Chương 10: Some Basics

Getting these little gremlins to settle down was tough; getting Baozhai to do the same was a whole other battle. I think I'm getting old. Ren could only sigh in pure resignation and patted his fried hair. At least only my hair got her wrath. Getting beaten in front of others would be embarrassing. He looked around. Strands of Liu Wenhai's hair had stood up, twitching along with his body.

He was staring at his feet with an aggrieved look, while at least another ten brats stood behind him with the exact look and hair. Baozhai smiled sweetly.

"Alright, enough fooling around. Let's start with some basics," Her voice cut through the murmurs.

"The majority of you hail from powerful clans or great families. Some of your bodies were refined since birth, others learned martial arts and mind techniques, but none of you started cultivation in the truest sense just because of this little, cheap thing." She waved her hand, and a green pill bottle materialized. Every eye turned to the hand that held their future.

"A sect pill." Baozhai casually tossed the bottle up and caught it without a care. Liu Wenhai raised his hand, his gaze following the bottle with such desire that Ren feared he would lose himself and pounce at it.

"I have a question, Senior Sister." Baozhai glared, but still nodded.

"You're calling it cheap, but father and big bro used all their resources to obtain one for me and still couldn't manage to find one. Everyone says it's something priceless. Even ten thousand heavenly treasures can't trade for one. Why?"

"Because it needs an insignia, and its carrier's willingness," Baozhai uttered coldly. Too cold even for her. Detached.

"No merchant can sell it. No clan can make it. Only by strength and with the benevolence of your sect, you can obtain it." Liu Wenhai's face fell, the yearning in his eyes flaring to life.

"But that's not something you need to concern yourself with," she added, softer now.

"You're a part of the Supreme Family, and we will cover it. So all of your starting points will be this moment."

"Senior sister," came a voice low and rough, obviously too used to shouting and even growling.

"How can a commoner compare to the ones who used treasures? Be at the same starting point?" Ren tilted his head slightly, unable to stop the small nod of appreciation. The harsh truth was clear to see. His eyes found a scrappy young man, staring at the ground, his expression twisted. Simple, disheveled clothes, messy black hair, and bloody bandages wrapped tightly around fists. A survivor. I wonder what roots he had. Ren lifted one eyebrow as Baozhai clicked her tongue.

"Others who haven't learned anything about cultivation or refined themselves before this," she stared at the scrappy boy.

"There's no need to worry too much. The effects of heavenly treasures are limited before this point, even minimal. That's why, your starting line is closer than you think." A few nervous ones let out a relaxed breath. But the boy only frowned, shifting uneasily.

"Saying nearly might be a generous approach," Ren cut in, folding his arms.

"Even though you're starting at the same point, that minimal help might be what you needed for a troublesome bottleneck, so don't even think of slacking. And for the ones who grew up covered in treasures, masters for every little thing you do, and constant care." His gaze swept them, his voice coming out more stern than he expected.

"There's no family 'strength' here. No clan advantage. Only you and your efforts matter. If you don't want the others to leave you in the dust, then you'd better put in the effort as well." Baozhai stared at him with hesitation, but nodded at the end. At the same time, a purple-haired girl raised her hand.

"W-What about you, Eldest brother?" she asked, her voice cracking while her eyes glowed with stars.

"We heard you started cultivation six years earlier, thanks to some heavenly treasures." A memory surfaced in Ren's head, so bitter-sweet that his lips twitched.

"I'm a special case. The Wang Family spent a huge amount of wealth on me since my birth, and Master went even further. Don't even ask me how many heavenly treasures they've gone through, it's beyond counting." He took a deep breath.

"Old Void also helped a lot, hunting a total of 299 dragons for their tendons and blood, and then refining my body with void energy for 299 days before I started cultivation. Thanks to them, I can beat any Foundation Establishment even without cultivation." And with that way, my soul brother awakened the talent: Divine Might. Unfortunately, it's broken beyond measure. Everyone drew a sharp breath; their eyes widened once again. Though he just shook his head and stepped back for Baozhai to continue.

