Chapter 2: Rare Spirit Root

Finally, the ninth day of the first lunar month arrived, and the Spirit Testing Assembly began early.

On the mountainside of the main peak, at the family plaza.

The annual Spirit Testing Assembly is being held here to test the spirit roots of the descendants of the Lin family's cultivators and mortal children.

The descendants of family cultivators live on the ancestral mountain with the cultivators before spirit testing, so it goes without saying.

Mortal children live in mortal towns or villages, not far from the family, but it would be too dangerous for these children to come to the family for spirit root testing by themselves.

So the Lin family stipulates that for towns closer to the family, parents are responsible for bringing age-appropriate children to the ancestral mountain for spirit root testing.

For those towns or villages that are particularly far away, a cultivator stationed at a nearby spirit vein is sent to test for spirit roots once a year, and the family will give the stationed cultivator a certain contribution point reward.

The plaza here covers an area of more than ten acres and can accommodate two or three thousand people each time.

Every year, the spirit root testing on the ancestral mountain is a task issued by the family, and a clansman with a relatively steady personality is assigned the family task to be responsible for testing the spirit roots of all children.

"Next!"

"No spirit root."

"Next!"

The one speaking is Lin Maoxiang, the fourteenth in the 'Mao' generation, who received the task of spirit root testing this year.

It's just that I don't know if my luck is bad or if these children have shallow immortal affinity; he has already tested more than eight hundred children, and only one has a spirit root, and it's a five-attribute spirit root.

"I don't know what it's like behind? The remaining part are the descendants of the cultivators on the mountain; there should be quite a few with spirit roots!" Lin Maoxiang thought to himself.

At this time, Lin Qing, following his parents, was in the crowd waiting for spirit root testing, looking at the team in front with some anxiety, watching one child after another go up for testing, and then one after another come down with a mournful face, and couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Don't worry, Qing'er, your grandfather has said that you have a spirit root, relax a little!" his mother comforted him.

"What kind of spirit root you have is destined by heaven and cannot be changed by manpower! No matter if the spirit root is good or bad, your mother and I will do our best to help you cultivate," his father comforted him.

Lin Qing responded absentmindedly.

After waiting for another hour or so, it was finally Lin Qing's turn.

Lin Qing walked to the spirit testing platform and stood still, first bowing to Lin Maoxiang.

"Nephew Lin Qing, greets Fourteenth Uncle!"

"You are from the fifteenth brother's family, right? Stretch out your hand! Place it on the spirit testing plate."

Lin Maoxiang set up the spirit testing plate, and Lin Qing placed his hands face down on the surface of the spirit testing plate, waiting for the spirit root test.

"Fourteenth Uncle, is it like this?"

"Yes, that's right."

Lin Maoxiang sent a strand of spiritual energy into the spirit testing plate to stimulate the spirit root in Lin Qing's dantian.

On the spirit testing plate lay five crystal pillars covered with scales, all of different colors.

White represents Metal attribute, green represents Wood attribute, blue represents Water attribute, red represents Fire attribute, and yellow represents Earth attribute.

Seeing that there was only a spirit testing plate representing the five elements on it, Lin Qing knew this was a low-grade spirit plate.

High-grade spirit testing plates could only be possessed by large sects or Golden Core families. This could also be considered a means of control by the sect over its affiliated families! Lin Qing thought wildly.

Lin Qing placed his hands on the spirit testing plate.

After waiting for a moment, the five crystal pillars on the spirit testing plate emitted colorful light. Lin Maoxiang was stunned for a moment, and then recovered.

He said to Lin Qing: "Five-attribute spirit root, each attribute is twenty points. The attribute points are distributed so evenly; this five-attribute spirit root is quite rare."

Lin Qing didn't even know how he walked out, his mind kept echoing the three words "Five-attribute spirit root!"

After he came out, his parents greeted him. Seeing his bad complexion, Lin Maosheng sighed, knowing that Lin Qing's aptitude might not be very good.

He said to Xu Wenying and Lin Qing: "Let's talk about anything when we get home. Your grandfather and the others are still waiting at home!"

The group returned home. Grandfather, Second Uncle Lin Maobin, and Aunt Lin Maoting holding his younger sister were all waiting for news. Everyone surrounded Lin Qing. Lin Qing repeated what Fourteenth Uncle had said with a depressed heart. After hearing this, Grandfather was silent for a moment, then said with a serious face: "A five-attribute spirit root is not impossible to cultivate, it's just that the process might be a bit more bumpy.

