Chapter 13 Sect 1 The Five Elemental Roots are the worst aptitude, no better than ordinary people...
"Thank you, Immortal Venerable!" As if worried that the other party might change their mind, Xu Xing quickly agreed.
If one can cultivate immortality, what attraction do gold and silver treasures hold?
Lin Borong didn't delay. He raised his hand and sent out several beams of spiritual light, which entered the bodies of everyone in Xiahe Village present.
Before long, a ball of light appeared above everyone's heads.
Most people are a gray blur, but a few have a unique spot of light on their heads.
Xu Xing noticed that the light spot on his head was not bright and had five colors: white, blue, red, and yellow. Wang Lianhua next to him also had four colors on her head, while Zhao Linglan had the fewest colors, only blue and yellow.
As she was wondering if these colors represented cultivation talent, she heard the old man's somewhat surprised voice, "There's actually someone with dual spiritual roots?"
Seeing the high and mighty immortal suddenly standing in front of her, Zhao Linglan hid behind Wang Lianhua. Wang Lianhua realized that this might be her daughter's chance to change her fate, so she quickly pushed her forward.
Lin Borong raised his hand and tapped Zhao Linglan on the head, nodding in satisfaction. "She has dual spiritual roots in water and earth, which is quite good. If she cultivates diligently, she may be able to enter the inner sect in the future."
So the color represents the number of spiritual roots. It seems that the fewer the number of spiritual roots, the better the talent. Since I have all five colors, I naturally have five spiritual roots.
Xu Xing, who didn't know what the five spiritual roots meant, was secretly delighted. Having spiritual roots meant he could enter the Jade Cloud Sect, travel through time, and experience the taste of cultivating immortality. That was wonderful!
If she joins the Jade Cloud Sect, will she be able to access the legendary alchemy and weapon crafting techniques?
Of the more than two hundred people in Xiahe Village, only five possess spiritual roots: one with two spiritual roots, two with four spiritual roots, and two with five spiritual roots.
"Xiao Jia! You have spiritual roots, you can go and cultivate immortality!"
Zhao Desheng wept with joy, while Zhao Bo, who was injured and weak, was also filled with excitement. He never expected that Zhao Jia, who did not inherit the talent of a martial artist, would have the talent of a cultivator! Although he only had four spiritual roots, he was still able to be taken back to the sect by an immortal!
"Lotus, does this mean that both of us can cultivate?"
Jin Cui looked at the five colors on her head, then at the four colors on Wang Lianhua's head. Her face showed joy at first, but more so, confusion.
Cultivating immortality, huh? Does that mean going to a very far place? But she still has a husband and children...
Most of the villagers without spiritual roots looked at the five with spiritual roots with envy, but they were not too disappointed, since the immortal had promised to give them money and settle them elsewhere.
Since immortals are so generous, you'll probably never have to worry about food and drink again in this life.
Xiahe Village is too remote. It's already a blessing from their ancestors that one or two martial artists can emerge from it, let alone immortals who only exist in legends. For many years, no immortals have come here to test their spiritual roots, so cultivating immortality seems too far away to them.
Lin Borong looked thoughtfully at the various reactions of the crowd, never expecting that someone with dual spiritual roots could emerge from such a place with scarce spiritual energy.
It seems that the Jade Cloud Sect could consider sending people here regularly to deal with remote human realms that have never been governed by any sect. They might just find some promising talents there.
only……
Lin Borong glanced at Xu Xing. This child was somewhat clever and had good luck, but unfortunately, he had the lowest grade of the five spiritual roots.
"The five spiritual roots are the worst aptitude, not much better than ordinary people, and it is extremely difficult to draw qi into the body. In hundreds of years, the sect has only accepted one disciple with five spiritual roots, but he never established his foundation even when he was nearing the end of his lifespan."
"In the path of cultivation, aptitude determines everything. Having five spiritual roots means that even if you put in ten or a hundred times more effort than others, you may not be able to reach the same level."
Lin Borong's words poured cold water on Xu Xing and Jin Cui.
"If you choose not to go to the sect, I will give you more money than you can spend in two lifetimes. We will set off back to the sect in an hour. Think it over carefully."
Lin Borong left Shen Du and the other two to look after the village while he went to the prefecture to settle the affairs of the villagers in Xiahe Village.
"Xu Xu, you..."
Wang Lianhua was not happy about having spiritual roots; she only looked at Xu Xing with worry, fearing that he would be too disappointed.
Xu Xing smiled and shook his head. "I'm going. How will I know if I don't try? Even if it doesn't work out, it's not too late for me to come back."
She knew that being able to live a second life and possess life skills was already a blessing from heaven, and she should be content.
But this is not a world for ordinary people.
