Cultivation Is Money-Grabbing C14

Chapter 14: Lightning Rod — What Are the Three Spiritual Roots?

Ji Mingyue and Lian Mu sat down at another table, both glancing at each other’s plates in silence.

“…”

They had both ordered only steamed buns and nothing else.

Their eyes met, and they both had the same thought: This dining hall food is worse than dog shit!

Ji Mingyue coughed lightly and got straight to the point. She took out a booklet from her sleeve and handed it to Lian Mu. “I finished this last night. You can show it to your friend.”

Ji Mingyue didn’t trust verbal explanations alone. She doubted that Lian Mu would remember anything she said. After all, Lian Mu was a sword cultivator and wouldn’t understand certain things about Alchemy refining. Besides, she had heard that sword cultivators generally lived rough lives—if something wasn’t related to the sword, they would forget it instantly.

However, Lian Mu opened the booklet on the spot and started reading it with great interest.

Ji Mingyue: “…”

Could she really understand it?

Out of professional responsibility as a Alchemy refiner, Ji Mingyue moved closer and tried to explain the contents to Lian Mu.

Not far away, Xu Xianxing had been watching them. But he wasn’t the only one—the scene also caught someone else’s attention.

“That’s the disciple from before, the one swinging on the swing?” Xin Wanbai sat beside Murong Yi and chuckled. “She sure is relaxed. The other disciples are all practicing their sword techniques at this hour.”

Murong Yi’s expression was complicated as he watched Lian Mu and Ji Mingyue chat and laugh together.

Just earlier, he had seen Lian Mu sitting and chatting with Xu Xianxing.

Yet both Xu Xianxing and Ji Mingyue were extremely talented, possessing rare Heaven-Spirit Roots. Why were they associating with someone like Lian Mu, who seemed unreliable?

Even Xu Xianxing, who usually appeared calm and mature, exuding the air of an esteemed artifact master in the making, had a completely different expression when sitting with Lian Mu.

Could it be that these three had known each other before joining the sect?

Murong Yi turned to Xin Wanbai and asked, “Have you inquired about Lian Mu’s spiritual roots?”

Xin Wanbai was momentarily stunned before realizing who he was referring to. “I haven’t paid attention.”

Spiritual roots weren’t something one could see with the naked eye. They had to be tested using special spiritual instruments. The current batch of disciples had only passed the first entrance exam, and the second test was still pending. Thus, their spiritual roots hadn’t been assessed yet.

However, disciples from wealthy families had likely tested themselves before coming to the sect, so they probably had an idea.

Murong Yi recalled Lian Mu’s fearless attitude in class and her confident stride. Her background before joining the sect was likely not insignificant.

Fanning himself with a folding fan, Murong Yi felt a hint of anticipation. “I hope she turns out to be a promising talent.”

If she wasn’t, yet still acted so boldly, she would suffer a great loss in the future.

Just then, someone arrived and sat across from Murong Yi.

“You kept me waiting.”

Murong Yi glanced up. “The sect master called you in for another talk?”

The person opposite him smirked while fiddling with a round pill. “No, I just went back to Yinxiang Peak for a moment and discovered that someone had entered my alchemy room. Among this batch of new disciples, is there only one Heaven-Spirit-Root Alchemy refiner?”

“Yes, you’ve met her before,” Murong Yi replied.

The Yinxiang Peak master’s gaze deepened. “Interesting.”

He placed the pill into his Spatial Pouch. “This batch of Alchemy refining disciples is quite good.”

Apart from that Heaven-Spirit-Root Alchemy refiner, there were also some hidden talents.

He would have to keep an eye on them.

…

Lian Mu returned from the dining hall, planning to pack up and secretly head to Yinxiang Peak.

On the way, she ran into Guan Shize.

Guan Shize asked, “Aren’t you practicing your sword techniques?”

Lian Mu paused. “What sword practice?”

Guan Shize pulled out a sword manual. “The senior gave this to us two days ago. He told us to practice on our own and prepare for a small competition the day after tomorrow.”

