Planting a Spirit Root

In a quiet room.

Fang Shu's eyes shone brightly. He bowed to Xiao Lili and pointed unceremoniously to the bed beside him:

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, please lie down here."

Xiao Lili blushed, her body trembling slightly, but she let out a soft moan, then calmly got up and lay down on the bed, her eyes becoming somewhat hazy, her mind wandering.

Immediately afterwards, she felt Fang Shu reach out and grope her body, checking something as if he were an expert, but he hesitated to get to the point.

Suddenly, Fang Shu abruptly withdrew his hand, took a robe from the side, and placed it on her bedside table.

"I've already checked it for you. All the roots of that ginseng are gone; there are no further problems."

This startled Xiao Lili, making her realize that she had misunderstood something, and she felt a little empty.

In reality, the woman had indeed misunderstood.

Fang Shu made her lie down simply to examine the condition of the roots within her body. He wanted to see if the Natural Secret Script, after it dissipated, would still condense within her body and undergo further changes.

Unfortunately, Xiao Lili no longer possessed that Natural Secret Script within her body. At least, Fang Shu couldn't see it with Fang Shu current level of Mystic Script. Perhaps it was hidden deeper, requiring Divine Sense to explore.

Fang Shu was disappointed, but his expression remained unchanged.

He didn't reveal anything or offer any explanation, but simply gestured for Xiao Lili to quickly change her clothes so she could go out with him to pay her respects to the Lone Pavilion Master.

"Yes, yes," Xiao Lili quickly replied.

She made no attempt to hide from Fang Shu, dressing herself neatly right in front of Fang Shu and even twirling around Fang Shu briefly.

Fang Shu ignored Xiao Lili's little action and simply watched calmly.

This woman's intentions were utterly blatant and obvious. Fang Shu wasn't stupid; he knew that with just one word, he could make her his slave, willing to give herself to him.

The reason he didn't do so was twofold: firstly, he hadn't yet Refining Qi Primordial Yang, so how could he damage his vital energy for the sake of beauty; secondly, he had learned from the Lone Pavilion Master that one should not follow the other person's lead.

By not avoiding or responding in this way, one can avoid falling into clichés and taking on burdens. Furthermore, it would be too hypocritical to completely refuse such an opportunity that comes knocking on one's door.

Fang Shu turned around and said, "Come with me."

As she was about to leave the quiet room, Xiao Lili suddenly whispered, "Master, may I still address you like this in front of outsiders?"

Fang Shu paused, and without turning his head, gave the following instruction:

"Suit yourself. We'll each follow our own rules. You can call me 'Master,' and I'll call you 'Fellow Daoist.'"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lili's face lit up with joy, and she obediently replied, "Yes, sir."

Then, she thought to herself, "My master saved me from danger and trusts me so much; I can't cause him any trouble. From now on, in front of outsiders, I'll just be my master's fellow Daoist."

Not long after.

The two had already arrived at the Inner Court Council Hall, waiting for the arrival of the Lone Pavilion Master.

Du Yu'er, who was in the hall, arrived before her grandmother.

As soon as the other person entered the lobby, their face lit up with a mixture of surprise and joy. "Lili, you did it!"

Facing this friend, Xiao Lili's expression remained calm. Although she responded with a slight smile, her eyes were still fixed on Fang Shu.

She replied politely, "Thank you for your concern, Yu'er. I am truly grateful to your esteemed clinic for this treatment."

Du Yu'er didn't notice anything amiss. She immediately turned to Fang Shu and bowed, saying, "Fang Shu, thank you for your hard work in helping Lili recover."

"Yu'er too kind, Senior Sister Yu'er," Fang Shu replied with a smile.

The three chatted idly in the hall, with Du Yu'er mainly initiating the conversation:

"Lili, you look quite well. It seems you've retained your cultivation level, so you should be able to continue cultivating?"

Just then, a soft laugh came from the depths of the council chamber:

"Tsk! Not just does she look good, she's practically struck fortuitous opportunity."

Upon hearing the voice, the three quickly greeted each other.

"Master." "Grandma Du."

The person who entered the hall was none other than the Lone Pavilion Master. He had white hair, but his body moved as swiftly as the wind, and he strode up to Xiao Lili.

The old woman looked them over with a strange gaze, occasionally pinching their bones, and even using her Divine Sense to examine them, causing the three of them to gasp.

The Lone Pavilion Master sighed, "You managed to seize such a life-or-death opportunity. It's not surprising that you had such a stroke of fortuitous opportunity."

"Fortuitous opportunity?"

The three people in the hall looked somewhat bewildered upon hearing this, except for Fang Shu, who had a vague idea in his heart.

Then, the Lone Pavilion Master looked at his granddaughter.

