Chapter 547: Attitude

The "next" called out from the Testing Platform was like a pebble cast into a calm surface of water.

As Cheng Feng walked back to the crowd, the way those standing nearby looked at him had already changed.

There was pity, there was doubt, there was a sense that it was a waste for him, but more than anything, there was a sense of relief.

So what if he was ranked third?

With mid-to-low grade Root Bone and a low-grade Water Spirit Root, he likely wouldn't get very far on the path of the Immortal.

Some things might be unbeatable for a moment, but as time goes on, they will eventually be left behind.

"Senior Brother Cheng, what a pity." A youth ranked in the teens cupped his hands toward him; his tone was polite, but the schadenfreude in his eyes could not be hidden.

His name was Zheng Yun, and he had been swept aside by Cheng Feng in the first round on the Flying Boat; ever since, he had walked around Cheng Feng whenever he saw him.

At this moment, he had taken the initiative to approach, simply because he felt that in the days to come, Cheng Feng was no longer worth going out of his way to avoid.

Cheng Feng glanced at him, gave a faint "mm," and did not stop his pace.

Zhou Tieyi's expression also darkened after he returned from his test.

He himself was a mid-grade Gold Spirit Root; although he couldn't compare to that youth with the top-grade Gold Spirit Root, it was still considered quite good.

Yet at this moment, he couldn't be happy at all. He followed behind Cheng Feng for a long stretch before finally blurting out: "That bunch of people are just begging for a beating. You beat them into submission on the Flying Boat, but now that their Root Bones are out, they're all acting high and mighty."

Cheng Feng smiled slightly: "Do you still have the leisure to care about whether others are acting high and mighty?"

"I'm just furious," Zhou Tieyi gritted his teeth. "Who do they think they are? Why didn't they show their faces during the Ranking Battle? Now they're acting like big shots."

"Then why don't you go up and beat them?" Cheng Feng asked.

Zhou Tieyi was stunned: "Isn't that just to avoid causing you trouble?"

"So, let them look at it however they want."

Cheng Feng stopped under a pine tree by the road and looked back at him.

"I came to the Shangqing Immortal Sect, not to bicker with people over petty grievances.

How my Root Bone is, how my Spirit Root is—that is talent; I cannot change it.

What I can change is only how I walk the path ahead. If they are willing to look down on me, it just saves me some trouble."

Zhou Tieyi was silent for a moment, then muttered: "You certainly are open-minded."

"It's not being open-minded," Cheng Feng said. "It's having no time to care."

The two walked along the stone steps toward the courtyard. Along the way, many newly initiated disciples were gathered in twos and threes.

Some were excitedly discussing the grade of their Spirit Roots, while others were discussing arrangements for outer sect cultivation.

Still others were already circling those few with top-grade Spirit Roots, like vines climbing a tree, anxious to find themselves a backer.

Cheng Feng saw Bai Wugou.

Bai Wugou stood under a green pine, his white robes whiter than snow, holding a Sword in his arms, just quietly listening to a few disciples who had stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

Those people had fawning expressions, saying things like "Long admired, Senior Brother Bai" and "The White Flame Body truly lives up to its reputation."

Bai Wugou's expression was calm, only nodding occasionally, saying little.

Seeing Cheng Feng and Zhou Tieyi, he nodded to acknowledge them.

Cheng Feng nodded to show he understood.

Further away, Mu Qing sat alone on the railing of the stone steps halfway up the mountain, slowly wiping that grey-black short Sword with a piece of coarse cloth.

The sunlight shone on her profile, outlining her features with extreme sharpness.

When people passed by her and cast glances her way, she did not raise her head, nor did she pay them any mind.

There were also many people surrounding Zhou Yanran. This Wang Ji possessed the Qingyuan Sword Body and a high-to-mid-grade Gold Spirit Root; combined with her noble status, naturally, there were those who wanted to draw close.

She handled it with ease, occasionally smiling lightly, occasionally looking serious, as if she had long been accustomed to such scenes.

Only where Cheng Feng was, apart from Zhou Tieyi, it was cold and deserted.

Cheng Feng was quite at ease.

After returning to Jia-3 Courtyard, he first drew a pot of well water, washed his face, and changed into clean clothes.

Then he sat under the maple tree, reopened the General Knowledge of Cultivation newly issued by the outer sect to the pages discussing Spirit Roots and cultivation, and read slowly by the fading sunlight.

There were a few passages in the book that he only truly understood today.

"The Spirit Root is the foundation of cultivation. Spirit Roots are divided into the five elements, each with its own attributes. The five elements generate and overcome one another, and the quality of the Spirit Root determines the upper limit of cultivation.

