Enlightenment Immortal Heart, Little Nannan

No doubt about it!

It was real.

Just look at those little children who had tested positive for Spiritual Roots—every one of them was beaming, clutching a handful of glittering Spirit Stones.

Any single one of them could be traded for the enormous sum of a hundred taels of silver.

Enough to keep a family of several fed and clothed for half a lifetime.

Nothing was more immediately stirring than that.

Thus.

On the second day.

The number of common folk arriving at the Ascension Convention had clearly surged several times over compared to the day before.

That vast sea of people numbered no fewer than ten thousand participants undergoing the test.

"Dai Gangmen, Inferior Earth Spiritual Root! Award ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"..."

"Ji Baichang, Inferior Water Spiritual Root! Award ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"..."

"Liao Bushi, Mid-Grade Wood Spiritual Root! Award one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone!"

"..."

The testing process proceeded in an orderly fashion.

By the end of the day, they had discovered over four hundred people with Inferior Spiritual Roots and three with Mid-Grade Spiritual Roots!

As usual, Wang Mu distributed cultivation techniques matching each person's attributes.

Immediately after.

The third day.

The fourth day.

More and more people came.

In every street and alley, people were discussing This matter.

"Hey, Old Liu, did you get tested?"

"I did. Mine was no good—nothing at all! What about yours?"

"Haha, my daughter tested with an Inferior Water Spiritual Root. An immortal master already took her away, and before leaving, he even gave us a huge sum of money!"

"Really? Oh my, I'm so jealous! You won't have to worry for the rest of your lives—you can finally enjoy yourselves!"

"Not at all, not at all... The granddaughter of the Old Zhuang family south of the city is the impressive one. She has a Mid-Grade Spiritual Root!"

"Whoa, really?"

"..."

Conversations like these occurred frequently.

In the past, discussions related to the Cultivation World had almost never been so fervent among ordinary mortals.

Because few people were like Wang Mu.

Regardless of cost, he was conducting such large-scale Spiritual Root testing among mortals, searching for Immortal Seeds.

For a time.

It even gave people an illusion.

Spiritual Roots... seemed to have become worthless?

Besides that.

The greatest gains these days.

Belonged to the sects near Daliang Royal City, who were recruiting Disciples until their hands went limp.

In the past, they generally only recruited genuine Cultivators who had already struggled through the Cultivation World.

Because Immortal Seeds were hard to find.

Those who could tell at a glance whether someone possessed a Spiritual Root were all Big Shots.

The overwhelming majority had to rely on Spirit-Testing Stones or spirit-testing formations.

Thus.

Only occasionally would a sect elder or sect master head out, then occasionally encounter a prospect whose Spiritual Root had not been detected, and then occasionally, out of kindness, point them toward the right path.

That was called Immortal Fate!

That was the only way true newcomers could be recruited.

But things were different now.

Wang Mu had openly revealed those Immortal Seeds, laying them completely bare before their eyes.

He had even bestowed powerful cultivation techniques upon them.

If they did not recruit fiercely now, then what were they waiting for?

Waiting for recruits from hostile forces to rise up and destroy them?

Thus.

The major sects' scramble for recruits was exceedingly intense as well.

Especially for those geniuses with Mid-Grade Spiritual Roots.

All the more so.

They were figures who had hope of becoming Great Cultivators at Foundation Establishment!

"Lu Jiu, Inferior Metal Spiritual Root!"

"..."

On the palace square.

The Cultivator presiding over the event suddenly stopped and Looked towards the thin figure standing at the center of the spirit-testing formation.

He could vaguely make out that it was a little girl.

She was filthy from head to toe, clearly a little beggar.

The faint blue glow rising around the formation spoke of her aptitude: an Inferior Water Spiritual Root!

Such aptitude was nothing remarkable.

What truly made him pause was her name.

"Nannan... Inferior Water Spiritual Root! Award ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Nannan!

Strictly speaking, this was not a real name.

Rather, it was a nickname many families used for their daughters.