There was a snake demon on Mount Huiling who left behind a precious medicinal herb. The villagers of Xiahe Village were completely unaware of this, yet they almost perished at the hands of the demon who intended to steal the herb.
This time, several cultivators from Shendu arrived in time to save them, but what about next time?
Even if cultivating immortality with five spiritual roots is difficult, can it be more difficult than surviving in a world teeming with demons?
Xu Xing just wanted to live a good life, to be able to eat his fill every day, and then to focus on learning life skills.
Just like in my past life.
"Mom! That's great! The three of us can go cultivate immortality together!"
Zhao Linglan was overjoyed.
Wang Lianhua smiled as she looked at the two children. Who would have thought that she also had spiritual roots and could cultivate immortality?
She's thirty years old and doesn't care how far she can go in her spiritual practice; she just wants to be with her daughter.
"Lotus, please talk to the immortal and ask him to take me with him!"
Zhao Youwei squeezed in front of the mother and daughter, rubbing his hands together with a warm smile, no longer displaying the domineering attitude he had shown towards his wife and daughter before.
Wang Lianhua stopped laughing and stared intently at her husband.
She married into the Zhao family at her parents' behest. Although she had no feelings for her husband, she had managed everything at home and outside for over a decade since marrying into the Zhao family. She had even tolerated Zhao Youwei's decade-long habit of being lazy and idle.
But what about him?
Xu Xing gently patted her hand, and Zhao Linglan leaned on her mother's shoulder.
The two girls' silent comfort gave Wang Lianhua courage.
Why did you push Lingling out just now?
She asked softly.
"I...I didn't mean to! I was just trying to protect Lingling, but that monster suddenly..."
Zhao Youwei blushed and hurriedly explained, but when he saw his daughter looking up at him, he didn't dare to look into her eyes.
"Zhao Youwei, let's get a divorce."
Wang Lianhua spoke very calmly; she didn't want to listen anymore.
"You're nothing but a four-elemental cultivator! You think you can really cultivate immortality?" Hearing this, Zhao Youwei was no longer intimidated. He jumped up, pointed at Wang Lianhua's nose, and cursed, "You think you can just kick me aside now that you've found a better place? You're dreaming!"
“I’m this girl’s own father. Even the immortals say she has great potential. If she just asks, she can definitely take me with her! Linglan! Look at your father! You…”
Chen Du, who was standing with his fellow disciples not far away, frowned when he saw the commotion. Just as he was about to go over, Zhao Desheng, who had been observing, spoke up.
"Alright! Do you think the Immortal Sect is a vegetable market? You can't just go wherever you want!"
"Haven't ten years of service to Lianhua been enough for you?! Today, with the whole village here, I'll make the decision: you two should get a divorce!"
"Village Chief!" Zhao Youwei exclaimed in disbelief. He and Zhao Desheng were from the same clan!
Zhao Desheng didn't even look at him. "Lianhua, you and Lingling can go with the Immortal Master and the others. I'll take care of the divorce!"
Jin Cui's husband watched silently. He looked at Zhao Youwei, who was being dragged along by several villagers with a face full of resentment, and then at his wife. He said softly, "Cui Cui, you should go too. Go and give it a try. Don't worry about home."
Jin Cui pursed her lips and looked at her husband, saying nothing.
Zhao Desheng led his grandson Zhao Jia over and said with a smile to Wang Lianhua and the others, "You all come from Xiahe Village. You should support each other when you enter the sect."
Zhao Desheng is a smart man.
Judging from what that immortal venerable said, it's difficult to make a name for oneself with five spiritual roots, and it's probably not easy with four spiritual roots either. But Zhao Linglan has dual spiritual roots, which even the immortal elder said have good aptitude! With her around, my grandson will naturally benefit from following her, and he might even succeed!
As for Xu Xing...
Although Xu Xing only possessed five spiritual roots and was considered unworthy in the eyes of the immortal, the spiritual medicine was offered by Xu Xing, so perhaps the immortal would treat her differently.
Thinking this, Zhao Desheng smiled even more kindly, "Xu Xu, after the village is moved and everyone is settled, I will also move Doctor Xu's grave together. I will continue to offer incense for him during festivals and holidays, so don't worry."
Xu Xing hadn't thought of that, and upon hearing this, he said gratefully, "Thank you, Village Chief."
Zhao Desheng chuckled, "I've heard that some immortal sects also recruit martial artists. Look at you, there are only a few of you without any help. Xu Xu, why don't you talk to the Immortal Venerable about bringing Youming along? It'll be good for the future..."
Xu Xing's smile faded slightly; so that's what it was about.
"no."
Without even glancing at Zhao Youming's expectant face, she directly refused, "Village Chief, I'm not so kind as to fight for the future of someone who has been bullying me."
