Chapter Nine: Stepping into the Path of Immortal Cultivation

Jiang Daochuan: "With your words, I am at ease. I will explain the situation shortly."

He Mo Bai said nothing, only nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes fixed on the ripples forming in the tea cup, cold and dangerous.

He had achieved the result he desired and hoped that what followed would not disappoint him.

Jiang Daochuan knew well the temperament of his junior fellow disciple. Seeing his indifference, he decided not to linger and sought a casual excuse to leave.

Standing with his hands behind his back, Jiang Daochuan said, "In that case, I shall take my leave."

Jiang Zhuoran’s courtyard.

Yan Wuqiu, upon hearing the sect disciples discussing their master and the Four Spiritual Roots disciple, guessed that the Four Spiritual Roots must be the younger sister of the junior sister.

She was only temporarily residing at Yuling Peak—how could she have become the master's disciple?

She had only been in quiet cultivation for a few days, yet the matter had spread wildly, growing more and more exaggerated.

Flustered and eager to uncover the truth, Yan Wuqiu hurried to Jiang Zhuoran’s courtyard to inquire.

The Four Spiritual Roots situation was not favorable for the Immortal Sect; fortunately, Jiang Zhuoran was relatively safe at Yuling Peak. Still, it was unclear if the junior sister had been implicated.

"Junior sister..."

Yan Wuqiu stepped into the courtyard and saw Jiang Zhuoran leisurely sipping tea. Her pupils dilated, and she forgot to speak.

Golden sunlight gently bathed her figure, hazy yet mysterious. The pale blue garment complemented the scene, and a light breeze caressed her flowing hair.

From afar, she resembled a lively fairy, radiating vibrant life force.

"Second senior brother?"

"Is there something you need?"

Jiang Zhuoran noticed Yan Wuqiu’s confusion and spoke.

Hadn't the second senior brother said he would focus on cultivation?

Why come to her place—could something have happened?

Yan Wuqiu was drawn back by the clear, melodious voice, her pupils refocusing as she became aware of her surroundings.

Strange—why was there an unfamiliar aura in the junior sister’s courtyard?

Sensing the unfamiliar yet benign presence, Yan Wuqiu dismissed her concern and strode forward to sit by the stone table, then asked,

"Junior sister, are you aware that the matter of Jiang Zhuoran’s Four Spiritual Roots has been spreading wildly within the sect?"

"Hmm?"

Jiang Zhuoran was clearly taken aback and paused even in pouring tea.

Apart from the two of them, no one else should know Jiang Zhuoran had Four Spiritual Roots. How could it have spread so widely within the sect?

It made no sense.

"Second senior brother, could you elaborate?" Jiang Zhuoran set down the teapot, her expression serious.

This concerned Jiang Zhuoran deeply; she wanted to know how the news about her roots had leaked.

"Since Jiang Zhuoran is the source of the rumors, should she be informed?" Yan Wuqiu suggested.

Since the matter spread from Jiang Zhuoran, she had the right to know. Now, the only person who could contact her was likely her elder sister, Jiang Zhuoran.

"Jiang Zhuoran is cultivating inside and it’s inconvenient. You can inform me instead," Jiang Zhuoran declined, citing cultivation.

This was a crucial moment for Jiang Zhuoran as she was drawing energy into her body, officially stepping onto the path of cultivation; interruption was not allowed.

Yan Wuqiu nodded gently, "Very well."

He hadn’t expected Jiang Zhuoran to have started cultivation; he assumed she would return to the mortal world after some time at Yuling Peak.

Now it seemed she intended, like the junior sister, to become a cultivator. That unfamiliar aura must be the result of her cultivation.

Yan Wuqiu ceased questioning Jiang Zhuoran and began sharing what he had learned.

Oddly, the source of the rumors seemed to have appeared from nowhere and vanished just as mysteriously, leaving no trace.

Every disciple he asked had only heard the rumors; when pressed about the source, they were clueless, unable to give a satisfactory answer.

Such baseless gossip was never verified, hence the current chaos.

Unable to find the spreader... who could have publicized this?

Jiang Zhuoran lowered her head, furrowing her brows in thought.

Jiang Zhuoran had only been at the Immortal Sect for five days, staying strictly at Yuling Peak.

Apart from the master, second senior brother, Elder Baiyang, and herself, she had seen no one else. No one would target someone they had never met out of boredom.

Moreover, only the two of them knew about the spiritual roots, and Jiang Zhuoran had always been with her; she hadn’t spread the news. So how did it leak?

The master...

No, it shouldn’t be.

Jiang Zhuoran dismissed the suspicion of He Mo Bai from her mind and continued to ponder.

Although the master could detect spiritual roots, he had no reason to target an ordinary person who had yet to step onto the immortal path.

If he could detect spiritual roots, why would he have them test the roots themselves? Could it be he witnessed something even more convincing?

Jiang Zhuoran was unwilling to believe the conclusion she had reached—that her revered master might be involved.

Yet, besides the master, no fourth person knew about Jiang Zhuoran’s roots.

Once the seed of doubt was planted, it quickly took root.

Apart from He Mo Bai, she could think of no other person who might know.

If it really was the master who leaked it, what could he gain? It couldn’t be for his own amusement, could it?

Jiang Zhuoran’s heart became tangled and troubled, her thoughts drifting farther and farther, fully immersed in her own world.

"Junior sister."

Yan Wuqiu called softly, receiving no response.

"Junior sister!"

"Ah?"

Jiang Zhuoran suddenly awoke, heart pounding wildly. After calming herself, she apologized, "Sorry, second senior brother, I was too lost in thought."

Yan Wuqiu shook his head without minding. He knew how much the junior sister cared for Jiang Zhuoran, and this matter was surely weighing heavily on her.

"Your younger sister... seems to have successfully stepped onto the path of cultivation," Yan Wuqiu murmured, eyes fixed on the abundant spiritual energy gathering around the house.

Three days ago, she was an ordinary person who understood nothing. To see her now having broken through the shackles and become a fledgling cultivator was astonishing.

Yan Wuqiu was stunned. Jiang Zhuoran’s impact on him was immense, enough to make him question the authenticity of the Four Spiritual Roots.

Was she truly born with the Four Spiritual Roots?

Or was her comprehension so profound that it compensated for any deficiency in her roots?

One must understand that cultivation is a battle against heaven; each step is arduous. Talent, comprehension, and effort are all indispensable.

He recalled that when he first drew energy into his body, it took nearly ten days under guidance to succeed.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Zhuoran to succeed on her own. If it weren’t for mixed roots holding her back, her future achievements would be unmatched.

With this in mind, Yan Wuqiu felt a tinge of regret for her.

"Jiang Zhuoran has succeeded!"

Jiang Zhuoran beamed with joy, paying no heed to the second senior brother, and hurried to find Jiang Zhuoran.

Her sister truly was the best!

What did it matter if her talent was lacking? She could still rival geniuses, even surpass some.

This was how she held an inexplicable confidence in her sister.

Yan Wuqiu chuckled. Now that Jiang Zhuoran had successfully drawn energy into her body, he, as her senior brother, ought to offer congratulations.

"I wonder what she would like?" Yan Wuqiu pondered aloud softly.

Inside the room.

Jiang Zhuoran sat cross-legged, delighting in the sensation of change, a smile she could not suppress playing at her lips.

"Is this drawing energy into my body? Have I become a cultivator?"

"Congratulations on successfully stepping onto the first stage of cultivation," Jiang Zhuoran entered the room with a smile, offering her congratulations.

"Sis, I really succeeded!" Jiang Zhuoran quickly stood and excitedly embraced her neck.

She wanted to share this joy with Jiang Zhuoran first.