In this world, a Spiritual Root is not only the foundation of cultivation, but the very essence of survival!
Those roots unsuitable for cultivation are called “waste roots”—most people possess them.
Roots suitable for cultivation are divided into three grades: low, middle, and high, as well as the supreme grade that appears only once in 10,000 years.
Wang Sandong’s eldest brother, Wang Jinghong, possessed a supreme Spiritual Root.
Despite his young age, he had already been designated as the future clan leader by the Wang family.
As the younger brother of the future clan leader and the legitimate grandson of the current one, Wang Sandong’s status in the Wang family was naturally significant.
This remained true even though he was always sickly, looking as if he might drop dead at any moment.
Rumors circulated in the streets that Wang Sandong would not survive this summer.
Wang Sandong felt the same way.
This morning, when he tried to get out of bed, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor.
This body, devoid of a Spiritual Root, was becoming increasingly frail.
Furthermore, he had not rested well last night while studying *Huitian*.
The servant boy heard the commotion and cautiously helped Wang Sandong up, tears of distress falling from his eyes.
“Have some backbone,” Wang Sandong forced a mocking smile.
“A grown man, crying at the drop of a hat. What is this?”
That was a bit of an exaggeration.
The servant boy was only 12 years old; he could hardly be called a grown man.
“Alright, stop crying. Your master isn’t dead yet.”
Wang Sandong allowed the boy to support him as he sat on the commode.
While attending to his morning business, he pondered some of the obscure sentences in *Huitian*.
Over the past 16 years, although he had read many scriptures related to cultivation, he knew very little about Demonic Cultivators.
He was uncertain about the meaning of several terms in *Huitian*.
“Young Master, are you going out today?”
The servant asked.
Wang Sandong was silent for a moment before replying, “Yes.”
He did not dare to guess blindly regarding his questions about *Huitian*.
Asking that Demonic Cultivator was the safest course of action.
Although that Demonic Cultivator seemed quite powerful, she likely wouldn’t dare to break into the Wang Mansion in broad daylight.
Therefore, if he wanted to see her, he had to go out.
However, before leaving, he had to meet with Master Yi.
Every morning for the past 16 years, Master Yi would come without fail to check Wang Sandong’s pulse.
Master Yi arrived exactly on time.
After checking the pulse, Master Yi’s expression looked even worse than the day before.
He exhaled and looked at Wang Sandong’s pale, handsome face.
“Although the Heart-Nurturing Pill is extraordinary, it is a pity…”
As he spoke, his face twitched, and he seemed unable to finish his sentence.
Wang Sandong smiled and said nothing.
He often thought that perhaps one day, he simply wouldn’t wake up.
Dying like that would certainly be painless, which was quite nice.
Of course, if he could continue living, that would be even better.
‘A bad life is better than a good death,’ after all.
Besides, his life wasn’t exactly “bad.”
Aside from his failing health, everything else was excellent.
Not only was he provided for in every way, but if Wang Sandong wanted to urinate in bed, there were people to attend to him.
Moreover, though he lacked the physical strength to be with a woman, he had an extremely beautiful fiancée.
That marriage had been arranged 2 years ago.
Wang Sandong had been waiting—waiting for the day his fiancée would come to break the engagement.
“The Zheng family should be coming soon,” Master Yi suddenly said.
“To break the engagement?”
Wang Sandong asked with a smile.
Master Yi glanced at Wang Sandong but did not answer.
Instead, he said, “I have treated countless patients, but in my entire life, the Third Young Master is the only one I have seen who is truly indifferent to life and death.”
“You misunderstand, Master Yi,” Wang Sandong laughed.
“I want to live very much; I just have no way to do so.”
As for *Huitian*, it was too early to celebrate before seeing any results.
Master Yi sighed and began packing his tools.
“Your body…”
He hesitated before saying, “Even with a miraculous medicine like the Heart-Nurturing Pill to sustain you, I fear you may not last until autumn.”
“Then I truly don’t have much time left.”
“Therefore, the Zheng family will likely be in a hurry to settle the matter.”
As a famous physician in the Old Capital, Master Yi was very well-informed.
Hearing this, Wang Sandong sighed and said with a hint of regret, “The Zheng family still intends to use this to consolidate the relationship between our two houses.”
He paused, then added, “However, I heard that the young lady of the Zheng family has a fierce temperament. She might not agree.”
Master Yi had finished packing.
“Regardless, the Third Young Master should remain calm and avoid getting angry. Otherwise—”
There was no need to say the rest.
Master Yi bowed and took his leave.
The sun shone brightly; it was another beautiful day.
Wang Sandong shouted, “Wang Tong, prepare the carriage.”
Wang Tong was the servant boy who was always by Wang Sandong’s side.
3 years ago, Wang Sandong had picked him up—half-dead—from under a tung tree outside the city.
He was 12 years old now.
Although he wasn’t very bright, he was loyal.
Since he took his master’s surname and was found under a tung tree, he was named Wang Tong.
