“Wang Yu, Wasted Spiritual Root—eliminated!”
“Next!”
The Immortal Envoy's verdict echoed across the platform, and the gathered townsfolk who heard it looked upon the young man with pity. Yet their private murmurs told a different story.
“That’s a son of the Wang family, isn’t it?”
“Handsome face, but no fate with the Immortal Sect.”
“Spiritual aptitude isn’t skin deep. I’d say this is karma—Wang clan’s sins catching up to them.”
“Be careful saying that. Young Master Yu isn’t like those other pampered brats. He’s never bullied commoners.”
“Heh... Just a piece of trash. Why hasn’t he rolled off the stage yet?”
This final jab didn’t come from the crowd.
His name was Wang Wu, the cousin of Wang Yu. Both were sixteen years old, but Wang Wu had undergone the Spiritual Root Test earlier—and was revealed to possess Dual Spiritual Roots, a talent with promising potential for Foundation Establishment.
Their fathers were blood brothers, both contenders for the next family patriarch. That rivalry had naturally extended to their sons, leading to open hostility between the two.
Wang Yu clenched his fists. Without uttering a word, he turned and stepped down from the Spiritual Testing Platform.
He had never deluded himself into believing he was some heaven-sent genius, but he hadn’t expected to possess a Wasted Spiritual Root. With such a poor aptitude, forget Foundation Establishment—even reaching the mid-stage of Qi Refining would be a challenge.
Ever since his reincarnation in the womb, with awareness before birth, he had lived in this cultivation-dominated world for sixteen years. Yet, he wasn’t without his cheat.
He possessed a mystical "plugin" called [Idle Slot].
As the name implied: it allowed him to “place” things inside it.
However, physical objects couldn't be stored. For the past sixteen years, he had placed various texts and manuals into the Idle Slot—such as:
Thousand Character Classic
Eight Principles of Yong
Detailed Meridian Compendium
The Marvelous Scrolls of Qi and Medicine... and so on.
All it took was a brief skim for him to place them in the Idle Slot, which then functioned as if another version of him existed. constantly studying, researching, and practicing the content.
Never exhausted. Never stopping.
For example, after placing the Thousand Character Classic in the slot for a few days, he could fully comprehend it, even if his actual body had done nothing.
Such a feature, if used for cultivation, would no doubt save tremendous time. But unfortunately, Immortal Sects have strict rules for accepting disciples.
Wang Clan resided in Stone Lake City, which was under the jurisdiction of the sect known as Spirit Vulture Sect.
Every year, all youths of the right age would undergo Spiritual Root Evaluation at the age of sixteen—the formal beginning of their cultivation journey.
Every person in this world possessed a Spiritual Root, ranked from top to bottom in six tiers:
Single Spiritual Root – Also called Heavenly Root, the highest qualification below a True Spiritual body. Virtually guaranteed to reach Core Formation. Appears once in a century.
Dual Spiritual Roots – Known as Superior Grade Roots, highly likely to achieve Foundation Establishment. Considered rare talents.
Triple Spiritual Roots – Called Mid Grade Roots, the most common aptitude among cultivators. With decent effort and lifespan, one could achieve Qi Refining Great Perfection.
Quadruple Spiritual Roots – Inferior Grade Roots, also referred to as Mixed Roots, poor aptitude, lifelong difficulty reaching Foundation Establishment.
Five Spiritual Roots – Also known as Wasted Spirit Roots, Wang Yu’s grade. Absorbing spiritual energy is arduous; even reaching the 4th Layer of Qi Refining is near impossible.
Shattered Spirit Root – Cannot sense spiritual energy at all. A mortal, with zero hope of cultivation.
A person’s aptitude doesn’t define their ultimate destiny—but it does determine the starting line. And the “difficulty” mentioned here refers to the maximum potential under equal resource conditions.
There are indeed those who defy fate and rise against the heavens.
But Wang Yu, he had lost at the starting line.
The Spirit Vulture Sect was not a top-tier sect, but even so, it wouldn’t recruit disciples with wasted roots. They didn’t have the luxury to waste resources.
Even for manual labor, Quadruple Roots were the minimum qualification.
