Chunibyo in Cultivation World

Chapter 4: Before the Heart-Questioning Steps

With the Spirit Root testing concluded, news of the Li Family producing two prodigies quickly spread throughout Bai Xuan City.

The common folk didn’t really understand what a Heavenly Spiritual Root or supreme root was, but judging from the grand spectacle, they all believed that the Li Family was destined to give rise to an extraordinary figure.

To celebrate, the Li Family held a three-day feast.

As for Li Tianwei and the others, after finishing their test, they were taken away by Liu Lingming and Su Qingnuan.

Originally, they had planned to stay in Bai Xuan City and celebrate for a few more days, but once the words “Heavenly Spiritual Root” came to mind, they dared not delay.

Fearing that unforeseen accidents might occur if they lingered, they immediately rushed toward the Sacred Land of Lingxu.

At this moment, within the Sacred Land of Lingxu, the sect was busy managing matters regarding the new disciples recently recruited.

Inside the Outer Sect Elders’ Hall, an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face sat cross-legged upon a meditation mat, dressed in a yin-yang patterned robe.

Just then, a voice sounded from outside.

“Elder Xu, Elder Xu.”

Hearing the repeated calls from beyond the door, Xu Yuanwen lightly frowned, then slowly rose to his feet.

With a wave of his hand toward the gate,

“Come in.”

The great doors opened without wind, and the man outside hurriedly rushed in.

“Elder Xu.”

Xu Yuanwen gazed at the unfamiliar disciple before him, his expression stern as he asked,

“What is it?”

Yet as soon as his words fell, the disciple’s previously anxious face instantly calmed, a strange smile appearing upon his lips. At the same moment, his pupils turned a deep blood-red.

Seeing this sudden change in the disciple’s expression and those all-too-familiar eyes, Xu Yuanwen immediately understood who had come.

Xu Yuanwen woke to realization, quickly stood up, then half-knelt upon the floor, speaking in an especially respectful tone.

“Greetings, Vice Leader Hun Yuan.”

“I thought you had forgotten about me.”

Hun Yuan gave a cold laugh, stepping up to the seat of honor and looking down at Xu Yuanwen.

“How could this disciple dare forget the Vice Leader’s grace? May I ask what instruction brings the Vice Leader here? I will certainly carry it out.”

Kneeling and bowing low, Xu Yuanwen looked utterly humble—no one would imagine that this Nascent Soul Elder of the Sacred Land of Lingxu could appear so submissive.

“I’ve come by the Leader’s order this time. You’ve hidden yourself in the Sacred Land of Lingxu for many years, and your contributions are well known to us. Once this plan is complete, when you return to the sect, the position of Protector that’s been reserved for you may very well be yours to assume.”

Hun Yuan spoke with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Xu Yuanwen’s face showed a trace of joy.

“May I ask what plan the Leader has arranged this time? I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

“This matter is quite simple. The sect has arranged for a disciple to enter the Sacred Land—this disciple is… special. He has a False Spiritual Root. But under my arrangements, he will enter the Sacred Land of Lingxu under the guise of a Heavenly Spiritual Root.”

“All you need to do is give him this pill. Before he passes the Ascending Steps, have him take it. Then, his root will be completely stabilized. Even those old fellows at the Divine Transformation stage won’t be able to discern his flaw. He will appear to be a genuine Heavenly Spiritual Root.”

Hun Yuan took out a pill and handed it to Xu Yuanwen.

“With the talent of a Heavenly Spiritual Root, he’ll naturally be given special attention and vast resources for cultivation. I have further plans for him later.”

Xu Yuanwen received the pill with a deep nod.

“This disciple will never fail the Sect Leader’s trust.”

“Vice Leader, may I ask—why not send one of our sect’s own Heavenly Spiritual Root disciples to infiltrate the Sacred Land and have those old Daoists nurture them for us instead?”

Xu Yuanwen put the pill away, yet couldn’t help but ask in confusion.

“Have you been reading too many mortal novels? You think Heavenly Spiritual Roots grow like cabbages?”

“Just make sure you give it to him.”

Hun Yuan emphasized firmly.

As his words fell, Xu Yuanwen watched as the blood-red color gradually faded from the man’s eyes.

“Ah… Elder?”

The man who had been possessed blinked in confusion at Xu Yuanwen, quickly realizing what had happened.

“Elder Xu…”

“You may go. I already know the matter.”

