105,7 - Little Peasant Wife

**Chapter 77: Spiritual Roots (1)** Freshly taken from outside, the cream felt cool to the touch, its chill sending tingles down her spine as it was applied on sensitive skin. Shen Lüman instantly felt a shiver run through her. Jing Aoxue’s warm, moist lips began to lick the area once more. Shen Lüman bit her lip, grasping the bed sheets tightly as her right leg tensed uncontrollably, tempted to kick off the rascal atop her. However, memories of having once kicked Jing Aoxue hard enough to seriously injure her stopped her, making her hesitate to act. Jing Aoxue, however, took advantage of the moment, pausing between licks to look up at her with curiosity. "Did Liuer grow up being fed like this too? I wonder if you had enough milk back then... hmm..." She scrutinized Shen Lüman’s fair, smooth chest and remarked, “The size and shape are decent, but given how thin Liuer is, like a twig, you probably didn’t have enough milk. Here, let me massage it for you, next time—” Before she finished her sentence, Shen Lüman ruthlessly kicked her onto the floor. Dazed, Jing Aoxue complained, “Wife, what are you doing?” What audacity, acting like the victim when she had been so outrageous. Shen Lüman glared at her, quickly wiping the traces from her chest. “Tonight, you’ll sleep on the floor. Practice maintaining your fire qi to see how long you can sustain it now that you’ve reached the fifth stage of Qi Refinement.” Jing Aoxue quickly pleaded with a laugh, “Wife, I’m wrong, please forgive me. I won’t mess around again.” Shen Lüman spoke casually, not truly intending to make her sleep on the floor. It was winter, after all, and Southern winters were notoriously cold and damp. With the New Year approaching, catching a cold would be inauspicious. Though she hadn’t cared for such traditions before, a few conversations with Wu Zhian’s wife had made her more aware of New Year customs. Seeing her silence, Jing Aoxue took it as consent and obediently climbed back onto the bed to lie down. After a while, remembering the cream, she turned to Shen Lüman and teased, “Wife, if that cream hardens, it won’t be good. Let me help you lick it clean…” This time, she cut herself off as Shen Lüman seemingly vanished with a “poof”, leaving only a coiled, blood-red vine on the bedside. Jing Aoxue: “…” Well, time to sleep. She pouted, covering the vine with a quilt and planting a kiss on the playing-dead vine before closing her eyes to sleep. The next morning, after breakfast, Shen Lüman began preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner. Jing Aoxue and Liuer each took a bath in turn and then put away the brooms and dustpans, filling their time with leisurely play until noon. Curious, Jing Aoxue peeked into the kitchen where numerous ingredients were already prepared. Some soups, which needed long hours to cook, were already simmering on the stove. Sensing her aura, Shen Lüman didn’t turn but asked, “What are you here for?” Jing Aoxue cheerfully approached, giving her a quick kiss and said, “Gathering energy, do your best, wife!” Blushing, Shen Lüman stuffed a piece of cake into her mouth and handed her a box of freshly made pastries. “Here, take this to snack on, but don’t eat too much. We still have dinner tonight.” Jing Aoxue agreed obediently, feeling inexplicably like a child being lectured by a mother. She felt a streak of embarrassment and quickly changed the topic, “Is there anything I can help with?” Looking around the kitchen, Shen Lüman thought for a moment and said, “Then why don’t you take out the melon seeds, nuts, candies, and fruits and put them on the plates?” Jing Aoxue nodded and hurriedly fetched a few bowls from the cupboard, rushing out quickly. She even forgot the plate of pastries. Shen Lüman shook her head in resignation, thinking to herself: For such a grown person, she sure is scatterbrained. After plating the meat she had cut up, she brought the pastries into the main room, where she saw Jing Aoxue and Liuer huddled together, adorning the fruit plates with trinkets bought from town. It looked quite delightful. Especially Liuer, who had shed a bit of her baby fat over the past six months, growing ever more like Jing Aoxue, her youthful face vibrant and adorable. Jing