“Welcome to Yuan’s—” The shopkeeper’s voice trailed off when the three people entered the building. “Yuan’s Shop. What can I do for the three of you? If you have the cash, you can get a good deal in our stash.”

Now the CEO had expected more people to be around when they first came, but it was only them that had arrived in this establishment. But after passing through the streets and stepping in here—it was good to see a human face.

A smile was on the shopkeeper’s lips, “It’s not too often that I’d see the Shen Group head here, it must be an important task and I suppose it’s because of your client here?” the man eyed him with a knowing look.

Li Yang stared back at the man at the counter of the shop. And true to the name, or at least to what he had fashioned in mind, the entire shop resembled something that might have been in an ancient or xianxia novel. He inclined his head, “You are correct.”

He glanced around the store for a moment. .

When all of them stepped in, a wind chime greeted them with its soft clinks and he was met with an exhibit fit for a young warrior or cultivator entering a shop. Possibly even enough for a master, if what his companions said was true.

Its walls were deep maroon and outlined with yellow pillars, all around them were an assortment of items that hung on the shelves, from great swords to even marbled statues on dais. The counter had fresh materials on the glass display, strange feathers, precious stones and also talismans of every shape and size.

A large tapestry hung behind the man with the name of the shop as promised, written in old characters.

“It is in an interesting place, isn’t it?”

He glanced back at the shopkeeper, “Indeed.” It was best not to say anything further unless the two people with him explained it more. He wasn’t here to sightsee, but when he looked over his shoulder and found that the creature also seemed distracted with the things on sale, he understood that it was almost an inevitable thing.

“So what is it that has brought all three of you to my humble shop?” the man looked at him. “I have my guesses, but it’s still best to tell me as specifically as one can.”

“We’re looking for an artifact, pill, or anything powerful to unlock one’s spiritual roots.” Li Yang answered. This much was something that he needed to say—if it were possible that they actually had anything.

The smile on the shopkeeper’s face vanished for a moment and then reappeared. “Well, wow, now that is rare. Hard to procure, probably something that could be even called fictional—and we’re in a shop meant for cultivators, apothecaries and the like. Is it an urgent thing?”

“Unless you want the guy to keep absorbing qi like a sponge?” Hua Zhao spoke up.

“And isn’t that fascinating?” The shopkeeper, probably ‘Yuan,’ peered back at Li Yang and had spectacles on him. “Most cultivators that start out have terrible times trying to detect qi and yet here is a man with a weakened spiritual root that attracts it like nobody’s damn business.”

“I don’t think I have a spiritual root.” Li Yang admitted.

“Everybody has a spiritual root.” the shopkeeper said. “Every living thing has a spiritual root—heck, I think there are items that gain sentience if exposed to qi. Ever seen a living qi sword?”

“No.”

“Hah, well you should. But anyway, let’s see if I have anything at the back of the room.” the shopkeeper glanced behind him. “Let me repeat that this is probably something rare. Times are tough, and the age of cultivators have dwindled down. Not sure if we can actually call anyone in our era a proper one, but we’ll have to see if there’s actually something that can help this fella?”

“Do your best to look, we’re prepared to compensate you.” Shen An Na said.

“As all things should be—we’re in a shop, folks! Nothing’s free here!” the shopkeeper shot back and then retreated into another door and left the three at the front of his shop. The person was completely at ease despite leaving things to them.

Some kind of tight security was probably implemented. Li Yang turned back to the two, “Thank you for assistance, I’ll cover it if anything is found.”

“I’m sure there has to be something.” Shen An Na tried for a smile. “But if there isn’t anything—then the next thing is looking for something that’ll help with you in managing your condition.”

“Not everyone’s cut out to be a cultivator.” Hua Zhao added with a shrug. “Living a normal life isn’t so bad, you know?”

And yet he wasn’t afforded that opportunity. “That is true.” Li Yang glanced around and spotted the Panda trying some jewels inside of the glass display. How it got there was another question, but the creature only shot him back a look that didn’t give any concern. Only he was troubled as he remembered what the System had said. He didn’t have a spiritual root.

[ Host Has No Spiritual Root ]

The System confirmed it to him until now, so the shopkeeper was wrong unless… he summoned his status screen and honed in on the last portion.

[ Evaluation ]

A regular mortal living in the earthly plane. Due to the current time and age that one is currently living in, one does not have a single trace of harmony to the path of Dao. Despite living in the nation where cultivation began—you have no roots, no affinity to a specific element, and the normal path of cultivation is unimaginable. The Host is an insignificant being, if not for the System.

The wordings of the System had seemed normal to him at first, only accurate, but what if there was something wrong with it? The Panda has inferred that the System was infallible, but if he could find something…

‘Assess the Individual Hua Zhao?’ He had never tried it before, not particularly fond of the System compared to speaking with the Panda who gave more emotional, if not more genuine-sounding information, but something popped up.

[ Evaluation ]

Individual is an insignificant being in the earthly plane. The individual only pursued the initial cultivation path, but then forsaken it. Extremely weak.

‘Assess the Panda’

[ … ]

‘Asses the creature over there.’ Li Yang didn’t know its true name or identity, but if the System could give a general assessment then…

[ Evaluation ]

Individual is an insignificant and cursed being re-delegated to an earthly plane.

Li Yang came to a conclusion at once—the System spoke in a superlative manner. Or perhaps had seen everything on a scale that was far greater than what was meant for this world. The power curve installed in the System was far too grand for it to even take note of his mediocre spiritual root, perhaps?

It brought both chagrin and hope.

—-—-

Author Note: I noticed some authors use this portion after their writing instead of the designated bit. I have nothing special to say, I’m about to sleep lol. I noticed that I may have done too much worldbuilding x.x the information here is also available in my two other books, shared universe so it can be a little too much for others, but it’s a guilty pleasure, heh. [ 2/22/2021 ]