Wang Tong prepared the horse carriage and helped Wang Sandong inside.
He then sat on the carriage shaft and asked through the curtain, “Young Master, where are we going for fun today?”
Recalling Master Yi’s sorrowful and helpless expression, Wang Sandong slowly took a breath and said, “Fengyue Tower.”
If nothing went wrong, he should encounter that Demonic Cultivator again on the way.
“Young Master,” Wang Tong chatted with Wang Sandong through the curtain.
“I think the lady from the Zheng family will probably come to break the engagement.”
The master and servant often discussed such topics.
“When the time comes, please don’t be upset.”
“Haha, I won’t be,” Wang Sandong leaned lazily back in the carriage and said with a smile.
“I’ll happily write the letter of annulment and tell her: ‘Do not look down on a youth just because he is poor.'”
‘Do not look down on a youth just because he is poor.’
‘The only problem is that the youth is only a youth and might not live to be a young man…’
“The Young Master is not poor at all,” Wang Tong laughed.
“Indeed, I have plenty of money.”
“Maybe the Zheng lady will marry you for the sake of the Zheng family’s future,” Wang Tong suggested.
“I heard that since the Zheng family’s ancestor came out of seclusion 2 years ago, the Zheng family hasn’t been peaceful. Maybe something bad happened. Besides, when the engagement was made, our family gave a very heavy bride price, including rare natural treasures. If the Zheng family wants to break the engagement, they have to return the bride price.”
“You’re right,” Wang Sandong replied with a smile.
As a wealthy heir, Wang Sandong naturally didn’t care about those gifts.
Gold, jewelry, and even natural treasures were merely external possessions to him.
Of course, the Zheng family, like the Wang family, was one of the “Nine Families,” and they valued their dignity.
If they insisted on breaking the engagement, they would certainly return every bit of the bride price.
If some accident occurred…
Being dumped and having the bride price stolen would be far too humiliating.
In the entire Old Capital, no one dared to subject the Third Young Master Wang to such humiliation.
So, there shouldn’t be any issues.
Speaking of humiliation, in truth, Wang Sandong had suffered enough of it in his life.
Every time he thought about how his biological parents had heartlessly extracted his Spiritual Root, leaving him in this half-dead state, a knot of frustration tightened in his chest.
On many nights, he would have nightmares.
He would dream of that painful memory, waking up drenched in sweat and flailing his limbs like a drowning man, desperately trying to reach the shore.
Over the past 16 years, Wang Sandong had often fantasized, especially after obtaining *Huitian* last night.
He fantasized even more now: ‘When I finally reach the shore, who should be the first to fall by my sword?’
The world was vast; there were always people who deserved to die!
The carriage lost speed and slowly came to a halt.
Wang Sandong frowned.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a lithe figure drifted inside.
At the moment the curtain opened, Wang Sandong saw Wang Tong had fainted once again.
‘Poor kid.’
He didn’t know what method this Demonic Cultivator used to knock him out.
He hoped it wouldn’t damage the boy’s brain; it wasn’t very functional to begin with.
“Don’t worry,” the Demonic Cultivator reassured him, seemingly noticing Wang Sandong’s concern.
Wang Sandong chuckled and didn’t beat around the bush.
“The first layer of *Huitian*: ‘The sun and moon shine upon the world, the mountains and marshes share their breath, and Yin and Yang meet and part.’ What does it mean?”
The Demonic Cultivator looked directly at Wang Sandong with her beautiful eyes, smiled knowingly, and said, “You have been reading since childhood. This sentence shouldn’t be hard to understand, right?”
“I’m afraid of misunderstanding it.”
“On the path of cultivation, one must dare to try,” the Demonic Cultivator laughed.
“Being timid and over-cautious leads to nothing.”
“Demonic Cultivators are indeed very bold,” Wang Sandong followed with a smile.
“And the result? You’ve all become stray dogs.”
The smile on the Demonic Cultivator’s face froze.
She was annoyed, but she couldn’t argue.
Since the Great War Against Demons, hadn’t Demonic Cultivators been exactly like stray dogs?
The term was truly fitting.
Glancing coldly at Wang Sandong, the Demonic Cultivator said, “You are quite bold yourself, daring to say anything even if it results in your death.”
“Because I feel you won’t let me die.”
Wang Sandong smiled bitterly and mocked himself.
“Besides, in this world, the boldest person is always the one about to die.”
“Heh. That makes sense.”
The Demonic Cultivator gave him another half-smile, took a breath, and said, “On the path of cultivation, there is a difference between the natural and the reverse. Those who wish to follow Heaven’s will receive Heaven’s blessing. Those who wish to defy fate and change their destiny will eventually face Heaven’s Tribulation. Those with Heaven’s blessing survive, while those who face the Tribulation become strong…”
Seeing Wang Sandong’s lack of interest, she felt a bit awkward.
“You should know these basics.”
