When Wen Qixue followed Xia Changxun into the hall housing the Spirit Analysis Disk, they found a group of little ones clustered around it. They were staring at the disk, exclaiming in wonder as if they had discovered something truly extraordinary.
Xia Changxun explained to Wen Qixue, “They must be testing the purity of their spiritual roots. Since they are young and their root purity is still unstable, the Spirit Analysis Disk tests are performed without charge, so people come by from time to time. Perhaps someone has just discovered a higher-than-average purity?”
Hearing their approach, some of the children turned around. Upon seeing Xia Changxun, they bowed respectfully. “Senior Brother Xia!”
Xia Changxun waved a hand. “No need for formalities. I am merely bringing a friend to test his spiritual roots.”
Someone asked in surprise, “Senior Brother Xia has a friend who doesn’t know his own spiritual roots?”
Wen Qixue tapped Su Xuanlin’s leg. “Xuanlin, go and test!”
Su Xuanlin nodded nervously. “Mmm.”
The usage of the Spirit Analysis Disk was essentially the same as the Spirit Source Stone. Su Xuanlin stood before it and extended his hand, channeling his spiritual energy into it.
In an instant, a dark red cluster of light manifested on the disk.
Xia Changxun let out a whistle. “As Wen Daoist previously said, it is indeed a strange, dark red.” He moved closer with Wen Qixue. “Let me see exactly what kind of spiritual root this is.”
Not only was he curious, but the surrounding children also crowded in. “How magical! I’ve never seen this color in the disk before.” “No wonder even Senior Brother Xia didn’t know what it was.” “What is it? Let me see!”
After the dark red cluster swirled above the disk for a good while, it split into three, heading in three different directions. The strongest light was purple, forming a small star-filled sky at its zenith, while the remaining two clusters formed a small flame and a bolt of lightning, respectively.
Once the roots were identified, the three light clusters converged again, coalescing into a single dark red mass that soared high into the sky. The children stared up at the light, dumbfounded. “Wow!”
Wen Qixue, however, kept his eyes on the imagery within the disk rather than the sky. “I truly didn’t expect the primary attribute to be a Star Spiritual Root.”
Su Xuanlin looked up at the light in the sky, feeling somewhat insecure. “Is that… acceptable? Not too terrible, I hope?”
Xia Changxun slapped Su Xuanlin on the shoulder. “Acceptable? It’s far better than acceptable! Junior Brother Xuanlin, you were hiding your true light!” He gestured toward the light above. “Only those with a root purity of ten manifest such phenomena. A purity of ten that is just one step shy of an Innate Spiritual Root!”
Wen Qixue added, “Indeed. To have a primary attribute of ten, while also manifesting tendencies toward both thunder and fire attributes, is exceptionally rare.” He smiled at Su Xuanlin. “Xuanlin, your talent for cultivation is outstanding. As long as you are diligent and train hard, you have a boundless future.”
Encouraged, Su Xuanlin’s eyes sparkled with joy as he looked at Wen Qixue. “Xue-ge, will I be as formidable as you were in the future?”
Wen Qixue chuckled. “With talent like that, shouldn’t you be aiming to surpass me?”
Su Xuanlin scratched his head shyly. “Then… I shall practice until I am powerful, so that I may protect Xue-ge.”
Xia Changxun stroked his chin, glancing between Wen Qixue and Su Xuanlin. “That is hard to say. As everyone knows, Wen Daoist was once capable of challenging Nascent Soul cultivators while he was only at the Golden Core stage. For a clash between two such top-tier talents, I suppose it will come down to who possesses the greater depth of comprehension.” He egged them on: “Wen Daoist, would you like to test your own root purity as well?”
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a familiar voice rang out from behind him: “Do not!”
Xia Changxun spun around. “Master?” He asked in confusion, “Why not? It is merely a test of root purity; surely it cannot”
Before Xia Changxun could finish, Yun Zhong raised a hand to silence him. Yun Zhong turned to Wen Qixue. “He possesses a very dangerous spiritual root. Let us go; since Su Xuanlin’s test is complete, we should return.”
Taking two steps toward the exit, Yun Zhong paused and looked back at Su Xuanlin. “Forgive me, I forgot to offer my congratulations. Xuanlin, your spiritual roots are superb; you will surely achieve great things.”
Su Xuanlin grinned happily. “Many thanks, Elder Yun.”
Only Xia Changxun remained bewildered. On the way back, he poked Su Xuanlin. “Do you know what that ‘dangerous’ spiritual root of Wen Daoist’s is?”
Su Xuanlin shook his head firmly. “I have no idea!”
“But since Elder Yun called it a dangerous root, it is best that others do not know. And perhaps it is better that I do not know, either.”
Still, Xia Changxun sighed, unsatisfied. “You are remarkably nonchalant.”
Su Xuanlin simply shrugged.
