“However, this is not absolute. Apart from judging a Cultivator's Aptitude based on their Spiritual Root, the width of the Spiritual Root is also very important.
The widest a Spiritual Root can be is one foot, but with the Heavenly Dao incomplete, how can a Spiritual Root be flawless?
Therefore, a Cultivator's Spiritual Root, at its widest, is no more than nine inches and nine fen, and at its narrowest, perhaps only one fen.
Only if the Spiritual Root's width exceeds one inch can one Cultivate normally. If the Spiritual Root is less than one inch, even if it is a Heavenly Spiritual Root, no Family or School will bother to nurture them.”
Gu Changhuan pondered to himself:
So, although I have a pseudo-Spiritual Root, fortunately, my Spiritual Roots are wide; each of the five elemental Spiritual Roots is nine inches and nine fen. Moreover, I also possess a spiritual body. All in all, it should be comparable to a Double Spiritual Roots, right?
“Gu Changhuan should have already tested his Spiritual Root. Can you tell Great Grandfather what kind of Spiritual Root you have?
What attributes do your Spiritual Roots possess? And what is the width of your Spiritual Roots?”
Hearing Gu Xuanzhan's words, Gu Changhuan collected his thoughts.
“Reporting to Great Grandfather, Gu Changhuan has Five Spiritual Roots. Each Spiritual Root is nine inches and nine fen.”
Gu Changhuan answered earnestly. To maintain secrecy, he did not tell Gu Xuanzhan about his spiritual body.
Gu Xuanzhan exclaimed,
“Nine inches and nine fen!
This is very rare!
Gu Changhuan, do you know that most Cultivators have Spiritual Root widths of only four or five inches, and their Spiritual Root widths are uneven, some high and some low.
Great Grandfather has lived for over two hundred years and has never heard of such wide and even Spiritual Roots like yours.
Although it is a Five Spiritual Roots, your future Cultivation speed might even be faster than that of a three-Spiritual Root.”
Gu Changhuan couldn't help but ask,
“Great Grandfather, when exactly can I start Cultivating?”
A hint of a smile flashed in Gu Xuanzhan's eyes. This child has a good Heart-Nature, to have waited until now to ask. It's rare.
“You are still young. Even if you start Cultivating, you can only Cultivate for one hour each day. Exceeding this time will put a burden on your Meridians.
The Clan Chief should have already given you the Azure Cloud Qi Training Art, right!
Our Gu Family's Azure Cloud Qi Training Art is suitable for Spiritual Roots of all attributes, and it is also simpler to Cultivate than other Qi Training Arts.
First, read the Cultivation Technique carefully. After familiarizing yourself with it, calm your mind and begin meditating. When your mind is free of distractions, circulate the Cultivation Technique to Attract Qi into the Body. That will be considered stepping into the Cultivation World.”
“Of course, if you have any questions during Cultivation, you must ask in time. If you start Cultivating with only a partial understanding of the Cultivation Technique, various accidents are very likely to occur during the Cultivation process. Minor issues include damaged Meridians, while severe ones can lead to Qi Deviation and instant death. Do you understand?”
Gu Xuanzhan said with a stern expression.
“Gu Changhuan has learned much. Thank you, Great Grandfather, for your guidance.”
Gu Changhuan firmly kept Gu Xuanzhan's words in mind, secretly admonishing himself never to be reckless when Cultivating in the future.
“First, familiarize yourself with the incantation of the first level of the Azure Cloud Qi Training Art. If there's anything you don't understand, remember to ask me immediately.”
“Yes.”
Gu Changhuan took out the Azure Cloud Qi Training Art from the small cloth pouch he carried and diligently read the obscure incantations in the book. He would occasionally pause to ponder their meaning, gradually entering a state of self-forgetfulness.
Gu Xuanzhan flicked his wide sleeve, put away his wine cup, and began to meditate.
After half an hour, Gu Changhuan stood up and bowed to Gu Xuanzhan.
“Great Grandfather, Gu Changhuan is ready.”
Gu Xuanzhan asked Gu Changhuan to explain his insights. After realizing that Gu Changhuan had thoroughly understood the Cultivation Technique, he took out an incense stick from his Storage Pouch.
There was a quiet room in the Scripture Pavilion. Gu Xuanzhan placed the incense stick into the censer, and a flame shot from his fingertip, lighting the incense.
“You may Attract Qi into the Body here!”
The incense stick Gu Xuanzhan took out was called the Spirit Calming Incense, which could help Cultivators calm their minds and Attract Qi into the Body faster. Its price was considerable.
Only Foundation Establishment masters in the entire Gu Family could casually take it out for those preparing to Attract Qi into the Body.
After Gu Changhuan began to meditate, Gu Xuanzhan sealed the quiet room. He returned to his seat, took out his wine cup, and drank by himself. But he continuously monitored Gu Changhuan with his Divine Sense.
