Chapter 613: One Hand, One Opportunity

Qin Yi stopped in his tracks. He abruptly looked up and saw a figure in purple robes slowly approaching.

The green-robed boy and some of the other youths nearby also looked over. They were all a little surprised when they saw who it was.

The Ancient Spirit Sect's recruitment rules stipulated that disciples must be under thirteen years of age. This man was clearly well over the age limit, so why was he here?

"I can work a hundred times harder than anyone else, and I pray that my efforts will pay off. But in the end, nothing changes. It always ends in failure."

After a moment of silence, Qin Yi replied with a self-deprecating laugh. 'My talent has determined my path!'

"If I had great talent, I would work even harder. I'd know how to make better use of it than anyone."

Qin Yi quickly added.

But that was all just a hypothetical. Everyone present knew that talent wasn't something you could obtain simply by wishing for it.

"Qin Yi, you should just go back to chopping wood. Some things are pointless no matter how hard you try."

Some of the youths who knew Qin Yi shouted out.

Qin Yi was a woodcutter's son. He had come to the Ancient Spirit Sect before, but had failed every time.

His fate was sealed. How could it possibly be changed?

Qin Yi didn't answer. He simply resumed walking, preparing to leave.

As he passed by Ye Wushuang, he paused and suddenly asked, "Even though I hate to admit defeat... I still want to know. What was it you were talking about?"

The others also stared at Ye Wushuang, their curiosity piqued. What else could possibly change things? A resolute heart? An indomitable will?

If it was something like that, then it was just empty talk.

Ye Wushuang gave a faint smile and spoke a single word, "Opportunity?"

"Opportunity?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd of youths burst out laughing. 'Opportunity can change everything?'

Many people get opportunities, so why are they still failures?

"Where did this guy come from? He has no aura fluctuations at all. He doesn't seem like a Disciple of the Ancient Spirit Sect!"

"He's probably just another failure, commiserating with his own kind!"

The group of youths pointed and muttered. The "commiserating with his own kind" remark made everyone roar with laughter.

But Qin Yi stared at Ye Wushuang with utmost seriousness.

He could feel a power in Ye Wushuang's gaze and behind his words, a power that was affecting him.

"For example, meeting me. That is an opportunity."

Ye Wushuang suddenly smiled, uttering a line that sounded like a joke.

With that, he walked straight past Qin Yi.

'Some people have everything they need, except for an opportunity.'

'Just like myself. I was so similar to Qin Yi, struggling desperately in a hopeless situation. If not for a chance opportunity, how could I have ever made it to where I am today?'

"Hahaha!"

The group of youths erupted in laughter at Ye Wushuang's words.

"This guy's hilarious. If he's an opportunity, why hasn't it fallen on me?!"

Ye Wushuang's words had the youths cracking up.

Qin Yi watched Ye Wushuang walk past, momentarily stunned.

"Follow him."

Just then, another voice sounded in Qin Yi's ear. It was the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc.

The Roc ignored the group of youths. Opportunity was right in front of them, but they let it slip by. How could it possibly fall to them?

Hearing the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc's words, Qin Yi clutched his last shred of hope and followed. No matter the outcome, he wouldn't let this chance go!

Of course.

He had no idea that this one small decision would change his life completely.

Because if he hadn't followed, hadn't seized this last shred of a chance, then Ye Wushuang would have paid him no mind.

"The kid actually believed him!"

At this, the youths exchanged glances, watching Ye Wushuang walk toward the center of the Martial Arts Stage.

「In the center of the Martial Arts Stage.」

Chen Yuan, who had been conducting the assessment, seemed to sense something and stopped what he was doing.

At the same time, Qiu Mo's head snapped around.

RUMBLE!

RUMBLE!

In that instant, powerful auras erupted from the main peaks of the Ancient Spirit Sect—Cyan Profound Peak, Celestial Yang Peak, Broken Sword Peak, Fengtian Peak, and others!

The entire Ancient Spirit Sect trembled!

"What's going on?"

Countless Disciples in the middle of their Cultivation looked up in confusion, watching figures streak across the sky, heading straight for Yunhua Peak.

"Let's go! Let's see what's happening!"

Instantly, countless Disciples began rushing toward Yunhua Peak.

Ye Wushuang walked step-by-step toward the Martial Arts Stage, with the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc and Qin Yi following behind him.

When he reached one of the testing pillars on the Martial Arts Stage, Ye Wushuang turned to Qin Yi with a smile. "Go on, try again."

Qin Yi froze, glancing over at Chen Yuan, who stood nearby.

Down below, the group of youths also looked at Chen Yuan, their expressions strange.

'To just walk up and test without permission... he's probably already angered the Elder. It's not like he can pull off any tricks, anyway.'

'Even if he could, Elder Chen Yuan probably wouldn't accept Qin Yi now!'

Qin Yi hesitated. It wasn't that he was scared, but that he knew testing again would yield the same result.

"One last time," Ye Wushuang said coolly. "Perhaps a miracle will happen."

To the side, neither Chen Yuan nor Qiu Mo spoke. They watched with faint smiles, both understanding that this was Ye Wushuang's own test for Qin Yi.

If Qin Yi didn't try, he would miss his final opportunity—the one that could change his destiny.

After a moment of silence, Qin Yi chose to proceed. He no longer cared about the outcome; he just wanted to extinguish the final embers of hope within his heart.

With that, he strode forward and pressed a hand against the stone pillar.

All the youths stared, but alas, the hoped-for miracle didn't occur. Qin Yi couldn't pull off any special tricks.

The stone pillar was a device for testing one's root bone; a good root bone would cause it to display different colors. But when Qin Yi placed his hand on it, nothing changed at all.

The last spark of hope in Qin Yi's heart was extinguished.

However.

At that very moment, the stone pillar trembled violently. A brilliant purple light abruptly erupted from the silent stone, so dazzling it drew everyone's gaze.

"Purple light! That's a superior-grade root bone!"

The youths' eyes went wide in utter disbelief.

Qin Yi was stunned. He looked up at the stone pillar before him. It had lit up. The very thing he had always dreamed of seeing was now materializing right before his eyes.

'Wait, that's not right. Before, I...'

Sensing something, Qin Yi whipped his head to the side and felt a hand on his shoulder.

The hand was fair and unremarkable, yet at this moment, it felt like the hand of Lady Luck herself, injecting streams of golden light that poured into his body!

Qin Yi could feel an earth-shattering transformation happening within him, all because of this hand!

His heart trembled. He turned his head and clearly saw the figure. Wasn't it the man in purple who had joked about giving him an opportunity?

It wasn't just him; the youths below also saw it clearly. All eyes fell in unison upon Ye Wushuang.

"Congratulations. You are now a Disciple of the Ancient Spirit Sect."

Just then, Chen Yuan walked over and announced the result.

He wasn't filled with thunderous rage as the others had expected. Instead, his face was all smiles.

Qin Yi himself could hardly believe it. Moments ago, he was struggling in the depths of despair, and now his destiny had been reversed, and he had become a genius in a single bound.

And it was all because of the hand that rested before him.