great-warnovel Chapter 1 Only Today Do I Realize Who I Am
Chapter 1 Only Today Do I Realize Who I Am
"Phew~"
In the thatched cottage of a simple farmhouse by the lake, a boy suddenly sat up, sweat pouring down his forehead.
A closer look reveals that the sheet beneath the pillowcase is already soaked. It's as if the person was awakened by a nightmare.
The boy stood there dumbfounded for a long while, muttering to himself, "Suddenly the golden rope breaks, the jade lock is shattered. The tide of the Qiantang River comes in, and today I know who I am. Today I know—I am who I am!"
"Ah, so that's how it is!"
The boy was originally an ordinary worker in China, making a living online by creating short videos on the theme of Journey to the West.
In October 25, while watching the Qiantang River tidal bore, he died saving a little boy who was being swept away by the tide.
Unexpectedly, after death, he was given the opportunity to travel to another world, and even reincarnated into a world where one could cultivate immortality.
But why did I transmigrate into a character with five spiritual roots? Isn't the "trash-to-riches" trope out of fashion?
Just as the boy was immersed in his own thoughts.
A clear child's voice rang out: "Brother! Hurry up! The Third Elder is about to begin explaining the essentials of the Qi Refining stage, hurry, hurry~~~"
Chen Chunan was startled when he heard his sister's voice.
The principles of Qi cultivation are quite important to me.
This is a profound summary of the difficulties that may be encountered during the Qi Refining stage and the solutions, compiled by generations of ancestors in our clan.
I've been stuck at the entrance to the fourth level of Qi Refining for three years, I can't afford to miss this opportunity!
So he quickly replied, "Coming, coming!"
He leaped to his feet and hastily put on his clothes and shoes.
She hurriedly washed up and rushed out of the room, straightening her clothes as she walked quickly.
The little girl, who had been waiting for a long time, couldn't help but complain, "Brother, can't you stop talking about cultivation all day long? You've even forgotten the time! Today is the Third Elder's grand lecture, couldn't you have prepared earlier?"
Chen Chunan said with a smile, "Brother overslept, it won't happen again next time."
When Chen Hongxian heard that he had overslept, she looked at Chen Chunan with a somewhat incredulous expression.
"Hmph! You lazybones! Let's see if I'll call you next time!"
Although Hongxian kept complaining, she naturally helped the boy straighten his clothes.
After leaving the house, the two walked in a hurry.
Along the way, another member of the clan, who was just as flustered as he was, was running along; it was Chen Yunzhang, who lived near the main residence.
Chen Yunzhang kept walking, but seeing the brother and sister hurrying by, he couldn't help but tease them: "Chu Nan, you're still so eager! You've only reached the third level of Qi Refining in nine years with no hope of Foundation Establishment. What's the use of being so eager? Even if you reach the fifth level of Qi Refining, you're destined to either visit the peach orchard or go farming. If I were you, I'd rather slack off and laze around for a few more years."
Chen Chunan looked dejected. He had been diagnosed with five spiritual roots at the age of six, much to his parents' disappointment.
It's not that those with five spiritual roots are truly useless in cultivation.
Based on Chen Chunan's understanding over the years.
If the resource required for a single spiritual root is 1 unit, then the resource required for five spiritual roots is 5 units.
In this era of declining spiritual energy since ancient times, let alone Qi Refining families, even ordinary Foundation Establishment families cannot afford to support them.
The only advantage of the Five Elemental Roots is that they are the strongest in combat at the same level.
However, those with five spiritual roots are naturally slower at cultivating than others!
Just like digestion after eating, how can you digest quickly if you eat a lot?
One step at a time, one step at a time.
Your peers with three spiritual roots have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, while those with only one spiritual root might already be close to forming their core.
And you're still stuck in the cycle of refining your Qi, what's the point of mentioning your superior strength compared to others of the same level?
They're not even in the same grade as you!
He's completely outclassed by you in terms of skill level!
What should you do?
Secondly, Foundation Establishment also requires Foundation Establishment Pills and Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects. You can imagine how difficult it is for someone with five spiritual roots to gather all five elements of spiritual objects.
Moreover, there are countless cultivators in the world these days, and spiritual treasures have long been harvested to an extreme degree.
For a low-level cultivation family like the Qi Refining Family, investing in five or four spiritual roots is a high-investment, low-return, extremely risky endeavor with a high probability of not recovering costs.
The Chen family is just a small alchemy family; they know exactly how to choose, even if they voted with their toes.
Therefore, only those with three spiritual roots are called "true spiritual roots" and have the value of cultivation.
Having four or five spiritual roots makes foundation building hopeless; they can only be considered "pseudo-spiritual roots."
If it weren't for the fact that his parents died in battle for his clan in this life, and that he had a younger sister with three spiritual roots who couldn't live without him, how would he have had the opportunity to use the meditation room with a spirit-gathering array specially prepared for true spiritual roots? Not to mention, he wouldn't have been able to cultivate to the third level of Qi Refining.
Seeing that her brother's expression was not good, Hongxian couldn't help but speak up: "Chen Yunzhang! How much better are you? You're just a low-grade three-spiritual-root, what right do you have to laugh at my brother!"
Chen Yunzhang grinned slyly: "A low-grade three-elemental root is still better than a five-elemental root, right? Oh, wait, Chen Chunan has a sister willing to support him, we can't compare!"
The three spiritual roots in the clan are called true spiritual roots and immortal seedlings, which are expected to help them achieve foundation building.
However, all three spiritual roots cannot be of inferior grade; at least one spiritual root must be of medium grade.
They are cultivated as a core force within the clan.
As for those with low-grade or only one type of mid-grade three spiritual roots, they can also be considered the backbone of the force.