But throughout history, there have been many people with five-attribute spirit roots who have achieved great things. If others can do it, why can't you? If you want to cultivate without this perseverance, even if you were given a three-attribute spirit root, you would still not be able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Think about it yourself! Come find me when you've thought it through.

You guys, don't surround him here, let him think about it himself."

Second Uncle stood up and patted Lin Qing on the shoulder, "It's okay, at worst, Second Uncle will hunt a few more demonic beasts in the future, I'm not afraid of lacking cultivation resources."

Aunt also patted Lin Qing's head, "Qing'er, don't be discouraged. In the future, Aunt will plant more spirit medicines suitable for refining Qi Gathering Pills and Marrow Cleansing Pills.

Even if I have to pile them up, I'll pile you up to the late stage of Qi Refining, don't think too much." After speaking, she hugged younger sister Lin Ling and went out.

His parents didn't say anything. His mother just looked at Lin Qing worriedly, and his father patted Lin Qing's head, and they all walked out.

Now only Lin Qing was left. Lin Qing returned to his room blankly, lay on the bed, and looked out the window with dull eyes.

Actually, he understood the reasoning, but having been born into a cultivation family since childhood, he understood even better the predicament that a five-attribute spirit root would face. That really wasn't just generally difficult!

It would even drag down the family, just like what Second Uncle and Aunt said just now.

One goes to hunt demonic beasts, one plants spirit medicines and spirit grasses; originally these were their own cultivation resources, but now they are prepared for Lin Zhangqing.

This is a kind of drag. Once or twice is fine, but if it happens too many times, the influence and drag on them will only be greater.

So Lin Zhangqing was truly depressed to the extreme. His luck was simply too bad; this could almost be considered a hell-difficulty start!

Lying on the bed for an afternoon, he finally adjusted his emotions.

Mainly, he tried hard to convince himself that in this world, being able to cultivate was already very lucky, much luckier than those who had to leave the ancestral mountain.

Heaven letting him reincarnate here and letting him have the good fortune to live another life was already a favor of fate.

And there was a family who cared for him; this was already many times better than his previous life, so there was really nothing to be depressed about.

And Grandfather letting him think it through before going to find him, maybe there would be a surprise for him! After thinking it through, he quickly got up, opened the door, and came to the living room.

His parents, Second Uncle, and Aunt were all in the living room, everyone saying something here and there.

Seeing them, Lin Qing hurriedly spoke: "Father, Mother, Second Uncle, Aunt, I've made you worry. Qing'er has thought it through. In the future, I will work harder to cultivate and strive to impact the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible."

After hearing this, his mother smiled and said: "That's right, my son has been so intelligent since childhood, how could he not think through such a small matter!"

Aunt also said: "It's good that you've thought it through, everyone doesn't need to worry anymore. Rest assured, the spirit medicines Aunt promised you will definitely not run away, and I won't let your cultivation speed be too much slower than others."

Second Uncle patted Lin Qing's shoulder hard, "Well done, this is the good son of the Lin family, what was that twisting and turning in the morning!"

His father patted Lin Qing's head, "Qing'er has grown up, cultivate well in the future, learn more skills, so you can protect your mother, aunt, and younger sister in the future."

After hearing this, Lin Qing felt ashamed, his face flushed slightly, and he said earnestly: "In the future, I want to protect all of you."

Everyone laughed out loud after hearing this. Second Uncle patted his own chest, "Your Second Uncle is very powerful, no need for you to protect me, just take care of my old age and funeral in the future."

"Okay, no problem! In the future, I'll be responsible for taking care of Second Uncle and Aunt's old age."

His father patted Second Uncle's head hard, "If you want someone to take care of your old age, why don't you have your own? Don't snatch my son."

Second Uncle awkwardly touched the place where his older brother hit him, "It's not that I haven't met the right one! I guess it's hard to say in the future, don't I have to book it in advance!"

"I am willing to take care of Second Uncle's old age," Lin Qing said with a serious face.

After hearing this, Second Uncle laughed heartily, patting Lin Qing's shoulder hard, "Good boy, I didn't love you in vain, Second Uncle will hunt more demonic beasts in the future and earn cultivation resources for you."

His father ignored Second Uncle and said to Lin Qing: "Qing'er is sensible! Let your mother get you something delicious, rest well tonight, and go find your grandfather tomorrow."

Lin Qing responded and returned to his room to rest after eating.

Today, after testing his spirit root, he was in low spirits and didn't pay attention. He didn't know how the few little friends of the same age on the mountain were doing!

Can they stay on the ancestral mountain to cultivate? Lin Qing thought worriedly. I hope they all have a good result tomorrow, he thought wildly while lying on the bed and slowly fell asleep.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 3 =====