Aoxue laughed heartily, “Placing that piece might make it unstable. Liuer, are you sure you want to take on this challenging task?” Liuer chuckled, “Mother, stop fooling around, go ahead and place it.” Jing Aoxue squinted, placing the last piece of candy on a pyramid of sweets. The pyramid teetered slightly, causing both of them to instinctively reach out to steady it. Finding it amusing, Shen Lüman infused the plate with a bit of spiritual energy, and the candy pyramid instantly seemed to meld together, stabilizing completely. Jing Aoxue exclaimed in surprise, finally noticing Shen Lüman and said, “Wife, you’re amazing.” Shen Lüman set down the pastries, handing a piece to Liuer and chided, “You're both acting like children.” Jing Aoxue leaned in, resting her head on Shen Lüman’s shoulder. Given their height difference, it was quite a feat. Jing Aoxue smiled and said, “So what? I never spent a New Year with family before. It used to be just another day, cold and indifferent, even finding the outside world too noisy. Now, with you and Liuer, I finally understand the joy.” “Plus, me being childish makes you seem more mature by comparison. You should be thanking me, wife.” Initially, Shen Lüman felt touched, but soon, she had to suppress an urge to roll her eyes. Taking advantage of Liuer’s distraction, she quickly pecked Jing Aoxue’s cheek. As Jing Aoxue was about to react with excitement, Shen Lüman retreated back to the kitchen. With hearts in her eyes, Jing Aoxue propped her chin on her hands, looking thoroughly satisfied. Liuer smiled faintly and commented, “Mother, are you so happy you’ll burst?” Jing Aoxue: “I am.” She immediately realized what she had admitted and added with a complex expression, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.” Liuer laughed as she looked up at her, giving her a peck on the chin. “Mother is truly wonderful.” Now, she was truly about to burst with happiness. This was what life should be, feeling like the past twenty years hadn’t been in vain after all. Maybe every tough moment is a step towards happiness. All previous hardships seemed to have paved the way for this joy. Jing Aoxue suddenly felt grateful for this life-altering journey, thankful for the happiness it brought her. Playing with Liuer for a bit, she headed to the kitchen to “help” Shen Lüman, albeit mostly being a hindrance. Liuer, fortunately, remembered her promise to Xiaohui, and being smart, picked up quickly on what Shen Lüman taught her. Jing Aoxue, however, had no innate skill for cooking except for impressive knife skills. Nothing else even met an acceptable standard. Luckily, this wasn’t the imperial kitchen, where strict rules applied. The New Year’s Eve feast was more about bringing the family closer together, so the playful interaction and warm atmosphere left Shen Lüman, the main chef, very satisfied. They prepared a table full of dishes for the evening’s dinner. Before eating, Jing Aoxue said, “Hold on, let me give you both a red envelope.” She cheerfully pulled two red pouches from her sleeve, eyes sparkling as she said, “Here, open them and see if you like it.” Both Liuer and Shen Lüman received an envelope, exchanged glances, and opened them. Inside, each contained a jade pendant. The pendants were exquisitely clear, with two characters engraved on the front and a smooth curve on the back. They felt delicate to the touch, radiating a faint, warm glow. Shen Lüman was taken aback, examining the pendant closely. Numerous candles illuminated the room, and the jade appeared almost translucent, like a droplet of water poised between her fingers. Moreover, the jade emitted a soft green light, appearing warm and gentle. Somehow, holding this warm jade made her mind feel clear, almost as if her thoughts were sharper. It was clear this warm jade was of exceptional quality, and inscribed on the surface was her name: Lüman. Liuer’s pendant bore the characters for Jingliu. Shen Lüman couldn't help but look at Jing Aoxue, who rested her chin on her hand and playfully winked back. The candlelit Jing Aoxue seemed even more... alluring than usual. Already a beauty capable of touching people's hearts, she now exuded a mature, understanding aura with a gentle, elegant smile. Biting her