"There are a hundred catties of Spirit Rice Grain inside, along with a set of Formal Disciple robes." Luo Bucheng swept his gaze over the crowd.
"Correct." Everyone checked and found no errors.
Luo Bucheng then reminded them, "If there's anything else you need to pack, hurry up and get it."
Lin An and the others turned and left at once.
Only Xu Changqing remained standing where he was, utterly still.
There was nothing here worth lingering over.
Before long, those who had left came hurrying back.
Half-jokingly, Luo Bucheng said, "Make sure you keep your Small Storage Bag safe. This thing isn't some high-grade item, after all, and it can't be bound by blood. If you lose it, don't come crying to me later."
"Hahaha." Several people laughed aloud.
Luo Bucheng added, "If there are no problems, then it's time for us to set off."
"Alright." Everyone could hardly wait to leave.
At this moment, Luo Bucheng took out a token engraved with a flying crane. Pointing it at the object, he called, "Lord Nineteen, we're setting off."
—Screech!
Before long, a crane's cry rang out in the distance.
Then, an enormous shadow rapidly approached.
Xu Changqing and the others looked up.
They discovered a gigantic white crane with a wingspan exceeding ten meters.
The instant it drew near, violent gusts of wind sprang up.
They blew everyone into a stumbling mess, leaving them unable to stand steadily.
Lin An, Zhao Ying, and the others kept retreating uncontrollably.
Xu Changqing was doing better. After all, he was at Middle Qi Refining and had five strands of spiritual power within him.
Still, he deliberately staggered back a few steps, his face full of shock.
"A monster?"
"That's an Immortal Sect spirit beast!"
"If it were a monster, we'd have been eaten long ago!"
The crowd broke into discussion.
Helplessly, Luo Bucheng said, "Lord Nineteen, stop teasing these juniors."
"Hehe." The giant white crane let out a human-like snicker, and the wind immediately weakened.
Xu Changqing and the others finally steadied themselves.
Then, still shaken, they looked at the enormous white crane.
Only to find that it was observing them as well with its pink eyes.
"Everyone, follow me onto Lord Nineteen's back." Once Crane Nineteen landed, Luo Bucheng called out, then took the lead in climbing aboard.
Xu Changqing and the others looked at one another.
Yet not one of them dared step forward.
"What are you standing around for?" Seeing no one follow, Luo Bucheng urged them irritably, "Get up here!"
Only then did they cautiously climb onto Crane Nineteen's broad, sturdy back.
The moment they found their footing, they noticed the scenery around them rapidly receding.
Looking around curiously, they realized that they had already risen into the air without noticing.
The Spirit Fields and buildings below grew smaller and smaller.
Looking down from above, the outer sect disciples resembled densely packed ants.
Luo Bucheng smiled. "You really should take a good look. After all, this is your last day in the outer perimeter."
"The outer perimeter?" Xu Changqing was stunned.
In a teasing tone, Luo Bucheng said, "You didn't think the Spirit Fields were only this large, did you?"
"Uh..." Xu Changqing and the others had no answer.
"In truth, what lies below is merely the outer perimeter of the Spirit Fields. Only after becoming Formal Disciples will you be qualified to enter the true core area." Luo Bucheng gave a brief explanation.
"So that's how it is." They suddenly understood.
"There's still time. What do you want to ask?" Luo Bucheng shrugged.
"This..." Lin An and the others hesitated somewhat.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, may I ask what Spiritual Root you awakened?" Seeing that no one else dared ask, Xu Changqing simply spoke first.
"We're all Formal Disciples, so call me Fellow Daoist Luo." Luo Bucheng then added, "I awakened Water-Wood Spiritual Root."
"Dual Spiritual Roots!" The others were astonished.
Xu Changqing pressed on. "Fellow Daoist Luo, is there a difference between Single Spiritual Root and Dual Spiritual Roots?"
Luo Bucheng answered decisively, "Yes, and it's a huge one."
"How huge?" It was not only Xu Changqing; everyone was curious.
