owlsbooks Chapter 9 Can I touch your spiritual root?
Chapter 9 Can I touch your spiritual root?
"Wait a moment, let me take a look."
Zheng Yuanbai took the test report, quickly glanced through it, and looked up to say:
"The main reason you have so much difficulty circulating your spiritual energy is that your spiritual root is too poor."
"Your spiritual root is too poor, which makes your breathing efficiency extremely low and your control over spiritual energy extremely sluggish. It's like putting a bad engine in a car. Even if you step on the gas pedal as hard as you can, you can't get it to go fast."
"So how do we solve this problem?" Zhu Que asked doubtfully.
"The solution is simple," Zheng Yuanbai paused, then said tactfully, "but it might be difficult for you."
"What method?"
"Use artificial spiritual roots."
"An artificial spiritual root?"
"Yes."
Zheng Yuanbai said, "However, even the cheapest Yuan-level artificial spiritual root costs around 800,000 spirit coins. Although loans are available, there are restrictions based on identity."
Zheng Yuanbai spoke very subtly, perhaps for fear of hurting Zhu Que's self-esteem, and did not reveal his status as a "fifth-class citizen".
Zhu Que understood Zheng Yuanbai's implied meaning, but he didn't care about the high price and the restrictions imposed by his status.
But I'm paying extra attention to one extremely important thing—
"Is this artificial spiritual root a spiritual artifact?"
"Strictly speaking, artificial spiritual roots do not belong to spiritual artifacts, but they are generally classified as part of the spiritual artifact system," Zheng Yuanbai explained.
"Understood."
Zhu Que nodded slightly.
He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was restless.
For him, the high price and identity restrictions are not important at all. As long as the artificial spiritual root is a spiritual artifact, he can analyze and imitate it!
"Brother Zheng, are you using an artificial spiritual root?"
"yes."
Zheng Yuanbai nodded slightly and said truthfully, "My talent is rather average. My spiritual root is only at the mid-grade of the Yuan level, so I bought a high-grade artificial spiritual root at the Xuan level."
Zhu Que's eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but take a step forward: "Brother Zheng, can I touch your spiritual root?"
"?"
Zheng Yuanbo was stunned for a moment, his gaze turning somewhat strange. "Of course not!"
"Just for one minute," Zhu Que said sincerely.
Not even for a second!
Zheng Yuanbai took a half step back, his face full of resistance, as if Zhu Que were some kind of weirdo with special fetishes.
"All right……"
Zhu Que had no choice but to give up.
He asked Zheng Yuanbai some basic questions about cultivation, and Zheng Yuanbai patiently answered them for him.
Then.
He booked a beginner's training room for the entire night, closed the door, and pondered silently.
"To improve cultivation efficiency, we must find a way to obtain an artificial spiritual root."
"Otherwise, with my cultivation aptitude, if I continue cultivating like this every day, I'll never even reach the Foundation Establishment threshold."
"If one cannot reach the Foundation Establishment stage, the physical deformities cannot be eliminated."
He had just learned from Zheng Yuanbai—
Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and thoroughly cleansing the marrow and bones can physical deformities be completely eliminated.
However, a very real problem was presented to him.
Although he can replicate magical artifacts, he has no access to artificial spiritual roots, neither in terms of wealth nor status.
"It seems we still have to start with Zheng Yuanbai..."
Zhu Que thought to himself.
Zheng Yuanbai is kind and approachable, and has no airs. This kind of good-natured person is perfect for gentle persuasion.
As long as you maintain a good relationship, you can always find an opportunity to touch his artificial spiritual root.
that's it.
In the next two weeks.
Zhu Que began his daily routine, which was mechanical and repetitive.
He worked at the garbage dump during the day, and after dinner, he would secretly make ten counterfeit Spirit Gathering Cloths to sell to Xiao Cai.
Afterwards, he spent the night practicing at the self-study center, and returned to work at the garbage dump after dawn.
period.
He saw Zheng Yuanbai, who worked part-time at the training center, almost every day.
Whenever he had any questions about cultivation, he would ask Zheng Yuanbai for answers, which allowed his cultivation progress to steadily improve.
at the same time.
Zhu Que has been coveting Zheng Yuanbai's Xuan-level artificial spiritual root and tries every day to get on good terms with Zheng Yuanbai.
