bayedsolid Chapter 1 Seeking Light in the Dark
Chapter 1 Seeking Light in the Dark
The blinding white light dissipated, and my palm was empty, without a trace of spiritual energy.
"Next, Xiao Yao!" Elder Li's impatient voice rang out. I stepped forward nervously, placed my hand on the spirit-testing stone, and felt a surge of anticipation.
However, the expected light did not appear; the spirit-testing stone remained dull and gray, as if mocking my overestimation of my abilities. "Xiao Yao, no spiritual root!" Elder Li's voice boomed like a thunderclap in my ears, and a commotion immediately erupted around me.
I stood there, stunned, my ears ringing, almost unable to believe my ears. How could this be? I clearly felt spiritual energy flowing within my body, how could I have no spiritual root? "Haha, I knew it! How could a wild girl from a remote mountain village possibly have a spiritual root?" A sharp, sarcastic voice came from the crowd. I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Wang Fugui, the纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) of the Wang family. He had a gloating look on his face and his eyes were full of contempt.
I bit my lower lip, a surge of humiliation and anger welling up inside me. From childhood, I had dreamed of becoming a powerful cultivator, but now I was told I had no spiritual roots. This undoubtedly shattered my dream completely. "Xiao Yao, don't be discouraged. Even without spiritual roots, you can choose to become a mortal healer and live a good life." Elder Li's voice carried a hint of pity, but it sounded more like a handout.
I took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in my heart, and walked off the stage without a word. The crowd automatically parted to make way, and I could almost feel their strange gazes on me, filled with mockery, pity, and disdain.
Back home, I locked myself in my room, letting the tears flow freely. Outside the window, the setting sun dyed the clouds on the horizon a blood red, just like my mood at that moment—desperate yet tragic.
"Squeak—" The door was gently pushed open, and Mother walked in carrying a bowl of steaming chicken soup, her face full of worry: "Yao'er, don't be sad. Even without spiritual roots, Mother will still love you."
I shook my head, fighting back tears, and buried my head in my mother's arms.
"Mom, I'm fine, I just need some peace and quiet."
In the dead of night, I lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. The day's events kept replaying in my mind: Wang Fugui's mockery, Elder Li's pity, and the disappointment in my parents' eyes. All of this felt like sharp blades, piercing my heart.
I clenched my fists, a raging fire burning within me. No, I cannot accept my fate! There must be a way to awaken my spiritual root, there must be!
I rolled out of bed, walked to the window, and opened it, letting the cold wind blow against my face. In the distance, countless lights twinkled, but I felt as if the whole world had abandoned me.
No, I will not give up. I must find a way to awaken my spiritual root. I will prove to everyone that I, Xiao Yao, am not a waste!
The next morning, I packed a simple bag, left a letter, and departed from the home where I had grown up, embarking alone on the journey to awaken my spiritual root... Seeking Light in the Dark Night
I returned home dejectedly, greeted by my father's heavy sigh and my mother's tear-streaked eyes. The clansmen whispered amongst themselves, avoiding my gaze as if it were a plague; those once friendly faces now seemed so strange and cold. I had become a disgrace to the entire Xiao family, a useless piece of trash with no future, destined to be abandoned.
"Yao'er, don't blame your father for speaking harshly, but without spiritual roots, how will you live your life from now on..." My mother held my hand, sobbing uncontrollably. I forced back my tears and hugged my mother tightly. "Mother, I'm alright. There's always a way out. Don't worry."
At night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. Outside the window, the bright moonlight streamed into the room, illuminating the worn travelogue on the table. It was a record of my father's travels in his youth, the starting point of my dreams. I turned the pages, and lines of elegant handwriting came into view—my father's descriptions of the world of cultivation, a world of sword immortals who flew on their swords, sorcerers who could summon wind and rain, and all sorts of strange and wondrous creatures, a world of wonder and fascination.
"No, I can't give up like this!" I clenched my fists, a glimmer of hope igniting within me. Since my family couldn't offer me protection, I would have to find my own destiny!
