***The selection stone in the old man's hand cracked and shattered.
"!!"
The old man was startled.
However, his regretful look was only momentary.
He cast a heated gaze towards the young man.
What an incredible Metal (金) energy! And to think it is a Heavenly Spiritual Root (天靈根) at that!
An unbelievably pure Heavenly Spiritual Root of the Metal Element.
Spiritual Root referred to an Immortal's talent for handling the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.
Among them, a Heavenly Spiritual Root was a single-Elemental Root among the Five Elements of Water, Metal, Fire, Wood, and Earth, and could be called a heaven-sent talent.
If one cultivated Metal Element Cultivation Techniques, there would be no obstacles, and the cultivation speed would be far superior to ordinary multi-Element Spiritual Roots.
Ah.
What great fortune!
A Heavenly Spiritual Root was a talent cherished even within Immortal Sects.
He must be secured at all costs.
But why did the selection stone break?
Shake shake-
Is that important? The Heavenly Spiritual Root is what matters!
"Hahaha."
The old man smiled and burst into laughter that echoed throughout the mountain.
"Let's return to the sect immediately. I owe that punk Qingyao one. Tell him I shall visit him separately later."
As the old man waved his arm, a leaf that came out of his sleeve grew enormous.
"Now, everyone get on!"
The selected boys and girls glanced at Karlstein before demurely getting on the leaf.
"Kuh! I knew you'd be chosen if it was you!"
The middle-aged man approached him and acted friendly.
"For someone who said that, weren’t you avoiding my eyes earlier?"
"Ahem! Hmm!"
When the middle-aged man was chosen, he had subtly avoided Karlstein's gaze.
"After receiving your help, I didn't know what face to make if only I got in."
"Let's just leave it at that."
Karlstein had just said it casually, and he got on the leaf following the old man.
A technique to shrink and expand volume...?
It was not that the Galactic Empire couldn't do it, but it certainly couldn't do it this easily.
There's a lot to reference here.
YongYong's Subspace Magic didn’t use Ether, so there was almost nothing to reference, but for this case, it was different.
"Well then! We shall depart now. It will probably take about two months of travel. Let us hurry!"
To Karlstein, it felt like the old man was finely manipulating Ether to float the giant leaf.
Ether.
Currently, he couldn't feel any Ether from his body. It was as if it was completely blocked, not moving, like a rock submerged underwater.
Perhaps the connection to the Community being cut off was because of this.
At any rate.
There was no major problem with traveling.
On the way, he heard various explanations from the old man.
"A Heavenly Spiritual Root is a heaven-sent talent. You will not be able to learn techniques of other Elements, but that's no problem. You just need to learn techniques that match your Spiritual Root's Element."
Isn't that a bad thing?
"If you just put in effort, you shall be able to raise your realm several times, no, ten times faster."
"Hahaha. Even within the sect, you will be treated preciously. Whether it is cultivation resources or proper masters, they will do everything they can for you in the sect."
"Although Heavenly Spiritual Roots are also ranked according to the purity of their Element, you are..."
"What is the use in saying it! You have the purest Spiritual Root I have ever seen!"
The old man's eyes sparkled as he spoke rapidly.
Karlstein had felt a bit disappointed at hearing he could only learn techniques of one Element among the Five Elements, but seeing how expectant the old man was, maybe it wouldn't be so bad?
Karlstein hadn't had high expectations to begin with anyway.
"You're scheduled to be assigned to the Qi Refining Pavilion."
"Qi Refining Pavilion?"
"You can think of it as the place where Immortals smelt and refined their Dharma Tools."
After yapping all about how good it was, in the end, he would just do a production job?
"It's perfect for learning Metal Element Cultivation Techniques in particular. Moreover, our Flame Metal Sect excels in forging Dharma Tools."
The old man's voice was full of pride.
Was the old man also from the Qi Refining Pavilion?
Wait no. That can't be possible, though?
[Judging by your reaction, it seems to be true.]
"Uh...."
It's not that they hadn't researched time differences with other dimensions before. Of course, they had conducted research and investigations on this, and although there were subtle differences, they had never been as clear as this time.
"Anyway.... Is this a good thing?"
A dimension with a time ratio difference of at least ten times....
Depending on how it was used, it seemed like substantial gains could be made....
Interest and curiosity about Xianxia welled up in Karlstein's mind.
At that moment.
Bang-
"Aria! What happened!"
A green-haired girl burst through the door.
"Eh? Camilla?"
Camilla froze when she saw Karlstein standing there perfectly fine.
"Uh, uh?"
"You took off your gas mask? That’s rare. Didn't you say you didn't want to breathe the same air as us-"
"Kyaaak!"
"??"
For some reason, she screamed and then ran out the door.
[We've been spared some trouble.]
"Hm? What do you mean?"
He didn't know what was happening, but...
Bang-
"Is His Majesty-"
Maxien, who came in similarly, paused for a moment when he saw Karlstein.
"...well?"
"Eh? Yep."
Maxien looked at Aria once and then sighed.
"At any rate, I am glad that nothing happened. Please take care of your health."
Tap.
Maxien closed the door and left.
Bang!
"Chancellor!"
Thud!
"Madam Secretary!"
Bang!
"Your Majestyyyyy!!"
Bang!
"I humbly beg for Your Majesty’s understanding!!!"
After experiencing the same situation a few times like this.
"U-Umm...."
[...I would appreciate it if you acknowledged my efforts.]
"R-Right."
To enter and leave the Imperial Palace's Great Hall like It was their own home....
However, in the eyes of those who burst through the door, a glimpse of madness could be seen.
As if they would even risk death, if....
No, that can't be.
Karlstein shook his head.
He felt exhausted already without having done anything.
Moreover, Aria's gaze was not normal either.
I need to change the subject!
"A-Anyway, how did things progress in World?"
[...You came right on time. Just when we needed you, Master.]
"Really? Is there a spare body to possess?"
[Fortunately, I had one manufactured in advance. However.]
"Oooh, as expected of Aria. However?"
[There are some things you should know.]
Karlstein congratulated himself on changing the subject and listened to her words.