What Spiritual Root Did Junior Brother Ye Have?

Ye Fei reached out and opened the wooden box. Six things came into view.

A sword, two books, a jade bottle, an identity jade plaque, and a gray robe and cloth bag.

Ye Fei swept his gaze over the six things, then reached out and picked up the cloth bag.

Opening it, he found milky-white stones the size of quail eggs inside.

He poured all the stones out of the bag and counted them carefully. There were twenty in total.

"These should be the spirit stones Dad always talked about."

Looking at the stones, Ye Fei soon recalled some of the stories Ye Canglong had told him.

Although they had lived in a mountain village, Ye Canglong often told him stories about immortal masters.

Those stories featured flying swords, spirit stones, and storage pouches.

Before today, Ye Fei had treated Ye Canglong's stories as nothing more than stories.

But after what he had experienced today, Ye Fei knew those stories might have been real.

At the very least, he had seen some of the things from those stories with his own eyes today.

After putting the spirit stones back into the bag, Ye Fei picked up the two books.

One was a handbook for disciples of the Free and Easy Gate, while the other was a cultivation manual.

Ye Fei picked up the disciple handbook first and began reading.

From the handbook, he learned that disciples of the Free and Easy Gate could exchange spirit stones for food and various cultivation supplies at the Many Treasures Pavilion on the mountain.

They could also use spirit stones to buy seeds for food crops and medicinal herbs to plant in the spirit fields outside their cave dwellings.

Once mature, the medicinal herbs could be used to complete sect missions or exchanged for spirit stones.

Outer sect disciples of the Free and Easy Gate received a monthly stipend of five low-grade spirit stones, provided they completed sect missions.

The Free and Easy Gate also made special allowances for disciples who had yet to achieve qi refining, giving them a three-month assessment period.

During that period, their stipends were paid as usual, and they did not have to complete sect missions.

If they still failed to achieve qi refining by the end of the assessment period, they would be expelled from the Free and Easy Gate.

Disciples who successfully achieved qi refining had to complete sect missions each month to qualify for that month's stipend.

"Looks like I need to hurry up and cultivate, or I'll end up getting kicked out of the Free and Easy Gate."

Setting down the handbook, Ye Fei picked up the cultivation manual.

At the sight of the large words "Free and Easy True Formula" on its cover, excitement surged through him. He stood and went into the bedroom.

Ye Fei knew that whether he could become an immortal master and remain in the Free and Easy Gate depended entirely on this manual.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he calmed himself, then opened the first page of the Free and Easy True Formula.

"The Free and Easy True Formula was created by the founding patriarch of the Free and Easy Gate, Free and Easy True Person, and consists of twelve volumes. The first three refine qi and shed mortality; the next three strengthen the body and establish the foundation; the following three condense essence to form a core; and the final three break the core to form a nascent soul..."

The first page introduced the Free and Easy True Formula. Although Ye Fei did not know its grade, a technique that could take him to nascent soul ought to be of no low rank.

Unfortunately, he only had the first three volumes. To obtain the rest, he would have to reach foundation establishment.

The handbook had mentioned all of this.

Only after reaching a certain cultivation level could he collect higher-level cultivation manuals from the sect.

After carefully reading through the Free and Easy True Formula, Ye Fei steadied his breathing and focused his mind, then began cultivating diligently according to the first volume.

Qi refining consisted of four steps: qi sensing, qi absorption, qi circulation, and qi gathering.

The first thing Ye Fei needed to do was sense qi.

Besides written descriptions, the manual also contained illustrations to guide him, so he had little difficulty understanding it.

Presented at the risk of my life.

Although Ye Fei had a mixed spiritual root, he still possessed a spiritual root. As he continuously circulated the formula within his body, he sensed the spiritual qi in the air after only half a quarter-hour.

He had completed the first step, qi sensing.

But when he began the second step, qi absorption, the disadvantage of his mixed spiritual root became apparent.

Qi absorption meant drawing in spiritual qi. Although there was plenty in the air, it was a jumble of different types. Ye Fei had five kinds of spiritual roots, and each kind had to refine and absorb qi separately, making the process extremely inefficient.

He could only absorb and convert a tiny amount each time.

The little spirit power he converted was nowhere near enough to open the meridians in his body.