“Hey! You child, how could you do this when you're just playing around with other kids…” Zhao Desheng was about to try to persuade him.
Xu Xing's face turned cold. "In short, I will never help him! Why don't you, village chief, go and talk to the Immortal Venerable yourself?"
Shen Du, who had been keeping an eye on things, said calmly, "The Jade Cloud Sect has no shortage of martial artists."
"That's right. We at Yuxiao don't just take anyone. If we push our luck like this and anger Senior Lin, then none of us will be allowed to go."
Zuo Qiuxu echoed, as he found Xu Xing the most pleasing to the eye. After entering the Jade Cloud Sect, Xu Xing became his junior sister, so of course he had to help his own.
Seeing that the immortal had spoken, Zhao Desheng dared not try to persuade him any further.
Zhao Youming hid behind his father. Although he was still young, he knew that he had missed an opportunity that could have changed his destiny.
Perhaps every time he wakes up in the middle of the night, he will regret bullying that little girl named Xu Xing back then...
Xu Xing stood up. Although he was still in some pain, he thought there shouldn't be any major problems.
"Auntie, I'm leaving soon. I want to take the things my father left behind with me. I'll go back and pack them first, and then offer incense to my father."
Most of the houses in the village collapsed, but Xu Xing's house, located in a corner of the back mountain, was spared.
Wang Lianhua quickly said, "Lingling and I will go too."
Their home had collapsed, and there was nothing left to salvage. She didn't want to stay there and see Zhao Youwei's unpleasant expression.
"Hmph! You're going to offer incense to that deadbeat Xu Zhen too, aren't you? Don't think I don't know you had your eye on him back then! If he hadn't looked down on you, why would you have married me?"
Zhao Youwei glared at Wang Lianhua with resentment, and began to hurl insults at her.
Zhao Desheng frowned and had his mouth gagged.
What an idiot! Doesn't he realize that if Zhao Linglan becomes successful in the future, he is still her biological father. Even if they divorce, do you think Zhao Linglan would abandon him?
Now that things have escalated to this point, it will be difficult to appeal to emotions in the future!
Wang Lianhua glanced at him with some surprise. She should have been angry, but at this moment, she seemed to understand something and gave a self-deprecating smile.
"So that's what you were thinking. No wonder you've always..."
She always thought that her husband didn't like her, so she diligently took care of him meticulously, but it turned out to be such a ridiculous reason.
“You can say whatever you want about me, but you can’t tarnish Dr. Xu’s reputation. Dr. Xu saved me back then, and I’ve always been grateful to him. I just want to repay his kindness.”
Wang Lianhua smiled. The woman who used to endure her incompetent husband seemed to have changed. "I can cultivate immortality, while you will be a useless cripple until you die of old age. We are no longer from the same world."
She took Zhao Linglan and Xu Xing's hands and walked resolutely towards the back mountain.
Xu Zhen's tomb is located near the Xu family's house on the back mountain. Xu Xing would clean it from time to time after he came here, and it is now very clean and free of weeds.
Looking at the tombstone, Wang Lianhua said softly, "Dr. Xu, Xuxu has spiritual roots and can cultivate immortality in the future. If you know this in the afterlife, please bless her well."
After the worship ceremony, the group returned to Xu Xing's hut. Although Xu Xing had a good catch from fishing over the past three years, he had mostly used it to barter with the villagers for food and other necessities.
She had a big appetite and didn't save much, but she still had a few bottles of the pills she had made earlier.
Xu Xing hadn't eaten anything since she and Zi Jiao went up the mountain yesterday, and she was starving. While munching on a pancake, she packed her meager belongings into her bundle.
We don't know what the Jade Cloud Sect is like yet, but we'll take whatever we can get.
"Xu Xu, what kind of medicine is this?"
Zhao Linglan pointed to a medicine bottle on the shelf that was different from the other medicine bottles and was obviously a bit old.
"These are antidote pills for snake venom, left by my father."
Xu Xing looked back. Doctor Xu Zhen hadn't left much behind, and most of the usable items had been taken by the villagers. She had found this bottle of medicine in some hidden corner.
"An antidote for snake venom?!"
Wang Lianhua's expression changed. "Doctor Xu left behind medicine to treat snake venom? How is that possible?"
Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up the medicine bottle, and she stammered, "Back then, Doctor Xu was bitten by a poisonous snake when he went to Huiling Mountain to collect herbs, which is why he died."
"If he had the medicine, why wouldn't he use it on himself?"
"My father was bitten by a poisonous snake on Huiling Mountain?"
Xu Xing was very surprised.
According to those cultivators, the one who left the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi was a snake demon with profound cultivation. The snake demon's residual power is still there, which is why no ordinary snakes have appeared in Huiling Mountain in recent years. So how could a snake have bitten Xu Zhen?
