“However, this is not absolute either.
Besides judging a cultivator’s aptitude by their Spirit Root, the width of the Spirit Root is also very important.” “The maximum width of a Spirit Root is one chi, but the Heavenly Dao is incomplete, so how could there be a Spirit Root without flaws?” “Therefore, the Spirit Roots of cultivators are at most nine cun nine fen wide, and the narrowest might only be one fen.” “A spiritual root must be more than one cun wide for normal cultivation.
If it is narrower than that, no clan or sect will invest in training its bearer, even if it is a Heavenly Spirit Root.” Gu Changhuan pondered silently: So although he had five pseudo spirit roots, each was a full nine cun and nine fen wide.
And he had a spiritual body as well.
Taken together, might that put him on a par with someone with dual spiritual roots?
“Changhuan, I expect you have already had your spiritual roots tested.
How many do you have, of which elements, and how wide are they?” Hearing Gu Xuanzhan’s words, Gu Changhuan collected his thoughts.
“Reporting to Great-Grandfather, Changhuan has Five Spirit Roots.
Each Spirit Root is nine cun nine fen.” Gu Changhuan answered seriously.
To keep it secret, he didn’t tell Gu Xuanzhan about having a Spiritual Body.
Gu Xuanzhan exclaimed in amazement.
“Nine cun nine fen!” “This is very rare!” “Most cultivators’ spiritual roots measure only four or five cun, Changhuan, and they vary in width from one element to another.” “In more than two hundred years, I have never heard of roots as broad and evenly matched as yours.” “Although you have Five Spirit Roots, your future cultivation speed will probably be faster than even someone with Triple Spirit Roots.” Gu Changhuan couldn’t help but ask.
“Great-Grandfather, when exactly can I start cultivating?” Amusement flickered in Gu Xuanzhan’s eyes.
The boy had waited until now to ask—remarkable patience for one so young.
“You are still very young.
Once you start, you may cultivate for only two hours a day.
Any longer will strain your meridians.” “The patriarch has given you the Azure Cloud Qi Condensation Art, hasn’t he?” “Our Gu Clan’s Azure Cloud Qi Condensation Art is suitable for all attribute Spirit Roots and is simpler to cultivate than other Qi Condensation Techniques.” “First, carefully read the technique, familiarize yourself with it thoroughly, calm your mind, and begin meditation.
When your mind is free of distracting thoughts, circulate the technique to draw the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Qi into your body.
That counts as stepping through the gate of the Cultivation world.” “Of course, if you don’t understand anything while cultivating, ask questions promptly.
If you start cultivating with only a half-understood grasp of the technique, various accidents are likely to occur during cultivation, ranging from damaged Meridians to Qi Deviation and immediate death.
Do you understand?” Gu Xuanzhan said with a serious expression.
“I understand.
Thank you for teaching me, Great-grandfather.” Gu Changhuan firmly engraved Gu Xuanzhan’s words in his heart, silently reminding himself not to be rash in future cultivation.
“First, thoroughly study the first-level incantation of the Azure Cloud Qi Condensation Art.
Remember to ask me immediately if there’s anything you don’t understand.” “Yes.” Gu Changhuan took the Azure Cloud Qi Condensation Art from his little cloth bag and studied its difficult passages closely.
He paused now and then to work out their meaning, gradually becoming absorbed in the book.
Gu Xuanzhan waved his wide sleeve, put away the wine cup, and began meditating.
An hour later, Gu Changhuan rose and bowed to Gu Xuanzhan.
“Great-Grandfather, Changhuan is ready.” Gu Xuanzhan had Gu Changhuan explain his insights.
After finding that Gu Changhuan thoroughly understood the technique, he took out an incense stick from his Storage Bag.
The Scripture Pavilion had a meditation room.
Gu Xuanzhan inserted the incense into the incense burner, flicked a flame from his fingertip, and lit the incense.
“You can try drawing qi into your body here.” The incense stick Gu Xuanzhan took out was called Mind-Calming Spirit-Stabilizing Incense, which could help cultivators calm their minds and Draw Qi into the Body faster.
It was quite expensive.
In the entire Gu Clan, only Foundation Establishment experts could readily afford to provide it to someone preparing to draw qi into the body.
After Gu Changhuan began meditating, Gu Xuanzhan sealed the meditation room, returned to his seat, took out a wine cup, and drank alone.
