From the fake emperor to the concubine

Spiritual roots are categorized into the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as well as some mutated spiritual roots such as lightning, ice, and wind. Their quality is ranked from low to high as inferior, middle, superior, and supreme. Generally speaking, only spiritual roots of middle grade or higher have the potential to cultivate to higher realms.

The test proceeded quickly. Most people had low-grade spiritual roots, and some didn't even have any; they were just there to try their luck. These people were naturally eliminated.

There were relatively more people with mid-grade spiritual roots, about five hundred in total. These people passed the test and could join the Zheng family as outer disciples.

There were far fewer people with superior spiritual roots, only about thirty. These people were given special attention and had the opportunity to be promoted to inner disciples in the future.

As for top-grade spiritual roots, there wasn't a single one. That's normal; top-grade spiritual roots are one in ten thousand, and encountering even one is incredibly lucky.

Just when everyone thought the test was about to end, the last boy walked up to the spirit-testing stone.

This was a boy who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, thin and simply dressed, with a somewhat childish face. He nervously placed his hand on the spirit-testing stone.

The next moment, the spirit-testing stone suddenly burst out with a blinding light!
The light was golden, dazzling and bright, illuminating almost the entire registration area. Moreover, faint streaks of purple lightning could be seen within the light, flickering and dancing amidst the gold.

"This...this is..." The elder in charge of the test stared wide-eyed at the spirit-testing stone in disbelief.

"Dual attributes of metal and lightning! And what's more, it's a top-grade spiritual root!"

As soon as this statement came out, there was an uproar around him.

A top-tier spiritual root? Or even dual-attribute? What kind of talent is that?

It's important to understand that a single-attribute top-grade spiritual root is already a genius among the rarest of the rare, while a dual-attribute top-grade spiritual root is one in a million! Such talent would be cherished and nurtured like a treasure in any sect!

"Quickly! Go and inform the patriarch!" The elder's voice trembled with excitement.

Zheng Yi quickly received the news. He immediately rushed to the registration office.

The crowd automatically parted to make way, and Zheng Yi walked up to the boy, carefully examining him.

The boy became even more nervous under the watchful eyes of so many people. He lowered his head, not daring to look Zheng Yi in the eye.

“Raise your head,” Zheng Yi said gently.

The boy slowly raised his head, revealing a handsome face. His eyes were bright, radiating determination and stubbornness.

"What's your name?" Zheng Yi asked.

"Reporting to senior, my name is Lin Qing," the boy stammered.

“Lin Qing.” Zheng Yi nodded. “Where is she from?”

"I come from Qingshan Town, a thousand miles away, and come from a family of independent cultivators," Lin Qing answered honestly. "My father is a Qi Refining stage cultivator, and my mother is an ordinary person. My family isn't wealthy, but when we heard the Zheng family was recruiting, my father sent me to try my luck."

Zheng Yi's divine sense swept over Lin Qing, carefully sensing his condition. He indeed possessed a top-grade spiritual root with both metal and lightning attributes, and his meridians were wide, his dantian deep, and his talent was extremely rare.

What's even more remarkable is that, despite his nervousness, the child's eyes shone with clarity and determination. He wasn't the greedy and cunning type, but rather a young man who genuinely desired to cultivate the Great Dao.

"Your father is a Qi Refining stage cultivator, why didn't he teach you cultivation?" Zheng Yi asked.

Lin Qing smiled wryly, "My family is too poor to afford cultivation manuals. My father only practices the lowest level of techniques, and he said that teaching them to me would only harm me. So he hasn't let me practice them, and is just waiting for the opportunity to join a good sect."

Zheng Yi nodded secretly. This father was insightful, knowing that low-level cultivation techniques would limit his child's future. He'd rather his child not cultivate at all than wait for a better opportunity.

"Do you want to cultivate?" Zheng Yi asked again.

"Yes!" A fierce desire blazed in Lin Qing's eyes. "I dream of cultivating! I want to become stronger, I want to protect my family, I want to see just how vast this world truly is!"

"Good." Zheng Yi nodded in satisfaction. "From today onwards, you are a disciple of the Zheng family. Moreover, I will personally accept you as my apprentice and teach you cultivation."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was shocked.

A personal disciple? Is the family head going to take on apprentices?
It's important to know that although Zheng Yi is the head of the Zheng family, he has never taken on any disciples. Even the three exceptionally talented members of the clan, Zheng Haoran, Zheng Qingyue, and Zheng Yunfei, only received guidance from him, and their relationship was not formal master-disciple.

Now, Zheng Yi is actually going to take a boy from another family as his apprentice? What an honor that is!
Lin Qing was stunned, unable to react for a long time. When he finally came to his senses, he immediately knelt down: "Disciple Lin Qing greets Master!"

