8: Chapter 8: Wood Attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root!

Jian Prefecture is one of the thirteen prefectures of Tiannan.

Within this prefecture, the most prestigious place is the Taiyue Mountain Range—rumors of Immortals appearing there circulate year-round, though no one can say for certain whether they are true or false.

Occasional hunters and woodcutters who venture up the mountain mention having seen traces of Immortals from a distance.

In reality, people do live within these mountains, but those called "Immortals" have not yet reached the realm of true Immortals; they are merely Cultivators who possess Divine Abilities and Spells and can manipulate True Essence Mana.

These scattered Cultivators established a School together in the Taiyue Mountain Range, which is Yellow Maple Valley.

At this time, the Yellow Maple Valley Sect Head, Sect Master, had just finished handling the day's Sect affairs and was planning to return to his quiet room for a rest when a hurried, almost panicked voice suddenly came from outside the hall: "Sect Head, this is bad! Sect Head, this is bad! Something big has happened, something big has happened!"

Before the voice had even faded, a young man wearing the Sect Disciple uniform stumbled into the hall, his forehead covered in cold sweat and his breathing ragged.

Sect Master saw him so undignified, and a flash of displeasure crossed his brow, but he suppressed his temper and said in a low voice, "What is the panic? The sky isn't falling. Speak slowly."

These calm words eased the Disciple's frayed nerves. Gasping for air, he held an object tightly in his hand high above his head, his voice still trembling: "Sect Head, look at this..."

Sect Master's gaze fell upon it, seeing a palm-sized token that was dark all over and appeared unremarkable at first glance. But when he focused and saw the words "Immortal Ascension" engraved on the token, his pupils suddenly constricted. With a flick of his finger, an invisible force of spiritual power pulled the token into his hand.

"An immortal ascension token?" He rubbed the patterns on the token with his thumb, his tone instantly becoming grave. "Where did this token come from?"

"Reporting to Sect Head, it was brought by a Qi Refinement Stage Loose Cultivator from the foot of the mountain. He said he was following the dying wish of a Family elder and specifically came to the Taiyue Mountain Range to find our Yellow Maple Valley, hoping to join the Sect with this token." The Disciple dared not delay and reported everything he knew.

After repeatedly inspecting the token and confirming it was genuine, Sect Master's tense expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "Since it is an immortal ascension token, bring that Loose Cultivator here." This matter did not differ much from his previous guesses, and the tension in his heart eased a bit.

"As you command!" The Disciple bowed and quickly turned to exit the hall.

Left alone in the hall, Sect Master held the immortal ascension token, still warm from the Disciple's hand, and pondered for a moment. Then, with his other hand, he took out three sound-transmission talismans from his sleeve.

With a slight movement of his lips, several subtle incantations were infused into the talismans. He then raised his hand and tossed them, and the three sound-transmission talismans transformed into three balls of crimson fire, streaking out of the hall like meteors toward the residences of the various Sect stewards.

The immortal ascension token involved the Sect's rules for recruiting Disciples, which was not something he could decide alone; he needed to summon several stewards to discuss it together... Meanwhile, outside the mountain gate, Zhao Changsheng was following the messenger Disciple toward the depths of Yellow Maple Valley.

The two were silent along the way. The Disciple walked hurriedly, clearly not daring to delay, while Zhao Changsheng followed behind, his face also filled with nervousness.

Although he was certain he would successfully join Yellow Maple Valley this time, he was more anxious to know what his Spiritual Root quality was like.

This matter had troubled him for a long time, and he expected to finally learn about his Spiritual Root this time.

Just as they reached the outside of the Sect Head's hall, they heard several arguments coming from within, faintly recognizable as the voices of several stewards.

The content of the argument was actually about whether or not to give the foundation establishment pill to the arriving Zhao Changsheng.

After hearing this, Zhao Changsheng's heart tightened—he had long expected that joining the Sect wouldn't be smooth sailing, but he hadn't expected that with the Immortal Ascension Assembly still far off, a steward would already have objections.

After all, this foundation establishment pill was no ordinary item; it was a celestial Spirit Pill related to whether a Cultivator could achieve Foundation Establishment, and obtaining one was no easy feat.

Fortunately, before long, the arguing inside the hall stopped, and a steady voice called out, "Let them in."

The Disciple pushed open the door to lead the way, and Zhao Changsheng followed him into the hall. As soon as he stood still, he felt several sharp gazes fall upon him, scanning him from head to toe like something tangible.

They were several Cultivators dressed in dark steward uniforms, their auras steady, clearly possessing significant cultivation.

Zhao Changsheng did not dare to look up, only following the lead Disciple in bowing. "Junior Zhao Changsheng greets the Sect Head and the stewards."

"Nephew Li, you may withdraw now."

Sect Master waved for the lead Disciple to leave, his gaze falling on Zhao Changsheng as his tone softened. "Since you come with an immortal ascension token, according to Sect rules, you are considered a Disciple of Yellow Maple Valley. However, before entering the Sect, we must first check your Spiritual Root Aptitude to arrange your Cultivation and duties accordingly. Are you willing?"

Zhao Changsheng's heart stirred—he too had always been curious why his Cultivation speed was much faster than other Loose Cultivators of the same rank. He immediately said respectfully, "Reporting to Sect Head, this Disciple is willing!"

"In that case, I shall personally examine you." Seeing his respectful attitude, Sect Master showed a faint smile and raised his hand. "Come forward and extend your right hand."

Zhao Changsheng stepped forward as instructed and handed over his right hand.

Sect Master's fingertips rested on his wrist pulse, and a gentle yet irresistible Divine Thought flowed into his body along the pulse, slowly wandering through his limbs and bones to search for his Spiritual Root.

The several stewards in the hall also held their breath, their gazes locked onto Zhao Changsheng—Cultivators who could bring an immortal ascension token usually didn't have poor Spiritual Root Aptitude, but they wondered to what extent it reached.

But in the next moment, Sect Master's hand on Zhao Changsheng's wrist suddenly stiffened. His originally calm face was instantly replaced by shock, and his eyes even burst with a nearly scorching light, with a hint of bloodshot visible.

This unusual reaction made the stewards in the hall unable to sit still.

"Senior Brother Zhong, could it be that this kid has a special Physique?"

A white-haired steward was the first to speak, his tone full of surprise.

Another steward followed up with a question, "Yes, Senior Brother Sect Head, could it be a rare Innate Dao Body or something similar?"

Sect Master took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in his heart, but his voice still carried a trace of imperceptible trembling. "He does not have a special Physique, it's just... his Spiritual Root is a Wood Attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root."

"Boom!!!"

This short sentence was like a clap of thunder exploding in the hall.

The several stewards instantly froze in place, their eyes filled with disbelief—a Heavenly Spiritual Root!

In these past decades, even centuries, such a Spiritual Root Aptitude had never appeared in the Sect.

The most shocked person was Zhao Changsheng himself.

He stood there in a daze, the words "Wood Attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root" echoing repeatedly in his mind—so that was it, no wonder he never encountered bottlenecks in his Cultivation and his speed far exceeded ordinary people.

This kind of Spiritual Root Aptitude was something he had only ever thought of in his dreams.