Xu Yuanwen said solemnly to the man before him.

——

At the same time, Hun Yuan, whose spirit had just returned to his true body from the Sacred Land of Lingxu, slowly opened his eyes.

Just then, a shadow hurriedly rushed in from outside.

“Vice Leader, Vice Leader! Something has happened—the disciple we arranged before… his soul lamp has gone out.”

Hun Yuan’s face darkened at once.

“Who did this? Who dares ruin our Holy Sect’s plans?”

“It was the Blood Fiend Sect. They ambushed the Sacred Land of Lingxu’s recruitment airship and slaughtered everyone.”

Upon hearing this, Hun Yuan’s expression turned gloomy.

He had originally planned to use that false Heavenly Spiritual Root to deceive the Sacred Land of Lingxu for resources and, at the same time, disrupt the delicate balance between the Three Great Sacred Lands by introducing an extra Heavenly Spiritual Root.

That counterfeit Heavenly Root Pill had cost tremendous resources to refine.

He had merely given it to Xu Yuanwen for convenience, intending to test its effect.

Now, with this incident, the entire plan was in ruins.

“Blood Fiend Sect…”

Hun Yuan ground his teeth as he muttered the name, then vanished in an instant.

——

After more than ten days of hurried travel, under Liu Lingming’s day-and-night guidance, they finally brought the group of disciples to the Sacred Land of Lingxu.

On the measuring ruler were not only the batch of spirit-rooted youths from Bai Xuan City but also several groups from other cities tested afterward.

Looking upon the magnificent scene of the Sacred Land, the disciples atop the measuring ruler couldn’t help but raise their heads in awe.

Towering peaks stretched into the clouds, white cranes soared freely, and pavilions and towers stood proudly upon perilous mountain summits.

Occasionally, one could see cultivators flying by in streaks of light.

Most striking of all was the colossal staircase that rose before the Sacred Land’s main gate, reaching up into the heavens—a thousand stone steps shrouded in mist, as though leading to the very sky.

Alongside Liu Lingming, dozens of flying ships and various flight treasures had also returned with their batches of newly recruited disciples.

At this moment, however, none of these ships entered the Sacred Land directly. Instead, they all stopped before that grand staircase—the Heart-Questioning Steps.

Liu Lingming looked at the disciples standing atop the measuring ruler.

Seeing their astonished expressions, he couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

He had once been the same when he first arrived at the Sacred Land.

Thinking so, Liu Lingming’s gaze turned to Li Tianwei.

The youth still stood with hands clasped behind his back, expression calm and eyes sharp, showing no trace of surprise or excitement before the Sacred Land’s splendor.

“Worthy of being a Heavenly Spiritual Root,” Liu Lingming sighed with quiet admiration.

Then, stepping to the front of the ruler, he pointed toward the towering stone steps that ascended into the clouds.

“Having a Spirit Root is only the first step. It doesn’t mean you are disciples of the Sacred Land of Lingxu yet.”

“You must still pass the Heart-Questioning Steps.”

“Talent is important in cultivation, but our path is one that seizes the very fortune of Heaven and Earth and wrestles against the Heavens themselves. Heart and will are equally crucial—they determine whether you can one day ascend and become immortal.”

“So, to enter our Lingxu Gate, you must first climb these Heart-Questioning Steps.”

“Climb a hundred steps to enter the Outer Sect, three hundred for the Inner Sect, five hundred for the Core, eight hundred for the Personal Disciples. The highest is one thousand steps—till now, only two have ever reached the top, and both have ascended to the Immortal Realm.”

As Liu Lingming spoke, his words carried an air of grand pride.

Under the inspiration of his speech, the disciples on the measuring ruler looked upon the Heart-Questioning Steps with firm determination, as though each of them were destined to be the next to ascend a thousand steps and soar to the heavens.

Seeing their eager eyes, Liu Lingming couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Once upon a time, he had been just like them.

Yet the Heart-Questioning Steps did not test only one’s heart and will—aptitude was equally vital.

And among those of poor talent, how many could truly reach the summit on willpower alone?

As one ascendant once said: “Ascension depends on ninety-nine percent effort and one percent aptitude. Effort is vital, but without that one percent of innate gift, even sweat cannot touch the heavens.”

Thinking of this, Liu Lingming once again turned to look at Li Tianwei.

The Heavenly Spiritual Root—he was destined to ascend.