If you knew how weak my stamina is without spiritual energy, you wouldn't be so surprised. Even stairs cause problems for me… Still, he could feel his talent's mark deep within, trying to nourish itself with the meager amount of energy his body carried, so maybe he could find a way to mend it in the future. After all, it felt more like a cheat than even the system.

"Let's get back to our point, no meaning in admiring him. Even the sect master went nearly bankrupt because of this musclehead." Baozhai quickly took back the reins and waved the pill bottle.

"Unlike the stories you heard, even if you find a godly treasure, you can't break your mortal shell to pave the way to your legend— no matter how good your talent is. Because your spiritual roots need to be attuned to the heavens. Only then can you truly awaken their potential." Her eyes glimmered, a majestic, single Crimson Thunder Root appearing behind her. And as if sensing it, the heavens rumbled with affection.

"See?" she nodded her head.

"If you want, you can try to reach your roots. It's not something hard, just close your eyes and imagine them. They will appear." This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The kids obediently closed their eyes. Not long after, a colorful array of spiritual roots emerged for the whole world to admire.

Five elements revolving in a circle, elemental beasts, void or space cracks, stunning flowers, cauldrons, a whole range of weapons in colors fit for their elements, and even a Yin-Yang thunder fish diagram. Unfortunately, it's only a fish diagram, not the Dragon. He could at least reach sixth grade if it were a Flood Dragon. Ren didn't speak. The scrappy boy also had One-Eyed Wolf roots. He simply watched the swirling fish and the wolf, then noticed Baozhai had the same gaze. She shrugged.

"Heavens haven't acknowledged your roots as you can see. Take it." She waved a hand, distributing one pill for everyone.

"You're lucky, as such a large-scale recruitment only happens once every century." The brats devoured the pills without waiting, and the heavens started to rumble in succession. It took nearly half an hour before the whole process finished.

"As you might know, the longer your root is and the less time it took for you to gain acknowledgment, the more talented you are." Baozhai stared at the five youngsters, including Liu Wenhai, with his Yin-Yang thunder fish diagram. Their roots reached five meters, and they all took less than three minutes.

"Every meter counts as one grade higher, with the highest grade being seven. It determines your cultivation speed, but not how far you can go. After all, one of the Founder Elders had fourth-grade roots, but became a peak-Ascendant. Now, everyone, form four rows according to your talent. Sit down, legs crossed, hands on your knees." She stood at the front, arms behind her back"The pill's greatest effect can be seen in the first six hours. With the heavens' aid, try to sense the spiritual energy."

Waving a hand, thunder rumbled, and she guided all the spiritual energy toward them, little rune lights flaring to life around the arena.

"It might be a golden mote, snowflake, silver snakes, or anything. You'll know it when you find it." Ren casually drifted off the side. What a load of info-dump. He pretended to look like an old instructor reflecting on deeper truths. Maybe if he stayed quiet long enough, no one would remember he was here. And I think I'm doing an amazing job. However, Baozhai noticed.

"Our dearest Eldest Brother," she said sweetly without even looking at him.

"You don't think of slacking, do you?"

"No way," Ren frantically shook both hands.

"I'm just observing. You're doing perfectly fine." She turned just enough to catch his eyes and smile.

"Good. Because the ten disciples who show the best sensitivity to spiritual energy today? They're yours." Ren blinked.

"Come again?"

"You'll be giving them special instruction." Her tone left no room for debate.

"You're the First Light of Judgment, after all. Wouldn't want them to miss out on that brilliance." He raised both hands in protest as he tried to rein in the scream from erupting.

"No freaking way, Baozhai!"

"Ssh! They are doing their best to focus," Baozhai waved her hand, creating a sound-isolating barrier.

"Also, we need to prepare at least five disciples for the Trial of Thorns. As one of the grand winners, where can they find a better instructor?" Her lips curled more and more. Everywhere! Who am I to teach these kids how to win?!

"That's the elders' job." he turned on his heel, done with this shitshow.

"Let them figure it out." I won't and don't want to ruin their futures. I'm not him. Baozhai leaned in, her voice low.

