Simulated Lives: The Sorrow of the Sword Maiden-Chapter 7 – You have overdrawn everything

"Heavenly Calamity.
Spiritual Root.
Spiritual Qi.
So that's how it is... that's how it is..."
Within the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect, in a cultivation market.
Xu Xi flipped through the ancient book in his hand, reading every word. He closed his eyes slightly, and after a long time, a trace of bitterness appeared on his face.
He never imagined that bringing the girl to the Heavenly Sword Sect would endanger her life.
Even though the ancient book recorded that spiritual qi is everywhere, and even in places with the lowest concentration, the Heavenly Calamity would not allow one to live past forty.
Even though from the beginning, Xu Xi was unaware of the Heavenly Calamity, he brought her to the Heavenly Sword Sect with the intention of protecting her.
Even though with Moli's character, she would never blame Xu Xi, her brother.
But.
"A mistake is a mistake."
Xu Xi sighed in his heart, his face, worn and haggard from years of toil, now appeared even more desolate.
Unease... Guilt... Regret...
If after making a mistake, one only knows to shirk all responsibility, then to whom could Xu Xi shift the blame?
To the sister who has trusted him since childhood?
Or to the ever-operating spiritual qi of the world, devoid of self-awareness?
Isn't that too ridiculous?
"I really am not a competent brother..." Xu Xi's mood was somewhat gloomy as he flew on his sword, heading straight for the Heavenly Sword Sect.
The mistake has been made, and his sister's Heavenly Calamity has arrived.
Fortunately, the ancient book contained a way to save her.
The so-called Heavenly Calamity essentially refers to those naturally close to spiritual qi, but lacking a spiritual root, turning this gift into a nightmare.
Thus, the solution is simple.
Let the person afflicted by the Heavenly Calamity possess a spiritual root and begin cultivation.
"To let a mortal have a spiritual root, I've never heard of such a thing. I hope my master has a way," Xu Xi thought as he flew on his sword, the wind and clouds swirling around him, frowning as he stood on the flying sword.
Although there are methods of body possession in the cultivation world, in essence, it's just switching to another body that also has a spiritual root.
If one could truly create something from nothing.
To let mortals develop spiritual roots or transplant spiritual roots.
The number of cultivators wouldn't be so scarce.
***
[Upon learning of your sister's condition, you rushed back to Sen Sword Peak as fast as possible, but instead of returning to your own cave, you flew directly to the top of the mountain to Sen Sword Hall.]
[This is where your master, Li Wanshou, is in seclusion for cultivation.]
[This is also your second visit to Sen Sword Hall for personal matters.]
[Last time, you came to ask your master Li Wanshou about your sister's condition. This time, you want to inquire about how to create a spiritual root to truly restore your sister's health.]
[You entered Sen Sword Hall, met Li Wanshou, and directly stated your purpose, seeking the method to create a spiritual root.]
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".
[Your master regards you as his heir, always accommodating your requests, but this time, even as an Elemental Infant cultivator, he couldn't give you the answer you wanted.]
***
"I have lived for over a thousand years and have never heard of a method to create a spiritual root after birth. Spiritual roots are naturally formed, beyond human alteration.
Perhaps only the legendary immortals could accomplish such a feat."
Sen Sword Peak.
In the hall at the mountain's summit.
The ethereal elder stroked his beard and sighed, "Disciple, it's not that I don't want to help you. Even if a Divine Transformation cultivator intervened, there's no solution to this matter."
Xu Xi remained silent, continuing to bow.
The elder continued, "Your temperament... sigh, I've heard that in ancient times, there was a method of external spiritual roots. Using the treasures of heaven and earth to replace innate spiritual roots, aiding the body's cultivation, but such a method is nearly impossible to achieve."
Why is it impossible?
Simply because it's too difficult!
Heavenly treasures and earthly treasures are extremely rare, and even great cultivators barely have enough for themselves, let alone spare any for mortals to create spiritual roots.
Even the Heavenly Sword Sect, a sect of the Elemental Infant level, doesn't possess such treasures.
Xu Xi understood the difficulty.
It's very hard, but ultimately, it's a path.
"Thank you, Master," Xu Xi sincerely thanked him and left, leaving the elder to watch his departing figure with a long sigh, as if lamenting something, or perhaps reminiscing.
***
[Upon learning of the existence of the external spiritual root method, you were extremely excited.]
[After returning to your cave, you set up a Spirit Locking Formation for your sister, greatly alleviating her pain and extending her life.]
[She still looked at you with warm and trusting eyes, believing in you, relying on you.]
[You began searching for heavenly treasures and earthly treasures.]
[The process of your search was incredibly difficult.]
[Lower-grade heavenly treasures and earthly treasures couldn't serve as external spiritual roots, and higher-grade ones were beyond the reach of a prospective Golden Core cultivator like you.]
[You began to seek self-rescue, continuously researching and exploring, trying to find other possibilities for external spiritual roots, such as using formations or artifacts as substitutes.]
[You exhausted your energy, triggering sudden insights, and your Four Arts of Cultivation improved.]
[You exhausted your vitality, triggering sudden insights, and your Four Arts of Cultivation improved.]
[You exhausted your soul, triggering sudden insights, and your Four Arts of Cultivation improved.]
[You exhausted...]
[Exhausted...]
***
Time and again, failure and starting over.
Countless hardships made Xu Xi consider giving up, but every time he thought of those trusting eyes, he found the motivation to continue.
But reality was too cruel.
The method of external spiritual roots was like a lifeline to a drowning person.
Just as it offered a glimmer of hope for survival, the next moment, it would unleash a monstrous wave, mercilessly dragging one into the depths.
With Xu Xi's current prospective Golden Core cultivation, he simply didn't have the strength to touch or possess such high-level heavenly treasures and earthly treasures, let alone create an external spiritual root.
If one had to say.
If there was any heavenly treasure or earthly treasure around Xu Xi.
It would be himself.
With a wood attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root, the opposite of the Heavenly Calamity, a Heavenly Spiritual Root is practically a blessing from the heavens. Even though he had neglected his cultivation over the years, Xu Xi was on the verge of entering the Golden Core Stage without any hindrance.
As for the Four Arts of Cultivation... Xu Xi clearly overestimated the upper limit of the blue entries. Even with continuous sudden insights, his level couldn't reach the point of creating an external spiritual root.
"Perhaps I should change my approach and focus on improving my own strength first."
After multiple failures.
Such a thought emerged in Xu Xi's mind.
He no longer fixated on creating an external spiritual root, but instead focused on his own cultivation, wholeheartedly entering seclusion, consuming pills relentlessly. Despite having just broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage less than two years ago, he directly advanced to the Golden Core Stage.
At less than thirty years of age, he became the youngest Golden Core True Person since the founding of the sect.
And awakened his innate divine ability.
[Wood Regrowth]
This is a divine ability with extremely strong life-preserving capabilities, capable of consuming Golden Core mana to release an incredibly vigorous life force, capable of restoring severed limbs.
When the life force reaches a certain intensity, it becomes even more miraculous, providing nourishment to Golden Core cultivators and Elemental Infant cultivators, healing the soul, and curing hidden injuries.
Frankly speaking.
This is a divine ability that can dominate the cultivation world.
Paired with the cultivation speed of a Heavenly Spiritual Root, anyone would inevitably become a top-tier cultivator in the cultivation world.
But Xu Xi saw more in it, a possibility to save Xu Moli.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan