Ji Huan was the head of the Qingcheng Sect, and with him backing Ji Gang, the latter was treated like a crown prince in Qingcheng Town. Having grown up high above others, Ji Gang never knew what it meant to bow his head. Whatever he desired, he got.
Ji Gang snorted. “That woman is stiff as a board, devoid of any warmth. I have no desire to marry her.”
Ji Huan admonished him like an ordinary elder: “Why must you be so stubborn, child? A Rou possesses a high-grade water spirit root. Her talent is exceptional. Were it not for Elder Shen’s connections, you wouldn’t even have a chance to marry her.”
Ji Huan wanted to properly counsel his grandson. He waved to the three menial servants who had just discovered their spiritual roots: “You may leave now. Yuan Hui, go make arrangements for them.”
Hearing this, a young man in a light purple Taoist robe who had been standing nearby approached Er Gou and the others. Gouzi and his companions followed the young man out.
Before leaving, Er Gou glanced back at the grandfather and grandson in the main hall. A sense of relief washed over him. Ji Huan had been warm and friendly toward him one moment, then dismissed him the next—proof enough that he wasn’t all that important after all.
Yuan Hui, the core disciple, led the way. Once they reached the mountain path, he couldn’t resist turning back to shake his head at Li Erdou. “You, I really don’t know what to say to you. Do you have any idea how many people are lining up to become our Patriarch’s disciple? And you actually mention having elders? If you truly became the Patriarch’s disciple, it wouldn’t just be your elders—your family’s ancestral graves would be smoking with pride.”
Doggie grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. “I just didn’t react in time. Look, a pie this big falls from the sky, and I got knocked out cold first.”
Yuan Hui sighed in exasperation. “You’re blind as a bat, thick as a brick!”
The man with the mixed triple spiritual roots snorted. “Some people don’t even know how to seize an opportunity when it’s handed to them. They’ll regret it later.” Li Erdou and Yuan Hui turned to look at the man.
His name was Zhao Qing. Originally a hunter in the mountains outside Qingcheng Town, he had learned that Qingcheng Sect could test spiritual roots and guide those with them in cultivation. He had resolutely left the mountains and come to Qingcheng Sect.
“Master Ji Huan of Qingcheng Sect is one of the few Nascent Soul cultivators left in the Spirit Taming Realm. Do you understand what a Nascent Soul cultivator is? Forget being his direct disciple—even as an ordinary inner sect disciple, no one outside would dare bully you.” Zhao Qing looked at Doggie with envy. “You really don’t know how lucky you are.”
Gouzi shrugged nonchalantly. “Ah, I didn’t even know I had a single spiritual root before. I was just a little beggar back then. When they suddenly told me I had a spiritual root and could cultivate, I was completely dumbfounded. How could I have reacted in time?”
Zhao Qing sighed. “Looking at your sharp-witted face, I never would’ve guessed you could be so clueless. Ah…”
Just then, the silent five-element-root girl spoke up: “My father told me, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. You never know if what you encounter is blessing or curse.” Her face was ashen, but her voice was clear and bright. Standing beside Gouzi, they looked like a pair of destitute siblings, both gaunt and sallow.
Yuan Hui looked at the Five-Element Root girl. “You’re quite perceptive for a girl, with some insight. But being a Five-Element Root makes cultivation difficult for you. What’s your name again?”
The girl replied, “My name is Chu Yue.”
Yuan Hui pondered for a moment. “Very well. Come to my courtyard to clean. From now on, you shall be my maid.”
Chu Yue responded with a crisp yes. Two dimples appeared on her plain face, and her eyes sparkled with newfound hope. Even if she was only a maid tasked with cleaning, it was better than struggling in the mud.
Gouzi turned to Yuan Hui: “Master Yuan, may I leave Qingcheng Sect today to visit my elders in the city?”
Yuan Hui nodded. “Go. You are now an inner-door disciple of Qingcheng Sect. The Patriarch has spoken—he wishes to take you as his disciple. One day, you might even become my junior master.”
Gouzi was flattered beyond belief. “Not at all, not at all! I just want to tell my elders that I can cultivate now.”
With Yuan Hui’s approval, Gouzi bolted from the sect’s gates like a wild dog set free. He had to share this news with Ah Heng and Master Lian.
Gouzi tucked Baozi under his arm and sprinted faster than a rabbit. Panting, he called to the cat: “Kitty, kitty! Listen to this—I can actually cultivate! Ahahahaha! I can cultivate into an immortal who rides clouds and mist!”
Leopard: “Mm.”
Doggie was beside himself with joy. When he reached the end of the White Jade Bridge, he stood on the bridge and let out a mighty shout to the heavens: “I! Can! Cultivate! Into! An! Immortal!!”
Passersby gazed at him with envy. In that moment, he truly felt it—he was no longer that little beggar child braving wind and rain for scraps.
From this day forward, his life would be rewritten. After that roar, Doggie felt all the pent-up resentment and frustration that had weighed on his chest for years finally dissipate.
He beamed as he cradled the leopard: “Kitty, listen up. Once I become an immortal, I’ll feed you a hundred mice every single day. You’ll be stuffed whether you’re lying down, sitting up, or even sleeping. Isn’t that just the sweetest thing ever?”
Leopard: “Get lost.”
The dog’s face froze instantly. His mouth twitched for a long moment: “…Ugh, am I losing my mind?”
Author’s Note:
The ecstatic Second Brother: I can cultivate too!! Old Wen, our ancestral graves are smoking!!
The feigning-death Old Wen: You dog, we don’t have ancestral graves!
The yet-to-appear Doggie’s real dad: Our ancestral graves have always had a wisp of smoke rising from them.
![Flying Dust [Fei Chen]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9k.png "Flying Dust [Fei Chen]")
