[Host, if you think you can break through two realms with your current technique and talent, you are sorely mistaken.]
"So it's my talent…" Xue Shen muttered.
His eyes fell on the three corpses in front of him; he had brought them along for a reason, after all.
Recalling the Spiritual Root Extraction Technique, he remembered that spiritual roots could be invarious places — sometimes within the bones, sometimes the organs, the veins, or even a separate organ entirely. They came in many forms, but the most common resembled that of tree roots.
Xue Shen memorized what to look for and prepared to determine if any of the three had one.
"Stop the wagon!" he shouted to Lian Shou.
Lian Shou immediately reeled the reins, stopping the horses. Xue Shen stepped down and surveyed the dense forest surrounding them.
"Place the three bodies in a line," he said, ordering Lian Shou.
"Understood, master," Lian Shou replied, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes on what Xue Shen was planning to do. He arranged the corpses neatly in front of Xue Shen.
Xue Shen approached Bao Jia first. Not needing to slide him open, he just knelt down. His hands rummaged frantically on the insides of his split body, searching for a spiritual root.
Lian Shou's face grimaced. Upon seeing what Xue Shen was doing, he turned away, unable to watch.
After two minutes, Xue Shen sighed and shook his head — he had no spiritual roots.
"Nothing…" he muttered.
Finally, he moved to Quan Ning. Slicing open his stomach, Xue Shen's hands aggressively rummaged through every inch of flesh and organ. Just as he thought there was nothing — he felt it. Something unfamiliar, something that felt like a tree root.
Instinctively, he grabbed it and tore it free. It resembled the root of a tree, glowing faintly green. Xue Shen's eyes glistened, and his heart quickened at the sight of the spirit root.
As he was about to leave and inspect it further, a thought struck him — Li Ning. She had claimed her talent was good, good enough to be accepted into the so-called Ice Palace.
Xue Shen tucked the green root into his sleeve and approached her body. Without hesitation, he sliced open her stomach and began searching, his bloodied hands exploring every part of her insides.
And then… again—he felt it. An unfamiliar organ; the moment he touched it, it was as if his hands had been encased in ice, freezing his skin, though not enough to cause him harm.
He gripped it tightly and pulled it out.
Holding the spirit root in his blood-stained hand, Xue Shen stared in awe. It resembled a tree root, glowing pure white and radiating a chilling blue aura. The coldness of the root made his skin feel almost frozen. His heart raced once more — she had been right. Her talent truly was exceptional… not even Quan Ning's root did a fraction of what Li Ning's root could.
"Guard me," Xue Shen said to Lian Shou. Deep down, he was still very suspicious of his loyalty, so he pretended to meditate—testing Lian Shou's loyalty, watching to see if he would use the opportunity to strike while Xue Shen was in a 'weakened position.'"
"Yes, master!" Lian Shou replied, scanning the surroundings.
Five minutes passed without incident. Xue Shen weighed his options. Should he implant the root now, or wait until he was certain Lian Shou could be trusted? Killing him would simplify matters, but he needed capable subordinates to achieve his goals flawlessly—or at least make them easier. Finding someone with Lian Shou's rare mix of personality and talent wasn't a task Xue Shen was willing to bother with.
Seconds later, he decided against killing Lian Shou.
After finishing his contemplation, he turned his attention to the books in his mind—specifically, the ones about the spirit root. According to the texts, implanting a spiritual root required meditation: first, one would swallow the root, then meditate, using their Qi to guide it to the desired spot, and finally merge it with their Qi to fully integrate it into the body.
The downsides of meditating, especially while channeling his Qi, would leave him vulnerable until the implantation succeeded, making him prone to attacks.
'Better to wait for now,' Xue Shen thought.
Xue Shen rose from his fake meditation. "Let's get out of here."
"Yes, master!" Lian Shou answered.
As they approached the wagon, Lian Shou's face grimaced yet again upon noticing the corpses.
"Master… Do you just want to leave them here?" he asked.
"Yes. They no longer serve me a purpose," Xue Shen said coldly.
A shiver ran down Lian Shou's spine at Xue Shen's words. 'Is that what fate awaits me when I'm no longer useful?' he wondered. What would become of him when he outlived his usefulness to Xue Shen? Only time could tell.