The next morning, I left a letter and left the Xiao family under the cover of night. I traveled north, crossing fields and hills, until I finally arrived at a dense forest. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows. In the distance, the calls of a few unknown birds added an eerie atmosphere to the silent forest.
"Cough cough..." A faint groan came from not far away. I looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man lying under a big tree, his face pale and his breath weak, as if he had suffered a serious injury. I quickly went over to check on him and found that there was a deep wound on the old man's chest that exposed the bone, and blood stained his clothes.
"Grandpa, how are you?" I asked anxiously, taking out the wound medicine and bandages I always carry with me from my bag and carefully treating his wounds.
The old man slowly opened his eyes, a glimmer of light flashing in his cloudy eyes. "Young lady, thank you for saving me."
"Grandpa, you don't need to be so polite. It was nothing." As I bandaged his wound, I asked, "How did you end up alone in this deep mountain forest? And how did you get so badly injured?"
The old man sighed and said, "It's a long story. I was just a wandering cultivator. A few days ago, I was gathering herbs in the mountains when I unexpectedly encountered a demonic beast..."
The old man recounted his ordeal in fits and starts. He had come to this forest in search of a spiritual herb called "Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass," but was attacked by a demonic beast and seriously injured.
"Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass?" My heart skipped a beat. This was a legendary herb that could bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded. "Old man, are you looking for the Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass?"
The old man nodded, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. "Indeed, my friend is poisoned, and only this Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass can save his life, but alas..."
"Grandpa, don't worry, I will help you find the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass!" I said firmly.
The old man looked at me, a complex expression flashing in his cloudy eyes. "Young lady, I appreciate your kindness, but this Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass grows in an extremely dangerous place, and you are a frail woman..."
“Grandpa, please don’t refuse. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I will do my best!” I interrupted the old man, my tone firm.
The old man gave me a deep look, then took out an old book from his pocket and handed it to me. "Young lady, since you insist, I will give you this secret manual. Perhaps it will be of some help to you."
I took the manual, and saw four ancient characters written on the cover: "The Great Void Classic".
"This book, the Taixu Scripture, contains my insights and experiences from many years of cultivation. I hope it will be of some help to you." The old man paused, then continued, "I see that you have extraordinary talent and are destined to be with me. I will give you this manual. I hope you will not disappoint me."
I gratefully accepted the manual, my heart filled with doubt. What secrets did this manual hold? Could it help me find a way to awaken my spiritual root?
I opened the first page of the manual, where only one sentence was written: "To seek the spiritual root, one must first find the Realm of Great Void..." I gripped the *Taixu Jing* tightly, the old man's words echoing in my mind. The Realm of Great Void? What kind of place is that? I searched the entire manual, but found no further description of it. Could it be merely a legend?
I was somewhat frustrated, but I quickly rallied. Since the old man had given me the secret manual, it meant that the Realm of the Great Void was not something ethereal and unattainable. Perhaps I should look for clues elsewhere.
I carefully recalled the old man's words. He mentioned that he encountered a demon beast while gathering herbs in the mountains, and this manual was his experience and insights from many years of cultivation. Could it be...? A thought suddenly struck me. Perhaps the clue to the Realm of Emptiness is hidden in this forest!
I decided to follow the old man's route of gathering herbs again, hoping to find something. I followed the rugged mountain path, cutting through thorns and brambles, crossing mountains and valleys, and finally arrived at an abandoned ancient temple.
The ancient temple was already dilapidated, with crumbling walls and overgrown weeds. Only a few mottled pillars stubbornly supported it, as if telling the story of its former glory.
As I entered the ancient temple, a stench of decay enveloped me. In the center of the main hall stood a colossal Buddha statue, its features already incomplete, yet its face was still faintly discernible—kind and benevolent, yet imbued with an indescribable air of majesty.
I walked around the Buddha statue and found a huge stone tablet behind it. The tablet was covered with densely packed characters, but due to its age, many of the characters were blurred and illegible.
My heart leaped with joy. Could this stone tablet be a clue to the Realm of Emptiness? I quickly stepped forward and carefully examined the inscriptions on the stone tablet.
