Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Chu Lingguang said.

"Go on, and be quick about it."

Kou Han said.

He then dispatched two Outer Disciples to accompany Chu Lingguang to the valley to get his things. One of them was an acquaintance of Chu Lingguang’s—Teacher Yun Hong.

"The Eldest Senior Brother said you possess a Spiritual Root and is making you an Inner Sect Disciple?"

Yun Hong looked as if he’d been struck by lightning.

It wasn’t that he was jealous of Chu Lingguang. Rather, the term "Spiritual Root" seemed to exist only in ancient texts. For Chu Lingguang to actually possess one—and have it personally verified by Kou Han—was astounding.

"What exactly is a Spiritual Root?"

"Why are you as nervous and shocked as Zhang Xuan and the others?"

Chu Lingguang found it strange.

Yun Hong thought for a moment before explaining, "You can think of it this way: a Spiritual Root is like a mortal Martial Artist’s Dantian Qi Sea. You don’t have to cultivate to create it; you’re born with it. No matter what Cultivation and Martial Arts you practice, your progress will be twice the results for half the effort."

"What?"

"Then when I practice immortal cultivation techniques in the future, does that mean..."

Chu Lingguang was stunned.

"Twice the results for half the effort!"

Yun Hong finished his sentence.

He sighed as they walked. "Someone with a Spiritual Root has an extremely high chance of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. The Eldest Senior Brother has been stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining realm for nearly a hundred years. If he had a Spiritual Root, he would have reached Foundation Establishment long ago."

"Perhaps one day, you’ll even reach Foundation Establishment before he does."

Yun Hong’s face was full of envy.

"Is it that incredible?"

Chu Lingguang hadn’t expected this at all.

Kou Han clearly had the appearance of a young man. To think he’d already been at the peak of the Qi Refining realm for almost a century... On the surface, you couldn’t tell at all that he was an old man over a hundred years old.

"Of course it’s incredible."

Yun Hong nodded.

As they walked, he suddenly stopped. He scrutinized Chu Lingguang, power gathering in his palm. He seemed hesitant, but a hint of killing intent began to emanate from him.

"Teacher Yun Hong!"

Chu Lingguang sensed something was wrong.

He quickly took a step back.

Startled, Yun Hong quickly retracted his aura and forced a smile. "We’re at the valley. Go on in. I’ll wait for you out here."

"Okay."

Chu Lingguang hurried inside.

’Did Teacher Yun Hong want to kill me just now?’

’Why?’

Chu Lingguang had definitely felt the killing intent coming from Yun Hong.

He believed that if they were outside Yuanchu Mountain, Yun Hong might have just attacked and killed him with a single palm strike.

’Chu Lingguang probably wouldn’t do that.’

Outside the valley, Yun Hong stared at his own hand and muttered.

For a moment there, he really couldn’t control himself. He had even been willing to expose the fact that he had merged with the strange object, wanting to risk it all and kill Chu Lingguang with one strike.

’Yuanchu Mountain has wronged him. He joined Yuanchu Mountain to overthrow it and allow everyone in the world to practice Qi Refining Kung Fu. He won’t help a tyrant do evil.’

’Chu Lingguang, am I right?’

Yun Hong wondered to himself.

Upon learning that Chu Lingguang was becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, possessed a Spiritual Root, and would be studying under the same master as Kou Han, Yun Hong’s heart was torn. He was happy for Chu Lingguang, but also deeply worried about the future of the Great Yuan.

Chu Lingguang, Yan Zhen, and Qin Yu all had pure, sincere hearts.

They had joined Yuanchu Mountain in order to overthrow it.

But if Yuanchu Mountain offered them too many temptations, could they truly remain unchanged?

The Dragon Slayer Youth could one day become the Evil Dragon.

Possessing a Spiritual Root, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple in a single step, being on equal footing with Kou Han, having the freedom to consult all sorts of cultivation Skills in the academy... There was no guarantee that Chu Lingguang wouldn’t become utterly devoted to Yuanchu Mountain, seeking to control the Great Yuan and the entire world of cultivation just like the others.

"Chu Lingguang, what did Zhang Xuan and the others take you out for?"

Back in the valley, Yan Zhen and Qin Yu quickly surrounded him.

"They took me to see the Eldest Senior Brother of Yuanchu Mountain, Kou Han!"

Chu Lingguang said, sitting on the edge of his bed.

"What for?"

Qin Yu pressed.

"Kou Han said the reason the strange object was attracted to me is because I possess a Spiritual Root, which allows me to cultivate with twice the results for half the effort."

Chu Lingguang explained.

"What?"

