Chapter 7
Baek-Cheong spent her time engrossed in the Nameless Forum until late at night.
Browsing the pouring posts and writing her own left her with a severe lack of sleep.
“Young Lady, have you awakened?”
“Yes.”
As the morning sunlight dawned brightly, the maidservants carefully knocked on the door.
Normally, she would have made all sorts of excuses to sleep in.
But today was the day when the Direct Lineage and Branch Lineage periodically gathered at the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall for breakfast.
Unable to break the Clan’s strict rules, she dragged her heavy body out of bed.
She finished getting dressed under the delicate touch of the maidservants.
The face of the Young Girl reflected in the mirror looked distinctly hollow and haggard.
The aftermath of being cooped up in her room for days, squeezing out spiritual energy and enjoying the forum all night, was left entirely on her face.
Upon arrival at the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall, the air inside was distinctly different from usual.
The number of Family members gathered early was unusually large, and even their breathing was cautious.
The most eye-catching figure was the white-haired Old Man firmly occupying the center of the Seat of Honor.
The pillar of the Baek Clan and the Supreme Clan Head, the Golden Core stage Old Ancestor Baek Mu-Ae, was seated there.
Her grandfather had entered Secluded Cultivation, making it difficult to even see his face unless it was a special occasion.
Centered around her grandfather, the Clan’s Elders sat side by side, guarding the Seat of Honor.
Even the Branch Lineage Family members, whose attendance was usually sparse, filled the seats, giving off a much more crowded feeling than usual.
“Granddaughter Baek-Cheong is politely performing her Paying Respects to grandfather.”
The drowsiness that had been washing over Baek-Cheong vanished in an instant.
With cautious steps, she approached Baek Mu-Ae, brought her hands together, and politely performed her Paying Respects.
Following that, she greeted the other grandfathers and her parents beside him in turn.
“I heard you have Five Spiritual Roots.”
Her grandfather’s dignified voice echoed heavily through the Inner Hall.
Baek-Cheong nodded without hesitation in affirmation.
“Yes, grandfather.”
A flinching atmosphere spread through the surroundings.
Sneers popped out from the corners of the mouths of the Branch Lineage children of her age who were waiting to perform their Paying Respects.
Rather than stopping their children’s rudeness, some of the Branch Lineage parents subtly agreed and let out scoffs.
It contained an unspoken contempt that she was the shame of a Prestigious Clan.
Her grandfather lightly struck the table, exuding a powerful aura.
A heavy pressure, like a massive mountain range pressing down, roughly swept over those who had acted rashly.
The Branch Lineage people trembled in unison like aspen trees.
Baek Mu-Ae swept his gaze over the rash Branch Lineage members as if looking at bugs, then turned his eyes back to Baek-Cheong.
His eyes, having withdrawn their anger, were now filled with deep wonder.
“Even with Five Spiritual Roots, your level of gathering spiritual energy is comparable to a Two-Spiritual-Root Holder.”
Not only the Branch Lineage, but even the Direct Lineage Family members who hadn’t known the truth let out gasps of astonishment.
A Two Spiritual Roots Holder was at a level, evaluated as an excellent Talent who would lead the Clan.
Above all, since the Supreme Clan Head and the Clan Head were Two Spiritual Roots Holders, her future could be seen as promising.
The fact that she had achieved such an accomplishment with the Trash Talent of Five Spiritual Roots was nothing short of a miracle that defied the providence of the Cultivation World.
Baek-Cheong bowed her head without showing it on her face, but inwardly she grumbled non-stop.
“You said it was on par with a Heavenly Spirit Root!”
She ground her teeth inwardly, recalling the Dao Friend who had proudly spouted off about the Five Elements Mutual Generation in the Nameless Forum.
However, Baek Mu-Ae’s high praise did not stop there.
“Mutual Generation of Five Elements of Five Elements of Five Elements is an extremely dangerous and obsolete method, yet you realized and achieved it on your own without being taught. Truly, a heaven-sent comprehension defies even destiny and overcomes even what is lacking.”
All the Family members gathered in the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall swallowed dryly.
Only then did the reason why the Golden Core stage Old Ancestor had taken his precious time to attend breakfast become clear.
It was solely to confirm with his own two eyes and praise the astonishing achievement of his Youngest Granddaughter, Baek-Cheong.
The faces of the Branch Lineage people turned pale and white with shock.
Baek-Cheong was extremely flustered inwardly by this unexpectedly grandiose situation.
Outwardly, she pretended to be as modest as possible, showing only a faint smile.
This was perceived as an act showing a demure side, not getting carried away despite her young age.
Even her haggard appearance worked positively.
Her hollow eyes and pale skin instead created a delicate and pure atmosphere of having endured arduous Training.
Her innate beauty shone even brighter, leaving the children her age so mesmerized they couldn’t even take their eyes off her.
The sneering from just moments ago vanished without a trace.
Baek Mu-Ae clicked his tongue and spoke in a deeply pitying voice.
