Cultivation: But Not a Game-Chapter 152 - 76: Rejection and Discouragement

Ding Lingyu said:

"A slight issue with innate aptitude isn’t too problematic. You have other advantages to compensate. Your talent in magic and Sword Dao is too strong, you definitely have a powerful spirit root. I suspect your spirit root might reach top grade. All these can lower the requirements."

...

"Is it possible that I don’t have any powerful spirit roots?"

However, as he said this, Su Yu turned and sent a message to Chu Xinyue, relaying Ding Lingyu’s words.

After a while, Chu Xinyue replied:

"He’s not wrong. Senior Brother Xi Xing does indeed have outstanding cultivation, with the potential for further advancement. If you can truly become his disciple, or the disciple of several other aspirant masters, it’s indeed better than becoming the disciple of Monarch Youlong."

Su Yu said nothing but asked:

"Did the leader inquire about the specific situation regarding Monarch Youlong?"

She quickly replied:

"I have understood Monarch Youlong’s situation well these past few days, and it doesn’t differ much from what’s said outside. Monarch Youlong is indeed nearing the end of his lifespan. His lineage currently has no master likely to advance to Earth Immortal, so they want to take one last shot in these final decades by widely recruiting elite talents."

"They are not only selecting internally from their faction but also recruiting talents from outside. I’ve heard he’s already found several top-tier talents to focus on cultivating."

"All of them are top-tier talents with innate perception and six senses above forty points. One of them even possesses a top-grade spirit root."

At this point, she paused, carefully organizing her words:

"To be honest, I don’t think you stand a chance against them. Your innate perception and six senses are too low; you’re at a disadvantage here. Even if you perform as well or even better, they would still prioritize those with better talent."

"Even if you enter under him, it’s highly likely you’d only get the basics, maybe learn one refined heart skill and receive one or two pieces of tier seven treasure."

"Unless your performance overwhelmingly surpasses theirs, but that’s practically impossible."

"Rather than only getting the basics, why not find another master? Loose Immortals may not match Earth Immortal True Monarch, but the internal competition is relatively smaller. If you can become their top disciple, you still have the chance to compete for the sect’s heirloom inheritance, which could be better than with Monarch Youlong."

"emmm...."

To actually advise me to switch allegiance, does the leader have so little faith in me?

Su Yu pinched the bridge of his nose and asked:

"If I become a disciple on my own, what about the guild’s quota? Wouldn’t it be wasted? And since the Thousand Feather Association is under the Xuankong Lineage, would joining another lineage be considered betrayal?"

"Wasting it is just wasting it. Is the quota more important than your own future?"

"As for the other point, you don’t need to worry. The guild isn’t a family; you can join any lineage, even other sects. Wei Xia and He Shoucheng have already joined the Danxia Sect."

"I’ll think about it."

Closing the communication, Su Yu said to Ding Lingyu:

"Wait for me a moment."

He then turned and entered the previous pavilion, making a fist-and-palm salute to that middle-aged man:

"Senior Brother, I want to sign up."

The man looked up at him for a moment, took out a paper, and pushed it over, saying:

"Name, innate attributes, cultivation skills, whether you have a spirit root, talents, and where you come from."

"Su Yu, from Thousand Feather Guild downstream of Yuanjiang River, innate bones 30, innate perception 16, innate six senses 15, innate fortune 11, no spirit root, skilled in....."

Before he could finish, the middle-aged man looked up and stopped him:

"Apply to a different master."

Su Yu was taken aback, and the man shook his head, saying:

"Your innate attributes are too low. Master Xi Xing won’t accept you."

Su Yu....

His face flushed slightly; he cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Looking back at Ding Lingyu, who looked equally surprised, he said:

"Your innate perception and six senses are so low? You don’t have a spirit root?"

"No."

"Then how did you develop such strong swordsmanship?"

"I just practiced it like that."

Su Yu was in a low mood, not expecting to be looked down upon when trying to become a disciple, not even allowed to register.

However, Ding Lingyu still mumbled in confusion:

"It doesn’t make sense!"

"Everything in the world has a root cause. Your swordsmanship talent is so strong; it’s impossible you don’t have a spirit root."

Suddenly thinking of something, he looked up and said earnestly:

"I wonder if your spirit root is a hidden spirit root, which doesn’t show but is indeed effective."

"I don’t know."

"It must be; otherwise, there’s no way to explain your current swordsmanship."

"You might find a chance to get it checked."

"How would I check it? Is there a place in the sect to test spirit roots?"

"Yes, there is.... no, that only detects normal spirit roots. Hidden spirit roots usually can’t be detected; they must be checked by someone of Earth Immortal level or above."

Su Yu shook his head:

"Then forget it. Where would I find an Earth Immortal to help me check?"

"True."

Ding Lingyu shook his head and said no more.

Su Yu didn’t ask anyone else, since Master Xi Xing wouldn’t take him, other masters certainly wouldn’t either.

A regular Loose Immortal might take him, but he wasn’t interested.

Becoming a disciple of a regular Loose Immortal, he’d be better off under the Wandering Dragon Ancestor, at least he could compete for some legacy.

Confirming it was hopeless, Su Yu lost interest in what lay ahead, bid farewell to Ding Lingyu, and headed straight back.

Back in his residence, with nothing else to do, he hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and dove headfirst into the Sea-Suppressing Pearl.

He directly appeared in the center of the Sea-Suppressing Pearl, where the Innate Divine Maiden’s position had transformed into a huge ball of light, exuding an aura far surpassing before.

Constant streams of innate pure energy spread, continuously expanding the space within the Sea-Suppressing Pearl.

As of now, the internal space of the Sea-Suppressing Pearl had a radius of nearly six kilometers, much broader than it used to be.