Every cultivator has spirit roots with different attributes and learns cultivation techniques based on those. MC grew up in a village and was taught cultivation by an old beggar. He and his childhood friend get recruited by monks into their sect. MC has five earth roots, which is super rare and gives him strong cultivation potential. But the sect elders don’t want him rising too high since their sect focuses on water-based arts, and they see him as a potential threat. So they give him a cultivation method that doesn’t suit him. Luckily, he has a treasure rock with the old beggar as a spirit inside who gives him advice. The grandpa teaches him a technique that lets him change his attribute, so he can use techniques he normally couldn’t. The rock can also refine items into their purest base metals, which he uses to learn artifact refining and trade for resources. MC cultivates in secret, aiming to rise while planning his eventual escape from the sect. The world is harsh, most cultivators are either dirt poor or stuck in rigid hierarchies, and many wouldn’t hesitate to betray their friends for the chance at a treasure.

It's pretty average overall. The plot feels kind of generic and lacks depth, with lots of face-slapping and young master tropes. The cultivation system is pretty basic, and the techniques don’t stand out. The MC is a ruthless demonic cultivator, but he doesn't get much development. Also, even though he relies on schemes to achieve his goals, he always pulls out some new technique from his evil scripture and can pretty much parasitize anyone with his demonic aura, which lowers the stakes. Side characters are forgettable, with new ones popping up almost every chapter. A lot of them have similar names too, which makes it hard to keep track. The world-building isn’t immersive either, and the setting descriptions are pretty weak.