Volume One, Chapter Two: Spirit Testing

As for her jade pendant space, it naturally recognized its owner immediately. This jade pendant space was left to the descendants by an ancestor of the Gu family who had ascended. Since the ascended ancestor was from the main lineage, the jade pendant space was passed down only among the main family branches.

It wasn’t that the ancestor cared only for the main line and neglected others; before ascending, the ancestor left behind resources that were useless to them but beneficial to the Gu family.

This pendant was passed down after the ancestor’s calculations found a destined connection with a younger member of the main lineage. The family members were unaware that this pendant contained a living space capable of growth.

After circulating through several generations, the jade pendant space finally came into Gu Mingxi’s hands.

It was given to her by Gu Moyuan on her first birthday, with instructions simply to wear it and recognize it if fate allowed; otherwise, to leave it be.

When Gu Mingxi received the space, she tried in every way to make it acknowledge her as its owner but failed.

Should she wait until she could induce energy into her body to try again?

Gu Mingxi had no better method and had to temporarily set it aside, waiting until she turned five to measure her spiritual roots and then initiate the flow of energy into her body.

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Over the years, Gu Mingxi had learned some basic knowledge about cultivation.

This universe was divided into the Upper Three Thousand Realms, the Middle Three Thousand Realms, and the Lower Three Thousand Realms. The continent where they lived was one of the Middle Three Thousand Realms, called Qingyun Continent.

The immortal realm to which they would eventually ascend was one of the Upper Three Thousand Realms, though its name was still unknown.

On Qingyun Continent, sects flourished and powerful families dominated. The Gu family was among the best, an elite first-rate family, ranked alongside the Lan, Bai, and Lin families as the Four Great Clans.

The Gu family’s top cultivators at the Tribulation Crossing stage were two: Gu Moyuan and Lin Sheng, both at the Nascent Soul stage. The peak cultivators of the other three families were on par with the Gu family.

Within the sects, there were five top-tier sects, eight first-rate sects, and numerous second- and third-rate sects.

The Five Top Sects were: Tianyan Sect, Xuanyuan Sword Sect, Danxia Sect, Wanfo Sect, and Piaomiao Sect.

Tianyan Sect was well-rounded; Xuanyuan Sword Sect specialized in sword cultivation; Danxia Sect focused on alchemy; Wanfo Sect was devoted to Buddhist cultivation; Piaomiao Sect admitted only women.

The cultivation stages were: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Out-of-Body, Tribulation Transformation, Fusion, Tribulation Crossing, and Great Ascension.

Spiritual roots were classified as Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, as well as variant roots like Thunder, Ice, and Wind.

In ancient times, spiritual power was abundant; the more spiritual roots one had, the more diverse their attacks. But in today’s world, spiritual energy had greatly diminished, making fewer spiritual roots better, as fewer allowed faster cultivation.

The Four Arts of Cultivation were Alchemy, Refining Artifacts, Talismans, and Formation Arrays.

The ranking system ranged from Grade One (lowest) to Grade Nine (highest).

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On the day of the spiritual root measurement, all children aged five and above in the Gu family came to the ancestral hall with their parents. Gu Mingxi saw her close friend Gu Mingyue in the crowd, who waved to her.

“Mingxi, Mingxi, come here!”

Gu Mingxi hurriedly pulled her mother toward Gu Mingyue. The two girls eagerly reunited, chatting animatedly. Lin Sheng and Gu Mingyue’s mother, who was her sister-in-law, were also talking nearby.

Gu Mingyue’s family belonged to the Gu family’s second branch. Her father, Gu Mowen, and Gu Moyuan were cousins, making them collateral relatives. The two branches maintained a good relationship, and Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue had grown up together.

Curious, Gu Mingyue asked, “Mingxi, what do you think our spiritual roots will be?”

Gu Mingxi shook her head. The novel she’d read hadn’t revealed the protagonist’s roots. “I don’t know, but it probably won’t be bad.”

She reassured Gu Mingyue, who was nervous. Soon, Gu Moyuan and the family’s elder appeared. As head of the family, Gu Moyuan organized the event and handed over the proceedings to the elder.

The elder brought out two stone tablets and two crystal balls. “When your name is called, come up and place your hands on the two crystal balls in sequence. Ready? Begin!”

“Gu Shuang.”

“Metal and Fire double spiritual roots; Metal grade eight, Fire grade five; no special constitution. Next!”

Gu Mingxi realized that the measurement was not only for spiritual roots but also for special constitutions. Such special traits were extremely rare. She recalled the protagonist Mo Yuqing, who, besides having Water and Wood double roots, also had a Dustless Spirit Body—immune to all poisons and capable of purifying the spiritual energy inside herself.

The measurement continued, and soon it was Gu Mingyue’s turn.

“Gu Mingyue.”

After cheering for her friend, Gu Mingxi watched as Gu Mingyue went up. Lin Sheng noticed her daughter’s slight nervousness and gently patted Gu Mingxi’s head. Feeling the touch, Gu Mingxi looked up and smiled at Lin Sheng.

She wasn’t very nervous. According to the story, the protagonist had already reached Foundation Establishment before her death, so she must have spiritual roots. As long as there were roots, no matter their quality, she would strive wholeheartedly for true freedom, unbound by destiny.

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“Gu Mingyue, single Fire spiritual root, Fire grade nine, no special spirit body. Not bad. Next, Gu Mingxi.”

Winking at her friend as congratulations, Gu Mingxi stepped onto the stage. Gu Moyuan smiled at her to ease her nerves.

Gu Mingxi wasn’t really nervous, but in this solemn occasion, she didn’t smile openly at her father and simply winked instead.

Gu Moyuan was amused by his daughter’s lively and playful manner but quickly resumed his serious demeanor. Only Gu Mingxi could see the warmth and joy shining in his eyes.

She placed her hand on the first crystal ball. After two breaths, a purple glow rose from the base of the stone tablet behind the crystal ball, filling the entire tablet. The crowd gasped in astonishment. Gu Moyuan and the elder were delighted and promptly instructed her to test for a special spirit body.

Sure enough:

“Heavenly Thunder spiritual root, grade ten, Thunder spirit body!”

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”

The elder couldn’t contain his excitement. “After a millennium, the Gu family finally has a descendant with a special spirit body. Heavenly Thunder root combined with a Thunder spirit body—truly a blessing from Heaven!”

Hearing that she possessed the Heavenly Thunder root and spirit body, Gu Mingxi was thrilled. Though mixed roots could cultivate, a single root with a spirit body allowed cultivation at a speed others could hardly match.

Beaming, Gu Mingxi returned to Lin Sheng and her friend Gu Mingyue. “Mother, Mingyue, I’m back!”

Lin Sheng smiled gently. “My precious, you’re amazing!”

Gu Mingyue excitedly added, “Mingxi, we both have single roots. Yours is just better, but we’re all great!”

Gu Mingxi shared her excitement with Gu Mingyue until all the children had their spiritual roots measured.

The elder announced, “All eligible children have completed their tests. Those with spiritual roots will begin classes at the clan school tomorrow to start their cultivation journey. Those without roots will be arranged to live out their lives in the secular world. The testing is now concluded!”

After bidding farewell to Gu Mingyue, Gu Mingxi returned home with Lin Sheng.