Spirit Roots

The Hua Household's internal strife, the drama of the legitimate and collateral branches splitting apart, had been played out with great realism.

But anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was merely a ruse of self-inflicted suffering, allowing them to place bets on both the new and old methods.

Hua Chunning did not know whether Li Chengxuan had deliberately concealed the news that he had taken Liu Zhijian as a disciple to put her in her place.

But the distrust hidden in it spoke for itself.

Hua Chunning could no longer concern herself with maintaining the pretense that the legitimate and collateral branches had severed ties. She said respectfully, "The Azure Cloud Sect was originally a Golden Core sect from the Yue Lands of the Central Continent."

"The new method flourishes on the Central Continent, and its cultivators far outnumber those of the Southern Reach."

"In the Yue Lands especially, sects stand in great numbers, and competition is fierce."

"Thirty years ago, the Azure Cloud Sect's new-method Golden Core cultivator was surrounded and killed."

"Several Foundation Establishment cultivators who had hopes of breaking through to Golden Core also died one after another."

"Later, they could no longer even hold their sect's grounds, and destruction was imminent."

"The Azure Cloud Sect's founding patriarch came from a major Nascent Soul sect on the Central Continent."

"Although that major sect was unwilling to shelter and take them in, it advised the Azure Cloud Sect to move its entire sect to the Southern Edge Continent."

"On the surface, the Azure Cloud Sect has one Foundation Establishment cultivator, its current sect master, surnamed Qiao."

"There is another hidden away, surnamed Lin. He is an elder of the previous generation. It is said he did not have much lifespan left to begin with, and he was also gravely injured."

After listening, Li Chengxuan nodded slightly and said with a smile, "You've done very well."

She had investigated the Azure Cloud Sect's background so thoroughly that he did not need to ask to know the information had come from the Hua Household's collateral branch, which had joined the sect.

As for the Azure Cloud Sect's origins, there was nothing particularly surprising about them.

In the end, it was merely a fallen sect, not much different from Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Hua Chunning's heart tightened at his words, and she said with even greater respect, "To ease the sect master's burdens, Chunning would not shrink from ten thousand deaths."

"There's no need for ten thousand deaths."

"Only by staying alive is there hope, and only then can you be of use."

Li Chengxuan's expression remained indifferent. He chuckled and asked, "And the new method...?"

"The new method..."

Hua Chunning gathered her thoughts and said gravely, "The new method practiced by the Azure Cloud Sect is completely different from the ancient traditions of the Southern Edge Continent."

"Cultivation begins with Qi Refining. There is no such thing as Meridian Opening or Embryonic Breathing."

"Refining the Qi of heaven and earth is Qi Refining."

"Swallowing the wonders of heaven and earth is Foundation Establishment."

"As for Golden Core and Nascent Soul, I have yet to learn the details."

Li Chengxuan fell into thought.

The Southern Edge Continent had been cut off from the world for a thousand years. Only the old method was permitted to be passed down, and all information about the new method had been suppressed.

From the principles of cultivation alone, Li Chengxuan had gained a general understanding of the new method.

The old method learned from nature, seeking unity between heaven and humanity.

The new method plundered heaven and earth to nourish oneself.

In both efficiency and difficulty, the new method held every advantage. No wonder it had become the mainstream in the world of immortal cultivation.

Seeing that Li Chengxuan did not interrupt with questions, Hua Chunning continued, "Compared with the old method, the new method is easy to begin, and cultivation is extremely fast."

"I heard that a holy son of a major sect on the Central Continent once reached Qi Refining in three days and Foundation Establishment in a hundred."

Li Chengxuan was secretly astonished.

Although Foundation Establishment under the new and old methods shared nothing but a name, what old-method cultivator would not be shocked and envious to hear of reaching Qi Refining in three days and Foundation Establishment in a hundred?

He himself had cultivated for eighteen years before barely managing to enter the Dao through Qi Ingestion.

Liu Zhijian, who possessed a [Kan Water] aspect, was still struggling in the Embryonic Breathing realm. It was not even known when he would be able to begin gathering Qi.

When Hua Chunning had first heard of it, she too had been utterly shocked and had even thought of fleeing Supreme Mystery Mountain to join the Azure Cloud Sect and practice the new method. Unfortunately, she could not have her wish. She said softly, "There is just one thing: to practice the new method, one needs a Spirit Root."

"Without a Spirit Root, no matter how wondrous one's bloodline or how heaven-shaking one's wisdom for the Dao, cultivation is impossible."

"A Spirit Root..."

