Chapter 24

When the Immortal Root enters the body of a cultivator, it will begin to grow continuously. Of course, this process is very slow, and the continuous cultivation of the cultivator provides nourishment for the Immortal Root. Without nourishment, the Immortal Root will stagnate.

After obtaining the Immortal Root, the cultivator becomes a true cultivator, even without learning any Daoist techniques.

"Cough, cough, cough..." Gu Xuyao did not remain unconscious for long, only about three days. However, when he woke up, he felt his brand new body.

"Kid, you're awake?" Gu Xuyao lay on the cold floor, with an old man lying on his left. The thick layer of dust on the floor did not allow for much movement, as it would easily enter the nose and cause discomfort.

He quickly got up, feeling no weakness in his body. The dizziness and other symptoms he expected did not appear; instead, he felt energetic.

"Senior, has your disciple successfully condensed the Immortal Root?"

Gu Xuyao bowed, asking this question more out of formality. The surging power within his body constantly told him that the Immortal Root had already entered his body. However, there was another matter that still worried him.

The old man chuckled and sat up.

"Yes, that's right, and it's even a limit condensation. Not bad, kid."

Hearing this news, Gu Xuyao's eyes widened, almost disbelieving his ears.

"Senior, you mean I..."

The old man jumped up and patted Gu Xuyao's shoulder.

"Yes, yes, you don't need to doubt that." The old man began to circle around Gu Xuyao. "Hmm, the three spirits condensing the root, the effect is indeed very good, but..." The old man seemed to notice something amiss.

"Senior, is there something wrong with Xuyao's body?" Gu Xuyao always felt that it was impossible for him to achieve a limit breakthrough after knocking the fat man into the water.

The old man waved his hand, signaling Gu Xuyao to relax.

"Don't panic. Your body does have a problem, but it's not a bad thing. However, I can't figure out what it is..." He occasionally lifted Gu Xuyao's hand to examine it, and at other times, he had Gu Xuyao stand on his head to check the soles of his feet, but in the end, he found nothing.

"Alright, forget it. I can't figure it out, and I doubt anyone in the Taiheng Sect can. Now that you've condensed the Immortal Root, the next step is to enter the Force Academy for your next stage of cultivation. You won't have to see me, this dirty old man, anymore."

The old man lay down again.

"You already have the token, go to the practice rooms of the three academies, find the Force Academy, and someone will teach you how to proceed with your cultivation."

Gu Xuyao was taken aback. He suddenly realized that just a short while ago, he was angrily pointing at the old man's nose, then was forced to achieve a limit breakthrough, nearly losing his life. Now that he had successfully condensed the Immortal Root and was about to leave the practice room, he no longer had to endure the old man's abuse, but he felt no joy, only a strange feeling.

"Senior..." Gu Xuyao bowed deeply, hesitating. "Thank you..." Upon reflection, everything the old man did was to help him, though his methods were hard to accept.

Gu Xuyao's actions made the old man somewhat uncomfortable, and he turned away. "What are you doing? I almost killed you, and you're thanking me? Go, go, don't disturb my cultivation."

Seeing the old man's reaction, Gu Xuyao smiled.

"Junior will follow your orders. When I have free time, I will come to accompany you and pass the time." Sentimentality was not Gu Xuyao's nature. He bowed again and left the practice room in large strides.

It wasn't until Gu Xuyao closed the old wooden door of the practice room that the old man slowly stood up, looking at the two wooden panels that were still swaying, deep in thought.

"Senior Brother." The door behind the old man opened, and another emaciated old man walked out.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I say I never want to see you again in this life?" The old man did not turn around; he knew who had come.

The newcomer walked out of the room. Although the light in the practice room was poor, it was clear that the newcomer was the most powerful person in the Taiheng Sect, the Sect Master, Ling Sanshi.

"Senior Brother, I came to thank you." Ling Sanshi said, gently waving his hands in the air, causing a breeze to blow through the practice room. The accumulated dust was blown up and gathered into a small black ball. "I thought you would harm Gu Xuyao, but unexpectedly, you made him achieve a limit breakthrough..."

"Stop." The old man interrupted Ling Sanshi. "How I do things is my business, and you have no right to interfere. Moreover, Gu Xuyao's limit breakthrough has nothing to do with me. As a cultivator, you should know that this can only be achieved through one's own efforts. Others can only ensure the safe entry of the Immortal Root." Ren Wuyou paused, as if thinking of something, and his aura became unusually intense.

