"Hope?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Li looked at Fan Zhengping excitedly. When people are desperate, isn't hope what they want most? As long as there is hope, anything is possible.

"Yes, hope," Fan Zhengping nodded. "As ordinary people, you naturally have no choice. If you had Spirit Roots, my master might take you as disciples, just like he did with me."

Spirit Roots.

At the mention of these two words, Lu Li's whole body went limp, and he said in disappointment, "We participated in the Qingyang Sect's awakening ceremony but didn't awaken any Spirit Roots."

"No Spirit Roots?" Fan Zhengping first frowned, then stared at Lu Li as if he had made a significant decision. "Wait here."

With that, he dashed into the main hall swiftly. Seeing this, Lu Li immediately prepared to leave, but after glancing at the closed door next to him, he sat back down.

Not only were Chen Pangzi and Qin Shouren still inside, but he couldn't escape based on the other person's speed alone.

In just a moment, Fan Zhengping returned, carrying a bunch of jade bottles and sitting back down in his chair. He said, "These are all Awakening Pills I secretly refined. There are 120 of them. I'll give them all to you now. Distribute them and take them. If anyone awakens their Spirit Root, tell me, and I'll ask my master for mercy to see if he can spare you."

"Awakening Pills?" Lu Li looked at the pile of jade bottles and shook his head. "We've already taken them."

"I know," Fan Zhengping explained. "Actually, in the cultivation world, the Five Element Spirit Root isn't the worst. Below the Five Element Spirit Root, there are Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and countless other possible Spirit Roots. This kind of Spirit Root is called a Mixed Spirit Root. To awaken it, a large number of Awakening Pills are needed."

"However, even if such a Spirit Root is awakened, the cultivation speed is slower than a turtle's crawl. One might never reach the first level of Qi Condensation, but it's still better than having no hope, isn't it?"

There's such a saying.

Upon hearing this, Lu Li's dream of cultivation, which had been extinguished, was reignited. Even if it was a Mixed Spirit Root, as long as he could cultivate, he wouldn't give up.

"Thank you," Lu Li grabbed all the jade bottles. Regardless of the outcome, he had to try.

After a brief exchange, Lu Li eagerly walked towards the rooms.

He first went to Room 3, found Chen Zhong, and handed him four jade bottles, explaining what had happened. Unexpectedly, Chen Pangzi called Lu Li a sycophant and refused to accept them.

Helpless, Lu Li placed the jade bottles on the ground and went to Qin Shouren's room. Although Qin Shouren felt distressed, upon hearing there was hope, he took the jade bottles without hesitation.

Fan Zhengping, who was watching everything, thought to himself that this young man had considerable insight and a steady personality. If he could awaken a Mixed Spirit Root, there might be a chance for him to reach the first level of Qi Condensation and display some immortal techniques.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Seeing that Lu Li had finished distributing the pills, Fan Zhengping locked the door and left.

Lu Li sat down on the weeds and started swallowing the Awakening Pills like crazy.

So many Awakening Pills—even a major cultivation sect like Qingyang wouldn't allow an ordinary person to squander them like this. He truly had to thank the bit of kindness in Fan Zhengping's heart.

As soon as a pill entered his mouth, Lu Li looked at his body, but unfortunately, there was no reaction.

A quarter of an hour later, Lu Li sighed helplessly and swallowed another one.

.......

Time passed unknowingly, and three hours had gone by. Lu Li had consumed a total of eighteen Awakening Pills, but his body still didn't react.

Just then, a fist suddenly stretched through a small hole in the wall next to him, accompanied by Qin Shouren's trembling voice, "Monkey, Monkey, look, did I awaken..."

Lu Li was startled. He grabbed Qin Shouren's hand and looked at the faint mist emanating from it, exclaiming, "Beast（“Beast” has the same pronunciation as “qinshou” in Chinese.）, wow, you... you actually awakened!"

"Haha, I've awakened! I have a Spirit Root! I can cultivate!" Qin Shouren pulled his hand back and shouted excitedly in the room.

Soon after, Lu Li heard Qin Shouren running to the wall next to Chen Zhong's room to show off. Chen Zhong was similar to Lu Li. He suddenly looked at the jade bottles by the door and stumbled over to them.

As the night deepened, Lu Li had finished all forty Awakening Pills, but there was still no sign of awakening. His heart was almost broken, and he collapsed onto the dry grass.

The next morning, Lu Li was awakened by Qin Shouren's excited voice. It turned out that Chen Pangzi had also awakened.

Lu Li was greatly affected and remained silent.

Around noon, Fan Zhengping came again and opened the door to let Lu Li and the other two out for some fresh air.

Upon hearing that both Chen Zhong and Qin Shouren had successfully awakened their Spirit Roots, Fan Zhengping was surprised and said he would ask his master for mercy on their behalf so they could stay and help him refine pills.

"Monkey, I have twenty-five more Awakening Pills. Take them and try again," said Qin Shouren, turning back to his room and bringing out three jade bottles, seeing Lu Li's melancholy mood.

Chen Zhong also returned to his room and took out three jade bottles, saying, "I have twenty here too. On the path of cultivation, none of us three brothers can be left behind."

Lu Li didn't want to accept them at first. If forty pills couldn't awaken his Spirit Root, even if it did awaken, it would be extremely weak. However, seeing the hopeful looks in their eyes, Lu Li took them.

Perhaps feeling lonely for too long, Fan Zhengping eagerly explained the methods of cultivation to Chen Zhong and Qin Shouren after they awoke. Lu Li listened in a daze, envious.

As the sun set, Fan Zhengping finally finished his explanation.

Then they went to the kitchen and busied themselves with cooking, enjoying a harmonious time.

Lu Li was distracted the whole time. After dinner, he returned to his room and started swallowing more pills.

Disappointment kept coming. By the end of the night, Lu Li had taken thirty more pills, but still hadn't awakened. Only five pills remained.

The next day, Lu Li didn't go out.

Chen Zhong and Qin Shouren came to see him, but despite their comfort, there was nothing they could do, and they left helplessly.

"No, I can't just give up."

Lu Li looked at the last jade bottle and opened it with exhaustion.

One.

Two.

Three.

Suddenly, Lu Li's body shone brightly, emitting nine colors: gold, green, blue, red, brown, white, purple, black, and bright yellow.

"This!"

Lu Li's body trembled with excitement as he exclaimed, "I've awakened! I've awakened!"

Hearing this, Chen Zhong and Qin Shouren exchanged looks and rushed in. When they saw Lu Li's condition, they rubbed their eyes in disbelief. "What... what's going on?"

Although their awakenings had faint multi-colored lights, they weren't as terrifying as Lu Li's, who seemed to be glowing all over.

Fan Zhengping also ran in and couldn't help but swallow when he saw Lu Li. "Is... is this really the manifestation of an awakened Spirit Root?"

Chen Zhong and Qin Shouren were puzzled. "So, this isn't awakening?"

"Well, I don't know," Fan Zhengping said with confusion. He had never heard of anyone awakening like this. Unfortunately, he was only at the first level of Qi Condensation. It's said that after awakening, a Foundation Establishment expert can directly detect what type of Spirit Root someone has.