Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Root

Chen Changxuan held the set of Formation Flags with some excitement. Were it not for his unhealed injuries, he would have wanted to refine them at once.

"This thing will indeed be useful to me."

"The market price for this set of Formation Flags is around three thousand Spirit Stones."

"But I only have thirty-seven Spirit Stones on me right now." The Old Clan Leader rubbed his hands awkwardly. "How about I owe you the rest for now and make it up to you later?"

For no reason he could name, Chen Nianzhi's heart trembled. Over the years, the Old Clan Leader had supported the Lineage by exchanging nearly all his Spirit Stones for Clan Merit. Any artifacts or possessions he could sell had essentially been sold off to subsidize the household.

As a result, even now, as one of Yu Commandery's only three Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators, all the loose wealth on his person amounted to merely a few dozen Spirit Stones.

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to be so destitute, others likely would not dare believe it even if they heard it.

His eyes reddened. Turning his head away, he swallowed and said,

"I'll sell this set of Formation Flags to the Lineage treasury for three thousand merit."

"Though Great-Uncle lacks Spirit Stones, he has Clan Merit to spare. Why would you need to owe me anything first?"

"..."

By the time he emerged from the Spirit Spring at the rear mountain, the sky had gradually darkened. Chen Nianzhi briefly explained the course of his journey to the Third Elder, then left Qingyuan Mountain.

When he returned to Spirit Isle Lake, he discovered that it was already late July. Nearly eight months had passed since his departure.

"Little Nianzhi, you're back."

The moment he arrived at Spirit Isle Lake, he spotted an acquaintance. It was none other than his old granduncle, Chen Changyan.

Chen Nianzhi was initially startled, but he quickly understood. During this time, it had been this old granduncle who had taken his place guarding Spirit Isle Lake.

Thinking of this, he hurried over to support the old granduncle, frowning as he said,

"How does Uncle Qing Hao handle affairs? He actually made you travel a thousand li all the way to Spirit Isle Lake."

Chen Changyan's old face sank. "What is it? You think these old bones of mine can no longer get things done?"

"How could that be?" Chen Nianzhi hastily smiled placatingly. "I'm only worried that you're getting on in years. Such a long journey could harm your health."

"Now that sounds more like it."

The old granduncle revealed a faint smile. "I'm not like your Seventh Granduncle. He was left with hidden injuries in his body in his early years; when he could no longer draw breath, he was gone."

"My body is still doing fine. I can hold on for a few more years and lend you youngsters a hand while I'm at it."

He led Chen Nianzhi onto Lakeheart Island, then said solemnly, "I mainly came to Spirit Isle Lake for those two children. They have good talent. If they neglect their cultivation lessons, they may regret it for the rest of their lives."

"As for tending the Spirit Fields and Spirit herbs, that is merely incidental."

Chen Nianzhi nodded. The old granduncle had guided the Lineage's younger generation for decades. Most cultivators of the Chen Clan's Qing Generation and Nian Generation had been led onto the path of cultivation by him. He was indeed better suited than Chen Nianzhi to give the two siblings their first instruction.

The two continued onward and soon reached the courtyard where he lived. The Spirit Peach Tree before it was now giving off a rich fragrance.

The Spirit Peach Tree was already laden with Spirit Peaches. With Chen Nianzhi's current cultivation, he could tell at a glance that this year's crop was far more abundant than in previous years.

"This Spirit Peach Tree..."

Gazing at it, Chen Nianzhi spoke with delight.

The old granduncle nodded. "This Spirit Peach Tree has already broken through to Tier 1 Mid-grade. This year, it bore one hundred and three Spirit Peaches."

"I fear this Spirit Peach Tree is no longer an ordinary Spirit Plant."

"This tree must have encountered a great fortune and transformed into the legendary Spirit Root. Its foundation is now vastly different."

The old man had lived for more than a hundred and ten years. Having seen much and known far more than Chen Nianzhi, his eyes shone with delight.

