We cultivators must keep a low profile

"If my eldest disciple faces a calamity four years from now, what will become of his life if I secretly help him?"

Lu Changsheng simulated the life of his eldest disciple, Lin Qingzhi, again. This time, the premise was that he would secretly save Lin Qingzhi when he was ambushed by a Demon Sects elder at nineteen.

[Ding! You have changed the conditions. The system is simulating your disciple "Lin Qingzhi's" life again.]

[Ding! Remaining simulations today: -1.]

[Simulation beginning:]

[Age 16: Under your attentive guidance, Lin Qingzhi breaks through to the Golden Core Realm.]

[Age 18: The younger generation of Shushan disciples leave the mountain to gain experience.]

[Age 19: Lin Qingzhi's Shushan team completes its training mission and is ambushed by Demon Sects disciples on the way back to Shushan.]

[Just as the Demon Sects elder believes he can wipe out all the Shushan disciples, you emerge from behind the scenes and kill him with a single palm strike.]

[The Demon Sects elder dies.]

[Age 25: Lin Qingzhi descends the mountain to gain experience again and defeats Xiao Xiangdao in a dispute.]

[Age 33: A calamity befalls the righteous path in Xiazhou. Lin Qingzhi joins you and Lian in fighting the Four Great Demonic Sects and the Demon Race.]

[Age 40: Thanks to your constant Transmission Empowerment, Lin Qingzhi, whose aptitude is mediocre, breaks through to the Dao Palace Realm.]

[Age 42: Lin Qingzhi falls victim to a sneak attack during a great battle with the Demon Sects.]

[Lin Qingzhi dies.]

[Simulation ended.]

Lin Qingzhi died again, again??

Lu Changsheng rubbed his temples, his head aching.

His eldest disciple had poor fortune. Who knew when his luck would finally turn?

Those with a Childlike Heart were simple and pure by nature, making them easy targets for sneak attacks. Their aptitude also appeared mediocre early on, making their path of immortal cultivation exceptionally treacherous.

Compared with the monstrous life of his junior sister Lian, Lin Qingzhi's life seemed to pale somewhat.

Lu Changsheng was betting on Lin Qingzhi's future potential.

According to Shushan's ancient records, a cultivator with a Childlike Heart might one day comprehend the Dao and cast off the mortal shell to ascend as an immortal.

Besides, with a simple and pure eldest disciple to manage a group of junior brothers and sisters in the future, Lu Changsheng would not have to worry so much and could focus on cultivation.

"Even if my unlucky eldest disciple has a poor fate early on, I can simulate his life and step in at critical moments to help him turn danger into safety... I hope he can accomplish something in the future."

Although Lu Changsheng had taken disciples to fleece the system, a teacher for a day was a father for life, and he could not help worrying about his disciple's fate.

"I've used up both simulations for today. I'll simulate again another time."

Lu Changsheng knew he could change his disciples' fates at critical moments, so he was in no hurry.

If Lu Changsheng intervened to save him four years from now, his eldest disciple Lin Qingzhi's life would not be in danger before he turned forty-two.

Lu Changsheng sat in meditation and continued cultivating the fifth layer of the Taiqing Wuji Art.

Although the system could return cultivation, Lu Changsheng still had to rely on himself to cultivate his techniques and consolidate his realm.

Over the next month, Lu Changsheng took turns rewarding his two disciples with pills and continued giving them Transmission Empowerment.

A month later, Lian had mastered the second layer of the Purple Flame Primordial Chaos Art.

Lu Changsheng began teaching Lian Martial Technique.

With Lu Changsheng's cultivation at the Dao Palace Realm and his practice of both the Taiqing Wuji Art and the Nine Dragons Body Refining Method, guiding a Martial King Divine Physique at the Qi Condensation Realm was well within his abilities.

[Ding! You have rewarded your disciple "Lian" with the mid-grade Mystic Stage Martial Technique "Swift Dragon Break" and received a four-hundredfold disciple-teaching return: the mid-grade Heaven Stage Martial Technique "Nine Azure Dragon Forms."]

