NOVEL NEXT Ch. 5
Chapter 5: False Heavenly Root
Li Tianwei naturally felt Liu Lingming’s frequent glances, yet he was already used to it.
After all, geniuses—those born to be the protagonists of life—always attracted attention.
Li Tianwei could not help but sigh, then looked down at the Heart-Questioning Steps.
“Testing one’s temperament and aptitude… just a few steps of walking, yet such a big fuss.”
Li Tianwei felt somewhat helpless.
Even though the difference between him and others was vast, he still had to follow these so-called rules—just like attending school.
“Wounded Zhongyong…”
The people standing on the Ink Ruler looked on expectantly, and those on other flying vessels and magical treasures were no different.
Meanwhile, in front of the Sacred Land’s gate, Xu Yuanwen frowned deeply as he examined the reports transmitted from the disciples testing their spiritual roots, as well as the profiles of the newly accepted ones.
“There are actually two Heavenly Roots?”
“Which one was arranged by the Vice Sect Master?”
“I’ll investigate first.”
Xu Yuanwen rose into the air, his body turning into a streak of flowing light, soaring up into the clouds.
As spiritual energy surged, a terrifying phantom gradually appeared behind him—an enormous figure identical to Xu Yuanwen stood suspended in the sky, covering heaven and earth.
The Nascent Soul Manifestation had descended.
“All disciples, you have passed the Sacred Land’s Spiritual Root Test. Now, the Heart-Questioning Steps has been opened. Those who climb one hundred steps may enter the Outer Gate, three hundred steps the Inner Gate, six hundred steps the Core Sect, and eight hundred steps may become the direct disciples of Nascent Soul Elders…”
The vast and majestic voice echoed from the manifestation.
Disciples aboard all manner of flying treasures and vessels gazed up in awe at the grand figure in midair, swallowing nervously.
Each could not help but wonder whether they could ever reach such a realm.
Following Xu Yuanwen’s words, the Heart-Questioning Steps radiated a dazzling halo, as if appearing directly before everyone.
At the same time, the disciples who had completed their spiritual root testing guided their flying treasures toward the ladder.
Taking this chance, Xu Yuanwen secretly examined the two disciples who had tested as Heavenly Roots.
“Found him.”
Xu Yuanwen smiled faintly, his gaze landing on Li Tianwei.
“A False Spiritual Root… but the record shows a Heavenly Root. Give him the spiritual medicine.”
Soon after, Xu Yuanwen’s will stirred; the enormous manifestation vanished, and a streak of light flashed across the sky, descending upon Liu Lingming’s Ink Ruler.
“Hahaha! Glorious is our Sacred Land of Lingxu! To think that we have a disciple with a Heavenly Root joining us this time!”
Xu Yuanwen’s figure appeared above the Ink Ruler, laughing heartily, seemingly truly overjoyed at the Sacred Land of Lingxu having found a Heavenly Root.
“Greetings, Elder Xu…”
Liu Lingming and Su Qingnuan had not expected Xu Yuanwen to personally descend onto the Ink Ruler, and they hurriedly bowed in respect.
“No need for excessive formality. To detect a Heavenly Root for the Sacred Land is a great contribution.”
Xu Yuanwen’s gaze then fell on Li Tianwei as he asked,
“Young one, you are Li Tianwei?”
“Junior Li Tianwei pays respects to Elder Xu.”
Li Tianwei imitated the others, cupping his hands in salute.
“Good, good! Li Tianwei, that’s a fine name. Here, a meeting gift—don’t dislike it.”
Xu Yuanwen praised him several times before flicking his sleeve, and a treasure box flew forth.
A faint medicinal fragrance immediately spread through the air.
Those watching on the Ink Ruler all swallowed unconsciously.
Although they already knew Li Tianwei was a Heavenly Root, they themselves also had spiritual roots—they didn’t think they were that much worse than him.
Yet now, even a Nascent Soul Elder was personally giving him a gift.
The gap between them had suddenly become starkly obvious.