But he kept monitoring Gu Changhuan with his Divine Sense.
In the meditation room, Gu Changhuan smelled the scent of the Mind-Calming Spirit-Stabilizing Incense and gradually discarded distracting thoughts.
He slowly began to sense the existence of the “Qi” that Gu Xuanzhan had mentioned.
Even with his eyes closed, Gu Changhuan could “see” the qi between heaven and earth.
It was not transparent and colorless, but a riot of colors.
Gu Changhuan circulated the technique, and the surrounding Qi slowly gathered toward him.
After another half a cup of tea’s time, the Qi existing between Heaven and Earth gradually merged into Gu Changhuan’s body, slowly gathering into a thin strand of five-colored Spiritual Qi in his Dantian.
Joy welled up in Gu Changhuan.
He had done it—he had drawn qi into his body!
Gu Changhuan quickly calmed his emotions, urging that thin strand of five-colored Spiritual Qi to circulate through two Grand Circulations before ending his cultivation.
By then, that strand of five-colored Spiritual Qi in his Dantian had become much denser.
“Great-Grandfather, I succeeded!” Gu Changhuan couldn’t help but exclaim excitedly.
Gu Xuanzhan already knew he had succeeded, of course, but was still happy for him.
Although this child’s aptitude isn’t top-notch, his comprehension and temperament are good.
With proper cultivation, he could become a support for the clan in the future.
But…
Could someone with five spiritual roots draw qi into the body so quickly, even with roots that broad?
The boy had been a little faster even than Gu Xuanzhan himself, with his dual spiritual roots—though he had used no external aids at the time.
Still, roots like Gu Changhuan’s were so rare that even Gu Xuanzhan could not tell whether this speed was normal.
Whatever the reason, it was good news.
Dwelling on it too much would only become an unhealthy fixation.
“Well, our Changhuan certainly has a talent for cultivation.
You managed to draw qi into your body in less than two hours.” “Now Changhuan is already a cultivator at the first layer of the Qi Condensation Realm!” Gu Xuanzhan praised him.
“Thanks to Great-Grandfather’s guidance.
Without Great-Grandfather, Changhuan might have taken the wrong path.” Gu Changhuan answered modestly, though he could not keep the smile from his face.
“Alright, such good news should also be known to your grandfather.” “You may go now!
Come again tomorrow.” Gu Xuanzhan finished speaking and poured himself another cup of wine.
Gu Changhuan bid farewell to Gu Xuanzhan and left the Scripture Pavilion happily.
Watching the boy skip away, Gu Xuanzhan sipped his wine and sighed inwardly.
So young, yet so careful about his manners.
His elders must have put a great deal of effort into teaching him.
But how could a cultivator keep his mind free if he bound himself too tightly to every rule and convention?
Well, the boy was still young.
He would wait and see.
If it began to obstruct the boy’s cultivation, there would still be time to point it out.
Gu Changhuan returned to the courtyard, eager to tell his grandfather the news.
But the doors to the main rooms were shut, and waves of heat radiated through the walls.
Could it be that Grandfather is refining pills?
Gu Changhuan pondered.
He had known since childhood that his grandfather was an alchemist, and moreover, the Gu Clan’s most skilled alchemist.
Although he hadn’t seen Gu Wanhao refining pills with his own eyes, he could somewhat guess.
Seeing Gu Wanhao busy, Gu Changhuan took out another book.
It described the spiritual herbs and medicines used in cultivation in great detail.
His grandfather had given it to him that morning for three reasons: first, so that he could recognize valuable plants rather than walk past them and come away empty-handed; second, to occupy his time and broaden his knowledge, since he could cultivate for only two hours a day at his age; third, to lay the foundation for Gu Changhuan’s future alchemy studies.
After two quarters of an hour, the main room’s door opened, and Gu Wanhao walked out carrying heat with him.
“You’re back, Changhuan.
How did your lessons go?” “Grandpa, I’ve drawn qi into my body!” Gu Changhuan announced it with all the pride of a little peacock.
Sure enough, Gu Wanhao laughed heartily upon hearing this.
“Since that’s the case, you’ve already stepped through the gate of Cultivation!” “Come.
Grandfather will teach Changhuan how to use a Storage Bag and Magical Artifacts!”