The female lead thought she had a "proud and arrogant" character script.

Ignoring the whispers around him.

Luo Qingcheng nodded. "I know."

After my own confirmation, it is now a certainty that he has no spiritual roots.

There was a lot of discussion.

"Isn't this a disability?"

"I have heard that some children are born with disabilities and no spiritual roots, but they usually die before they reach the age of ten."

"This girl looks to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, right?"

"Judging from her showing off just now, I thought she was another genius, but it turns out she's a good-for-nothing."

These words immediately caused discomfort.

Hongdou, looking displeased, jumped in front of the person and said, "Try saying 'Miss' again in front of me!!"

Only she can call the young lady an idiot; no one else can!

Kong Fuling smiled innocently and said, "Uncle, my sister is a good-for-nothing, and so are you. My mother once said, 'We are all born of the same root, why are we so eager to harm each other?'"

Luo Qingcheng: ...

Little sister, you also called me a good-for-nothing, and that's not how you use that phrase.

Red Bean turned the cannon towards the empty Poria cocos.

"Miss Kong, please don't call me a good-for-nothing."

"But--"

The elder's face darkened, and his words, imbued with spiritual power, echoed everywhere, startling everyone present.

"Silence!"

As soon as those two words were uttered, not even the birds passing by dared to chirp.

There was silence.

He said, "The remaining people will line up, and the results and assignments will be announced an hour after everyone has finished the test."

After saying that, he led Luo Qingcheng aside.

Red beans and poria cocos quickly followed.

The other elders followed suit.

Unexpectedly, the girl who made a name for herself among the elders during the assessment with her outrageous actions turned out to be without spiritual roots, which piqued their curiosity.

The group arrived together in a side hall room.

After everyone was seated, Hongdou quickly brewed a pot of tea and poured it for the elders.

But I deliberately avoided using Poria cocos.

Kong Fuling held the empty cup, her face full of innocence.

Great Elder:...

With a command, he said, "Everyone, get out."

So, the elders, eager to see what was going on, came out of the room one after another, each carrying a teacup.

Kong Fuling lay on the table. The Grand Elder was about to ask her to go out with Hongdou, but Luo Qingcheng stopped her.

"It's alright, Sword Master."

So the elder set up a soundproofing spell.

The elders who were eavesdropping outside: ...

No wonder you can't find a wife!

The Third Elder, still laughing wildly in the corner: Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha?

The elder said, "I brought you here to tell you that, according to my investigation, you were not born without spiritual roots."

Luo Qingcheng: ? ? ?

system:? ? ?

red beans:???

Before Luo Qingcheng could speak, Hongdou stepped forward and said, "Sword Master, I grew up with Miss and have known since I can remember that Miss was born without any spiritual roots."

Luo Qingcheng nodded.

The Grand Elder glanced at the two of them. “That is it. I once read in a book that the stripping of a spiritual root must be done when the baby is just born, when the fontanelle is not closed, the spiritual root is fragile, and it has not yet been integrated with the body.”

what book?

There was prohibited content?

I never expected the Sword Master to be this kind of person.

Luo Qingcheng pondered for a moment.

"So, does that mean my spiritual roots were taken away right after I was born?"

No matter how I think about it, I can't imagine who would do such a thing to such a small baby.

[Whom did the original owner have a grudge against?]

[No.]

Luo Qingcheng's stepmother was born to her. Her biological mother disappeared and was brought into the Luo family some time later.

Hongdou just thought of how pitiful Luo Qingcheng was to have his spiritual roots stripped away at such a young age, and couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

With teary eyes, she looked at the Grand Elder, "Sword Master, is there any way to help Miss regain her spiritual roots?"

The Grand Elder thought for a moment, "As far as I know, there is none."

Hongdou asked anxiously, her voice thick with nasal congestion, "What if we find Miss's original spiritual root? Is that not enough either?"

During this time, through the attitudes of the people she encountered, she also learned that spiritual roots are extremely important to cultivators.

The elder said uncertainly, "If her spiritual root was taken away to be used by someone else, then after so many years, the spiritual root has completely merged with that person. It would be extremely difficult to successfully separate it, let alone replant it after separation."