Li Chengxuan was somewhat dazed by the words.

Li Chengxuan had once heard Old Daoist Wu mention the term after getting drunk.

It was also the only information Li Chengxuan had known about the new method.

Unfortunately, the great figure who protected the Southern Edge Continent had still been around at the time, and Old Daoist Wu had been afraid of violating a taboo, so he had not dared say much.

Hua Chunning sighed inwardly. "It is said that the Spirit Roots of heaven and earth are mainly of the five elements, though there are also a small number of variant Spirit Roots, such as lightning, ice, and wind."

"Spirit Roots are present from birth. Either one has them or one does not; they are difficult to change later in life."

"A single Spirit Root is prized, allowing cultivation at divine speed."

"Having all five elemental Spirit Roots is also called having mixed Spirit Roots, and cultivation is difficult."

"But we people of the Southern Edge Continent have no Spirit Roots!"

Li Chengxuan could not help laughing. "Then hasn't the Hua Household's collateral branch drawn water with a bamboo basket, only to come away empty-handed?!"

Hua Chunning did not dare question her grandfather's plans and only said in a low voice, "The Azure Cloud Sect has a body-refining method. Even without a Spirit Root, one can cultivate with the aid of pills, but unfortunately, one can only reach the third layer of Qi Refining."

"However, Elder Lin said that by joining with cultivators who have Spirit Roots, there is a greater chance of bearing offspring with Spirit Roots."

Li Chengxuan laughed again and looked at Hua Chunning. "It seems your grandfather saved you by sending you up the mountain."

Hua Chunning knelt and bowed. "Chunning is grateful to the immortal sect for taking her in and is willing to die in the sect master's service."

Even at best, entering the Dao through body refining would only make one the sort of strongman who guarded a mountain, fit only to be ordered about. It was a method of the lowest order to begin with.

More importantly, Hua Chunning had no Spirit Root, but her aptitude was quite good.

Had she joined the Azure Cloud Sect, she would most likely have become a breeding machine by now.

Hua Chunning was, after all, somewhat proud and lofty. How could she be willing to endure such humiliation?

"Get up."

Li Chengxuan chuckled, looked Hua Chunning over carefully, and said calmly, "Since joining Supreme Mystery Mountain, you have done your duties with all your heart and strength. I have seen it all."

"You also know how difficult cultivation under the old method is."

"If I promised you the great Dao of immortality, you wouldn't believe me either."

"But Supreme Mystery Mountain has a long history, and it still has some foundations to draw upon."

"One month from now, I will give you a fortuitous opportunity. It might make up for what your aspect lacks."

"As for whether it succeeds, that will depend on your fortune."

At first, Hua Chunning was only shocked, but in the end she was ecstatic. She knelt again and kowtowed sincerely, saying through tears, "Thank you for your compassion, Sect Master! Chunning will repay you even if her body is crushed to pieces, and will not shrink from ten thousand deaths."

Heaven had taken pity on her.

Hua Chunning had been someone akin to a holy maiden of Rejuvenation Valley since childhood. She had grown up listening to her grandfather speak of their ancestors' glory, and naturally had aspirations of seeking immortality and pursuing the Dao.

But cultivation under the old method was difficult, and the Dao tradition passed down by her ancestors was incomplete.

With nowhere else to turn, she had been forced to go to Supreme Mystery Mountain and become a servant.

When the new method reached the Southern Reach, Hua Chunning had seemed to glimpse hope again.

But when word of Spirit Roots arrived, Hua Chunning's heart had turned to dead ashes once more, and she had given up all hope.

She had never expected that, when the mountains and rivers seemed to end, dark willows and bright flowers would reveal another path.

The immortal master and sect master had actually given her another chance!

The Patriarch's Hall.

Li Chengxuan gazed at the blank portrait of the patriarch, his mind connecting with the [Two Worlds Pearl].

He still needed to devote himself to cultivation and deepen his understanding of the Dao.

How could he have so much spare time to scheme against Duanmu Ren and deal with the assorted affairs of Li Household Hollow?

Seeing Hua Chunning today had given Li Chengxuan a new idea.

He could send Hua Chunning to Earth to act as his agent and handle the complicated affairs to come.

Besides, he could also take the opportunity to conduct an experiment.

Since Earth had people with abundant aspects, such as Liu Zhijian and Duanmu Ren,

perhaps he could also send Hua Chunning to Earth, find a way to strengthen her [Yi Wood] aspect, and then have her return to the cultivation world to enter the Dao and cultivate!