A cultivator's aptitude was generally judged by their Qi Nodes, connection patterns, and Qi Channels.

Having all twelve Qi Nodes intact indicated the potential to cultivate.

The fewer forks in the connections between Qi Nodes, the less Spiritual Qi would be lost.

The wider the Qi Channels, the greater the flow of Spiritual Qi that could enter the body.

As for Wu Tong's current aptitude, every aspect could be considered inferior, yet not quite to the point of being useless.

In other words, among those who could cultivate, she belonged to the very lowest tier.

"What is your name?"

"Wu Tong!"

"Very well. Come here."

"Thank you, Immortal Master!"

Wu San was still locked in a daze of shock when he saw his daughter already standing behind Yang Guanfeng.

The surrounding commoners were equally stunned.

"So even Wu Tong can enter the immortal sect!"

"Heavens! Wu Laosan actually hit the mark!"

"Immortal destiny, immortal destiny... it truly is something we mortals cannot fathom."

"I wonder how Wu Tong's aptitude compares to Zhao Qi's."

"Only the Immortal Masters would know that."

With a second child passing the test, the crowd burst into fervent discussion. Zhao Dapeng stepped forward and supported the trembling Wu San.

"Third Brother, your girl has made something of herself! You should be happy!"

What was once casually called "Laosan" had suddenly become "Third Brother."

Wu San snapped back to his senses, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and laughed. "You're right! I should be happy!"

Once the two children had bid farewell to their families, Yang Guanfeng grabbed hold of them, leaped into the air, and vanished from the crowd's sight.

The ensuing matters were left for Yang Feiyun to handle.

Every family that had brought a child for testing, regardless of whether the child possessed any aptitude, received a reward equivalent to a full year's harvest.

With the silver in hand, everyone's faces filled with barely contained joy. They endlessly voiced their gratitude, praising the main family's generosity and magnanimity.

As for the Zhao and Wu families, in addition to the reward money, they received substantial extra gifts!

Yang Feiyun directly allocated a large tract of land to the Zhao family, gifting them a residence at the foot of the mountain along with several storefronts.

Zhao Dapeng, originally a simple dirt farmer, was instantly elevated into a wealthy patriarch at the foot of the mountain!

Because Wu San was left all alone with no other relatives, he voluntarily declined these material rewards, asking only to be allowed to stay and serve the Yang family.

Yang Feiyun subsequently arranged for him to serve as a steward at one of the Yang family's courtyard residences.

After the commoners descended the mountain, news of the rewards and grants spread rapidly.

They also brought back word that from this year forward, the Yang family would recruit children from the foot of the mountain annually, though only residents of the North Bank would be eligible.

The moment this news broke, it was like a single stone stirring up a thousand waves.

Hearing that the old farmer Zhao Dapeng's child had ascended the immortal mountain and earned his family fields and a grand manor, none of the locals could sit still any longer.

"To think such wondrous fortune actually exists!"

"Ah! What a pity my child is already sixteen this year. Otherwise, who knows, he might have caught the Immortal Master's eye!"

"This won't do! I must quickly figure out a way to earn the Yang family's trust!"

"Comparing the two, the North Bank has always been fertile while the South Bank was barren. Now, with this path to immortality opened to them, the gap is even more glaring!"

"Didn't they say two children were chosen? Why haven't we seen the other family move in?"

"It was that lonely Wu Laosan. His daughter was chosen. Since he had no other kin, he pleaded with the Yang family lords and was kept on as a steward!"

"Oh ho, that is a splendid position in its own right!"

In the eyes of ordinary folk, let alone entering the Yang family to work, simply having any sort of connection with them was an extraordinary feat.

Seeing two local children attain the Dao and lift their entire households to the heavens, the ambitions of the populace at the foot of the mountain were thoroughly ignited.

Those on the South Bank racked their brains to demonstrate their loyalty to the Yang family, hoping to earn the right to move to the North Bank.

As for the couples already on the North Bank, they began busying themselves that very night.

