The tea cooled the two reluctantly said goodbye, resembling long-time confidants parting ways.

After Xia Ming left, Li Dahai couldn't wait to pick up the teacup Xia Ming had used. Looking through it to the light, he could vaguely make out a few strands of deep blue silk at the bottom.

A Water Spirit Root!

This kid has a Water Spirit Root!

A menial disciple with a Water Spirit Root!

He must be the legendary Hidden Spirit Root!

Without wasting a moment, Li Dahai grabbed the teacup and rushed to Qingdan Peak.

Upon arrival, he headed straight for the Hall of Merit, and under the golden sunlight, clutched a jade slip to with the consciousness of the Golden Core.

"Xiehun Cliff, thirty-seven menial disciple, Xia Ming, is a Hidden Spirit Root of the Water attribute!"

The moment the jade slip reached the consciousness of the Golden Core, Qingdan Peak shook violently.

Amidst his fear, a cold voice entered Li Dahai's ears directly.

"Come…"

"Come… see me."

Following the voice's lead, Li Dahai walked deeper into Qingdan Peak.

Here, steep cliffs loomed, dark rivers flowed, and iron chains stretched across.

The belly of Qingdan Peak had been hollowed out.

Within this hollow, thick iron chains extended to the mountain's heart.

At the end of these chains was an ancient and majestic bronze hall.

Inside the hall, candlelight flickered, barely revealing the silhouette of a man.

Treading on the iron chains, Li Dahai trembled as he approached the hall's steps.

The cold aura emanating from the hall was chilling to the bone.

Bowing deeply, Li Dahai spoke with utmost humility.

"Disciple Li Dahai, pays respects to the Supreme Elder."

He dared not look up, nor show disrespect.

Only when facing a Nascent Soul cultivator did Li Dahai realize his insignificance.

It's no exaggeration to say, a Nascent Soul cultivator could disperse him with a mere breath.

"Speak, tell me all you know."

"Yes!"

...

On the eleventh day of winter, he entered the sect.

As a menial disciple, he entered without a Spirit Root.

His talent for sensing acupoints was exceptionally rare, despite lacking a Spirit Root.

His skills in handling corpses and the strength of his spirit far exceeded that of ordinary menial disciples.

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He paid a high price for a Spirit Root detection stone, showed sensitivity to Spirit-infused tea, left water-blue marks on the Sensing Jade, and was desperate to learn cultivation techniques.

Facing the intense scrutiny of a Nascent Soul cultivator, Li Dahai disclosed everything he knew.

As he spoke, Li Dahai gently set the teacup on the ground.

"Lift your head."

Hearing the cold voice beside his ear, Li Dahai shuddered.

This Supreme Elder He Niansheng was famously ruthless.

Slowly lifting his head, that single glance made Li Dahai shiver.

Before him stood a man in a loose black robe.

His silver hair was like a snowfall, his eyes like cold stars.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, with an ordinary appearance, slender eyebrows and eyes, and only half his pupils visible.

Despite his common appearance, the man's aura was exceptionally aloof.

Li Dahai was so shocked he was almost speechless.

Damn it!

How could He Niansheng be so young!

Doesn't he age!

He must be hundreds of years old!

Ignoring Li Dahai's astonishment, He Niansheng gestured, and the teacup floated into his palm.

Observing the few strands of water-blue silk at the bottom of the cup, He Niansheng's cold gaze froze.

In the next instant, his slender fingers slightly closed, and the white jade teacup crumbled to pieces.

"Follow me to the Menial Disciple Administration."

Li Dahai had no opportunity to speak further as He Niansheng snapped his fingers, and Li Dahai found himself floating.

An extremely cold aura enveloped him firmly, making it luxurious even to move his limbs or blink his eyes.

At that moment, Li Dahai realized he had underestimated Nascent Soul cultivators.

An old saying goes: "The path to immortality is ethereal, each step ascends to heaven."

Nascent Soul cultivators, terrifying indeed!

Without a moment to lament, in just one step, Li Dahai followed He Niansheng out of Qingdan Peak.

Mountains and rivers lay beneath their feet, the vast expanse of heaven and earth almost within reach.

Watching He Niansheng navigate the skies, Li Dahai's heart surged with tumultuous waves.

Immortals.

Such beings were both loved and hated.

In his youth, Li Dahai had aspired to such heights.

But now… he only saw the helplessness of the immortal path.

Even a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator like He Niansheng, what could he do?

Unable to advance an inch, wasn't he still wasting away day and night, sitting alone in a cage?

...

In just a moment, He Niansheng led Li Dahai to the Great River Sect's Menial Disciple Administration.

Under the adoration of the disciples, He Niansheng walked directly into Hai Dafu's quiet room.

The moment Hai Dafu saw He Niansheng, he pushed away the charming woman in his arms and knelt on the ground.

"Menial Disciple Administration's officer Hai Dafu, greets Supreme Elder He Niansheng!"

Ignoring the trembling Hai Dafu on the ground, He Niansheng frowned and then waved his sleeve.

Instantly, a dragon-like cold air roared towards Hai Dafu's back.

A bitter sound of ice forming was heard, and the charming woman shattered into ice dust.

Three inches of frost penetrated the quiet room, eliminating any indistinct scents.

Kneeling in the frost, even as the cold penetrated his bones, Hai Dafu dared not move.

The death of a menial disciple was inconsequential, but Hai Dafu dared not offend the Supreme Elder.

Watching all this unfold, He Niansheng's follower, Li Dahai, trembled even more.

Although it was a menial disciple being executed…

This was He Niansheng, just as ruthless as ever!

Cold-blooded He Niansheng, the frosty Qingdan Peak!

Daring not to think further, Li Dahai remained motionless, feigning ignorance.

...

"Hand over the Spirit Root Shadow Stone from eleventh day of winter."

Hearing He Niansheng's command, Hai Dafu dared not delay.

Spiritual power activated, his acupoints flickered.

According to the Great River Sect's rules, disciples' Spirit Roots were recorded upon entering the sect.

Fortunately, the eleventh day of winter was not too distant.

Soon, Hai Dafu extracted a slender, prism-shaped crystal from his acupoints.

Magical power activated, intertwining rays of light replayed the scenes of the past.

Indeed, the Shadow Stone was extraordinary.

Every disciple's appearance and minor movements were captured without omission.

Li Dahai fixed his gaze and immediately focused on Xia Ming.

"Supreme Elder! Look, that kid is Xia Ming!"

Following Li Dahai's direction, He Niansheng saw a young man with tied hair.

He seemed to be seventeen or eighteen, with a handsome face and a slightly pale complexion.

After observing for a while, He Niansheng slowly narrowed his eyes.

Something was off about this Xia Ming.

His eyes were filled with curiosity.

Upon first entering the sect, while others showed various degrees of fear, he… was excessively curious.

As if… he was a newborn exploring the world.

And there was another anomaly.

When it was found that he lacked a Spirit Root, a flicker of regret passed through his eyes.

Yet, not long after, he returned to normal which was incredibly unreasonable.

Ordinary youngsters, facing such a setback, would naturally be disappointed.

But he… recovered too quickly, like a middle-aged man weathered by life's hardships.

Curious as a child, yet composed as the elderly.

It didn't make sense!