The First Appearance of Spiritual Roots and Entry into the Immortal Sect

“Master, Wugou isn’t in the square,” Zhu Youji reported, approaching Zhu Manzhi’s side.

Stroking his beard, Zhu Manzhi chuckled. “No matter,” he said. “I’ll go fetch him myself.”

Zhu Youji offered a faint smile in response, having distinctly felt his Master’s divine sense sweep through the entire Skill Transmission Pavilion moments ago. Wugou’s location was undoubtedly already known.

‘This child, brought by Senior Sister Ning, truly is quite mischievous,’ he mused.

Zhu Manzhi was in exceptionally high spirits today. In just a single afternoon, he had managed to select several disciples of extraordinary talent, one of whom even possessed a ‘Water-element Innate Full Spirit Root.’

Should Lu Jinhan successfully complete the series of cultivation tasks after his time in the Skill Transmission Pavilion, an introduction to Palace Master Luo would be inevitable. The Saint Water Palace’s consistent preference for ‘Water-element Spirit Roots’ was not without reason, and Zhu Manzhi happened to be privy to the underlying secrets.

With a light tap of his right foot, Zhu Manzhi created a ripple in the air that seemed to emanate from the point of contact. In the next instant, he vanished from everyone’s sight.

This display immediately captivated the newly admitted disciples, their eyes widening in awe. It was Zhu Manzhi’s exclusive movement technique, the ‘Cloud-Stepping Art.’

Yet, ever since he achieved the Golden Core realm long ago and acquired a flying sword, he had ceased using it. Now, employing it to impress these ‘children’ was the perfect way to ignite their ambition and drive.

Observing Zhu Youji, who stood smiling nearby, Lu Jinhan felt a surge of surprise. Since noon, when he first encountered this Golden Core senior, he had always perceived Zhu Youji as meticulous and strictly conventional. Yet, Wugou’s presence seemed to shatter that impression. Even more peculiar was the Skill Transmission Elder personally seeking out a candidate disciple.

‘Could it be!’

Lu Jinhan covertly glanced at Hua Youdie, recalling the cryptic, unfinished remark he had made earlier.

Wugou found himself enveloped in a vast, white room, where he seemed to hear someone calling his name.

Following the sound, he saw his Little Mother, Miaomiao.

Miaomiao was running towards him, cradling a steaming bowl of lamb noodles. Her chest trembled with each step, causing Wugou to worry she might lose her balance and fall at any moment.

Behind Miaomiao, someone appeared to be in pursuit.

It was Old Man Xing.

‘Heh, so even Little Mother sneaks snacks?’

Wugou stood rooted, chuckling as he awaited Miaomiao’s approach, his hands outstretched, ready to take the bowl.

Yet, for reasons unknown, Miaomiao suddenly vanished, and Old Man Xing disappeared along with her.

Only the bowl of lamb noodles remained.

Wugou extended his hand, intending to pick up the bowl.

A flash of brilliant white light enveloped him, and Wugou jolted awake, finding himself submerged in an enormous water vat.

The water in the vat felt strangely oily, making Wugou uneasy. He kicked his legs a few times, attempting to swim free.

To his surprise, something long and sinuous beneath the surface seemed to have entangled his legs.

Resigned, he had no choice but to dive down and investigate.

One glance was all it took for him to realize.

‘Oh, it’s just noodles~’

Wugou considered this, finding nothing amiss.

With a casual tug, he broke the noodles.

He resurfaced.

He had barely broken the surface, opening his eyes, when a towering giant materialized before him.

He peered upward, his gaze tracing the immense form.

It was Luo Bingyan!

Wugou was about to protest being confined within this ‘bowl’ by her.

Yet, to his dismay, Luo Bingyan’s lips were glistening with drool.

In her hand, she wielded a pair of colossal chopsticks.

Her face bore an expression of utterly indescribable gluttony.

And she was slowly, inexorably, approaching the rim of the ‘bowl.’

‘A bowl?’

‘A BOWL!!!’

