Chapter 4: It

Very quickly, the transparent and colorless Spirit-Testing Stone began to turn golden, with tiny wisps of lightning swimming within it, and spiritual energy overflowing.

Rong Shou's deep, exquisitely beautiful black pupils grew brighter and brighter, like stars, capable of vying with the bright moon for brilliance.

"Heaven-grade Thunder Spirit Root!"

Su Xi had already known through the system, but she still pretended not to understand, "What is that?"

"Spirit Roots are divided into four grades: Divine, Heaven, Earth, and Mortal. Divine-grade is the highest, perhaps one may be found in a prosperous age; Heaven-grade is superior, one in a hundred thousand; Earth-grade is medium, one in a thousand; Mortal-grade is inferior, one in a hundred.

The Thunder Spirit Root is the rarest of all attributes, possessing the greatest attack power, being most rigid and pure. During Tribulation Transcendence, the higher one's cultivation realm, the easier it is to pass. Disciple, give your hand to your Master." As Rong Shou spoke, he reached his hand toward Su Xi.

With a jade-white palm showing clear lines and a red mole in the center, it was hard for Su Xi's gaze not to be drawn to it.

She rubbed her hand against her sleeve before placing it on his palm, "Master can just call me Xiao Xi; my parents both call me that."

"Very well." Rong Shou grasped her hand.

A gentle stream of true essence spiritual power entered her body along the meridians of Su Xi's hand.

A moment later, Rong Shou lowered his thick eyelashes, concealing the shock in his eyes.

When he raised them again, his gaze had returned to normal.

His other hand moved with extreme speed to form a seal, and strands of runic magic entered the center of Su Xi's brow, concealing the increasingly flickering thunder-light origin spirit between her brows.

Su Xi felt waves of gentle warmth, and her body relaxed along with it.

"Master, what are you doing?"

"Hiding your Heaven-grade Thunder Spirit Root and Profound Thunder Dao Body. Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage and above can perform possession on Dao Bodies with lower realms than their own, especially some evil demonic cultivators. Letting them discover you is like a drunkard seeing wine or a miser seeing money."

"Then it must be hidden. How can one show off good things? I don't want to be targeted by petty villains."

To think it could even be hidden; it's fortunate I acknowledged a Master!

Rong Shou continued to bestow defensive measures upon Su Xi, stopping only when his forehead began to lightly bead with sweat.

Looking at Su Xi, who was now protected by layers of defensive spells, he nodded with satisfaction.

"Unless someone's cultivation is higher than your Master's, no one will be able to see through your foundation, nor will they be able to possess you."

"What realm is Master in?"

"Mid-stage Integration, Small Perfection. Once I enter the late stage, I will reinforce it for you again."

"Then what if there is someone higher than you?"

"Disciple." Rong Shou smiled.

Su Xi was instantly dazed, forgetting what she had just said.

"Whoever dares to touch you, your Master will make them regret stepping into the cultivation world." Rong Shou's smile deepened, becoming even more bewitching to the soul, dazzling and intoxicating.

"……!" People who look good even look good when they are angry.

Rong Shou took a palm-sized, exquisitely crafted five-colored silk bag from his Storage Ring and handed it to Su Xi, "This is a Storage Bag. After dripping a drop of blood to claim ownership, you can take out or put in non-living items at will."

"So pretty, thank you, Master." Su Xi took it happily.

Rong Shou turned and walked away.

Su Xi tucked the Storage Bag into her pocket and followed him, "Master, how old are you this year? What is your name? Do you have any other disciples besides me?"

"Rong Shou. There are no other disciples besides you." Rong Shou glanced back at her.

Su Xi was somewhat surprised, "A lone sprout, then."

Rong Shou: "Is that not good?"

"No, no, I'm very happy that I'll be able to enjoy all of Master's benefits alone in the future." Su Xi replied with utmost honesty.

Rong Shou couldn't be bothered to pay her any mind.

Su Xi followed Rong Shou to a small wooden building.

There was a low courtyard wall, a small pool of water inside, some melons and vegetables planted by the water, and a calico cat lying on the soft grass, sleeping lazily.

Su Xi felt a surge of joy and squatted down to greet it, "Meow meow~"

The calico cat squinted and looked over, its emerald-green eyes scrutinizing Su Xi with vigilance. Only after discovering the aura of Rong Shou's magic on her did it stretch, roll over, and continue sleeping.

"So cute~" Su Xi approached it, and seeing it only flicked its tail without rejecting her, she reached out to gently stroke its fur, "Beautiful cat, just as stunning as Master!"

Rong Shou: "……It is called Da Miao, and it is already four hundred and ninety-nine years old this year."

"Eh!?" Su Xi was incredibly shocked. This little thing, only a foot long, is four hundred and ninety-nine years old?

Da Miao's tail hooked Su Xi's wrist and gave a casual flick…… she went flying, falling toward the water pool.

"Master, help me—" Su Xi shouted in panic.

Rong Shou turned a deaf ear and entered the small building.

*Splash~* Su Xi fell into the water, splashing a large spray, and after struggling a few times, she stopped moving.

The pool was not deep, only reaching her knees.

Aside from being a bit disheveled, there was no threat……

There were many stones of various sizes at the bottom of the pool, and she fished two out.

One was milky white, the other brownish-yellow; their texture was moist and translucent, emitting a soft, non-piercing glow under the sunlight.

【Host, these are high-grade Spirit Stones, which can be used for cultivation and are also the common currency of the cultivation world.】

【That's great, let's gather some.】 Su Xi scavenged over a hundred Spirit Stones into the System Space.

She also picked up a green Spirit Object that looked just like Da Miao's eyes and tossed it toward it.

Da Miao opened its mouth to swallow the Spirit Object, looking at her as if she were an idiot!

A happy, pure smile appeared on Su Xi's still-childish face, 【System, do you have a name?】

【No, only the number 013.】

【Then let me give you a name, how about Yuan Yuan?】

【Choose another one.】

Su Xi looked at Da Miao, who was licking its paws, "Er Miao?"

"That is acceptable."

"How could Er Miao possibly sound better than Yuanyuan?"

"There are no taboos."

"...... The system even cares about things like this."

Su Xi entered the room dripping wet, but the next instant, a spell descended from the second floor and landed on her.

In a flash, she was dry from head to toe.

Su Xi's eyes lit up, "Master, Master, can you teach this spell to your disciple?"

*Thwack~* A book fell from the second floor to her feet—*Southern Dao Sect Precepts*.

"Memorize it all."

Afterward, a barrier sealed off the second floor; without permission, one could not even go up the stairs.

Picking up the book, Su Xi flipped through a few pages, but she did not recognize a single character.

"Er Miao, why is it that I can understand the system's text even though I've never studied it?"

"System language automatically becomes the host's language after binding."

A Talisman emitting a faint white light flew in from outside and headed straight for the second floor.

Su Xi stared at that Talisman, "Master, what is that?"

"A Sound Transmission Talisman." Rong Shou casually tossed her a thick stack of glowing Talismans.

Su Xi counted them; there were exactly two hundred and nine. Had Master given her his entire stock?

"Master, how do you use these things?"

"Activate them with spiritual power and seal the message you wish to convey within the Talisman. The Sound Transmission Talisman will turn into a beam of light and travel to the owner of the Talisman. If you lack spiritual power, you may also use blood energy to activate it."

"Understood. With so many Sound Transmission Talismans, can I sell some of them?"

In the blink of an eye, the Talismans in her hand flew away with a rustle, leaving only one behind!