Chapter 360: Progress Soars, Upper-Grade Spiritual Root!

'Search high and low, yet find nothing—then it appears without effort!'

Li Rui had searched endlessly for the treasures mentioned in the Ascending Spirit Method, but found none.

Yet now, they appeared before him out of nowhere.

He forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart.

He turned to the remaining two wooden boxes, his fingers trembling slightly, and lifted both lids at once.

When he saw what lay inside the boxes, Li Rui's expression changed again.

'Baohua Spirit Fruit!'

This fruit, like the Cold Soul Purple Crystal, was one of the nine methods recorded in the Ascending Spirit Scripture.

He had labored tirelessly, expending immense effort, just to acquire four of the Ascending Spirit materials.

Lin Lang made a single move.

And delivered two of them to him.

The Tianyuan Trading Association's resources were truly extraordinary.

He had expected Lin Lang to be generous, but never imagined he would be this generous.

Both the Cold Soul Purple Crystal and the Baohua Spirit Fruit, besides enhancing spiritual roots, were rare body-refining treasures for martial artists, and due to their extreme rarity, they had long vanished from the world.

Otherwise, with his own resources, he would never have searched so long and found not a single clue.

Only the Tianyuan Trading Association, with its vast collection of rare treasures across the land, could have found them.

In just one night.

Li Rui's progress in enhancing his spiritual root surged dramatically.

Three methods suffice for a middle-grade spiritual root; six methods elevate it to upper-grade.

He had now gathered all six methods—he could now ascend to an upper-grade spiritual root, and then cultivate the Five Spirit Body Refining Art.

Lin Lang wasn't giving him a gift—he was giving him a great boon!

To avoid any unforeseen complications.

Li Rui immediately swallowed both the Cold Soul Purple Crystal and the Baohua Spirit Fruit, following the methods recorded in the Ascending Spirit Scripture.

Instantly.

Golden light blazed throughout the room.

At midnight, a carriage slowly moved along Qinghe Street.

Inside the carriage.

Lin family father and daughter sat facing each other.

Lin Wan spoke: 'Father, he's merely a fourth-rank official, a local one at that—is he truly worth such a great expenditure?'

The Tianyuan Trading Association conducts vast business, and our Lin family is among the top two of its four great clans.

Cultivating connections with high-ranking officials is, of course, essential.

In fact, most of the Lin family's wealth is poured into such connections.

Yet no one in the Lin family objects to this.

But today, even I was stunned by Father's actions.

Too valuable.

Even I think it's excessive—clearly, the gesture is enormous.

Two of the items were, in fact, legendary treasures. I had only heard of them from Liu Tong, who said Li Rui was searching for them—I mentioned it in passing to Father, and never imagined he would truly mobilize the family's ties within the Tianyuan Trading Association and pay an enormous price to obtain them.

We've done this before in the capital.

On several occasions, the gifts we gave were even more valuable than today's.

But the recipients were either high-ranking second- or third-rank officials with real power, or powerful terrestrial immortals.

Li Rui is merely fourth-rank, a foreign official, and his realm is only Primordial—compared to those great lords, he is vastly inferior.

So I wonder why Father holds Li Rui in such high regard?

Lin Lang smiled faintly: 'Wan'er, I've told you before: our Lin family's rise within the Tianyuan Trading Association has never relied on martial strength or business tactics.'

'It relies on the words: cultivating good fortune.'

'There are so many people in the world—we cannot befriend them all, so we must choose wisely.'

'The ability to judge character is crucial.'

'Li Rui may one day give our Lin family a great surprise.'

Lin Wan's expression grew serious.

'Father, I understand.'

Her father Lin Lang, whose martial skill was only Sea-Viewing, had taken control of the Lin family precisely because he had so many allies.

More accurately, because of his ability to judge character.

Had Lin Lang not defied the family's opposition and spent heavily to befriend the third son of the Dingyuan Marquis, thereby forging a connection with the Marquis himself, the Tianyuan Trading Association might no longer exist today.

Even the ancestral elder praised this move.

Everyone in the Tianyuan Trading Association admired Lin Lang's skill in judging character.

Seeing this, Lin Lang nodded with satisfaction: 'Wan'er, I will grow old eventually, and your brothers are all useless. The burden of the Lin family will fall on you.'

'Yes, Father.'

Lin Wan felt the weight on her heart grow heavier.

Though the Lin family now appears splendid and flourishing.

In truth, it is already in decline.

Lin Lang's generation still had capable uncles and cousins, but in mine, each one is either frail and sickly, or hot-tempered and dissolute—not one is fit to lead the Lin family.

In the end, only I, the youngest daughter, became the most suitable candidate.

Though the reverence for males over females has lessened since the Female Martial Saint ranked tenth in the world, I am still a woman—rising to power will be far more arduous than for a man.

Lin Lang sighed inwardly.

He was deliberately testing Lin Wan.

In truth, his confidence in Li Rui had nothing to do with some vague talent for judging character.

It came from intelligence he received.

Li Rui has another identity: a guest advisor of the Wenxian Tower—in other words, a trusted confidant of Gu Changsheng.

Furthermore.

A few days ago, I learned a secret from within the palace.

Li Rui entered the imperial palace—not to the Wuying Hall, but to the Imperial Garden.

Though both lie within the imperial precincts, the difference is immense: one implies merely ordinary discussions with military officials; the other signifies he is the Emperor's intimate confidant.

