Spiritual Roots

The fat man seemed to relish the awestruck gazes around him. Smiling amiably, he said, "Easy, easy..."

Princess Dongyang led the way, with the fat man following behind. Just as they were about to enter the rear hall, he suddenly stopped and turned around. His tiny eyes, squeezed into slits by the flesh on his face, swept over the crowd as he asked blandly, "Who is Qin Sang?"

In an instant, every pair of eyes in the Sacred Palace turned in unison toward Qin Sang.

Princess Dongyang lifted her gaze slightly.

Qin Sang had thought the Young Man surnamed Han had broken his promise and had been full of disappointment. He hurriedly bowed. "Reporting to Immortal Master, I am Qin Sang."

The young man sized Qin Sang up, gave a noncommittal hum, pointed at him, and said, "Come find me after the enthronement ceremony ends."

With that, he turned and entered the rear hall.

The great hall fell silent as a graveyard.

Qin Sang could feel the surprise and envy in those gazes, as well as the Heir Apparent's jealousy. Even King Dongyang, who was about to become sovereign, stared straight at Qin Sang.

Admiral Mu leaned closer and asked softly, "The rumors said you saved an immortal master's life. So it was true?"

Governor Feng knew a little more. "I remember... he seemed thinner than this one, right?"

Still immersed in his joy, Qin Sang ignored the two of them. Since the Young Man surnamed Han had not forgotten him and had even specially sent someone for him, did that not mean there was a very high chance he would grant Qin Sang's request?

After a moment of silence, the Sacred Palace Master softly reminded King Dongyang, "Your Majesty, the auspicious hour is about to pass."

"Oh? Oh!"

Only then did the ruler and ministers in the hall come back to their senses. King Dongyang hurriedly held the imperial seal in both hands, stepped forward, and carefully placed it between the jade tablet and jade register. The enthronement ceremony began.

The ceremony's rites were cumbersome. Later, they moved outside, where the officials received their enfeoffments. It continued for nearly three whole shichen. Fortunately, the mountain wind was mild, and the winter sun was warm enough for everyone to endure it.

In the end, King Dongyang ascended the throne as emperor and chose Wude as his reign title.

Qin Sang was bestowed the titles of Supporting-State General and Marquis of Jiang Prefecture.

Qin Sang accepted the enfeoffment with a calm expression. He waited until the enthronement ceremony ended and the new emperor led the officials down the mountain back to the Jade Palace. He alone remained at the Sacred Palace, led by the Sacred Palace Master toward the rear hall.

Princess Dongyang—who should now be called the Grand Princess—had gone somewhere unknown.

Only the fat young man remained in the hall. He sat in a grand chair with his eyes tightly shut, utterly motionless. He appeared to be asleep, but was in fact cultivating.

The moment they entered the hall, the fat young man opened his eyes. He waved for the Sacred Palace Master to leave, then lazily said to Qin Sang, "I'll make this brief. Senior Brother Han asked me to tell you something. The immortal path is difficult to seek. This is not only because countless dangers await after one begins cultivation. To cultivate, one must possess Spiritual Roots, and among ordinary people, those with Spiritual Roots are one in ten thousand. In other words, if you choose cultivation, your chances are exceedingly slim. If you remain in the mortal world, the Sacred Palace will protect three generations of your descendants and ensure they enjoy wealth and honor. Choose for yourself."

Qin Sang was slightly stunned. Only then did he learn that cultivation required Spiritual Roots.

Then he immediately thought of how he had already cultivated the Netherworld Scripture to the fifth layer. He certainly possessed Spiritual Roots, so there was naturally nothing to worry about.

Still, Qin Sang asked a few more questions. "What are Spiritual Roots?"

"How would I know what they are?"