If he could not open his meridians, how could he gather qi?

Two hours later, Ye Fei stopped cultivating. By then, it was completely dark.

"Am I really not suited to cultivation?"

He went into the courtyard and gazed up at the stars, a profound sense of defeat settling over him.

But the moment that feeling arose, he gave an involuntary shudder.

"No. I've only just started. I mustn't back down."

"If I could go from having no spiritual root to having a mixed spiritual root, there must be a way to improve it."

"I have to achieve qi refining. I can't let Dad's hopes and sacrifices go to waste."

Standing in the courtyard, Ye Fei wore a resolute expression, his heart filled with fighting spirit.

After calming himself, he turned and returned to his cave dwelling.

Although his will was strong, his body was still mortal. Combined with the strain of his journey, his stomach was long since empty and began rumbling.

Fortunately, there was rice and water here. Ye Fei made some simple rice porridge, ate it, then lay down to sleep.

The conditions here were far better than sleeping in the wilderness. Before long, his breathing grew slow and even.

In his dreams, Ye Fei saw Ye Canglong standing at the entrance to Azure Dragon Valley, beckoning to him again and again.

Then Ye Canglong's voice reached his ears.

"Fei, come to Azure Dragon Valley. There's something there that can make you stronger."

"Fei, come to Azure Dragon Valley. There's something there that can make you stronger."

Over and over, the words repeated endlessly.

"Dad!"

At some point, Ye Fei cried out in his sleep, jolted awake, and sat bolt upright.

Outside his cave dwelling, daylight already shone brightly.

"What a strange dream."

Recalling the scene in his dream, Ye Fei muttered inwardly.

In fact, after learning that he possessed a spiritual root, he had thought of the five fruits he had eaten in Azure Dragon Valley.

He knew that his spiritual root had most likely appeared because of those five fruits. Azure Dragon Valley was definitely no ordinary place.

But knowing that did him no good. He had no idea where Azure Dragon Valley actually was.

Even if he knew its location, with his current abilities, he would struggle to take a single step through the demon beast-infested depths of Green Pine Mountain. He would be eaten before he ever reached Azure Dragon Valley.

To go there, he would at least have to reach the second or third level of qi refining.

At that thought, Ye Fei sighed, fixed himself something simple to eat, then sat cross-legged on the bed and resumed cultivating.

He continued like this until the tenth day, only stopping when the half-bag of rice in his dwelling ran out.

"Still no progress at all."

Sensing no change whatsoever in his body, Ye Fei felt despondent.

He had not slacked off at all during those ten days. Apart from eating and sleeping, he had cultivated without pause every day.

Even so, he had not made the slightest breakthrough.

Worse still, every time he fell asleep, the scene from that dream repeated endlessly, vexing him beyond endurance.

Ye Fei had even tried taking out the Voice Transmission Jade Plaque Ning Siyu had given him, hoping to contact her and ask why this was happening.

But he had yet to achieve qi refining and could not activate the jade plaque, let alone transmit his voice.

Left with no other choice, he left his cave dwelling and headed toward the mountaintop.

He wanted to buy some food and ask Li Zaitian for advice on cultivation while he was there.

As he saw it, Li Zaitian had been so welcoming when they first met that he would surely help with something this minor.

"Are you here, Senior Brother Li?"

Upon reaching the summit, Ye Fei went straight to the Reception Pavilion and called respectfully into the building.

As soon as he finished speaking, a young man dressed in white emerged from the Reception Pavilion with a cold expression and barked at him:

"How dare you! My master is an outer sect elder. How can a brat who hasn't even achieved qi refining address him so casually?"

The young man stood six feet tall, with fair skin, a straight nose, and slightly slanted, sword-like brows. Arrogance radiated from him.

His clothing marked him as an inner sect disciple, and he was also Li Zaitian's apprentice.

"Yishan, don't be rude. This is your Martial Uncle Ye. Hurry and invite him inside."

The young man had barely finished when Li Zaitian's voice came from within.

"Martial Uncle?"

"A mortal who hasn't even achieved qi refining is my martial uncle?"

The white-robed young man looked utterly stunned.

But he dared not disobey Li Zaitian and could only retreat inside.

