Chapter 2: Becoming a Golden Bamboo

“Young Mistress, Young Master Liu still has not been found, and there is no news from the Lin Manor either!”

In the elegantly decorated, pink-hued inner chamber, a young maiden dressed in white with a veil covering her face fell into a slight, thoughtful silence. She only sighed softly.

“It seems… it has finally begun! Only… what a pity!”

The woman in white seemed to know something. Clad in white robes, she was tall and slender, with an indescribable, ethereal aura swirling about her, like a celestial being about to ascend and fly away.

In her eyes was a trace of regret and coldness difficult to conceal.

“It was all that Lin Laowu’s fault. If he hadn’t been so tyrannical and overbearing, Young Master Liu would not be missing and his fate unknown! Young Mistress, this time we absolutely cannot let that Lin Laowu off easily!”

Beside her, a maidservant, her small mouth pouting and grumbling, was full of indignation. When she mentioned Young Master Liu, her eyes grew watery and filled with particular resentment.

It seemed she held quite tender feelings for this Young Master Liu!

Seeing this, a strange feeling flickered through the heart of the woman in white. After a moment, she shook her head and said, “This matter involves the Causality between Young Master Liu and the Lin Manor. As the saying goes, wealth does not pass three generations, and now the Lin Manor is in its fifth generation. Their prosperity is entirely due to the blessings of that Immortal, but this very fortune also sowed the seeds for the Lin Manor’s decline. We do not need to intervene.”

“Today’s cause, tomorrow’s effect!”

The maidservant in white beside her only partially understood, but she had utmost faith in her young mistress. Still, she felt dissatisfied in her heart. Her eyes rolled slightly as she added her own internal drama, deciding she must definitely help her young mistress vent this anger!

…

“How did I become a seed?”

Lin Yuan came to his senses from the sudden change.

His current location was extremely peculiar. It was like a vast Bamboo Sea, surrounded by beautiful, tall, and straight emerald green bamboos that did not wither with frost, their green shadows swaying. He had fallen into a sudden patch within this Bamboo Sea, gradually taking root, sprouting, and growing into a peculiar golden bamboo, with golden leaves and trunk, and faint golden lightning flickering under the sunlight.

A silver light silently and abruptly appeared in his mind.

It transformed into a silvery-white precious mirror. The mirror’s surface swirled with countless intricate patterns, and a strange piece of information appeared in Lin Yuan’s mind.

“Primordial World, Spiritual Root: Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo. Duration: One thousand years?”

Lin Yuan’s expression was astonished. Entering the Primordial World was one thing, but he had actually become a rare Spiritual Root.

Lin Yuan remembered very clearly. When he was young, the old matriarch of the Lin Family had once told them a story. One of the ancestors of the Lin Manor seemed to have had a miraculous encounter, saving an Immortal by a mountain stream. That Immortal returned the favor by gifting a golden bamboo shoot. It was only after consuming that golden bamboo shoot that the Lin Manor began to rise to prominence!

Throughout the generations, members of the Lin Manor were rarely short-lived; most were intelligent and clever, with one or two outstanding descendants appearing each generation, until the Lin Manor grew to its current size.

Then, Lin Yuan felt a surge of joy. According to the fragmented heritage information transmitted by the Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo, the Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo was no ordinary being even among Spiritual Roots.

Refining the Dao to become an Immortal was not impossible!

However, for now, it needed to gather the spiritual energy of the heavens and the essence of the sun and moon, first to take human form.

These were the instincts of a Spiritual Root!

With every breath, countless tiny points of light flowed in through the leaf veins and the bamboo body.

The rich Innate Spiritual Qi of the Primordial World surrounded it. The Evil-Warding Golden Thunder, inherently carried by the Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo, grew increasingly vigorous, possessing the terrifying power to annihilate all evils.

This was an extremely high-level thunder technique, far superior to many of the mystic Divine Thunders comprehended by later Immortals of the Mystic Gate, and it was almost the nemesis of evil spirits and demons!

It grew one inch in ten years, one foot in a hundred years.

The Bamboo Sea within this majestic mountain range also changed. Many more living creatures appeared in the mountains, even signs of cultivators.

The Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo also gradually grew. However, it possessed the camouflage instinct of a Spiritual Root, blending into the vast Bamboo Sea. Ordinary cultivators completely failed to discover its true nature.

Lin Yuan discovered that a Thunder Mark had appeared inside his body. Over the course of more than a thousand years of tempering, this Thunder Mark had transformed into a round, golden, shiny inner core. It was not far from taking human form.

Countless points of light transformed within his body, forming a wondrous diagram of human acupoints, outlined by faint golden lightning, utterly peculiar.

But as he grew and his transformation was imminent, a large number of huge ferocious beasts that fed on bamboo somehow appeared in the Bamboo Sea. This made Lin Yuan somewhat terrified and his heart grew cold.

Spiritual Roots were treasures coveted by many cultivators, and they offered even greater benefits to ferocious beasts. By devouring a Spiritual Root, many ferocious beasts could gain sentience and truly embark on the path of cultivation.

And another piece of news made Lin Yuan’s heart stir with restless excitement.

Listening to the little demons in the Bamboo Sea discuss, it seemed a Great Divine Power often lectured on the Dao to the south, and many beings went to listen.