From his words, Chen Nianzhi roughly came to understand what a Spirit Root was.

Spirit Roots were a collective name for a type of special heavenly treasure, generally divided into Innate Spirit Roots, Acquired Spirit Roots, and Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Roots.

There was naturally no need to say much about Innate Spirit Roots. They were true supreme treasures; even in the legendary Immortal Realm, they were treasures used by the greatest powers to suppress their fortune.

Acquired Spirit Roots were also known as Immortal Plants. Though inferior to Innate Spirit Roots, they were still supreme treasures coveted by Immortals beyond the heavens. In the entire Purple Yin Realm, there was only one: the realm-suppressing treasure, the Purple Yin Divine Tree.

Legend had it that the Purple Yin Divine Tree dropped a Divine Fruit once every three thousand years. The Divine Fruit could assist Primordial Spirit realm cultivators in shedding their mortal shells and ascending, breaking through into the immortal and divine realm of Bu Xiu.

Compared with Acquired Spirit Roots, Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Roots were much inferior, but they were still exceedingly rare in the Purple Yin Realm. Nearly all were occupied by major sects and great powers.

Once the old man finished, Chen Nianzhi's face filled with wild joy. "Is this tree truly a Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Root?"

"I only learned of Spirit Roots by occasionally reading ancient texts." Chen Changyan shook his head uncertainly. "But legend says that after a Spirit Plant advances into a Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Root, it grows very quickly before reaching Tier 5."

"It enters Tier 2 in ten years and can reach the Tier 3 Purple Mansion level in fifty years. Even reaching the Tier 4 Golden Core level takes only two hundred years."

"We only need to see whether it can advance to Tier 2 within ten years."

Hearing this, Chen Nianzhi calmed down. "It seems Spirit Isle Lake must be kept more secret in the future. We cannot let too many clan members come into contact with it."

The old granduncle nodded as well. "Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Roots can transform spiritual energy. If this truly is a Spirit Root, then once it breaks through to Tier 2, Spirit Isle Lake's Spirit Vein will gradually reach Tier 2 as well."

"When the time comes, have the Clan Leader arrange a Tier 2 killing formation here. That should ensure this place remains safe."

The two spoke for a while, both smiling with delight. Whether the Spirit Peach Tree truly was a Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Root remained uncertain, but the gains before their eyes were solid and real.

This year's one hundred and three Spirit Peaches were worth more than five hundred Spirit Stones. Once the peach tree reached Tier 1 High-grade, the number of Spirit Peaches it produced each year would increase by seventy to eighty percent. By then, its annual income would reach eight or nine hundred Spirit Stones.

Seeing the Spirit Peaches enjoy such a bountiful harvest, Chen Nianzhi was in an excellent mood. He personally picked several fully ripened Spirit Peaches and hosted Chen Changyan.

The old man was somewhat reluctant to eat them. He only took one Spirit Peach, ate just a small bite himself, then cut the remainder for the siblings Xian Ling and Xian Yan.

As he fed the two children, his face overflowed with smiles.

"They say precious Spirit Trees are all heavy assets. Many immortal clans can ensure lasting prosperity with just one such tree."

"I never believed it before. Only after seeing your Spirit Peach Tree did I understand that the saying was no lie."

Chen Nianzhi said helplessly, "Old Granduncle, Spirit Isle Lake has nothing else, but it certainly does not lack Spirit Peaches."

"You rarely come here. Please have more. Consider it my repayment for the grace of your teachings."

Having come to this world more than nineteen years ago, the people Chen Nianzhi was most grateful to were Chen Changyan and Seventh Granduncle Chen Changqing.

Seventh Granduncle Chen Changqing had always treated Chen Nianzhi well. The three treasures he left behind—the Green Leaf Sword, Golden Armor Talisman, and Scarlet Flame Talisman—had helped Chen Nianzhi survive several difficult battles.