Useless Spiritual Roots

"Wang Yu, Useless Spiritual Roots, eliminated!"

"Next!"

Upon hearing the Immortal Envoy's verdict, the surrounding townsfolk cast pitying looks at the young man on the platform, though their private discussions told a different story.

"That's a Wang Clan descendant, isn't it?"

"He has such a fine face, but he wasn't fated to enter an Immortal Sect."

"How can Spiritual Root Aptitude be compared to appearance? I'd say the Wang Clan has done too many wicked deeds—it serves them right!"

"You can't speak nonsense like that. Young Master Yu is different from those dandies. He has never bullied the common folk."

"Heh... just a piece of trash. Why aren't you getting down yet?!"

That final remark had not come from a bystander.

It came from a youth standing outside the line. Dressed in brocade and fine robes, with handsome features, a piece of green jade hanging from his waist, he tapped a landscape-painted folding fan against his palm, his face full of arrogant disdain.

His name was Wang Wu. He and Wang Yu were cousins, and he was sixteen this year. However, he had tested his Spiritual Roots earlier and possessed Dual Spiritual Roots Aptitude, a genius with hopes of Foundation Establishment.

Their fathers were blood brothers, both with a chance of inheriting the position of next Family Head. Their fathers' struggle had extended to their sons, resulting in the two being at odds.

Wang Yu clenched his fists, said nothing, and turned to leave the Spirit Testing Platform.

He had never imagined himself to be some genius, but he had not expected to possess Useless Spiritual Roots. With such aptitude, let alone Foundation Establishment, even breaking through to the Qi Refining Mid Stage would be a problem.

Ever since he had reincarnated from the womb and seen through the mystery within it, sixteen years had passed since he came to this great age of cultivation. He had a miraculous "cheat" at his side, named—the [Placement Slot]!

As its name implied, it could place things inside.

Yet physical objects could not be placed in it. Over the past sixteen years, he had placed books such as the Thousand Character Classic, Eight Principles of Yong, Detailed Explanation of Human Meridians, Wonderful Scroll of Qihuang... and so on.

As long as he gave them a cursory read, he could place them in the [Placement Slot]. The effect was equivalent to another version of himself constantly studying, pondering their contents, and practicing them.

Never tiring, never stopping!

For example, after the Thousand Character Classic had been placed there for several days, he had thoroughly understood it. Even though his actual body had done nothing, he had learned to recognize many characters.

Used for cultivation, this ability would undoubtedly save him much time, but the Immortal Sects had their own rules for accepting disciples.

[Stone Lake City], where the Wang Clan resided, fell under the jurisdiction of the [Vulture Peak Sect]. Every year, the Spirit Roots of youths of appropriate age in the city were tested, and at sixteen, they formally stepped onto the path of cultivation.

In this world, everyone possessed Spiritual Roots, divided into six grades from highest to lowest.

Single Spiritual Root, also known as a Heavenly Spiritual Root, was the foremost aptitude beneath a Spirit Body. It guaranteed advancement to the realm of a Core Formation True Person, and one might not appear even in a hundred years.

Dual Spiritual Roots, also known as High-grade Spiritual Roots, had a High probability of Foundation Establishment. They were fine timber and flawless jade, relatively rare.

Three Spiritual Roots, also known as Middle Grade Spiritual Roots, were also the Spiritual Root Aptitude possessed by most cultivators in this world. With methods for Qi Refining, they could basically all cultivate to Qi Refining Great Perfection before their lifespan ran out.

Four Spiritual Roots were Low Grade Spiritual Roots, also called "Mixed Spiritual Roots." Their aptitude was poor, and Foundation Establishment would be difficult throughout their lives.

Five Spiritual Roots were the Useless Spiritual Roots Wang Yu possessed. Even refining Spirit Qi was difficult for them, and breaking through Qi Refining Fourth Layer would be hard in this lifetime.

The final grade was "Shattered Spiritual Roots." They could not sense Spirit Qi, which meant they were mortals incapable of cultivation.

Aptitude could not determine a cultivator's final destination, but it could determine one's starting point. The difficulty mentioned here referred to the upper limit one could reach with the same resources invested.

There were no shortage of those in this world who defied the heavens and changed their fate.

