Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 44: Chapter 10: Elements of Cultivation

Following what Chen Zhaohu said, the five of them soon arrived at the place.

A half-human tall fence surrounded a giant stone, towering about ten feet high, black as ink.

Outside the fence, a person was dozing off.

As soon as Li Ji’an and the five approached, the person immediately opened his eyes, but after sweeping a glance over the five, he closed them again.

After all, the target clients were mainly children, the oldest being around fifteen, and the five before him were clearly past that age.

”Excuse me!”

As Li Ji’an spoke, the person was quite surprised.

”Testing spirit roots?”

Li Ji’an nodded.

”Ten taels of Spiritual Sand per person.”

Li Ji’an weighed and handed over fifty taels of Spiritual Sand to him.

”All of you are testing?” The person was even more surprised.

Then he suddenly realized.

The five before him probably came from some remote gathering area away from the Immortal Pavilion.

No more words were exchanged; he collected the Spiritual Sand and opened the fence for them.

”Just place your hands here, the Spirit Testing Stone will sense your body’s spirit root sensitivity, a mark lighting up equals a trace of Spirit Charm.”

”Thank you!”

Without hesitation, Li Ji’an was the first to press his hand on it.

He knew the other four’s nervousness and anxiety; going up first to set an example could slightly lower their expectations and make it easier for them later.

Buzz~

As his palm pressed down, he immediately felt a coolness emanate from the black stone.

In the next moment, at the spot where his palm was placed, luminous marks began to appear.

First to light up was a golden mark resembling a small sword, only a single trace.

Next was a small tree mark, also only a single trace.

Water ripple mark, flame mark, small mountain mark... each revealed one by one.

Except for the flame mark which had two traces, all others were just one trace.

To this, Li Ji’an accepted calmly.

As expected.

The four behind him wore heavy expressions.

Leading the way was Zhao Shuyao, as she was the same age as Li Ji’an and had lived the longest in the Immortal Dynasty. According to Chen Zhaohu, her spirit root had been hindered the longest.

If Li Ji’an was like this, how better could she be?

”I’ll go!” Seeing the other three hesitate, Zhu Linxian took a deep breath and stepped forward.

She and Zhang Tiezhu were the youngest, having just become Immortal Seedlings at seventeen, now just eighteen, with the most hope.

”Eight traces! Linxian’s highest sensitivity actually has eight traces!”

As the Spirit Charm above Zhu Linxian’s palm revealed, Zhang Tiezhu was overjoyed.

The Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth Elements’ Spirit Charm sensitivity were two, two, eight, four, and one respectively.

”Good!” Dong Jiangling and Zhao Shuyao also clenched their fists and exclaimed good.

Li Ji’an slightly raised his eyebrows, more surprised than expected, according to Chen Zhaohu, staying in the Land of Absolute Spirit means the innate spirit root not only doesn’t grow but even depletes.

If that’s the case, how would Zhu Linxian’s spirit root talent be if she hadn’t been born in the Land of Absolute Spirit?

More than likely not even Middle Grade.

Upper Grade spirit root?

Has a Golden Core Seed just been wasted like that?

Li Ji’an immediately felt a sense of lament that an orange born south of the Huai River isn’t as sweet as one born north.

Hearing the few people’s cheers, those outside the fence turned their heads.

”...”

”What’s there to cheer about with a Lower Grade spirit root?”

”Heh~ maybe they’re celebrating meeting the minimum requirement to be recruited as a son-in-law by the Wu Family.”

After calming down, Zhang Tiezhu and the four also came to realize.

Indeed, it’s just the lowest tier of spirit roots, what’s there to cheer about?

Compared to their reputation as one-in-ten-thousand geniuses back in the Immortal Dynasty, this was quite disheartening.

However, this gave them hope nonetheless.

At least it’s not as Chen Zhaohu said, completely cutting off the hope of cultivation.

Then the three of them went up one by one to test.

As expected, all were lower grade spirit roots.

Zhang Tiezhu had the highest Earth Spirit Root, sensing six strands of spirit charm.

Dong Jiangling had the highest four strands of spirit charm, Gold Element.

Zhao Shuyao had the highest three strands of spirit charm, Wood Element.

Based on the spirit root testing results of several people, Li Ji’an had a basic understanding and largely confirmed what Chen Zhaohu said, that the longer one lives in the Absolute Spirit Land, the worse the spirit roots become.

”Brother Li, we all have spirit roots, we can all cultivate!” Zhang Tiezhu was somewhat excited.

”Correct! Anything is possible.” Li Ji’an encouraged.

Not long after, the five returned to Chen Zhaohu’s courtyard.

After learning the five people’s spirit testing results, Chen Zhaohu unexpectedly glanced at Zhu Linxian.

However, in the end, he still regretfully shook his head.

”What? Linxian’s spirit root is already close to a middle grade spirit root, is it not good enough?” Seeing his reaction, Dong Jiangling was a bit anxious.

”Yes, natural talent close to a middle grade spirit root is barely considered middle in our Fallen Dragon Ridge desert, but... it’s already a bit too late if one hasn’t started cultivation by eighteen.” Chen Zhaohu explained.

