Chapter 4: I Possess a High-Grade Water Spiritual Root

  The autumn wind stirred, and the rice fields turned golden. Morning light streamed through the ttice windows, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow.

  Xu Sanbao stood calmly in the main hall, gazing at the faintly glowing blue crystal floating before her.

  Today marked the third day after her tenth birthday.

  It was also the day the Xu family had arranged for her spiritual root test.

  "Young Miss, please pce your hand on the crystal," an elderly cultivator instructed kindly. Beside him stood the elders of the Xu family, all waiting in hushed anticipation for the result.

  Sanbao knew—this was her first major event in this new world.

  Here, whether one possessed a spiritual root determined if they could step onto the path of cultivation, and what kind of path it would be.

  She had already familiarized herself with the cultivation systems of this world.

  It was a world where three major systems coexisted: Cultivators, Ability Users, and Martial Artists.

  Of these, the Cultivator path was the oldest. They relied on their spiritual roots, absorbing the energies of heaven and earth, tempering their bodies, forging their foundations, opening their meridians, forming their core, and ultimately achieving ascension to immortality.

  Ability Users needed innate elemental powers—aligned with the five elements—to cultivate specialized techniques, refine their roots, and pursue the same path toward immortality.

  Martial Artists, though often cking spiritual roots or elemental gifts, forged their bodies through tireless physical training, body refinement, and the mastery of martial techniques. Their road was the harshest, but even they could ascend and step into the realm of immortals.

  Regardless of the path, the first and most critical step was confirming the presence of a spiritual root. Without one, a person was destined to remain ordinary, unable to cultivate, living a mundane life.

  Sanbao's heart pounded. She had worked so hard to be reborn in this new world—if she failed at the first step, what would happen next?

  Steeling herself, she slowly pressed her right hand against the testing crystal. A chill surged through her palm, and the crystal abruptly lit up.

  First, a faint blue halo appeared. Then, a green aura wrapped around it. Finally, a faint fsh of gold shimmered deep within the yers of light.

  A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.

  "A high-grade Water Spiritual Root!"

  The elder in charge of the test rose to his feet, his expression solemn.

  "The Young Miss has a high-grade Water Spiritual Root! Her talent is among the finest—not just in the Rudy Kingdom, but across the world!" His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

  Sanbao blinked in surprise. She had hoped merely to have a passable root, but to be called "one of the finest" was beyond her expectations.

  "Lord Xu, might I suggest allowing your daughter to become my disciple? I will spare no effort in guiding her cultivation," said a rotund cultivator who had originally attended merely as a guest. Bowing deeply to Xu Chengyi, the patriarch of the Xu family, he made his plea.

  "Zhao, you came as a guest—this is hardly appropriate!" another, surnamed Qian, snapped irritably. "Besides, you've been stuck at the te third rank for years. Such a rare gem as the Young Miss would be wasted under your tutege!"

  "You—!" The Zhao cultivator flushed with anger. The hall bristled with tension.

  Sanbao, however, paid them no mind. She remained lost in the quiet joy of her newfound spiritual root.

  Leaving the squabbling elders behind, Patriarch Xu personally led Sanbao away from the main hall to a secluded pce.

  It was a small tower protected by a spiritual stone formation, rarely open to others save for the patriarch and trusted few.

  Inside, a long-bearded cultivator awaited them. Sanbao was about to receive her first true lesson in cultivation.

  Seated on a meditation cushion, she listened attentively as the cultivator began to speak:

  "In this world, three major cultivation paths coexist: Cultivators, Ability Users, and Martial Artists. None are superior to the others—their roads merely differ. Cultivators draw in the energies of heaven and earth, refining their bodies and mastering arts. Ability Users are gifted with innate powers aligned with the elements—gold, wood, water, fire, earth, as well as light, darkness, and mental force. Martial Artists temper their bodies through sheer will, forging strength until their fists roar like thunder and their bodies stand like mountains."

  "A Cultivator’s progress is divided into nine major realms, each subdivided into early, middle, te, and peak stages. The higher one's realm, the steadier the spiritual energy within, and the stronger their arts."

  "Spiritual roots are the key to the path of cultivation. The purer the root, the faster one can absorb spiritual energy. A single elemental root is best. Dual roots are acceptable. Triple roots are passable. But having four or more results in chaotic energy—progress becomes difficult."

  Sanbao listened with intense focus, committing every word to memory. Though she had anticipated this world's wonders, hearing it spoken aloud made the grandiosity and mystery all the more real.

  Following the cultivator’s instructions, Sanbao quietly gathered her breath, attempting to circute her internal energy according to the prescribed breathing technique.

  On the very first try, she felt a subtle current flowing through her chest and abdomen, spreading a soothing warmth through her body.

  *This… this is cultivation.*

  No fshy spells, no fierce battles, no soaring sword energies—just an unprecedented sense of crity and tranquility rising from within.

  She opened her eyes and saw the morning breeze fluttering the leaves outside, golden light spilling across the stone steps.

  Everything had taken on a new meaning.