Upon returning to the Cloud Pavilion where Wen Qixue and Su Xuanlin were staying, Yun Zhong checked the protective formations and shut the door. He asked with grave seriousness: “Wen Qixue, do you know exactly what your spiritual roots are?”
Wen Qixue nodded slightly. “I do.”
“It is strange. Before I reached the Golden Core stage, I was indeed an Ice Spiritual Root, as I had demonstrated. But after I survived the Golden Core tribulation, I suddenly transformed into a Water Spiritual Root.”
Yun Zhong chuckled. “It is not merely a Water Spiritual Root. An ordinary Water Spiritual Root could not utilize ice-attribute techniques.”
Wen Qixue nodded. “It is an Innate Water Spiritual Root.”
“I originally wanted to find out why I had transformed, but before I could, I uncovered some… truly terrifying information.”
Yun Zhong exhaled a long breath. “You are a clever person.” He turned to Xia Changxun. “Changxun, do you know what the most precious medicinal material in the cultivation world is?”
Xia Changxun was baffled, but answered, “Those with pure attributes, like the one Senior Sister needed…”
Yun Zhong shook his head. “No. It is the Innate Spiritual Root.”
Xia Changxun “ah”-ed in confusion. “But an Innate Spiritual Root is a person’s root, not…” As he spoke, a chill ran down his spine, and he felt goosebumps rise across his skin. He swallowed hard. “Master, are you suggesting… using Innate Spiritual Roots in medicine…”
Wen Qixue, relying on Su Xuanlin’s strength to climb onto the table, sat cross-legged. “I once saw records in a secret realm left behind by a predecessor. It is said that centuries ago, a deviant cultivator utilized the power of Innate Spiritual Roots to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth, absorbing pure spiritual energy to wash away his own sins, in a futile attempt to deceive the heavens during his tribulation…”
Yun Zhong affirmed Wen Qixue’s account. “Exactly. Centuries ago, a deviant alchemist had a sudden flash of insight and refined an Innate Spiritual Root cultivator into a pill. After that, it spiraled out of control.”
“In truth, no one has ever successfully washed away their sins or deceived the heavens. It was merely a rumor among deviant cultivators. However, as Innate Spiritual Root cultivators are rare, they eventually turned their sights on single-root cultivators.”
Though he had no personal experience, Xia Changxun felt his skin crawl. “That is truly a terrifying prospect.”
Su Xuanlin remained silent, simply pulling Wen Qixue into his arms.
Wen Qixue: “…” He tried to push himself out, eventually popping his head free. He was, after all, only a small cultivator who had just drawn Qi into his body he was stifled easily.
Yun Zhong looked at Wen Qixue. “In any case, Wen Qixue, you know what must be done. If possible, it is best to pretend that you are merely an Ice Spiritual Root. Although most of those deviant cultivators were purged, one cannot say for certain that no one is still engaged in such practices in the shadows. Even some ‘righteous’ sects are not as upright as they appear.”
Wen Qixue bowed to Yun Zhong. “My gratitude for the warning, Elder Yun. I have had quite a bit of practice in passing off as an Ice Spiritual Root.”
Yun Zhong smiled. “That is good.”
“Oh, right—about the Mystic Water Pure Lotus…”
At the mention of the Lotus, Wen Qixue produced the one he had prepared. The transparent, pristine flower bloomed in his palm; were one not looking closely, one would not even notice its presence.
Xia Changxun gasped. “Is this the legendary Mystic Water Pure Lotus? How beautiful!”
Yun Zhong’s eyes sparked with excitement. As a pure water-attribute spiritual object, even Yun Zhong was seeing one for the first time.
While the others were transfixed by the Lotus, Wen Qixue retrieved one more item. It was much smaller than the Lotus only half the size of a fingernail—yet it shared the same crystalline transparency, easily overlooked if one were not careful.
Yun Zhong was the first to notice this tiny object. He asked with curiosity: “What is this? It appears to be of the same origin as the Mystic Water Pure Lotus.”
Wen Qixue answered: “It should count as a Mystic Water Pure Lotus seed, though I am unsure of its function.”
Yun Zhong’s eyes lit up. “Can it sprout into a Mystic Water Pure Lotus?”
Wen Qixue: “…I should think not.”
Yun Zhong sighed. Though disappointed, he was not vexed: “I suppose that makes sense. The Mystic Water Pure Lotus would not be so easily cultivated.”
He accepted the Lotus and the seed from Wen Qixue, retreated a step, and bowed deeply. “Regardless, Master Wen is a savior to my daughter. I have nothing to repay you with, but if you have need of anything in the future, please inform me!”
Wen Qixue returned the bow. “Elder Yun is too kind.”
Having secured the Lotus and the seed, Yun Zhong hurriedly departed to find Cen Qianxu and deliberate on their usage.
Xia Changxun, left behind, looked at Wen Qixue. “Wen Daoist, given the way my master just behaved as if he were swearing brotherhood with you will you eventually end up a generation above me?”