Chapter 112: Plant Spiritual Root
In the Quiet Room.
Fang Shu’s gaze was sharp and bright as he cupped his hands toward Xiao Li Li, then unceremoniously pointed at the bed beside them:
“Fellow Daoist Xiao, please lie down here.”
Xiao Li Li’s face flushed red, her body still trembling slightly, but she let out a soft whimper, then calmly stood up and lay down on the bed, her eyes immediately becoming somewhat dazed, her mind wandering.
Immediately after, she felt Fang Shu reach out and grope over her body, checking something, like an experienced hand, yet he still hadn’t gotten to the main point.
Suddenly, Fang Shu withdrew his hand and took a robe from the side, placing it at her bedside.
“I’ve already checked you. All the roots of that Medicine Ginseng are gone, with no more hidden dangers.”
This left Xiao Li Li stunned, realizing she had misunderstood something, and feeling a sense of emptiness.
In reality, this woman had indeed misunderstood.
Fang Shu had her lie down only to check the condition of the roots inside her body, to see if, after the innate Secret Script had dissipated, it would still condense within her, and if there were any further changes.
But unfortunately, Xiao Li Li’s body no longer had that innate Secret Script—at least, with Fang Shu’s current discernment, he could not detect the Secret Script; perhaps it was hidden deeper and required Spiritual Sense to probe.
Fang Shu felt disappointed inwardly, but his expression remained calm.
He showed nothing and offered no explanation, merely gesturing for Xiao Li Li to quickly put on the robe and follow him out to pay respects to the Dojo Master.
“Y-yes.” Xiao Li Li hurriedly responded.
She showed no concern for Fang Shu’s presence and dressed neatly right in front of him, even twirling a little in front of Fang Shu.
Fang Shu ignored Xiao Li Li’s little action, merely watching calmly.
This woman’s various intentions were already blatantly obvious, plain as day. Fang Shu was no fool; he knew that with a single word now, he could make her his slave or servant, devoting herself to him.
The reason he did not do so was, first, he had not yet begun Refining Qi—how could he ruin his Primordial Yang for the sake of beauty? Second, he had learned from the Dojo Master not to follow the other’s lead.
By not avoiding or responding, he could avoid falling into a trap, shirk responsibility, and besides, such a cheap opportunity delivered to his door—if he didn’t take it at all, that would be overly pretentious.
Fang Shu turned around and said, “Follow me.”
Just as they were about to leave the Quiet Room, Xiao Li Li suddenly said softly: “Master, in front of others, may this slave still call you so?”
Fang Shu paused, and without turning his head, instructed:
“As you like. You call me Master, I call you Fellow Daoist.”
Hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on Xiao Li Li’s face. She obediently responded: “Yes, Master.”
Immediately after, she thought to herself: “Master saved me from peril and trusts me so much. I must not cause trouble for Master. From now on, in front of others, I am merely Master’s Fellow Daoist.”
Not long after.
The two had already arrived in the Inner Courtyard Assembly Hall, waiting respectfully for the Dojo Master’s arrival.
Du Yu Er from the dojo arrived before her grandmother.
As soon as she entered the hall, her face lit up with surprise and joy: “Li Li, you succeeded!”
Facing this close friend, Xiao Li Li’s expression was calm, though she smiled faintly in response, her eyes still fixed on Fang Shu.
She politely replied: “Thank you for your concern, Yu Er. This treatment was truly thanks to your dojo’s Fellow Daoist Fang.”
Du Yu Er noticed nothing amiss and immediately turned to Fang Shu, bowing: “Fang Shu, thank you for your hard work in helping Li Li recover.”
“Senior Sister Yu Er is too polite,” Fang Shu smiled in response.
The three chatted idly in the hall, mostly with Du Yu Er leading the conversation:
“Li Li, your complexion looks good. I suppose your Cultivation has been preserved and you can continue cultivating?”
At that moment, a light laugh came from the depths of the Assembly Hall:
“Tsk! Not just good—it’s as if you’ve seized an Opportunity.”
The three turned toward the voice and hurriedly paid their respects:
“Master.” “Grandma Du.”
The person entering the hall was none other than the Dojo Master herself. Her hair was white as snow, yet her body moved swiftly like the wind, striding right up to Xiao Li Li.
This old woman examined her with an unusual gaze, occasionally pinching her Bone, even using Spiritual Sense to inspect, causing the three to hold their breath.
The Dojo Master sighed: “To grasp such a nine-deaths-and-one-life Opportunity—you’ve seized it well; having this sort of Opportunity is only natural.”
“Opportunity?”
The three in the hall looked puzzled upon hearing this, though Fang Shu inwardly had some vague guesses.
