Now, the cultivation atmosphere was bustling with activity, and no one was willing to waste even a moment.
As promised, Xi Yunqing began instructing the apprentices of Changjia Village to practice the basic heart method of the Chongxuan Sect. Compared to the Chang family's general heart method, the Chongxuan heart method was far superior. Even if they couldn't find a heart method that suited their innate spiritual roots in the future, this basic method alone could help them reach the later stages of Soul Separation.
With such excellent techniques, the people of Changjia Village were naturally thrilled and motivated. Everyone worked diligently and with great effort. However, since half of the rooms in the western courtyard had been turned into their dormitories and the other half into meditation rooms, only one-third of them could practice at a time. The rest, unable to release their excess energy and restricted from leaving the valley, went to the martial arts training ground in the northwest corner to work on their movement techniques. Some others went to the woods behind the Mount Building Residence and found a flat patch of grass to meditate and contemplate under the sky.
After a satisfying meal, the four of them returned to the southern courtyard with their luggage. Due to Xi Yunqing's instructions, the rooms originally occupied by Chen Xiao and the others had been left untouched. So, Chen Xiao and the others still stayed in the same rooms as before, occupying the main side of the southern courtyard, which had the best view.
Tong Nuonuo had initially planned to stay with them, but since he had been training alongside Wu Qing, he decided to stay with him in the eastern wing.
In the afternoon, they each went back to their rooms to rest. When Chen Xiao woke up from his nap, the sky had already darkened. He went to the western courtyard's dining hall to grab some dinner and returned to his room, pacing back and forth. In the end, he couldn't suppress his restlessness and walked out of his room, crossing the central garden courtyard to the main courtyard in the east.
The main gate of the eastern courtyard was still wide open, as if it was welcoming visitors at any time. Chen Xiao knew this was just an illusion. The reason the gate was open was that Xi Yunqing's main residence was too far from the gate. It seemed that the Immortal Master didn't want to bother opening the door whenever a guest arrived, so he kept it open.
Chen Xiao could understand that. If it were him, he might not be able to hear someone calling at the door from that distance. Besides, the other three cultivators wouldn't care whether the ordinary courtyard gate was open or closed. For various reasons, the gate to the southern courtyard was also left open at night.
Although the valley's basin wasn't very large, it was expansive when compared to the areas outside that could easily accommodate a city or town. Since the construction of Mount Building Residence, Chen Xiao had gained a clear understanding of the size of the small basin in the valley.
To put it into perspective, the southern courtyard he lived in was as large as a three-entry courtyard in a capital, with equally structured courtyards on all four sides. The empty spaces in the four corners were even larger than the courtyards themselves. These spaces were designed as cultivation areas and needed to be spacious for martial practice. The central garden courtyard was the largest area in the garden.
Despite the large size of the garden, it didn't fill up the entire basin. Surrounding it were gentle slopes, dotted with sparse and dense forests.
Living in such a verdant, tree-shaded place made Chen Xiao feel very comfortable. However, when visiting his neighbors, he had to walk nearly fifteen minutes to reach them.
Crossing the open space in the courtyard, Chen Xiao arrived at the door of Xi Yunqing's room. He hesitated and didn't knock. Was the Immortal Master resting or cultivating? The impulse inside him had brought him here, but when he actually stood at the door, he felt nervous.
Xi Yunqing had sharp senses, and as soon as Chen Xiao entered the courtyard, he had already heard him. He immediately opened the door, startling Chen Xiao.
"Master Chen, what brings you here?" Xi Yunqing asked.
Chen Xiao clenched his fists and looked up to reply, "Immortal Master, I would like to borrow the spiritual root testing artifact."
This idea only occurred to him after returning to the valley. Seeing the apprentices here and knowing that they would wait until the Chongxuan Sect took charge, and seeing them handle their spiritual identities as cultivators, Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel envious. Then he thought of himself, his status as a temporary disciple had expired.
No matter what, his identity as an ordinary person was a restriction. Though it wasn't immediately obvious, cultivators naturally looked down on him and didn't respect or value his abilities.
Chen Xiao thought about how he could use his Yuan Qi to activate the medallion and receive its inheritance. Could Yuan Qi also trigger a reaction from the spiritual root testing artifact? The mere thought of this possibility made Chen Xiao restless.