lip, Shen Lüman felt her face flush, avoiding eye contact out of bashfulness. Liuer exclaimed, “Mother, did you carve these?” Jing Aoxue smiled proudly, “Of course! I once loved carving things to pass the time. Someone once ruined a hairpin I spent half a day carving. Thinking about it still makes me burn with anger, so I kept at it. This jade is from the best of what we found in the mountain fort, only able to carve a few pieces. I ruined a few early on, leaving these two acceptable ones.” She spoke with a tinge of regret, but Liuer was already pleased. “Thank you, Mother. I love the warm jade and will keep it close.” Nodding, Jing Aoxue said, “This is top-quality jade, filled with my spiritual energy. As long as you wear it close, I’ll always sense you nearby.” After speaking, Jing Aoxue noticed Shen Lüman keeping her head down and wondered if she didn't like the gift. However, Shen Lüman’s delicate fingers continued to caress the jade pendant, suggesting she was quite fond of it. Puzzled, Jing Aoxue asked, “Wife, what do you think?” Shen Lüman looked at her, her eyes gleaming with a soft light. “I like it a lot. I was wrong before... I really like it.” Jing Aoxue tilted her chin up, feeling thoroughly satisfied. "If that's the case, let's eat dinner, and then we can set off fireworks. We have many things planned for tonight." Shen Lüman also remembered that after midnight, Liuer would turn six and could test for her spiritual roots. Though she believed there was a high chance Liuer was spiritually gifted, she was anxious until the actual results came out. Struggling to suppress her worry, she finished the New Year's Eve dinner, during which the family raised glasses of milk in a toast. Their household had a dairy cow, bought by Jing Aoxue months ago from the town. She bought two cows, sending one to Qin Yishu’s home and keeping the other in her own yard. However, as she was rarely home and given the shortage of winter grass, the cow was moved to Wu Zhiyong’s care with the condition that fresh milk was available upon her return home. Wu Zhiyong, being a kind person, always ensured the milk was ready whenever she returned, delivering it either that night or the next morning. That morning’s delivery was what they toasted with. Southern milk lacked a traditional taste, often carrying a distinct scent. Jing Aoxue found it lacking, so she had Shen Lüman mix in crushed nuts and fruit juice to enhance the flavor. Although it taste unique, Liuer liked it, and Jing Aoxue let it be. After dinner, Jing Aoxue prepared fireworks bought from town. Traditionally, fireworks were set off after midnight, but she decided to do it earlier, as they had more important tasks later. Taking Liuer outside, Shen Lüman followed closely, watching Jing Aoxue lay out long strings of firecrackers stretching beyond the courtyard gate. Once everything was in place, Jing Aoxue signaled for Liuer to cover her ears before igniting the firecrackers. She then ran to Shen Lüman’s side, hugging her, as the firecrackers erupted with a deafening series of pops. Liuer tightly covered her ears, astonished by the thunderous noise. Afterwards, with her head buzzing, Liuer found herself enjoying the lively sound and the scent of fireworks in the air. Jing Aoxue handed Liuer some sparklers to play with before prepping the fireworks for the night. Knowing it was futile to talk amidst the noise, she refrained. Shen Lüman patted her head, relieved that firecrackers weren't a common occurrence in the cultivation world. Jing Aoxue offered Shen Lüman a couple of sparklers, gesturing for her to light their fuses and aim for the sky. These fireworks resembled modern ones, albeit simpler in design, exploding in basic shapes. To Shen Lüman and Liuer, they were mesmerizing. Almost all of the remaining fireworks were used up by the two. Jing Aoxue seldom saw this childlike side of Shen Lüman. She remembered that Shen Lüman, just in her early twenties, would still be a college student in her previous world. Come to think of it, Shen Lüman had married and had a child before even reaching adulthood. It was quite beastly, really. Having a child so young wasn't ideal, but it seemed like women in this place married early. Such a pity... Jing Aoxue approached Shen