“A gift from a senior—how could this disciple dare refuse?”
Without a trace of hesitation, Li Tianwei accepted it.
“This is a Marrow-Cleansing Pill. It can wash away mortal impurities. You may take it before stepping onto the Heart-Questioning Steps.”
Xu Yuanwen stepped closer to Li Tianwei, sending him a private transmission.
Hearing this, Li Tianwei felt something strange but dared not question it.
He only nodded lightly.
Seeing him accept, Xu Yuanwen nodded in satisfaction.
His main reason for acting first was to prevent the appearance of two Heavenly Roots from drawing the attention of other elders or even the Peak Masters within the Sacred Land of Lingxu.
“I shall take my leave. May your paths be smooth, fellow Daoists.”
With a wave of his hand, Xu Yuanwen departed toward another direction—to deliver another Marrow-Cleansing Pill to the other so-called Heavenly Root, so as not to arouse suspicion.
【What’s going on? That man’s a Nascent Soul cultivator—how could he not see the host’s problem? Could it be he didn’t probe deeply?】
【The Spirit-Testing Stone may malfunction, but there’s no way a Nascent Soul Elder wouldn’t notice.】
The System within Li Tianwei’s consciousness was utterly dumbfounded by Xu Yuanwen’s behavior.
It couldn’t understand how such a situation had allowed Li Tianwei—a False Spiritual Root—to remain undiscovered for so long.
Behind him, Li Tianchen had also been waiting for the moment Xu Yuanwen appeared, expecting to see Li Tianwei humiliated.
Yet as soon as Xu Yuanwen spoke, the entire situation went in the opposite direction—not only did he fail to expose Li Tianwei, he even gifted him a pill!
“Something’s wrong. That guy’s divine sense already swept through earlier—it’s impossible he didn’t detect Li Tianwei’s problem.”
At this moment, even the Remnant Soul in the Ring looked utterly puzzled.
Sometimes, luck was indeed a part of strength. By sheer chance, Li Tianwei had encountered Xu Yuanwen—a demonic sect spy within the Sacred Land—allowing his False Spiritual Root to deceive the heavens once again.
And in Li Tianwei’s eyes, he was a Heavenly Root—without a shadow of doubt.
“A gift from a Nascent Soul Elder… a Marrow-Cleansing Pill?”
Holding the pill Xu Yuanwen had given him, Li Tianwei glanced at his System—the same System that had spoken to him ever since his transmigration, offering him a Heavenly Root and countless pills.
Coincidentally, among those pills was also a Marrow-Cleansing Pill.
“System, oh System. I don’t have much complaint about you being useless trash, but why do your rewards always match exactly the things I get later on?”
“Still trying to fool me?”
Li Tianwei couldn’t help but mock.
【Host, you truly are a False Spiritual Root, not a Heavenly Root! That old man must not have examined carefully! And that pill in your hand isn’t a Marrow-Cleansing Pill—it’s some unknown concoction! You must not take it!】
The System took a deep breath, calming itself from its earlier confusion, and finally spoke in a composed tone.
“You think I’d believe that? The Spirit-Testing Stone confirmed it, the Nascent Soul Elder didn’t doubt it—and you’re still insisting I’m a False Root?”
Li Tianwei shook his head. He was certain the System was merely jealous—jealous that its host was too perfect.
“An unknown pill? I don’t believe it.”
Without hesitation, Li Tianwei swallowed the pill whole, an expression of utter confidence and fearlessness.
As it entered his throat, a faint medicinal fragrance lingered with a trace of sweetness—but as for changes?
There were none.
Yet, after Li Tianwei swallowed the pill, within his body, the five-colored False Spiritual Root emitted a trace of dark radiance. Its colors were suppressed, transforming into pure white light.
In that moment, even on the surface, his False Spiritual Root became utterly undetectable.
Under any form of perception, Li Tianwei now appeared to be—a true Heavenly Root.
And not just any Heavenly Root—
but a Pure Yang Heavenly Root.