[Ding! You have rewarded your disciple "Lian" with the Upper-Grade Spirit Artifact "Redfire Spear" and received a thousandfold disciple-teaching return: the low-grade Innate Spirit Treasure "Peerless Tyrant Spear."]

[Ding! Remaining rewards today: -2. Remaining rewards: 0.]

Holding a red-tasseled spear in both hands, Lu Changsheng demonstrated the thirteen spear moves of Swift Dragon Break.

First came a flash of cold light, then the spear shot forth like a dragon!

The red-tasseled spear whistled through the air, its moves flowing like clouds and water, roaring like a wind dragon formed by a fierce gale.

Lu Changsheng cultivated the Sword Dao, but he possessed an Innate Dao Body. Comprehending a Mystic Stage spear skill was little different from a mortal eating and drinking.

Lian sat to one side with her chin in her hands, watching with rapt attention.

Her eyes were bright, and she was full of enthusiasm.

After all, she was a descendant of the Wilderness Tribe, born with a Martial King Divine Physique, and in her golden blood were genes that yearned for battle!

"Did you remember it?"

"Mm-hmm, I remembered it all!"

Lian jumped up excitedly and, holding the Redfire Spear, performed the spear techniques recorded in Swift Dragon Break with convincing form.

Because Lian was still so small, the sight of her swinging a long spear could not help but bring a smile to one's face, but the strength of a Martial King Divine Physique could not be underestimated.

As she swung the spear, it occasionally whistled through the air, and its fierce gleam pierced cracks into the cave abode's stone walls.

This little one really is best suited to the Martial Dao. She always seems impatient when I make her sit and cultivate, but she learned a Mystic Stage Martial Technique after watching it just once.

Lu Changsheng marveled at how well the Martial King Divine Physique suited the Martial Dao.

Even so, Lu Changsheng still made his young disciple cultivate the Dao alongside her martial practice, developing all her potential so she could go further in the future.

"I can break through to the Dao Palace Realm Second Layer now."

After teaching Lian the spear techniques, Lu Changsheng refined the cultivation returned from a month of Transmission Empowerment and entered seclusion for seven days.

Lu Changsheng was exceptionally cautious, building a deep foundation at every layer before making a breakthrough. Only when he was completely certain of success did he formally enter seclusion.

Seven days later, Lu Changsheng emerged from the cave abode. When Lin Qingzhi and Lian saw their master again, they both felt he had become even more unfathomable.

"It's time to give you Transmission Empowerment again."

Lu Changsheng had reached the Dao Palace Realm Second Layer as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Though he had only just emerged from seclusion, he did not forget to fleece the system.

"Shushan holds an Apprentice-Selection Ceremony every ten years. In the third year after each generation of disciples joins, they have an opportunity to spar with one another and see how everyone's cultivation has progressed over those three years. It is called the 'Shushan Disciple Tournament.' Afterward comes their first journey down the mountain to gain experience."

While giving his eldest disciple Lin Qingzhi Transmission Empowerment, Lu Changsheng recalled some of Shushan's rules.

"I will be sure to do well and would not dare bring shame to you, Master."

Deeply moved by Lu Changsheng's constant Transmission Empowerment to help him improve his cultivation, Lin Qingzhi swore to win his master some pride.

"Ahem, you should hold back a little when the time comes. Don't use your full strength."

"Master, wh-why is that?"

"The tree that towers above the forest is bound to be broken by the wind; the mound that rises above the bank is bound to be battered by the current; the one whose conduct rises above others is bound to be condemned by the crowd. The lessons of the past are not far behind, yet overturned carts follow the same tracks. In short, we cultivators must keep a low profile and not strive to outdo others."

Lu Changsheng spoke earnestly.

The Demon Sects of this world would not let a protagonist grow unchecked. If they discovered a heaven-gifted genius who posed a threat, they would seek every possible way to wipe that person out early on.

He had simulated Lin Qingzhi's life twice, and both times Lin Qingzhi had died to a Demon Sects sneak attack.

Only by lying low would he have a better chance of becoming a sage.

Lin Qingzhi bowed solemnly. "I will remember your words, Master."

Lian's eyes, however, were filled with enormous confusion. What was keeping a low profile? Could she eat it?