Lüman from behind, enveloping her in a hug. “Wife, I’ll take even better care of you from now on.” Turning her head, Shen Lüman beamed at her, rare delight lifting her usual restraint. Unable to resist, Jing Aoxue leaned down to kiss her lips. Noticing, Liuer discreetly shifted aside, giving them space, not wanting to be in the way. Like a little adult, Liuer thought, at that moment, a small gray fluffball jumped from her chest. She exclaimed happily, cradling Xiaohui to one side, “Xiaohui, you’re awake?” Xiaohui yawned languidly, “You all were so noisy, what was happening just now? Why was it so loud?” Liuer paused, “You’ve been out for a few months. It’s New Year’s now, and we were setting off firecrackers and fireworks.” Xiaohui yawned again, lazily resting in Liuer’s palm. “I’m not interested. Next time, keep it down.” Liuer bit her lip and nodded obediently. Xiaohui glanced at her curiously, “It seems you’ve changed a lot in just a few days, growing quite fast.” Liuer reminded it, “You’ve been unconscious for a long time.” In response, Xiaohui kicked her palm, its weak strength only tickling her. Irritated, it said, “Just don’t mention it again. I’m still not fully recovered. I only woke by chance. You must continue cultivating. You seem almost mature physically, and once we know your spiritual roots, I’ll return to sleep.” Liuer nodded, “Okay, I understand… and…” She hesitated, unsure whether to tell Xiaohui, but its body puffed up with displeasure, becoming a little round. “You’re my servant. Don’t keep anything from me. Speak up, or I’ll be uncomfortable.” Still domineering as ever, Liuer sighed internally, “Mother and Mama know about you. They... might not like you. So it’s best to hide when you can.” Xiaohui sneered, “A mere mortal and a half… a demon clan member. I’m not concerned.” Despite its words, Xiaohui indeed chose not to show itself—it lacked strength now. At this rate, who knew when it would restore its power to return to the demon realm and seek vengeance? While unconscious, memories had resurfaced. Without the interference from both the demon realm and the colluding cultivators, it would have never faced such defeat. Thinking back on it, Qingmu—that woman—was to blame... Humph! Humans were never decent. Glancing at Liuer with a complex expression, Xiaohui leapt onto her shoulder, nibbling her earlobe. “You must cultivate diligently! Otherwise, I’ll always end up protecting you! Truly, I must owe you something from a past life to be living better than my master.” Feeling guilty, Liuer promised, “I will cultivate well.” Her sincerity was genuine, and Liuer exuded a pure aura that Xiaohui had gradually sensed. Initially, it only noted faint demon clan lineage in her. When combining this with its own disorienting rebirth, fragmented memories, and the unfamiliar sensation of being phoenix legacy-bound within a blank mind, it casually formed a pact with Liuer. On reflection, it did harbor some regret. But Liuer seemed different. Xiaohui mused softly. Though distrusting of humans, it had, confusedly during its rebirth, made a pact with one. And there was something unusual about that agreement. It was drawn to the proposal by Qingmu Zhenjun, whom it outright rejected back then. No matter how tempting it was, it would never involve itself with humans—not even as servants. Humph! Yet, after reincarnating, it contradicted itself. Melancholy, Xiaohui reclined on Liuer’s delicate shoulder until Jing Aoxue’s voice called for her. Liuer patted the furry bundle on her shoulder and approached Jing Aoxue. Jing Aoxue asked, “Where’d you go? I couldn't see you earlier, you scared me.” Liuer paused, noticing her mother’s swollen lips and flushed cheeks. “Sorry, Mother.” Jing Aoxue intended to continue her reprimand, but Shen Lüman pulled her back. Shen Lüman’s senses were sharp—aside from Jing Aoxue, whose intimacy was deeply familiar. Everyone else's gaze was instantly palpable. Noticing Liuer casting a glance at her face confirmed everything. With the awkwardness of being discovered already weighing on her, she preferred to avoid increasing it. Oblivious, Jing Aoxue asked, “Wife, what's up?” Shen Lüman: “…” Sometimes Jing Aoxue just needs a good beating! Liuer stepped forward, changing the