Meanwhile, Wang Wu’s Dual Spirit Roots meant he’d immediately be treated as a Foundation Establishment seed upon joining. He’d receive preferential resources.
The struggle for family leadership… was already lost.
The Spirit Testing Platform was set up in the plaza of the City Lord's Mansion. Without looking back, Wang Yu walked away.
Originally, several of his peers had been on good terms with him, but now, they all turned their heads away. No one dared to greet him.
Such is reality.
The warmth and coldness of human relationships, the fickle nature of the world—change in an instant.
Wang Clan Compound.
Wang Yu pushed the door open and entered. His gaze carried a trace of guilt as he looked toward his father, who was currently offering incense before his mother's memorial tablet.
“You already know?”
“Yes.”
Wang Chongwen lightly bowed before the incense table and inserted the three sticks of incense into the censer, his voice low and composed.
“If Wang Wu only had three spiritual roots, I would still have a chance in this power struggle.
But unfortunately, he possesses dual spiritual roots.
“Spirit Vulture Sect will back him. The City Lord's Mansion will also lean toward his side.
Pack your belongings, we're leaving Stone Lake City.”
Wang Yu couldn’t help but speak.
“Are you worried that Uncle will try to kill us?”
“He won’t. Wang Wu will.”
“…”
Wang Yu fell silent for a moment.
One cannot entrust their life to another’s mercy.
The battle for clan leadership had always been ruthless.
And Wang Wu… was a known delinquent, ruthless and lawless.
He had injured people while horse riding, forcefully taken local women, and even whipped servants to death.
He was infamous in Stone Lake City as a notorious wastrel and bully.
Judging from his behavior today, if he gained power in the future, retaliation was inevitable.
“I understand. I’ll go pack my things now.”
“No need. The carriage is waiting at the back gate.
It will take you to Qianqiu City to live out the rest of your life in peace.”
“You’re not coming?”
“The Clan Elder Council will protect me.
A clan that wishes to grow strong cannot allow brothers to slaughter each other.
Once you’re gone, my lineage will have no successor—thus, we will pose no more threat to the clan head position.”
Once again, Wang Yu fell into silence.
Since his mother died during childbirth, his relationship with Wang Chongwen had always been lukewarm. Even though he had been hailed a child prodigy from a young age, he had never once received praise.
He had thought he didn’t care, but now that trouble had come and his father had arranged a way out for him, he couldn’t help but feel a trace of warmth.
Cultivation, he would never give it up!
“Father, I’m leaving.”
“Mm. Safe travels.”
As the door closed behind Wang Yu, Wang Chongwen let out a long sigh. He opened his bloodshot eyes and whispered toward the memorial tablet.
“Rou’er, Yu’er has been exceptionally bright since he was young. Even without spiritual roots, he would have done well in life. I only hope he can live peacefully in Qianqiu City and not become a failure like me.”
“It won’t be long… before I come to join you.”
Wang Yu was unaware of what had occurred after he left the room.
He didn’t know that Wang Chongwen had already formed the will to die—the spiritual root test was merely the final spark.
The Spirit Root Appraisal was still ongoing.
But Wang Yu had already boarded the carriage, heading toward Qianqiu City, far from the power struggle within the Wang Clan.
In a servant’s room behind the City Lord’s Mansion of Stone Lake City...
A man in a black robe, speaking in a hoarse voice, threatened coldly:
“Spirit Vulture Sect is only a third-rate force.
Its domain spans barely a dozen cities, and its strongest member is only a Qi Condensation stage cultivator. How can they compare with my Blood Reversal Sect?”
The City Lord of Stone Lake replied with a stiff tone:
“True, Spirit Vulture Sect is no match for your demonic sect. But this land belongs to the righteous path. Demonic cultivators are like rats crossing the street—everyone wants to beat them.
“If you want people, fine. Pay spirit stones.
Ten spirit stones for a five-root,
Fifty spirit stones for a four-root,
Three-root and above—not for sale.”
The black-robed man growled, clearly annoyed:
“Even Wasted Spiritual Roots cost ten spirit stones?
Why don’t you just go rob people?!”