Chen Yunzhang's spiritual root is considered a "chicken rib" type. Although he receives a certain amount of family resources every month, his main purpose is to have more children and see if he can give birth to children with better spiritual roots.
Although she was no better than Chen Chunan, their treatment was completely different.
Chen Chunan's monthly cultivation resources consist of only three spirit stones, one spirit peach, and ten catties of spirit rice.
Chen Hongxian puffed out her cheeks, put her hands on her hips, and was about to start cursing when a melodious bell rang out.
The three men's expressions changed drastically. Forgetting about their bickering, they took off running towards the preaching place.
...
When the three of them arrived nearby, they were still somewhat discouraged.
There are so many people who think the same way I do!
The three of them could only manage to sit in the seventh row, on the right.
Because Chen Hongxian still remembered how Chen Yunzhang bullied her brother, she sat down to Chen Chunan's right, one seat away from Chen Yunzhang, in a fit of pique.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a blue robe and wearing cloud-patterned shoes, ascended the pulpit.
The Chen family members in the audience quickly stood up.
Chen Qingyun glanced at the person on the stage out of the corner of his eye: Chen Heming, the third elder of the Chen family, with the twelfth level of Qi Refining, and his mastery of wood-type magic was superb. He was one of the three pillars of the Chen family's presence in Tianmu Mountain.
Chen Heming looked around and slowly said, "Today is the once-every-ten-day grand lecture. I will explain the essentials of the Qi Refining stage. Listen carefully. There will be three lectures in total, each lasting half an hour, with a quarter of an hour reserved for answering questions."
He then looked around at himself in the clan, and when he saw Chen Hongxian, he immediately smiled and pointed to the right side of the first row: "Qingping, you sit here."
The boy in the original position quickly got up, looking embarrassed.
The three elders then said, "Deshu, switch places with Qingping. I can answer three questions for you later."
Chen Deshu instantly stopped feeling embarrassed.
When the clan held a grand lecture, the schedule was very full, and the clan elders naturally prioritized answering the questions of the true core immortal seedlings first.
I am just a person with four spiritual roots, but I took a place at the front because I arrived early.
When it comes to actually asking questions, it's uncertain whether it will even be your turn to ask.
Trading three questions for a few more seats is an incredibly good deal.
It's not like I can't hear you!
Chen Hongxian was somewhat unwilling when she heard the Third Elder's arrangement.
Her parents died in battle three years ago, leaving her to rely on her older brother for survival. Now they can't bear to be apart for even half a day.
Sensing his sister's resistance, Chen Chunan gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her, saying, "Go quickly, go quickly, and remember to thank Elder Xie San."
Chen Hongxian reluctantly stepped forward to thank the three elders and then took his seat.
After the seating arrangement was completed, the old man sat upright on the podium.
A middle-aged man who had been standing by stepped forward and announced in a loud voice: "Disciples, please sit upright. Do not whisper or make loud noise. The first lecture is about to begin."
After saying that, he gently shook the small blue bell in his hand.
A series of voices with strange rhythms swept over the students below the stage.
Chen Chunan instantly felt his senses clear and his mind sharpened, all distracting thoughts vanishing.
Then the three elders slowly spoke: "To know how to refine Qi, one must first know one's spiritual root. Those without a spiritual root have no chance of attaining immortality; even if they force it, it will be nothing but a futile effort..."
On the stage, the three elders spoke slowly and deliberately, their voices rising and falling in a rhythm that seemed to blend into some unknown melody, captivating the disciples below.
Chen Chunan was also eagerly absorbing the knowledge of the Qi Refining stage.
The first lecture ended quickly.
A lecture lasts no more than half an hour, which seems like a long time, but once you get into it, it feels like only a short while.
After finishing his sermon, the three elders looked at the group of clan members.
He first looked at Chen Deshu: "Deshu, if you have any questions, just ask them boldly."
The three elders had promised Chen Deshu three questions, and now they were fulfilling those promises.
Chen Deshu probably didn't expect to be the first one, but he had been cultivating for eleven years and now he did have a few questions that he couldn't answer.
"Elders, I am currently stuck at the third level of Qi Refining and cannot break through. I cultivate the clan's Blazing Sun Technique, and I practice diligently every day at noon. However, for the past two months, my meridians have been burning painfully as if they were being scorched by flames during my daily practice, and I often achieve half the results with twice the effort. My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather do not know the reason. Please enlighten me, Elders."
The three elders pondered for a moment, then asked, "Are you a descendant of He Qian, who was responsible for guarding the Spirit Peach Orchard in the clan?"
Chen Deshu was quite puzzled when the three clan elders did not answer his question directly, but instead asked him where he lived.
However, if the clan elders ask questions, I must answer them.
So he respectfully replied, "Elder Hui, it is indeed me, I am the fourth-generation descendant of Ancestor Heqian."
The three elders nodded, knowing their guess was correct: "Wood can start fire. It's true that you used the spiritual energy of the spirit peach tree to cultivate, but you chose to cultivate at noon. The spiritual energy of the spirit peach tree, which is yang wood, is exposed to the intense heat of the sun. It's like dry wood meeting a raging fire, ready to ignite at any moment. It would be strange if you didn't feel your meridians burning. It's only because your cultivation level is still low that the consequences would be unimaginable."
Chen Deshu instantly understood the crux of his problem: "If I cultivate using the Yin-attribute Yi Wood spiritual energy, using its true Yin to neutralize the extreme Yang and strength of sunlight, wouldn't I be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort?"
Seeing that Chen Deshu understood, the three elders nodded with a look of "you are a promising student" and said, "Go and cultivate in the spirit field. Although there are no spirit vines or herbs in the clan, spirit rice is also of the Yi wood element."
"Disciple understands, thank you for your guidance, Elder Three."
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