"They entrusted them to us. It became our responsibility the moment we agreed to be their instructors, and you know how cruel things might turn out. Are you sure?" He stopped in place, memories deciding to surge at that moment as if someone was poking his mind, and oh boy, how irritating that was. Blood, blood, and more blood… For fuck's sake, I didn't slaughter even a chicken in my freaking life.

"They will die if they ever participate."

"They need someone to guide them. To help them create a light of hope, even if it is just a flicker." She said.

"I never chose to be here." He didn't back down.

"I faced death three times and almost lost an arm before the first hour of that bullshit passed. No chances." She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she seemed as though she waited for him to lift his foot.

"That's exactly why they need someone like you." This time, Ren remained silent, his foot frozen in the air.

"They'll die, just like how your past teammates would. How I would." His jaw clenched. He knew she was right. He knew that hell, and he knew neither he nor his past teammates could ever think about surviving there as well. But he—"I know I don't have a right to force something like this on you, and I wouldn't do it if I had another choice." She paused, voice quiet. Guilty, even.

"If you hadn't thrown yourself there, leaving us behind, there would be no today. I know you don't want anyone else to die, but this is a path they have to tread."

"You did this deliberately," his voice hissed through his teeth.

"You've been aiming for this since you broke through, haven't you? You have always obsessed over me leaving you behind for the Trial. You used my name to convince the elders to entrust you with this task. I should've noticed, only a Nascent Soul elder can teach such a crowd, not a puny Golden Core." She bit her lips, but remained silent. Sometimes, silence is the best answer. His heart bombarded his chest. Again. Again and again, they looked at him. As if I have all the answers.

As if he were still someone who could lead others through the fire. He knew the bitter truth.

"They'll die without someone to guide them," she whispered.

"I don't want this. I'm sorry." He didn't respond. Not aloud. But his hands had curled into fists. The silence stretched between them.

"Please."

"I—" He opened his mouth, but couldn't manage to force out the words. They clutched to his throat walls, refusing to come out. Remember your debt.

"I—" Remember, ha? Remember how you always messed up every-fucking-thing, you useless piece of shit! He clawed at his heart as though trying to rip it out, squeezing his robes. To see if he could stop it that way. Calm it down somehow.

"Ren?" Baozhai's voice cracked. She reached for his arm. But her touch, warm and genuine, made it worse. A sharp pulse slammed through his skull, a molten iron pressed to flesh.

"What the—" Holding his head, Ren pressed tightly, as if trying to crush his own skull. Something— or someone— was carving words into his head. [Please] He couldn't read what was written, but still understood on a deeper sense. But the pain, it was fucking killing him. He couldn't answer the panicked Yin Baozhai, though even if he could, what should he say? Some fucking psycho is using my brain as a whiteboard? [Protect] Suddenly, he felt another thing.

It was incomprehensible, but he could swear it sounded just like an angry baby growling when you took their toy or when they didn't want to sleep. He didn't know where he even got the idea, but it was totally the same. Bloody hell, it isn't easy to explain while someone is drilling your bloody skull. Suddenly, the new addition, his moonlight energy, decided that it would be better if it intervened.

Slivers of silvery energy flared to life over his head, soothing the pain a little bit— amazing situational awareness there. But he would appreciate it more if it acted a little bit earlier, preferably immediately.

"I-I will go and call the sect master! Just, just wait!"

"No, wait— agh!" Ren grabbed her wrist with a power he had no idea where he got. But that was all he could do before the drilling quickened, probably triggered by the moonlight energy. [and cherish] Just hurry the hell up! Are your hands rotting off, you snail-fingered bastard, or are you some deranged calligraphy artist taking your sweet bloody time to carve on my soul?!

AHH MOTHERFU— A good amount of curse words he grasped while living in that cursed city flowed, not that family-friendly— no, especially not family-friendly. [Ren.] Just then, all his pain disappeared as if everything was only his imagination. His eyes widened, and he rubbed his head. Is it gone? Even his memory of the pain's sensations was erased from his mind. If it wasn't for the moonlight energy condensed around his head, Ren would believe that he was going crazy. Of course, the words were still there.

Another proof. But before that, he had to calm down a panicked mess of a lady… hugging him tightly.