Wugou seemed to grasp the terrifying reality.

He desperately wanted to escape.

But once more, the noodles ensnared him.

Wugou watched, aghast, as Luo Bingyan used her chopsticks to pluck him from the depths.

Luo Bingyan’s face drew nearer and nearer.

Her mouth gaped wider and wider.

“Ah! Stay away from me!”

Wugou’s limbs flailed wildly in the air, a sight that left everyone present with a collective sense of exasperation.

Lu Jinhan finally recognized Wugou, but witnessing the boy’s disheveled state, being unceremoniously hauled by Zhu Manzhi, he found it nearly impossible to believe that this small child, who was still blowing bubbles from his nose and mouth, could possess a spirit root.

“You little rascal! Still not awake after a nightmare? What were you up to last night?” Unable to restrain himself any longer, Zhu Manzhi curled two fingers and delivered a sharp flick to the back of Wugou’s head.

“Thwack!”

“Ow!”

Wugou jolted awake from the searing pain, his eyes wide with shock. He struggled to reorient himself, his breath still coming in ragged gasps, his small chest heaving rapidly.

“W-where am I?” Wugou mumbled, still groggy from sleep. He vaguely recalled a nightmare, but the sudden jolt had completely erased its details from his memory.

He only knew he was drenched in a cold sweat.

‘Did he perhaps dream of some great demon?’

Zhu Manzhi regarded the ‘little devil’ in his grasp with a mischievous grin. “You little rascal,” he chided, “everyone else approaches the Saint Water Palace selection with trepidation, yet you, you’ve slept from noon until dusk! You truly have no respect for my Skill Transmission Pavilion, do you?”

Standing nearby, Zhu Youji watched them with a serene, smiling expression.

Witnessing this, Lu Jinhan mistakenly believed Zhu Manzhi was genuinely angered and couldn’t help but secretly exult. ‘It’s better if he’s furious! He should just kick this brat out of the Skill Transmission Pavilion. While I doubt this smelly kid possesses a spirit root, what if he does?’ He stole another glance at Hua Youdie, who had already retreated behind him, now engrossed in conversation with another selected girl, completely oblivious to the scene.

The sight of Hua Youdie laughing and chatting made Lu Jinhan profoundly uncomfortable. In his estimation, anyone possessing a water-element spirit root was immediately his rival.

“Hey, old man, your strike was far too harsh! I swear there’s a lump forming on the back of my head!” Wugou, still held aloft by Zhu Manzhi’s single hand, tried to rub the sore spot. However, suspended in mid-air, he found it impossible to gain leverage, and his hand couldn’t reach, leaving him with a throbbing, dull ache.

A faint smile touched Zhu Youji’s lips as he heard Wugou’s complaint.

‘As expected of one brought by Senior Sister Ning; even his way of addressing Master Zhu Manzhi is identical.’

“You insolent brat! No manners!” Zhu Manzhi glared, then delivered a sharp slap to Wugou’s backside.

“Mmm.” Wugou suppressed any sound, ‘Heaven knows if this old man harbors any strange predilections. What if my outcry only excites him?’

“Oh, you’re quite tough, aren’t you, kid? Quick, touch it!”

“‘Touch?'” Wugou’s face paled. ‘Could this old man be a “submissive,” actually asking a young boy like me to “attack” him? Good heavens, what peculiar tastes…’

Noticing Wugou’s eyes darting about, Zhu Manzhi instantly knew the boy’s mind had wandered. He delivered another rap to his forehead.

“Ow!” This strike landed precisely on the previously bruised spot, and Wugou finally couldn’t suppress his cry of pain.

“You brat, I told you to touch the spirit-testing stone right in front of you!” Zhu Manzhi bellowed, though a strange, underlying amusement prevented genuine anger. He wasn’t sure why, but chastising Wugou always brought an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, a feeling akin to having just vanquished a Mahayana realm expert, brimming with accomplishment.

“‘A spirit-testing stone?'”

