“First, verify his identity. Second, test for the consumption of Blood Food. Third, use a secret technique to confirm if he truly possesses Universal Comprehension… If he passes these three trials, we can trust Han Yu without reservation.”

“Do we are all agree?”

Sect Leader Qi looked around at the three Elders as he finished speaking.

Elder Yan and the others nodded in unison.

Elder Lü interjected with a reminder, “After the verification, his true cultivation level and talent must remain classified. We cannot risk jealous actors seeking to harm him.”

Sect Leader Qi fell silent for a moment before snapping back, unable to contain his irritation. “You certainly are optimistic. Let’s wait for him to actually pass first.”

“Also,” Elder Lü pressed on, “regarding his reward—the cultivation session at the Ancestral Tree’s earth vein—”

“Absolutely not.”

Sect Leader Qi, Elder Yan, and the other two Elders spoke as one, their voices cutting through the air like a gavel.

“That location involves the life and death of the Sect. We cannot allow any margin for error!”

Elder Lü sighed, his face full of regret. “But if he really has Universal Comprehension, wouldn’t it be a waste to let him grind his cultivation up slowly like a commoner?”

This Lü Qing… still trying to squeeze benefits for his disciple even now!

Sect Leader Qi’s temper flared. “Elder Yan, perhaps we should investigate Elder Lü as well—what do you think? His disciple is a suspect; who is to say the master is clean?”

Elder Lü froze, stunned. Then, recovering his wits, he spread his arms wide, chest out. “Fine, fine! Search me!”

“My disciple and I have a clear conscience!”

“I just spoke a few extra words for his sake, and now I’m a suspect? I don’t believe this…”

“Enough, Elder Lü. Save your breath. Until the doubts surrounding Han Yu are cleared, do not mention the Ancestral Tree.” As Elder Yan spoke, he placed a heavy hand on Elder Lü’s shoulder. His Golden Core spiritual power surged, circulating through Lü’s meridians in a flash.

A moment later, Elder Yan withdrew his hand. “Elder Lü hasn’t secretly practiced blood arts. Sect Leader, don’t be angry; he is just overly protective.”

“Who doesn’t know he treats this kid like a treasure?”

Elder Lü stared at Elder Yan, incredulous. “You were just talking to distract me while you actually probed me? Did you really think I was a suspect?”

“Of course,” Elder Yan said solemnly, the corners of his grim mouth tightening slightly. “The Sect is in grave crisis. Any suspicion must be thoroughly investigated.”

Sect Leader Qi waved his hand, ending the bickering. “Enough. Take Han Yu to the Deacon’s Hall. We need the registry and the Spirit Root Manifestation stele. We will verify his identity with blood.”

“Then, take three samples—blood, Essence Blood, and hair—and place them in Crimson Silver Sand. If the sand does not change color, he has not consumed Blood Food.”

“If these two verifications are clean, his name is cleared.”

“Let us go together.”

The four Elders agreed.

The group of five, with Han Yu in tow, swept toward the Deacon’s Hall.

Inside, Deacon Liu Mo, Inner Disciple Sheng Yan, Outer Disciple Lu Yun, and several others watched in shock as the Sect’s highest authorities descended upon them.

“Sect Leader… Elders…”

“Clear the room,” Elder Lü commanded. “We have official business.”

Deacon Liu nodded hastily, ordering Sheng Yan, Lu Yun, and the other disciples to evacuate immediately.

When the room was empty of disciples, Deacon Liu turned to leave as well, but Elder Lü’s gaze stopped him.

“You stay.”

Deacon Liu blinked. “Me?”

“Nonsense,” Sect Leader Qi barked. “If the Head Deacon isn’t trustworthy, who in the Sect is?”

As he spoke, the Sect Leader unleashed a wave of Golden Core aura, sealing the room and isolating sound to ensure absolute secrecy.

“Han Yu, step forward.”

Han Yu obeyed.

“Liu Mo, assist him. Apply his blood to his palm and compare it with the original registry record. Verify his identity.”

Deacon Liu looked at Han Yu in surprise. Han Yu just achieved a Major Merit today and was supposed to be rewarded with a session at the Ancestral Tree. Why are they treating him like a criminal suspect?

Despite his internal shock, his hands moved without delay. He pricked Han Yu’s skin with a fine silver needle, extracting a drop of blood from his fingertip and another from behind his ear. He smeared them onto Han Yu’s palm and gestured toward the stone stele.

Han Yu pressed his bloodied palm onto the Deacon’s registry tablet. A low hum resonated, and a warm sensation traveled up his arm.

Entry Record: Age 12. Four Spirit Roots.

Current Status: Age 14. Three Spirit Roots. Qi Refining Level 5.

