Clan Cultivation: I Transmigrated With My Smartphone Chapter 2: Three Spirit Roots

The second round tests the Spirit Root attributes to select the fitting Cultivation Technique.

The testing area is located in a dark chamber.

One after another, participants step into the pitch-black room where the Elder examines their Spirit Root attributes, forbidding any outsiders from entering.

This method of Spirit Root testing avoids unforeseen accidents.

Once, a Cultivation Clan tested a child’s Spirit Root and found a Celestial Spirit Root.

The information leaked out shortly afterward.

The following day, that Cultivation Clan was wiped out, and the child with the Celestial Spirit Root was slain.

From that point on, Spirit Root tests occur in a black room without outsiders present.

This setup prevents such explosive tragedies.

Even upon discovering a Celestial Spirit Root, it can be concealed as a Dual Root or Three Roots to safeguard the child.

The black room test proceeds swiftly.

Just three minutes per person, and before long, it was Lu Xuanji’s turn.

"Don’t be nervous."

The Elder instructed.

"Put your palm on these light balls one by one; they represent the five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, plus the variant roots Wind, Thunder, and Ice. When a light ball glows, it indicates that attribute. Fewer glowing balls mean superior quality: a single glow signals Celestial or Anomalous Root; two glows for Dual Roots; three for Three Roots; four for Four Roots; five for Five Roots."

"Spirit Roots of the same type can vary hugely in potential based on their attributes and sizes."

"Take a Dual Root of Water and Fire, for instance—their clashing natures make it worse than Three Roots; whereas a Fire and Wood Dual Root excels since Wood fuels Fire. Likewise, among Dual Roots, Fire at nine inches paired with one-inch Wood outperforms Fire at three inches and Wood at seven inches."

"No matter the Spirit Root type, even Five Roots surpass regular mortals."

The Elder spoke without scorn toward Five Roots.

Five Roots still qualify as Spirit Roots, allowing cultivation and service to the clan.

"The Celestial Spirit Root focuses on one attribute, while Five Roots handle five." Lu Xuanji asked, "Isn’t cultivating all five elements ideal?"

"Reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining takes a Celestial Spirit Root ten to twenty years, Dual Roots twenty to thirty years, Three Roots forty to fifty years, Four Roots eighty to a hundred years, and Five Roots at least two hundred years... Yet Qi Refining lifespan falls short of one hundred twenty years."

"Foundation Establishment by age sixty is ideal, possible mainly for Dual and Three Roots. Four and Five Roots hold slim chances."

"With a Foundation Establishment Pill, Dual Roots succeed over fifty percent, Three Roots over thirty percent, Four Roots at ten percent, Five Roots merely one percent."

"What odds do you reckon for a Five Root achieving Foundation Establishment? Or what massive resources would it demand to push a Five Root there?"

The Elder patiently elaborated.

Lu Xuanji fell silent, speechless.

Five Roots basically means the worst draw.

Families face scarce resources; none boast endless supplies.

This leads to prioritizing Dual and Three Roots, abandoning Four and Five Roots.

The Elder went on, "A Five Root once lucked into Foundation Establishment, but the resources devoured could have forged ten such cultivators. Even then, further progress crawls with vast consumption—not worth it."

Lu Xuanji shook his head, utterly speechless.

In his previous life, Han Paopao’s immortal path looked like a mortal’s grind, but now it screamed pay-to-win cultivation.

His spending dwarfed peers by multiples or dozens of times.

Thank goodness for the little green bottle’s aid; without it, even Foundation Establishment would elude him.

"I hope yours is Three Roots, or better yet Dual Roots."

The Elder remarked.

With anxiety gripping him, Lu Xuanji touched the first light ball.

It remained dark.

Lu Xuanji exhaled in relief—at worst, Four Roots.

Next, he pressed on the Wood light ball, which flared brightly.

After some time, the glow faded.

The Elder’s eyes narrowed in a grin, "Impressive, Wood Spirit Root, nine inches."

He tried the Water light ball—no reaction.

Lu Xuanji sighed once more in relief; with two unlit, at minimum Three Roots.

His palm touched the Fire Light Ball, causing it to flicker.

"Fire Spirit Root, nine inches," announced the Elder, "Your soul possesses notable strength."

At last, when he laid his hand upon the Earth Light Ball, it merely gleamed for a brief instant.

"Earth Spirit Root, two inches."

"Impressive, impressive."

The Elder grinned widely like a chrysanthemum in full bloom, "You possess three Spirit Root attributes: Wood Spirit Root at nine inches, Fire Spirit Root at nine inches, and Earth Spirit Root at two inches. Together, they total twenty inches. Typically, a child's Spirit Root measures just ten inches—only half of yours."

"Though you have Three Roots, this rivals Dual Roots and marks you as a minor genius... Focus your cultivation technique mainly on Fire and Wood, using Earth for support."

With a beaming smile, the Elder penned a certification document detailing the Spirit Root evaluation.

Lu Xuanji accepted the Spirit Root certification letter and breathed a sigh of relief.

He had avoided both awakening a Celestial Spirit Root and sinking to Five Roots.

Three Roots qualified him as a genius among the family.

Foundation Establishment seemed within reach someday.

Yet, it remained merely a possibility.

Only those with Celestial Spirit Roots are assured of achieving Foundation Establishment; countless Dual and Three Roots cultivators stall and perish at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

Stepping out of the dim testing chamber, Lu Xuanji spotted his parents and grinned, "Three Roots."

"Haha, my boy is a genius!"

Father Lu Mianwen burst into laughter.

"Come on, we'll talk about it back home."

Once home, Lu Xuanji pulled out the certificate and passed it to them.

Father Lu Mianwen examined the certificate, his brow furrowing faintly, "I'll head to the family library to pick a suitable technique for you."

Father Lu Mianwen departed in haste.

One day passed, and Father Lu Jinwen returned with a cultivation technique, declaring, "This is the Li Fire Wood Technique, featuring Fire and Wood Dual Attributes, suitable up to the early Foundation Establishment Stage. It lacks Earth Attributes, so you'll need to set aside the Earth one."

"Thank you, Father."

Lu Xuanji browsed through the manual, feeling a spark of satisfaction.

Within the Lu Family, techniques spanning Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment come cheap; the real treasure is resources.

Techniques allow endless study, whereas resources dwindle quickly.

"Son, classes begin tomorrow—stay sharp."

Father cautioned him.

"Yes."

Lu Xuanji replied.

Post-Spirit Root testing, young ones learn reading, meridian identification, essential cultivation knowledge, plus herbal soaks, marrow purification, seated meditation, Qi detection, and meridian unblocking—leading to Qi Refining Realm entry after three years of guidance.

On the following day, he headed to the Spirit Institute.

Few children attended, just fifty in total.

...