From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 5 A First glimmer of inspiration

The blinding white light gradually dissipated, and I struggled to open my eyes. What I saw stunned me. The previously raging energy storm had become incredibly gentle, flowing around my body like silver threads, eventually merging into my being. I felt an unprecedented power awakening within me, as if a sleeping dragon had finally awoke, letting out a deafening roar.

"What... what's going on?" I looked at my hands in surprise. They were emitting a faint golden light and were full of power.

"Xiao Yao, are you...are you alright?" Zhao Ling'er's voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

I looked up and saw that she and Pharmacist Sun beside her were staring at me in disbelief, their eyes filled with shock. The formation that had trapped them had vanished without a trace.

"I'm fine, I feel..." I clenched my fists, feeling the surging power within me, "I feel... I think I've broken through!"

Just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my dantian, as if something was about to burst forth from the ground. I couldn't help but cry out in pain, and my body trembled.

"Xiao Yao!" Sister Zhao Ling'er tried to get closer to me, but was pulled back by Pharmacist Sun.

"Don't go over there, she's in great danger!" Pharmacist Sun's expression was more grave than ever before. "This...this is a sign of spiritual root awakening!"

Awakening of spiritual roots? My mind was filled with doubt. Could it be that I really possessed spiritual roots?

As time passed, the light emanating from me grew increasingly dazzling, almost illuminating the entire cave. At the same time, a powerful aura erupted from my body, sweeping around like a hurricane, knocking the unsuspecting Wang Fugui and Elder Li to the ground.

"This...how is this possible?!" Elder Li's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice trembling. "She...she actually awakened a spiritual root! And..."

He looked as if he had seen something terrifying; his face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a word. I slowly stood up, looking at the golden light emanating from my body, my heart filled with joy and excitement.

"I, Xiao Yao, am finally no longer a loser!" I clenched my fists, my gaze fixed firmly ahead. "From this day forward, I will control my own life!"

However, before I could even savor this joy, a strong sense of crisis suddenly welled up in my heart. I turned my head sharply and looked at Wang Fugui and Elder Li not far away. I saw that their eyes were flashing and their faces were panicked, as if they were plotting something.

"Oh no!" I thought to myself, and was about to warn him when I saw Wang Fugui suddenly pull out a black talisman from his pocket and crush it...

The black talisman instantly transformed into a black mist, enveloping Wang Fugui and Elder Li. Alarm bells rang in my mind, and I was about to step forward to stop them when, amidst the swirling black mist, the two had vanished without a trace.

"A teleportation talisman!" Sun Yaoshi exclaimed in surprise. "They actually have such a treasure!"

I was filled with anger and indignation. These two were truly despicable and shameless. Seeing their plot exposed, they actually tried to escape in this way! Are we just going to let them get away with it?

No! I absolutely refuse!

I took a deep breath, channeled the newly awakened spiritual power within me to its fullest extent, and transformed into a golden lightning bolt, chasing after the direction in which the two had disappeared.

"Xiao Yao!" Sister Zhao Ling'er called my name worriedly, but I couldn't hear her clearly anymore. Only one thought occupied my mind: I absolutely cannot let them escape!

I had never felt so fast before; the wind whistled past my ears, and the surrounding scenery rushed by. I followed the faint black mist lingering in the air—the trace left by the teleportation talisman.

I don't know how long I chased after them, but the scene before me gradually became clear, and I found myself in the outer training ground. The training ground was bustling with people, and it seemed that some kind of event was taking place.

At the very front of the crowd, I saw two familiar figures—Wang Fugui and Elder Li!

They clearly hadn't expected me to follow them here; their faces were filled with panic as they tried to blend into the crowd and escape.

"Where do you think you're going!" I roared, my voice booming like thunder across the training ground.

Everyone was startled by the sudden sound and turned to look at me, their faces full of surprise and confusion.

Wang Fugui and Elder Li visibly stiffened for a moment, but quickly recovered and turned to continue their escape.

"Hmph! Trying to run away?" I sneered, and in a flash, I appeared in front of the two of them, blocking their way.

"What...what do you want to do?" Wang Fugui shouted, his voice trembling with fear, but a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.

"What for?" I sneered. "To expose your true colors, of course!" My gaze sharpened as I swept over the crowd around me, and I announced loudly, "Everyone, my name is Xiao Yao. Today, I will expose the true colors of Wang Fugui and Elder Li in front of you all!"

A murmur arose from the crowd; some were curious, some were skeptical, and others watched with amusement.

