Chapter 12: Teaching My Beautiful Disciple (3)

I never imagined teaching would be so fun. It was very amusing and exciting to have someone sit silently before you, listening to everything you see obediently. I shook those thoughts away.

I tapped the table with a light chuckle. "That is why those arrogant old fools on the Council treat testing stones like holy scriptures. To them, a cultivator without a shining root is just a mortal waiting to turn to dust."

Shen Qingxue paused, chewing over my words before asking another question. "If the testing stone remained pitch-black when I touched it, what kind of roots do I possess, Master?"

"You have a Five Elemental Spiritual Root," I answered honestly.

A flicker of worry flashed through her eyes. In mortal tales, specialized single-element prodigies were always hailed as legendary champions.

"Don’t look so disheartened," I said with a laugh, seeing through her thoughts immediately. "The elders call it a waste root because the average cultivator is lazy, untalented, and short-lived. A Five Elemental Root offers boundless versatility, you can command every basic element under heaven, wield any weapon, and never encounter an elemental counter in battle. However, the drawback is obvious: because you have all five affinities, you must cultivate and refine all five elements simultaneously. It requires five times the resources, five times the time, and five times the effort. To an ordinary person, it becomes a crushing burden that stalls their progress permanently."

Her shoulders tightened slightly, but before she could sink into doubt, I reached over and tapped her forehead gently.

"Did you forget who your Master is?" I said with a grin, giving her a reassuring look. "You don’t need to worry about the burden. Other sects might lack the resources to nurture a five-element cultivator, but on Lonely Cloud Peak, you will never lack top-tier pills, spirit stones, or guidance. As long as you have the will to endure the training, I will make sure your foundation surpasses every so-called genius in this continent."

A radiant, relieved smile broke across her face, her cheeks warming with genuine happiness. "Thank you, Master. Qingxue will never slack off!"

"Good," I said with a nod, sipping my tea. "Now, as for the quality of spiritual roots across the world, they are generally divided into two great categories: Mortal and Immortal."

She tilted her head curiously. "Mortal and Immortal?"

"Yes,’ I said. "The vast majority of cultivators you see walking the sect grounds possess Mortal Spiritual Roots. These are categorized into four distinct grades: Low, Mid, High, and Profound Grade. Most outer disciples hold Low or Mid roots, while the favored inner disciples and peak seeds usually possess High or Profound roots."

"And the Immortal tier?" she pressed.

"Immortal Spiritual Roots are celestial gifts that defy mortal logic," I said, my tone turning slightly more solemn. "There are only two grades within it: Earth Grade and Heaven Grade. An Earth-Grade root is already rare enough to make grand sects wage continent-wide wars just to recruit a single child. As for a Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root... it has been forever since anyone in our Eastern Wilds has awakened one. Legend says that someone blessed with a Heaven-Grade root can absorb world qi effortlessly, as if heaven itself is desperate to push them into immortality."

Shen Qingxue stared at me with wide, glittering eyes, completely fascinated by the sheer scope of the cultivation world. Then, a subtle trace of mischief crept into her dark gaze.

"Master, which grade of spiritual root do you possess?" she asked innocently.

I coughed lightly into my fist, feeling a wave of shameless pride. An hour ago, I had a hopelessly mediocre Profound-Mortal root, but thanks to her 10x critical reward, my marrow had completely transformed into an authentic Heaven-Grade root.

Naturally, a dignified Master couldn’t just brag about it out loud.

"That’s a secret," I replied with an aloof, enigmatic smirk, tapping the side of my nose. "A Master must keep some mysteries, otherwise you’ll stop looking at me with reverence."

She giggled softly, a clear, bell-like sound that made her delicate face look noticeably younger. It was hard to believe this was the same blood-soaked girl who had glared at the outer deacon like a feral beast just hours ago.

I set my teacup down, turning my attention to the matter at hand.

"Now, before you begin circulating the scripture gave you, you face an important choice regarding your starting path," I said, leaning forward. "Thanks to the marrow-cleansing medicine you consumed, the bone poison has been completely purged, your meridians are clear, and your flesh is exceptionally clean. Technically speaking, you have the option to bypass the Body Strengthening Realm entirely and step straight into the Qi Condensation Realm."

In all honesty, having her skip straight to Qi Condensation would benefit me far more in the short term. If she started drawing spiritual qi immediately, she would require higher-grade spirit herbs, specialized elemental elixirs, and advanced cultivation pills, which meant every gift I handed her would trigger massive, high-tier 10x System returns for my own cultivation.

Still, as shameless and greedy as I was, I wasn’t going to ruin my own woman’s long-term future just to farm some quick System rewards.

"The choice is yours, Qingxue," I said calmly. "Do you want to spend time tempering your flesh in the Body Strengthening Realm, or do you want to directly enter Qi Condensation?"

Shen Qingxue didn’t answer immediately. She looked at her small, calloused palms, then lifted her eyes to meet mine, her gaze full of complete, unreserved trust.

"Master, I know nothing of the immortal path, but I know that you will never lead me astray," she said softly. "What do you think I should choose?"

Hearing her throw the decision right back to me with such absolute faith, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Then my answer is simple," I said, reaching out to give her cheek a light pinch. "Spend some time grinding in the Body Strengthening Realm. Build your bones until they are like steel, temper your sinews until they can tear through iron, and forge a physical vessel that will never crack under pressure. In the long run, having an indestructible foundation will save your life when you face heavenly tribulations and lethal enemies."

I pulled my hand back and crossed my arms, grinning with supreme confidence.

"Don’t worry about the pain or the slow progress. Since I told you to take this path, your Master will naturally make sure you have the finest tempering baths, the richest nourishment, and the best guidance under heaven."