Their reasoning was simple: since immortal destiny was hard to come by, they just needed to have more children. It was too late for this year, but perhaps ten years from now, they might just strike the jackpot!

The reaction of the commoners suited the intentions of the Yang family's upper echelons perfectly. This string of arrangements could be considered shooting three hawks with one arrow.

First, they could unearth young seedlings with cultivation aptitude.

Second, it drew the hearts of the South Bank residents closer to the Yang family.

Third, the population under the Yang family's control would continuously expand, ensuring they would lack no mortal manpower for decades or even centuries to come.

Compared to the clamor at the foot of the mountain, the Yang family's Restricted Grounds upon the peak remained as tranquil as ever.

The two children were handed over to Elder Yu. He led them to a separate courtyard within the Restricted Grounds. This location lay outside the Cloud-Mountain Mist Formation but inside the Pine-Forest Thick-Earth Formation, roughly thirty zhang away from the main courtyard.

"You two will reside here from now on. Have you memorized everything I instructed earlier?"

"We remember, Ancestor Yu!"

"We will devote ourselves entirely to our cultivation!"

Elder Yu gave a faint nod and retrieved two booklets, handing them to the children.

"This method is named the 'Circulatory Qi-Guiding Art,' a Qi Gathering-grade cultivation technique. It is a method that uses the body's circulatory cycles to draw in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Today, I will explain the introductory chapter. Listen closely..."

"The second method is named the 'Hundred-Bones Body-Tempering Record.' It is also a Qi Gathering-grade technique, a body-tempering method meant to refine the flesh and bone while absorbing Spiritual Qi. I will explain this one to you as well..."

Elder Yu's tone was steady as he broke down the introductory chapters of both techniques for them, word by word.

Both children listened with absolute focus, terrified of missing even the slightest detail.

In terms of quality, these two techniques naturally could not compare to the Nether-Spirit Dao-Seeking Scripture.

The latter allowed one to cultivate all the way to the Condensed Origin realm, while the former reached its absolute limit at Qi Gathering Perfection. They were specifically provided for outer-surname cultivators.

In the future, the number of outer-surname cultivators under the Yang family would certainly increase, becoming an important force in the family's grasp.

At the same time, however, their cultivation realms could not be allowed to grow too high, lest the younger generations of the Yang family find them difficult to control.

The Yang family could grant them the chance to step through the gates of Cultivation, but in exchange, they must maintain absolute loyalty to the family.

Right now, the two children had yet to achieve Qi Gathering. Once they succeeded, Elder Yu would have them swear a Blood Oath to serve the Yang family until death.

"Have you committed it all to memory?"

"To answer Ancestor Yu, we have remembered it!"

The two of them nodded in unison.

"Good. I will add a few more words. Cultivation is not easy, and the Dao is long. You must guard against pride and impatience. Under no circumstances should you rush your progress."

Elder Yu spoke with profound earnestness, "You two are the very first outer-surname cultivators the Yang family has taken up the mountain. You will serve as examples for the generations to come. Therefore, you must cultivate diligently and persevere without slackening."

"Wu Tong will engrave Ancestor Yu's teachings in her heart!"

"Zhao Qi will engrave Ancestor Yu's teachings in his heart!"

The two children bowed deeply toward Elder Yu, their eyes burning with fervor.

"Mm. Then you may begin. From now on, I will come every three days for two hours. If you have any questions then, you may ask me. The day you achieve success in Qi Gathering will be the day you formally take me as your master."

Elder Yu stood up. "Alright. Put your hearts into comprehending the techniques."

With that, he turned and departed.

Left alone in the courtyard, the two children began exchanging and reading through the two techniques, before slowly attempting to practice them.

What they did not know was that, at this very moment, Yang Guanfeng, Elder Yu, and Chen Yang were silently observing them.

"Aptitude is important, but our Yang family places even greater weight on character. We will have to rely on Elder Yu to keep a strict watch over them."

"Rest assured, Patriarch."