“When did that happen…” Lian Mu muttered in confusion.

She flipped through her schedule and realized that she had missed class two days ago. She had gotten too absorbed in reading at the Scripture(Library) Pavilion and completely lost track of time.

Seeing her expression change, Guan Shize explained, “You didn’t come that day, but Elder Murong didn’t ask much. He only said…”

Lian Mu clung to a sliver of hope. “What did he say?”

“The day after tomorrow, during the competition, we are all to gang up on you.” Guan Shize hesitated before finally saying, “I probably shouldn’t have told you this, but since we both come from small places and live nearby, I thought I’d warn you—be careful tomorrow.”

“The others won’t hold back. And… neither will I.”

Lian Mu: “Thank you.”

She had thought it would be some serious punishment. Turns out, it was just a fight.

As long as they weren’t kicking her out, that was fine.

Guan Shize noticed that she seemed relieved, as if she wasn’t worried at all.

“…”

From the moment he entered the sect, he had noticed Lian Mu. Among the new disciples, only he and she were orphans—no parents, no background.

He had learned this by accident while helping his senior with the disciple records. He had assumed they were the same—two people stepping into a great sect with only courage to their names.

Guan Shize worked tirelessly, practicing his sword skills day and night because he wanted to stay.

But Lian Mu was different.

He had never seen her practice swordsmanship. She wasn’t focused in class either.

Yet she seemed afraid of nothing. Not even the senior instructors.

Guanshize said, “I can show you my sword techniques. There’s still time to practice now.”

He had time, but Lian Mu didn’t. She was in a hurry to go to Yinxian Peak to refine the pill needed for reforging spiritual roots.

“No need, keep it for yourself. I have something to do.”

—

Yinxian Peak.

Taking advantage of the dark and windy night, Lian Mu sneaked into the spiritual plant garden and found the necessary herbs for the Purification Pill and Reformation Pill.

Having scouted the area in advance, she moved quickly this time. After gathering the spiritual plants, she stuffed them into her robes and prepared to leave.

“Who’s there!?” A patrolling pill cultivator near the garden spotted her shadow. “Stop right there!”

Lian Mu stiffened but quickly turned around and blurted out, “Damn it! You’re only showing up now? I’ve been waiting for ages!”

The patrolling cultivator was confused. Seeing her wearing a sword cultivator’s robe, he asked, “What are you talking about? You’re a sword cultivator—what are you doing on Yinxian Peak? Get back immediately!”

What was it with sword cultivators? Coming here in the middle of the night just to mess up their pill cultivators’ territory.

“Senior Brother?” Lian Mu feigned surprise. “Apologies, I’m a new disciple. I thought you were my Dao partner. He’s a sword cultivator, and he told me to wear his robe and wait for him here.”

The patrolling cultivator hesitated, then said, “Huh?”

“Sorry, Senior Brother, he just thinks the scenery here is beautiful and wanted to bring me to admire the moonlight.”

Oh, so they were here for a rendezvous.

The patrolling cultivator understood now.

It made sense—Yinxian Peak’s spiritual plant garden had the best scenery in the entire Gui Xian Sect, with the most flourishing flowers.

At least they had some taste.

He patted Lian Mu on the shoulder. “The night wind is chilly. Go back, don’t wait any longer. What’s so great about sword cultivators anyway? All they do is fight all day—so violent, and they don’t even know how to be sweet-talking. Not worth it.”

Lian Mu: “…”

At this point, she didn’t dare to say much, fearing she’d blow her cover. Clutching the spiritual plants, she quickly left. After making sure the patrolling cultivator was gone, she took a detour to the alchemy room.

This time, she didn’t go to the same alchemy room as before. Instead, she picked a spot between two lit rooms where other people were present. A clever rabbit has three burrows—since she had snuck in, she couldn’t stay in one place too long.

As she set up the furnace and started the fire, Lian Mu realized the fuel this time was different from before—it was an average-quality Scorchwood Crystal, an alchemy fuel cut from a wood beast.