Why was it that they, having awakened Wood Spirit Root, could only remain in the [Spirit Fields]?
While this Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots before them had entered [Beast Spirit Valley]?
"You should know that once you awaken a Spiritual Root, you gain a Spiritual Light Barrier. From then on, all attacks from ordinary people have no effect on us, right?" Luo Bucheng asked in return.
At his words, Xu Changqing and the other two looked utterly blank.
Lin An, who had seen and heard more than most, nodded. "There is indeed such a saying."
Somewhat proudly, Luo Bucheng said, "I have two."
"Ah?" The others gaped in shock.
"How should I put it?" Seeing that they did not quite understand, Luo Bucheng explained, "It's like how Spiritual Roots generate and restrain one another, especially the Five-Element Spiritual Root.
Wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water restrains fire, fire restrains metal, and metal restrains wood."
"Right." Everyone nodded instinctively.
Luo Bucheng continued, "Therefore, while you can restrain Earth Spirit Root, you will instead be suppressed when facing the other types, especially metal and Fire Spiritual Root. Your Spiritual Light Barrier will not be able to block them at all."
"So that's what it means?" Zhao Ying seemed to understand, yet not fully.
"No wonder I get nervous whenever I encounter a metal Spiritual Root." Lin An suddenly understood.
Xu Changqing pondered, "So, the more Spiritual Roots one has, the higher one's defense and the fewer one's weaknesses?"
Luo Bucheng shook his head. "Not only that. It also means you can use more types of spells."
The vast majority of spells had attributes.
For example, someone with Wood Spirit Root could only perform wood-attributed spells.
The more Spiritual Roots one had, the more spells one could perform, and the better one could restrain opponents.
"Then doesn't that mean the Five-Element Spiritual Root is the best?" Xu Changqing raised a brow.
Luo Bucheng gave him an approving look. "At present, the Five-Element Spiritual Root is the mainstream throughout the cultivation world. Unfortunately, such talents are far too rare. Whenever one appears, they are certain to spark a scramble among the major cultivation sects."
Online novels have led me astray! Xu Changqing cried inwardly.
He had never expected that in the Heavenly Origin Realm, what truly mattered was not Spiritual Roots, but comprehension.
Spiritual Roots were merely a necessary condition for cultivation, or rather, the threshold.
Seeing the dejected expressions on their faces, Luo Bucheng could not help comforting them. "Don't be upset either. Since Spiritual Roots can restrain one another, they can naturally generate one another as well."
Xu Changqing hurriedly asked, "How do they generate one another?"
"It's simple." Luo Bucheng revealed a meaningful expression and continued, "Once you have accumulated enough, you can seek Dao companions with different Spiritual Roots.
Cultivate together in dual cultivation, and new Spiritual Roots can be born."
"So that's how it is." Xu Changqing suddenly understood.
"Of course, you must find Mutual-Generation Spiritual Roots, such as water generating wood. Whatever you do, don't find Conflicting Spiritual Roots. Otherwise, before a new Spiritual Root is born, you'll be restrained to death." Luo Bucheng winked.
"How long does it usually take?" Xu Changqing was extremely curious about this.
Luo Bucheng answered, "The first Spiritual Root takes around a hundred years to be born. After that, the time doubles for every additional Spiritual Root."
"Ah?" Lin An and the others instantly went blank.
Although cultivators with Wood Spirit Root lived somewhat longer than others.
Even if they cultivated the Qi Refining Realm to perfection, they would only live a hundred and twenty or thirty years.
In other words, they would die of old age before a new Spiritual Root could be born.
"So, instead of spending that time on this, you might as well cultivate diligently." Luo Bucheng spread his hands and shrugged.
"Time?" Xu Changqing narrowed his eyes, thinking, I have more than enough!
Others could not wait, but it did not matter to him.
Since he was going to keep a low profile and farm anyway, he might as well gather all the Spiritual Roots while he was at it.
Forget a hundred years—he could wait even a thousand years!!!
Before you continue