He had originally planned to officially register as a true disciple with a major cultivation sect in the future. After all, only cultivators could move freely in the cultivation world, while ordinary people couldn't. However, this route has not materialized yet, and it was uncertain when it would happen. So, if there was a way to obtain a cultivator's identity more quickly, Chen Xiao would certainly try.
But just to be safe, he didn't want to directly use the artifact from the Zhishi Hall. Instead, he decided to try another artifact to see if Yuan Qi could trigger a reaction. If it didn't react, he could just claim he was reluctant to accept his status and wanted to try again. If it did react, he would have an explanation ready for Xi Yunqing.
Xi Yunqing raised an eyebrow in surprise upon hearing Chen Xiao's request. He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he invited Chen Xiao inside to talk. After making his request, Chen Xiao no longer felt anxious. Following Xi Yunqing into the living room, they took their seats, and Chen Xiao bluntly said, "I want to test it."
Xi Yunqing looked at Chen Xiao's face, and despite the dim lighting, he could see the faint hint of anticipation and uncertainty. Without asking any questions, Xi Yunqing simply took out the testing artifact and placed it beside Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Xi Yunqing might question why an ordinary person like him wanted to test his spiritual roots again. But now, with the artifact in front of him, he was free to proceed.
Chen Xiao gently held the artifact, one hand supporting it while the other rested on the indentation. He focused on channeling his consciousness to the compass within his spiritual sea and drew out a trace of Yuan Qi. He wasn't trying to draw more, his previous attempts had already depleted most of it. Now, he had to be cautious, conserving it in case of any unexpected situations.
He didn't dare press the artifact directly to his forehead. The compass in his spiritual sea might trigger a reaction even through his skull, and Chen Xiao didn't want to risk it. So, he carefully directed the Yuan Qi from his forehead to his hands, moving slowly as if dragging a tortoise.
What Chen Xiao appreciated was that Xi Yunqing didn't speak or move, seemingly waiting for him to give up. Even so, Chen Xiao was grateful that he didn't try to distract him or cause any undue stress.
In Chen Xiao's perception, time seemed to stretch infinitely. He felt as if half an hour had passed. After enduring countless hardships, he finally managed to move a wisp of spiritual energy into his hand. At this point, Chen Xiao dared not slacken his focus. He tightened his mind and forcefully pushed the energy into the magic tool.
Outside the room, it was completely dark. In the living room, lit only by a single lamp, the edges of the magic tool suddenly blazed with light. It wasn't dazzling, nor was it overly bright, but the golden glow softened the dim light, glowing gently in the room.
Xi Yunqing was truly surprised now. He stood up and moved closer to examine it carefully. The light only lasted for a short time, but it left a deep impression in his eyes. He replayed the moment in his mind, then slowly said, "Medium-grade single spiritual root…" After a brief hesitation, he added, "Earth attribute."
Chen Xiao's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, and his hands grew too weak to hold the magic tool. Xi Yunqing quickly reached out to catch it, only to realize that Chen Xiao's body was trembling, large beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. His eyes were somewhat misty, perhaps from excitement, or perhaps from relief. Feeling a bit reluctant, Xi Yunqing gently raised his hand and paused in mid-air before patting Chen Xiao on the shoulder.
Chen Xiao took a deep breath, his voice a bit hoarse as he said, "Thank you, Immortal Immortal Master Xi."
Xi Yunqing stored the magic tool and sat back down. "No need to thank me," he said.
Chen Xiao turned to him in surprise; this was the first time Xi Yunqing had not used the self-addressed term "Yu" (meaning "I" in a humble manner). Xi Yunqing seemed a bit embarrassed and took the initiative to explain, "When speaking to strangers, I use that form of address. Among peers… or with friends, it feels more natural to speak like this."
Chen Xiao's eyes flashed with a smile, and he nodded in agreement. "Indeed, this feels more natural."
However, at the same time, Chen Xiao couldn't help but confirm that Immortal Immortal Master Xi was not only a master of awkward silences but also somewhat lacking in social finesse. By changing his address at such a moment, anyone unaware of the situation might think he was unwilling to become friends with Chen Xiao, seeing him only as an ordinary person. Once he turned into a cultivator, it would be fine, such behavior seemed rather elitist!