The fat young man curled his lip. He had no idea why Senior Brother Han cared so much about a mortal and had even demanded that he explain everything clearly. "Spiritual Roots are divided among the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, corresponding to the five-element spiritual energy between heaven and earth. Only those with Spiritual Roots can comprehend the heavenly dao and cultivate spiritual energy and True Essence within their bodies. In short, without Spiritual Roots, you cannot even sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, much less cultivate. And possessing Spiritual Roots does not mean our Han family will accept you. If you possess pure Heavenly Spiritual Roots, forget the Han family—even the great cultivation sects would fight to take you in. But if your Spiritual Roots are mixed and impure, such as Four-element Spiritual Roots or even Five-element Spiritual Roots, you will be unable to achieve Foundation Establishment until the day you die. Even with Senior Brother Han's recommendation, you could never enter the Han family's inner sect."

Hearing this, Qin Sang, who had thought everything was in the bag, became uneasy again. He questioned the man closely until the fat young man's face was full of impatience. Only then did Qin Sang gain a shallow understanding of Immortal Cultivators.

It turned out that the first realm after entering cultivation was called the Qi Refining Stage. It was the process of refining essence into qi, during which one nourished the Primordial Spirit and transformed the mortal flesh. One's lifespan could exceed that of ordinary people by several decades.

The Qi Refining Stage had thirteen layers in total. Upon reaching the tenth layer, one could begin preparing for Foundation Establishment.

Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm possessed formidable combat power. Only then could they be considered true Immortal Cultivators in the Cultivation World. Those unable to achieve Foundation Establishment were of little use to a sect.

Whether one could achieve Foundation Establishment depended on one's opportunities, but more importantly, on talent—namely, Spiritual Roots.

True Spiritual Roots such as Single Spiritual Roots, Dual Spiritual Roots, and Triple Spiritual Roots all gave one a decent chance of achieving Foundation Establishment. But pseudo Spiritual Roots such as Four-element Spiritual Roots and Five-element Spiritual Roots offered only the faintest hope.

The fat young man explained it clearly to Qin Sang. Among ten thousand people, not one might possess Spiritual Roots, and true Spiritual Roots were even rarer. Single Spiritual Roots appeared only once every several decades, so Qin Sang should not indulge in wild fantasies.

If Qin Sang possessed pseudo Spiritual Roots, he could still go to the Han family. But he could only live as an ordinary person in the Han family's outer sect, perhaps surviving a few more years than mortals and never wanting for food or clothing. That might not even compare to becoming a king or marquis in the mortal world, protected by the Sacred Palace and enjoying wealth and glory for a lifetime.

But how could Qin Sang be willing to give up now?

Qin Sang did not know whether the Netherworld Scripture corresponded layer for layer with the Qi Refining Stage. He had reached the fifth layer in only five years. That speed should not have been slow, right?

Did that not mean his talent was not poor?

"Immortal Master, I've decided," Qin Sang said solemnly. "Please test my Spiritual Roots."

The fat young man had long since been worn out by Qin Sang's questions. Hearing this, he snorted. "Is the immortal path so easy to seek? I see you won't turn back until you crash into the southern wall. Hold out your hand."

Qin Sang nervously extended his hand. He feared his aptitude would not be good enough, and he also feared the fat young man would discover the demonic art within him.

Yet while Qin Sang was still worrying in secret, he suddenly heard the fat young man say coldly, "You possess no Spiritual Roots and have no affinity with the immortal path. Enough. You may go back."

Qin Sang froze. He had thought testing Spiritual Roots would require some immortal method.

The fat young man had merely placed a hand on his arm, immediately withdrawn it, and concluded that Qin Sang had no Spiritual Roots.

"Impossible!"

Qin Sang cried out in disbelief. Without Spiritual Roots, how had he cultivated the Netherworld Scripture? How had he cultivated spiritual energy? How could he wield the Purple Soul Bell and Ice Silkworm Armor?

"How is it impossible?"

The fat young man shouted angrily, "I warned you long ago! Among all people in the world, those with Spiritual Roots are one in ten thousand. Even in cultivation families, only a tiny few possess them. No Spiritual Roots means no Spiritual Roots. Do not make trouble here without reason!"

Qin Sang's eyes turned faintly cold. He did not know how he had offended this immortal master, but the other man seemed to find him extremely displeasing.

Seeing the fat young man turn and head outside, pushing open the door, Qin Sang hurriedly flashed in front of it to block his path. "I want to see Immortal Master Han!"