Seeing this, Ye Fei shook his head helplessly and stepped in.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Li."

Upon entering the Reception Pavilion and seeing Li Zaitian seated in the place of honor, Ye Fei hurried forward and saluted with clasped hands.

"You're too polite, Junior Brother Ye."

"What brings you here?"

Li Zaitian smiled faintly, glanced at Ye Fei standing before him, and asked with a pleasant smile.

"There are a few things about cultivation I'd like your guidance on, Senior Brother Li."

Ye Fei nodded and explained the problems he had encountered.

"Oh?"

"What spiritual root do you have, Junior Brother Ye?"

After hearing him out, Li Zaitian raised an eyebrow, curiosity appearing on his face.

"A mixed spiritual root."

Ye Fei answered awkwardly.

At his answer, the corner of Li Zaitian's mouth twitched, while the white-robed young man beside him burst out laughing.

Then the young man muttered, "So he's just trash."

Although his voice was quiet, both Ye Fei and Li Zaitian heard him.

Ye Fei's cheeks burned, but he said nothing, merely gritting his teeth in silence.

Li Zaitian only shot the young man a glare, composed himself, and gave Ye Fei a slight smile as he explained:

"Try holding a spirit stone while you cultivate, Junior Brother Ye. It might work a little better."

With that, he closed his eyes and said nothing more.

His attitude toward Ye Fei was already noticeably different from before.

Seeing this, Ye Fei sighed inwardly, saluted Li Zaitian with clasped hands, and turned to leave.

After leaving the Reception Pavilion, he spent one low-grade spirit stone on a bag of rice at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, then returned to his cave dwelling.

What Ye Fei did not know was that, the moment he left the Reception Pavilion, the young man began complaining to Li Zaitian.

"Master, that brat only has a mixed spiritual root. Why be so polite to him?"

The young man stared in the direction Ye Fei had left, his face full of displeasure.

In all his years of cultivation, he had never heard of a cultivator calling a mortal "Martial Uncle."

He could have accepted it if Ye Fei had a heavenly spiritual root, but Ye Fei had a mixed spiritual root.

Making a genius with a dual spiritual root like him call a mortal with a mixed spiritual root "Martial Uncle" was nothing short of an insult.

"Whatever the case, he is the grand supreme elder's nominal disciple. We still have to show him that much respect."

Li Zaitian spoke somewhat helplessly.

He had not expected Ye Fei to have a mixed spiritual root either.

No wonder the grand supreme elder had placed him in the outer sect. This was hardly a chance for Ye Fei to gain experience; it was simply somewhere for him to live out his days.

After all, someone with a mixed spiritual root might cultivate until death without ever reaching foundation establishment.

"Hmph!"

"Someone with a mixed spiritual root gets to be the grand supreme elder's nominal disciple, while a genius with a dual spiritual root like me is only an outer sect elder's apprentice. That's far too unfair!"

Thinking of Ye Fei's status as the grand supreme elder's nominal disciple, the young man could not help snorting, his heart seething with resentment.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you feel wronged by becoming my disciple?"

Li Zaitian's voice immediately turned cold.

"You misunderstand, Master. That isn't what I meant."

"I just feel a little resentful when I compare myself to that brat."

Although the young man was explaining himself, there was no humility in his manner. He seemed rather perfunctory.

"If the Holy Son hadn't specifically ordered you to hold on to that thing, I wouldn't let you off lightly for what you just said."

"Your temperament is far too restless right now. You need to be more mindful of it."

"That thing is extremely sinister. Even core formation cultivators can be affected and lose themselves if they are the slightest bit careless."

"Just keep it safe. Don't take it out to study for no reason, or the consequences will be beyond what you can bear."

"This is a critical time. Whatever you do, don't stir up any trouble."

"As soon as the Holy Son arrives, hand it over to him immediately."

Li Zaishan glanced at the young man and warned him with some displeasure.

"Don't worry, Master. Nothing will happen while it's in my hands. I'll be extra careful and won't take it out casually."

The young man gave an offhand reply.

Naturally, Ye Fei knew nothing of their conversation.

After returning to his cave dwelling, he immediately sat cross-legged on the bed.

"I hope the spirit stones help."

Ye Fei picked up a spirit stone in each hand, anticipation written across his face.