Chapter 1: Five Sticks
About half a stick of incense later, a sudden strong wind blew in from the depths of the canyon, howling all the way to the front of the young man in white. Then, it transformed into specks of white light right before his eyes and vanished without a trace
Where is the Nanhua Mountain Range? This question seems to have been prepared in advance, with one layer leading to another.
"Oh, isn't this Brother Jian Han? Back from your mission! Whose child are you holding in your arms? Did you secretly have a baby while you were out?" A dark-faced man of similar age, upon seeing him holding the baby, asked in surprise.
There were once a few daring mountain dwellers who attempted to explore the strange dense clouds and mist together. However, after walking more than ten zhang into the thick fog, they would completely lose their sense of direction, often struggling for several hours before finally escaping the area covered by the mist. By that time, they would find that they had returned to their original location. After multiple failed attempts, these individuals finally gave up, no longer paying attention to this mysterious canyon, and even advised their family and neighbors not to step into this place
"Aunt Yun, do you mean that I was picked up by Uncle Jianhan?" The child raised his head, tugging at the sleeve of the woman who was sitting in a chair resting, speaking in a soft, childish voice, enunciating each word clearly. Compared to other children of the same age, his speech was quite fluent.
What is the Five Spiritual Roots? Didn't you say that I have the Five Spiritual Roots, so my name is called Five Roots? Children are always like this, continuously asking one question after another.
Therefore, she had long been accustomed to dealing with the noisy and crying infants, and she was becoming increasingly skilled at it. That noon, more than twenty children were enjoying a sweet nap, and she took the opportunity to lean back in a grand armchair and rest for a while. Unexpectedly, the usually quiet and well-behaved child, Wu Gen, came over to her, asking her all sorts of questions.
This Aunt Yun is also unclear; having a spiritual root allows one to practice immortal techniques, leading to a lifespan of a hundred years without illness. One would also possess various powerful spells, each more formidable than the last! Once the five roots grow, they will be equally impressive! The woman truly knows very little about this, and in just a few short sentences, she conveyed all the information she was aware of, her tone imbued with deep envy.
Indeed, Aunt Yun has heard Uncle Jianhan mention that your spiritual root is of the five-element type, which seems to be not very favorable. Therefore, he named you Wugen. Aunt Yun knows very little about the specific meaning, but as you grow older, you will naturally understand it. The middle-aged woman always spoke in a gentle and patient manner, but when faced with questions that were difficult to articulate, she would resort to the timeless saying, "You will understand when you grow up"
"We are at the Jian family in the Nanhua Mountains." The woman immediately felt a slight sense of relief in her heart, as the child finally stopped asking questions that were difficult for her to answer
The Kingdom of Jinyan is located on the Tianyuan Continent. Aunt Yun heard that the Tianyuan Continent is vast, and the Kingdom of Jinyan, despite its size, is merely an insignificant small country within it. The woman answered patiently, but as soon as she finished speaking, a hint of regret arose in her heart. If this child were to continue asking her what a country is and what a continent is, how would she respond?
After the young man in white walked along the passage for about two to three hundred zhang, the thick fog before him suddenly vanished without a trace. In its place appeared a series of layered and countless buildings, along with intersecting roads. Occasionally, he spotted several men and women dressed similarly to him moving about. Within this fog-covered canyon lay a hidden little town.
Three years later, in the mysterious town nestled within this canyon, a toddler just over three years old, with unsteady steps, is softly conversing with a woman in her thirties or forties, who is slightly plump and has a kind and amiable appearance
"What are you doing bringing a mere mortal child into the family?" The man with a dark face looked puzzled, appearing both skeptical and curious.
"Pah! What are you talking about! If I want to give birth, then I will, why do I have to do it secretly! I don't even know whose child this is; I found it on my way back!" said the young man in white.
Where is the Kingdom of Golden Flames? This is the child who is said to relentlessly pursue the truth.
The young man in white seemed accustomed to this scene and the books, showing no signs of surprise. Holding the infant in his arms, he quickly stepped into the depths of the canyon along a path about one zhang wide, formed by the strong winds dispersing the thick fog
"Aunt Yun, what exactly is the practice of immortal cultivation?" The child posed another difficult question.
