Volume One, Chapter 15: Enlightened Immortal Heart, Little Nannan
No escape!
It was true.
Look at those little children who had their spiritual roots tested—each one beaming with excitement, clutching a handful of sparkling spirit stones.
Just one of those stones could be exchanged for a massive sum of one hundred taels of silver.
Enough to support a whole family comfortably for half a lifetime.
Nothing was more thrilling or direct than this.
So,
The next day,
The number of people attending the Ascension Conference surged dramatically compared to the day before.
The vast crowd numbered at least ten thousand participants undergoing testing.
“Dai Gangmen, lower-grade earth spiritual root! Award: ten lower-grade spirit stones!”
“……”
“Ji Baichang, lower-grade water spiritual root! Award: ten lower-grade spirit stones!”
“……”
“Liao Bushi, middle-grade wood spiritual root! Award: one middle-grade spirit stone!”
“……”
The testing proceeded in an orderly fashion.
By the end of the day, over four hundred lower-grade spiritual roots and three middle-grade roots had been discovered.
As always, Wang Mu generously bestowed cultivation techniques corresponding to each person's attribute.
...
Soon after,
On the third day,
On the fourth day,
The crowd grew even larger.
Every street and alley buzzed with talk about the event.
“Hey, Old Liu, did you get tested?”
“Yeah, mine’s no good—nothing at all! What about you?”
“Haha, my daughter tested with a lower-grade water spiritual root; an immortal master took her away and even gave us a large sum before leaving!”
“Really? Wow, I’m so jealous! No worries for the rest of your life—you can live in comfort now!”
“Not really… The granddaughter of the old Zhuang family in the south city is even better—middle-grade spiritual root!”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“……”
Conversations like these occurred frequently.
Such discussions related to the cultivation world rarely ever sparked such fervor among ordinary mortals.
Because hardly anyone would do what Wang Mu was doing:
Testing spiritual roots on such a massive scale among commoners, seeking out potential immortal seedlings regardless of cost.
For a moment,
It even gave the illusion that spiritual roots were becoming less valuable.
Besides that,
The biggest beneficiaries these days were the sects near the capital of Daliang Kingdom, overwhelmed with disciples.
In the past, they only accepted those who were genuine cultivators experienced in the cultivation world.
Because immortal seedlings were hard to find.
Only influential figures could recognize spiritual roots at a glance.
Most had to rely on spirit stones or spiritual root detection formations.
...
Therefore,
Occasionally, an elder or sect leader might travel and happen upon a seedling with undetected spiritual roots and, out of kindness, guide them towards a bright path.
That was called destiny!
True newcomers were only recruited this way.
But now it was different.
Wang Mu openly revealed the seedlings, fully exposing them before the sects.
He even granted powerful cultivation methods.
If they didn’t recruit aggressively now, then when?
Were they going to wait for rival forces’ newcomers to rise and annihilate them?
Hence,
The competition to recruit disciples among the great sects became fiercely intense,
Especially for those rare middle-grade spiritual root prodigies.
Such individuals had the potential to become foundation-building cultivators!
...
“Lu Jiu, lower-grade gold spiritual root!”
“……”
At the palace plaza,
The cultivator presiding over the event suddenly paused, glancing toward the center of the spiritual root detection formation.
A frail figure stood there—a little girl.
Her clothes were filthy; she looked like a little beggar.
The faint blue glow surrounding the formation revealed her aptitude: a lower-grade water spiritual root.
Nothing extraordinary.
What truly made the cultivator hesitate was her name.
“Nan Nan… lower-grade water spiritual root! Award: ten lower-grade spirit stones!”
Nan Nan!
Strictly speaking, this was not a real name.
It was a common affectionate nickname used by many families for their daughters.
Like calling a son “Son” — it was generic!
Who would be named like that?
“What’s your real name?”
The cultivator frowned.
“I’m just called Nan Nan!”
The girl’s voice was hard and dry, like cold stone in winter, carrying an awkwardness born from rarely speaking to others: “That’s what my family calls me!”
The sudden interruption drew much attention.
Wang Mu, who had been resting with eyes closed, heard the commotion and opened his eyes to glance downward.
[Name: Nan Nan]
[Race: Human]
[Aptitude: Lower Grade]
[Characteristic: Enlightened Immortal Heart (Unawakened) — extraordinary comprehension, excels at creating impossible miracles! Investing in treasures that inspire spiritual wisdom and enhance the connection between heaven and man has a chance to awaken this constitution!]
[Investment Evaluation: Fortunate destiny, highly recommended for investment!]
[...]
Wang Mu slowly rose from his reclining position, his eyes sparkling as they fixed on the little Nan Nan below.
A lower-grade spiritual root,
Yet possessing a flourishing destiny?
Truly a child of fate born amidst adversity?
Wang Mu pressed his lips.
Indeed, one must do many good deeds to be blessed!
The Ascension Conference had only been underway for a few days,
And a child of fate had come knocking on his door.
Moreover, a brand-new one, untainted by any past misfortunes!
Heaven truly favors the good!
“Young master, is there something special about this little beggar?”
Li Yuanhua, ever watchful of Wang Mu’s reactions, quickly inquired.
Wang Mu did not answer directly, merely saying: “Bring her up here!”
“Yes!”
Moments later,
The little beggar was brought before Wang Mu, her fists clenched tightly, eyes wary as she studied him, her slight body trembling nervously.
Wang Mu spoke gently: “Don’t be afraid, I mean you no harm.”
Nan Nan pursed her lips, still silent.
Wang Mu softened his tone: “How old are you, little sister?”
“Ten… ten years old!”
“Where’s your family?”
“I don’t have a family!” Nan Nan bit her lip, her gaze fixed intently on the pastries and fruit before Wang Mu.
Wang Mu smiled, picking up a piece of pastry and beckoning: “Come, here you go!”
The little girl hesitated briefly, but the gnawing hunger in her belly won out, and she took the pastry, stuffing it ravenously into her mouth.
“Eat slowly, there’s plenty here for you!”
Nan Nan kept her head down, eating without a word, but Wang Mu could clearly feel her guard lowering ever so slightly.
Wang Mu turned and instructed: “Take her down, give her a bath, change her into clean clothes, and prepare a good meal!”
Zi Xia responded respectfully: “Yes, young master!”
This was but a brief interlude.
Wang Mu remained secluded in his high chamber, surrounded by protective barriers; no one could see clearly what he was doing unless he chose to reveal himself.
Only Li Yuanhua and a few others were puzzled as to why the young master cared so much for an unremarkable little beggar.
Yet they dared not ask.
Meanwhile,
A jade slip shot out from the barrier of Tianjue Island,
Vanishing into the void.
...
At the headquarters of the Langya Trading Company,
It was late autumn; the Paulownia Garden was covered in golden leaves, a breathtaking sight.
A graceful woman with silver hair cascading like a waterfall leaned leisurely against the largest paulownia tree.
Before her stood ten figures, respectfully poised.
Anyone familiar with them would be surprised to recognize these men as the ten most renowned leaders of the Langya Trading Company, each wielding immense power and handling wealth of astronomical proportions daily.
Even prime ministers, dukes, and marquises of the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty would greet them politely.
But in the presence of the silver-haired woman, they were exceptionally deferential.
She was the founder of the Langya Trading Company—
A legendary woman of her generation,
Nalan Rongyun!