Reborn with the SSS-Rank Creator System-Chapter 36: Spirit Root

Theos stood with the others outside the grand temple-like structure, its towering gates glimmering with inlaid jade and gold. Statues of ancient cultivators flanked either side of the entrance, their expressions stern as if judging the worth of every soul who dared approach. The early morning sun cast long shadows across the stone plaza where the group had gathered, and the air buzzed with the subtle energy of anticipation.

The instructor, dressed in azure robes with a silver badge upon his chest, turned to the gathered disciples. "Stay here," he said with practiced authority. "I'll head inside and register your group. Do not wander."

They nodded silently, forming into smaller clusters while the instructor strode toward the registration hall.

All around them, hundreds more children milled about, their ages ranging from ten to twelve. While Theos and his group were among the 400 outer disciples recruited through trials, there were thousands more in the plaza—children born into sect-affiliated families living in the outer sect city. These children did not require combat tests or entrance exams; a spirit root test alone would grant them direct access into the sect.

Inside the registration hall, the instructor approached a curved counter made of polished spiritwood, behind which sat a registrar draped in blue and silver, his expression bored yet sharp.

"Name and group?" the registrar asked without looking up.

"Instructor Varen. I'm handling the group of 400 from the entrance trials," the instructor replied, producing a small jade token marked with the group's number.

The registrar finally looked up, his expression shifting into one of mild surprise. "Ah, this is the batch from the trial dimension. Understood. I'll prepare the sealed rooms. You'll get the results compiled by the end of the day."

"They'll be tested individually, as per current regulations," Varen added.

"Of course. We follow the Patriarch's decree strictly."

Meanwhile, outside, the group waited. Theos stood off to the side, his eyes scanning the other candidates with quiet intensity. His presence alone was enough to discourage idle chatter directed at him. Xiphos stood beside him, arms crossed, his blindfold fluttering slightly in the breeze.

The others, however, spoke in hushed tones.

"I heard some of these kids from sect member families don't even need to train much," Arlen muttered.

"Yeah," Eryk replied, "they just rely on spirit root grades. My status screen says Earth grade."

"Same here," Arlen added. "Earth grade's not bad. It's rare enough that we'll probably get decent treatment if we perform well."

"So what about you, Selene?" Eryk asked, raising an eyebrow as he leaned slightly forward.

Selene, standing with arms folded, added confidently, "I have a Heaven grade spirit root."

Her words drew gasps. Even Xiphos tilted his head slightly.

"Heaven?" Arlen repeated, wide-eyed. "That's... that's the best recorded in the entire continent."

"People with Heaven grade roots," Eryk added, "they're monsters when it comes to comprehension. Some say they can understand techniques just by watching them once."

Selene gave a faint smile, clearly pleased with the attention. When the others turned to Lyra expectantly, she offered only a small shrug. "You'll see during the test."

The attention briefly shifted to Theos and Xiphos, but no one spoke. The tension from the earlier incident with Selene was still fresh in everyone's mind, and none dared provoke Theos again.

Moments later, Instructor Varen returned. "The testing rooms are ready. Listen closely now."

He stood straight, voice projecting clearly.

"There are seven recorded classes of spirit root: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Earth, Heaven, Legendary, and Mythical. Bronze is the most common. Silver and Gold are not rare but respectable. Earth is rare. Heaven... is considered divine."

He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle. "No cultivator in the last thousand years on this continent has ever officially awakened a Legendary or Mythical spirit root. They're considered legends. Old records mention them, but many believe they're just exaggerated tales."

Arlen raised his hand. "But, Instructor... our status screens show our spirit root grades already. Why test again?"

Varen nodded. "Good question. The status screen is visible only to you. It's not a verifiable measure. For all we know, you could lie. This test is for the sect to confirm your potential with its own eyes."

Murmurs passed among the disciples as the reality of his words sank in. One by one, the children were called into a room inside the grand building, their names announced in no particular order. Each disciple walked forward in silence, vanishing through the thick double doors that swallowed all sound once shut. Inside, they would undergo the spirit root examination.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

Although the tests were conducted privately, the results were announced publicly later. This system was established after a turning point in sect history. Years ago, during a routine assessment, the granddaughter of the Patriarch—Katie—revealed to her grandfather in secret that her spirit root was of an unheard-of class: Mythical. Knowing how dangerous it could be for a child with such a talent to be exposed, the Patriarch instituted a new protocol. The examination itself would be done in solitude, away from prying eyes. Results would only be shared after the fact, allowing the sect to intervene if a root greater than Heaven was discovered.

Before this change, regular instructors managed the testing. But after Katie's revelation, the one who now oversaw the process was none other than the Patriarch's right-hand man—an enigmatic figure known for his discretion and loyalty.

Thus, what once was routine had become one of the most tightly controlled rites in the sect.

And within that quiet building, beneath its grand stone façade, destinies were about to be revealed.

Each child who stepped into the sealed chamber found themselves in an entirely different atmosphere. The room was circular, its walls etched with ancient runes that shimmered faintly with an ethereal blue light. At its center floated a massive crystal lotus, suspended above a mirror-like basin of clear spirit water. As the doors sealed shut behind each participant, all external sounds vanished—replaced by a soft harmonic hum that resonated deep within the bones.

The right-hand man of the Patriarch, a figure in black and silver robes with his face half-covered in a ceremonial mask, stood silently beside the lotus. He did not speak, only gestured for the disciple to step forward and place their palm on the crystal.

When Arlen entered, he hesitated at first, but then stepped confidently up to the lotus and pressed his palm to it. The lotus shimmered gold, then deepened to a rich, earthen hue. A soft chime echoed, and the runes flared with a warm orange glow—Earth grade.

Moments later, Eryk took his turn. The process repeated, and once again, the room responded with the deep glow of Earth grade, confirming his earlier claim.

Selene stepped forward next, her posture regal and unshaken. As she placed her hand on the crystal, the runes around the chamber pulsed rapidly, and the lotus bloomed wider, unleashing a cascade of brilliant azure light that filled the room. The spirit water beneath turned sky blue, swirling with radiant energy. A soft wind whispered through the chamber though there were no windows. Heaven grade.

The masked examiner's eyes narrowed subtly behind his mask, but he gave no comment. He simply noted her result in a jade slip before dismissing her.

Each child was led out a different exit to ensure the results could be shared strategically. While the results were eventually made known, the private testing gave the sect enough time to prepare and act if someone like Katie ever appeared again. It was a balance between recognition and protection.

No applause, no whispers—only silence and the soft sound of destiny unfolding, one child at a time.