NOVEL NEXT 2: Spiritual Root
With a deep breath, I approached my new Spiritual Root—the Black Lotus.
As my feet touched the water, a low hum rippled through the pond, centering on the lotus. The surrounding fog dissipated. The lotus wiggled, almost joyfully, as a deep connection formed between us. For a moment, it felt as if I was the lotus—sitting at the center of the pond, braving the seasons, tasting sun and wind.
Then came a ferocious roar from Taotie. It rose from the outer lake, the liquefied Qi raining down upon the city. With renewed passion and its gaping maw wide open, it charged at me. It must've sensed my resonance with the Black Lotus.
But this bout is over. The thread connecting me to the lotus widened into a clear path. The entire Mind Realm thumped like a restarting heart. Time itself seemed to freeze.
I could see every droplet of water, every trembling leaf, every flower petal across the realm. A new sense had awakened. I could perceive all around me without even turning my gaze.
Since my original Spiritual Root had changed, I'd lost the advantages it once gave. But now—now the connection reestablished. A new foundation laid.
Taotie, once rapid, now moved at a snail's pace. Not because it had slowed, but because my perception sped up. The Spiritual Root had boosted my senses—and this was only the beginning. Mere perception wouldn't be enough to defeat a Disaster God.
"Water feeds wood, didn't you know?"
Thick, dark green roots burst from the ground, latching onto Taotie. It struggled in vain. The liquefied Qi—rich in water properties—empowered the roots, thickening them as they wrapped around the beast. Rain continued to pour, enhancing the effect.
A few meters ahead, a cocoon of roots sealed Taotie. It tried to devour its way out, but the cocoon grew faster than it could consume. Jagged thorns sprouted, puncturing its flesh, draining its Qi like thirsty leeches.
It thrashed violently, but the barrier held firm, tightening with crushing force. More thorns emerged as the crimson fog from the Black Lotus overflowed into the pond. In under a minute, silence reigned. The red mist lapped at my feet.
Through the roots, I confirmed it—Taotie had stopped moving. A sigh escaped my lips. With its Qi drained, its form faded into nothingness, like a ghost. I scanned the entire Mind Realm, even the lake's depths—nothing. It was gone.
The roots untangled and sank back into the earth. The garden returned to its serene state.
"A lot happened in such a short time." Fatigue washed over me.
The questions that had plagued me before unravelled. Their answers emerging alongside my connection to the lotus.
The cause of my regression, the reason Taotie appeared in my Mind Realm, the nature of this new Spiritual Root—it all clicked.
It happened after the battle that left the Western Continent in ruins. My disciple told me about the Immortal Grade herb he found within Taotie's body. I still remember the excitement in his voice over the transmission token—the herb's properties, its appearance, what he planned to do with it. He intended to refine it into a one-of-a-kind pill that would boost cultivation, strengthen the body, and unlock hidden potential.
Master, I can finally give you a suitable present this year—for all you've done for me.
That was the happiest I'd ever heard my disciple. And not long after, I faced a newly unsealed Disaster God. A trap. Though I defeated it, the cost was high.
The battle shattered my spiritual root and meridians. My body, both physical and spiritual, crumbled like a sand sculpture in a rising tide. There was no escape from death.
Then he appeared.
Master… Please hold on. I won't let you die. I promise! Please… Please don't leave me… Not you too…
The pain from that day was branded into my soul. Yet, somehow, he sounded like he was in more pain than I was. But he didn't lie.
"The pill he gave me was made from that Black Lotus—and it saved my life." My trust in him didn't falter. That decision led me here. Though things didn't go as planned, my soul regressed to a time when he didn't even know me… yet I live, just as he wanted.
But that only answers half the mystery. Taotie and the Black Lotus checked out—but the regression remains unexplained.
The Black Lotus was rich in Wood Qi. It devoured everything, converting it into Qi for storage. But it held no time-altering properties. A pill cannot possess traits absent in its ingredients. The one he gave me had Wood Qi so pure, I felt it even with my destroyed spiritual sense. To my knowledge, no other herbs were involved—his goal was to keep the essence intact, in line with my element.
"So, I'm dealing with external interference again." For as long as I've lived, I've searched for the cause of my reincarnation.
But years of investigation yielded nothing. Some would call it a chance. I don't believe in chance.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
No wind blows without reason. That belief has guided me. This pursuit may lead nowhere—but I'll chase the truth to the ends of the world.
I'd rather die seeking knowledge than live in ignorance.
Leaving the Mind Realm behind, the real world came into view. With my Spiritual Root now linked, monitoring the Mind Realm would be easier. If Taotie returned, I'd know—and I'd be ready.
Still, I re-entered the Mind Realm to confirm. This time, I appeared right beside the Black Lotus. The connection held. No disturbances.
That's when a knock came at my front door.