topic, “Mother, what shall we do next?” Jing Aoxue looked at the time, “There’s still a while to go. Let’s find a spot to burn paper and honor the ancestors.” Puzzled, Shen Lüman asked, “Isn’t today not Qingming Festival?” Shen Lüman had spent several years in the mortal realm and understood how much mortals revered their ancestors. However, she found the idea of ancestor worship during New Year a bit odd. Jing Aoxue patted her forehead and said, “It’s fine. Where I come from, many people worship ancestors during New Year’s. A friend’s father used to go out and burn paper around midnight every year. I just thought I’d like to pay my respects too… to some people.” Hearing this, Shen Lüman was reminded of her mother, who had passed away many years ago, and the priest who had cared for her for so long. She nodded slowly in agreement. Liuer thought of the little rabbit Dabai that had been eaten by Xiaohui, and felt a pang of melancholy. It was the first time she had ever experienced resentment. Reflecting on it now, her grudge towards Xiaohui probably started with that incident. The family fell into an abrupt silence, which Jing Aoxue broke by saying, “Let’s not be sad. This is life—people come and go, both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Of those we've lost, it’s best not to dwell; we who live must seize each day and enjoy it.” “One day, we’ll venture into the world of cultivation, but we needn't be swept away by it. Cultivate when it's time to, and enjoy life when you can. Balance, that’s key.” Shen Lüman nodded. The cultivation world is cruel, and no matter how diligently one practices, there will always be someone stronger; sudden disasters are never rare. Listening to the tales of cultivation, Shen Lüman often wondered why some cultivators—be it in their short or long lives—would abandon everything for the path of cultivation. Some even believe in killing as a path to enlightenment, ending the lives of their closest ones to reach the pinnacle. Such people were disturbingly common, often having killed wives, children, or even entire families. It was laughable, especially when these people considered themselves Dao cultivators. Did they not fear the heart demons that would arise during the forming of their core or infant stage? If proving her Dao meant the death of those she cherished, Shen Lüman felt she would rather remain in the mortal village, living peacefully and happily with Jing Aoxue and Liuer. Gazing at Jing Aoxue’s brilliant smile, Shen Lüman felt a warmth wash over her. In that moment, she understood that her path as a demon cultivator was one of protection. She wanted to guard this family, protect Jing Aoxue, and be there for her child! With this realization, she suddenly entered a profound state of enlightenment. In the great continent of Hongze, cultivation stages for humans include: the Qi Refinement Stage, Foundation Establishment Stage, Core Formation Stage, and Nascent Soul Stage. For demon cultivators, the stages are analogous: the Spirit Gathering Stage, Body Tempering Stage, Demon Core Stage, and Transformation Stage. Upon becoming a full demon, her bloodline had allowed her to leap over the ten levels of Spirit Gathering directly to its peak. She had struggled to find the threshold for advancing further, but with this newly kindled resolve, the invisible barrier before her rapidly dissolved; her blood coursed like a river within her, surging through her being. In mere moments, she ascended into the Body Tempering Stage. Returning from her meditative state, Shen Lüman took a deep breath, realizing her vision was swaying. She shifted slightly, discovering she had once again taken her vine form, wrapped around Jing Aoxue’s neck as they burned paper money in the backyard. Jing Aoxue mumbled prayers while Liuer kept repeating Dabai's name, not entirely understanding the ritual. Xiaohui, having rolled its eyes, leaped onto Liuer’s head, ruffling her hair, and noticed Shen Lüman’s activity. It thought, quite impressed: this demon shows promise, dealing swiftly with the greatest obstacle for demonkind—their own mindset. Yet, Shen Lüman had crossed it over half a year. Such talent was truly… Xiaohui glanced away. It didn’t really care much about this demon, unseen by