Then Xue Shen noticed Lian Shou's change of expression. "Hmm? Don't worry… after you're dead, you feel nothing. It's peaceful, and it's something that should be celebrated," Xue Shen said, completely misunderstanding Lian Shou's reason for the change of expression.
Xue Shen entered the carriage, and Lian Shou took the driver's seat. Upon seeing Xue Shen inside, he started moving again. They were heading deeper into the forest, far from any roads or signs of civilization.
1 Hour Later…
'Should I just do it?' Xue Shen thought.
Lian Shou hadn't disturbed him in the past hour, and Xue Shen was starting to get very impatient.
Xue Shen had originally planned to wait a few more days before implanting the spiritual root, but he couldn't hold back any longer.
Seeing the root in front of him made him restless, his impatience growing with each passing moment.
'Ah, fuck it.' Xue Shen suddenly opened his mouth and swallowed the icy root. Some of Li Ning, Bao Jia, and Quan Ning's blood slipped into his mouth as well.
He closed his eyes and began meditating. Xue Shen used his Qi to engulf the root, guiding it slowly through his body until it finally settled in his veins.
The coldness of the root sent a shiver through his body. It was like a brain freeze — but one that spread through not just his brain but every vein and organ, piercing him from the inside out.
Ten minutes later, Xue Shen had successfully guided the root into place and started the merging process.
"Ughh…" Xue Shen groaned. The process of guiding the root into his dantian was like something eating through him as the root implanted itself. It felt alien; his body was rejecting the intruder. The root latched to every vein, claiming its new vessel as if it had always belonged there.
Another ten minutes of agony passed.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for implanting a Rank 3 – Superior – Ice Root]
"Hahhh…" Xue Shen looked utterly exhausted, huffing and puffing, his face and body still soaked in blood, his blood-stained robes filled with sweat and dried blood.
[Spiritual Root Menu unlocked]
Xue Shen's eyes shifted to the notification from the system, his eyebrows perking up at the message.
"Spiritual root menu?" he muttered softly in a questioning tone.
[Spiritual roots: 2 | Status: Rooted]
[Roots: Ice Root – Rank 4 (Superior)]
[Affinities: +270% Ice Qi absorption rate | Ice Techniques deal 80% more dmg]
[Compatibility: 48%]
[Potential Growth: 6]
Xue Shen's eyes flickered as the red system panel hovered before him.
'If her spiritual root Qi absorption rate was this high… why wasn't she a cultivator?' Xue Shen thought. Her talent clearly allowed her to be, so why hadn't she cultivated?
"Potential growth?" Xue Shen muttered, frowning. The words seemed simple, yet carried an importance he couldn't ignore.
Then Xue Shen saw another tab. "System, elaborate the potential growth tab," he commanded, his voice filled with both curiosity and impatience.
[Potential growth refers to the potential of the spiritual root to develop over time. It is rated from 1 to 10, with 1 being very limited growth and 10 being the highest rated potential.]
[This rating predicts how far the root could help you advance through cultivation, how well it can absorb and refine spiritual energy, and how compatible it is when reaching higher realms of cultivation.]
Spiritual roots advance as you reach higher realms?" Xue Shen asked, frowning slightly. The book he had read hadn't mentioned anything like that.
[Yes.]
Xue Shen brought his hand to his chin as he read the panel message, seemingly looking lost in thought.
"So what is the highest spiritual root rank ever seen in this world?"
[Apologies, Host. This isn't a question the system needs to answer; you'll find out for yourself anyway.]
"Useless…" Xue Shen muttered, looking annoyed.
Xue Shen stared at the green root, uncertain whether he should consume it. The book he had read stated that the more spiritual roots one possessed, the stronger their body needed to be to contain them. Although he had already stepped into cultivation, he had yet to temper his body. If one were to rashly implant a spirit root without proper preparation, it could lead to death, a risk he wasn't willing to take — not until all of existence is liberated.
So he chose to hold off on consuming it until he learned more.
Xue Shen then remembered the other techniques and decided to start using the Advanced Ning Family Qi Absorbing Technique.
He began performing the Advanced Ning Family Qi Absorbing Technique, and after a few minutes, the Qi around him grew denser and more abundant.
"Hm…" Xue Shen muttered. The effects of this technique were far superior, and the explanations were much clearer than the basic version.