In the quiet room, Gu Changhuan gradually discarded distracting thoughts as he inhaled the scent of the Spirit Calming Incense. He slowly began to perceive the existence of the “Qi” that Gu Xuanzhan had spoken of.
Gu Changhuan could “see” the “Qi” existing between Heaven and Earth without opening his eyes. They were not purely transparent and colorless, but rather vibrantly colorful.
Gu Changhuan circulated his Cultivation Technique, and the surrounding Qi slowly gathered towards him.
After another half an incense stick's time, the Qi existing between Heaven and Earth gradually merged into Gu Changhuan's body, gradually converging into a thin wisp of five-colored Spiritual Qi in his Dantian.
Gu Changhuan was overjoyed. He had successfully Attracted Qi into the Body!
Gu Changhuan quickly calmed his emotions. He urged the thin wisp of five-colored Spiritual Qi to circulate for two grand cycles before ending his Cultivation. At this point, the wisp of five-colored Spiritual Qi in his Dantian had become much denser.
“Great Grandfather, I succeeded!” Gu Changhuan couldn't help but be excited.
Gu Xuanzhan naturally already knew that Gu Changhuan had successfully Attracted Qi into the Body, but he was still happy for Gu Changhuan at this moment.
Although this child's Aptitude was not top-notch, his Comprehension Ability and Heart-Nature were good. If properly nurtured, he would also be a pillar of the Family in the future.
It's just that…
A Five Spiritual Roots with wide Spiritual Roots, is the speed of Attracting Qi into the Body this fast?
This was even a few points faster than his own speed of Attracting Qi into the Body, despite him having Double Spiritual Roots, although he did not use external aids when Attracting Qi into the Body.
Gu Xuanzhan was slightly puzzled, but Gu Changhuan's Spiritual Root conditions were simply too rare. Even Gu Xuanzhan did not know if Gu Changhuan's rapid Attracting Qi into the Body was normal.
In any case, this was a good thing. If he were to dwell on this matter, he would inevitably be too attached to appearances.
“Hmm, it seems our Gu Changhuan has quite a talent for Cultivation. He successfully Attracted Qi into the Body in less than an hour.
Now, Gu Changhuan is a Cultivator at the first level of the Qi Training Stage!”
Gu Xuanzhan praised him.
“I must also thank Great Grandfather for his guidance. Without Great Grandfather, Gu Changhuan would likely have taken a detour.”
Gu Changhuan said humbly, but the smile on his lips couldn't be suppressed.
“Alright, such good news should also be shared with your grandfather.
You may go now! Come back tomorrow.”
Gu Xuanzhan finished speaking and poured himself another glass of wine.
Gu Changhuan bid farewell to Gu Xuanzhan and left the Scripture Pavilion in high spirits.
Watching Gu Changhuan's bounding figure leave, Gu Xuanzhan took a sip of wine and sighed in his heart,
“This child, so young yet so observant of etiquette. His elders must have put a lot of effort into teaching him at home.
However, for a Cultivator, if they are too tightly bound by these rules and regulations, how can their thoughts be unhindered?
Never mind, this child is still young. Let's wait and see!
If this child's Dao path is hindered because of this in the future, it won't be too late to point it out then.”
Gu Changhuan returned to the courtyard, intending to tell Gu Wanhao the news of his successful Attracting Qi into the Body, when he found the main house where Gu Wanhao lived tightly shut, with waves of heat emanating from behind the wall.
Could it be that Grandpa is doing Alchemy?
Gu Changhuan mused. He had known since childhood that his grandfather was an Alchemist, and also the most formidable Alchemist in the Gu Family.
Although he had never seen Gu Wanhao doing Alchemy with his own eyes, he could somewhat guess.
Seeing that Gu Wanhao was busy, Gu Changhuan took out another book.
This book introduced the Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicines that Cultivators would need, describing them in great detail. Gu Wanhao had given it to him this morning.
Firstly, it was for him to study, to prevent him from returning empty-handed after entering a treasure mountain in the future.
Secondly, it was to pass the time and build up his knowledge, as Gu Wanhao also understood that Gu Changhuan could at most Cultivate for only one hour a day now.
Thirdly, it was also to lay the foundation for Gu Changhuan to learn Alchemy in the future.
After two quarters of an hour, the door of the main house opened, and Gu Wanhao walked out, radiating heat.
“Gu Changhuan is back. How was your learning today?”
“Grandpa, I have already Attracted Qi into the Body!”
Gu Changhuan said smugly, looking like a proud little peacock.
As expected, Gu Wanhao burst into laughter after hearing this.
“Since that's the case, you have stepped through the door of Cultivation!
Come. Grandpa will teach Gu Changhuan how to use a Storage Pouch and Magical Artifacts!”