Chapter 973: Hidden Spirit Root
Su Jingwen saw Ye Mo's worried expression and quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, Yimo should be fine. When we arrived in the small world, many people recognized us because of you; no one dared to be disrespectful. Everyone assumed you'd gone to Xin Jia Mountain's teleportation formation, so we went there too and were brought here."
Taking a deep breath, Su Jingwen continued, "I was frightened on the teleportation formation and worried about Yimo, so I held her hand. However, when it stopped, we found ourselves separated from Sister Yuehua and Wanqing."
Ye Mo nodded; he'd anticipated this.
"How's Yimo?" he asked anxiously.
"We were teleported to a small town about 600 kilometers from Jiang Chuan City. Yimo's storage ring contained plenty of supplies, so we didn't have to worry about necessities. We planned to stay until I reached the Chi Gathering Middle Stage before searching for you and Sister Yuehua, but I remained stuck at level two. One day, while cultivating outdoors, Yimo manifested lightning sparks. Just as we rejoiced, a cultivator noticed us."
"What happened?" Ye Mo's worry intensified. Yimo was only at the Chi Gathering stage; they were defenseless against a hostile cultivator.
Su Jingwen took Ye Mo's hand. "The cultivator stopped and exclaimed, 'She has a lightning spirit root! Magnificent!' He then asked if Yimo wanted to be his disciple. Yimo refused, saying she wanted to find her father, who was stronger than anyone. The man, instead of forcing her, raised his hand and pulverized a mountain peak several kilometers away. Then he asked, 'Is your father as strong as I am?'"
"How did Yimo reply?" Ye Mo knew such power indicated at least Body Condensation stage or higher—far beyond his capabilities.
Su Jingwen moved closer. "We were astonished; he seemed like an immortal. Though Yimo acknowledged his strength, she insisted her father was stronger. He smiled and didn't argue, saying that finding her father was currently impossible. Even with a lightning spirit root, lacking the proper cultivation method, she'd achieve nothing in a hundred years. He explained that the North Far State was billions of kilometers wide; even at his level, finding someone was difficult, let alone now. To find you, Yimo had to become his disciple and increase her power."
Ye Mo knew Yimo had agreed, but he asked, "Did Yimo agree?"
Su Jingwen nodded. "She considered it and agreed, but insisted I go as well. I was overjoyed at the prospect of cultivation. He tested Yimo's spirit root and was delighted. However, after a long pause, he examined me and sighed, saying I lacked a spirit root and could never cultivate. He warned me never to let anyone test my spirit root again, or I would die."
Su Jingwen continued, "Though Yimo wanted me to accompany her, the cultivator said she couldn't leave for at least ten years. Yimo objected, but he said she wouldn't find you in a hundred years unless she became his disciple. She agreed, but I couldn't bear to wait alone for ten years, so I left to search for you…"
She choked back tears. "After he took Yimo, I learned to disguise myself and left town. Six months later, I reached Fu Mo City, but it was destroyed by two powerful cultivators. I followed refugees to Jiang Chuan City, losing my bracelet along the way. Looking back, I should thank that cultivator; otherwise, I might never have seen you again."
Su Jingwen wept openly. Ye Mo held her hand, understanding her need to release her emotions.
After a while, she continued, "Knowing cultivators live longer than ordinary people, I became lost. In Jiang Chuan City, I dared not seek work, fearing my disguise would be discovered, so I wandered the streets. One snowy day, feeling hopeless, I planned to find a peaceful place to end my life, but heaven pitied me and brought us together…"
Ye Mo understood that Yimo hadn't given her the storage ring; it hadn't occurred to the child. While still worried, he was relieved Yimo was with a powerful cultivator who recognized her talent.
"Can I truly cultivate?" Su Jingwen asked anxiously.
Ye Mo nodded. "Of course, don't worry."
Suddenly, Ye Mo recalled something. "Wait, you said you reached Chi Gathering level two, but I sense no cultivation chi from you."
Su Jingwen said dejectedly, "Initially, I cultivated even faster than Wanqing, but after Chi Gathering stage two, my progress stalled. Yimo's master said I lacked talent and would never cultivate, no matter how hard I tried. In despair, I gave up, and my cultivation chi dissipated."
Remembering Yimo's master's words, he produced a spirit root testing device. "Place your hand inside; I'll test you." No beads lit up. She truly seemed to lack a spirit root, but Su Jingwen added, "Yimo's master tested me; one white bead lit up and dimmed repeatedly."
"Are you a hidden spirit root?" Ye Mo exclaimed. His device was inadequate for such a test. People with hidden spirit roots lose cultivation chi without consistent cultivation. This was a "leaking body," or leaking spirit root. Reaching Chi Gathering level two with such a root was remarkable. If activated, it would be the fastest growing spirit root. Yimo's master likely knew hidden spirit roots were often impossible to activate.
Activation typically required the legendary Nine-Colored Lotus—a flower often used to refine one's own spirit root, never to activate a hidden one. However, another method existed: possession. That's why he'd warned her against testing.
Ye Mo lacked the Nine-Colored Lotus, but he knew another way: the Rainbow Spirit Pill, requiring a lotus with five or more colors and ten-thousand-year stalagmite marrow. He possessed both—two five-colored lotuses, in fact.
Her hidden spirit root and the white bead indicated a pure, mutant ice spirit root. An activated pure ice spirit root combined with a hidden spirit root would be the best spirit root Ye Mo had ever seen.
"Jingwen, come to my room. I'll help you concoct the Rainbow Spirit Pill. Your talent might be the best among us." Even Ye Mo yearned to see how quickly she'd cultivate once activated.