The Importance of Spiritual Roots (Please Follow, Please Bookmark)

Second Day Morning.

Wang Ping had slept in for the first time since transmigrating to this world. It was nearly midday before he opened his eyes. He stretched lazily, and the pleasant softness in every bone made him hum aloud. In that moment, it felt as though he had returned to the vibrant, colorful life of his previous world.

Soon, winter's chill swept over him, making Wang Ping shudder from head to toe. As the Qi within him began circulating on its own, he let out a long breath and sat up at the edge of the bed, driving the cold from his body. Once he had gotten up and dressed, Yulian's little head poked out from his sleeve again.

"I'm a little hungry..."

Wang Ping looked at the sky outside and pushed open the door. Daoist Yucheng sat beside the stone table, reading a book. In a porcelain bowl on the table were steaming steamed buns, and beside it sat the familiar sand pot.

"Master!"

Wang Ping paid his respects.

"Get ready to eat."

Wang Ping nodded. He quickly went to the water well, drew a bucket of icy water to splash over his face, then took the dried frog meat from the corner of the courtyard and fed it to Yulian.

"It tastes awful. When can I eat shrimp again?"

Yulian complained softly.

Wang Ping ignored her and ate with Daoist Yucheng—or rather, Daoist Yucheng kept him company while he ate.

"I cast a divination this morning. Within ten days, you will reach Qi Refining Completion."

"I sensed something when I woke up as well."

"Mm!"

After their brief exchange, Daoist Yucheng rose and headed out of the courtyard toward the front hall of the Daoist temple. Many people came to visit him around Before Spring Festival. To keep Wang Ping's state of mind from being affected, he received those visiting guests in the front hall.

Wang Ping, meanwhile, went to a green stone at the cliff edge behind the temple. He gazed at the faintly visible village at the mountain foot, emptied his mind, and meditated. Half an Hour later, he got up and performed a set of the Evergreen Cultivation Technique. After finishing, he felt the surging Qi Sensation within his body, yet lacked the confidence to break through. All he could do was lie on the green stone in frustration and stare blankly into space.

In the afternoon, when the sun was about to set, Wang Kang brought dinner and told Wang Ping some interesting things from the mountain foot.

Just after they finished dinner, Daoist Yucheng entered the courtyard beneath the last lingering glow of the Setting Sun. Wang Kang hurriedly paid his respects, then quickly cleared away the bowls, chopsticks, and meal box before leaving.

Hai Shi.

Wang Ping was meditating quietly In the Room when Yulian's voice suddenly rang out in his Spirit Sea. "What chaotic Qi... It's that Big Guy from last night..."

The Big Guy she spoke of was Mao Yulong!

Wang Ping opened his eyes and heard the sound of Daoist Yucheng's door opening.

He pushed open the door...

When their eyes met, Daoist Yucheng said coldly, "Your Third Senior Brother has encountered a problem in his cultivation. Come with me and take a look. It will serve as a warning."

With that, Daoist Yucheng flicked his Sleeve Robe with his Left Hand and formed a magic seal with his right. Wang Ping only felt his body swallowed by a Suction Force, as though he were traveling through time and space. In the Blink of an Eye, he had arrived outside a small courtyard at the Cliff Edge.

Inside the courtyard, Mao Yulong was On All Fours atop a grass mat. Qi swirled around his body. His eyes were bloodshot, and a trace of blood stained the corners of them.

"Ah, hahahaha, waaaah, waaaah!"

Strange cries came from Mao Yulong's mouth. When he saw Daoist Yucheng and Wang Ping outside the courtyard, his face twisted into a savage grimace.

Just as he was about to Jump Up and attack, Daoist Yucheng formed a magic seal and pointed at Mao Yulong, shouting, "Expel!"

The next moment, a talisman flashing with Blue Flowing Light struck Mao Yulong's forehead. His body trembled slightly as countless streams of Qi seeped from his Pores, mixed with threads of blood. Then his entire body collapsed onto the straw mat like a deflated ball. In mere moments, the mat had been Dyed blood-red.

At that moment, Li Antian and Liu Zixiu descended one after another through the night, landing behind Daoist Yucheng. Both were shocked when they saw Mao Yulong's miserable state in the courtyard.

"Go in and Wake Up your junior brother." Daoist Yucheng's tone was cold.

Li Antian and Liu Zixiu did not dare delay. After entering the courtyard, they first checked Mao Yulong's life force. It was still Full of Vigor; only his appearance was rather terrifying. The two of them Sighed in Relief.

