"It is called the Celestial Celestial Celestial," the Tower Master sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. "Legend claims it is shadowless, formless, utterly transparent." "A spirit root ten, even a hundred times, stronger than the ninth-grade." "But such a thing exists only in myths. It is not real." "What, do you think you possess the Celestial Celestial Celestial?" The Tower Master mocked the dejected youth. "Ninth-grade is a height you can only ever look up to. Cherish this chance to stand before a genius of that caliber!" "Once he truly grows, you won't be worthy of a single glance from him for the rest of your life!" Hearing this, the young man's heart filled with bitterness. A single assessment had sealed their fates, branding one superior and the other inferior. One, a true dragon soaring through the heavens; the other, an ant crawling upon the earth. The comparison was so cruel it bordered on despair. Chen Feng, in the adjacent chamber, had heard the commotion. No way, he thought, his face a mask of surprise. Lu Wei has a ninth-grade spirit root? If he possessed such talent, why had ten years of consuming the Lin Family's resources left him weaker than Lin Mengyao and her sixth-grade root? As he pondered this, his crystal ruler stirred once more. A dim ball of light drifted from the ruler, hovering before him. When the light faded, it revealed two scrolls—two cultivation techniques. Oh? Are these for me? A surge of joy went through Chen Feng. He quickly picked them up for a closer look. One was a Yellow Level high-grade mental method: the Clear Wind Formula. The other, a Yellow Level high-grade attack skill: the Seven-star Sword Jue. The most advanced technique in all of Willow Creek City was merely Yellow Level medium-grade. And now he held two high-grade techniques at once. Most importantly, one was the mental method he so desperately needed. What level am I to receive rewards this great? Chen Feng wondered, stunned. Lin Mengyao, with her sixth-grade spirit root, had only been rewarded with a Yellow Level low-grade mental method. But whatever the reason, he wasn't about to question his good fortune. With these two techniques and his transparent spirit root, he could make incredible progress in a very short time. He carefully tucked the scrolls away and pushed open the heavy stone door. The grinding sound of the door attracted the attention of the onlookers outside. "Oh, it's just Chen Feng! He gave me a fright. I thought Lu Wei was coming out!" "Didn't his assessment show no spirit root again?" "Alas, only a wall separated them. One is a peerless ninth-grade, the other has no spirit root at all. The gulf between them is as wide as a mountain range!" "The Lin Family is a strange place. Ten years of shelter produced both a waste and a peerless dragon, hahaha." Chen Feng wanted to argue, but then he thought better of it. What was the point? The right path was to quietly master his two new techniques and build his strength in secret. He was on his own now. If anyone discovered his secrets, it would only invite disaster. Thus, he simply offered a calm, detached smile in response to their jeers. "Chen Feng, you're here too? What happened in there?" Lin Mengyao and Lin Tiancheng had noticed him and came over. Lin Mengyao bit her red lip, her words coming in a rush. Chen Feng calmly took out a brush and paper, writing a note: "Lu Wei's assessment showed a ninth-grade spirit root." Lin Mengyao's face went ghastly pale. She staggered back a few steps, unable to accept it. "Impossible… that's impossible!" Could a ninth-grade genius truly have been born? And fostered in her own family, no less? The blow to her pride was too much to bear. She burst into tears. Chen Feng sighed silently. He felt there was something wrong with Lu Wei's assessment, so he tried to offer a simple comfort, writing: "Stay calm and continue to cultivate. Wait and see what the future holds." Lin Mengyao glanced at the note, interpreting his words as sarcasm. "Seeing me cry makes you happy, doesn't it?" she snapped. "You think this is retribution for me rejecting your marriage proposal, don't you?" "Well, no matter what, I'm a sixth-grade prodigy! I'm a hundred times, a thousand times better than a useless mute like you!" Chen Feng was left speechless. She was the one who was upset, so why was she taking it out on him? It seemed no good deed