Chapter 20

"Basically, the vast majority of cultivators have such spiritual roots."

"After that, there are many other exotic spiritual roots such as wind, thunder, ice, dust, etc. Exotic spiritual roots are rare, but that does not mean that exotic spiritual roots are more powerful than five-element spiritual roots."

"It is just that exotic spiritual roots possess power distinct from five-element spiritual roots, and cultivating corresponding techniques will also be more handy."

"For example, a cultivator with a thunder spiritual root will be stronger at cultivating thunder techniques than cultivators with other spiritual roots."

The spiritual root theory that Jiang Yan explained almost opened up a brand-new yet orderly and rigorous cultivation logic system in the hearts of Zhongli and the others.

This was unheard of.

But it sounded very interesting.

Inevitably, more doubts lingered in their hearts.

Suddenly, Liuyun seemed to think of something and raised her head somewhat excitedly:

"If the same person possesses multiple spiritual roots, or even possesses the so-called five-element spiritual roots and many exotic spiritual roots, wouldn't that be..."

"A waste body."

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Yan took over the conversation.

"What did you say?"

Liuyun's face stiffened, and she looked at Jiang Yan in confusion.

"I said, if someone possesses multiple types of spiritual roots, then that is one of the top waste bodies in the cultivation world."

"Even if they have great opportunities to cultivate, being able to cultivate to the Refinement of Essence and Transformation of Qi stage is already incredible."

"However, in my memory, there has not yet been such a thing as a waste material making a comeback."

"Those detected with multiple spiritual roots are basically sent back to the secular world, and in the end, they remain unknown."

Liuyun found it difficult to accept, pursed her lips, and said in a low voice:

"How could it be like this..."

Jiang Yan said softly:

"Spiritual roots are not the more the better, but the more singular the better."

"Just like the old saying in your Liyue, 'greed leads to indigestion'; the general meaning is about the same."

15. Spiritual root detection: Is Teyvat's specialty cultivation geniuses?

Explaining the principle that spiritual roots are not the more the better to them was too complicated, and they might not necessarily understand it.

But just saying "greed leads to indigestion," they understood.

Liuyun looked suddenly enlightened and did not ask more about this topic.

This saved Jiang Yan some effort.

Immediately, Jiang Yan noticed that Zhongli and the others seemed to have something to say but hesitated, and he guessed their thoughts.

It was nothing more than wanting to see if they had spiritual roots and how their talent was.

Simply put, Jiang Yan had originally intended to let them test it.

He smiled gently and pointed to the mirror condensed by true essence on the stone table.

"If you are very curious about how your talent is, you can use this mirror to test it. This is a small spell specifically used to test the talent of disciples."

Hearing this, Zhongli immediately perked up and, under Jiang Yan's guidance, placed his hand on the mirror.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the mirror began to vibrate with a hum.

Immediately after, a steady earth-yellow light bloomed from the mirror surface, and finally condensed into a pillar of light that climbed step by step above Zhongli's head.

Zhongli was somewhat confused and was about to ask Jiang Yan something, but noticed Jiang Yan looking at him with a complex expression.

Faintly, there was also some incredible emotion mixed in his eyes.

Zhongli felt a bit more settled in his heart.

But he still asked:

"So, how is my cultivation talent?"

Jiang Yan withdrew his gaze and sighed with some melancholy.

"Heaven-grade earth spiritual root..."

"Is that... good?"

Zhongli asked curiously.

Jiang Yan shook his head slightly.

"You underestimate yourself too much. A heaven-grade earth spiritual root, in other words, can be called a heaven spiritual root; that is a top-tier genius who is bound to become an immortal as long as they don't die young."

"Even if placed in the heyday of Shushan, it is an existence that many elders would fight over to take as a personal disciple."

Hearing this, Xiao and the others immediately congratulated Zhongli with full joy.

And Zhongli, although his temperament was steady, if he said he had absolutely no emotional fluctuation about such a thing, then it would be a ghost.

Feeling somewhat satisfied, Zhongli stepped aside.

Jiang Yan also perked up.

Originally, he hadn't thought that Zhongli would really have such powerful talent.

He just felt that Zhongli would have cultivation talent; as long as he had it, even if it was a half-waste aptitude like a three-spiritual-root.

He could use the rebuilding of Shushan as an excuse, saying it was a time when people were needed, and then pull Zhongli into Shushan to be a coolie...

No!

To be a pillar!

But who would have known...

Zhongli, this guy, clearly a life form from a small world on the Imaginary Tree like Teyvat.

Actually possessed a heaven spiritual root that is rare even in the cultivation world.

Where can one go to reason about this?

If Zhongli really started cultivating, Jiang Yan felt that this guy would really pass the tribulation and become an immortal.

At this moment, Jiang Yan couldn't help but become much more serious, looking at the remaining people with anticipation.

One Zhongli was already a huge profit, but Jiang Yan never minded earning a little more.

"Ganyu, you go."

Liuyun patted Ganyu beside her, who was stunned for a moment and was about to decline.

Jiang Yan reached out and held Ganyu's hand.

"Hold your breath and calm your mind, let the true essence in the mirror flow freely, do not resist."

Ganyu didn't pay attention to what Jiang Yan said; she only knew that Jiang Yan was holding her hand.

Instantly, a blush climbed from her neck to her cheeks, and faintly, Ganyu's eyes were even spinning.

However, the next moment, an extremely cold aura surged from her body, and Ganyu immediately came back to her senses.

The mirror condensed by true essence in front of her suddenly bloomed with ice-blue radiance.

However, it was a bit weaker than the pillar of light Zhongli had just now.

Everyone didn't understand what this meant and could only look at Jiang Yan.

But they found that Jiang Yan was already somewhat doubting life, constantly examining the mirror, seemingly feeling that there was a problem with the mirror.

After a long while, Jiang Yan reacted; this mirror was condensed by his own true essence, so there was no problem.

Only then did he say with joy mixed with melancholy:

"Top-grade ice-attribute exotic spiritual root... although it is not as good as Zhongli's heaven spiritual root, it is also a top-tier genius."

Hearing this, Ganyu immediately smiled with satisfaction.

She didn't ask to surpass Zhongli in talent; what kind of existence Zhongli was, the whole of Teyvat knew.

Being able to be second only to Zhongli now was already a huge good thing.

At the very least, Jiang Yan said she was a genius.

Two consecutive tests, one heaven spiritual root, one top-grade exotic spiritual root—Jiang Yan had completely doubted life.

Looking at the remaining immortals like Liuyun who were full of anticipation, Jiang Yan didn't believe in evil.

Although being able to detect a bunch of geniuses was an absolute benefit for the future development of Shushan.

But...

It just felt unreal.

Immediately, Jiang Yan accelerated the testing progress.

But this time, Jiang Yan felt even more like he was dreaming.