C9 Qinling Treasure Seeking

The classroom buzzed with chatter, as scenes once confined to television screens unfolded before the students' eyes, leaving them utterly astounded.

Chu Xing had barely settled into his seat when Luo Xiaoyun spun around and exclaimed, "Chu Xing, you're incredible! I thought you said you didn't have any superpowers?"

"Remember when I mentioned my spirit is particularly strong?" Chu Xing replied with a twinkle in his eye.

"Ah! So that works too?" Luo Xiaoyun was momentarily taken aback.

"Chu Xing, do it again," urged Lee Fei, her eyes gleaming with excitement. The whole class, including onlookers from the next room, had their eyes fixed on Chu Xing. Lee Xiaoran watched with particular interest, causing Chu Xing to blush and quickly turn away.

Feigning exhaustion, Chu Xing slumped onto his desk, mumbling, "I'm tired."

As Chu Xing lay there, the buzz of conversation shifted back to the news.

"Have you heard? Treasures were found on Mount Tai, sparking a frenzy. There are rumors of a treasure sword and jade," one student shared.

"You're behind the times. Just last night, a relic was discovered at Wuyi Mountain. The whole thing was caught on video, complete with jade and a treasure sword," another chimed in.

...

"Cultivation is real! It's absolutely incredible," Lee Fei marveled.

Chu Xing immediately pulled out his phone to catch up on the news. Tourists at Wuyi Mountain had spotted a distant light the previous night, prompting many to investigate. An earthquake had revealed a cave, its ceiling studded with gems, a skeleton lying within, and a small pouch beside it. An esper had extracted a jade, a treasure sword, and some books from the pouch, sparking a violent skirmish.

As Chu Xing absorbed the news, his heart raced with the realization that Earth had once been home to true cultivators. If ruins existed, perhaps they held the secret to leaving the planet.

"To cultivate is to defy the heavens and alter one's destiny. With ruins to be claimed, staying in school now seems pointless. Without diligent cultivation, growth remains elusive..." Chu Xing pondered deeply.

He gazed at the retreating silhouette, bidding farewell in silence, his heart stirring with a longing for the boundless cosmos. Chu Xing's hands were balled into tight fists, his gaze resolute.

"Goodbye, Luo Xiaoyun, Li Fei," Chu Xing said with a smile, then he rose and stepped out, leaving the pair dumbfounded.

Back at his dorm, Chu Xing stowed all his belongings into a black orb, slinging a backpack over his shoulder to avoid any complications that might arise from retrieving items directly from the space.

Next, he made his way to the market. Over the years, Chu Xing had scrimped and saved from government subsidies, part-time jobs, and frugal living, amassing a nest egg of 10,000 yuan.

He stocked up on plenty of water, food, and outdoor gear like tents, ropes, and climbing tools, and even purchased a generator to keep his phone charged.

That evening, Chu Xing checked into a modest inn in Hua Yin County. He had chosen this location strategically, as Hua Mountain, one of the four great mountains, was likely to be rich in undiscovered ruins.

The first half of the night, Chu Xing dedicated to practicing the Cloud Slashing Sword Technique, his spiritual energy guiding the blade's tip. Later, he turned to the Profound Heaven and Earth Technique, converting about a quarter of his Machinery Heart. He allowed himself just one hour of sleep to conserve energy for the next day's exploration.

Medium in stature, Chu Xing's melancholic eyes sat beneath thick eyebrows, complemented by a firm nose and delicate features that retained a touch of boyishness.

Now, donning a black hat, a black short-sleeve shirt, gray trousers, and black sneakers, he joined the queue at the entrance of Hua Mountain.

The gateway was teeming with visitors, and soldiers stood sentry. Chu Xing hadn't anticipated the throngs of people, all seemingly there with the same intent as him.

"Brother, what's your special ability?" inquired the man ahead of Chu Xing, addressing a towering figure in the line. The man, standing at two meters with muscles rippling under his skin, appeared to be in his early twenties. Curious eyes from the crowd surveyed him.

The tall man chuckled, "I'm not particularly skilled."

"Who's going to buy that?" retorted the man ahead, his mouth twisting skeptically. Chu Xing was also doubtful; his gut feeling was that this man possessed considerable strength.

Just then, a military vehicle pulled up, and five people disembarked—four men and one woman, all in their twenties. The woman stood out at 1.75 meters tall, her short hair framing her delicately furrowed, beautiful brows. Clad in a crisp white tracksuit, she was strikingly attractive.

Beside her was a dashing young man, towering at 1.8 meters, also dressed in white sportswear. Each shouldering a backpack, they made their way through a special passageway.

"Look at that, definitely loaded," someone sighed.

"Absolutely! Wealth and power written all over them."

"And that woman is gorgeous!"

...

Chu Xing ventured inside, aiming for less crowded areas, but the place was swarming with people and rife with incidents. His first day yielded nothing.

