Chapter 63: Heavenly Spiritual Root

Chen Mobai remembered there was a used spirit stone in his room's drawer, so he immediately felt energized and ran back to retrieve it.

"This one, when crushed into a spirit essence, can filter out the pill toxins from two portions of raw liquid, but it still requires a reactant."

Qing Nü didn't ask why Chen Mobai had such an item at home. She had already assumed that her patron's ancestors must have included a Grand Cultivator, and that he was now a somewhat declining young master.

"Can the reactant be bought?"

"It's very cheap. 100 merit points can buy a large jar, enough to synthesize 50 portions of spirit essence."

Qing Nü's words made Chen Mobai sigh in relief. He didn't have many merit points left. While the three main ingredients for refining Qi Replenishing Spirit Water could be purchased in the Tianhe Realm, the four auxiliary ingredients were only available on Dadi Star. His current merit points were only sufficient for three portions.

"No need for flavoring agents?"

Qing Nü checked the auxiliary ingredients and found one missing. Chen Mobai shook his head, indicating he had no more pocket money and couldn't afford it, so they would have to economize a bit here.

"Then I'll first refine a portion of spirit water without a flavoring agent. You can try it first, and if you can tolerate it, we'll continue with the next few portions in the same way."

As she said this, Qing Nü felt a lingering fear. She had tasted that flavor before, and it was unbearably bitter.

Chen Mobai nodded, but his thoughts were on acquiring some used spirit stones from Nanxi Market. He put away the 20 successful tubes of Qi Replenishing Spirit Water and prepared to bid farewell.

"By the way, you're the same age as me. How are your college entrance exam preparations going?"

At this moment, Chen Mobai remembered this point and asked with a slight note of concern.

"It doesn't matter whether I take the exam or not; I've already been granted early admission by the school."

"Really? Which university?"

"Jumang Daoist Academy!"

"Oh, that's a good university... Wait, what academy did you say...?"

Chen Mobai's eyes widened, and he looked at Qing Nü in disbelief, wanting to confirm if he had misheard.

"Jumang Daoist Academy. Otherwise, why do you think Baoping Pharmacy would rent this refining room to me? I'm essentially using my own school's facilities."

"..."

After a long silence, Chen Mobai scrutinized Qing Nü from head to toe. He recalled that when he had gone to find her at Xianmen First High School, she had worn a mask and a hat to conceal herself when leaving the campus.

He had originally thought it was because she was attractive and had many admirers within the school.

Now, it seemed, it was probably because she was too famous within the school.

"Now I understand why Gu Changfeng, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, couldn't help but take you as a disciple when he came to lecture at the school. A Dao Seed with a Heavenly Spiritual Root—even a Golden Core True Person would probably be unable to resist."

Chen Mobai sighed, lamenting his previous confusion.

"Not necessarily," Qing Nü replied. "Although those with a Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivate quickly before forming a Golden Core, it's precisely because they lack early-stage obstacles and bottlenecks for refinement that their success rate in forming a Nascent Soul is lower than those with ordinary spiritual roots who cultivate step by step. Among the Nascent Soul Sovereigns in the Immortal Sect now, only four began with a Heavenly Spiritual Root. So, if resources are abundant, my future achievements might even be inferior to yours."

Qing Nü shook her head, and her words left Chen Mobai utterly speechless.

One must remember that not long ago, his lifelong goal was simply to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment during his lifetime.

"What's your current cultivation level?"

"Qi Cultivation Level Six."

Chen Mobai felt slightly better hearing this, as she was at the same level as him.

However, when he considered that Qing Nü's single apartment only had low-grade first-tier spiritual energy, she probably only practiced Qi cultivation for two hours a day in the school's cultivation room.

To be able to cultivate to Qi Cultivation Level Six under such conditions, a Heavenly Spiritual Root was indeed extraordinary.

"Well, then you're busy. I'm going back to study."

"Alright. Come back tomorrow for the Qi Replenishing Spirit Water. After filtering out the pill toxins with the spirit essence, there should be enough for about fifteen more tubes."

Chen Mobai nodded upon hearing this, while also cheering himself on. With his opportunity in the Tianhe Realm, if he truly became a major cross-realm merchant in the future, spirit stone resources would be endless.

Although he didn't have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, his future was promising.

The next day, Chen Mobai first went to Nanxi Market, where he coincidentally met Qi Er at the entrance. Qi Er expressed his gratitude, saying he would have died in the Yunmeng Marsh without the Green Arrow Talisman.

As he spoke, Qi Er offered Chen Mobai the two spirit stones he had earned as payment, but Chen Mobai shook his head and declined.

Afterward, Chen Mobai asked Qi Er to see if he could acquire some used spirit stones, preferably those with depleted spiritual energy.

Although Qi Er found it strange, he readily agreed. In less than half a day, he collected all the used spirit stones from the small rogue cultivators in his circle, totaling 17 pieces.

Qi Er said he had paid 10 taels of gold for each spirit stone. Chen Mobai nodded and gave him a 500-tael gold note.

This amount of spirit essence was more than enough for Qing Nü's refining needs, so Chen Mobai did not linger in the market.

Stimulated by the fact that Qing Nü had already been granted early admission to Jumang Daoist Academy, he began to work even harder over the next two months.

After obtaining enough Qi Replenishing Spirit Water, he stopped doing time-wasting activities like setting up stalls. He focused entirely on studying and cultivating, aiming for a good score on the college entrance exam.

If he couldn't get into one of the Four Great Daoist Academies, he at least wanted to get into one of the Ten Great Scholar Palaces.

He decided to set a small goal first: Chunyang Scholar Palace!

Thus, Chen Mobai began the two most diligent months of his life.

Every night, he practiced Qi cultivation in the water mansion. After returning during the day, he diligently attended classes in school in the mornings, while also reviewing the foundational knowledge of the four subjects he had neglected over the past three years.

Achieving divine sense was what the ancients called 'opening the aperture,' unlocking the door to wisdom.

Spells, formulas, talismans, and formations that had once felt obscure and difficult to understand now became gradually clearer to him after reading and writing them a few times. Furthermore, by frequently visiting his teachers' offices and receiving guidance from these dedicated mentors, his foundational knowledge steadily solidified, and his scholarly understanding grew increasingly profound.

However, what surprised Chen Mobai the most was his breakthrough in cultivation.

This was likely due to his consistent practice of the Spirit Nurturing and Deity Forging Art, which allowed his divine sense to form early, effectively removing the bottleneck for the late Qi Cultivation stage. This, combined with Qing Nü's continuous supply of Qi Replenishing Spirit Water and the second-tier spiritual energy of the water mansion, led to the spiritual energy vortex in his dantian finally overflowing a week before the college entrance exam, naturally breaking him through to Qi Cultivation Level Seven.

At this point, Chen Mobai finally felt confident enough to contend for admission to one of the Four Great Daoist Academies.

However, after reaching Qi Cultivation Level Seven, a very important question lay before him.

Should he continue cultivating the Five Elements Art, or switch to cultivating the Pure Yang Scroll?