As the two stepped into the building, the air suddenly became cool. The furnishings inside were ancient, with continuous sandalwood bookshelves, a magnificent array of scrolls, and shimmering Spirit Radiance. Each page of the books was covered in a layer of dust, and there seemed to be a faint humming, like whispering. Several ancient ink paintings hung on the walls, their aura deep and heavy.
Qin Yue took out a bronze medallion and lightly pressed it onto the eye of a formation, and with a low clack, the formation patterns dispersed. "This building is divided into five floors," she said softly, "collecting ancient scrolls of techniques since the founding of our sect. Although you are a personal disciple, before performing Foundation Establishment, you may only select techniques from the first floor. Above the second floor, one must not ascend without the permission of an elder or the Pavilion Master. As for the third floor and above, only the Pavilion Master may enter." Lin Dalu nodded, "I shall follow the sect rules."
Qin Yue smiled gracefully, "Hehe, although there are many rules, they are for protecting the techniques from leaking. Junior Brother naturally understands." Lin Dalu smiled in thanks, his gaze already starting to slowly drift among the ancient scrolls.
Lin Dalu looked through several scrolls, all of which were foundational techniques. He suddenly recalled what Xiang'er had said before-- "At Qi Refinement Level 2, one can practice the Qi Mastery Formula and the Tranquil Spirit Art to refine the spirit and nourish the breath, reaching the third level, one can practice low-tier fire-system offensive techniques, such as the Fireball Art."
Lin Dalu whispered to himself, "I have already mastered the Tranquil Spirit Art, but I do not have the Qi Mastery Formula..." He then took down an ancient book and brushed away the dust.
Qin Yue stood to the side, her gaze half-lowered and the corners of her mouth slightly curved, "The Qi Mastery Formula is indeed an excellent introductory technique for stabilizing Qi and condensing the spirit, walking on the wind, and taking objects from a distance. The threshold for this technique is not high, yet it is extremely practical, suitable for your current practice." Lin Dalu bowed, his voice carrying warmth, "Thank you for your teaching, Senior Sister."
Qin Yue brushed her hair, seemingly casually asking, "It is just that if Junior Brother wishes to practice higher methods, you still need to know your own Spirit Root attributes." Lin Dalu was slightly stunned, thinking to himself, "Yes, what Spirit Root do I actually belong to?" A cloud of doubt rose in his heart, and a look of deep thought appeared in his eyes.
Lin Dalu's mind stirred, and his brain suddenly flashed back to that day when Qiu Shengshui's gaze sharpened. He only remembered him whispering, "As expected, it is a Profound Yin Spirit Constitution... and the purity of the Spirit Root is actually above that of Fang Yun." These words still echoed in his ears.
Lin Dalu frowned slightly, thinking, my Spirit Root purity might make practicing easier, but I have never known which attribute my Spirit Root belongs to. He pondered for a moment, then clasped his hands and said respectfully, "Senior Sister, I have a doubt and ask for your guidance."
Qin Yue was slightly leaning over to flip through scrolls when she heard this and looked up, her red lips parting with a smile as she asked, "Oh? What doubt?" Lin Dalu said, "I have heard that the selection of techniques should be based on the Spirit Root so that they can complement each other and achieve twice the result with half the effort. If they do not match, even after ten years of effort, one might not achieve the proper effect. I wonder if these words are true?"
Hearing this, Qin Yue sighed softly, her voice ethereal, "These words are indeed true. The path of cultivation is originally determined by one's talent. If a person of Metal Spirit practices fire techniques, the fire will blaze and the metal will melt, if a Wood Spirit practices earth methods, the earth will be heavy and the wood will break. This is the principle of what is called Five Elements Generation and Five Elements Restraint. Only by knowing one's own Spirit Root and selecting corresponding techniques can Spirit Qi flow without obstruction and cultivation progress like a surging spring. If one forcibly practices mismatched methods, at best progress is difficult, and at worst one will suffer Qi Deviation. How can one not notice the dangers within?" As she said this, she reached out and tapped the air lightly, and a trace of Spirit Radiance dissipated like faint smoke.
Lin Dalu listened intently and pondered silently. He then clasped his hands, his expression solemn, "In that case, I do not yet know which Spirit Root I belong to, could I trouble Senior Sister to take a look?"
Qin Yue chuckled, her gaze shifting, her manner charming, "Little Junior Brother is quite clever." After saying this, she gathered a strand of Spirit Power at her fingertips, deep blue like water, and slowly extended it toward Lin Dalu's chest.
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"Buzz--" A low hum, the sound of flowing Spirit Power, was like fine silk. Qin Yue's brow furrowed slightly, her expression gradually showing astonishment. "Eh... how very strange." Qin Yue slowly withdrew her Spirit Power, her beautiful eyes revealing shock and curiosity, "Ordinary Spirit Roots mostly belong to the Five Elements--Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Even if it were a Mutated or Rare Spirit Root, there should be corresponding signs. But your Spirit Power... seems to have nothing to rely on, nor is there a single trace of Five Elements fluctuation, as if it forms its own domain."