Just like—son.

Who would have a name like that?

"What is your real name?"

The Cultivator presiding over the test frowned.

"My name is Nannan!"

The Girl's voice was hard, like dry, cold stone in winter, carrying the stiffness of someone unaccustomed to speaking with others. "That's what my family called me!"

The sudden interruption drew quite a bit of attention.

Wang Mu had originally been resting with his eyes closed. Hearing the commotion, he opened his eyes and glanced down.

[Name: Nannan]

[Race: Human Race]

[Aptitude: Inferior]

[Traits: Enlightenment Immortal Heart (Unawakened)—Heaven-defying comprehension, skilled at creating impossible miracles! Investing in Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that can enlighten the mind and strengthen one's connection with heaven and man has a chance of awakening this physique!]

[Investment Assessment: Flourishing luck. Strongly recommended to invest!]

[...]

Wang Mu slowly sat up from his reclining position, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Little Nannan below.

An Inferior Spiritual Root.

Yet she possessed flourishing luck?

A true Child of Luck from the useless-underachiever lineage?

Wang Mu pursed his lips.

Sure enough, people still had to do more good deeds. Good fortune would come as repayment!

The Ascension Convention had only been held for a few days.

Yet a Child of Luck had already delivered herself to his doorstep.

And she was a completely fresh one, a Child of Luck whom his Previous Body had never offended!

Heaven truly favored good people!

"Young Master, is there something wrong with this little beggar?"

Li Yuanhua had been watching Wang Mu's reactions closely and hurriedly asked.

Wang Mu did not answer the question, merely saying, "Bring her up!"

"Understood!"

A moment later.

The little beggar was brought before Wang Mu. Her fists were clenched tightly as she warily sized him up, her frail body trembling slightly as she appeared quite nervous.

Wang Mu said softly, "Don't be nervous. I mean you no harm!"

Little Nannan pressed her lips together and remained silent.

Wang Mu asked gently, "How old are you, little sister?"

"Ten... ten!"

"Where is your family?"

"I don't have any family!" Little Nannan bit her lip, her eyes fixed intently on the pastries and fruit before Wang Mu.

Wang Mu smiled, picked up a pastry, and beckoned to her. "Come here."

The little girl hesitated for a moment, but unable to withstand the constant alarms sounding from her stomach, she still walked over step by step. Taking the pastry from Wang Mu's hand, she stuffed it into her mouth and wolfed it down.

"Eat slowly. There's more here. It's all yours!"

Little Nannan buried her head in the food without speaking, but Wang Mu could clearly feel that her guard against him had lessened somewhat.

Wang Mu turned his head and instructed, "Take her away, give her a bath, change her into clean clothes, then get her a proper meal!"

Zixia replied respectfully, "Yes, Young Master!"

This was only a brief interlude.

Wang Mu occupied a high position, with barriers surrounding him. Unless he showed himself of his own accord, outsiders could not see exactly what he was doing.

Only Li Yuanhua and the others were somewhat puzzled as to why the Young Master cared so much about such an ordinary little beggar.

But they did not dare ask.

At the same time.

A Jade Slip shot out from the barrier around Heavenly Severing Island.

It vanished into the void.

Langya Merchant Association.

Headquarters.

It was deep autumn. Wutong Garden was carpeted in gold, the scenery breathtakingly beautiful.

A woman with a noble bearing and silver hair cascading like a waterfall leaned leisurely beneath the largest parasol tree. Before her, ten figures stood respectfully.

If anyone familiar with them had been present.

They would have been shocked to discover.

That these people were the Langya Merchant Association's renowned ten chief stewards. Every one of them wielded immense authority, and the wealth passing through their hands each day could only be called an astronomical figure!

Even the chief ministers, dukes, and marquises of the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty would take the initiative to greet them upon meeting them.

Yet before that silver-haired woman, they were exceptionally respectful.

She was the founder of the Langya Merchant Association.

A legendary woman of her generation!

Nalan Rongyun!