Chen Xiao shook his head inwardly. If not for Xi Yunqing's status, cultivation level, and his impeccable character, it would have been easy to misunderstand. The timing had just been unfortunate, and the awkwardness of the situation nearly turned them into enemies instead of friends.
Chen Xiao smiled and said, "In that case, Immortal Immortal Master Xi, just call me Chen Xiao from now on." Then he noticed that Xi Yunqing paused for a moment, as though taken aback before he agreed, "Alright, from now on, you can just call me by my name as well."
Chen Xiao, with a sincere attitude, said, "But that wouldn't do. After all, there's an order of age. I'm younger than you, so it's only right for me to address you as 'Big Brother.'" Chen Xiao's skill in smooth-talking was flawless. In this world, "Big Brother" wasn't something anyone could call out casually. So, it was decided: Chen Xiao would call Xi Yunqing "Big Brother," and Xi Yunqing would call him by his name.
Xi Yunqing's expression slightly dulled, clearly not pleased with the suggestion. It seemed his natural reticence had ruined his chance. Initially, he had intended to follow the example of the Taxue Xunxian Pavilion's owner, calling him "Little Fool." But he missed the moment, and now it felt awkward to say it. He could only silently sigh.
Chen Xiao, not understanding the reason for the pause, thought the conversation had grown quiet and assumed Xi Yunqing had just let it fall into an awkward silence. He decided to take the initiative and steer the conversation, "Big Brother, don't you find it strange? Why was I unable to detect my talent before, but now, suddenly, it's here?"
A single spiritual root had been expected, but the Earth attribute caught him off guard. Perhaps Feng Shui and earth veins were related, which is why it belonged to the Earth attribute?
Xi Yunqing turned to look at him and said, "It is strange. But I suspect it's related to the Feng Shui inheritance you received earlier. Whether it's mountain formations or residences, they are all deeply tied to the Earth attribute." Upon seeing the golden color, he understood immediately. However, Earth attributes typically manifest in yellow hues, and this brilliant golden hue was quite rare.
Chen Xiao was impressed. "Exactly."
Xi Yunqing's expression turned serious. "This matter is one of timing and occasion. Don't speak of it lightly to others."
Chen Xiao would never be foolish enough to casually discuss it. After all, his talent wasn't because of his spiritual root but the compass. However, Xi Yunqing's warning left him puzzled. He asked, "Why?"
Xi Yunqing looked at him gravely. "If this information leaks, and people discover that an ordinary person, someone unable to cultivate, can gain a single spiritual root through Feng Shui techniques, the entire cultivation world and mortal realm would be shaken!"
Chen Xiao's eyes widened in shock, and he straightened his back. This was something he had never considered!
Xi Yunqing continued, "Whether it's ordinary people seeking to become cultivators or children of cultivation families without talent, they would spare no effort to obtain this method from you. At that point, you'd be constantly on edge, never at peace."
Chen Xiao couldn't help but shudder. Xi Yunqing wasn't exaggerating. He thought back to how Pang and Mu had desperately wanted to join the Immortal Sect and how their crazy obsession with following the path of immortality was just the tip of the iceberg. There were also ordinary people from cultivation families. When he had only pretended to be a low-level cultivator, it was enough to intimidate the wealthy Wang family boss. One could only imagine how powerful and influential their foundations were. If even one such person existed, they could easily crush him without a second thought.
Chen Xiao's face turned pale, and he nodded repeatedly. "Thank you for the warning, Big Brother. I will never let this information spread!"
Xi Yunqing comforted him, "Don't worry too much. Just be cautious. If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed it either. The only danger is that someone may act recklessly, not caring if it's true or not." He didn't say this last part out loud, not wanting to scare Chen Xiao further. "As for changing your name registry, there's no need for you to go to the Shiwei Hall. When my elders from the sect arrive to handle the registration for the disciples of the Western Courtyard, they will take care of it for you."
Earlier, when Chen Xiao had taken so long to trigger any response from the magic tool, it had been far too unusual not to attract attention.
"Big Brother!" Chen Xiao's eyes welled up with gratitude. If not for his desire to maintain his composure, his goofy nature would have shown as he wanted to fall at Xi Yunqing's feet in thanks.
Xi Yunqing truly was a good person! It was incredibly fortunate to have such a Big Brother!