Rootless Path Speedrun Record

Since awakening the Creation Incentive System after his transmigration, Wu Ming had been constantly exploring the system's mechanics and boundaries.

What kind of guides counted as guides, what didn't, and how the creation incentives were distributed... To figure out the rules, in the three days since his transmigration, Wu Ming had already attempted to create hundreds of guides in his mind.

A guide to sleeping more comfortably in bed; a sightseeing guide for riding clouds through the sky; a guide to properly enjoying Fruit Cake and Herbal Tea; a guide to finding Yu Xiang's place in Xianyun Abode... If there existed a long-eared magic user in this world who loved collecting all sorts of useless guides, the two of them would surely have a delightful conversation.

However, only a handful were ultimately recognized by the system and granted incentives.

As things stood, matters that determined major life directions—like the line between life and death—similar to main quests, could gain system recognition and offered the richest rewards. For instance, back when Wu Ming first transmigrated, sneaking alone along mountain paths to escape, narrowly surviving until he reached the foot of Yan Mountain, that guide was packed with substance.

After that, he passed Zhu Ying's Three Trials of Spirit Signs, snatching a thread of Immortal Fate from the Gujian Sect with a mortal body—equally commendable.

Additionally, matters directly tied to important cultivation also received recognition, like the guide to comprehending the Human Emperor Scroll and obtaining the six-layer Human Dao Seal. But perhaps because such guides lacked strong instructional value, the creation incentive was smaller; Wu Ming only got two hundred Spirit Crystals afterward.

Considering that events affecting major life directions weren't common—they were like opening-server newbie benefits, or rare resources akin to anniversary major version updates with first-recharge resets—while Immortal Path cultivation would be the focus from now on, learning new techniques and achieving new accomplishments wouldn't be rare. It could probably be compared to weekly abyss content. So, accumulated over time, the returns should be quite considerable.

After that came the incentive he earned today from walking the mountain path.

A mere twenty Spirit Crystals, seemingly insignificant at first glance—especially compared to his previous gains of hundreds or thousands, it seemed almost like a joke... But when the system notification sounded, Wu Ming felt greatly encouraged, all his exhaustion vanishing without a trace.

Though the Spirit Crystals were few, their nature was completely different!

To be honest, this summary of his Yan Mountain cross-country experience didn't have much substance—just completing the whole journey had already pushed Wu Ming to his limits, leaving no spare energy for high-intensity mental work. So he had only hastily noted the difficult points encountered along the way and the scenic spots that left an impression, without adding much valuable thought.

By the system's previous two standards for guides, this kind of purely filler daily summary would have been dismissed as noise... But the result was that the system judged it as a "Cross-country Log" and issued a highly symbolic incentive.

From this, Wu Ming could easily infer: as long as it concerned "cultivation," even filler daily logs had active incentives, and they accumulated to be quite generous!

One mountain crossing earned Wu Ming twenty Spirit Crystals; over a year, that would be over seven thousand crystals, enough for four ten-pulls.

Besides, if one crossing gave twenty Spirit Crystals, what about two crossings, or even three?

Immortal cultivation was a long road, and on that road, having or not having daily incentives would make a world of difference.

Even without considering the Star Vortex Card Pool, the mere fact of "having daily incentives" was extraordinary in itself.

The value of incentives far outweighed perseverance and endurance. In truth, Wu Ming wasn't impressed by his senior sister's theory of bitter cultivation, because once something was defined as bitter, it was already destined that one couldn't throw themselves into it wholeheartedly.

And incentives were precisely the supreme medicine to turn bitterness into sweetness.

So, before today ended, he had to strive for another mountain journey no matter what, to secure double daily incentives!

But just as Wu Ming was brimming with encouragement and pushing forward with all his might, he suddenly saw mist rising on the mountain path. Within the fog, everything twisted, and then gravity began to tilt. He involuntarily pitched forward, falling as if plummeting into an abyss!

The next moment, Wu Ming's eyes snapped open, but the mountain path and mist had vanished without a trace. Before him was only an elegant wooden window, outside which the moonlight was flawless, casting frost-like light across the entire room.

He had somehow returned to Xianyun Abode, now lying on the bed in his room, his whole body numb.

After a moment of silence, Wu Ming understood and let out a silent sigh.

It seemed he ultimately hadn't completed the double daily, even with a professional player's quality, he couldn't endlessly overdraw his stamina. He had finally run out of steam completely on the return journey... and then respawned at the revival point.

"Awake?"

Zhu Ying's voice, the revival master, sounded from a corner of the bedroom. Wu Ming tried to sit up, but a gentle breeze pressed him back down.

"Rest well. You've overexerted yourself today. If you push further, you'll only damage your vitality."

Wu Ming sighed inwardly: Missing one daily, and I'm already wrecked!

But the next moment, his nose twitched involuntarily as a sweet, cloying fragrance drifted from the corner of the room.

"I lit some Calming Incense for you. Just sleep peacefully tonight. You'll need to wake early starting tomorrow. I hope you can keep finding joy in this."

