Jiang Yuebai's eyes lit up as she nodded vigorously, eagerly absorbing the knowledge of the Cultivation Realm.
"Lu Nanzhi is an Innate Spiritual Body; her reservoir isn't in the Dantian, she herself is that reservoir, and with a flick of her hand, she can attract Spiritual Energy into any part of her body. Shen Huaxi and Xie Jingshan both have Single Spiritual Roots; their Dantian contains a single reservoir, and the Root Value determines the Spiritual Energy Affinity. Xie Jingshan's Root Value is nine; aside from having a larger reservoir, which can contain more spiritual energy mist, he can sense the presence of Spiritual Energy without using an elixir and can easily absorb it into his body."
"Of course, with a Root Value of nine, Xie Jingshan will cultivate slower than Shen Huaxi, who has a Root Value of eight, because a larger reservoir takes longer to fill. However, in the future, Xie Jingshan will have slightly better spellcasting speed, spell duration, and power than Shen Huaxi. This is the importance of Root Value."
Jiang Yuebai blinked, "Then I have five reservoirs; even if the Root Value isn't high, the total amount of water is more than one reservoir, right?"
Hong Tao's expression was slightly shaken, unexpected that Jiang Yuebai was so perceptive and intelligent at such a young age, finding the key point.
"Five Spirit Roots indeed have their advantages; the five elements are complete, allowing for the cultivation of various spells. However, the reservoirs must be filled to overflow, allowing spiritual energy mist to flow throughout the body. Furthermore, with a Root Value lower than five, Spiritual Energy will hardly be close to you, requiring more time and patience to fill the five reservoirs."
Jiang Yuebai's eyes dimmed, immediately understanding.
Hong Tao nodded in approval, "For cultivators, the Golden Core is the watershed between immortality and mortality. Before forming a Golden Core, a person's lifespan is seventy or eighty years; those who succeed in cultivation with a strong physique can reach over a hundred years. Consuming low-level Lifespan Extension Pills reaches about a hundred and fifty. Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment takes twenty years on average for Three Spiritual Roots, and fifty years for Foundation Establishment to Core Formation. You with Five Spirit Roots need five times as much time to fill the reservoirs as others who need only fill one reservoir and start cultivating."
"Others need only comprehend a single attribute to forge a Golden Core, shedding their mortal coil to become immortal, while you must fully integrate the changes of the five elements. Not to mention Core Formation for lifespan extension, even the Foundation Establishment stage is exceedingly difficult to surpass. Outer Sect resources are abundant, but never sufficient for the seekers of immortality. Open strife and covert struggles have become the norm; if you make enemies without self-defense ability, it becomes even more challenging to cultivate."
"Can't the Spirit Root be changed?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Hong Tao sighed, "If it could be changed, then everyone in the world could ascend, so where would the concept of 'immortal cultivation defying Heaven' come from? However, while the Spirit Root cannot be changed, the Root Value has one opportunity for alteration. This occurs after you form a Core; when establishing your Dao Heart and experiencing the Heavenly Dao, the first immersion in Daoist Rhyme will enhance your Root Value. The amount of enhancement depends on the Heavenly Dao's will and occurs only once in a lifetime."
Ultimately, you must first establish a foundation and then form a Core to have the chance to defy fate.
Before that, the Spirit Root is one barrier, and the Root Value is another.
Jiang Yuebai clenched and unclenched her fists, gazing towards the distant Immortal Mountain Pavilion, eyes filled with restrained envy and yearning.
How much she wanted to live in such Qionglou Jade Mansions, savor a pot of good wine, and live indulgently like an immortal.
But she knew, she couldn't go yet because she was too weak, unable to protect what was hers.
She feared the competition in the Outer Sect, she didn't fear Lin Suwan, but what she feared was Lin Suwan's Old Ancestor, Lin Xiangtian!
But she won't fear forever!
Just like when she begged before, empty stomach and weak, unable to beat those little beggars, encountering them only meant getting beaten.
Only by finding food first, getting full and gaining strength, then finding a handy weapon, can she turn defeat into victory, scaring them enough that they avoid her!
"I'll become a servant."
Hearing Jiang Yuebai's resolute voice, Hong Tao's heart relaxed, eyes showing some admiration, handing her the bundle in his hand. With this, he could complete that thorny task and offer this child a good opportunity, a win-win situation.
"There are ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones and six Energy Introduction Elixirs inside, double what other servants receive, as my personal compensation to you. I'll arrange for a kindly person to guide you in entering the Dao, so you can avoid conflicts and focus more on cultivation."
"The Energy Introduction Elixir will help you perceive and attract Spiritual Energy, and six of them have a high chance of helping you break through to Qi Cultivation First Layer. As long as you are willing to vie, there's no saying you couldn't in the future, like the Heavenly Interence Sect's ancestor Lu Xingyun, ascend to the Peak of Immortal Cloud with the resources of Five Spirit Roots."
Jiang Yuebai's eyes brightened slightly, "So Five Spirit Roots can ascend to the Peak of Immortal Cloud, too?"
Hong Tao stood up, "In the Cultivation Realm's hundred thousand years, only one such person has appeared."
"Then I'll be the second one!"
Hong Tao couldn't bear to shatter her beautiful vision; ignorance is fearless. Once she truly starts cultivating, she will know how difficult it is.
More time and resources multiplied by five, yet the lifespan didn't increase fivefold compared to others.
But the difficulty of immortal cultivation goes beyond that fivefold.
"Let's go, I'll take you to Huaxi Valley to find Elder Tao. He entered the sect at thirty and was once a private school teacher in the Mortal World, known for his honesty and patience, as well as being skilled in planting as a Spiritual Cultivation Master. Under his protection, if you learn three-tenths of his skill, supporting yourself in cultivation won't be a problem. Also, being a servant tending the Spiritual Field offers more freedom, which should suit your current situation."
"Alright!"
Huaxi Valley, deep at night, insects chirp and the scent of rice fills the air.
In the courtyard amid the fields, septuagenarian Tao Fengnian sat cross-legged on the bed, lit an oil lamp, and repeatedly counted his Spirit Stones.
Three hundred ninety-seven, counting wouldn't increase by even one.
He picked up his smoke rod and puffed away, his back hunched, face full of worry.
"Cultivating with Four Spiritual Roots for thirty-nine years, failed Foundation Establishment twice, leaving only this meager savings, and now at the end of my lifespan, I can't even afford a ten-year Lifespan Extension Pill, but enough for a coffin, ha~"
The Immortal Path is hard? The Immortal Path is hard!
Not in the water, not on the mountain, but in the superiority of Immortal Roots!