Hongdou blurted out, "Then Miss—"

Luo Qingcheng interrupted her, "Hongdou, stop talking."

She had already accepted the fact that she had no spiritual roots.

If the Grand Elder said that, it would be impossible to find the spiritual root, let alone anything else.

Everything is difficult at the beginning, then difficult in the middle, and finally difficult at the end.

forget it.

Hongdou was somewhat unwilling, but she also knew that there was basically no room for negotiation on this matter.

She took a step back, wiping away her tears.

Luo Qingcheng looked directly at the Grand Elder, "Sword Master, you summoned me here not just for that one thing, right?"

The Grand Elder couldn't help but admire her. Normal people would have some emotional fluctuations if they suddenly learned that their original spiritual roots had been taken away, no matter how calm they were.

But the young girl in front of him, aside from being a little surprised at first, seemed completely unconcerned and even had the energy to think about other things.

He didn't show it on his face, but said, "I do have something to say."

He asked, "Would you be willing to become a disciple of the Venerable Hao Ri Feng?"

Luo Qingcheng was genuinely surprised. "There are countless people who want to become the Sword Master's disciple, so why was I, who has no spiritual root, chosen?"

Could it be that she possesses some value that I am unaware of?

System: [Dark!]

Luo Qingcheng ignored the system's complaints.

She had realized long ago that this system was garbage and knew nothing.

They didn't even know if the original owner was born without spiritual roots, yet they were surprised along with her.

Crumbs!

The Grand Elder was speechless for a moment. "I do not intend to take you as my disciple."

He had only anticipated that Luo Qingcheng's path ahead would be difficult, with many conflicts among the lower-level disciples. At least there weren't many disciples on his Haori Peak who would make things too difficult for her.

Luo Qingcheng realized he had misunderstood.

Indeed, why would the Sword Master inexplicably want to take on a nobody with no talent, no background, and no strength as his disciple?

Aren't you afraid that the lineage of the Sword Master will lose its luster?

She gave an awkward smile.

I didn't dare to ask any further questions.

Kong Fuling, who was pretending to be asleep while lying on the table, let out a "pfft" laugh.

I guess I was amused by her self-delusion.

Luo Qingcheng: ...

ShuanQ, you've turned what was supposed to be a perfunctory question into something hilarious.

The Grand Elder took the initiative to ease Luo Qingcheng's embarrassment, explaining, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but rather that the personality you displayed during the assessment is not suitable for cultivating the 'Radiant Sun Sword Technique' I created."

Luo Qingcheng asked curiously, "Sword Master, may I ask what kind of person is the 'Radiant Sun Sword Technique' suitable for practicing?"

The First Elder's gaze toward Luo Qingcheng was indescribable.

He seemed reluctant to answer her question.

Hongdou stared at him intently, waiting for an answer.

There was silence for a long time.

Just as Luo Qingcheng was about to break the silence by saying something like, "You don't have to say if it's inconvenient,"—

The Grand Elder hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "Those who embrace the bright sun and possess a magnanimous heart will benefit most from this practice."

Luo Qingcheng: ? ? ?

Does that mean she's not someone who's "bright and open-minded"?

"Pfft." Kong Fuling, who was lying on the table, couldn't help but laugh again, this time her whole body made the table tremble.

The system was laughing too.

[Hahahaha, this is dark humor certified by the Sword Master!]

Luo Qingcheng: ...

So, the meaning behind the Sword Master's look just now was probably, "I gave you a way out, but you didn't take it!"—a feeling of disappointment and frustration.

Hongdou patted Luo Qingcheng's shoulder and comforted her, "Miss, it's alright. No matter what you do, even if you commit murder or arson, I will support you!"

The elder had no choice but to pretend he hadn't heard it.

After all, he had already tried very hard to be tactful.

Luo Qingcheng smiled slightly, pretending that nothing had happened, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Sword Master, but I will not go to Haori Peak."

The Grand Elder nodded. "Very well."

Anything is fine.

Is it better not to go?

Luo Qingcheng was completely bewildered.

For a moment, he wondered if he had offended the Sword Master in some way.

Otherwise, why would his words have such a retaliatory tone?

Before she could come up with a solution, the Grand Elder casually made up an excuse and left.