Then, the Dojo Master glanced at her own granddaughter.
Seeing this, Du Yu Er obediently cupped her hands.
“Fang Shu, Li Li, you two chat slowly. I’ll prepare some Tea.” With that, Du Yu Er left under their gazes.
With no one else around, the Dojo Master spoke bluntly:
“Xiao Li Li, you have passed this trial. In the future, after cultivating through the Third Calamity, there will be no more barriers—even Refining Qi will be greatly achievable!
Are you willing to take me as your Master?”
These words surprised both Xiao Li Li and Fang Shu.
Even Xiao Li Li’s calm expression showed a hint of daze, as if she thought she had misheard. In one night, had she gone from someone on the brink of death to someone fully capable of Refining Qi?
As if guessing Xiao Li Li’s thoughts, the Dojo Master spoke slowly:
“Child, you lay bedridden for half a year, infused with countless Precious Medicines, and now you’ve come back from the brink of death, fused as one with that Spiritual Medicine Ginseng, inseparable, with the Spiritual Medicine deeply planted, possessing Genitals—this Opportunity is what you deserve.”
Hearing this from the side, Fang Shu’s mind stirred at the words “Genitals” and he immediately spoke:
“May I ask Master, the Genitals you speak of—is it that… Spiritual Root?”
Hearing this, even more unusual color appeared on Xiao Li Li’s face as she looked at the Dojo Master with anxiety and disbelief.
Under their gazes, the Dojo Master slowly nodded:
“Correct, this Genitals is precisely the Spiritual Root.”
The old woman continued explaining: “From Refining Essence to Refining Qi, the key bottleneck is the step of Planting a Spiritual Root. This step includes drawing blood into the body, grafting Flesh limbs, sacrificing the body to a sword, Planting spiritual plants into the body, and so on.
Any spiritual thing planted into the body to enhance sensitivity to heaven and earth Spiritual Energy can be considered a Spiritual Root.”
Pausing, she glanced at Xiao Li Li:
“Such planted Spiritual Roots are merely False Spiritual Roots, far inferior in effect to innate Spiritual Roots, belonging to the lowest grade.
But False Spiritual Roots have their own wonders; depending on the spiritual item used, they often have unique strengths, and one can seek corresponding Spiritual Roots based on one’s own situation—quite convenient. I won’t list them all here; you’ll learn once you enter the Immortal Sect.”
Fang Shu and Xiao Li Li, hearing the Dojo Master’s words, both showed realization on their faces.
“So Planting a Spiritual Root is like this.” Fang Shu’s mind raced with thoughts, recalling once more the Secret Script pattern on Xiao Li Li’s body.
He thought to himself that he had already helped Xiao Li Li Plant a Spiritual Root and gained Experience.
Then, when he Planted his own Spiritual Root in the future, would it not be even more effortless, and could he aim for even more remarkable Spiritual Roots!?
Beside him, Xiao Li Li’s breathing grew heavy, fire seeming to burn in her eyes.
Thinking of something, this woman unhesitatingly prostrated herself and kowtowed:
“Disciple Xiao Li Li pays respects to Master.”
Seeing this woman’s decisive nature in immediately acknowledging her as Master, a flash of surprise crossed the old woman’s face, followed by joy as she laughed heartily:
“Good, good, good! This old body has gained another precious Disciple today. Old Man Ling has missed out.”
Next, the Dojo Master explained some matters about Spiritual Roots to the two, also warning:
“Li Li, though you have seized this Opportunity and Planted a Spiritual Root—and this Spiritual Root, having originally been planted in your body and nurtured by your Flesh, fits you quite well—its quality is actually only average.
Moreover, your Cultivation has greatly diminished, leaving only one Calamity. Do not think that with this turnaround, you are now extraordinary.”
Xiao Li Li lowered her head: “Disciple dares not.”
After finishing her instructions, the Dojo Master was about to send Xiao Li Li away to recuperate well in the dojo.
Fang Shu remained in place from the side.
He planned to consult the Dojo Master further and ask if the innate Secret Script on Xiao Li Li’s body was closely related to Planting a Spiritual Root.
At this time, the Dojo Master spoke: “Fang Shu, stay.”
“Yes, Master.”
Once only the Master and Disciple remained in the hall, an unusual gleam appeared on the Dojo Master’s face. She examined Fang Shu as if flowers had bloomed on his face.
Fang Shu was baffled but restrained his thoughts, looking at her in puzzlement.
The next moment, the Dojo Master tsked:
“You boy, your methods are truly impressive—even the dead can be revived by you.
Rest assured, though that girl has gained an Opportunity, she has other flaws. As for you, your gains are absolutely worth it.”
“What do you mean by that, Master!?”
