Chapter 7: The Spiritual Root of My Spiritual Root Is Not My Own

As Jiang Baiqiu touched the Spirit Root Crystal, it began to emit a gentle glow.

Qin Xi was actually quite nervous; he had even considered using his command magic again just moments ago.

But seeing Jiang Baiqiu so confident, Qin Xi felt a fleeting urge to trust her once.

However, the instant the crystal radiated a scorching light, Qin Xi instantly regretted it.

This light seemed to herald the birth of the legendary single spirit root.

The Confucian Sage Spirit Root was naturally a single spirit root.

Unless the plan had changed and he should escape using command magic...

"A single spirit root, and a sword spirit root that appears only once in a century!" The city guard official widened his eyes, staring at the crystal in disbelief.

Huh?

Qin Xi looked closely and saw a small sword slowly spinning inside the crystal, like an insect trapped in amber, exquisitely beautiful.

But that meant...

The city guard official grew even more nervous. This young lady was not only the daughter of a high-ranking court official but also possessed a sword spirit root—a once-in-a-century rarity beyond the five elemental spirit roots. With such talent and status, if she entered politics, she would surely become one of the strongest figures in the Great Qi Empire.

Jiang Baiqiu placed her hands on her hips, beaming with pride as she looked at the official. "So? Can I pass now?"

"Of course... Miss, please forgive me. This is merely the required procedure..." The official was now preoccupied with reflecting on whether he had offended the young lady.

"Let's go, Xiao Qin." Jiang Baiqiu snapped her fingers and patted Qin Xi on the back.

"Miss, but—"

"What? He's my personal escort!" Jiang Baiqiu nudged Qin Xi forward.

"Spirit root..." The official wanted to suggest Qin Xi test his own spirit root, but he had already suspected this young lady and sensed her irritation. It would be tactless to bring it up again.

Qin Xi played his role perfectly, puffing with arrogance like a true sycophant to a noble lady.

"What’s wrong? Looking down on us? After all this, you still want to stop us? I get it, are you sent by someone named Zhang or Wang?" Qin Xi pointed at the official, teasing, "A mere city guard official dares to block us. Even a seventh-rank official stands before a prime minister!"

Zhang... Wang...

The Minister of Personnel was surnamed Zhang, and the Minister of Works was surnamed Wang...

He definitely didn’t want to get dragged into such dangerous court rivalries!

Hearing this, the official quickly admitted his fault and dared not block them again, bowing and scraping, almost falling to his knees.

"I’m sorry, I did not recognize the importance of your status. I apologize to both of you!"

"That’s better."

With that, Jiang Baiqiu swaggered out of the city gate with Qin Xi.

---

After leaving the city, the two walked several kilometers until the area was deserted. Jiang Baiqiu finally couldn’t contain her curiosity.

"Hey? What did you just say about surnames Zhang and Wang?" she asked, looking a bit silly. "You said you’re not royal, just an ordinary person, so how do you know the names of officials close to the emperor?"

"There are many people with those surnames, and there are so many officials near the emperor that you’re bound to encounter a few," Qin Xi shrugged. "The guy earlier was so flustered he lost his ability to analyze. As long as it’s not too absurd, he’ll fill in the blanks himself."

Qin Xi had been in this world for three months and noticed that the distribution of surnames was similar to his old world. Li, Zhang, and Wang were still the most common.

"Oh... I didn’t expect my little follower to be quite clever," Jiang Baiqiu said, satisfied with her new subordinate. "With me, you’ll always have meat to eat and soup to drink."

"You’re hardly keeping any secrets," Qin Xi sighed. Since she was his spirit root, shouldn’t she obey him completely?

If all spirit roots were so rebellious, cultivation wouldn’t be necessary; they could just battle Pokémon-style—spirit roots fighting while cultivators cheered from behind.

Of course, Qin Xi still had his doubts.

"If you’re the Confucian Sage Spirit Root, why didn’t the crystal detect you?"

"You tell me." Jiang Baiqiu was proud, hands on hips, staring at Qin Xi.

Qin Xi thought it through and found the flaw.

The crystal detects if there’s a Confucian Sage Spirit Root inside the body. Jiang Baiqiu herself was the Confucian Sage Spirit Root’s very essence, so naturally, there was none inside her.

"It’s like apples, peaches, and grapes are all fruits, but the term ‘fruit’ itself isn’t a fruit," Qin Xi understood and nodded.

"Miss Jiang, I didn’t expect you to be so clever to realize that," Qin Xi said, admiring the wisdom hidden beneath her seemingly simple demeanor.

"Hahaha... ha, ha..." Jiang Baiqiu’s laughter slowly died down. "No, no, I just think such mortal things aren’t worthy of revealing my true identity."

Qin Xi looked at Jiang Baiqiu’s foolish but confident smile and withdrew his earlier praise.

This might be what is called ‘great stupidity yet great wisdom.’

"But why do you have a spirit root? Can a spirit root have its own spirit root?"

Qin Xi stroked his chin, feeling that what was happening had already surpassed anything he had read in cultivation novels.

It was like watching old cartoons where Goofy is a dog, Pluto is a dog, but you often see Goofy walking Pluto on a leash.

Dog walking dog.

"It’s the same saying: all things have spirits. Animals that become demons also have spirit roots. When my spirit root becomes a spirit, it should have a spirit root too," Jiang Baiqiu snorted.

"So, if you’re my spirit root and you have a sword spirit root, doesn’t that mean I have a sword spirit root too?" Qin Xi nodded.

Jiang Baiqiu strongly objected: "No, the spirit root of your spirit root isn’t your spirit root."

What kind of feudal hierarchy is this?

"Fine, fine..." Qin Xi gave a perfunctory answer, then suddenly remembered something more important.

---

"We’ve only just escaped the imperial city; the danger is far from over. The Great Qi Empire has lost its national treasure and a prince. If this isn’t thoroughly investigated, the royal family will lose face everywhere."

"And you still owe the Heavenly Dao two thousand lower-grade spirit stones!"

"Heavenly Dao is that petty? It strikes people just for owing spirit stones?" Qin Xi winced at the thought, as if his life had entered a countdown.

The once bright sky now wore a menacing expression.

Jiang Baiqiu bounced over excitedly. "Let me tell you, Heavenly Dao is very petty and hates being called petty the most..."

"Boom!"

A passerby marveled at the sky. "Wow, thunder in clear skies! Which cultivator has leaked the heavenly secrets?"

"It must be the folks from the ‘Art’ sect. Those people love divinations; it’s normal if something slips out."

Qin Xi quietly stepped away from Jiang Baiqiu.

Of course, Heavenly Dao only issued a warning and did not strike down.

Once calm returned, Qin Xi looked up to ensure he wouldn’t fall and said, "Our situation is dire. Surrounded on all sides: the Great Qi Empire has us wanted, and we owe debts above..."

"Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the path of immortality. Whether it’s spirit stones or escaping pursuit, I can’t handle it alone."

Qin Xi folded his arms, looking serious.

"We need a breakthrough."

Jiang Baiqiu raised her hand.

"Not you."

"Am I not the breakthrough?" Jiang Baiqiu wiggled in front of Qin Xi, seeking attention.

"Hahaha, you’re definitely not the breakthrough," Qin Xi gently patted her head. "You’re the damn problem."

"... Oh."

Savior and culprit all in one—it was awkward to figure out how to handle this.

"But where there’s life, there’s hope... I have noticed something interesting."

As they left the city gate, Qin Xi had already spotted someone.

That figure—he had seen before.

It was the straw-hatted girl trembling at the city gate!