Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Chapter 441 - 443 What is a Genius, What is a Monster [2/5]

The Second Elder felt disgruntled. Looking at Wu Tian, he said coldly, "You first. See this? It’s a White Stone, something we Immortal Seekers found. Cultivation Sects used it to test for Spirit Roots. Just place your hand on it."

In the square, a disciple from the Eastern Taizhong Palace held a White Stone with a radius of about fifteen centimeters. In the age of Cultivation Sects, such objects were plentiful. But now, with the sects having mysteriously vanished, these stones had become exceedingly rare, just like many other treasures from the remnants of their civilization. Only a handful seemed to be left.

Wu Tian said nothing more. He walked up and, as instructed, placed his right hand on the stone. Instantly, the White Stone seemed to boil as it turned a brilliant red. Then, with a BUZZ, it erupted in flames. The dazzling light seemed to swallow the entire Peach Blossom Forest.

Tao Qianyang, Yuan Beizheng, and everyone else in Peach Blossom Spring were dumbstruck by the sight.

The Second Elder stood there, trembling, his hands quivering as he stared at the blaze. He stammered, "This... this is a Fire Spiritual Root, the one with the strongest attack power... And it’s a supreme-grade Fire Spiritual Root! The absolute pinnacle of them all!"

The strongest attack power? Supreme-grade? The absolute pinnacle? These words left everyone’s minds completely blank. It was clear to all that Wu Tian’s Spirit Root was incredibly formidable. A collective gasp went through the crowd in Peach Blossom Spring, followed by a wave of astonished exclamations.

As far as anyone knew, not a single person in the entire Underground World possessed a supreme-grade Spirit Root. The remnant scriptures of Mount Shu, obtained by the Eastern Taizhong Palace, even stated that those with supreme-grade Spirit Roots were typically candidates for the next Sect Leader. One could only imagine how rare such a Spirit Root was.

A genius? No, in this Underground World, he wasn’t just a genius. He was a super-genius! His aptitude for Cultivation could only be described as monstrous.

Yuan Beizheng was breathing heavily, so excited he could barely stand. He grabbed Tao Qianyang, his voice trembling. "Do you see? His aptitude is incredible! As long as he learns proper Cultivation Techniques, he’ll definitely become the most powerful person in our Underground World! He could change everything!" At this point, Yuan Beizheng still believed the path Wu Tian currently walked was inferior to that of true Cultivation.

Tao Qianyang supported the trembling Yuan Beizheng, nodding with delight. For years, the situation in Peach Blossom Spring had been growing steadily worse. The Immortal Seeker factions of the Underground World, who had once focused solely on their silent Cultivation and the path to immortality, had changed. Now, they demanded "protection fees" for everything. There was a tax for planting flowers and a fee for drinking water.

Wu Tian removed his hand from the stone, and the fiery glow vanished in a flash. The White Stone was just a white stone once more, but the way everyone looked at him was now far more complex. There was adoration, but there was also jealousy. The disciples the Second Elder had brought with him, for instance, were visibly uncomfortable and displeased. Why couldn’t they have a Spirit Root like that?

As for the Second Elder, he was utterly ecstatic. The anger in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a feverish zeal. He looked like a starving man who had just stumbled upon a magnificent feast, his eyes glinting with a wolfish hunger. Others could understand the look in the Second Elder’s eyes. After all, talent among the Immortal Seekers had become scarce, and they were in desperate need of a new prodigy. They simply interpreted his expression as a desperate thirst for talent.

But they didn’t know the truth. The Second Elder wasn’t excited about finding a new talent; he was thrilled to have encountered a supreme-grade Spirit Root. The previous generation of Immortal Seekers had genuinely striven for long life, hoping to find immortality to fulfill their life’s purpose and to free the Human Clan from disease and disaster. They wanted humanity to have more time to achieve greater things. Had they discovered a talent like Wu Tian, they would have invited him to join their efforts, hoping his gift could lead to a breakthrough on their path.

This generation of Immortal Seekers, however, was different. They didn’t hope to find immortality for others, but only for themselves. When someone like Wu Tian appeared, their first reaction wasn’t joy for the Underground World finding a great talent. It was raw, naked jealousy. And now, with the Spiritual Energy in the world fading, the Second Elder was desperate to find a Spirit Root he could devour for his own power. He never imagined someone like Wu Tian would just suddenly appear. The elder was incredibly delighted, feeling as if he’d just discovered a priceless Treasure.

"Truly amazing... just amazing," the Second Elder said to Wu Tian, his tone now startlingly warm and gentle. "You are the most talented person I have ever seen. Utterly unmatched."

Wu Tian felt something was off about the elder’s demeanor, but he couldn’t pinpoint what he was plotting. He didn’t dwell on it. Whatever they throw at me, I’ll handle it.

"Impressive, maybe, but unmatched? You didn’t ask me," the little girl beside Wu Tian piped up, clearly unhappy. She considered herself pretty impressive, too.

"You?" The Second Elder was taken aback by the adorable little girl, but his tone was still full of doubt. Finding one person with a supreme-grade Fire Spiritual Root in a single day was already a stroke of immense luck. How could he possibly encounter a second one?

"You don’t believe me? Then let me try," the little girl said with determination. Without waiting for the Second Elder’s permission—as if she would ever need anyone’s consent—she started walking toward the White Stone. Though still so young, her domineering aura was already beginning to show.

As she walked forward, the breathing of the onlookers grew heavy. The air filled with a mixture of tension, anxiety, excitement, and envy. They all wanted to know: was this little girl just putting on a show, or was she the real deal?

This time, it was Tao Qianyang’s turn to grab Yuan Beizheng’s arm. "Mr. Yuan," he asked anxiously, "what do you make of this little girl?"

Yuan Beizheng had seen the little girl before, but his attention had always been fixed on Wu Tian. This time, however, he too was captivated by her presence. He pinched his fingers together, performing a quick divination, but a wave of frustration washed over him. I can’t see her future at all! It’s completely unfathomable!

The little girl stretched out her right hand. The disciple holding the White Stone carefully bent down so she could reach it.

The moment her hand made contact, sparks of fire flared to life. The display was weaker than Wu Tian’s, but the flames were by no means faint.

Seeing this, the Second Elder immediately announced, "A high-grade Fire Spiritual Root!"

A high-grade Fire Spiritual Root was, as far as anyone knew, the best type of Spirit Root that had been discovered in the Underworld thus far. He hadn’t expected this little girl to be so extraordinary. Of course, it still wasn’t as powerful as a supreme-grade Fire Spiritual Root.

But just as the Second Elder had that thought, the red glow of fire suddenly shifted, turning into a brilliant blue light. The stone, which had been red, was now a deep blue.

"What? A dual Spirit Root?" the Second Elder exclaimed in shock.

In the next instant, the blue light transformed again, taking on the earthy glow of the ground. The Blue Stone had become an Earth Stone.