It seems that she will not be able to take a nap this afternoon; in any case, she does not have this habit. The middle-aged woman simply placed the child on her lap and began to converse softly.
She has lived in this valley since her birth. Due to lacking any "spiritual roots," she became one of the few ordinary mortals in the small town and has never left it. For the past seven or eight years, her primary responsibility has been to care for a group of children, ranging from newborns to about three years old, raising them until they reach the age of five, after which they are naturally taken to other places in the valley.
This little fellow possesses a spiritual root; if you don't believe it, you can check! Isn't the family currently recruiting new disciples? So I brought him along. It's quite strange, really; I found this child on an extremely desolate hillside, completely naked, not crying or making a fuss. Moreover, I searched the surrounding area for over ten miles and didn't see a single other person! Seeing that he has a spiritual root and not wanting to abandon him on the barren mountain, I decided to bring him back to the family. The young man in white noticed the disbelief on the other person's face and briefly recounted the child's origins.
The man with the dark face followed the instructions and gently touched the delicate wrist of the sleeping infant. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Indeed, there is a spiritual root, but it seems rather mixed. The aptitude should not be very good"
Aunt Yun does not know either. Aunt Yun heard from others that spiritual roots are innate. Only those with spiritual roots can practice the techniques of immortals; those without spiritual roots can only be ordinary people. You are fortunate, as you were born with spiritual roots. After you turn five, the Jin family will find someone to take you to practice the techniques of immortals. Aunt Yun has no spiritual roots and can only toil for a lifetime. The middle-aged woman answered patiently, and as she finished speaking, she let out a gentle sigh. Aunt Yun has no spiritual roots and can only toil for a lifetime. The middle-aged woman answered patiently, and as she finished speaking, she let out a gentle sigh.
Deep within the heart of the Nanhua Mountain Range, several peaks rise nearly a thousand zhang, surrounding a vast canyon. However, this canyon is perpetually shrouded in dense clouds and mist, making it impossible to see anything beyond two or three zhang.
Fortunately, the child did not ask such a question, but instead posed a very strange question: "Aunt Yun, do you know of a country called the Tang Dynasty?"
On a certain day, a handsome young man dressed in elegant white was rushing towards the canyon, cradling a newborn baby in his arms. His speed was incredibly fast, as if he were running with all his might, yet his expression was remarkably relaxed, resembling a leisurely stroll.
"Aunt Yun, why do they call me 'Five Roots'? I have heard people mention something about 'Five Spiritual Roots' before. What does that mean?" The child raised their head, revealing a curious expression.
The Nanhua Mountain Range is located in the southern part of the Kingdom of Jinyan. The woman pinched the tender and adorable face of the child and said
Oh, where are we now? The child shifted the topic, no longer entangled in matters such as spiritual roots and cultivation, which women generally do not understand, but instead asked some questions that children often ask.
Moments later, behind the young man in white, thick clouds and mist swirled and reversed, concealing the newly formed passage, and the canyon returned to its usual appearance
Hmph, do you think you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, capable of determining the attributes of spiritual roots? I won't waste my breath on you. I will go find the Third Elder to report on the task and also ask how to deal with this child. " The young man in white said, waving his hand to signal farewell, and then walked along the street towards a three-story exquisite pavilion
Indeed. Your name, Wugen, was given by him said the middle-aged woman as she gently stroked the child's hair
Before long, the young man in white arrived at the entrance of the canyon, stopping in front of the dense mist. He took out a piece of beautiful jade, the size of a soybean and glowing red, and whispered a few words to it. Then, with a wave of his hand, he threw the red jade into the mist. The red jade streaked through the air, quickly piercing into the thick fog, disappearing from sight
The Nanhua Mountain Range stretches over 2,000 miles, with countless perilous peaks and steep mountains, often inhabited by venomous snakes and fierce beasts. Additionally, the mountains are shrouded in mist year-round, making it difficult to discern directions. As a result, apart from the occasional presence of some woodcutters and hunters at the foot of the outer peaks, the depths of the mountain range remain largely untraveled by humans