"As for why you are so concerned about Gu Xuyao, I am not unaware." Ren Wuyou clenched his right fist and struck downward, dispersing the dust ball and once again shrouding the room in a haze.

"I just want to tell you that I have my principles, and the rules of the Taiheng Sect cannot bind me. It was the same when the master was alive, and it is the same now that he is gone." Ren Wuyou turned his back to Ling Sanshi and lay down.

Ling Sanshi shook his head and sighed.

"Senior Brother, I didn't expect that after so many years, your prejudice against me still exists, and your misunderstanding has deepened. This matter is not as you think..."

However, Ren Wuyou ignored Ling Sanshi's explanation and began to snore.

Seeing this, Ling Sanshi looked at Ren Wuyao helplessly and lightly clasped his hands.

"Senior Brother, since you don't want to continue listening, I will take my leave. I hope that one day you will understand my intentions..." With that, Ling Sanshi disappeared from the practice room, as if he had never been there. The room was still filled with dust, and the snoring continued.

"Ten thousand men's strength..." Gu Xuyao was completely unaware of the conversation between the two old men. As for him, he was on his way to find the Force Academy's practice room. "This should be it. The other two sides are Speed and Body, both unrelated to strength." He confirmed that the token on his waist belonged to the Force Academy, cleared his throat, and loudly announced his presence.

"Come in." A clear voice came from inside the room.

Gu Xuyao pushed the door open, and the layout of the practice room immediately came into view.

In front was a large open training ground, which was not surprising given the large number of disciples in the Taiheng Sect.

"Cross the training ground and go straight into the hall." The voice came again, now sounding deep and resonant in the practice room.

Gu Xuyao nodded subconsciously and walked forward. The vast training ground was probably larger than the entire Leishi Village, but today, Gu Xuyao's pace was much faster than before. He quickly crossed the entire training ground and discovered that the practice room was in the shape of a "convex" character, with a small courtyard at the front.

The courtyard gate was open, and Gu Xuyao walked in. Looking around, he found that the small courtyard was not small at all, with dozens of elegant rooms.

"Continue forward to the deepest part." The voice came again.

Following the instructions, Gu Xuyao arrived at a Daoist room. The door was open, and a muscular man was meditating inside, clearly waiting for Gu Xuyao.

"Come in." The man opened his eyes, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

Gu Xuyao entered the room like an obedient chick, feeling somewhat nervous for some reason.

"My name is Wang Suishi. Since you are a new disciple of the Force Academy, you can call me Senior Brother." Wang Suishi gently waved his hand, and the token hanging from Gu Xuyao's waist was caught in his hand. "Yes, you are indeed a member of the Force Academy, and you have condensed the Immortal Root. So, the person who achieved a limit breakthrough a few days ago was you, right?" Wang Suishi finished examining the token and tossed it back, and it returned to its original position.

This statement surprised Gu Xuyao. At the time, he was unconscious and did not know how much of a commotion he had caused.

"Reporting to Senior Brother, I indeed began condensing the Immortal Root a few days ago, but I didn't expect that even you knew about it..."

Wang Suishi smiled warmly, a smile that reminded Gu Xuyao of his best friend, Muyu, from Leishi Village.

"Generally, the condensation of the Immortal Root by a cultivator is not a big deal. Even if you were right next to me, I wouldn't be surprised. However, since you achieved a limit breakthrough, you should know that the condensation process for a strength cultivator is not just physical training; it also tests the mind. Therefore, many cultivators can achieve a limit breakthrough at higher levels, but the condensed Immortal Root is not always the best."

Wang Suishi gestured for Gu Xuyao to sit down.

"Now that you have a solid foundation, you must not be careless. In the Taiheng Sect, the elders and senior disciples first teach the techniques they have mastered. As a new disciple, you will start by learning the basic Daoist techniques and the application of yuan energy from me." As he spoke, Wang Suishi gently waved his hand, and the door closed.

Hearing Wang Suishi's words, Gu Xuyao felt a surge of excitement. These words were vastly different from what the other cultivators had said to him twelve years ago.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Xuyao will not let you or the sect down!" Gu Xuyao's emotions rose, and he sat down on the ground, earnestly beginning to learn the basic Daoist techniques from Wang Suishi.

For the Taiheng Sect, this was just the instruction of another new disciple, even though he had achieved a limit breakthrough in condensing the Immortal Root.

But for Gu Xuyao, it was like a new beginning, a pen writing a new chapter in his life.