”Eighteen is too late? Can’t you cultivate if you’re over fifteen?” Zhang Tiezhu also became unstable.

”It’s not like that, age isn’t a limitation for cultivation. Even if you start cultivating at fifty, there’s still a chance to reach the heavens step by step!”

”Then why...”

Chen Zhaohu was rather helpless as he said, ”Do you know why I haven’t started cultivating?”

Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an was also puzzled: ”Brother Chen, you previously mentioned there is always a ray of hope and said your spirit root potential also has limitless possibilities, so... why haven’t you cultivated?”

”Heh, do you think just having spirit roots means you can cultivate?”

”Do you know the four major points of cultivation here?”

Chen Zhaohu sighed: ”Place, Technique, Wealth, Companions. Not one can be omitted!”

”The spiritual qi required for cultivation is only the most pure and dense at a spirit vein land; outside of it, the spiritual qi dissipates into the sky, and even if there is some, it’s already mixed and thin, like this place, which, although not like your Absolute Spirit Land, still can’t support magical power cultivation.

And places with spirit veins have long been occupied by those sects and immortal races; even the lowest tier one lower grade spirit vein land is contested fiercely by countless people, all competing to permanently seize a hope that could potentially further the lineage for their descendants.”

”The second is cultivation techniques because everyone’s spirit root attributes are different, the required cultivation technique is also different, and not only must you consider the spirit root with the highest spirit charm sensing, but the other four element spirit roots also have corresponding influences, so everyone’s most suitable cultivation technique is different. Having a spirit vein land also means you need to find the most suitable cultivation technique for yourself.

Cultivation techniques are as valuable as spirit vein lands, and some families rise to prominence relying on a single cultivation technique.”

”As for wealth, you’ve already seen spirit stones. Besides being used for trading and payments, their most fundamental role is providing spiritual qi; even in this spiritual-poor land, when Heaven and Earth spiritual qi is insufficient for cultivation, spirit stones can be directly refined to cultivate.

However, minor cultivators don’t need them because once a spirit stone is refined, there’s no going back, and if it can’t be quickly absorbed and refined, it will dissipate into the sky, wasting it. Those who can directly refine spirit stones for cultivation are senior greats.

Of course, spirit stones can rent spirit vein dao fields, trade cultivation techniques, and buy spirit rice, pill medicine, artifacts... In short, if you have enough spirit stones, you can buy anything.”

”As for Companions, be it a master, fellow cultivators, or companions, cultivation shouldn’t be done behind closed doors; otherwise, it’s easy to get stuck in dead ends, where being stuck at a bottleneck is minor, and cultivation deviation is major. Having discussions and collective wisdom is the right way...”

”...” Chen Zhaohu patiently finished explaining, and all except for Li Ji’an had stiff expressions.

Back in the Immortal Dynasty, first, they had noble origins and sufficient resources, second, they had exceptional talents, and the royal family actively supported them. All they needed was to focus on cultivating, not having experienced a situation where everything needed to be resolved by themselves.

”So, why haven’t I set foot on the path of cultivation? Because I lack these resources. If I want to cultivate, I have to enter the nearest United Marketplace, but the rent there is not cheap, and my spirit root is not sufficient to attract the attention of those families or sects.”

As he spoke, Chen Zhaohu looked at Zhang Tiezhu: ”This is also why I say it’s a pity for this girl, if she had the talent close to a middle grade spirit root by the age of fifteen, she would have had the chance to enter a certain family. Now, she has lost her cultivation value.”

-------

Over the next month, the five gradually adapted to the settlement here, also verifying what Chen Zhaohu said.

On this day, Zhu Linxian, who had been silent for many days, couldn’t hold back anymore.

”No matter how difficult it is, I still want to try!”

”Exactly, the longer we wait, the more we delay. If we don’t try, how will we know it’s impossible!” Zhang Tiezhu was already eager to move.

They both had the most hope and were the youngest, not yet experiencing too many blows from society.

”If so, growing old here, then why come to this Immortal Realm at all? Not to mention seeking revenge against that wicked family.” Zhao Shuyao was also unwilling to give in.

”Yes! Even if it means death, we have to try!” Dong Jiangling’s gaze was sharp, his attitude firm.

Li Ji’an watched them and understood very well.

A human life is but a fleeting moment, like an autumn for grass and trees, so short!

They had only this one life, they couldn’t wait any longer.

The most crucial thing is that the current life is nothing compared to the fame they had in the Immortal Dynasty if they couldn’t cultivate?

”What are you planning to do?”

”The Yan Family is recruiting pioneering warriors, I plan to give it a try, there’s a chance to stay in the Yan Family, to enjoy the tier one upper grade spirit vein dao field, and the Yan Family’s cultivation techniques.” Zhang Tiezhu said firmly.

”I plan to find an opportunity at the Immortal Pavilion!” Zhu Linxian was the most unwilling to accept defeat.

”There is a Spirit Pill Shop recruiting receptionists, I want to give it a try.” Zhao Shuyao made this decision with great difficulty.

”I also plan to check out the market first.”