The following day, a cave was spotted on the cliff face. By the time Chu Xing arrived, it was packed shoulder to shoulder, the glamorous group from the day before included, leaving no room to maneuver.

"I can't stay here. I need to find a larger, quieter mountain region," Chu Xing muttered to himself. "Off to the Qin Mountains." Without hesitation, he descended the mountain and made for the station.

The Qin Mountains spanned four to five hundred kilometers east to west, and one hundred to one hundred and fifty kilometers north to south, revered as the Dragon Vein of Chinese civilization.

Chu Xing was drawn here by the vast expanse and multitude of peaks, confident he would uncover ancient relics. He planned to trek in from the periphery.

"Verdant hills, crystal waters, and the air's so pure—cultivating here is far superior to the city. It's an ideal place for spiritual practice," Chu Xing reflected.

A week had passed since Earth's transformation, with spiritual energy in the air intensifying and many illnesses vanishing, including the recent scourge of the new plague.

Scientists debated the reasons behind Earth's dramatic changes on television daily. Nations worldwide had established Esper Law Enforcement Departments, with China's named the Dragon Group.

"Special abilities are also known as spiritual roots. According to the cultivation texts, if a person possesses special abilities related to elements like metal, wood, water, fire, or earth, they are said to have a spiritual root. And it's only with a spiritual root that one can embark on the path of cultivation."

"So, from now on, we'll refer to them as spiritual roots. But what about those who have spiritual roots? Are they immortals?"

"With spiritual roots, one can reach the Qi Training Stage and become a cultivator, but becoming an immortal is still a distant dream."

"Does anyone recognize this pill? I urgently need to know."

...

Whenever Chu Xing had a moment, he'd pull out his phone to browse through a specialized forum dedicated to cultivation discussions, where he could also find a variety of cultivation-related products.

"It turns out that innate talents can be considered spiritual roots. When will I stumble upon some ancient ruins?" Chu Xing pondered.

On his second day in the Qinling Mountains, Chu Xing settled atop a peak. After a simple meal, he began his cultivation practice.

Currently at the Qi Training First Layer, Chu Xing found that the black sphere absorbed most of the spiritual energy he gathered, causing his mental strength to increase at a snail's pace. In the 50 cubic meter void within his spiritual sea, there was only a white air mass the size of a basketball.

"I wonder when my mental strength will be enough to fill this void. The Heart of Mechanics has transformed four-fifths of it; it should be complete within a couple of days," Chu Xing mused about his capabilities.

Suddenly, a series of high-pitched squeaks drew Chu Xing's attention. He looked across to the opposite mountain and saw several trees shaking violently as monkeys leapt and tumbled through the branches.

"I should check that out." Chu Xing grabbed his broken sword and quickly made his way toward the commotion.

Twenty minutes later, Chu Xing reached his destination. He found four monkeys facing off with a wild boar, with a newly-formed cave that was about half a person tall behind the boar.

"Could there be treasures inside the cave?" Chu Xing thought, his expression one of excitement at the prospect of a potential discovery.

The surge in spiritual energy had greatly benefited the animal kingdom, enhancing many creatures' offensive and defensive capabilities. There were reports of tigers, lions, and other predators attacking humans. The sea was particularly dangerous; rumors circulated of a fifty-meter-long whale spotted floating on the ocean's surface.

The wild boar in front of Chu Xing kicked at the ground nervously with its front hooves, eyes darting anxiously as its fur shimmered in the light.

"It seems the boar's intelligence has improved," Chu Xing mused, gripping his broken sword and waiting for the right moment.

Just then, another figure emerged from the woods. It was the tall man Chu Xing had encountered on the mountain, a knife in his grasp.

"We should team up and split whatever's inside," the tall man suggested.

"Sounds good. I'm Chu Yun," Chu Xing replied with ease, recognizing the inevitability of the situation.

"I'm Gao Fei," the man said with a smile. "Got any ideas?"

"First, we drive off the monkeys, then we handle the boar," Chu Xing proposed.

"Agreed."

Chu Xing hurled a stone at the monkeys, who retaliated with their own projectile. He dodged frantically.

"These monkeys are getting crafty," Chu Xing observed.

"Let's take them down," Gao Fei declared, advancing.

The monkeys scampered up the trees, hissing at Gao Fei's approach.

Chu Xing chuckled. "Classic bullies—strong against the weak, but cowards at heart."

As Chu Xing and Gao Fei approached, the boar bared its long fangs, poised to strike.

Together, they advanced. The boar charged at Gao Fei, who swung his knife at its head. The boar sidestepped, taking a slash to the back before collapsing. Gao Fei was sent flying backward, his knife skittering away, leaving only a gash on the boar's back.

Chu Xing lunged with his broken sword, careful not to reveal his spiritual power. The boar was nimble, ducking its head, but Chu Xing's next sweep was true, cleaving the boar's head in two.

Gao Fei watched, astounded. "Is that sword of yours enchanted?"

Chu Xing flashed a smile and said, "Come on, let's head inside."