Chapter Two: The Five Spiritual Roots

Yue Kingdom, Jiayuan City, Lin Residence.

A month later. Today, the weather was rather chilly, with the sun obscured by clouds and mist, casting a somber hue across the sky.

Lin Yang was seated in his courtyard, reading a medical book. The page depicted diagrams of meridians: a small figure marked with many points connected by lines. These were the paths of vital energy.

"Xiaomei, have you ever heard of the Mo Residence?"

Over the past month, Lin Yang had come to realize that this world was that of the "Mortal's Journey to Immortality." He had gleaned this from books in the study that mentioned the country’s name, the names of several provinces, and the familiar place names. He was now certain—he was in the Yue Kingdom of the novel.

"Considering I’m a dedicated novel enthusiast, I do recognize the place names from 'Mortal's Journey to Immortality.' What I don’t know is which period this is. Besides, there doesn’t seem to be a Mo Residence mentioned at this time, nor have I ever heard of one in the past."

"Young master, I’ve never heard of a Mo Residence. But I do know of a Li Residence—the head of the Li family is said to be a formidable martial artist," Xiaomei replied.

So I must have arrived too early, though I have no idea by how many years. Lin Yang tried to piece together the timeline from what information he could gather, but for now, nothing could confirm the precise era.

Only after a month of observation did he realize how rare spiritual roots were in this world. He was deeply concerned about whether he possessed them.

"Sigh, I wonder if I have spiritual roots," he muttered. "I should have, right? I’ve crossed over into this world—surely I deserve a chance at immortality. Who knows, maybe I’m even the protagonist destined for a great reversal."

"Yes, of course I have them. I must believe in myself."

During this time, Lin Yang had also discovered that even among prominent families, cultivators rarely lived past a hundred years. He didn’t know if his ancestors had left behind any immortal cultivation techniques, so he decided to ask his father.

He jumped down from the artificial hill and dashed quickly toward the main hall.

"Father~" Lin Yang entered and saw his father, Lin Youcai, working an abacus. He climbed up and clung to his leg.

"Yang’er, what do you need?"

"Father, I heard that our ancestors were cultivators. Did they leave behind anything related to cultivation?"

"There is something," Lin Youcai replied. "When I was younger, I befriended a cultivator who promised to visit every five years to test for spiritual roots in our family."

"And in two months, it will be five years exactly. Your elder brother and sister, though, don't have spiritual roots," Lin Youcai said as he patted Lin Yang’s head.

"Don’t worry, father! I’m sure I have spiritual roots," Lin Yang declared confidently.

"Good, good. My Yang’er definitely has spiritual roots," Lin Youcai replied, reassuring him with a gentle pat.

"I’m going to play now." Having obtained the information he needed, Lin Yang found an excuse to leave.

"Go ahead," Lin Youcai waved him off, returning his attention to the account book in his hands.

"What am I to do if I can’t read the ancient script? Looks like I’ll have to focus on studying for the next two months, and also review the medical books. After all, if I can’t even recognize the meridians, how can I cultivate?" Fortunately, his predecessor had been studious despite a weak constitution, so he knew quite a few characters. Still, the newly merged soul needed to go over everything again, so Lin Yang decided to relearn all the scripts from scratch.

"Mother, I want to learn to read and cultivate immortality!"

"Alright, alright. My child is destined to become immortal," Madam Yang replied, though her tone betrayed her lack of confidence. As a member of an influential family, she was familiar with legends of the cultivation world.

"Sigh, we’ll just have to take things one step at a time."

Two months later.

Lin Yang was reading when there was a sudden knock at the door.

"Xiaomei, hurry and see who it is," Lin Yang said, putting aside his medical book.

"Right away." Xiaomei ran to the door and opened it.

The steward entered.

"Young Master Eight, the master wishes to see you."

"Uncle Liu, do you know what my father wants?" Lin Yang asked.

"You'll know when you get there, young master."

