Chapter 59: Five Elements Spiritual Roots

The Human World

At dawn, Qin Sang stopped cultivating and went out.

The shopkeeper had mentioned that normally there weren't so many cultivators in the market. Only during these few days in the middle of the month would cultivators from all around Ghost Mountain spontaneously gather, each seeking what they needed. These few days were the best time to gather information.

Qin Sang actually wanted to make a few friends, but frustratingly, every cultivator was extremely cautious. Each time Qin Sang tried to approach them, they would invariably eye him with suspicion, as if he had ulterior motives, and then adopt a distant, unwelcoming attitude. The rashness of the Tan brothers was a rare exception. Thinking of the words "missing," "died unexpectedly," and "murdered by enemies" scattered throughout the Song family genealogy, Qin Sang understood.

Qin Sang thought to himself that to gather information, he would have to find a crowded place and make some acquaintances, just like he did in Three Witches City. Places like Immortal Tea House and Joyful Pavilion were undoubtedly the best, but entering them cost spirit stones. Qin Sang, suppressing his reluctance to spend, walked into Bluestone Street. He suddenly noticed a bustling crowd deep within the street, realizing with a jolt that it was indeed the middle of the month. It seemed the Divine Artifact Pavilion was about to open. What a grand spectacle it was, with all these proud cultivators queuing to enter. Qin Sang couldn't afford to buy anything, but he was curious to expand his knowledge, so he also headed towards the Divine Artifact Pavilion.

The Divine Artifact Pavilion's main hall was very spacious, with artifacts displayed on shelves like in a mundane shop. Many cultivators crowded around the shelves, selecting items themselves, with no attendants nearby. Qin Sang secretly used his Aura-Viewing Technique and saw a black-robed old man standing at the entrance of the Divine Artifact Pavilion, hands behind his back, as serene and unmoving as a deep abyss or towering peak. He calmly observed the shop's interior. The old man's spiritual energy was astonishingly potent; he was very likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator! No wonder they weren't afraid of theft or robbery. Qin Sang was secretly alarmed and his expression grew more respectful. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to step inside, the black-robed old man suddenly extended a hand to stop him.

So many people had entered before him, and none had been stopped. Qin Sang saw the black-robed old man scrutinizing him up and down, and nervously said, "Junior Qin Sang greets Senior."

"Are you a rogue cultivator? How old are you this year?" the black-robed old man suddenly asked.

Qin Sang paused slightly, then replied, "To answer Senior, this junior is a rogue cultivator and is twenty-two years old this year."

"Twenty-two... fifth layer of Qi Refinement, hmm... huh? And your cultivation technique is still the 'Nether Scripture'? Come with me..."

The black-robed old man nodded and turned to walk towards an inner room. Qin Sang was startled that his true cultivation had been seen through with a single glance, and he was also utterly confused. But the black-robed old man was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, capable of crushing him as easily as an ant. Qin Sang could only follow closely, cautiously asking, "Senior, this is junior's first time at the Divine Artifact Pavilion. May I ask why Senior called me over?"

The black-robed old man looked at Qin Sang strangely. "You came with a token, and you're still afraid I'll harm you? Give me the token, and you can go in."

A token? Qin Sang remembered the jade plate and quickly took it out, handing it to the black-robed old man. He secretly wondered what purpose this token served, but it didn't seem to be anything bad. If it turned out to be an internal auction, he could just refrain from bidding and treat it as sightseeing. As they spoke, the black-robed old man pushed open the inner room's door. Qin Sang was slightly stunned by the scene inside.

By the room's entrance was a desk, behind which a pale-faced boy in a brocade robe leaned lazily, playing with a small blood-colored snake. He was clearly at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement. Inside, there were some meditation cushions, on which five people sat cross-legged. They were similar in age to Qin Sang, and their cultivation was around the fourth or fifth layer of Qi Refinement. Two of them were surprisingly the Tan brothers whom he had met the day before yesterday.

The sound of the door opening startled everyone in the room. The brocade-robed boy quickly shed his lazy demeanor, stood up, and respectfully said, "Uncle-Master Yue." He then glanced at Qin Sang and smiled, "Uncle-Master Yue has brought another junior brother. This time, the harvest is greater than before." Everyone in the room secretly sized up Qin Sang. The Tan brothers clearly recognized him. Tan Hao opened his mouth but was subtly pulled by Tan Jie. Seeing that they seemed unwilling to acknowledge knowing him, Qin Sang also refrained from greeting them.

Unexpectedly, despite the Tan brothers' subtle movements, they didn't escape the black-robed old man's notice. "Do you know them?" The black-robed old man turned his head and squinted at Qin Sang. Qin Sang dared not conceal anything, so he briefly recounted how he had met them. The black-robed old man nodded, not delving further. He pointed at Qin Sang and told the brocade-robed boy, "Test his spiritual root."

"Yes."

The brocade-robed boy walked up to Qin Sang. After conducting a test, a look of profound surprise suddenly appeared on his face. He frowned, staring at Qin Sang, as if unable to believe the result, then performed the test carefully again. Seeing the brocade-robed boy's expression, Qin Sang understood. It seemed Tan Ming really hadn't lied to him; he truly had no spiritual root. Was the Divine Artifact Pavilion taking disciples? Was the jade plate a token similar to the Sword Intent Edict of Shaohua Mountain? The shopkeeper had mentioned that a powerful sect backed the Divine Artifact Pavilion. While joining a sect would be good, the problem was that he had no spiritual root. If he had cultivation but no spiritual root, wouldn't he be sent for dissection? Qin Sang hadn't expected to be tested for spiritual roots immediately upon entering. With a Foundation Establishment cultivator watching, he couldn't even run. He couldn't help but feel utterly panicked, his mind racing for a way to escape.

The black-robed old man frowned and barked, "Liang Yan, what are you doing?" Qin Sang suddenly shivered. He heard the brocade-robed boy repeatedly say, "Reporting to Uncle-Master Yue, this junior brother actually has a pseudo-spiritual root... and it's complete with all five elements. Initially, this disciple thought I had tested incorrectly. According to sect rules, this junior brother is not qualified to enter cultivation."

"What?" Not just the black-robed old man, but everyone's expressions were odd. They had long since used the Aura-Viewing Technique to see Qin Sang's cultivation level. He was young, yet a genuine fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, so his talent should have been good. Who would have thought he'd have a pseudo-spiritual root complete with all five elements? One young man stared at Qin Sang with a strange look in his eyes. His cultivation was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, inferior to Qin Sang's, but he had a three-element spiritual root!

Pseudo-spiritual roots were called pseudo-spiritual roots for a reason: their cultivation speed was incredibly slow, and the hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment was slim. A pseudo-spiritual root complete with all five elements was even slower. No sect would accept such a person. Little did they know, among everyone present, Qin Sang was the most shocked. I actually have a spiritual root! Zhen Ming lied to me! I never offended him, so why would he do that? If not for Zhen Ming, I would already be cultivating in the Han family. Why did I have to travel so far? Qin Sang, filled with immense anger, for a moment disregarded the implications of a five-element spiritual root. The black-robed old man frowned. "It's not entirely impossible for a pseudo-spiritual root to cultivate to the fifth layer of Qi Refinement at this age, but your cultivation technique is the 'Nether Scripture'... Have you had any extraordinary encounters?"