It's much like the Emperor praising his grandson, Hu Tou, as being cute and lively.

Public favor is not true favor; private favor is the real thing.

What kind of man is Lin Lang?

He immediately deduced Li Rui's significance, and with Qinghe's growing trend to become a southern stronghold, he made his move decisively.

Business is all about gambling. Once you decide to bet, you must bet heavily.

Hesitation and stinginess might offend someone and end up costing more than it gains.

That's why I was so generous.

Lin Lang lifted the curtain, gazing at Qinghe, growing ever more prosperous, perhaps one day surpassing half a province.

'My luck in gambling has always been good—I expect it to be the same this time.'

He sat motionless all night.

When Li Rui opened his eyes, it was already the next morning.

The sound of cicadas filled his ears.

'Truly excellent treasures.'

He praised softly.

He slowly rose to his feet.

!

After being nourished by the Cold Soul Purple Crystal and the Baohua Spirit Fruit, his spiritual root surged again, directly reaching the upper-grade level; moreover, his Primordial foundation had become even more solid.

His spiritual root was already strong to begin with, and after the enhancement, it stood out even among upper-grade roots.

With a slight thought.

He activated the Xuan Water Body, one of the Five Spirit Body Refining Art's techniques.

Instantly.

Brilliant azure light flared, and all surrounding Xuan Water qi was drawn into Li Rui's body.

The efficiency had increased by more than threefold!

From ancient texts, it is clear: the spiritual root is the foundation of cultivation; the gap between different grades is immense, and all who attain immortality have been upper-grade—or even supreme-grade—spiritual roots.

Don't be fooled by myths—those rare tales of lower-grade roots becoming Immortal Sovereigns are exceedingly few.

Now that Li Rui has the chance to cultivate,

He must lay a solid foundation.

Only in this world could he access the Ascending Spirit Method's tools—back in ancient times, aside from the Spirit-Testing Stone, none of the other items would have been within reach, long monopolized by the great immortal sects.

Li Rui's current upper-grade spiritual root would be considered a notable talent even in ancient immortal sects.

He is also an exceptional cultivation prodigy of this age.

After acquiring a top-grade spiritual root.

Though his strength showed no obvious increase, he could clearly feel his perception of celestial spiritual energy had become far more acute, and even his comprehension had improved.

All of this signaled the possibility of touching the Immortal Dao.

'It is said that in ancient times, only those with mid-grade spiritual roots were eligible to enter immortal sects, and only those with top-grade spiritual roots had any chance of becoming true disciples—chosen and personally trained by great cultivators.'

In other words, top-grade spiritual roots were truly the ones given hope.

There was no way around it.

At the same realm, a mid-grade spiritual root required more than ten times the resources of a top-grade one.

The higher the realm, the greater the gap.

In the end, they were trapped by lack of resources and could only stagnate.

Such cases were everywhere; only one or two managed to defy heaven and become immortals.

With a top-grade spiritual root.

Many previously baffling sections of the Five Spirits Body Refinement Art now became clear.

'I can truly cultivate immortal techniques.'

Li Rui was overjoyed.

He did not greedily attempt to cultivate all five spiritual bodies at once; instead, he continued focusing solely on the Dark Water Body, advancing step by step.

Cultivation knows no day or night.

Before he realized it, he had cultivated for three days and three nights.

When the three days passed.

As he stepped out the door, Liang He and Liu Tong were already waiting in the Garrison Compound.

Seeing Li Rui appear.

Both immediately rose and hurried forward.

'Master, you've finally come out.'

They had long heard from Liu Tiezhu about Li Rui's fondness for seclusion, so they dared not disturb him and came daily to the Garrison Compound to wait.

Li Rui chuckled: 'Why are you here?'

Liu Tong spoke first: 'Lord, are you satisfied with the gifts from the Lin family?'

At the mention of Lin Lang's gifts.

Li Rui nodded with a smile: 'Satisfied. Little Liu, you did well.'

Without thinking, Lin Lang had sent Cold Soul Purple Crystal and Precious Flower Spirit Fruit only because Liu Tong had whispered enough in Lin Wan's ear.

His rapid promotion to top-grade spiritual root.

Liu Tong deserved at least half the credit.

'Lord, the merchant guild's staff is nearly assembled. Tomorrow, I plan to open with Miss Wan. You must come, Master.'

Ever since Li Rui's promotion, the merchant guild's progress had faced no further obstacles.

In just three days.

All preparations were complete.

'Lord, give the guild a name.'

Although Liu Tong was the nominal chairman, he knew that without Li Rui, the guild could never have been established.

Li Rui: 'Let Chairman Lin choose.'

The guild was half his and half Lin Lang's; he had received a great boon for nothing—modesty was fitting.

Liu Tong chuckled: 'I already asked. Chairman Lin wants you to name it.'

He scratched his head.

He felt slightly embarrassed for acting on his own.

What else could he do? Li Rui had been in seclusion these three days.

Fortunately, Li Rui was a gentle and approachable elder and bore him no ill will.

Li Rui was not annoyed; instead, he said warmly: 'You're chairman now—you must have some boldness. From now on, decide the guild's affairs yourself. Don't miss opportunities waiting for me.'

'Since you've asked me to name it, then...'

His voice trailed off.

Then he slowly spoke:

'Let it be Spring Wind Hall.'

(End of Chapter)