The Loving Family Peak wasn't actually considered large to cultivators, and not every place on it was worth visiting.
San Dong wouldn't take Qian Qing to the bare and unsightly spots.
The places it took Qian Qing were all spots San Dong genuinely considered beautiful.
For instance, they could stand by a small slope and gaze at a resting flood dragon in the distance, counting the scales on its body.
Then, they could stroll to the stream to feel the icy chill of the water and watch the fearless little fish darting gracefully within.
San Dong could also find a little white tiger and have it carry both of them on its back for a leisurely walk.
When Qian Qing saw the little white tiger for the first time, her expression was somewhat astonished. Even when she mounted the tiger, San Dong could feel her body tense up.
San Dong patted the little white tiger's head, telling Qian Qing that the tiger before them was a good, obedient tiger.
After sitting for a moment, Qian Qing realized that the white tiger was indeed docile to an almost outrageous degree.
Whenever she encountered things she couldn't understand, Qian Qing found a thought that allowed her to accept them immediately: this was the immortal realm.
It was completely normal for the immortal realm to have some abnormal aspects.
Like an obedient white tiger, or a flood dragon that breathed out clouds and mist whenever it sneezed.
There were cultivators flying on swords, and gentle, adorable flower spirits.
No wonder the mortal world said that no matter how vast the heavens and earth were, immortals were the greatest. Even if one cultivated their martial arts to the peak, it was nothing more than a passing century in the blink of a cultivator's eye.
The world of cultivators was an entirely different kind of vibrant kaleidoscope.
Moreover, she originally thought that a silly monk like Yuan Kong wouldn't know any big shots. After all, how could a foolish monk with barely a few coins in his pocket, who insisted on doing good deeds and only made money through street performances, possibly know anyone important?
But clearly, Chu Xingchen, whom they had met and drank with last time, was a truly incredible big shot.
On the way here, the little monk from the Hanging Temple kept saying that the Tianyan Sect was a pinnacle-level sect, one of the eighteen greatest sects in the world, comparable to the Buddhist Great Thunderclap Temple in the Central State.
The greatest dream of cultivators all over the world was to join it.
A martial artist's heart should be fearless, their fist intent mirroring their state of mind.
But seeing all of this in person, just this tiny glimpse was enough to subconsciously overwhelm someone.
Feeling the vigorous movements of the white tiger beneath her, Qian Qing looked at the brightly smiling flower spirit in front of her and softly asked a question to which she already knew the answer:
Does immortal cultivation require a spirit root?
For humans, it probably does, right?
Can you really not cultivate without a spirit root?
The Sect Master says nothing in the world is absolute, but San Dong doesn't know the answer to this. You can ask the Sect Master when he gets back; he knows everything. Or you can ask the Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect, an old grandpa named Lu Xuan. Everyone says his fortune-telling is very accurate. Or you could ask Yanyun, she is also very impressive.
Qian Qing suddenly smiled in relief, her hands gently gripping the white tiger's fur as she said:
Never mind, there is no need to ask.
If one could cultivate without a spirit root, this world would have been full of cultivators long ago.
San Dong turned its gaze back to look at Qian Qing:
Do you want to cultivate?
I didn't want to originally.
Because of Yuan Kong?
Perhaps.
San Dong thought for a moment, then took out a jade token from the spatial ring hanging around its neck, injecting spiritual energy into it.
Qian Qing watched the jade token in front of San Dong dissolve into spiritual light. She immediately realized that this outrageously kindhearted flower spirit was genuinely trying to figure out a way for her, so she quickly spoke up:
I know I don't have a spirit root, I was just thinking about it. No amount of effort can create something that isn't there to begin with. You don't need to waste your energy on me.
San Dong stood up in front of Qian Qing and said in a serious tone:
Don't worry, the one I called is a very idle flood dragon. It knows a bit more than I do. Besides, it is also San Dong's friend, and San Dong wants to introduce you to it.
Qian Qing was rendered speechless, ultimately giving a gentle nod of agreement.
