Chapter 15: Fire Spiritual Root

A thousand-year-old Fire Ganoderma and a top-tier innate cultivation technique—either one would be considered a rare treasure in the martial arts world! Manager Tong’s orchestration of this deal had earned the Wanbao Pavilion immense attention and prestige.

"Tsk, tsk. If I could get my hands on either of these, why would I have spent years drifting through the world of martial arts as a nobody?"

"Who are you telling? The thousand-year-old Ganoderma has the power to defy fate, and an innate cultivation technique paves the way to the very threshold of the Innate Realm!"

"Hey, just wait and see. If that kid who consumed the Ganoderma doesn't die, there will definitely be one more young master added to the Human Rankings!"

Li Xingyun and his companions were also mixed into the crowd, lost in their own thoughts. Qingguo, being tall, tried her best to catch a glimpse of the innate technique on the stage, but she was too far away to see a single character.

"How stingy. If we had an innate technique, we sisters would be Innate Realm experts by now. We might even have our names on the Earth Rankings, not just the Human Rankings!"

"Exactly, sister. We must find a way to get our hands on an innate technique!"

Li Xingyun chuckled lightly. "Didn't you hear? Master Huang just said that the top-tier innate technique on the stage contains the principles of Yin and Yang, making it even more suitable for men and women to practice together!"

As he finished, he glanced at Ji Ruxue, whose pretty face flushed red as she gave a cold snort.

"So what? If push comes to shove, we'll just have to settle for that brat Zhang Zifan!"

Zhang Zifan, who had been watching the spectacle, froze, a thousand crows appearing to fly over his head.

"Oh! Sister, Master Gao has fainted!"

On the stage, Gao Wu collapsed straight to the ground. A cyan figure flashed by; Liu Yifei had already grabbed Gao Wu by the back of his collar, holding him steady.

"Manager Tong, since the transaction is complete, we shall take our leave."

Liu Yifei’s expression remained unchanged as she bid farewell and led Lin Yitao back to the inn. No sooner had she left the Wanbao Pavilion than several figures quietly followed in her wake. Shortly after, carrier pigeons were released from various secluded corners of Kaifeng City.

"The Wanbao Pavilion has acquired a new top-tier innate cultivation technique!"

"The thousand-year-old Fire Ganoderma has been consumed by a young martial artist named Gao Wu!"

Two pieces of news flew rapidly toward every corner of the land through different channels.

***

Duke Tang, Li Ye, also strolled slowly out of the Wanbao Pavilion. Looking up at the sky, he muttered to himself, "Heaven’s will is such. The plan has changed slightly, but this play seems even more interesting now."

Inside the Wanbao Pavilion, after the crowd had dispersed, Huang Yaoshi also bid farewell to Manager Tong. "Please take care of matters regarding my daughter. As soon as you have news, notify me immediately."

"Of course, Master Huang. Rest assured, the Wanbao Pavilion will spread the word everywhere to help find your daughter."

"Ah, my daughter is unruly; I have caused you trouble, Manager Tong."

"You are too kind, Master Huang. The Wanbao Pavilion is happy to be of service."

After Huang Yaoshi left, Manager Tong returned to the reception room, satisfied with the newly acquired "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra." Waiting in the reception room was a middle-aged man wearing a mask and draped in black robes.

"Yuan Tiangang, the thousand-year-old Fire Ganoderma was consumed on the spot by that Gao Wu."

"Heh, the kid has guts."

"This is the innate technique Gao Wu used for the trade. After Master Huang appraised it, he declared it a top-tier innate technique. Please examine it, Commander."

The "Bad Commander" took the "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra," flipped through it briefly, and sighed. "Indeed, it is impressive. However, breaking through to the Innate Realm is no small feat!"

"Is Duke Tang’s move this time aimed at you?"

The Bad Commander remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly. "There is something strange about all of this. Li Ye is using three treasures from the Duke's mansion as bait, taking such wild risks. One wrong step, and everything is lost."

"What do you think of this Gao Wu?"

"His martial roots were originally shattered, with no future in martial arts. Now that he has consumed the thousand-year-old Fire Ganoderma, his destiny has changed, and it is no longer something we can fathom."

"Who exactly is he? And where did that Innate Realm expert, Little Dragon Maiden, come from? Why is she protecting him?"

Neither of them had the answer. Gao Wu seemed to have appeared out of thin air, with an Innate Realm expert already by his side.

Meanwhile, although Gao Wu had fallen unconscious after consuming the Fire Ganoderma, he did not let his consciousness fade entirely. He held onto the last shred of his awareness, guiding and channeling the energy within him.

It was slow, but resolute.

The mysterious energy was guided toward his shattered martial roots. Under the shroud of this energy, the broken remnants of his roots began to flicker with a faint glow, like embers just stirred to life.

The jagged, uneven fractures began to mend at a visible rate. Wisps of internal energy, like fine spider silk, wove and entwined at the breaks, attempting to reconnect them.

***

However, the process was not smooth. The newly formed energy collided and chafed against the lingering trauma of the fractures. Each contact triggered agonizing pain, causing his body to tremble like a sieve. The unconscious Gao Wu let out muffled groans from time to time, and blood seeped from the corners of his mouth.

Not long after Liu Yifei brought Gao Wu back to the Qingfeng Inn, the number of unfamiliar guests in the inn began to grow; it seemed as if another martial arts assembly was about to break out.

Jiang Chongde did not act rashly. Always calm, he had sensed the undercurrents and quietly sent a message back to the Xuanming Cult, awaiting the arrival of his eldest brother, Jiang Renjie.

Zhang Zifan of the Tongwen Pavilion and Ji Ruxue of the Huan Yin Pavilion were each lost in their own thoughts.

Li Xingyun, on the other hand, appeared quite unconcerned, as if the thousand-year-old Ganoderma Gao Wu had eaten wasn't his. Well, technically, Gao Wu had bought it from the Wanbao Pavilion!

Liu Yifei stood guard in the room. Seeing Gao Wu’s pained expression and the blood seeping from his mouth, she dared not interfere. All she could do was protect him and prevent any enemies from taking advantage of his vulnerability.

The thousand-year-old Fire Ganoderma was gone, but Gao Wu now possessed its medicinal power. He had essentially become a living divine herb, and with his low martial ability, he was defenseless and a target for envy.

As time passed, the medicinal power of the Fire Ganoderma continued to release, the heat growing increasingly turbulent. While repairing his martial roots, it began to alter his physique, infusing him with a scorching, violent attribute.

Gao Wu’s blood seemed to ignite and boil, and a faint red glow began to radiate from his body. He could clearly feel his meridians widening and strengthening, while previously blocked passages were cleared one by one. The flow of energy grew faster and faster, carrying a searing, scorching aura.

A faint red light began to emanate from his flesh, growing more intense until it became tangible.

Suddenly, Gao Wu floated up from the bed. A dazzling beam of fire erupted from his body, illuminating the entire room. His clothes turned to ash and drifted onto the bed, revealing his perfect, muscular, and upright physique.

His martial roots were completely repaired and successfully transformed into Fire Spirit Roots.

However, Liu Yifei stood by, dumbfounded, staring at Gao Wu. How, how did he suddenly end up naked?