—

Outside the alchemy room.

A newly arrived disciple jumped in shock. “Peak—Peak Master! Why are you here?”

The Yinxian Peak Master had just entered as well. He stood outside a row of alchemy rooms, his gaze fixed on the innermost one, which remained unlit and untouched.

He was lost in thought. He had deliberately placed many high-quality spiritual plants in his own alchemy room, hoping to lure back the mysterious person who had refined pills there last time.

But it seemed they hadn’t come.

“Has Junior Sister Ji been here recently?” The Peak Master casually asked.

The disciple looked a little guilty. “Junior Sister Ji? She hasn’t come today. I heard she’s been in seclusion at her residence lately, though I did see her a few days ago.”

The Peak Master pondered, sweeping his gaze over the alchemy rooms with lights on. After a moment, he chuckled softly. “I see.”

He had overthought it. That person was probably just his new disciple.

That made sense—aside from his own disciples, no one else on Yinxian Peak would dare to enter that alchemy room.

With a gentle flick of his sleeve, he turned and left.

—

By the time Lian Mu emerged from the alchemy room, her face was covered in soot. The place was empty.

She had blown up the furnace at least ten times. Although the pill for reforging spiritual roots seemed like a low-grade one, it was incredibly difficult to refine in practice. The heat, the order of adding ingredients, and the timing had to be absolutely precise.

But after more than a dozen attempts, she finally succeeded.

Clutching the porcelain bottle containing the pills, she felt the residual warmth spreading in her palm. She was thrilled. Despite staying up all night, she wasn’t the least bit tired.

There was still some time before dawn. She immediately rushed back to Yasui Peak, set up a pot, and started boiling water. A thin wisp of smoke rose outside her bamboo hut.

—

Early morning.

Guan shize got up to practice swordsmanship. Noticing smoke rising from the bamboo grove, he went to check and saw Lian Mu boiling water.

Guan shize: “…”

The competition was tomorrow, yet she showed no signs of worry and instead had the leisure to light a fire and cook.

Lian Mu didn’t notice him in the distance. She carried the hot water into her hut. Using wood, she had hastily crafted a bathtub. Normally, a room this small wouldn’t fit such an object, but her hut was so empty that it fit just right. She wasn’t sure whether to be happy or sad about that.

She dropped the Purification Pill into the water, letting it dissolve. A thick medicinal scent, mixed with a faint fragrance, filled the air—it smelled strangely odd.

Lian Mu sniffed. It was still tolerable. She undressed and slipped into the tub.

At once, a warm current surged up into her dantian, followed by excruciating pain.

It was a searing pain, like thousands of ants gnawing at her.

When she reached the point where the book had mentioned she might pass out, she shakily stuffed the second pill into her mouth.

The pain gradually subsided. She attempted to circulate her spiritual energy and felt a faint response—the warmth flowed in sync with her will.

Three spiritual roots—what were they?

Lian Mu suddenly realized a critical issue she had overlooked.

She had no idea which spiritual roots she possessed. The world she originally came from had no such concept.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—these were common ones. There was also Lightning, like Xu Xianxing’s.

Forget it. She chose Metal, Wood, and Fire.

She didn’t know what Metal was good for, but she simply liked the word.

Lian Mu attempted to condense spiritual energy in her dantian to reform her spiritual roots.

Boom!

A thunderclap resounded outside, followed by a streak of lightning piercing through the sky. Rain began to fall.

“…”

After a long while, Lian Mu slowly opened her eyes and exhaled.

Success.

She could feel the lightness of power coursing within her, but at the same time, something was gradually fading.

She stepped out of the tub and got dressed. Outside, someone was frantically knocking on her door.

She opened it to find Guan shize staring at her. “Lian Daoist, are you okay? I just saw a bolt of heavenly lightning strike your house.”

It was still raining outside.

Lian Mu pointed upward. “I’m fine. Don’t worry—I have protection.”

She had installed a lightning rod on her roof beforehand.(Lol)

—