"Brother Zheng, the crab roe soup dumplings here are especially delicious, you should try them."
"Wow, these soup dumplings are really good."
"Then...Brother Zheng, can I touch your spiritual root?"
"Pah! Pah! Pah! No way!"
Zheng Yuanbo vomited directly.
……
"Brother Zheng, this is the pan-fried foie gras I bought after queuing up."
"Mmm, this tastes delicious."
"Brother Zheng, can I touch your artificial spiritual root?"
"Stop! I'll pay you for this pan-fried foie gras!"
Zheng Yuanbo almost choked.
……
"Brother Zheng, try this smoked salmon."
"I won't try it."
"Brother Zheng, this bird's nest stewed with snow frog is truly top-notch."
"I won't eat it."
"Brother Zheng, this beef tongue with truffle mashed potatoes is absolutely amazing!"
"I have no appetite."
"..."
After several attempts, Zheng Yuanbai completely saw through his tricks.
He refused all gifts and food, and ignored all attempts to curry favor.
Although Zheng Yuanbai still answers all questions about cultivation, he remains tight-lipped about the matter of artificial spiritual roots.
Zhu Que's cultivation progressed extremely slowly. Half a month had passed, and he still hadn't reached the first level of Qi Refining.
On the contrary, because he worked at the landfill every day, his physical deformity increased from 12.5% to 12.9%.
However, he is currently unable to leave the landfill.
Outside, he had no identity, no background, and not enough old and broken artifacts for him to create replicas of magical artifacts at zero cost.
"The distortion is worsening every day. If I don't improve my cultivation efficiency, my physical condition will deteriorate even further..."
Zhu Que frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
……
The sixth landfill.
Lunchtime.
Zhu Que and Sun Zheng were eating in a corner.
The food was, as always, unpalatable.
Although he could eat very well every day with his current income, he still chooses to eat at the garbage dump in order not to arouse suspicion.
However, he would buy some food to share with Sun Zheng every day.
Sun Zheng was the only one who knew his secret of "not returning home at night" every day, but Sun Zheng not only kept it a secret, but also never asked a question.
Zhu Que deeply understood the importance of maintaining a good relationship with such a clever person.
Just as Zhu Que was engrossed in eating, a pair of long, slender, fair legs came into his view, the bare ankles as clear and bright as jade.
Zhu Que didn't need to look up to know who it was—
Tang Ke, the farm manager's daughter.
He looked up and saw a beautiful smiling face looking down at him, asking in a clear voice:
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Wishing you a vacancy."
"Zhu Que, come out with me for a bit."
"Go out...what for?" Zhu Que was stunned.
"Help me with a small favor."
"But I haven't finished my garbage quota for today."
"Oh dear, I'll talk to my dad and he'll waive your quota for today."
Tang Ke waved his hand.
Zhu Que had no choice but to follow her out of the garbage dump.
He thought to himself, "With Tang Ke's status as a rich young lady, she wouldn't possibly have any ill intentions towards a lowly employee like me, would she?"
Tang Ke led him away from the garbage dump and finally stopped in front of a gleaming clothing store.
Zhu Que followed her through the door, puzzled.
Tang Ke pointed to a set of clothes and said softly to the shop assistant, "Hello, this is the only set of clothes I have. Please find him the right size."
"OK."
The shop assistant spoke respectfully.
Zhu Que was slightly taken aback, feeling extremely surprised. Why would this young lady buy him clothes for no reason?
Afterwards, the shop assistant selected a suitable size, and after Zhu Que changed into it, Tang Ke bought him the clothes.
Then, Tang Ke took him to buy a pair of shoes and got him a neat short haircut at the barbershop.
Finally, when he stood up in front of the mirror, he looked almost completely transformed.
Although he was thin and even half a head shorter than Tang Ke, his sickly pale skin due to the deformity, combined with his extremely handsome features, gave him the air of a down-on-his-luck nobleman.
Tang Ke circled him twice, then clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"Hmm, not bad, not bad. It's so convenient to be good-looking. Just change your outfit and you look much better."
Seeing this, Zhu Que became even more confused.
Why is Tang Ke buying him clothes and shoes and styling his hair? What is she trying to do?
Could it be...?
Is it some kind of cliché plot like "let me pretend to be her boyfriend"?