"Xiao Yao, what nonsense are you spouting!" Wang Fugui shouted angrily, pointing at me. "What right do you, a piece of trash without spiritual roots, have to slander us?"

"Slander?" I sneered. "Whether I've slandered you or not, everyone can see for themselves!"

I turned around, pointed to a testing stone in the center of the training ground, and said to Wang Fugui, "Do you dare to test your spiritual root again in front of everyone?"

The testing stone is a magical artifact used to test a cultivator's spiritual root aptitude. Once infused with spiritual power, it will emit different colors of light depending on the attributes and strength of the spiritual root.

Wang Fugui's expression changed, and he stammered, "This...this testing stone is broken, it won't be accurate!"

"Broken?" I sneered. "If it's broken, then why did I see you secretly injecting a wisp of black energy into the testing stone just now?"

As soon as I finished speaking, an uproar broke out in the crowd.

"What? Wang Fugui actually dared to tamper with things?"

"I knew it! How could an outer disciple suddenly awaken a lightning spiritual root? He cheated!"

"How outrageous! They actually deceived us!"

When Wang Fugui realized his plot had been exposed, he panicked. Pointing at me, he shouted, his voice trembling with fear, "You...you're making false accusations! I didn't..."

"You didn't?" I interrupted him, turning to Elder Li and sneering, "Then what about Elder Li? Do you know what you did to help Wang Fugui cover up the truth?"

Elder Li's face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

I took a deep breath and told everyone everything that had happened. From how Wang Fugui deceived me, to how Elder Li protected him, to how they tried to kill me to cover it up, I didn't hide anything.

My words struck like a thunderbolt through the crowd. The way everyone looked at Wang Fugui and Elder Li was filled with anger and disdain.

"I never imagined they were this kind of people!"

"You really know people, faces but not hearts!"

"I always respected Elder Li, but I never expected him to be so despicable and shameless!"

Listening to the murmurs of the crowd, Wang Fugui and Elder Li's faces grew increasingly grim. They knew that they were completely ruined.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a blue robe with a dignified face stepped out from the crowd. He was none other than Steward Ma from the outer sect.

Deacon Ma gave Wang Fugui and Elder Li a sharp look and said in a deep voice, "As disciples of the sect, you two not only lack ambition but have also committed such heinous acts. Your crimes are simply unforgivable!"

Wang Fugui and Elder Li were so frightened that their faces turned ashen. They knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Steward Ma snorted coldly and said to the disciples behind him, "Strip them of their cultivation and expel them from the sect!"

"Yes!" Two disciples stepped forward and escorted Wang Fugui and Elder Li away.

After dealing with Wang Fugui and Elder Li, Deacon Ma turned to look at me, his eyes full of admiration.

"Your name is Xiao Yao, right? I admire your performance today," Deacon Ma said slowly. "Although you don't have spiritual roots, you are brave, righteous, and resourceful. These qualities are more valuable than spiritual roots."

I quickly replied, "Steward Ma, you flatter me. I was just doing what I was supposed to do."

Deacon Ma smiled slightly and said, "You don't need to be modest. I've decided..." "No need to be modest. You were so brave today. I've already reported to the sect leader and will make an exception to allow you to enter the outer sect for cultivation. Are you willing?" Deacon Ma's tone was amiable, completely unlike his previous serious demeanor.

Overjoyed, I immediately knelt down to express my gratitude: "Thank you, Sect Leader! Thank you, Steward Ma!"

"Get up," Deacon Ma helped me up, then turned to Zhao Ling'er and Pharmacist Sun who had been standing to the side and said, "I am grateful to you both for speaking up for me today."

“Steward Ma, you’re too kind. As disciples of the Qingyun Sect, it is our duty to expose the truth and uphold justice,” said Pharmacist Sun, bowing. Zhao Ling’er also bowed politely.

I looked at Zhao Ling'er and Pharmacist Sun with gratitude. If it weren't for them, things would probably not have turned out well today. I will always remember their kindness.

"Xiao Yao, come with me." Deacon Ma said, then turned and walked out of the martial arts arena.

I took a deep breath and followed with unwavering determination. I knew that from this day forward, a new chapter would begin in my life, and this path of cultivation was destined to be filled with unknowns and challenges.

Following Deacon Ma through the bustling crowd, I felt a mix of emotions. Recalling all the encounters I had since transmigrated to this world, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

"We've arrived." Steward Ma's voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up at the magnificent palace before me, its carved beams and painted rafters exuding grandeur. This was the Qingyun Sect's palace...