[Ding! Your Qi absorption rate has improved.]
"Hmm?" Xue Shen looked at the new messages, curiosity in his eyes.
'Stats.'
[Name: Xue Shen]
[Level: 10 | EXP: 601/1000]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 22 | Lifespan: 70]
[Race: Human]
[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Stage 1 | Current Qi: 7.56 | Qi Needed for Next Stage: 10,000]
[Absorption Rate Per Day: 2200]
[Qi Capacity: 100/100]
[Bloodline: None]
[Physique: None]
[Spiritual Roots: 2 | Status: Rooted]
[Active Passives: Heavy Blade – +5% Damage | Monstrous Power – +10% Damage]
… Etc.
Two minutes later, Xue Shen began testing the Wolf Qi Breathing Technique, a truly unique method. Though classified as a breathing technique, it went beyond simple breathing—it could mimic wolf Qi. In fact, it could make actual wolves perceive him as one of their own, disguising both his presence and aura as that of a wolf.
"Interesting…" Xue Shen muttered, thinking of ideas on how to use this technique.
But just as he was thinking, he noticed the requirements to reach the next realm.
"Hah…" Xue Shen sighed, looking annoyed.
"Stop the carriage!" Xue Shen angrily yelled to Lian Shou.
"Yes, Master!" Lian Shou responded, immediately reeling back the reins and stopping the horses.
Xue Shen stepped out of the wagon, his eyes shifting to his surroundings. He saw nothing but an endless field of scattered trees.
Three Days Later…
[Ding! Breakthrough! Congratulations, Host!]
Xue Shen awoke from his meditation, briefly eying on the message before him, then closed them again and returned to his meditation.
He and Lian Shou had been wandering the dense, seemingly endless forest. Xue Shen had spent the entire time in meditation, while Lian Shou survived off the land, hunting small animals to bring back.
10 minutes later…
Xue Shen sat cross-legged next to the wagon, looking to be in deep meditation until he heard faint sounds of footsteps inching closer and closer. His eyes snapped open, and his hand instinctively reached for his blade. Extending his Qi sense, he relaxed slightly as he saw it was Lian Shou.
His doggy emerged from the trees and bushes, his face grim, a dead rabbit dangling from his hand.
"Master!" Lian Shou called out.
"What happened?" Xue Shen asked, curious at his expression.
"I've discovered what seems to be a sect…" Lian Shou said solemnly.
"A sect?" Xue Shen's eyebrow perked up. 'A sect in the middle of nowhere?' The two of them had been wandering aimlessly, Lian Shou like he was instructed to do, simply choosing random directions.
'I'm an idiot… I shouldn't have told him to go anywhere…' Xue Shen thought, chastising himself, feeling like an idiot.
"Well, are they friendly?" Xue Shen asked.
"I don't know, Master. I only saw their sect board. It read 'Silver Fang Sect.'" Lian Shou paused. "I also saw their disciples… riding wolves as their mounts!"
'Riding wolves?' Xue Shen's mind flooded with many thoughts.
"Were you spotted?" Xue Shen asked, squinting, his hand hovering near his blade in case Lian Shou had been followed.
"Don't worry, Master! I wasn't detected at all! I was extra careful not to make a sound." Lian Shou said, smiling wide, seemingly confident that he hadn't been spotted.
"Hmm, alright…" Xue Shen murmured, pondering what to make of the situation. He began stroking his chin, carefully considering his options.
First, he could approach them peacefully, if they were friendly, they could point him out of this damned forest.
Second, if they were hostile, he might have to fight his way through. He didn't know his exact strength, but he was confident he could slaughter many if needed.
Third, ambush them one by one for experience, and retreat and repeat until he had killed everyone.
Fourth, or possibly he could join them, to gain access to their techniques.
Although he realized how ridiculous both the second and third options were, he didn't truly know how strong this so-called Silver Fang Sect was. Trying to kill them all at once, or even one by one, would be outright idiotic without knowing the enemy's strength.
After weighing his choices, Xue Shen decided on the first option. In truth, he only wanted to stay here to cultivate. Lian Shou had been tasked with finding a way out, but he hadn't—and Xue Shen couldn't be bothered to try either. He had no desire to wander the forest endlessly.