"Get up," Zheng Yi helped Lin Qing up. "Now that you are my disciple, you must cultivate diligently and not waste your talent."

"Yes, Master!" Lin Qing said excitedly, her face flushed.

Zheng Yi turned to the others: "The test continues. Everyone who passes the test can join the Zheng family. From today onwards, you are disciples of the Zheng family. I hope you will cultivate diligently and bring glory to the Zheng family in the future!"

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

Over the next few days, the tests were completed. Ultimately, more than five hundred people passed the assessment and became outer disciples of the Zheng family. Among them, about thirty with superior spiritual roots were given special training.

Lin Qing, on the other hand, became Zheng Yi's personal disciple, and his status changed dramatically.

Zheng Yi brought Lin Qing to his cave dwelling, preparing to formally begin teaching him cultivation.

"Lin Qing, your talent is exceptional; you are one of the best prospects I have ever seen," Zheng Yi said. "With dual attributes of metal and lightning, you possess an unparalleled advantage in attack power. If you cultivate properly, you will surely become a powerful figure in the future."

"Thank you, Master!" Lin Qing said respectfully.

Zheng Yi took out a cultivation manual from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Qing: "This is the cultivation technique I chose for you, called the 'Golden Thunder Technique.' It's a low-grade Heaven-rank technique, specifically created for cultivators with dual Golden and Thunder attribute spiritual roots. Upon mastery, it allows one to summon Heavenly Thunder, possessing boundless power."

Lin Qing carefully accepted the cultivation manual, as if it were a priceless treasure. He had heard his father talk about the preciousness of cultivation manuals since he was a child, especially high-level ones, which were extremely rare and hard to come by. His master had casually produced a Heaven-rank cultivation manual; he could never repay this kindness in his lifetime.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing upon me this cultivation technique!" Lin Qing knelt down and kowtowed three times.

"No need for formalities," Zheng Yi said. "Go back and study the cultivation technique carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. You will officially begin cultivation in three days."

"Yes, Master!"

After Lin Qing left, Zheng Yi wore a satisfied smile. He was very happy to have taken on such a disciple. Lin Qing's talent was indeed rare; if properly nurtured, he would surely become a pillar of the Zheng family in the future.

Just then, Zheng Hongzhi walked in.

"Patriarch, the newly recruited disciples have been settled," he reported. "As per your request, disciples with superior spiritual roots have been assigned to better cave dwellings, while those with mid-grade spiritual roots are in the outer sect area." "Hmm, well done," Zheng Yi nodded. "By the way, what about Lin Qing's family?"

“We’ve already sent someone to pick them up,” Zheng Hongzhi said. “According to family rules, a disciple’s immediate family members can enjoy certain preferential treatment. Especially the family head’s personal disciples, whose families will receive the best care.”

“Okay,” Zheng Yi said. “Lin Qing is a loyal and devoted young man. Taking good care of his family will allow him to focus on his cultivation.”

Just as the Zheng family was busy settling in their new disciples, news of this recruitment spread throughout the surrounding area.

"Have you heard? The Zheng family's recruitment this time actually yielded a top-grade spiritual root with both gold and lightning attributes!"

"What? A top-grade spiritual root? And with dual attributes?"

"It's absolutely true! It's said that Patriarch Zheng immediately accepted that child as his personal disciple!"

"My God, this is incredible luck!"

"Indeed! That child was originally from a family of rogue cultivators, but now he's suddenly become the personal disciple of a Nascent Soul Realm expert. His future is limitless!"

This news sparked envy and jealousy in countless people, while also inspiring even more admiration for the Zheng family. A family that values ​​talent above all else, regardless of birth, a family capable of discovering and nurturing geniuses, is bound to grow ever stronger.

The Zheng family's reputation was elevated to a new level with this recruitment.

The next morning, as the sun rose, rays of light filled the sky.

Outside Zheng Yi's cave, Lin Qing had been waiting for a long time. He hadn't slept all night and had read the "Golden Thunder Technique" three times from beginning to end. Although he still didn't quite understand many parts, he had already gained a basic understanding of the technique.

"Master." Lin Qing immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Zheng Yi emerge from the cave.

Zheng Yi sized up Lin Qing, noticing the bloodshot eyes, and frowned slightly: "Didn't sleep all night?"

Lin Qing scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "This disciple was too excited and wanted to look at the cultivation technique a few more times."

"The path of cultivation emphasizes gradual progress; haste makes waste," Zheng Yi instructed. "Although you are exceptionally talented, you must also pay attention to balancing work and rest. Your body is the foundation of your cultivation; don't damage your foundation because of momentary impatience."