Shen Lüman as long as it didn’t want to be seen. Only Liuer, who had formed a contract with it, could perceive Xiaohui. Liuer continued murmuring Dabai’s name, annoying Xiaohui, who started bouncing on her head in irritation. Though light as a feather, its actions made Liuer recall her original anger, prompting her to mention Dabai several more times. But through these tests, she’d realized Xiaohui was mostly talk, refraining from truly harming her. Like now, despite being puffed up from fury, it merely remained bouncing on her. Liuer thought: she was willing to care for Xiaohui, but it needed to acknowledge its past mistake. Shen Lüman approached Liuer, placing a hand on her shoulder, "If you like rabbits, I can catch another one for you next time." Before Liuer could reply, Xiaohui pecked her hand in frustration, "How dare you!" Liuer smiled, "I appreciate it, Mother." Xiaohui was further infuriated, floating in front of her, “You are my servant, you should…” In her mind, Liuer responded, "Yes, I serve you, but I have feelings too. I cannot forgive you for what you did to Dabai!" Xiaohui paused, unsure of what to do next, its anger dissipating into confusion. Hovering angrily over her nose, it kicked it gently and said, "Anyway, no more rabbits." Liuer sighed, "You should apologize, or I’ll keep raising them. You can eat one, and I'll get another. You'll be too busy recovering to notice." Xiaohui, frustrated, puffed up into a ball, “Humans are awful; I dislike you!” Liuer chuckled, "Good, because I don’t like you either. We’ll call it even.” Xiaohui squinted its beady eyes in grievance, wanting to use Liuer’s mothers against her but a gut feeling held it back. Irritated, it muttered under its breath, a begrudging, “Alright, alright. I’m sorry!” Though vague and half-hearted, it was enough to satisfy Liuer. She told Shen Lüman, “I don’t want a pet anymore; I need to focus on studies and cultivation after today.” Shen Lüman acknowledged this, knowing Liuer's intentions well; she had previously brought home rabbits, but Liuer never kept them. Her mentioning it again was merely to assuage her feelings over Dabai. Standing beside Liuer, Shen Lüman watched as Jing Aoxue finished her mutterings. "What’s next?" Jing Aoxue smiled, “Let the fire burn on; let's go home.” Feeling uplifted, she asked Shen Lüman on their way home, “You turned into a vine so suddenly. I thought you were being playful. What happened?” Shen Lüman explained, “I wasn’t being playful. I had a sudden insight, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.” Jing Aoxue stopped, astonished, “You reached Foundation Establishment that quickly?!” After all, she was only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Despite knowing her wife’s cultivation was higher, she hadn’t sensed any advanced demonic energy from her, assuming her level was just slightly higher. Yet, her wife had already reached Foundation Establishment, while her own was a distant prospect. Bemused, Shen Lüman explained, “I was fortunate to awaken to a great demonic lineage, which should have allowed a leap to Core Formation or even Nascent Soul stage. But because I was dead for a time, most of the energy was spent resurrecting me. That’s why I was only at Qi Refinement…” She thought her cultivation level was quite low and had aimed to reach Core Formation before the female cultivators returned to the mortal realm in a few years. However, that seemed unlikely now. Both she and Jing Aoxue sighed in unison. Liuer asked, “Mother, is it almost midnight?” Shen Lüman blinked, ready to answer when the village’s fireworks and firecrackers began to sound, marking the turning point. The family quickly returned home, and upon entering, both Jing Aoxue and Liuer looked expectantly at Shen Lüman, who asked, “Why are you both staring at me?” Jing Aoxue replied, “We’re counting on you to test Liuer’s spiritual roots.” Liuer nodded in agreement. Shen Lüman sighed, feeling the absurdity and said, “Do I look like a spirit testing stone to you? Jing Aoxue, I thought you had a plan!” Instantly, both Liuer and Shen Lüman turned their eyes on Jing Aoxue, who scratched her head, mulling it over before hesitantly suggesting, “How about taking Liuer into the mountains now? Let