Those with low-grade Spirit Roots may sense Qi throughout their lives, but it is difficult to achieve the Spirit Soul."

Cheng Feng's finger paused on this sentence. Low-grade Spirit Root, difficult to achieve the Spirit Soul throughout one's life.

He did not understand what realm the Spirit Soul was, but he imagined it must be a very distant pass on the road to longevity.

He was still very, very far from there.

He looked further down.

"Those with Water Spirit Roots have a nature that is soft and tends downward; it is beneficial for nourishing Qi and excels in endurance.

However, a low-grade Water Spirit Root is like a shallow stream; though it can nourish, it is difficult to form a great momentum.

If one wishes to advance further, one must have extraordinary methods."

He read this sentence three times, then turned the page.

There was another passage behind it, marked with ink of a different color, seemingly annotated by a later reader.

"At the extreme of water, it can transform into Cold Ice, can become clouds and mist, can contain the Flood Dragon.

Regardless of grade, all Water Spirit Roots have a glimmer of opportunity.

Yet this opportunity cannot be relied upon; only the self-strengthening can grasp it."

Cheng Feng closed the book.

Water Spirit Root, low-grade. Added to that bit of mysterious Flood Dragon Bloodline in his body, his Root Bone had been rated as mid-to-low.

He accepted all of this.

But that phrase, "capable of containing a flood dragon," was like an extremely fine needle, lightly pricking him.

He looked up at the sky; twilight was spreading up from the mountains, as if someone had spilled an entire inkstone of light ink across the horizon.

He suddenly remembered those years spent learning martial arts at the Martial Arts Hall.

His master had said, "Aptitude is determined by those who came before, but the path is walked by oneself."

Then he would walk it.

A knocking sound came from outside the courtyard gate, light and short—three taps, no more, no less.

Cheng Feng rose to open the door. Standing outside was Zhao Xiaoan.

The round-faced youth held a wooden tray in his hands, on which sat three small celadon bottles and a thin booklet.

"Senior Brother Cheng, these are the Bigu Pill and the first month's cultivation schedule, the 'Guide to Initial Outer Sect Cultivation,' just issued by the Outer Sect."

Zhao Xiaoan handed over the wooden tray, smiling somewhat awkwardly; he seemed to have heard about the results at the Testing Platform and feared Cheng Feng was in a bad mood.

Cheng Feng took them and offered a word of thanks.

Zhao Xiaoan, however, did not leave. He hesitated at the doorway and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother Cheng, about that... the matter of the Spirit Root, please don't take it too much to heart.

I've been running errands in this Outer Sect for two years and have seen many people who didn't stand out when they first arrived, yet later made a name for themselves.

On the contrary, some with good Spirit Roots couldn't keep up in temperament and got stuck after only a few years."

Cheng Feng looked at him and suddenly asked, "Have you had your Spirit Root tested?"

Zhao Xiaoan scratched his head, smiling somewhat sheepishly: "I have. It's a Mixed Spirit Root, not even worth counting as low-grade, so I can only do odd jobs in the Outer Sect. But I can still cultivate; it's just slower."

Cheng Feng nodded: "Then why are you advising me?"

Zhao Xiaoan said earnestly: "Precisely because it is slow, I know better that as long as one is willing to put in the effort, one is always moving forward.

Since Senior Brother Cheng was able to rank third, you must also be a person who works hard."

Cheng Feng was silent for a moment, then reached out and patted his shoulder lightly: "I'll take your kind words."

Zhao Xiaoan ran off with a smile.

Cheng Feng closed the door, returned to the courtyard, and placed the wooden tray on the stone table.

Three bottles of Bigu Pill, Guide to Initial Outer Sect Cultivation.

He did not rush to flip through the Guide to Initial Outer Sect Cultivation, but instead picked up a bottle of Bigu Pill first, pulled out the stopper, and took a sniff.

The medicinal scent was clear and sweet, of a much better quality than those distributed on the Flying Boat.

He poured out one pill, rolled it between his fingers, put it back, and stoppered it again.

He had not failed to see those gazes beneath the Testing Platform today.

It was just that he was clearer on the fact that before one has gained a firm foothold, all emotions are superfluous.

The private courtyard that came with his third-place ranking was still his to live in, and for the time being, no one could touch this position.

But he knew this stability would not last long.

Once his physical body, which rivaled Gang Qi, no longer stood out among the Outer Disciples,

those who looked at him with cold eyes would all reveal their true colors.

Fortunately, he had never thought of relying on others.

The night breeze passed through the maple trees, blowing away some of the summer heat.

Cheng Feng sat down, opened the "Guide to Initial Outer Sect Cultivation," and began to read it word by word, by the light of the Spirit Qi emanating from the Spirit Well in the courtyard.