Upon seeing this, Du Yu'er obediently cupped her hands in greeting.

"Fang Shu, Li Li, you two chat slowly, I'll go prepare some tea." Then, Du Yu'er left under the watchful eyes of the others.

Once everyone else was gone, the Lone Pavilion Master said directly:

"Xiao Lili, you have passed this test. From now on, there will be no more barriers to cultivating the Three Tribulations. Even the Refining Qi will be very promising!"

Would you be willing to become my disciple?

These words surprised both Xiao Lili and Fang Shu.

A flicker of disbelief Xiao Lili's usually calm face, as if she thought she had misheard. Had she really gone from someone on the verge of death to someone capable of Refining Qi overnight?

The Lone Pavilion Master seemed to have guessed Xiao Lili's thoughts and said slowly:

"Ni'er, you've been bedridden for half a year, receiving countless precious medicines. Now you've miraculously survived, merging with that spiritual ginseng, becoming one with it. The spirit medicine has taken deep root and is already well-developed. This fortuitous opportunity is what you deserve."

Fang Shu overheard this from the side. He heard the words "innate talent" and a thought flashed through his mind. He immediately spoke up:

"May I ask, Master, is the 'root talent' you speak of... the Spirit Root?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lili's expression changed even more, and she looked at the Lone Pavilion Master with trepidation and disbelief.

Under their gazes, the Lone Pavilion Master slowly nodded:

"Indeed, this talent is indeed Spirit Root."

The old woman explained further, "The key and crucial link in Refining Essence into Refining Qi is the cultivation of Spirit Root. This link involves drawing blood into the body, reconnecting limbs, sacrificing oneself to the sword, and cultivating Spirit Plant, among other things."

Anything possessing a spirit, which can be implanted within the body to increase its sensitivity to the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, can be considered a Spirit Root.

She paused, then glanced at Xiao Lili:

"The Spirit Root planted in this way are all pseudo- Spirit Root, and their effect on cultivation is far inferior to that of Heavenly Spirit Root, belonging to the lowest grade."

However, those with pseudo- Spirit Root also have their own unique uses. Because they utilize different spiritual objects, each often possesses its own strengths, and they can even seek out corresponding Spirit Root based on their own circumstances, which is quite convenient. I won't list them all here; you will understand once you enter the Immortal Sect."

Fang Shu and Xiao Lili both looked enlightened upon hearing the words of the Lone Pavilion Master.

"So this is how planting Spirit Root works." Fang Shu's mind raced with thoughts, and he recalled the Mystic Script on Xiao Lili's body once again.

He thought to himself that he had already helped Xiao Lili plant her Spirit Root and had gained experience.

Wouldn't he be much more adept at cultivating Spirit Root in the future, and be able to obtain even more remarkable Spirit Root?

Xiao Lili, standing to the side, was also breathing heavily, her eyes burning with fury.

Thinking of something, the woman didn't hesitate and immediately knelt down and kowtowed:

"Disciple Xiao Lili greets Master."

Lone Pavilion Master that this woman was decisive and immediately acknowledged him as her master, the other old men's faces showed a hint of surprise, which quickly turned into joy, and they laughed loudly:

"Very good, very good! I have gained another precious disciple today. I Old Man Ling."

Following that, the Lone Pavilion Master explained the matter of Spirit Root to the two of them, and she also gave them a warning:

"Lili, although you have obtained fortuitous opportunity and planted Spirit Root, and this Spirit Root is planted in your body and nurtured by your flesh and blood, and is quite compatible with you, its quality is actually only average."

Furthermore, your cultivation has been severely damaged, leaving you only one tribulation remaining. Don't think that just because you've turned your life around, you're different from everyone else."

Xiao Lili lowered her head. "This disciple dares not."

After giving his instructions, the Lone Pavilion Master sent Xiao Lili away to recuperate in the pavilion.

Fang Shu remained standing to the side without moving.

He planned to consult the Lone Pavilion Master again, and also ask Xiao Lili if the Natural Secret Script on her body were closely related to the cultivation of Spirit Root.

Just then, the Lone Pavilion Master spoke up, "Fang Shu, stay."

"Yes, Master."

When only the master and disciple remained in the hall, a strange expression flashed across the Lone Pavilion Master's face. She scrutinized Fang Shu, as if flowers were blooming on Fang Shu face.

Fang Shu was puzzled. He suppressed his thoughts and looked at the other person with a questioning gaze.

The next moment, the Lone Pavilion Master clicked his tongue:

"You little rascal, you've got some pretty good tricks up your sleeve. You can even bring the dead back to life."

Don't worry, that girl may have had fortuitous opportunity, but she also has some flaws. On the contrary, you, buddy, definitely won't lose out."

"What do you mean by that, Master?!"