Volume One, Chapter 13: The Sky-Shattering Baji Fist! Testing Spiritual Roots and Receiving Martial Arts?
“Zhou Yun, low-grade Earth spiritual root, rewarded with ten low-grade spirit stones!”
“...”
“Luo Xiaoyu, low-grade Wood spiritual root, rewarded with ten low-grade spirit stones!”
“...”
As the procession moved swiftly, the number of young people with spiritual root qualifications gradually increased. Roughly one in every twenty or so would reveal a spiritual root.
Yet, up until now, all had been low-grade spiritual roots. Not a single higher grade had appeared.
Wang Mu had anticipated such a scenario long ago, but the actual ratio still took him by surprise. From his past memories, nearly everyone around him since childhood had possessed at least a mid-grade spiritual root. Even the maids and attendants were no exception.
He had never expected that mid-grade spiritual roots would be so rare outside.
Meanwhile, the system information in Wang Mu’s mind was rapidly updating.
[Congratulations! Investment in Liu Chang has reached 100%!]
[You will receive 100% return on all future cultivation gains from Liu Chang!]
[Congratulations! Investment in Zhou Yun has reached 100%!]
[You will receive 100% return on all future cultivation gains from Zhou Yun!]
[Congratulations! Investment in Luo Xiaoyu has reached 100%!]
[You will receive 100% return on all future cultivation gains from Luo Xiaoyu!]
[...]
*Ding~*
[Your investment in Lin Yan has learned the “Eight Extremes Sky-Splitting Fist,” greatly enhancing his strength!]
[Congratulations! You have received cultivation returns from Lin Yan!]
Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out. Wang Mu felt a warmth surge through his body.
In his mind appeared a martial arts manual:
The “Eight Extremes Sky-Splitting Fist”!
Its power was fierce and overwhelming. Mastered to perfection, it could split mountains, cleave the earth, and shatter the heavens!
Though it was but a fragment, Wang Mu tentatively channeled his spiritual energy to the fist’s edge and felt an explosive force, like condensed flames ready to erupt and annihilate everything before him.
“What a formidable secret technique! Is this also something Dan Xuan taught him?”
Wang Mu pursed his lips. Instead of excitement at gaining part of such a powerful manual, he felt only worry and urgency.
He knew he had only thirty percent of Lin Yan’s strength.
If Lin Yan unleashed this secret technique, how devastating would it be?
How long had it been since Lin Yan escaped from Biyun Island? Already he had learned a powerful new technique, vastly increasing his strength!
With Lin Yan’s talent and this fist technique, fighting above his rank would be as effortless as eating or drinking.
If Lin Yan was such a prodigy, what of the other destined children? Would they be much weaker?
Wang Mu’s expression grew complex as he glanced at the ongoing Ascension Conference.
Only over three thousand people had participated today. By the end, at most a little over a hundred would be identified as having spiritual roots.
“This pace... is too slow!”
“The returns from these hundred or so people cultivating for a day are negligible—barely enough to increase my spiritual power!”
A few sharp sparks ignited in Wang Mu’s eyes. He could not let this continue. The pace had to accelerate!
More people needed to willingly accept his investments!
His mind raced, and he suddenly beckoned to Li Yuanhua, who immediately hurried over and knelt on one knee before him, bowing his head close.
“Young master, what are your orders?”
Wang Mu uttered a string of symbols and characters unintelligible to others.
Li Yuanhua was momentarily stunned but quickly tore through the void and vanished.
...
“Chu Qing, mid-grade Wind spiritual root! Reward ten mid-grade spirit stones!”
Suddenly, the voice of the cultivator presiding over the Ascension Conference raised with excitement.
The crowd quieted briefly, then erupted into thunderous cheers.
“A mid-grade spiritual root! A mid-grade spiritual root has appeared!”
“No way! Is this for real?”
“...”
This was the last youth awaiting testing, and it was surprising beyond measure that he possessed a mid-grade spiritual root, stunning everyone present.
“Not only a mid-grade root but also the rare Wind spiritual root! This is truly a genius!”
“If such a disciple were in our Chengyun Sect, he could directly enter the inner sect and be accepted as an elder’s disciple!”
“They’re even directly awarding mid-grade spirit stones? They really have money!”
“...”
Among the crowd, cultivators from various sects looked on with envy.
But they all knew this one would never be theirs.
After all, the Young Master of the Wang family had spent so much money and effort to find talents—there was no way he would let others have them for free.
They could only covet from afar.
In the center of the formation, the youth named Chu Qing was overwhelmed with surprise and joy, nearly fainting as he cried out to his parents in the crowd.
The other youths identified with spiritual roots cast admiring glances.
A spiritual root just one grade higher made an immeasurable difference.
It was a lifetime gap.
Just as everyone thought the Ascension Conference was about to conclude, high above, the void distorted.
Li Yuanhua slowly emerged and announced loudly:
“By order of the Young Master, all those who have been identified with spiritual roots will each be awarded a foundational cultivation manual matching their attribute!
Those without awakened spiritual roots will each receive a martial cultivation manual, the ‘Primordial Stake Method’!”
As his words fell, he swept his sleeve lightly.
One by one, manuals transformed into spiritual light and flew out, accurately hovering before each youth who had undergone testing.
Metal attribute foundational manual: “Metal Origin Art”!
Wood attribute foundational manual: “Wood Origin Art”!
Fire attribute foundational manual: “Fire Origin Art”!
[...]
Wind attribute foundational manual: “Soaring Art”!
“The Young Master of the Wang family... what a grand gesture!”
“These manuals, though not top-tier, are far superior to the basic Five Elements breathing techniques commonly available!”
“Damn, why am I suddenly so envious?”
“I remember when I first started cultivation, I practiced a fragmented breathing technique for over ten years and nearly went astray, barely reaching the first level of Qi Refinement...”
“If only I had had a ‘Wood Origin Art’ back then, I would be far beyond my current state!”
“...”
As the saying goes, amateurs watch the spectacle, experts discern the subtleties.
Ordinary people would think the Young Master of the Wang family was simply generous, giving out gifts again.
Only cultivators understood just how precious the manuals Wang Mu was giving truly were.
It should be noted:
The majority of cultivators in the world are solitary practitioners.
Among them, except for a few gifted and powerful ones who dislike constraints, most lack talent, have average strength, and are not accepted by any sect.
Without a stroke of luck, these people usually remain stuck below the third level of Qi Refinement their entire lives.
Among those with low-grade spiritual roots, fewer than one in ten successfully establish a foundation.
The primary reason, besides talent, is their lack of proper cultivation methods.
The common Five Elements breathing techniques found everywhere only satisfy the most basic spiritual energy intake and are terribly inefficient.
Following such methods, it takes at least three to five years just to learn to draw energy into the body.
But the manuals Wang Mu gifted were different.