Wugou finally glanced downwards. “This… this stone…”

Gazing at the spirit-testing stone on the stone table, Wugou had an uncanny feeling he’d seen it before. He tentatively reached out and touched the ‘Water Stone’ nearest to him.

Lu Jinhan’s attention had been fixed on Wugou the entire time. Now, seeing Wugou touch the ‘Water Stone,’ his heart gave an inexplicable tremor.

A brilliant, water-blue light flared to life, growing steadily brighter, an effect precisely mirroring what had occurred when Lu Jinhan had touched it moments before!

In that instant, Lu Jinhan felt a profound, sickening discomfort, as if he had swallowed something utterly vile.

Lu Jinhan’s hands involuntarily clenched into tight fists, his eyes glaring intensely at the ridiculously young Wugou.

“It’s… it’s a Water-element Innate… an Innate Full Spirit Root!” Zhu Manzhi stammered, his words tripping over each other in his excitement.

Wugou, still half-asleep, was startled by the intense light. He instinctively recoiled his hand to shield his eyes, causing the ‘Water Stone’ to swiftly dim.

The previously selected disciples had already drawn closer upon seeing the dazzling water-blue radiance, and now all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Only Hua Youdie remained at the very back, his composure undisturbed.

Zhu Youji, too, stood dumbfounded for a long moment. ‘When did advanced water-element spirit roots become so prevalent? From a mere batch of three hundred individuals, two ‘Full Spirit Roots’ have emerged.’

Zhu Youji discreetly composed himself.

“Wugou, eight years old, Water-element Innate Full Spirit Root. Qualified!”

“Hahaha, my Saint Water Palace has truly struck gold today! Two disciples with Full Spirit Root talent, both possessing water-element roots! This… this old man is utterly at a loss for words… Hahahaha!”

Zhu Manzhi paced gleefully before the crowd, constantly stroking his beard, his hand moving with increasing speed.

“Hey, old man, could you perhaps put me down first?”

“Oh! Right, right! Hahaha!”

Wugou cast an exasperated glance at the ‘mad old man,’ then his gaze drifted to the ‘spirit-testing stone.’ More than his own ‘water spirit root’ discovery, he was captivated by the five stones resting silently on the stone table.

He had a distinct feeling he had encountered these stones before.

He had intended to approach for a closer inspection, but to his surprise, Zhu Youji merely waved a hand casually before the stone table, and the five spirit-testing stones were instantly collected.

Zhu Youji noticed Wugou staring at him, a look of utter bewilderment on his face, though he couldn’t fathom why. However, having just confirmed Wugou also possessed a Full Spirit Root, and knowing his connection to Senior Sister Ning, Zhu Youji felt an even greater fondness for the young boy, a sentiment akin to loving the house for the sake of its occupant.

“Wugou, why are you dawdling? Go stand with the other selected disciples!”

“Uh, alright.”

‘Never mind. My lifespan isn’t long anyway. What good would knowing do? I’ll just enjoy each day as it comes.’

Dismissing the thought, Wugou turned and walked away.

Zhu Manzhi was exceptionally pleased this evening, personally overseeing all matters concerning the new disciples.

“You saw, didn’t you! Wugou is qualified to be your disciple, right?” Miaomiao stood atop the district building, hands on her hips, her face radiating pride.

Luo Bingyan stood beside Miaomiao, her hands clasped behind her back, clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

Luo Bingyan narrowed her eyes, hesitant to meet Miaomiao’s gaze.

After a long silence, her expression reverted to its usual frivolous demeanor, and she smiled faintly. “Indeed, quite enough… to eat until I’m… full and burping~”

The wind atop the building was strong, and Miaomiao only caught the beginning and end of the sentence, mistakenly believing Luo Bingyan had agreed. A surge of delight filled her.

Unlike the mainland, the island felt somewhat cool, even in summer.

Hua Youdie stood by the room’s window, gazing out at something unknown. His right hand continuously fiddled with five bean-sized stones of different colors, making them vanish and reappear as if by magic.

“I never imagined such incredible individuals, possessing spirit roots, could exist in this world.”