“Then how do I find you later?” Chu Xiaotian asked.
“Take your token and come find me in the inner sect. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me. If you don’t do a good job, you know the consequences! Don’t even think about escaping; without me leading you, you won’t be able to leave the main gate of Frost Leaf Valley,” Tang Feiyan said.
Chu Xiaotian patted his chest, guaranteeing.
After Tang Feiyan left, he hurried back to his room and began to read the Martial Skill Secret Manual called “Gale Wind Art.”
Unfortunately, it was all about Mind-Cultivation Technique operation and the like, with not a single Move. What kind of Secret Manual was this?
He flipped through the other few books, which were all miscellaneous notes and common knowledge about Cultivation. He found these quite enjoyable to read.
After reading these, he understood that “Gale Wind Art” was a Cultivation Technique for Cultivators.
Did this Tang Feiyan take him for a Cultivator? He remembered that in Tang Family Fortress, she said he was at Qi Refining First Stage. What was going on?
Why not try Cultivating the “Gale Wind Art”? If he could Cultivate, wouldn’t he truly become a Cultivator?
Unfortunately, after reading it dozens of times, he couldn’t figure out where to start. He didn’t know how to practice, and he couldn’t even manage the first step of Qi circulation.
He pondered for a day and decided to go find Tang Feiyan.
When Tang Feiyan appeared before him with a visibly angry expression, Chu Xiaotian quickly explained, “There’s still one thing I don’t understand about Cultivation; I’ve come specifically to ask for your guidance!”
“Speak!”
“How does the Qi circulate?”
“Guide the Spiritual Qi you absorb through the meridians as described in the Cultivation Technique.”
“How do I absorb Spiritual Qi?”
Tang Feiyan was a little surprised: “This, doesn’t your Chu Family teach this?”
Chu Xiaotian was a bit embarrassed: “I’m a Mortal, so of course, they don’t teach these things.”
“Then how did you Cultivate your Cultivation Technique?”
“I practice Mortal Martial Skills.”
Tang Feiyan felt that Chu Xiaotian was doing it on purpose, but his expression didn’t seem fake.
So she taught him once, and after teaching, she found that Chu Xiaotian didn’t even know what Qi sense was, almost driving Tang Feiyan to frustration.
Only at the very end did she realize that Chu Xiaotian didn’t even know he was a Cultivator. He only learned about being at Qi Refining First Stage from her own mouth.
“What is your Spiritual Root?” Tang Feiyan regretted asking as soon as the words left her mouth.
Sure enough, Chu Xiaotian said, “I don’t know. I was tested once when I was little, but nothing was detected.”
Tang Feiyan looked at Chu Xiaotian with a very frustrated expression and said, “Come with me.”
The two walked to a pavilion. Tang Feiyan went in for a moment, then came out and called Chu Xiaotian inside.
Entering the hall, Chu Xiaotian saw a woman seated gracefully on a chair in the center.
Tang Feiyan said to the woman, “Master, this is Chu Xiaotian. Please help him examine what kind of Spiritual Root he has.”
The woman nodded: “Come over here and place your hand on it.”
She then pointed to an Eight Trigrams-shaped Magical Artifact on the table.
Chu Xiaotian quickly placed his hand on it. The woman performed several Spell seals, and all eight directions of the Eight Trigrams Magical Artifact lit up with brilliant light. After doing this, the woman shook her head and smiled, saying, “Possessing all Five Elements and Three Wonders, truly a rare Eight Spiritual Roots. However, there are benefits; all Spells in the world can be used.”
Chu Xiaotian was secretly pleased. So he was this amazing! He quickly bowed and said, “Thank you, Immortal Master!”
After a moment’s thought, he asked again, “Immortal Master, which Eight Spiritual Roots are the Eight Spiritual Roots?”
He knew about Spiritual Roots, but he didn't know the specifics. When he was tested as a child, he was only told he had no Spiritual Root, and then he was sent back to Chu River Escort Agency.
“Those with Five Elements Spiritual Roots possess the five basic Spiritual Roots of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Those with Three Wonders Spiritual Roots possess the three unusual Spiritual Roots of Lightning, Ice, and Wind.”
Chu Xiaotian seemed to understand and yet not.
The woman shook her head: “At eighteen, only at Qi Refining First Stage, and with Eight Spiritual Roots, there is no hope in this life. Even reaching Late Stage Qi Refining will be difficult. You two may withdraw!”
The two exited the hall. Chu Xiaotian didn’t understand her meaning and asked, “Having all Five Elements and Three Wonders in the world, isn’t that amazing?”
Tang Feiyan shook her head: “Cultivation is like pouring water. Water flows where it’s meant to. Your Eight Spiritual Roots are like needing to pour eight buckets of water. My Dual Spiritual Root only needs two buckets of water. Which do you think is better?”