“Yes. My main question is about ‘Yin and Yang meeting and parting.'”
“Then do you know of ‘Yin and Yang severing and parting’?”
“When Yin and Yang part and sever, the essence and Qi are exhausted.”
The Demonic Cultivator smiled and replied, “The mystery of my *Huitian* lies in the difference between ‘severing’ and ‘meeting’…”
Noticing Wang Sandong adjust his posture and become serious, the Demonic Cultivator retracted her smile and continued, “We cultivators, whether righteous or evil, all manipulate the two breaths of Yin and Yang…”
***
The sun was at its zenith.
By the banks of the Junlin River in the Old Capital, inside the Wang Mansion carriage, the Third Young Master Wang, who was trying to meditate for the first time, slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.
He opened his eyes, looked at the stunning face of the Demonic Cultivator before him, and his hand seal collapsed.
He sighed, “Phew, cultivation is quite exhausting.”
The Demonic Cultivator did not respond.
She reached out and grabbed Wang Sandong’s wrist to investigate.
She smiled and said with some pride, “As expected! Although a Spiritual Root is the foundation of cultivation, having no foundation means having no restraints. The speed of your cultivation progress is truly extraordinary.”
Her pride stemmed from her prediction being correct.
Wang Sandong frowned.
“Having no restraints might not necessarily be a good thing, right?”
“Indeed. That is why the spiritual energy in your body is like a runaway horse, acting with total recklessness.”
“Is it? I didn’t feel anything.”
“The horse is still small,” the Demonic Cultivator said.
“Uh, will it grow fast?”
“If it eats and drinks without moderation, it will naturally grow very quickly.”
“I won’t burst, will I?”
“Probably not.”
Wang Sandong looked at the Demonic Cultivator with a look of surprise, his expression shifting through several emotions.
“What do you mean by ‘probably’?”
“Logically, you won’t,” the Demonic Cultivator said, then added with some uncertainty, “But cultivation is a matter that sometimes defies logic.”
Looking at the Demonic Cultivator’s serious and beautiful face, Wang Sandong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He felt this Demonic Cultivator was a bit unreliable, but on second thought, she wasn’t arrogant or blindly confident, which made her seem somewhat reliable.
Perhaps what was unreliable was *Huitian*.
After all, this set of techniques had not undergone “clinical trials.”
Even if it was unreliable, he could only push forward with his cultivation.
‘Treat a dead horse as if it were alive,’ he thought.
Wang Sandong felt some emotion.
Looking again at the beautiful Demonic Cultivator and thinking that they would surely meet often in the future, he asked, “So… may I ask, how should I address you? What is your title? Demon Venerable?”
Demonic experts with some strength often liked to call themselves Demon Venerable.
To be able to create an extraordinary technique like *Huitian*, this Demonic Cultivator’s strength was surely remarkable; she must be some famous demon.
The Demonic Cultivator was silent for a while before saying, “My original name contains the word ‘Yuan,’ so the world calls me ‘Emperor Yuan.'”
Hearing the title “Emperor Yuan,” Wang Sandong was stunned.
There were many cultivators in the world, but there were absolute peak experts.
They were: the Three Sovereigns, the Five Emperors, and the Nine Families.
The current head of the Wang family was one of the Nine Families.
And Emperor Yuan was one of the Five Emperors.
“Legend has it that during the Great War Against Demons, Emperor Yuan was besieged by a Sovereign, an Emperor, and a King, and had long since been reduced to ashes.”
Wang Sandong scrutinized Emperor Yuan’s beautiful face and said, “That one ‘King’ was my grandfather.”
28 years ago, the righteous factions of the world gathered together to form the “Righteous Alliance,” intending to march north and wipe out the Demon Realm in one fell swoop.
After 10 years of bloody battle, the Demon Realm was razed to the ground.
It was also in that year that the nine great families within the Righteous Alliance, who held the most power and merit, were called the “Nine Families” by the world, their reputation second only to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.
Emperor Yuan looked at the grandson of her enemy, her lips curling into a meaningful smile.
“In the future, you can find me at Fengyue Tower.”
Having said that, she stood up and left.
Wang Sandong reflected on Emperor Yuan’s meaningful smile, and a thought suddenly occurred to him: ‘This demon couldn’t possibly have some unclear relationship with my grandfather, could she? I was even fantasizing about some inappropriate scenes with her last night.’
At this thought, Wang Sandong quickly pulled back the window curtain, looked at Emperor Yuan’s graceful back, and shouted, “Yuan—”
Suddenly realizing that shouting the title “Emperor Yuan” would likely cause great trouble, he quickly changed his call.
“Yuan-yuan!”
Emperor Yuan’s delicate brows twitched.
She stopped and looked back.
“That…”
Wang Sandong hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and asked cautiously, “We aren’t relatives, are we?”
Emperor Yuan was initially blank, her eyes hollow.
After a moment, she finally understood what Wang Sandong meant and replied with immediate disgust, “You’re overthinking it.”