Chapter 44

At this moment, Qin Fengming had already calmed his mind. (www..com) The old man in the blue robe, seeing the two middle-aged men surnamed Feng leave, smiled and said to Qin Fengming, "I heard that you alone have cultivated to the third level of the Qi Gathering stage. We are very curious. Could you tell us how you obtained the cultivation method and how you practiced?"

Hearing the old man ask, Qin Fengming did not dare to hesitate for a moment and recounted the story he had thought over many times:

"One time, while chasing a notorious thief, I pursued him to the mountains between Yingzhou and Taihu. By chance, I found a skeleton in a cave and discovered a small book next to it. There was no name on it, and I always thought it was some kind of advanced internal cultivation method. I have been practicing according to the book ever since."

As he spoke, without waiting for the others to ask questions, he took out the nameless small book, stepped forward, and handed it to the old man in the blue robe.

The old man nodded, took the book, and flipped through a few pages before handing it back to Qin Fengming. Then he turned to the others and said, "This is an ordinary Five Elements cultivation method, likely left behind by a wandering cultivator who passed away in the cave."

He then turned to Qin Fengming again and said, "We specially sent someone to invite you to join Luoxia Sect because you cultivated alone without being damaged by spiritual energy. We are very curious about this. It seems you are a person of great fortune. Since you are a disciple of Luoxia Valley, if we let you stay there, it will surely bring trouble. Therefore, we called you here. Come over, let me check your spiritual root attributes."

Hearing the words of the Luoxia Sect leader, although Qin Fengming was slightly puzzled, he did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent. He stepped forward and extended his hand to the old man in the blue robe.

The old man placed two fingers on Qin Fengming's pulse, closed his eyes, and Qin Fengming felt a gentle force instantly enter his body, bringing a sense of great comfort.

Suddenly, the old man in the blue robe, who had been closing his eyes, suddenly opened them, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. His two fingers seemed to tighten, and after a moment, his surprise grew even more.

Seeing the expression of the sect leader, everyone was greatly astonished.

"Have any of you heard of someone with all five spiritual roots who can cultivate to the third level of the Qi Gathering stage in one or two years without external help?"

When the old man in the blue robe spoke, everyone was shocked and looked at Qin Fengming with disbelief.

"Could it be that this person has all five spiritual roots?" As he spoke, several people stepped forward, grabbed Qin Fengming's arm, and tested him one by one, all showing looks of disbelief.

Qin Fengming was confused and stood there in a daze, not knowing what the five spiritual roots were.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a gray-haired old man suddenly said thoughtfully, "Master, fellow disciples, have you heard of the 'Virtual Spiritual Root'?"

Everyone was immediately stunned. A middle-aged man with a fair complexion thought for a moment and immediately asked:

"Brother Wei, are you referring to the virtual spiritual roots mentioned in the classics, where the person appears to have all five spiritual roots, but some of them are virtual, and can even transform? Such a spiritual root attribute is extremely rare, with only one in a million people possessing it."

"Brother Guo is correct. Observing this person's spiritual roots, they do seem to match the description in the classics. If this person has three or four virtual spiritual roots, then our Luoxia Sect will undoubtedly gain a great opportunity. With careful cultivation, in several decades or even a hundred years, our sect will once again have a great cultivator."

The old man surnamed Wei, with an excited expression, spoke with a hint of urgency. Hearing his words, everyone present showed signs of excitement and looked at Qin Fengming as if he were a precious treasure.

The old man in the blue robe, sitting in the center, pondered for a moment and said, "To verify this person's true spiritual root attributes, we must invite Uncle Ximen to come and examine him. Brother Ma, please take the trouble to do so." He then looked at a middle-aged man beside him.

The middle-aged man did not refuse, got up, and left the hall.

After a full meal's time, the middle-aged man surnamed Ma returned with a middle-aged man with a sharp nose and a monkey-like face. When the people in the hall saw him, they all stood up, bowed, and called him "Uncle Ximen."

The middle-aged man with the sharp nose and monkey-like face nodded slightly to everyone, looking somewhat arrogant. He turned to the old man in the blue robe and said, "I heard from my nephew Ma that a disciple has a 'Virtual Spiritual Root.' Is this the person?" He pointed at Qin Fengming.

"Yes, Uncle Ximen, we dare not make a decision, so we have invited you to come and test him."

The middle-aged man called Uncle Ximen turned to look at Qin Fengming, his eyes flashing with a keen light.

Qin Fengming felt an无形 pressure surge towards him. Just as he was unsure what to do, it suddenly disappeared. Although he was several yards away, the man appeared in front of him in an instant, seemingly faster than his own Bixun Mizon body technique.

He grabbed Qin Fengming's arm. Qin Fengming felt a more substantial force surge into his body, spreading throughout in an instant. After a moment, Uncle Ximen released Qin Fengming and asked in a calm voice, "How long have you been practicing the Five Elements cultivation method?"

"Reporting to the immortal master, I have been practicing for almost two years," Qin Fengming answered honestly.

Hearing this, Uncle Ximen did not ask any more questions. He turned to the others and said, "Even if this person has a 'Virtual Spiritual Root,' it is only one virtual root. It took him two years to reach the third level of the Qi Gathering stage, which is a very average aptitude." He then turned and flew out of the hall, the restrictions having no effect on him.

The old man in the blue robe and the others exchanged glances, all showing signs of disappointment and frustration.

The old man in the blue robe sighed lightly and said to Qin Fengming, "Regardless, you are now a disciple of our sect. I hope you will practice diligently and achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible."

Qin Fengming quickly bowed and nodded. At this moment, he still did not understand what Foundation Establishment was, but both the middle-aged man surnamed Feng and the old man surnamed Wang had mentioned it seriously, indicating that it was undoubtedly the most important thing for him in the future.

"Does any of you have miscellaneous tasks to assign?" After comforting Qin Fengming, the old man in the blue robe turned to the others and asked.

"I had a servant who managed the medicinal garden, but two months ago, he failed to complete his tasks on time and was dismissed. I was just about to find a new one, so let him come with me," the old man surnamed Wei said first.

"That won't do, Brother Wei. Six months ago, you already took three of the new disciples. This one must be given to me; I need someone to manage my spirit beasts," the middle-aged man surnamed Ma quickly added.

Immediately, the others also spoke up, all wanting to take Qin Fengming.

Just as everyone was arguing heatedly, a person walked in from outside the hall. He wore a red robe, had a ruddy complexion, was short in stature, but had a sharp gaze.

Seeing him enter, the arguing people suddenly stopped. They all bowed to the old man in the red robe, and the old man in the blue robe immediately smiled, "Brother Fei, it's a rare visit today. What brings you here?"

The old man surnamed Fei did not waste words and bowed to the old man surnamed Wang, saying, "Master, I need a child to assist in alchemy. This person just joined our sect, so it will be him."