But Wang Yu had lost at the starting line. The Vulture Peak Sect was not some top-tier Immortal Sect, but it Would not accept disciples with Useless Spiritual Roots Aptitude. It did not have that many resources to spare.

Even if they recruited servants, Four Spiritual Roots were Is the preferred choice.

And Wang Wu's Dual Spiritual Roots Aptitude meant that once he entered the Vulture Peak Sect, he would become a Foundation Establishment seedling and receive preferential resources. The struggle for the position of Family Head had already been lost.

The Spirit Testing Platform had been set up in the plaza of the City Lord's Mansion. Wang Yu left without looking back. Some friends who had once been close to him all turned their heads away, not even daring to greet him. Such was reality.

Human warmth and coldness, the chill and heat of the world—changing in an instant.

Wang Clan Courtyard.

Wang Yu pushed open the door and entered, looking somewhat guiltily at his father, who was offering incense before his mother's memorial tablet.

"You knew?"

"Yes."

Before the incense table, Wang Chongwen gave a light bow, inserted three sticks of incense into the censer, and said in a low voice,

"If Wang Wu merely had Three Spiritual Roots, your father would still have grounds to contend. But he just had to possess Dual Spiritual Roots.

"The Vulture Peak Sect will become his backing, and the City Lord's Mansion will also favor him. Pack your things and prepare to leave Stone Lake City."

Wang Yu could not help saying,

"You fear Eldest Uncle will make a move to kill?"

"He will not. Wang Wu will."

"..."

Wang Yu fell silent for a moment.

One's life could not be entrusted to the mercy of others. The struggle for the Family Head's position had always been fierce, and Wang Wu was vicious and unruly. He often injured people by riding horses recklessly and forcibly abducted women; there were even cases of household servants being whipped to death. He was a notorious wicked dandy of Stone Lake City.

Considering his conduct today, it was only natural that he would settle accounts once he gained power in the future.

"I understand. I'll go pack my luggage."

"No need to pack. A carriage is at the rear gate. It will take you to Thousand Autumn City, where you can live out this life in peace."

"You aren't leaving?"

"The clan elders will protect your father. If a clan wishes to grow strong, how could it tolerate brothers killing one another? Once you leave, my branch will have no heir, and I will no longer threaten the position of Family Head."

Wang Yu fell silent again. Ever since his mother had died in childbirth while giving birth to him, his relationship with Wang Chongwen had been rather ordinary. Even though he had borne the name of a prodigy since childhood, he had never received the slightest praise.

Originally, he had not cared, but now that trouble had come and his escape route had been arranged for him, he still felt somewhat moved.

Cultivation—he Would not give it up!

"Father, I'm leaving."

"Mhm. May the wind be at your back."

As the door closed, Wang Chongwen let out a long sigh. He opened his bloodshot eyes and softly said to the memorial tablet,

"Rou'er, Yu'er has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood. Even without cultivation aptitude, he can still live well. I hope he can spend his life peacefully in Thousand Autumn City, rather than being as pathetic as I am."

"It will not be long before I come to keep you company as well."

Naturally, Wang Yu had no idea what happened in this room after he left, much less that Wang Chongwen had already resolved to die. The aptitude test had merely been the fuse.

The Spirit Testing continued, while Wang Yu had already boarded the carriage, preparing to journey far to Thousand Autumn City and leave the whirlpool of internal conflict within the Wang Clan.

Meanwhile.

Inside a servants' room by the rear gate of the Stone Lake City Lord's Mansion, a Black Robe Figure threatened in a hoarse voice,

"The Vulture Peak Sect is merely a third-rate force. Its territory encompasses only a dozen or so cities, and it has only one Core Formation Cultivator at its strongest. How could it compare with my Inverse Spirit Blood Sect?"

The Stone Lake City Lord spoke coldly.

"The Vulture Peak Sect is inferior to your Inverse Spirit Blood Sect, but this is righteous Dao territory. Demonic Dao Cultivators are rats crossing the street. If you want people, it's simple—buy them with Spirit Stones.

"Ten Spirit Stones for one with Five Spiritual Roots, fifty Spirit Stones for one with Four Spiritual Roots. Those with Three Spiritual Roots or above are not for sale."

The Black Robe Figure said irritably,

"Even Useless Spiritual Roots cost ten? Why don't you just go rob someone?!"