Then he realized something and glanced at Lian Shou. The boy wasn't a cultivator. If things turned ugly, he would surely die.
"Eh. Who cares?" Xue Shen immediately dismissed the thought. If the boy died, then so be it. If he perished in a situation such as this, he simply wasn't worthy to be a subordinate.
"Let's eat first," Xue Shen said, eyeing the rabbit with disgust. "Then we'll visit this sect and ask for the directions out out here."
Twenty minutes later, the two had finished their meal and set off, with Lian Shou leading him towards the Silver Fang Sect.
The forest seemed truly endless, unlike the one Xue Shen had entered when he first came to this world. This one was truly an endless stretch of trees, a place where countless travelers could vanish, never to be seen again.
Another twenty minutes passed…
"We're close, Master…" Lian Shou said, breathing evenly.
Xue Shen's eyes kept shifting, trying to monitor his surroundings.
Ten minutes later, a giant silver sign came into view, held by two silver pillars. Letters appeared on the board: "Silver Fang Sect."
Before Xue Shen could take in the details, a voice rang out.
"Mortal! I spared you once for trespassing, and you dare return?!"
A man riding a massive wolf appeared from the trees, glaring at Xue Shen and Lian Shou.
'Damn! This idiot wasn't undetected?' Xue Shen shot Lian Shou a glare, cursing inwardly.
"Master, I—I didn't know!" Lian Shou whispered, sweating frantically. He truly had thought he was unseen.
"Apologies, great cultivator! I meant no disrespect. We were only trying to figure out where we are and find a way out of here!" Lian Shou said, bowing.
Xue Shen's face showed clear disgust as he saw Lian Shou kneeling, and his eyebrows furrowed.
Xue Shen, meanwhile, kept calm, although his disgust was evident. He wanted nothing more than to chop the man and his wolf in half for yelling, but if they had already been discovered, who knew how many more had already been alerted? For now, acting impulsively would be unwise.
"This forest is called the Hungering Forest, as for how to get ou—" the wolf rider said coldly. Then he paused, eyes narrowing as he extended his Qi sense. His gaze softened.
"Ah… a cultivator. Greetings, friend." He clasped his hands politely toward Xue Shen, his tone shifting instantly.
'He detected me? How?' Xue Shen was startled.
"Greetings, friend," Xue Shen replied softly. "My servant speaks the truth. We wandered and became lost in this forest. We only wished to ask if you knew a way out of here," he said, forcing a smile.
"Ah, that's unfortunate. The nearest city is Baiyan. By foot, it would take no less than eleven days."
'Eleven days…?' Xue Shen frowned, then considered an alternative option.
"Actually, friend, since the journey is long… would your sect allow us to stay here temporarily?"
The man's eyebrows perked up, then he began pondering, before shaking his head.
"Apologies, friend. Outsiders cannot stay… unless, of course, you become a disciple. Then some arrangements could be made, even permanent residency."
Xue Shen kept smiling. Not a bad offer, he thought. In Baiyan, he had little purpose, and who knew whether the Ning family had begun investigating Quan Ning and Li Ning's disappearance.
"What would becoming a disciple entail?" he asked in a questioning tone.
The wolf rider's face brightened. "There are many benefits. You'd have access to our cultivation manuals. For example–" he then patted the wolf beneath him. "My mount."
Xue Shen's expression stiffened, and a thought came into his mind: 'Wolf Breathing Qi Technique…' The technique he had looted from Bai Jia came to mind.
'Could Bai Jia have been from this sect?' His arm twitched slightly, hovering over his blade. If they discovered what he had done…
"Ah, so it's a taming technique?" Xue Shen asked carefully, feigning ignorance to gather more information—trying to determine if it was a taming technique and not a breathing technique.
"Not quite. It's a breathing technique that mimics a wolf's Qi. To them, you feel like one of their own."
The man's words confirmed Xue Shen's thoughts; the technique was exactly the same one he had taken from Bai Jia's corpse.
A faint shiver ran down Xue Shen's spine, and his arm slightly twitched even more.
The man atop the wolf instantly sensed an oppressive bloodlust radiating from Xue Shen, though Xue Shen himself had no idea he had unleashed it — after all, he didn't even know bloodlust could be felt.
The man atop the wolf instantly readied his spear, his grip tightening. He shouted,
"How dare you—"