"Yes, Master. I understand," Lin Qing replied quickly.

Zheng Yi nodded: "How's your study of 'The Golden Thunder Technique' going? Is there anything you don't understand?"

Lin Qing thought for a moment and said, "I can roughly understand the first few levels of the cultivation technique. It mainly explains how to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and transform it into golden lightning attribute spiritual power. But the later parts about supernatural powers and comprehension of the Great Dao are completely incomprehensible to me."

"That's normal," Zheng Yi said. "The first few levels of the cultivation technique are the foundation; the later parts require a certain level of cultivation to understand. It's okay if you don't understand it now; you'll naturally understand it as your cultivation improves."

He paused, then said, "Today, I don't intend for you to immediately begin cultivating the Golden Thunder Technique."

Lin Qing was taken aback: "Why?"

"Because before I can teach you the cultivation techniques, I need to teach you something more important," Zheng Yi said. "Come with me."

The two arrived at a spacious valley. This was the Zheng family's martial arts training ground, used specifically for disciples to spar. It was still early, and no other disciples had arrived yet, making it quite deserted.

"Lin Qing, do you know what different schools of thought there are among cultivators in the cultivation world?" Zheng Yi asked.

Lin Qing thought for a moment and replied, "I've heard my father say that they are roughly divided into sword cultivators, body cultivators, magic cultivators, and array cultivators. Sword cultivators focus on swordsmanship and have the strongest offensive power. Body cultivators emphasize physical training and have astonishing defensive capabilities. Magic cultivators are skilled in various spells and have a wide range of techniques. Array cultivators are proficient in array formations, using them to trap and kill enemies."

"Well said," Zheng Yi praised. "Your dual-attribute spiritual roots of metal and lightning possess extremely strong offensive power. Lightning is known for its destructive power, while metal is incomparably sharp. The most suitable style for combining the two is—sword cultivation."

Lin Qing's eyes lit up: "A sword cultivator?"

“Not bad.” Zheng Yi waved his hand, and a long sword appeared in his hand. It was an ordinary spirit sword that he had casually crafted, just right for teaching.

"The sword is the king of all weapons, its offensive power unparalleled," Zheng Yi said. "An excellent swordsman can roam the world freely with just a sword, invincible. And your talent is precisely born for the way of the sword."

He handed the longsword to Lin Qing: "From today onwards, you will learn swordsmanship. First, lay a solid foundation in swordsmanship, and then cultivate the 'Golden Thunder Technique,' combining spiritual power with swordsmanship. Only in this way can you unleash the full potential of your talent."

Lin Qing solemnly accepted the longsword. The blade gleamed with a faint cold light and felt slightly heavy in his hand, yet it felt exceptionally comfortable to hold, as if the sword had been tailor-made for him.

"Master, how should I learn swordsmanship?" Lin Qing asked.

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "Let me see your current skill level first. Have you ever handled a sword before?"

Lin Qing shook his head: "No. My family couldn't afford weapons. My father only taught his disciples some martial arts skills to improve their health."

“Then let’s start with the basics,” Zheng Yi said. “The basics of swordsmanship are simple in some ways, and difficult in others. It’s nothing more than eight basic moves: chopping, slashing, thrusting, slicing, picking, parrying, sweeping, and pointing. But while these eight moves seem simple, mastering them requires countless hours of practice.”

He walked up to Lin Qing and began to demonstrate himself.

"Chop, from top to bottom, force concentrated on the sword's edge." Zheng Yi raised his longsword high and then slashed down fiercely. Although he did not use any spiritual power, the power of that sword still made the air whistle sharply.

"Slash, a horizontal slash, as powerful as thunder." The longsword sweeps horizontally, as fast as lightning.

"Thrust, a straight-line thrust, a fatal blow." The sword tip points forward, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

"To cut diagonally, to slice iron as easily as mud."

"Pierce through the defenses from bottom to top."

"A sweeping, arc-shaped attack, impossible to defend against."

"Sweep, with sweeping, powerful strokes, sweeping away a thousand troops."

"A precise strike, hitting the vital point."

After demonstrating the eight basic moves, Zheng Yi sheathed his sword and stood up: "These are the eight fundamental principles of swordsmanship. They look simple, but each move contains profound swordsmanship principles. Now begin practicing; I'll watch from the side."

"Yes, Master." Lin Qing took a deep breath and began practicing the first move—the chop—according to Zheng Yi's demonstration.

He raised his longsword and, imitating Zheng Yi, brought it down with force. But his strike was crooked and lacked power, completely lacking Zheng Yi's unstoppable momentum. (End of Chapter)