After that, Wu Ming only felt his eyelids grow heavy, his thoughts freezing over. Unconsciously, the night seeped into his mind, and all things fell silent.

After who knows how long, Wu Ming's heart stirred, and he jolted awake.

Opening his eyes, he saw the sky outside the window was about to brighten. Wu Ming immediately struggled to rise, and at once felt every muscle in his body cry out in unison, as if thousands of needles were pricking inside him... But he clenched his teeth tightly, slowly endured getting out of bed, and hobbled to the bookshelf.

A pot of quiet orchid was slowly releasing its stamen—that was a Chen Hour Flower, which bloomed twelve times a day to mark the hours. It was a small trinket born in the immortal cultivation world, used to replace an alarm clock.

From the number of stamens, it should be the second quarter of the Yin hour, four in the morning—this brought Wu Ming a trace of comfort. Even in another world, after all the twists and turns, his biological clock still maintained its professionalism.

Every day at four in the morning, when all things refreshed, he would always wake up on time.

And the moment he woke, he would be full of energy, even his body feeling a bit lighter.

A new day had begun, and new dailies... could start being farmed.

Yesterday, due to physical exhaustion, he hadn't completed the double daily; and today, though his physical condition was clearly worse, after a night's rest, his mind was clearer than ever... perfect for reading and grinding problems.

As a professional player well-versed in all kinds of advanced elemental theories and locked in mental battles with countless top-tier game designers, Wu Ming never underestimated the importance of theoretical study.

Immortal cultivation naturally couldn't do without theoretical guidance either. When Zhu Ying had shown Wu Ming around Xianyun Abode yesterday, she had especially introduced the several bookshelves of books in the study.

Thinking of this, Wu Ming felt a surge of eagerness, ready to show his senior sister what a small-town exam warrior from another world could do.

With this positive mindset, Wu Ming crossed the main hall, pushed open the study door, and prepared to take a book to read on his own... Then he felt a chill at his neck. A slender bamboo leaf, jade-green in color, was gently held between two fingers as delicate as scallion shoots, pressed against his throat, its cold gleam like ice.

"Who goes there, trespassing late at night... Wu Ming!?"

Zhu Ying's voice sounded from behind him, startled and flustered.

Wu Ming was also surprised and couldn't help turning his head: "Senior Sister?"

"Wait, don't turn around..."

The words came a beat too late. In that instant, Wu Ming's peripheral vision caught a fleeting glimpse of a disheveled sleeping robe, and he quickly turned his head back.

A moment later, the voice behind him was stern yet slightly flustered: "You... didn't see anything, did you?"

Wu Ming replied calmly, "I didn't see anything."

"...?" Zhu Ying sensed something off but didn't want to dwell on it. She coughed and said, "You can turn around now."

Wu Ming obeyed and turned. In that brief span, his senior sister had already changed into a simple set of white clothes and trousers. Her posture was straight, her expression stern, yet the faint blush on her face was hard to hide.

"What are you here for?" Zhu Ying demanded.

Wu Ming answered, "I was planning to grab some books for morning self-study... I didn't expect to disturb senior sister's sleep."

Zhu Ying snorted. "Barging in at four in the morning, and you have the nerve to say 'didn't expect'!?"

Wu Ming was puzzled. "It's already four in the morning! Yesterday before bed, senior sister said she wanted to get up early. I was even worried I'd overslept."

"...Are you some kind of breakfast stall kid? No need to get up this early from now on."

Wu Ming smiled. "Senior sister is too kind. I was born deficient, so I need to make up for it with hard work. If I can't even manage to get up early, how can I glorify the sect and repay the debt of saving my life? Ah, I see—does senior sister need rest? Then from now on, I'll study in my own room first and never disturb senior sister's lie-in..."

"I don't sleep in!" Zhu Ying's brows shot up immediately, and she ground her teeth. "No need to trouble yourself. If you can stick to waking at four in the morning, then of course I can too!"

Wu Ming couldn't help but ask curiously, "Senior sister is at Foundation Establishment. Do you still need to sleep every day like a mortal?"

Zhu Ying was silent for a moment, then sighed. "The spiritual veins around Yan Mountain are poor, and the ambient energy is insufficient to support all of us in day-and-night breathing exercises. So when cultivation consumes too much, it's better to just sleep and recuperate honestly."

Wu Ming understood. "Got it. A free-to-play player who can't afford stamina has to farm way fewer resources than a whale in daily life. There's no choice but to conserve energy."

"...More strange talk." Zhu Ying shook her head. "Anyway, since we're up, let's begin today's training. But we won't rush into the books."

As she spoke, Zhu Ying reached out, grabbed Wu Ming's arm, and activated the Godly Travel Technique. In an instant, she turned into a rushing wind, speeding westward... When Wu Ming came to his senses, he stood before an unfamiliar valley path.

His spirits lifted immediately, and he looked around with keen interest. "Where is this?"

Zhu Ying said, "At the foot of Yan Mountain, the Rootless Path. It's also the classroom for your first lesson."