Deacon Liu gasped. “It’s him… but his cultivation and Spirit Roots—they don’t match the record!”

“As long as it is him.” Sect Leader Qi’s expression softened visibly. “Not a word of this leaves this room. Do you understand?”

“If anyone outside asks, he is still a Four Spirit Root disciple at the fourth layer of Qi Refining.”

Deacon Liu nodded vigorously, realizing the Sect was verifying Han Yu’s identity to protect a newfound genius.

“Prepare a portion of Crimson Silver Sand,” Sect Leader Qi instructed.

Deacon Liu retrieved a container of the rare sand from the exchange vault and handed it over.

With a thought, the Sect Leader’s Golden Core power surged, lifting the Crimson Silver Sand into the air where it hovered, glittering ominously.

Following instructions, Deacon Liu took samples of Han Yu’s blood, hair, and a drop of concentrated Essence Blood, dropping them successively into the floating cloud of sand.

Crimson Silver Sand was a material typically used in high-level alchemy and artifact refining due to its extreme purity. It was intolerant of filth; if it touched any substance containing dark impurities—like the tainted mana of a cannibalistic cultivator—it would turn pitch black instantly.

Blood. Hair. Essence Blood.

The samples merged with the sand.

The sand shimmered, retaining its brilliant crimson-silver hue.

Han Yu let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. Finally.

From this moment on, he was clear. No more hidden dangers within Wanchun Valley. He could cultivate with peace of mind.

Seeing the result, the tension drained from the shoulders of Sect Leader Qi and the four Elders.

Elder Lü beamed, unable to hide his triumph. “What did I tell you? My disciple is clean!”

“Alright, don’t push your luck,” Elder Bai admonished. “Since the biological verifications prove Han Yu is himself and hasn’t consumed Blood Food, then the only explanation is his delightful talent: Universal Comprehension.”

“In that case, for the third test, let us select a high-quality secret technique for him. Consider it a reward as well.”

Elder Lü grumbled, “What kind of reward is that?”

“Han Yu’s aptitude is poor, and his cultivation speed is slow. He desperately needs the Spirit Infusion Power of the Ancestral Tree. You promised him that opportunity, and now you’re taking it back…”

“That is non-negotiable,” Sect Leader Qi said, his voice grave. “The Ancestral Tree is the foundation left by our Founder. It sustains the lives of thousands of cultivators in Wanchun Valley. We must be cautious.”

“So his merit of bravely killing three enemies goes unrewarded?” Elder Lü straightened his back, standing his ground. “There are countless unverified disciples in the valley, yet you treat the one with verified identity and peerless talent with the most suspicion?”

With Han Yu’s identity confirmed, Elder Lü felt emboldened to argue on principle.

Sect Leader Qi and the three Elders exchanged glances. Finally, the Sect Leader sighed.

“Either we change the reward, or he waits for future evaluation.”

“When Elders Wen and Mu emerge from seclusion, and if we all agree on Han Yu’s loyalty and performance, we will grant him the Spirit Infusion opportunity then.”

Elder Lü knew this was the best concession he would get. He turned to Han Yu. “Disciple, what do you say?”

Han Yu bowed. “I am willing to prove myself further and await the recognition of the Sect Leader and the esteemed Elders.”

Sect Leader Qi looked at the boy, his tone softening into an explanation. “Han Yu, it is not that we do not recognize your value. But the Ancestral Tree’s earth vein is too critical. We must be paranoid.”

He straightened up. “Now, your identity is verified. Only one test remains: to prove your Universal Comprehension.”

“I will give you a secret technique I obtained during my travels to the Central Heaven Domain in my youth.”

“I can guarantee that no one in the entire Southern Domain has learned this technique. Therefore, you could not have learned it in advance. It is the perfect control variable to test your learning speed.”

Han Yu nodded.

Sect Leader Qi reached into his Storage Bag and produced a jade slip that shimmered with a silvery-white light. He stared at it for two seconds, silent, as if lost in a distant memory.

Then, he handed it to Han Yu.

“Do not lose this Jade Slip. Within one month, whether you have grasped the basics or not, you must return it to me.”

Han Yu accepted it with both hands. “Sect Leader, what technique is this? Is there anything I should watch out for?”

“This is the Star Luo Traction Technique,” Sect Leader Qi said indifferently. “As for what to watch out for… I do not know.”

Elder Lü stared at him, aghast. “You don’t know? Yet you dare give it to my disciple?”

“Did I not say?” Sect Leader Qi replied calmly. “No one in the Southern Domain has learned it.”

He paused, then added a final, dry remark.

“That includes me.”

With that, the Sect Leader turned and swept out of the room, his robes fluttering behind him.

“Dismissed. Bring the Jade Slip back to me in one month.”