"Come on, Grandpa Liu, can’t you just tell me? He’s not making me study again, is he?"

"No, young master, hurry up! The master is waiting," the steward urged, quickening his pace.

"Wait for me, Grandpa Liu, you're walking too fast!"

Lin Yang followed the steward to the main hall, where he saw his father, mother, several concubines, and his siblings gathered. His father was conversing with a young man who had an ethereal, genteel bearing, exuding the aura of a cultivator.

"Father, mother," Lin Yang greeted as he approached.

"Xiao Yang, sit behind your seventh brother," his father told him.

"Alright," Lin Yang replied, making his way to his seventh brother, the mischievous Lin Bei. Why mischievous? Over the past two months, he’d caused so much trouble in the private school that he’d been beaten a dozen times by the teacher, and then again by their father at home.

"Seventh brother, could you wipe your nose?" Lin Yang said helplessly, watching Lin Bei eat with gusto.

"Okay," Lin Bei replied, and kept eating.

Lin Yang could only sigh and stand up, moving his stool aside. "You really don’t care, do you?" He took a handkerchief from Xiaomei, pressed Lin Bei’s head down, and wiped his nose for him.

After the meal, the servants cleared away the leftovers, tidied up the table and the hall.

Everyone’s attention turned to their father and the young man.

"Surely he must be a cultivator." His appearance said it all: the white robe typical of cultivators, long hair draping down to his waist. Normally, men wouldn’t wear their hair loose indoors; whoever made that rule, it was considered improper.

"It’s been two months already," Lin Yang thought nervously, clenching his fists. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change his fate—anyone would be anxious.

"This is your Uncle Wang Jin," Lin Youcai introduced them.

"Say hello to Uncle Wang."

"Hello, Uncle Wang," the children greeted in scattered voices.

"Good," Wang Jin replied.

"Why do you all look so dispirited?" Lin Youcai asked, visibly annoyed with the children.

"My apologies, Brother Wang," he said.

"No matter. Let’s begin. I have other matters to attend to. But, Brother Lin, don’t get your hopes up. Out of thousands in your lineage, not one has had spiritual roots—do you really expect one among these ten children?" Wang Jin said impassively.

"I understand. Fifth daughter, come forward," Lin Youcai said.

"Yes, father." Lin Yang’s fifth sister, an eleven-year-old girl, stepped up.

"Place your hand on this stone," Wang Jin instructed, producing a black stone from his sleeve.

"Wow, a magic trick!" Lin Bei exclaimed.

Lin Yang hurriedly covered his mouth.

"No spiritual roots. Next," Wang Jin declared after a while—the stone showed no reaction.

"Sixth child, your turn. The rest of you, line up and wait your turn."

Soon, even little Lin Bei was tested, but still, none possessed spiritual roots. Nonetheless, he hopped away, cheerful as ever.

Then it was Lin Yang’s turn. Despite the confidence gained from his transmigration, he was still anxious—if he couldn’t cultivate in this world, what could be more agonizing?

He slowly placed his hand on the stone. Wang Jin channeled spiritual energy and activated the testing stone.

Suddenly, five beams of light shot forth from the stone.

"He has spiritual roots!" Lin Youcai exclaimed, overjoyed.

"Who would have thought one of your children would have spiritual roots? Brother Lin, you are fortunate," Wang Jin remarked, visibly surprised. "Though, it is a pity—he has all five spiritual roots."

"Next, continue," Wang Jin said.

The testing soon finished. Apart from Lin Yang, none of the children possessed spiritual roots.

"Yang’er, come and greet your Uncle Wang," Lin Youcai said, pulling Lin Yang forward.

"Hello, Uncle Wang," Lin Yang said.

"Hello, Xiao Yang," Wang Jin replied.

"Brother Lin, your child is quite well-behaved," he noted, "but his health is not very good." Wang Jin studied Lin Yang, easily discerning his frail constitution from his pallor.

…