Chapter 1: Waste Spirit Root

“Wang Yu, a waste spirit root, eliminated!”

“Next one!”

The common folk who heard the immortal envoy’s announcement of the results all cast sympathetic glances at the young man on the stage, but their private discussions told a different story.

“Isn’t that a Wang family member?”

“He’s got good looks, but it seems he’s not fated to join an immortal sect.”

“How can spirit root aptitude be compared to looks? I think the Wang family has committed too many wicked acts; they deserve this!”

“You can’t say that indiscriminately. Young Master Yu is not like those other dissolute youths; he has never bullied common folk.”

“Hmph… just a good-for-nothing, get down from there!”

The last remark did not come from a bystander.

Instead, it came from a young man standing outside the queue. Dressed in luxurious brocade robes, he had a handsome face, a jade pendant at his waist, and a landscape-inked fan tapping his palm, his expression one of utter arrogance.

His name was Wang Wu, and he was Wang Yu’s cousin. Sixteen years old, he had already undergone the spirit root test and was revealed to possess dual spirit roots—a genius with the potential to achieve Foundation Establishment.

Their fathers were brothers, both vying for the position of the next family head. This generational conflict extended to their sons, creating animosity between them.

Wang Yu clenched his fists, said nothing, and turned away from the Spirit Testing Platform.

While he had never considered himself a genius, he hadn't anticipated possessing a waste spirit root. With such an aptitude, reaching Foundation Establishment was out of the question, and even breaking through to the middle stage of Qi Refining would be a challenge.

Since his reincarnation, during which he comprehended the mysteries of the womb, he had been in this vast cultivation world for over sixteen years. He possessed a miraculous ‘cheat’ ability called the ‘Placement Slot’!

As the name implied, it could hold items.

However, physical objects could not be placed within it. For the past sixteen years, he had only placed books: texts like the *Thousand Character Classic*, the *Eight Principles of Yong*, *Detailed Explanations of Human Meridians*, and *Qi Huang's Marvelous Scrolls*, among others.

As long as he roughly skimmed a book, he could place it in the Placement Slot. The effect was akin to having another version of himself constantly studying, analyzing the content, and practicing.

Never tiring, never ceasing!

For instance, after the *Thousand Character Classic* was placed for several days, it was thoroughly comprehended. Even if his main body did nothing, he had learned many characters.

This function, when applied to cultivation, would undoubtedly save significant time. However, immortal sects have their own rules for disciple recruitment.

Stone Lake City, home to the Wang family, was under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Vulture Sect. Each year, eligible youths in the city underwent spirit root testing, officially beginning their cultivation journey at the age of sixteen.

In this world, everyone possesses a spirit root, categorized into six grades from highest to lowest.

A single spirit root, also known as a Heavenly Spirit Root, is the top aptitude below a Spirit Body. It guarantees progression to the Core Formation realm; such individuals are rare, appearing perhaps once a century.

A dual spirit root, also known as a High-Grade Spirit Root, carries a high probability of achieving Foundation Establishment. It is considered a rare and valuable talent.

A triple spirit root, also known as a Mid-Grade Spirit Root, represents the aptitude of most cultivators in this world. With diligent Qi Refining, most can achieve Great Perfection in Qi Refining before their lifespan ends.

A quadruple spirit root belongs to the Low-Grade Spirit Root category, also known as a ‘Miscellaneous Spirit Root.’ Its aptitude is poor, making it difficult to ever achieve Foundation Establishment.

A quintuple spirit root is the waste spirit root that Wang Yu possesses. Even refining spiritual energy is difficult, making it nearly impossible to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining in this lifetime.

The final category is a ‘Fragmented Spirit Root,’ meaning one cannot sense spiritual energy and thus are ordinary mortals unable to cultivate.

While aptitude doesn't determine a cultivator's ultimate destination, it does define their starting point. The 'difficulty' mentioned here refers to the upper limit one can achieve when cultivated with the same resources.

There may well be individuals in the world who defy fate and alter their destiny.

However, Wang Yu had lost at the starting line. The Spirit Vulture Sect, while not a top-tier immortal sect, would not accept disciples with a waste spirit root aptitude, as they lacked the resources to cultivate them.