went unpunished. He had tried to help, and she had only lashed out. The Tower Master, noticing Lin Tiancheng's arrival, hurried over, his face plastered with an obsequious smile. "Brother Lin, congratulations, congratulations!" Lin Tiancheng was stunned by the greeting. The Tower Master of the Spirit Appraisal Pagoda never gave anyone the time of day, offering only the barest of smiles to the City Lord himself. To be called 'Brother Lin' with such warmth made him feel as if he were walking on air. Next, the most powerful man in Willow Creek City, Lord Ye Jifeng, approached with his fists clasped in a formal salute. "Family Head Lin, congratulations. The Lin Manor has produced a true dragon!" Seeing the faint, forced smile on Ye Jifeng's face, Lin Tiancheng felt even more like he was dreaming. He had once visited Ye Jifeng with lavish gifts, only to be turned away at the gate without so much as an audience. Now, the City Lord had come to him, his courtesy barely concealing a thick layer of envy. Several reclusive old masters, men Lin Tiancheng would normally have to address with the utmost respect, also approached with kind words, speaking of ancient connections between their ancestors and the Lin family. It was as if overnight, the Lin family had transformed from an obscure, declining clan into the most sought-after power in Willow Creek City. Lin Tiancheng remained in a daze for a long time before he could calm his racing heart. He understood. All of this was because of Lu Wei. Zhao Lirong strode over, her expression triumphant. "Husband, do you remember what you said when I insisted on bringing Wei into the Lin family to cultivate?" Hearing this, Lin Tiancheng's face flushed with guilt. He had strongly opposed it. The Lin family's resources were limited, and giving them to an outsider meant less for their own. He had only relented after Zhao Lirong's desperate pleas. He never expected Lu Wei would prove to be so monumentally promising. "I was blind," he said, embracing Zhao Lirong with immense gratitude. "It's all thanks to you, my dear wife, that our Lin family is now connected to a peerless talent like Wei!" Zhao Lirong's face glowed with pride. "Indeed. Remember that eighth-grade prodigy from Biyun City? He was recruited directly into the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion and later became its Vice Pavilion Master." "Our Wei is a ninth-grade prodigy. The Celestial Mechanism Pavilion will come for him soon!" "With my Wei's help, your Lin family will soar to unimaginable heights!" Lin Tiancheng's thoughts reeled. Lu Wei's ninth-grade spirit root hadn't just changed his own fate—it had rewritten the destiny of the entire Lin family. Amidst the crowd's fervent anticipation, Lu Wei finally pushed open the stone door and walked out, his stride brimming with confidence. He came before Lin Tiancheng, dropped to one knee, and declared, "Uncle, thank you for your years of support." "I have not disappointed you. My assessment revealed a ninth-grade spirit root!" For a moment, everyone present looked upon Lin Tiancheng with pure envy. No one could imagine the sheer luck required to foster such a heaven-sent prodigy. Lin Tiancheng didn't dare put on airs, rushing to help him up. "Don't do this, Wei! You're a ninth-grade prodigy. How could I, your uncle, deserve such a bow? Stand up, quickly." Lu Wei felt an unprecedented sense of elation. In the past, he had to be cautious with every word and action around Lin Tiancheng, lest a minor slip-up earn him a harsh reprimand. Now, Lin Tiancheng revered him like a god. The Tower Master, the City Lord of Willow Creek City, and the old masters from the various families all watched him with eager eyes, desperate to curry his favor. The feeling was intoxicating. After so long at the bottom, he felt as though he stood atop the nine heavens, looking down upon the mortal world. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Chen Feng. Everyone else was bowing before the brilliance of his ninth-grade spirit root. Only Chen Feng stood apart, his hands tucked in his sleeves, showing neither reverence nor fear. The sight annoyed him immensely. A useless mute. Why wasn't he bowing? "Chen Feng," Lu Wei's voice rang out. "Are you unconvinced?" Before the gathered powerhouses and martial artists of Willow Creek City, he threw down his challenge.

Chapter 5: A Shadowless Spirit Root