Chapter 142: Spiritual Roots and Cultivation Methods

The recruitment for the sect alliance was in full swing overnight. In the council hall, a thousand new disciples of the Myriad Phenomena Sect had already gathered together, about to meet the sect’s first leader, Liu Junhuai.

Gazing upon the vibrant, youthful faces glowing with excitement, Liu Junhuai was filled with mixed emotions. These cultivators were the foundation and hope for the future development of the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

“Welcome to the Myriad Phenomena Sect! Please, everyone, take a seat. Today is just our first meeting, more of an opportunity to get acquainted rather than a formal induction ceremony, so feel at ease!” With that, he casually chose a chair and sat down. The sharp-witted Suoyang Fengxu quickly urged everyone to take their seats. As people followed suit, the tense atmosphere instantly relaxed.

Once everyone was seated, Liu Junhuai spoke, “I won’t bother with pleasantries now; there will be plenty of that at future induction ceremonies.” His words sparked laughter throughout the hall.

“Many must wonder, after years of cultivation—some even having reached the Golden Core stage—why do we still test spiritual roots during this recruitment? It’s because your spiritual root attributes have not been fully utilized!” Liu Junhuai said, casually pointing to a young mid-Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. “You possess a fire attribute spiritual root. While it is commendable that at your age you’ve reached mid-Foundation Establishment, the fire-based heart method you practice is only a lower-tier Profound Level technique, which can only bring you to the late Foundation Establishment stage. This greatly limits your potential.”

The young cultivator nodded repeatedly, visibly shocked. He had never imagined that Sect Leader Liu could see through the flaws in his cultivation so clearly.

Liu Junhuai then pointed to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. “You have dual fire and wood spiritual roots, and the technique you practice is a mid-grade Earth Level method, sufficient to support your entry into the Golden Core stage. However, your technique overly emphasizes the wood attribute, causing the distribution of primordial energy within your body to be very uneven. This affects your foundational solidity and limits your cultivation progress.”

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator was equally astonished; Liu Junhuai’s words perfectly matched his own cultivation experiences. His heart blazed with hope—if Liu could speak so precisely of his practice, he surely could provide a technique better suited to him. Joining the Myriad Phenomena Sect was undoubtedly the most correct choice of his life.

Many shared this sentiment, their eyes shining with fervor, for they knew that solutions existed for the shortcomings in their cultivation and that advancement was imminent.

Liu Junhuai continued, “A Heavenly Spiritual Root refers to a single-attribute root, which allows cultivation at speeds several times faster than ordinary roots, with no bottleneck in forming the Golden Core. Mutated spiritual roots, which blend two or three elemental attributes and have undergone transformation and sublimation—such as thunder, ice, darkness, or wind—cultivate just as quickly as Heavenly Roots.

“After reaching the Golden Core stage, the greatest differences between Heavenly and Mutated roots begin to emerge. The key lies in the adaptability of the cultivation technique itself. The differences between these two root types are slight; the disparity in power among cultivators of equal rank, discounting technique differences, arises from the solidity of their foundational cultivation. Imagine the extent of meridian expansion—this affects how much primordial energy your body can store. The more solid your foundation, the broader your meridians, so even with the same success in forming the Golden Core, your strength varies.

“There’s an even more crucial point: assuming equal techniques and comparable effort, personal strength still differs. Generally, fire and metal attributes excel in offensive methods; wood roots are better suited for healing and alchemy. Water roots can perform basic healing but not as effectively as wood roots, serving as a blend of the two. Earth roots, meanwhile, excel in defense.

“Therefore, choosing a cultivation technique that suits your spiritual root is the ultimate key to your strength. This recruitment tests spiritual roots precisely for this reason. The Myriad Phenomena Sect can assign you techniques tailored to your needs.”

Liu Junhuai’s detailed explanation left the cultivators present feeling enlightened. Each had been led into the cultivation world by their own masters, yet none had ever heard such a comprehensive exposition on the mysteries within elemental spiritual roots.

Even the original members of the Myriad Phenomena Sect—Wu Yaohan, Bian Jizhong, and Fang Keyin—who listened from the sidelines, were hearing such distinctions for the first time. The more they exchanged words with Liu Junhuai, the more profound their understanding became.

Unlike the new recruits, who quietly rejoiced, the veterans of the sect were astonished. Liu Junhuai was so young, yet so knowledgeable in so many areas. What secrets did he conceal?

Ignoring their speculations, Liu Junhuai’s tone remained earnest. “There is no superiority or inferiority among the elemental attributes themselves! In the cultivation world, besides absorbing heavenly and earthly spiritual energy to enhance one’s power, one can also rely on alchemical pills to boost strength. Some advanced pills can even force a realm breakthrough! This necessitates the presence of alchemists. My wife is a sixth-grade alchemist, her extraordinary talent in pill-making derives from her wood attribute spiritual root.

“So, the ultimate goal of cultivation is to comprehend the Heavenly Dao. This understanding is not limited to realms or power; it encompasses all existence and matter in the world. Like alchemists, who enter the Dao through pill refinement, or those with earth attribute roots who cultivate through sheer physical toughness.

“I share all this to tell the new members of the Myriad Phenomena Sect: since you have chosen this sect, it is our duty and responsibility to nurture and develop every cultivator. Your first benefit after joining is that each of you will receive the technique best suited to you. Then, based on your actual progress, we will assign skills and treasures tailored to your needs!”

At these words, all the new recruits rose simultaneously, applauding and cheering. Their eyes shone with gratitude and excitement.

They were grateful to join such an outstanding sect and to have such admirable masters, and deeply moved by their admiration and reverence for Liu Junhuai.

Once the crowd’s emotions settled, Fang Keyin finally found a chance to speak, having held back for a long time: “Junhuai, what kind of spiritual root do you have yourself?”

Seeing everyone’s eager faces, Liu Junhuai smiled. “I’m different from you all—I have a five-element mixed root. What the cultivation world calls a ‘useless root’.”

A murmur of surprise filled the hall. Liu Junhuai continued, “Actually, in the immortal realm, if one with a five-element mixed root has the right technique, that becomes an immortal root! Your elemental roots were nurtured by heaven and earth at the dawn of creation, but my mixed root was cultivated by human effort. As I said before, with the right technique, everything falls into place.”

Shen Duoduo looked at him in surprise. “Junhuai brother, then which kind of root is stronger?”

Liu Junhuai smiled warmly at her. “Normally, a five-element mixed root like mine is far inferior. But with the transformation from the Nine Changes Heart Method, I become more versatile than all of you. My body contains five attributes, so while cultivation is incredibly difficult and progression slow, once accomplished, my power will far exceed that of a single attribute.”

A newly joined late Foundation Establishment cultivator asked, “Does that mean the sect leader is invincible among peers?”

Shen Duoduo snorted with a laugh. “Not just among peers! Junhuai brother can kill cultivators in the early Nascent Soul stage while still in the early Golden Core stage. Now that he’s in the late Golden Core stage, late Nascent Soul cultivators are no challenge.”

A roar of astonishment echoed through the hall.

At that moment, Bian Jizhong spoke up, “Duoduo, they don’t know your true identity yet. Why don’t you introduce yourself?” He shot Liu Junhuai a mischievous glance, causing Liu to inwardly scowl.

Shen Duoduo fell for the trap. She cast a coquettish glance at Liu Junhuai. “My name is Shen Duoduo. I’m the sect leader Liu’s third wife.” Then she pointed at Wu Bini. “She’s Wu Bini, Liu’s second wife. And the sixth-grade alchemist, Mo Sitong, is my Junhuai brother’s first wife!”

Mo Sitong’s face flushed bright red, visibly embarrassed, glaring fiercely at Shen Duoduo.

The thousand cultivators stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, wanting to laugh but afraid to make a sound.

The senior members of the sect, however, paid no mind to the drama and burst into laughter. Liu Junhuai stood, pointing at Bian Jizhong as if about to devour him, utterly losing the dignity expected of a sect leader.

Wu Yaohan looked dazed; Shen Duoduo was simply too fierce, never considering the occasion for her words, even making her granddaughter Wu Bini lower her head in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Shen Duoduo wore a bewildered expression. “I’m just telling the truth. Why are they laughing so happily?” She looked at Liu Junhuai with pitiful eyes.

Liu Junhuai shrugged helplessly and addressed the crowd struggling to hold back their laughter. “Alright, if you want to laugh, just laugh. Holding it in is uncomfortable!”

Laughter broke out freely, filling the council hall with warmth. Liu Junhuai shamelessly joined in the mirth with a broad smile.

Mo Sitong quickly stood, wrapping an arm around Shen Duoduo and firmly tapping her forehead, then helped her back to her seat.