Can I not catch a break today?
Fixing my robe and hair, I slipped on my shoes. The gate opened with a thought.
"I greet the Second Peak Master."
A boy in a white uniform bearing a lotus emblem on the shoulder bowed, hands clasped.
"A message for me, Lin Fan?" I asked.
He nodded, standing straight. Respect gleamed in his eyes.
"Grand Elder sends word about the Disciple Selection Ceremony. It will take place in two days, when all five energies reach their peak. He also asks you to remember your promise—and expects your presence."
His words turned the gears in my mind.
The Disciple Selection Ceremony, a once-a-decade event of the Azure Sky Sect. Over a hundred scouts searched the mortal world for potential cultivators. Elders could choose disciples to train personally from them.
In 300 years, I'd never accepted a single one.
But after losing a bet, I agreed to take at least one disciple this time. And the Grand Elder clearly hadn't forgotten.
I groaned inwardly.
I'd used every excuse in the past. From I forgot to I was gathering herbs even the was too lost in cultivation, to skip out. No wonder he sent a reminder this time.
"Tell the Grand Elder I've received his words and will keep my promise. You're dismissed." I handed Lin Fan a small pouch of Earth Grade pills and a hundred spirit stones.
"I will never forget your generosity, Second Peak Master!"
He bowed deeply, voice trembling with emotion.
He did have some trouble with money around this time, if I remember right. This should help him.
As he descended the mountain steps, I spotted someone flying through the clouds, a figure in black robes gliding on a sword. To the untrained eye, he'd resemble an eagle soaring. But sensing my gaze, the man looked back and bowed in respect before continuing toward the outer sect.
Everyone was busy. So was I.
Entering the residence's main wing, I locked my door.
No one can know. I held knowledge of a war that hadn't yet begun—and the ruin it would bring. I intended to stop it.
And I couldn't afford to sound insane by rambling about time travel. More importantly, I couldn't reveal myself yet. My strength wasn't enough to change anything. Not yet. I needed power. Allies.
The Disciple Retrieval is the first step.
A smile touched my lips.
That kid… our first meeting still clear in my memory.
The sect rejected him for arriving late to the ceremony. I, returned from my "herb-gathering trip"—an excuse for skipping the event—saw him being dragged away for causing a ruckus.
I had no disciple then, so I took him in. Never imagined that decision would launch me onto a rollercoaster with no brakes.
But this time, I wouldn't wait.
He's the only link to my regression. The pill he gave me—made from the Black Lotus—holds the key.
And there's more.
People attacked his caravan en route to the sect. He arrived covered in blood—the sole survivor of the incident that tarnished our reputation and triggered future conflict for the sect. I have to stop it.
Their schemes are fresh in my mind.
I changed into fresh white robes, stored the essentials in my ring, and walked to the bedroom door.
Cloaked in black, I summoned my flying sword. A shimmering silver blade without guard or hilt. Thin as a ski, wide as a palm. Hovering before me, it lit up as my Qi surged through it.
Glowing yellow inscriptions activated. I soared into the sky, heading west—toward the Iron Wood Forest of the Rising Sun Dynasty. The disciple's caravan would pass through there on its way to Waterfall Outpost.
With the sun glaring, I leaned forward. Additional lines lit up on the sword, activating Presence Suppression. My cloak masked my aura on top of that.
No one would notice my exit. Except one person. He'd be displeased, like always. But the token at my waist remained silent, thanks to Lin Fan's timely message.
Still, if he came after me, a sermon would likely follow.
Let's hope he's busy.
The unease in my gut intensified as the journey continued.
***
Iron Wood Forest, Rising Sun Dynasty
Within nature's embrace, something terrible stirred—violence rupturing the forest's tranquility.
Nine bodies lay motionless on the cave floor, bloodied and broken. Five men in vibrant purple uniforms stood over them, cloth masks covering their faces—yet their twisted smiles remained visible.
"Wang Yang! Wang Yang, wake up!!"
A girl with long black hair clutched one of the unconscious boys, panic in her eyes. Her blue silk robe torn and stained, but she didn't care.
The boy had jet-black hair, sharp features, and a yellow sun seal on his forehead. His body burned like a furnace. Yet, he didn't stir.
"Don't bother. He's already dead. That poison has no cure," one masked man sneered.
"A foolish mortal," another chuckled, kicking Wang Yang's limp form. "Attacked us head-on, as if that'd make a difference."
He turned to the girl. "But we got a good haul. Play nice, and maybe we'll let him live. What do you say?"
Their leering gazes crawled across her like insects. She glared back, green eyes blazing.
But it changed nothing.
Wang Yang's breath had stilled. Purple spots spread across his limbs. Even if she stared daggers at them, they were cultivators—and she was nothing more than an ant to them.
Someone… please help us… All she could do was pray for a miracle.