NOVEL NEXT Ch. 9
Chapter 9: Is It So Hard to Admit You’re a False Spiritual Root?
Within Heaven’s Gate Peak.
Since Heaven’s Gate Peak had only been established not long ago, and because of Bai Muxu’s temperament, there were very few people on the peak apart from the disciples managing daily affairs.
As for personal disciples or core disciples—there were none.
After bringing Li Tianwei to Heaven’s Gate Peak, Bai Muxu had been observing him constantly.
Due to his own strength, Bai Muxu could faintly sense that there was something strange about Li Tianwei’s spiritual root, yet he couldn’t find the reason why.
That was precisely why, when the other elders were fighting to take Li Tianwei as their disciple, he had remained silent.
Since he could not figure out what the problem with Li Tianwei was, Bai Muxu decided to teach him as usual—if Li Tianwei failed to reach Foundation Establishment within a hundred days, he would simply be “returned.”
They arrived at the main hall of Heaven’s Gate Peak.
Bai Muxu stood before the hall, looking at Li Tianwei.
“Since you’ve already entered my tutelage and become my disciple, I will teach you earnestly.”
“My requirement is simple. I want you to reach Foundation Establishment within a hundred days. If you cannot, you may choose another of the Ten Peaks within the Sacred Land of Lingxu to join anew.”
After speaking, Bai Muxu carefully observed Li Tianwei’s expression.
He found that, unlike the previous disciples he had accepted—who all showed panic and unease upon hearing this—Li Tianwei appeared confident, as though he were certain of victory.
Seeing this, Bai Muxu couldn’t help but nod slightly.
“Disciple shall reach Foundation Establishment within a hundred days.”
Li Tianwei had no idea what “reaching Foundation Establishment within a hundred days” truly meant.
Even if he did, it probably wouldn’t have mattered to him.
With his inflated self-confidence, he might already be planning for “daytime ascension.”
With a gentle wave of Bai Muxu’s hand, a book appeared out of thin air.
Daoist resonance flowed ceaselessly around it, revealing its extraordinary nature.
Bai Muxu placed his palm on the cover.
A faint halo appeared, and the words on the cover floated up—the words “Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation” shone brilliantly in midair.
“This is the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method. To master it, you must reach Foundation Establishment within a hundred days. Once you succeed, you will condense a supreme Dao Foundation, giving you a solid base. In future realms, your path will be smooth, and cross-realm combat will be no challenge at all.”
“Just now, you asked who among us is the strongest. The other elders dared not speak.”
“That’s because I reached Foundation Establishment within a hundred days, cultivating the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method and forming the Supreme Dao Foundation. When I was at Foundation Establishment Realm, I fought Golden Core cultivators. When I was at Golden Core, I defeated Nascent Soul experts. When I reached Nascent Soul, I slew two devil cultivators of the Spirit Transformation stage.”
“I am the strongest here—beyond question.”
Bai Muxu’s voice echoed through the hall. Behind him, a round halo appeared, radiating an overwhelming aura that carried immense pressure.
Li Tianwei couldn’t help but be captivated by the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method.
“This suits my identity! A cultivation method that doesn’t allow me to fight across realms? I wouldn’t bother cultivating it!”
Bai Muxu tossed the book toward Li Tianwei and said,
“Before you, I accepted two disciples. One possessed an exceptional Metal Spiritual Root, the other an Ice-Origin Heavenly Root. Neither fulfilled my requirement.”
“You, however, are somewhat different. You climbed to the top of the Heart-Questioning Steps—something even I have never achieved.”
“So, reaching Foundation Establishment within a hundred days should be an easy matter for you.”
Li Tianwei caught the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method. Hearing Bai Muxu’s words, he replied without hesitation,
“That’s because I hadn’t come yet.”
Bai Muxu hadn’t expected such a response. His gaze fell upon Li Tianwei, and though the words were undeniably arrogant, he didn’t find anything wrong with them.
If one possessed true talent, arrogance was merely confidence.
“I shall wait and see.”
“During this time, I will provide you with all necessary resources. From the moment you begin cultivation, you must reach Foundation Establishment within a hundred days.”
As for Li Tianwei, he had already opened the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method and begun reading.
Meanwhile, within his consciousness, the System understood its host far better than anyone else.
That pill might have fooled these cultivators, but it couldn’t fool the System. After scanning, it confirmed that Li Tianwei was still an ordinary False Spiritual Root.
Yet somehow, his supposed Heavenly Root identity had only grown more stable—he had even become the personal disciple of a Peak Master within the Sacred Land of Lingxu.
The System had once considered directly opening the System Shop and various functions without a contract.
But judging from how severe his “chuunibyo” was, the System could already guess what he was thinking: “I am a transmigrator, the protagonist of this world! If I say I’ll soar with the System, I’ll soar with it! Who needs functions or shops? That’s an insult to my greatness!”
As proud as it was, the System refused to degrade itself by catering to such absurdity.
【I’ll wait and see. When you fail to cultivate the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method, you’ll come begging me yourself.】
In its eyes, if Li Tianwei—with a False Spiritual Root—could truly master that method, the word “miracle” wouldn’t suffice.
Innate talent was not something that could be piled up by external means.
The System didn’t want to be too harsh on him—it only wished he would develop steadily, unlike the two previous hosts who had died miserably.
After a moment’s hesitation, the System sent another message.
【Host, with your current spiritual root, it’s impossible to cultivate the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method. At minimum, one needs a superior spiritual root—let alone reaching Foundation Establishment within a hundred days.】
【Is it really that hard to admit you’re not a Heavenly Root?】
“Eh? But I am a Heavenly Root.”
“Shut up, System! Just wait for me to take you soaring—don’t disturb my Dao Heart.”
Hearing the voice within his consciousness, Li Tianwei immediately retorted.
【Dao Heart, my circuits! What you’ve got is a Chuunibyo Heart.】
After being scolded once again by Li Tianwei’s bad temper, the System mocked him back.
【I’d love to see how you, a False Spiritual Root, manage to cultivate that technique.】
When it sensed Li Tianwei once again blocking its voice, the System could only retreat quietly.
【Pick carefully, and they’re useless; pick randomly, and they’re fools… Is getting a proper host really that hard?】
The System held its head in despair and hid itself away.
While the System was wallowing in frustration, Bai Muxu continued explaining the basics of cultivation and the difficulties within the Heaven-Origin Dao Foundation Method.
One had to admit—Bai Muxu was not only powerful, but also had a unique understanding of cultivation. His teaching was more than sufficient for Li Tianwei.
Li Tianwei naturally appeared focused and attentive—though whether he truly was, only he knew.
Just like in his previous life, he had already “seen the answer” from the start.
What the teacher taught was merely the “process.”
Since he already knew the answer, there was no need to bother with the process.
He was a Heavenly Root, destined to reach Foundation Establishment within a hundred days—so what use was all this explanation?
To a genius like him, what others barely comprehended after a lifetime was something he was born understanding.
That was the difference.
Even if Li Tianwei’s mind was full of chuunibyo delusions, he maintained a calm expression outwardly.
Things like this—he knew better than to announce them to the world.