her sense the qi of the world. Whichever qi she aligns best with should indicate her root type!” She nodded with self-satisfaction, though the plan sounded superficially reasonable... or not at all! Shen Lüman shot her a look and said, “If it were that easy, the spirit stones used for testing wouldn’t be necessary in the cultivation world. Once a child turns six, they’d simply sense qi on their own.” Jing Aoxue awkwardly scratched her nose, realizing her idea was flawed. The problem was, they didn’t have a spirit-testing stone. Finally, Xiaohui spoke up somewhat exasperatedly, “You’re really something, aren’t you? Why don’t I just go and take a look in her dantian?” Before Liuer could respond, Xiaohui turned into a red light and darted into her dantian. Liuer froze momentarily, and as Jing Aoxue worried she was disappointed, she quickly said, “Liuer, don’t be anxious. Let me think of another way.” Shen Lüman frowned, observing Liuer closely. Unbeknownst to them, the phoenix Xiaohui had already entered Liuer’s dantian and discovered that it was considerably larger than usual for her age. Even without cultivation, her dantian’s capacity, equating to innate mental strength, was already comparable to a sixth-layer Qi Refinement practitioner. This meant that when Liuer began her cultivation journey, she would seamlessly reach the sixth level of Qi Refinement. After a thorough exploration, Xiaohui noticed a faint blue-green light and sped towards it, sensing a familiar energy akin to Jing Aoxue’s lethal Li Mu Fen Huo, one of the ten supernatural fires. It seemed still under Jing Aoxue’s influence, but for the better. If Xiaohui’s guess was right, this root type was likely the legendary Li Mu Fen Huo. Xiaohui couldn’t help but marvel at Liuer’s good fortune, shielded by providence. Originally, a half-demon and human having a child was challenging. Jing Aoxue’s body had once been ravaged by Li Mu Fen Huo, with her dantian and spiritual roots so damaged, another generation seemed impossible. Yet, with half-demon Shen Lüman, once was enough to conceive Liuer. The odds were nearly impossible, and yet it happened. This human... Xiaohui mused dazedly: Liuer was destined for great things under the heavens. With complex feelings, it lingered in the dantian a while longer before exiting, saying, “You have the Li Mu spiritual root. It’s nearly unheard of, but essentially, it’s a type of wood root. Just tell your parents you have the wood root.” Liuer replied, “Thank you, I understand.” Xiaohui glanced at her and said, “I’ll return to sleep. The techniques I shared with you earlier can be cultivated selectively. The sooner you advance your training, the sooner I’ll recover.” Not that it needed saying; with Liuer's innate talent, she could progress smoothly from building her foundation up to forming her core and possibly reaching the nascent soul stage with ease. Xiaohui felt fortunate to have such a promising servant but also a bit chagrined; as the master, it seemed it had been upstaged. Resigned, it retreated back into Liuer, disappearing from sight. Seeing her mother and Jing Aoxue still racking their brains, Liuer hesitated before sharing her spiritual root type with them. Jing Aoxue was surprised, “Liuer, how do you know your spiritual root?” Shen Lüman, however, guessed the source with a grim expression. “The phoenix?” Liuer nodded, feeling as though she was now able to share Xiaohui’s existence with them. Of course, certain crucial aspects remained unspoken, but this much sufficed. Exchanging a glance with Shen Lüman, Jing Aoxue sighed, “Alright, we do owe it thanks. Once it recovers, we should arrange a meeting and express our gratitude in person.” Liuer: “…” Shen Lüman: “…” Remembering the phoenix’s prideful nature, they both shivered slightly. Liuer quickly added, “Mother, there’s no rush. Since I’m a wood root and I have a technique…” She paused, reaching for a sachet tied at her waist, retrieving a jade slip with her spiritual sense. “Inside is the technique the female cultivator at the Liu mansion gave me.” Jing Aoxue examined it thoroughly. Finding no issues, she pressed it to her forehead, using her spiritual sense to access the information within. This site is ad-free, permanent domain (xbanxia.com).