“It is truly pitiful to see you so haggard from the arduous Training, your vessel expanding and your Dantian growing due to the Mutual Generation of Five Elements. As a Golden Core Clan in name, how could we not even provide a Top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill? This grandfather will personally instruct the Steward to bring you one.”
A Top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill is the highest quality pill, with its spiritual energy extremely refined and completely free of impurities.
To a Qi Condensation Stage Cultivator, it is a Precious Treasure that cannot be exchanged even for a thousand pieces of gold.
Baek-Cheong was genuinely moved and bowed deeply.
“I thank you for your immense grace, grandfather.”
“Hoho, let us eat together.”
Baek Mu-Ae stroked his beard with satisfaction and offered the Seat right next to him.
Baek-Cheong gloriously settled into the Seat next to the Seat of Honor.
As soon as the cautious Paying Respects of the other Family members concluded, the breakfast began in earnest.
Once the meal started, the grandfathers' tremendous affection toward Baek-Cheong exploded.
“Try these as well.”
Baek Mu-Ae and the Elders picked out only the best parts whenever a rare dish arrived on the table, piling them up like a mountain on Baek-Cheong’s front plate.
Thoroughly boiled spirit beast short rib stew garnished with hundred-year-old fleeceflower, grilled red spirit pig belly that melted like cotton candy the moment it entered the mouth, and clear, thick pearl softshell turtle soup to replenish stamina.
It was usually extravagant, but today, especially by the order of the Supreme Clan Head, endless Delicacies poured out.
Baek-Cheong had to move her chopsticks without rest.
She took large bites of the meat infused with the subtle scent of medicinal herbs, continuously wiping the grease smeared around her mouth.
Even though her stomach had expanded quite a bit due to the Five Elements circulation, handling the amount the adults pushed onto her was no easy task.
“You must eat a lot and replenish your stamina.”
“You still look far too lacking. Try this fish meat too.”
At the grandfathers' affectionate urging, Baek-Cheong mumbled her food with both cheeks bulging out like a squirrel.
Eventually, her stomach, having exceeded its limit, stuck out roundly, making the sash of her silk clothes stretch as if it would burst.
It became so stifling to even breathe that she had to hide her hands under the table and secretly loosen the knot of her sash.
Seeing the delicate Young Girl eating so heartily with her cheeks stuffed to the bursting point, the adults felt smiles bloom in full on their faces.
* * *
The lengthy meal ended.
The Steward approached the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall carrying a jade box engraved with ornate patterns.
Inside the box, the promised Top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill was contained, emitting a brilliant light.
“I am deeply grateful for grandfather’s boundless grace.”
Baek-Cheong carefully embraced the box in her arms, left her greetings, and turned her steps toward her Abode.
As soon as she arrived at her room, she roughly closed the door and firmly locked the latch.
Stroking her bulging stomach, she jumped right onto the bed without even taking a moment to digest and focused her Divine Sense.
In her head, there was only the anger of wanting to demand answers from the scammer Dao Friend (718.44) who had spread false information.
“Sheesh.”
Connecting to the Nameless Forum, Baek-Cheong opened the Chat Board.
However, the act of openly mentioning a specific Dao Friend’s Interface Number in the body or title to target them could attract excessive attention.
If she wasn’t careful, there was a high risk of being ostracized by the admins or other Dao Friends for inciting conflict.
Baek-Cheong chose the method of finding a question post she had written in the past.
She consumed her Divine Sense to activate the search function.
“Dao Friend (913.14): Isn’t it good to have a lot of spiritual roots?”
She found the post, clicked into it, and wrote a new reply under the reply left by Dao Friend (718.44).
[Dao Friend (913.14): You said it was on par with a Heavenly Spirit Root!!! It’s only at the level of a Two-Spiritual-Roots Holder, you scammer!]
Since it was an old post, she didn’t expect a reply to be posted anytime soon.
But surprisingly, a red notification immediately popped up before her eyes.
[Dao Friend (718.44): I was wondering what this notification was right as I was about to ascend… Looks like you saw a post I wrote a long time ago. It’s a pressing situation, so, to put it simply, it’s because your spiritual roots haven’t grown enough.]
Baek-Cheong’s mouth fell wide open in absurdity.
The excuse that they were checking Nameless Forum notifications right before ascending was ridiculous enough, but the idea that spiritual roots could grow was a bizarre theory she had never heard of in her life.
In the Cultivation World, spiritual roots were known as an immutable Talent determined from birth.
She hurriedly replied.
[Dao Friend (913.14): Spiritual roots grow? What are you talking about?]
Baek-Cheong refreshed the screen with an anxious heart.
However, the red notification did not ring anymore.
Even after one waited for a long time and stared at the Forum Board as if to pierce a hole through it, no answer returned.
“I knew it!”
Baek-Cheong snorted and flopped down onto the bed.
She thought that once their lie was exposed, they had quickly vanished, leaving behind only words that sounded impressive using ascension as an excuse.
It was a common escape pattern for bluff-filled Forum Lurkers.
While stroking her full stomach, Baek-Cheong suddenly felt an uneasy sensation.
“…They didn’t actually ascend, did they?”