Transforming the Spirit Root

Su Chen opened the System Inventory and checked how many Heavenly Spirit Roots he had.

Heavenly Spirit Root: 1798

That many?

That was almost enough to raise the aptitude of the entire Su Family, but he definitely would not do that.

Among the collateral members and servants, he would only choose those who were loyal and reliable.

Su Chen turned to Ruoxi beside him and said, "Go and notify the direct descendants of the Su Family to come here. Also, bring the family head and all the Great Elders."

There were not many direct descendants of the Su Family, no more than thirty in total.

After receiving the order, Ruoxi immediately trotted away.

She knew that Su Chen now held a very high position in the Su Family. She had to do her work well so that she could earn more of Su Chen's favor in the future.

Before long, all the direct descendants of the Su Family had gathered.

Even the Great Elders had shown him plenty of respect. The moment Su Chen called for them, they had hurried over.

Su Chen rarely called them over for anything. Since he had summoned all the direct descendants of the Su Family this time, there must be something important.

Su Yuanba asked with a smile, "Little Chen, is something the matter?"

Su Chen swept his gaze around. Seeing the confusion in their eyes, he said, "There is indeed a small matter."

"Fourth Uncle, since you were the first to speak, you can be the first to experience it."

"Me?"

Su Yuanba froze, but he still stepped forward. Under Su Chen's guidance, he sat down on a stone bench.

The members of the Su Family watched with great curiosity, all wearing puzzled expressions. They had no idea what Su Chen wanted to do.

Su Chen smiled and said, "Fourth Uncle, it'll hurt a little. You'll have to endure it."

Hurt?

Su Yuanba laughed heartily. "Little Chen, you're underestimating your Fourth Uncle. The thing I fear least is pain."

"But what exactly are you trying to do?"

Su Chen gave him a mysterious smile. "You'll know soon enough."

Use Heavenly Spirit Root!

A radiance of spiritual energy gathered in Su Chen's hand, then entered Su Yuanba's body through the top of his head.

The next moment, Su Yuanba's calm expression changed.

He felt as if there were a ball of fire inside his body, burning more fiercely by the second. It was as though someone were repeatedly stabbing him with needles.

Su Yuanba gritted his teeth and endured. Although it was painful, it was still within what he could bear. Out of trust in Su Chen, he did not resist the pain.

Only ten breaths passed.

The pain in his body grew even more intense. In the end, it felt as if someone were stirring his internal organs with a stick.

Su Yuanba's face twisted horribly. The excruciating pain made his entire body tremble, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

Seeing him like this, Su Qingtian could not help asking, "Chen'er, will your Fourth Uncle be all right?"

Su Chen shook his head. "Don't worry. It'll only hurt a little."

Hearing this, Su Qingtian relaxed slightly, though he remained puzzled about what Su Chen was trying to do.

It was not only him. The other members of the Su Family could not understand it either.

"Ah!"

A shriek rang out. Su Yuanba lay on the ground, drenched in sweat. One could even see his flesh writhing beneath the surface of his skin.

It was as if a huge worm were moving inside his body. The sight was terrifying.

"Dad!"

Su He's bright eyes were filled with worry.

Soon, the shrieks grew sharper and more piercing. Su Yuanba seemed to be enduring endless agony.

The expressions of the Su Family members changed as well. This is what he calls a little pain?

"Dad, are you all right?"

Seeing Su Yuanba in this state, Su He was about to run over and check on him, but Su Chen stopped her.

"Don't worry, Miss Su He. Your Brother Chen wouldn't hurt his own family, would he?"

Su Chen wore a calm smile.

Hearing this, Su He's nervous heart eased somewhat.

At that very moment, Su Yuanba's screams stopped. He lay on the ground, gasping heavily.

"Little Chen, this is the little pain you were talking about?"

Su Yuanba spoke weakly, clearly having been tormented terribly this time.

But soon, his expression changed.

"What is this?"

As Su Yuanba felt the spiritual energy continuously surging into him from his surroundings and sensed the incomparably broad meridians within his body, an incredulous expression appeared on his face.

"Why is my spiritual-energy absorption speed so much faster? At least five times faster than before."

Five times!

Su Qingtian was instantly startled. Sensing the spiritual energy surrounding Su Yuanba, he said uncertainly, "Fourth Brother, try not absorbing spiritual energy first. Stop cultivating."

Although Su Yuanba was somewhat confused, he did as instructed.

But soon, an astonishing scene unfolded. Su Yuanba was not cultivating, yet the spiritual energy of heaven and earth continued to flow into his body.

"Affinity with heaven and earth, automatic cultivation—those are signs of a Heavenly Spirit Root!"

What?!

All the members of the Su Family were shocked.

Su Chen stepped forward and said, "That's right. This is a Heavenly Spirit Root."

"I have a way to raise your aptitude to a Heavenly Spirit Root without any side effects. It will perfectly match your physique. You only need to endure the pain."

"However, the younger you are and the lower your cultivation is, the less pain you'll suffer."

The reason Su Yuanba had been in so much pain was that his existing foundation was already deeply rooted. Raising his spirit root meant forcibly remodeling it, so how could it not hurt?

Fortunately, the process would not take too long. It generally ended after about thirty breaths. Otherwise, Su Yuanba might truly have collapsed.

"It can be raised to a Heavenly Spirit Root?!"

Su Qingtian could not help swallowing. The best aptitude in the Su Family had only been a High-grade Spirit Root. If all the direct descendants could be raised to Heavenly Spirit Roots, it would bring tremendous benefits to the entire Su Family.

Improving a spirit root after birth had originally been impossible, but Su Chen had actually done it.

If the evidence had not been right before his eyes, Su Qingtian would have found it very difficult to believe.

Su Chen called out, "Who's next?"

Thinking of becoming a Heavenly Spirit Root, Su Qingyun immediately stepped forward.

"I'll do it."

Su Qingyun's face was full of arrogance. He looked at Su Yuanba with some disdain and said, "Fourth Brother, your ability to endure pain is still too poor. It won't kill you, so I really don't know what you were screaming about."

Su Yuanba looked somewhat embarrassed. He had just boasted to Su Chen that he was unafraid of pain, only to fail to hold back his screams.

That was indeed rather humiliating.

Su Chen began doing the same thing to Su Qingyun.

Before long, another series of piercing screams rang out in the courtyard. They were even louder than Su Yuanba's, and nearly the entire Su Family could hear them.

Many collateral members and servants were puzzled. What was happening in the inner courtyard?

Su Qingyun was at the Nascent Soul Stage, so remodeling his aptitude was naturally even more painful.

The screams soon stopped. Su Qingyun was drenched in sweat, looking as though his entire body had been drained of strength.

It hurt. It hurt so much!

But soon, Su Qingyun burst into laughter.

"What an incredible absorption speed! I, Su Qingyun, am finally no longer a Middle-grade Spirit Root. I have a Heavenly Spirit Root too!"

Su Yuanba sneered. "Who was it that said he wouldn't scream just now?"

The smile on Su Qingyun's face froze, and an embarrassed expression appeared on his face.

Su Chen paid no attention to him and continued, "Next."