Qin Yue shook her head slightly, her red lips whispering, "Could it be... that you are actually one of those extremely rare Mutated Spirit Roots? Or a person with a Rare Spirit Root? Such Spirit Roots are recorded in ancient books, but have not appeared for thousands of years." Before she finished, even she showed an expression of disbelief, yet a surge of unusual amazement rose in her heart.
Lin Dalu raised an eyebrow and asked, "I wonder what the difference is between these Mutated or Rare Spirit Roots and ordinary Spirit Roots?"
Qin Yue brushed her hair at her temples, her gaze deep, "I have never seen one personally either, only occasionally heard a bit when a messenger from the upper sect, Gui Chi Gate, was talking with the Pavilion Master." She spoke slowly, as if telling a secret history, "The Five Elements Spirit Roots in this world each have their own generation and restraint. When cultivators duel, if they encounter those with restraining attributes, they can often rely on the suppression of Spirit Power to gain the upper hand. For instance, in Five Elements Restraint, they suppress, restrict, and overcome each other. The order of restraint is, Wood overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, and Metal overcomes Wood. In duels of the same level, victory and defeat are often decided by the difference in Spirit Roots. However, Mutated or Rare Spirit Roots are not within the Five Elements, and they can avoid the restrictions of the Five Elements, or even reverse their flow. If such Spirit Roots truly exist, they can be called the darlings of the cultivation path. It is just... what is recorded in ancient books are merely rumors, who can prove whether they can truly overcome all Five Elements?" Then, Qin Yue smiled slightly, "The opposite is the principle of Five Elements Generation, where they promote, nourish, and foster each other. The order of generation is, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood. If one performs Co-Cultivation Mutual Advancement with a person of a generating Spirit Root, it will be of great benefit. But as for performing co-cultivation with a person of these Mutated or Rare Spirit Roots... I would... not know, unless you, Junior Brother... are indeed such a person, and then when you perform co-cultivation with someone, you will know whether there is any other mystery within... hehe." After saying this, her gaze shifted, her smile showing intent, "Perhaps your Profound Yin Spirit Constitution is not accidental, but benefited from you being a Mutated or Rare Spirit Root, who knows."
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Lin Dalu lowered his eyes in thought, his chest rising and falling slightly, and he finally said softly, "Thank you for your teaching, Senior Sister, I shall take it to heart."
Then, Lin Dalu changed his mind, thinking that since he could not determine his Spirit Root attribute, he might as well not be restricted to a single method. Thus, he smiled and said, "Since that is the case, I will take one technique for each and practice them one by one, if it can be practiced, I will practice it, if not, I will stop, and in the future, I can naturally distinguish their strengths and find my Spirit Root attribute." Qin Yue raised her eyebrows, appearing both annoyed and amused, "This method of yours is clumsy, yet not necessarily impossible."
Lin Dalu smiled, reached out, and took five ancient scrolls from the bookshelf, each with a different name-- The fire-system technique Fireball Art, which Xiang'er had said was the most fierce, The metal-system technique Golden Light Shadow-Shattering Formula, which breaks hardness with sharpness, The wood-system technique Green Vine Spirit-Binding Art, for binding and trapping enemies, The water-system technique Flowing Abyss Dao Method, where Spirit Power is like a tide, good for dissolving and escaping, The earth-system technique Earth-Rock Body-Guarding Skill, for defense and resistance. He tucked them away one by one, and as he was leaving, he saw a green ancient scroll at the top of a pile, titled Soul-Search Art. Lin Dalu felt curious upon seeing the name and took it as well.
Lin Dalu looked at Qin Yue and clasped his hands in thanks, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for allowing me to borrow these." Qin Yue smiled without speaking, only watching him leave with a faint smile that held a deep meaning.
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The two exited the Method Archive Tower. The night wind rose slightly, and the sound of insects in the mountains was continuous. Lin Dalu raised his eyes and looked toward the depths of the Rear Mountain, seeing mist rolling and clouds vast, with occasional low moans coming from beneath the mist, as if from wandering souls.
"Whoosh--" A gust of dark wind swept past, and the bamboo forest rustled. Lin Dalu's heart stirred, and he asked, "Senior Sister, what place is that Rear Mountain...?"
Qin Yue's expression suddenly changed, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes, and her voice became low, "That is a Rear Mountain Forbidden Ground granted by the upper sect, Gui Chi Gate, surrounded by heavy restrictions. No disciple of Yin Spirit Pavilion is permitted to enter without authorization. If someone violates the prohibition--it will be treated as the crime of betraying the pavilion! Remember that!" After she finished speaking, her gaze grew cold, her expression changing from its usual seductiveness.
Lin Dalu clasped his hands solemnly, "I shall follow Senior Sister's teachings."
The daylight faded and the mountain wind grew cold. Qin Yue turned and brushed her sleeves, her charming figure vanishing with the wind, leaving behind a trace of fragrance. Lin Dalu stood alone halfway up the mountain, his gaze fixed on that mist, his expression firm as he silently swore in his heart, "Xiang'er... I will definitely find you and take you away from here."
Faint moonlight fell, reflecting on Lin Dalu's calm face, a spark of inextinguishable light flashing in his eyes.
——(End of Chapter)