The Sky Is the Limit for Birds, and Spiritual Roots Differ Greatly

"Inside are a hundred jin of spirit rice, along with a set of formal disciple robes." Luo Bucheng swept his gaze over the crowd.

"Yes." Everyone checked and found nothing amiss.

Luo Bucheng added, "If there's anything else you need to pack, hurry and get it."

At his words, Lin An and the others turned and left.

Only Xu Changqing remained standing where he was, utterly still.

Because there was nothing worth lingering over.

Before long, those who had left returned one after another.

Half-jokingly, Luo Bucheng said, "Be sure to keep your little storage bags safe. These things aren't high-grade goods, after all, so they can't be bound by blood. If you lose them, don't come crying to me later."

"Hahaha." Several people laughed.

Luo Bucheng continued, "If there are no problems, then it's time for us to set off."

"Alright." Everyone could hardly wait to leave.

At that moment, Luo Bucheng took out a token engraved with a flying crane. Pointing it at the object, he called out, "Lord Nineteen, we're setting off."

Screech!

Before long, a crane's cry rang out from the distance.

Then, an enormous shadow approached at incredible speed.

Xu Changqing and the others looked up.

They discovered a gigantic white crane with a wingspan of over ten meters.

The instant it drew near, gusts of wild wind rose at once.

They blew everyone into a staggering mess, leaving them unable to stand steadily.

Lin An, Zhao Ying, and the others were forced to retreat again and again.

Xu Changqing was doing better. After all, he was at Middle Qi Refining and possessed five strands of spiritual power within his body.

Still, he put on an act and took several steps back, his face filled with shock.

"A monster?"

"That's an immortal sect spirit beast!"

"If it were a monster, we'd have been eaten already!"

The crowd broke into discussion.

With a helpless expression, Luo Bucheng said, "Lord Nineteen, stop teasing these juniors."

"Hehehe." The enormous white crane gave a human-like snicker, and the wind immediately weakened.

Xu Changqing and the others finally steadied themselves.

Still shaken, they looked at the massive white crane.

Only to discover 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 no one dared step forward.

"What are you standing around for?" Seeing that no one had followed, Luo Bucheng urged them impatiently. "Get up here!"

Only then did they carefully climb onto Crane Nineteen's broad, sturdy back.

The moment they found their footing, they sensed the scenery around them rapidly falling away.

Looking about in curiosity, they discovered that they had somehow already risen into the air.

The Spirit Fields and buildings below grew smaller and smaller.

Looking down from above, those outer sect disciples resembled densely packed ants.

Luo Bucheng smiled. "You really should take a good look. After all, this is your last day on the outskirts."

"The outskirts?" Xu Changqing was stunned.

In a teasing tone, Luo Bucheng said, "You didn't think the Spirit Fields were only this big, did you?"

"Uh..." Xu Changqing and the others had no reply.

"In truth, what lies below is merely the outer region of the Spirit Fields. Only after becoming formal disciples are you qualified to enter the true core region." Luo Bucheng offered a brief explanation.

"So that's how it is." The others came to a sudden realization.

"There's still time. What do you want to ask?" Luo Bucheng shrugged.

"This..." Lin An and the others hesitated somewhat.

"Senior Brother Luo, may I ask what Spiritual Root you awakened?" Seeing that no one dared ask, Xu Changqing simply spoke first.

"We're all formal disciples, so just call me Fellow Daoist Luo." Luo Bucheng then added, "I awakened Water-Wood Spiritual Roots."

"Dual Spiritual Roots!" The others were astonished.

Xu Changqing pressed on, "Fellow Daoist Luo, is there a difference between a Single Spiritual Root and Dual Spiritual Roots?"

Luo Bucheng answered with certainty, "There is, and it's a huge one."

"How huge?" It was not only Xu Changqing; everyone was curious.

Why was it that they could only remain in the [Spirit Fields] after awakening Wood Spirit Roots,

while this Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots cultivator 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 mortals are completely ineffective against us, right?" Luo Bucheng asked in return.

At this, Xu Changqing and the other two wore blank expressions.

Lin An, who was more knowledgeable, nodded. "There is indeed such a saying."

Slightly smug, Luo Bucheng said, "I have two."

"Huh?" The others stared, dumbfounded.

"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.

For example, wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water restrains fire, fire restrains metal, and metal restrains wood."

"Right." Everyone nodded instinctively.

Luo Bucheng continued, "Therefore, although you can restrain Earth Spirit Roots, when you encounter the other types—especially Metal Spiritual Roots and Fire Spiritual Roots—you will instead be suppressed. Your Spiritual Light Barrier won't be able to stop them at all."

"So that's how it is?" Zhao Ying seemed to understand, yet not fully.

"No wonder Metal Spiritual Roots make me nervous whenever I encounter them." Lin An came to a sudden realization.

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 possessed attributes.

For instance, those with Wood Spirit Roots could only cast wood-attributed spells.

The more Spiritual Roots one had, the more spells one could cast and the more effectively one could restrain opponents.

"Then wouldn't Five-Element Spiritual Roots be the best?" Xu Changqing raised a brow.

Luo Bucheng gave him an approving look. "At present, Five-Element Spiritual Roots are the mainstream throughout the entire cultivation world. Unfortunately, such talents are far too rare. The moment one appears, they will surely spark a scramble among the great cultivation sects."

Online novels misled me! 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 too upset. 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 a certain foundation, you can seek Dao companions with different Spiritual Roots.

By cultivating together in dual cultivation, you can give rise to new Spiritual Roots."

"So that's how it is." Xu Changqing suddenly understood.

"Of course, you must find Spiritual Roots that generate each other, such as water generating wood. Whatever you do, don't find Spiritual Roots that restrain each other. Otherwise, before any new Spiritual Root appears, you'll be restrained to death." Luo Bucheng blinked.

"How long does it generally take?" Xu Changqing was extremely curious about this.

Luo Bucheng replied, "The first Spiritual Root takes around a hundred years to emerge. After that, each additional Spiritual Root takes twice as long as the last."

"Huh?" Lin An and the others were instantly dumbstruck.

Although cultivators with Wood Spirit Roots lived somewhat longer than others,

even if they cultivated Qi Refining to perfection, they would only live one hundred and twenty or thirty years.

In other words, they would grow old and die before waiting for a new Spiritual Root.

"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. I have plenty of that!

Others could not afford to wait, but it did not matter to him.

Since he intended 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 even wait a thousand years!!!