Xu Xing realized that Xu Zhen's death was probably not so simple. Could it be related to that snake demon?
"I've been married into Xiahe Village for over ten years and have never seen a snake before. The village doesn't keep any snakebite medicine on hand either. Who knew that Dr. Xu would encounter one like that..."
Xiahe Village only knew that no snakes had appeared on Huiling Mountain for many years, but they did not know that it was because of the existence of snake demons. Therefore, after Xu Zhen was bitten by a snake, they only thought that Xu Zhen was unlucky and had encountered a snake from another place.
Although no snakes were seen on Huiling Mountain in the following years, no one realized that something was wrong.
Seeing Wang Lianhua's distraught state, Xu Xing suppressed his doubts and comforted her, "Auntie, don't overthink it. There are many kinds of venomous snakes. Father wouldn't refuse to use medicine when he has it. It must be because the medicine is ineffective against that snake venom, that's why..."
"Too……"
Wang Lianhua wiped her eyes. "It's all in the past. I shouldn't have brought it up. Xuxu, don't be sad."
Xu Xing nodded, keeping the matter in mind. There was nothing she could do about it now, but she would definitely investigate it thoroughly when she had the chance in the future.
Almost an hour had passed, and Xu Xing packed up his things and returned to the threshing ground.
A short while later, Lin Borong appeared.
Have you made up your mind?
Xu Xing smiled and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Venerable. I've made up my mind. I'm going to the Jade Cloud Sect."
Lin Borong nodded, not surprised. Many people won't turn back until they hit a wall.
"Senior Lin, since Junior Sister Xu is already half a disciple of the Jade Cloud Sect, and she protected the spiritual medicine from the snake demon and then offered it up voluntarily, according to the sect rules, shouldn't she..."
Shen Du suddenly spoke.
Xu Xing was unaware of the value of the seventh-grade seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum. Such a spiritual herb was far too little to merely grant him the qualification to join the Jade Cloud Sect. Xu Xing only possessed five spiritual roots and lacked family resources. The Jade Cloud Sect was a place where spirit stones were used everywhere, making it difficult to establish oneself. Having met, he should naturally help him secure more opportunities.
"She hasn't even officially joined the sect yet, and you've already acknowledged her as your junior sister..."
Lin Borong snorted lightly. Although he was somewhat displeased with Shen Du for speaking without permission, he didn't mind spending some more spirit stones. After all, bringing back a seventh-grade spirit herb to the sect was a meritorious deed.
“However, the matter of offering medicine does deserve a reward,” he tossed Xu Xing a bag, “and these hundred low-grade spirit stones will serve as a reward.”
One hundred spirit stones? And they're low-grade?!
That's so stingy!
Zuo Qiuxu wanted to speak, but Shen Du stopped him.
Shen Du gently shook his head. It was already difficult enough to get this many spirit stones from Steward Lin. Saying more would only incur his displeasure. Besides, Xu Xing was still young and shouldn't have too many spirit stones.
Xu Xing hadn't expected such a windfall. She smiled gratefully at Shen Du, then opened the bag and glanced inside. She noticed that the contents looked very similar to the small white stones she had fished out of the river. So these were spirit stones.
So, is there something special about that parchment scroll that revealed its patterns because of the spirit stone?
Xu Xing secretly rejoiced that he had brought the paper roll with him; perhaps he would find it useful later.
It's getting late, we can't delay any longer.
Lin Borong waved his sleeve and said, "Alright, let's go back to the sect."
"Immortal, Immortal Venerable, I...I'm not going..."
The one who spoke was another person with five spiritual roots, Jin Cui.
“Cui Cui, you…”
Wang Lianhua was surprised that Jin Cui wasn't going, and she immediately became anxious.
“Lotus, I’m different from you. I have too many attachments here, and the Immortal Venerable also said that it’s too difficult to cultivate immortality with five spiritual roots, so I won’t join in the fun.”
Shaking her head at her husband's attempts to persuade her, Jin Cui smiled with relief. "Just pretend I don't have spiritual roots. There's nothing wrong with living a mortal life."
Wang Lianhua was about to persuade her further, but Lin Borong had already handed Jin Cui a bag of silver.
He said meaningfully, "There's no need to regret it. Sometimes, cultivators don't even live the same life as ordinary people."
The path to immortality is long and arduous, and countless people perish along the way, with no chance for regret.
The dust has settled.
Xu Xing, Zhao Linglan, Wang Lianhua, and Zhao Jia bid farewell to Xiahe Village and headed to the Eastern Pole, to the Jade Cloud Sect.
A note from the author:
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Xu Xu is heading to a new world! Let's go!
Just to clarify, there will inevitably be ups and downs on the road to gradual growth, but the overall tone of this article is quite lighthearted.
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