Only those with spiritual roots can embark on the path of cultivation, and the number of spiritual roots determines one's aptitude for immortality.
Having even a single spiritual root is enough to begin cultivating. Most cultivators possess several different spiritual roots. For example, the young man holding the bronze mirror, Huang Shulang, has three water spiritual roots and one wood spiritual root, making him a top-tier disciple within the Water Spirit Sect.
Those with four or more matching spiritual roots become treasured assets of their sects, guaranteed meticulous nurturing. However, such individuals are exceedingly rare—even over a century, one might not encounter a single case.
Moreover, different spiritual roots require vastly different cultivation techniques. The more aligned one's spiritual roots are, the faster they progress in corresponding techniques. Thus, before joining a sect, one must determine their roots' type and number. Cultivating the wrong technique could lead to decades of stagnation—or worse, qi deviation, reducing the practitioner to a mindless husk.
Since the Five Elements Sect had split into five factions, the Water Spirit Sect naturally only selected disciples suited for water-based techniques. Others, even with spiritual roots, were ignored.
This selection merely fulfilled an old agreement. Centuries ago, the Five Elements Sect faced annihilation until Heavenly Cloud Sage intervened. Coincidentally, this sage hailed from Stone Village, so he established a pact: every twenty years, the sect would return to recruit disciples.
Now, two hundred years later, no one knew whether the sage had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage or perished from old age. Yet the tradition endured.
Even after the sect's division, none dared violate an agreement with a Golden Core cultivator. Thus, the biannual selection became custom.
However, Stone Village's remoteness meant few children with spiritual roots. The five factions bickered until settling on taking turns.
Nearly a century post-division, it was the Water Spirit Sect's turn to visit.
The Spiritual Roots Test
One... two... three...
When three earth spiritual roots appeared on the bronze mirror, Huang Shulang barely contained his shock. Three matching roots meant talent rivaling his own. In the Earth Spirit Sect, such a disciple would be a core member—but for the Water Spirit Sect, this was useless at best, dangerous at worst.
"Better let this one rot in the backwaters," Huang Shulang thought coldly.
"Four!" A junior cultivator gasped. "Impossible!"
"Silence! Maintain decorum!" Huang Shulang snapped. Then something more shocking occurred—a fifth root flickered into existence.
"Five earth spiritual roots?!" Huang Shulang's mind reeled. Five matching roots were unheard of. Such a disciple would undoubtedly become an elder's personal protégé.
"Senior Brother... F-FIVE..." The junior stammered, tongue-tied.
"What?!" Huang Shulang watched the mirror display five yellow earth roots. He blinked hard, but the result held.
Testing the mirror on a junior confirmed it worked—two water roots and one metal root appeared normally.
The implications were clear: this rugged village boy truly had five earth roots.
The other cultivators stared, awaiting Huang Shulang's decision. A five-root talent was unprecedented.
Huang Shulang's mind raced. Four roots I could ignore. But five?
Legends claimed five matching roots granted natural insight into cosmic laws. Left unchecked, this boy might awaken independently—or join the Earth Spirit Sect, becoming a future threat.
"I can't risk it." This exceeded his authority; the sect leader must decide.
"You pass. Stand there." He pointed to the chosen group, voice forcibly calm.
"Hah! Stone's becoming an immortal!"
"Always knew he was special!"
The villagers erupted.
"Enough!" Huang Shulang silenced them. "Those selected may bid farewell. The cultivation path is against the current—shed mortal attachments. Once you leave, you won't return for ten years."
"Ten years?!" The crowd buzzed, but no parent refused this chance. The chosen children, swelling with pride, felt little sorrow.
As for Shi Chuan (Stone), he had no attachments—no family, no home.
Except Qingchuan.
"Wait! Qingchuan can test too! Who said girls can't have roots?" he shouted.
Before anyone reacted, he dragged Shi Qingchuan from the crowd.
Huang Shulang's eyes flashed with irritation—until noting Qingchuan's delicate features. Reluctantly, he tested her.
"Four water roots?!" He nearly choked. First a five-root earth talent, now a four-root water talent? Was fate mocking him?
After a pause, he gritted his teeth. "Passed."
"Brother Stone! I passed!" Qingchuan jumped joyfully.
Shi Chuan allowed a rare smile. His last mortal tie was secured.
The "Stone Rooster's" Greed
"Test my sons too!"
Shi Chuan's miserly uncle, aunt, and their spoiled sons shoved forward.
"Stone Rooster! Weren't you at the opera?" someone jeered. The uncle's stinginess earned him the nickname "Stone Rooster" (a pun on "miser").
Ignoring them, the uncle bowed. "Immortal Masters, my sons are clever! Please test them!"
Huang Shulang feigned sleep.
"Useless girl! Beg for your brothers!" The uncle smacked Qingchuan's head. They'd rushed back upon hearing of the selection, only to learn she'd been chosen.
"Stop!" Shi Chuan threw the uncle back several feet.
"You brat!" The uncle and aunt lunged.
"Immortal, they're my brothers. Please test them," Qingchuan pleaded.
Huang Shulang relented—Qingchuan's four water roots made her a future elite.
The results:
One son: Single metal root.
The other: No roots.
"Trash. No cultivation for you."
"What?! That idiot Stone passed! Why not us?!" The brothers howled, shooting venomous glares.
"Perhaps you made a mistake?" The aunt begged.
"I don't err." Huang Shulang's voice turned icy.
"Take the girl, but leave Stone! Take one of my sons instead—"
"ENOUGH!" Huang Shulang's roar made the crowd stagger, blood churning.
The aunt shrieked, "I raised that girl for nothing! If you won't take my sons—"
Shi Chuan and Qingchuan paled.
Qingchuan... was adopted?
The brothers grabbed her arms. "If we can't go, neither can she!"
"You dare?!" Before Shi Chuan could react, Huang Shulang flicked his wrist.
Two silver streaks shot out.
"Aaaah!" The brothers collapsed, clutching their stomachs.
"Immortal magic!" The villagers kowtowed.
Huang Shulang exhaled. At the third level of Qi Refining, casting two Ice Spikes was taxing.
"Qingchuan is now ours. Harm her, and die."
Another cultivator intervened. "Disperse. Selected candidates return in one hour." He wanted no trouble in the Heavenly Cloud Sage's hometown.
Farewell to the Temple
Shi Chuan hurried Qingchuan to the mountain temple, fearing his uncle might retaliate.
Having lived there for years, he felt indebted to the mountain god and wished to pay respects before leaving.
The old beggar scurried over, grinning. "You passed?"
"Still here?" Shi Chuan had forgotten breakfast.
Ignoring him, they knelt before the crumbling statue.
"Thank you for your blessings. We leave to cultivate. We'll return in ten years."
The beggar laughed. "Praying to a mountain god? The Five Elements Sect would skin you for that!"
"What Five Elements Sect?" Shi Chuan stood. "We're joining the Water Spirit Sect."
The beggar's smile vanished. "Water Spirit Sect? Impossible!" He muttered, "This shouldn't be happening..."
As they turned to leave, the beggar grabbed Shi Chuan. "Wait! I must speak with you—alone."
(End of Chapter)