In this world, cultivation is impossible without a Spirit Root.
Spirit Roots are the very foundation of a cultivator's path. It is the key that determines whether one can sense, absorb, and refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Without a Spirit Root, no matter how strong a person's body is or how sharp their mind may be, they will forever remain an ordinary mortal.
Spirit Roots are divided into various attributes—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—along with rarer variants such as lightning, wind, and ice. The purity and number of these attributes directly influence a person's talent and future achievements.
A single-attribute Spirit Root is considered superior because it grants faster cultivation speed and greater control over one's energy. Dual-attribute spirit roots are still respectable, while those with three or more attributed spirit roots are considered mediocre at best. As for mixed or impure spirit roots, they are often seen as a dead end.
The previous Li Tian was a natural genius born with dual-attributed Spirit Roots of Water and Wood. Unfortunately, he never devoted himself to cultivation, leaving him unable to fully realize the potential of his spirit roots.
Now that Li Tian had woken up in this body, he decided to make perfect use of his Spirit Roots and rise quickly.
After Li Tian understood his general situation from the system's status panel, he directed his thoughts somewhere else.
"System, open the Newcomer's Gift Pack."
As soon as Li Tian wished, the system responded.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Body Tempering Breakthrough Token!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for unlocking the system's inventory function. All the items obtained through the system's reward function will be stored in the system's inventory.]
A light flashed as a different panel appeared in Li Tian's mind. There, he saw a game-like inventory interface, which was divided into several sections. One of the sections was filled with a simple token.
This was the Body Tempering Breakthrough Token.
Most importantly, Li Tian was overjoyed when he saw a little introduction there as well.
[Body Tempering Breakthrough Token]: When used, it can raise a Body Tempering Stage martial artist's cultivation by five to seven levels.
"Ha, not bad at all!"
Li Tian smiled broadly. After all, he was at the Body Tempering Stage right now. Even with the worst luck, he can increase his cultivation by five levels and reach the peak of this stage.
It also means that as long as he uses the Body Tempering Breakthrough Token, he can raise his cultivation to the peak of the Body Tempering Stage, only a single step away from becoming a Spirit Absorption Stage martial artist.
"Eh? Why does the young master have a faint smile on his face?"
Xiao Yao was slightly taken aback when she suddenly saw a smile on her young master's pale face. She couldn't help but think, "Am I seeing things?"
"Bang!"
Before the attentive little maid could make sense of it, a loud crash erupted from the doorway. At the same time, a frail old man was kicked into the room by someone. His body tumbled across the floor before coming to a miserable stop.
"Grandpa Yun?!"
Xiao Yao cried out in alarm when she saw this. She hurriedly ran over to support the old man.
This old man was a loyal servant who had accompanied Li Tian and Xiao Yao to this small city.
"Hmph, an old dog dares to block my way? You truly don't know how to write the word "fear."
As the words rang out, a flashily-dressed young man swaggered into the room. His eyes swept over Xiao Yao, who had just supported the old man Yun up.
Xiao Yao's face suddenly lost its color when she saw who the other person was. Her delicate body started trembling.
The flashily-dressed young man, on the other hand, smiled wickedly and licked his toad-like lips. Then he sneered, "Hehehe, pretty girl, your new master has arrived. Why aren't you hurrying over to kneel and welcome me?"
His overbearing words had barely fallen when his two lackeys chimed in.
"Hurry up and pay back the money you owe to us!"
"That's right. Debts must be repaid!"
"If you can't pay now… hehe… then, as agreed before, from today onward, you'll be nothing more than a lowly servant to our master!"
Xiao Yao's delicate brows knitted together, and her beautiful face quickly clouded with anxiety and anger.
Xiao Yao had grown up alongside Li Tian in the Li family of Imperial Capital. The Li Family is one of the biggest families. In that family, she had witnessed many dramatic events, and her perspective and courage far exceeded those of her peers.
But now, she no longer had the protection of that towering tree called the Li Family.
Furthermore, upon leaving the Imperial Capital of the Red Leaf Country, her cultivation had been completely destroyed as per the Emperor's order. It is because she chose to follow Li Tian.
As for Li Tian, he was still unconscious.
Xiao Yao was only fourteen or fifteen. She was overwhelmed with panic and helplessness when facing the sudden situation.
On the other hand, the old man Yun, who had perhaps witnessed and even endured many storms, remained composed. He spoke gently, "The deadline set by the contract for repaying the debt has not yet arrived. Xiao Yao remains free."
"As for you, trespassing into a private residence without permission is a serious offense. If we report your actions to the authority, you'll be arrested and punished."
"Arrested? Punished?"
"Hahaha, what a joke!"
The flashily dressed young man, Zhu Liang, cut off Old Yun's words with a laugh and said arrogantly, "This is my house. I come and go as I please. How could that possibly be considered 'trespassing'?"
"You've been living in my house rent-free for several months without paying a single Copper Coin. And now you have the nerve to accuse me of breaking and entering?"
Upon hearing these words, even the gentle and kind-hearted Xiao Yao couldn't restrain herself from exclaiming sharply, "What a joke. You are twisting right and wrong!"
"At first, it was you who eagerly invited my young master and even offered him this residence. When my young master declined to accept your gift, you persisted shamelessly and pleaded with us to stay. When my young master tried to give you money for the house, you claimed that accepting even half a copper coin from us would be an insult to you."
"So how is it that now the blame has been shifted onto us?"