The Senior and Junior Brothers drew a bucket of cold water and washed Mao Yulong's face, but he still did not wake. Li Antian glanced at True Man Yucheng. Seeing True Man Yucheng's Dark Face, he lifted the Water Bucket and poured it over Mao Yulong's head. Then came a Coughing Sound.

At the courtyard gate, Daoist Yucheng watched coldly the entire time. Wang Ping wanted to go up and help several times, but Daoist Yucheng stopped him each time.

When Mao Yulong finally woke up and met Daoist Yucheng's gaze, he immediately prostrated himself on the ground. "This Disciple was reckless for a moment. Please forgive me, Master!"

"I told you long ago that Marrow Cleansing requires a Spiritual Root. If your Spiritual Root is insufficient and you forcefully undergo Marrow Cleansing, at best you will become a Madman who knows only slaughter; at worst, you will Explode and Die. Did you think I was deliberately playing favorites and refusing to teach you Marrow Cleansing and Foundation Establishment?"

Daoist Yucheng's Gaze Spread as he looked at all three Senior and Junior Brothers at once.

"This Disciple would not dare!"

The three answered in unison. Then, perhaps deciding that a broken jar might as well be smashed, Mao Yulong gritted his teeth and asked, "May I ask, Master, is there any way to improve one's Spiritual Root?"

Daoist Yucheng fell silent for several seconds before saying, "With your aptitude, even if you improve your Spiritual Root, you will not be able to complete Foundation Establishment before your Lifespan is exhausted. Why create Unnecessary Trouble? Practice the Lesser Dao Method I taught you until the Great Accomplishment Realm, and I guarantee that you will Live to a Ripe Old Age."

After Two Breaths of silence, Liu Zixiu shouted, "Thank you, Master!"

Li Antian and Mao Yulong echoed him afterward.

Daoist Yucheng said nothing more. He formed a magic seal and took Wang Ping away from the courtyard.

After returning to his room, Wang Ping meditated On the Bed. From Daoist Yucheng's tone, he sensed that his Master had a way to improve Spiritual Roots. Yet perhaps it truly was too wasteful, so he had not used it on his three senior brothers.

The unwillingness on his three senior brothers' faces as they knelt and gave thanks kept flashing through his mind. This was the first time he had felt the cruelty of cultivation.

Yet he was fortunate enough to undergo Marrow Cleansing, Foundation Establishment, and even cultivate secret arts afterward.

What an immense Fortunate Event!

Perhaps Yulian sensed the change in Wang Ping's emotions. She poked out her little head and rubbed against his finger.

"I'm fine..."

Wang Ping gently stroked Yulian's little head.

That night, Wang Ping had a dream. He dreamed that he had become his Third Senior Brother, remained at the Daoist temple until the time his Master had stipulated, then went down the mountain and searched the entire world for a way to improve his Spiritual Root. In the end, he delayed his cultivation, exhausted his Lifespan in less than two sixty-year cycles, and closed his eyes in a barren cave.

After waking from the dream, Wang Ping could no longer sleep. He thought of how he was stuck at the final threshold of Qi Refining.

After a while.

Wang Ping took a deep breath, rose, and pushed open the door. Reaching the center of the courtyard, he first looked up at the Waning Moon on the horizon, then went to the nearby Small Training Ground and performed a set of the Evergreen Cultivation Technique.

This time, Wang Ping did not hesitate. While the Qi within his body was full, he sat cross-legged on the straw mat and began circulating the Return to Origin Cultivation Technique. At that moment, a stream of spiritual energy shot out from Daoist Yucheng's room and flowed into Wang Ping's body. The next instant, Daoist Yucheng appeared beside the stone table. Today, there was no brazier in his hand.

Wang Ping's face showed neither joy nor sorrow. The Qi within his body quickly completed the first Great Heavenly Cycle. This time, an almost imperceptible vortex formed in his Dantian, completely absorbing the spiritual energy gathered around his body.

He could not rush now. Wang Ping continued at his usual Qi Cultivation Speed and completed the second Great Heavenly Cycle. During the process, the Qi in his Dantian transformed into true spiritual energy, while the spiritual energy that gathered around him once more was absorbed completely.

He still could not rush. When the third Great Heavenly Cycle ended, Wang Ping felt his Dantian become somewhat more solid, and an indescribable sense of ease spread through his entire body. Yet he still could not rush. His Qi Refining was not stable enough and could disperse at any moment.

When the fourth Great Heavenly Cycle ended, Wang Ping felt the flow of spiritual energy in his Dantian become steadier. A chill spread through his Spirit Sea before spreading across his entire body.

Only when the fifth Great Heavenly Cycle was complete did the spiritual energy vortex in Wang Ping's Dantian truly take shape.

Qi Refining... had succeeded!