than them.” Song Qi looked up at the elder. “Elder, I believe that hard work can make up for any shortcomings.”

The other elders exchanged glances.

Luo Shuyun stood not far away, clenching her hands and looking at her master, desperately trying to give him all sorts of hints.

"How about this, you stay in the outer sect for a year. If you can win first place in the arena a year later, I will become your master," Elder He, Luo Shuyun's master, said.

Each elder has a limit on the number of disciples they can accept. He can give Song Qi a chance, but he won't let her take up a disciple's spot directly.

"Thank you, Elder." Song Qi bowed respectfully and then returned to the group.

Luo Shuyun sighed, but knew this was the best solution at the moment; at least there was still one chance.

What others considered an impossible task turned out to be an impossible mission in the freshman arena a year later, open to both inner and outer disciples. The first place was never won by an outer disciple.

This is already considered a polite refusal.

For those in the inner sect, the outer sect members are indeed just there to help with cleaning. Although their names differ by only one character, the difference in teaching and resources is like night and day.

Song Qi stood in the line, his face expressionless.

The elders sighed as they looked at Song Qi.

This personality is not bad, but why is it only a five-elemental root?

Nobody thought she could actually win the ring match.

Apart from Song Qi, most of them were kept in the inner sect, while Fang Yue and Fang Hui directly joined the elders' sect.

As Song Qi left the main hall, she heard various people laughing at her. She remained calm, and her expression did not change in any particular way.

"I told you, you can only stay in the outer sect." Fang Yue looked at Song Qi, his smugness obvious.

"Why are you greeting me again?" Song Qi glanced at Fang Yue.

"This isn't a greeting, just a friendly reminder. You should hurry home. You might as well just get married. Cultivating immortality isn't for you. Do you think everyone can become an immortal?"

"Oh, thank you. I know not everyone can become an immortal, like you, you definitely won't." Song Qi smiled at Fang Yue, then returned to his courtyard, packed his small bundle, and headed to the outer disciples' gathering place.

Fang Yue was left stomping his feet on the spot.

"I don't understand what she's so proud of."

Why bother with her? She'll have plenty to cry about later.

"that is."

The others laughed, their laughter clearly laced with sarcasm.

Song Qi went to the outer gate alone. Luo Shuyun originally planned to come and see her off, but she was stopped by someone. By the time she arrived, Song Qi had already left.