[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars":3,"chapter-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-53":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Immortal Path Among the Stars",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2319985,4537,"Chapter 53","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>These books were all miscellaneous texts, such as A General Bestiary of Common Demonic Beasts, A Complete Guide to Common Alchemical Ore Materials, and even one titled The Hundred Herbs Identification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, are you looking for something? I have some books at home that might be what you seek?” A pale-faced scholar in his thirties behind the stall, who had been engrossed in a book, looked up and asked upon seeing Wang Yu’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, why is it that here, I see no one selling scriptures on spells or cultivation techniques?” After thinking for a moment, Wang Yu finally voiced his confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, friend, you’ve just arrived at Guangyuan Market, haven’t you?” The pale-faced Daoist chuckled upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, I arrived today.” Wang Yu admitted frankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That explains why you didn’t know—places in Guangyuan Market that sell spell and cultivation scriptures are all in the inner market behind. Only those shops backed by powerful factions are safe enough for us to buy from.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This square is merely a free trading ground for itinerant cultivators. Spells and cultivation scriptures? Not only do sellers lack credibility, buyers dare not even practice them. Who knows if the scriptures traded here have hidden flaws?” The pale-faced Daoist explained with a light laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s how it is,” Wang Yu finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going to the inner market, just go through that exit over there. The goods there are generally much more expensive than here, but there are indeed many fine items.” The pale-faced Daoist pointed to an exit along the edge of the square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu bowed in thanks and left the square, heading toward that exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the inner market?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking along the street in the latter half of the valley, he gazed at the sparse pedestrians and the tall blue-brick pavilions on either side, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was an illusion or not, he faintly sensed that the spiritual energy here seemed slightly purer than in the front half of the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted the storage bag in his robe but did not rush into any shop; instead, he kept examining the banners hanging outside each shopfront.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each banner bore simple symbols, instantly conveying what kind of business the shop conducted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the shop with a banner depicting crossed swords and blades faintly echoed the sound of hammering—almost certainly a weaponsmith’s shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop with a banner showing a medicinal herb was undoubtedly an apothecary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the shop with a banner bearing the symbol of a bamboo slip, he noticed something and his eyes brightened slightly as he strode over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Yu stepped out of the shop again, his expression bore a hint of embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entry-level spell scriptures cost forty to fifty spirit stones; even minor illusion techniques ran seven or eight spirit stones—he simply couldn’t afford them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the three “Primordial Spells” he’d bought in Huangshi City had been absurdly cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he had finally learned where to test for spiritual roots. After searching the street, he arrived at a shop with a banner bearing the character “Qi,” and entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main hall was lavishly decorated. A short-haired man behind the counter rose immediately upon seeing him and asked coolly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, what artifact are you seeking? Miaoxi Hall carries a full range of Five-Element artifacts. If you need appraisal or pawn services, we offer those as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can your shop test spiritual roots?” Wang Yu glanced at the man twice but could not gauge his cultivation level, so he asked directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. We have a specialized artifact for testing spiritual roots. Testing costs ten spirit stones—five to power the device, five as our service fee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Wang Yu’s request, the short-haired man showed no surprise and promptly named the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could you lower it a bit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu winced at the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Testing spiritual roots requires a special auxiliary artifact that can only be activated by spirit stones. The price is the same for everyone.” The man spread his hands, as if helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu frowned slightly but said nothing more. He reached into his sleeve’s storage bag and pulled out ten spirit stones, placing them on the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short-haired man collected the stones, told Wang Yu to wait a moment, then went upstairs and brought down a disc-shaped artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Spirit Root Disc. Simply channel your spiritual energy into it, and it will accurately reveal your spiritual root type and grade.” The man placed the disc on the counter and spoke calmly to Wang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wang Yu picked up the disc with both hands and examined it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disc was the size of a human head, its surface inscribed with dense five-colored spiritual patterns, and around its rim were five holes, each holding a shimmering spirit stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath and, as the man instructed, slowly channeled his spiritual energy through his palms into the disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disc’s surface began glowing in multicolored light, and a powerful suction emerged, causing his internal spiritual energy to gush out like a tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu was startled and had no time to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disc trembled slightly; four of the five surrounding spirit stones ignited with golden, red, blue, and white flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The largest flame—red—was as big as an egg, blazing brilliantly like a tiny fireball, staining three-quarters of the disc crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three flames were no larger than bean seeds, flickering weakly, as if a single breath could extinguish them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Yu pondered what these flames meant, the short-haired man beside him let out a soft “Huh?” in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Gold, Fire, Water, Wind—four spiritual roots. Not only do you have Wind, but your Fire root is even Upper Grade. A pity—if your Wind root were Upper Grade instead, even as a four-root cultivator, every sect would be clamoring to take you in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have an unusual root? And my Fire root is Upper Grade?” Wang Yu blinked, then asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. But aside from Fire, all your other roots are Lower Grade. You have an Upper Grade root and an unusual root—but four roots total? Such a combination is truly odd. I’ve never seen one like it before, hmm…” The short-haired man studied Wang Yu again, murmuring in wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, you’re well-traveled. Might I ask if any sects would accept a cultivator with such roots?” Wang Yu, still weighing the value of his roots, set the disc down and bowed respectfully to the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I’m not affiliated with any sect—how could I know whether any would accept you?” The man chuckled and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must have noticed I’ve only just formed my roots and know little of the sects. You’ve been stationed in this market long enough—you’ve seen much. I beg your guidance.” Wang Yu didn’t hesitate; he flicked his sleeve, and three more white spirit stones appeared on the counter. He smiled at the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough. Since you’re so sincere, I’ll offer a few unsolicited thoughts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short-haired man paused, then quickly understood. He swept one hand over the counter—the three spirit stones vanished. A faint smile appeared as he cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my view, your root composition is indeed awkward. If you follow the usual path to join a sect, whether they accept you or not would be uncertain—depends entirely on each sect’s next recruitment criteria.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I advise you to join a sect specializing in Fire-affinity cultivation techniques.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, Upper Grade Fire roots are rare—they’d value you more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, even if your four roots make your cultivation slow, once you focus solely on Fire-affinity techniques or spells, your power will rise clearly and undeniably, making it easier to stand out and gain more cultivation resources.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for your Wind root—it’s unusual, but its grade is too low. Even if you specialize in Wind techniques, you won’t go far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. But do you know which sects specialize in Fire-affinity techniques?” Wang Yu, convinced by the advice, asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>",1339,"2026-06-20T15:44:30.991Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4d1c75e4acf9b4e5967f241d5892084f24ac71b9c074634dc1b32eb3b98b6bf5","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-54","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-52",530,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-immortal-path-among-the-stars-cover.jpg"]