"The Great Void is the origin of Heaven and Earth, the mother of all things..."
The inscription on the stone tablet was obscure and difficult to understand, but I still managed to glean some information from it. According to the inscription, the Realm of Great Void was a secret realm that existed in ancient times, containing powerful spiritual energy that could help cultivators quickly improve their cultivation level and even change their physique, giving them the opportunity to defy fate.
I was thrilled. It seemed my guess was right. This stone tablet was indeed a clue to the Realm of Emptiness!
Just as I was about to continue reading, a series of chaotic footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by a rude shout: "Search! You must find that secret manual!"
I was startled and quickly hid behind the Buddha statue. Peeking out through the crack, I saw a group of fierce-looking, burly men barging in, led by a scarred man with a face full of scars.
"Brother, what treasures could there be in this dilapidated temple? Let's hurry up and leave," said a skinny, monkey-like man.
"Shut up!" Scarface glared at him fiercely. "Someone saw that old guy enter this ancient temple with their own eyes. His treasure must be hidden here!"
My heart sank. It seemed they were after the "Tai Xu Jing"! I gripped the dagger in my hand tightly, silently praying that they wouldn't discover me.
"Brother, look!" A sharp-eyed man pointed to the stone tablet behind the Buddha statue, "There seem to be words there!"
Upon hearing this, Scarface hurried over, carefully examining the inscription on the stone tablet. A greedy look appeared on his face. "Haha, it looks like we're going to make a fortune today!"
A chill ran through me; I knew I couldn't hide any longer. I burst out from behind the Buddha statue, my dagger aimed straight at the skinny man closest to me. The skinny man, clearly unprepared for my sudden appearance, couldn't dodge in time and was stabbed in the chest.
"Third Brother!" Scarface roared, swinging his broadsword at me. I dodged to the side and kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
"You brat, you're asking for it!" Scarface got up from the ground, roared, and attacked me again.
I dared not linger in battle, and fought and retreated, trying to lure them away from the stone tablet. However, this group of people was vicious and relentless, pressing me step by step, and I gradually lost ground.
Just then, Scarface swung his blade, and before I could dodge, the manual was torn apart, several pages torn off. I was terrified; this manual was the only clue the old man had left me, and I absolutely could not afford to lose it!
I used all my strength to force Scarface back, and took the opportunity to pick up the pages of the book from the ground and stuff them into my pocket. However, my actions completely enraged Scarface, who roared and attacked me with all his might.
He forced me to retreat repeatedly, and I was about to lose my footing when suddenly I slipped and fell into a hole in the ground.
The cave was very deep, and I fell all the way down, not knowing how long it took before I finally landed on the ground. I struggled to my feet and found myself in a small cave, the entrance blocked by a huge rock, with only a faint sliver of light filtering in from the cracks in the rock.
I touched the manual in my arms, feeling utterly lost. The manual was safe, but several pages were missing; I didn't know if I could still find the Realm of Emptiness.
I took a deep breath and told myself I couldn't give up. Since fate had granted me this manual, it meant I still had hope. I carefully examined the manual in my hand and discovered that the missing part was exactly what was about how to awaken one's spiritual root.
A bitter feeling welled up inside me. Was I destined to be a useless person who couldn't cultivate?
No, I refuse to accept this! I clenched my fists, a raging fire burning within me. I refuse to believe that there's truly no way to awaken one's spiritual root in this world!
I composed myself and began to explore the cave, hoping to find another exit. My efforts paid off; I finally discovered a narrow passage in a corner.
Without hesitation, I crawled inside. The passage was very long, and it took me a long time to reach the end.
Stepping out of the passage, a breathtaking view opened up before me, and I found myself in a valley. The valley was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, a picturesque scene that seemed completely isolated from the outside world.
I took a deep breath, feeling the faint spiritual energy in the air, and my heart filled with hope. Perhaps, I could find a way to awaken my spiritual root here.
I walked along the mountain path, not knowing what awaited me ahead...