"A Spiritual Root!"

"Let me see! How could you get so lucky?"

Yan Zhen and Qin Yu were both stunned.

Qin Yu couldn’t help but squeeze both of Chu Lingguang’s arms, lift his hands, and even sniff him carefully.

"Kou Han is moving me out of this valley and making me an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain,"

Chu Lingguang added.

At that moment, the expressions on Yan Zhen and Qin Yu’s faces froze.

They stared at Chu Lingguang in disbelief.

"An Inner Sect Disciple."

"Really? You’ve become an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain?"

After snapping out of it, they looked at Chu Lingguang with uneasy expressions.

"Didn’t you see me packing my things? Teacher Yun Hong personally escorted me back. He’s waiting for me outside the valley right now."

Chu Lingguang said, looking into Yan Zhen’s and Qin Yu’s eyes.

Hearing this, Yan Zhen and Qin Yu couldn’t help but glance at each other. Then, their brows furrowed, and they began pacing around the room.

"Yan, you two have something you want to say to me, don’t you!"

Chu Lingguang said, looking at Yan Zhen.

"No... I mean, yes. After you become an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain... will you forget the promise we made?"

Yan Zhen asked tentatively.

"I understand now."

It hit Chu Lingguang like a bolt of lightning. Recalling Yun Hong’s change in demeanor outside the valley, he finally understood the reason and couldn’t help but let out a foolish laugh.

"With a Spiritual Root, Yuanchu Mountain will treasure you. Even someone with Teacher Yun Hong’s status as a Royal Disciple had to go through countless hardships just to become an Outer Disciple. But you became an Inner Sect Disciple in the blink of an eye. In the future, won’t Yuanchu Mountain be yours to command?"

Qin Yu ventured.

When their brother was down on his luck, they felt for him.

But now that their brother was doing too well, they felt even worse.

Such a great temptation was right in front of him. Even if Chu Lingguang was normally loyal, grateful, and true to his word, not everyone could hold firm in the face of immortality.

"What did you mean just now when you said you understood?"

Yan Zhen sensed something was off.

"On the way back, when Teacher Yun Hong learned I was becoming an Inner Sect Disciple and possessed a Spiritual Root, he congratulated me at first, just like you. But then... he almost tried to kill me."

Chu Lingguang explained.

"Huh?"

Yan Zhen and Qin Yu were stunned.

"Teacher Yun Hong held back. At first, I thought he wasn’t himself. It’s only now that I understand where his killing intent came from."

"You’re worried about the same thing he was—that Yuanchu Mountain will give me so much that I’ll break my word and help a tyrant do evil."

Chu Lingguang said.

"Everyone yearns for immortality. If you do change one day, I can understand."

Yan Zhen, who had always been proud, fearless, firm in his convictions, and eager for a challenge, now found his voice lacking confidence as he faced Chu Lingguang.

"No matter what, Yan Zhen and I are happy for you. You’ve become an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain and will have access to more profound cultivation Skills. One day, you might even be like Kou Han, leading both the Inner and Outer Sects of Yuanchu Mountain, with all the disciples at your command."

Qin Yu lamented.

He and Yan Zhen both knew that people don’t stay the same forever.

He would change, Yan Zhen would change, and Chu Lingguang was naturally no exception.

They both just hoped that if that day had to come, it would come later rather than sooner.

"We three formed an alliance in the Imperial City Hunting Ground. I, Chu Lingguang, will always remember the words we spoke that day, no matter what."

Chu Lingguang didn’t explain further.

Some things were feeble when explained with words; only actions could prove them.

"Teacher Yun Hong!"

Having understood the reason for Yun Hong’s killing intent, Chu Lingguang felt a sense of relief and faced him openly.

"Chu Lingguang, just now I..."

Yun Hong wore an apologetic expression. Seeing Chu Lingguang walk up to him without any guard up made him feel a pang of guilt.

"Teacher Yun Hong, after I become an Inner Sect Disciple, can I get the people of Yuanchu Mountain to stop hunting my teacher?"

Chu Lingguang asked.

"Of course. Just speak to the Eldest Senior Brother directly. He’ll agree. Even if your master really has merged with the strange object, Yuanchu Mountain will show him leniency."

Yun Hong said, pleasantly surprised.

Chu Lingguang was still thinking about Guo Wei. This meant that, for now, his heart hadn’t changed.

"Thank you, Teacher Yun Hong."

Chu Lingguang nodded.

"You should probably just call me Yun. From now on, you’re an Inner Sect Disciple, and I’m an Outer Disciple. If you need anything, just give the word."

Yun Hong said with a wry smile.