She paused, then explained seriously, "Yesterday, I had you walk the mountain path for half a day—not just to temper your will and physique, but to observe your constitution comprehensively so I could teach you accordingly... Your talent isn't bad, but you've been too deficient from the start. To climb the immortal path, you must make up for it from the most basic level. The Gujian Sect happens to have a technique for mending foundations, called the Root Stance."

As she spoke, Zhu Ying leaned forward slightly, lifted her leg, took a step, and set it down gently.

Boom!

A silent shockwave rippled outward, and Wu Ming felt his blood and qi tremble, his heart rate thrown into chaos.

Though her posture seemed utterly ordinary—just a plain step forward with no sign of force—the moment her boot hit the ground, Wu Ming felt as if he saw a centuries-old tree driving thick roots deep into the earth, unshakable by any storm.

"Rooted upon landing?"

Zhu Ying smiled lightly. "Good observational skills. The Root Stance, as the name implies, is a footwork that roots you where you land. Your Spirit Root aptitude is nearly nonexistent, and your physique has been neglected from the start. On the long immortal path, you're almost like drifting duckweed without roots. So your first lesson is to take root on that path."

"The Root Stance not only tempers the body and strengthens blood and qi. When mastered to a high level, it allows the physical body to commune with the spiritual, letting a mortal frame seize immortal opportunity. The creator of this footwork was a mortal martial artist, whose Spirit Root aptitude was similar to yours—nearly absent. Yet with this stance, he carved out a rugged immortal path and eventually even became a True Person... Though this legend is often doubted, the Root Stance's effect of stimulating and nurturing the Spirit Root has been verified by many. For you now, it's tailor-made."

"Master should have told you: in the Nine Provinces today, there are two common methods to improve Spirit Root aptitude. The Root Stance is the less common third method. It's a brute-force technique—the core movement is just this one step, but that step allows no flashy tricks or shortcuts. Only by treading solid ground and tempering it a thousand times can you make even a sliver of progress. And countless such slivers pile up to achieve a complete transformation. Just like a towering ancient tree must grow from tender shoots, bit by bit."

"The practice of the Root Stance is equally unadorned. There are no chants, no diagrams, and you don't need to imitate the way I just stepped. The Root Stance varies from person to person—everyone's method of taking root is different. The only thing that's the same is this Rootless Path."

As she spoke, Zhu Ying turned her back, clasped her hands behind her, and stepped onto the winding path. Though it was a footwork meant to root one to the ground, she moved with lightness and grace, each time just tapping the tip of her foot on a rock before floating several meters away. After ten steps, she paused briefly, standing nearly a hundred meters from Wu Ming, and spoke softly, her voice reaching his ear directly.

"Now it's your turn."

Wu Ming nodded. Taking advantage of the dim dawn light, he aimed for the spot where Zhu Ying had just stepped, leaned forward, and took a step.

Then, as if stepping onto a slick film of oil, his foot found no grip at all. He lost his balance and fell with a thud.

Even though he curled his body and tucked his elbows during the fall to reduce the impact, and his thin, light frame meant it didn't hurt much, the suppressed exhaustion and soreness from head to toe surged up all at once, leaving him unable to stand for a moment.

At that moment, Zhu Ying's voice drifted down from above.

"Get up. Again."

Wu Ming took a deep breath, broke into a smile, and said, "Alright!"

The next moment, he pushed himself up with his hands, trembling as he rose and stepped back off the path. Then, shaking his body with a grin, he resumed his upright stance, forcing the fatigue down again, and focused solely on the road ahead, sinking into deep thought.

Now, this seemingly ordinary mountain path—so slick that he couldn't even set foot on it—had sparked his intense curiosity.

And once his curiosity was piqued, his drive would surpass anyone else's.

But seeing this, Zhu Ying's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

Wu Ming's reaction wasn't surprising, or rather, most people who set foot on the Rootless Path had a similar response.

Figure out the pattern, find a solution, try step by step, summarize step by step... Turn every failure and fall into nourishment for the next improvement.

Until, after thousands of tumbles, they finally realized, bruised and battered: all their clever schemes were nothing but futility.

The Root Stance wasn't a technique made for the clever, and the Rootless Path allowed no shortcuts. On the contrary, the more one tried to be smart, the further they strayed from the essence of the Root Stance, and the less likely they were to stand firm on this path.

That's why Zhu Ying had called it a brute-force technique that clever people couldn't bring themselves to like.

After a short while, Wu Ming ended his contemplation and let out a deep breath.

Zhu Ying perked up as well, watching his movements with curiosity.

Though it was bound to be futile, what kind of solution would this overly clever kid come up with?

Then, she saw Wu Ming slowly lower himself, lie flat on the ground, reach his hands forward, grip the rocks firmly, and resolutely... crawl forward!

Wu Ming alternated his hands left and right, and in the blink of an eye, he had squirmed over ten meters along the Rootless Path!

Zhu Ying's vision went dark, and she nearly choked from sheer fury!