Although Lin Yuan had absorbed much Innate Spiritual Qi over the millennia, he currently could not make it his own. If he could listen to the proverbs of the Great Dao, perhaps he could truly step onto the right path.

Suddenly, a silver light flashed above him, transforming into a silver portal. The golden precious bamboo in the Bamboo Sea was swept up and vanished without a trace.

…

When his form appeared again, Lin Yuan looked around. The crescent moon hung like a hook overhead, and the clear sound of reading from a nearby private school reached his ears—it was the night study session for the children of the Lin Manor.

A thousand years in the Primordial World, and here it seemed only a few hours had passed!

Instantly, Lin Yuan’s face changed, a strange expression flashing in his eyes. Immediately, he rushed like a whirlwind into the courtyard next door, summoning several maids to prepare fragrant bathing water.

A warm power surged from his limbs and bones, flowing through his entire body. Countless foul impurities were expelled from his skin’s surface!

After half an hour and more than ten changes of fragrant bathing water, Lin Yuan appeared in the room full of vigor. He looked around; every inch of his skin was like white jade, glowing softly. Taking a few steps, he felt light as a swallow, as if he had attained golden sinews and jade bones.

A faint golden light flickered in Lin Yuan’s eyes. Restricted by the limitations of the two worlds, this was only less than a thousandth of the inner core energy from the Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo cleansing his marrow.

Even so, Lin Yuan felt endless joy in his heart. Closing his eyes and concentrating, that Silver Ancient Mirror appeared once more in his mind.

Cooldown time: Fifteen days?!

Lin Yuan’s brow twitched slightly.

This cooldown time was far too long. Was there any way to shorten it?

The Silver Ancient Mirror quickly provided information.

Enhancing one’s own cultivation and achieving Dao Attainment could reduce the time by half. Alternatively, achieving top honors in the imperial examinations and receiving the Dragon Qi blessing from the imperial court could also cut the cooldown time in half!

Lin Yuan pondered. The provincial-level autumn examinations were in August of the following year. Enhancing his own cultivation might be possible now, perhaps there was a way!

Just then, light footsteps sounded. A matron dressed in a purple silk jacket appeared. She was an old serving woman who attended the old matriarch, highly respected within the Lin Manor. Seeing Lin Yuan standing dazed in the room, a smile flickered across her face as she said,

“Young Master Fifth, what are you doing here? Just now, the Master and Mistress sent people to look for you. Dinner has already begun!”

“Aunt Xia, I’ve troubled you.” Lin Yuan offered a polite, slight smile, walked over with a smile, and helped support the old matron as they headed towards the main hall.

The old matron looked at Lin Yuan, her wrinkled face brimming with kindness. It was evident she was sincerely fond of this third legitimate son of the Lin Manor.

Lin Yuan was also unlike other Lin family brothers, who always harbored ulterior motives when facing her.

Whether it was genuine sincerity or mere perfunctory politeness, Aunt Xia could see it clearly.

The next day.

In a courtyard of the Lin Family, early in the morning, Lin Yuan summoned a middle-aged man dressed in martial attire.

“Young Master wishes to learn martial arts?” Wei Bin looked at this Fifth Young Master of the Lin Manor with a strange expression.

Wei Bin hesitated, advising, “Young Master Fifth, you are a child of nobility. A child of nobility should not risk danger. Learning martial arts is tiring and complex; I’m afraid it might affect your studies…”

Lin Yuan waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. We scholars should emulate the ancient sages in being accomplished in both civil and martial affairs!”

Then he smiled again. “This humble young master does not seek to learn martial arts for fighting or showing off, but to strengthen his body and health. If one day I achieve top honors in the examinations, at least I won’t die young, right?”

With a smile on his face, Lin Yuan glanced out of the corner of his eye towards the direction of a corridor by a pavilion. There, a middle-aged man stood with a beautifully dressed woman. They were frowning tightly, their expressions displeased, but upon hearing his words, their expressions softened slightly and they nodded gently.

This middle-aged couple was not invited by anyone else. Upon receiving the news the first time, Wei Bin had immediately notified Lin Chengzong and his wife.

Wei Bin’s gaze discreetly swept over that pavilion. Seeing Lin Chengzong and his wife on the pavilion nod, his heart stirred slightly.

He thought to himself. His former school, Xiaocang Mountain, had once been a famous, prestigious sect in the Jiangnan Circuit, flourishing in the past. But now it was completely extinct, reduced to a minor school that couldn’t even compare to some small sects.

The Lin Manor was his patron. Teaching this young master would not be a problem.

Moreover, aside from accepting this Fifth Young Master as a disciple, deepening his relationship with an influential family like the Lin Manor would also benefit him personally, and earn him more respect when he ventured out.

Wei Bin instantly became motivated, his demeanor unconsciously growing a bit warmer. Immediately he put on a serious expression, looking at Lin Yuan and saying earnestly,

“Young Master Fifth, although you have made up your mind, there are a few words I must say beforehand. Learning martial arts is not an achievement of a single day. To reach a level like mine, it takes over a dozen years of practice. Although the young master is not yet past the age for learning martial arts, your age is ultimately somewhat older, already a bit late, I’m afraid…”

Wei Bin did not voice the rest, but Lin Yuan already understood in his heart. Then Wei Bin added,

“And furthermore, learning martial arts also depends on one’s natural aptitude!”