They didn't have to wait long. In the blink of an eye, a rainbow light descended, accompanied by an arrogant voice:
San Dong, what urgent matter do you have to summon the great Qinghe?
Qian Qing narrowed her eyes slightly. Only when the rainbow light dissipated did she see the newcomer clearly.
It was a young girl with dragon horns on her head, wearing a smug expression.
Qinghe! San Dong greeted with a smile first, then introduced Qian Qing beside it, This is Qian Qing, a guest who just arrived at the Loving Family Peak.
Qinghe slowly turned her gaze to Qian Qing. Her smug expression instantly grew a bit more solemn as she carefully sized her up.
Qian Qing instantly understood the meaning behind this action and hastily clarified:
I am a martial artist, not a cultivator.
Hearing this, Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded in relief:
You scared me. I thought that black-hearted brat had kidnapped some incredible mighty figure from somewhere again.
However, in the Tianyan Sect, a pure martial artist like you is even rarer than a mighty figure.
Qian Qing let out a bitter smile upon hearing this, unsure if that counted as a compliment.
Qinghe turned back to look at San Dong: Did you call me over because of this guest, Qian Qing?
Yes, yes. Do humans absolutely need a spirit root to cultivate?
Of course they do. After all, humans don't have a noble bloodline like mine.
Is there really no way at all? Aren't you the omnipotent Lord Qinghe?
Well... Qinghe looked at Qian Qing and began to calculate in her mind.
If one wanted to forcefully cultivate without a spirit root, it was naturally possible. There were the evil sects' blood spirit roots, and there was the method of forcefully cultivating by infusing the body with willpower.
However, both of these methods were the lowest of paths.
Reaching the Foundation Establishment realm in this lifetime would be considered having extremely prosperous dao luck.
But forced cultivation was indeed possible.
Perhaps there were other methods, but Qinghe also knew that even if there were, they wouldn't be much better.
There is no need to trouble Lord Qinghe, Qian Qing suddenly spoke up. If there really was a good method, Yuan Kong wouldn't have held back. It is enough for me today to just stroll around the Tianyan Sect and witness a splendor I have never seen before.
After all, Yuan Kong also taught me that constantly longing for something unattainable is only torturing oneself.
San Dong, there is no need to go through the trouble. Just take me around for a bit more sightseeing.
Qinghe crossed her arms and spoke truthfully:
You do have some mental fortitude. Even if you cultivate without a spirit root, there are limits. You won't be able to go very far, and the side effects will outweigh the benefits.
San Dong looked at Qian Qing with a pitying gaze.
Qian Qing's expression showed no regret whatsoever.
She had practiced martial arts all her life, and at her age, she was already close to reaching the Great Grandmaster realm.
In front of countless martial artists, she was a favored child of heaven with supreme talent, envied by who knew how many.
But there were very few who could actually reach her realm.
Qian Qing understood the importance of innate aptitude.
But if you want to understand the splendor of the immortal realm, you won't feel it just wandering blindly around this peak with San Dong. Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly. Since you are Chu Xingchen's guest... then making you feel at home is a must.
Come, I, the great Qinghe, will take you to tour all over the Tianyan Sect and eat all the delicacies of the Tianyan Sect!
Hearing this, San Dong immediately raised its hands and cheered: Oh! Lord Qinghe!
Tianyan Sect, Hundred Flavors Pavilion.
Qinghe slammed her hand on the table:
Why look at the menu! Bring out all your signature dishes.
What do you mean pay spirit stones first?
Can't you see who I brought with me?
What do you mean Li Yingling said that bringing San Dong doesn't mean we get a free meal?
"I was telling you to look at the person next to San Dong! That is Chu Xingchen's honored guest!"
"Do you think I would dare spout nonsense about this?! I would get a beating for it! Even if you don't believe me, surely you believe San Dong, right? Just ask San Dong!"
Qian Qing stared dumbfounded at Qing He, who had just unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of words right off the bat.
Are immortals... really like this?
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