Even for recruiting as a menial laborer, a quadruple spirit root was the preferred choice.

Wang Wu's dual spirit root aptitude meant he would become a Foundation Establishment candidate upon joining the Spirit Vulture Sect, receiving preferential resources. The struggle for the family head position was already lost.

The Spirit Testing Platform was set up in the city lord's mansion square. Wang Yu left without a backward glance. Some friends, with whom he previously had a good relationship, turned their heads away, not daring to even offer a greeting. Such was reality.

The ebb and flow of human relationships, the fickle nature of the world, changed in an instant.

The Wang Family Courtyard.

Wang Yu pushed the door open and entered, looking with some guilt at his father, who was offering incense before his mother's memorial tablet.

“You know already?”

“Yes.”

Wang Chongwen bowed gently before the incense altar, inserted three sticks of incense into the censer, and spoke softly.

“If Wang Wu were merely a triple spirit root, I, your father, would still have the means to contend. But he is, precisely, a dual spirit root.

“The Spirit Vulture Sect will become his backing, and the City Lord’s Mansion will also favor him. Pack your belongings and prepare to leave Stone Lake City.”

Wang Yu couldn't help but ask.

“Are you worried your uncle will resort to murder?”

“He won’t, but Wang Wu will.”

…

Wang Yu was silent for a moment.

One's life shouldn't be left to the mercy of others. The struggle for the family head position was inherently fierce, and Wang Wu was notoriously unruly. He frequently committed wicked acts like riding his horse to injure people and forcibly abducting common women. There were even cases of servants in his household being whipped to death, cementing his reputation as a dissolute and notorious young master in Stone Lake City.

Given his behavior today, it was only natural to expect him to settle scores if he gained power in the future.

“I understand. I’ll go pack my things now.”

“No need to pack. The carriage is at the back door and will take you to Everlasting City to live out your life in peace.”

“You’re not leaving?”

“The family’s Elder Council will protect me, your father. How could a clan seeking to grow tolerate brothers harming each other? If you leave, my lineage will have no heir, and thus cease to be a threat to the family head position.”

Wang Yu fell silent once more. Ever since his mother died in childbirth, his relationship with Wang Chongwen had been quite strained. Despite being known as a child prodigy from a young age, he had never received the slightest praise.

Initially, he had been indifferent, but now that a crisis had arisen and a path had been arranged for him, he was still somewhat moved.

Cultivation—he would not give up!

“Father, I’m leaving.”

“Mm, have a safe journey.”

As the door closed, Wang Chongwen let out a long sigh, opened his bloodshot eyes, and murmured softly to the memorial tablet.

“Rou’er, Yu’er has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood. Even without cultivation aptitude, he can live a good life. I hope he can live out his days peacefully in Everlasting City, unlike me, so pathetic.”

“It won’t be long before I come to join you.”

Wang Yu, of course, had no idea what transpired in that room after he left, nor that Wang Chongwen had already resolved to die, the aptitude test serving merely as a fuse.

While the spirit testing continued, Wang Yu had already boarded the carriage, preparing to journey far to Everlasting City, leaving the vortex of internal strife within the Wang clan.

Meanwhile.

In a servant's room by the back gate of the Stone Lake City Lord's Mansion, a black-robed figure threatened in a hoarse voice.

“The Spirit Vulture Sect is merely a third-rate power; its influence extends over only a dozen cities, and its strongest member is just one Core Formation cultivator. How can they compare to my Spirit Reversal Blood Sect?”

The Stone Lake City Lord's tone was cold and unyielding.

“The Spirit Vulture Sect is indeed inferior to your Spirit Reversal Blood Sect, but this is orthodox territory. Demonic cultivators are like rats scurrying across the street. If you want people, it's simple: buy them with spirit stones.

“Ten spirit stones for a quintuple spirit root, fifty for a quadruple spirit root. Triple spirit roots and higher are not for sale.”

The black-robed figure said, somewhat annoyed.

“Ten for a waste spirit root too? You might as well just rob me!”