Chu Xiaotian pondered for a moment and said, “So, a single Spiritual Root is the best? Only one bucket of water is enough.”
Tang Feiyan nodded: “Yes, a single Spiritual Root is called a Heavenly Spiritual Root and is a Cultivation prodigy. A Heavenly Spiritual Root can complete Foundation Establishment in ten years, while you won’t complete it in a hundred years. This is because the fewer the Spiritual Roots, the better the Aptitude of the Spiritual Root. The more Spiritual Roots, the more mixed the Spiritual Root Aptitude, and the greater the probability of having Spiritual Roots with poor Aptitude.”
Chu Xiaotian said indifferently, “Anyway, I just found out I have Spiritual Roots, which is a pleasant surprise. It doesn’t matter if I can’t Cultivate.”
Tang Feiyan saw Chu Xiaotian out, shaking her head.
“Letting him know he can Cultivate isn’t necessarily a good thing. It would be better to let him live out his life as a Mortal. To have an opportunity and then not be able to grasp it—it’s better not to give the opportunity in the first place!”
Tang Feiyan quickly bowed in salute: “Master!” She didn’t know when her Master had appeared behind her.
Chu Xiaotian returned to his dwelling. His mind wasn’t on the Eight Spiritual Roots; after all, the Eight Spiritual Roots were already determined, and thinking about it was useless.
But where did this Qi Refining First Stage come from?
Thinking of this, he picked up the “Gale Wind Art” and began to Cultivate according to it. This was the good thing about Eight Spiritual Roots: all Five Elements and Three Talents could be Cultivated.
The Cultivation Technique slowly began to circulate, and the feeling within his meridians was somewhat familiar.
Wasn’t this the feeling he had after eating that Medicinal Pill the other day?!
It was just not as violent, very smooth and gentle, and seemed quite comfortable!
Could it be that eating that dark Medicinal Pill caused his Spiritual Root to grow?
But that’s not right. They said Spiritual Roots are innate. Could it be that the Medicinal Pill activated his Spiritual Root?
And where did his Cultivation come from? He remembered never having Cultivated before.
Chu Xiaotian’s mind was originally quick. He suddenly understood that the dark Medicinal Pill had infused him with Cultivation.
As long as the Spiritual Root was activated, it was Qi Refining First Stage, because there was no such thing as Qi Refining Zero Stage.
The Eight Spiritual Roots were originally there; it was just that he hadn't Cultivated and had no Cultivation, so it wasn't apparent normally.
Understanding this, he became excited.
Where did that dark Medicinal Pill come from? Could it be transformed from his two Spirit Stones?
He quickly put the Spirit Stone that Gu Junshan had given him into the ancient cauldron. He watched it for a long time, but it was still a Spirit Stone.
He thought for a moment, then put the lid on.
After a while, he shook it and heard the “clatter” of a Medicinal Pill rolling inside.
Sure enough, the Spirit Stone was gone, transformed into a dark Medicinal Pill, though much smaller.
So it was true! No one had entered the escort agency to steal his Spirit Stones. Instead, this ancient cauldron had transformed the Spirit Stones into Medicinal Pills.
He took out the dark Medicinal Pill and looked at it for a long time. Should he eat it?
Finally, he gritted his teeth and put it directly into his mouth.
It still melted upon contact, but it wasn’t as painful as last time. Instead, it was like a trickling stream, flowing throughout his body. He quickly guided it through one cycle using the “Gale Wind Art”’s circulation route. The trickling stream disappeared, and his Cultivation increased significantly.
Chu Xiaotian was overjoyed!
Now he was completely excited! What Eight Spiritual Roots, what Heavenly Spiritual Root? With this ancient cauldron, all Cultivation time was eliminated. What ten years, what a hundred years? I’ll take a bite, and my Cultivation will instantly rise!
As long as there are enough Spirit Stones, Cultivation will be fast!
Previously, he had also put things into the ancient cauldron, but he rarely put the lid on.
What if he didn't put Spirit Stones, but other things?
To test his idea, he found a stone and put it in. After a while, it disappeared without a trace.
Chu Xiaotian found it very strange. How did it disappear?
What’s the difference between a Spirit Stone and an ordinary stone?
Spiritual Qi!
Can the ancient cauldron convert Spiritual Qi into Medicinal Pills?
The ancient cauldron refines not just Spirit Stones, but all items containing Spiritual Qi.
However, he couldn't verify this idea because he didn't have such items with him.
This ancient cauldron is a treasure; he absolutely cannot lose it. He quickly dug a pit and buried it inside.
After doing all this, he began to Cultivate the “Gale Wind Art.”
Before, he had no Qi sense and couldn't feel the existence of Spiritual Qi at all. Now, he could clearly feel the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.
He was just too excited to Cultivate peacefully, so he had to go to sleep.