After Xu Chang took his leave, True Person Xuan Chen looked at Lin Chan and asked in a concerned tone:
"Did you truly encounter no danger on this trip?"
"None."
Lin Chan had long prepared his explanation.
In the past, Lin Chan would have believed True Person Xuan Chen nine times out of ten.
But this time, after True Person Xuan Chen sent him out, he lost his Seventh Grade Merit. Though it had nothing to do with True Person Xuan Chen, a rift had formed in Lin Chan's heart.
Sure enough, in the end, a person could only trust himself.
"Sending you to see that Tiger Demon this time was Elder Xuan Ku of Kaiyang Peak's suggestion. Naturally, it was because you were acquainted with the Tiger Demon. Moreover, Shu Mountain's True Persons could not conveniently barge into Wu Country and meddle in others' affairs, so you were sent instead."
True Person Xuan Chen added an explanation. He had not needed to say any of this.
When a True Person told you to do something, did you dare ask why?
"I know you did not wish to see the Tiger Demon, and the Tiger Demon was indeed dangerous. That is why you were later given the Grand Summoning Talisman—to guard against unforeseen circumstances."
True Person Xuan Chen had only later realized that sending Lin Chan had not been inappropriate, yet it had also been deeply inappropriate.
After all, people were fickle, much less demons.
Besides that, True Person Xuan Ji was another source of headaches for True Person Xuan Chen.
He had noticed that over the years, True Person Xuan Ji had somewhat gone astray, and her state of mind had become difficult to keep stable.
True Person Xuan Chen had worried that she would disregard her status as an elder and bully the young. Now, it seemed that nothing terrible had happened.
Xuan Ji was not so petty as to hold a grudge against a junior of the next generation.
Of course, that was only what True Person Xuan Chen saw from his perspective.
He could not spy on his junior sister at every moment and keep track of all her actions.
Nor would True Person Xuan Ji make her dirty deeds obvious.
"Master, among Tianquan Peak's younger generation, only I know the Tiger Demon. It was only right for me to go. It is also my honor to share Shu Mountain's burdens."
Lin Chan did not show much resentment on his face.
But in his heart, he had long known as clearly as if reflected in a mirror who was stirring up trouble.
As for his Merit being used up, Lin Chan did not reveal much either.
He had deliberately placed the Lesser Merit Record inside his Storage Bag to prevent the matter from coming to light.
Back then, the most important reason True Person Xuan Chen had been willing to accept him as a disciple was that great Merit was hard to find, while Foundation Establishment was difficult.
Perhaps Lin Chan was being oversensitive, but he feared that once this matter was exposed, he would be expelled from the sect.
At that point, True Person Xuan Ji would find it even easier to deal with him.
Still, judging by True Person Xuan Chen's current attitude, he would not tear down the bridge after crossing the river. Lin Chan merely feared that one chance in ten thousand.
In his previous life, he had been an orphan, overlooked by others. In this life, he had also been abandoned by the main branch of the Lushan Lin Family, so he was somewhat more sensitive by nature.
"Enough. This matter has already passed, so let us say no more of it. Let us discuss your cultivation instead."
True Person Xuan Chen changed the subject and did not continue discussing it.
"Master, what sword art do you intend to teach me?"
Lin Chan's eyes lit up.
The [Heart Sword Same Origin Art] was a cultivation method and contained no means of fighting enemies.
"I had originally selected a sword art highly suited to you. But then I considered that your cultivation aptitude is somewhat lacking, and that your grasp of knowledge about the cultivation world is still limited. There is much you need to learn. If I taught you a sword art and caused you to divide your attention between cultivation and sword practice, delaying your path to the Great Dao, that would instead be harmful."
True Person Xuan Chen spoke earnestly.
Within Shu Mountain, there were quite a few sword fanatics obsessed with sword arts, both old and young.
But those sword fanatics all possessed decent talent. Even if they immersed themselves in sword practice all day, it would not delay their cultivation.
Lin Chan was different. He merely had a slightly unusual physique and did not even possess a Spiritual Root. Every step of his future cultivation would be arduous.
If Lin Chan also became a sword fanatic and delayed his cultivation, he would instead stray from the proper path.
"Master, this disciple will not neglect daily cultivation. I will only use my spare time to practice!"
Lin Chan hurriedly said.
Now that his Merit was gone, who knew when it might be exposed and he would be driven from Shu Mountain? If he did not even know a single means of fighting enemies, that would be extremely bad.
Moreover, he no longer had any Merit.
If he wished to use Merit for Foundation Establishment, then after reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation, he would need to leave and gain experience, punish evil, and eliminate wrongdoing.
All of that required his own strength as a guarantee.
As expected, he is showing signs of becoming a sword fanatic.
Seeing Lin Chan like this, True Person Xuan Chen became even more convinced of his own thoughts.
"Chan'er, say no more. Once you break through to Foundation Establishment, I will naturally teach you the sword art best suited to you. Even if you wish to learn my secret sword techniques, it is not as though I cannot teach them to you."
True Person Xuan Chen closed his eyes, unwilling to say any more.
"Master, you promised me that after I returned, you would teach me. Yet now..."
Lin Chan seized upon the key point but did not finish his words, lest he tear all pretenses with his master.
True Person Xuan Chen frowned. Only after a long while did he say:
"I truly intended it for your own good. But since you insist on learning, I cannot refuse to teach you. Let us each take a step back. If you break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation within ten years, I will teach you the [Eight Trigrams Universe Sword]."
If Lin Chan could break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation within ten years, True Person Xuan Chen would no longer need to worry that sword practice would affect his cultivation.
Qi Cultivation had twelve layers in total. The late stage of Qi Cultivation began at Qi Cultivation Layer 9, when one could attempt Foundation Establishment.
If one wished to temper one's foundation, rising to Layer 12 was naturally the safest course.
Lin Chan was currently at Qi Cultivation Layer 3. The difficulty of every layer doubled, and there were thick barriers between the early and middle stages of Qi Cultivation, as well as between the middle and late stages.
For Qi Cultivation Layer 1 alone, Lin Chan had spent more than three months.
To reach Qi Cultivation Layer 9, Lin Chan would theoretically need over a hundred years.
Of course, that calculation was based on Lin Chan maintaining his initial cultivation speed, and it was indeed rather exaggerated.
But everyone changed at every stage, and cultivation speed would not remain at its initial turtle's pace forever.
Improving one's physical condition, consuming high-grade pills, and deepening one's understanding of cultivation methods could all raise cultivation efficiency to a certain extent.
As one's cultivation improved and one's meridians became sturdier, the amount of time one could cultivate each day would also increase.
Not to mention the assistance of the [Heart Sword Same Origin Art], as well as the enhancement of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pendant.
All of these could increase Lin Chan's cultivation speed.
But even taking all these variables into account, True Person Xuan Chen believed that Lin Chan would need at least ten to twenty years to break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation.
If Lin Chan could reach the late stage of Qi Cultivation within ten years, then he could use that Seventh Grade Merit to break through directly. At the very least, Foundation Establishment would be assured.
"Then let us make this agreement, Master. Ten years it shall be."
Hearing True Person Xuan Chen say this, Lin Chan only pondered for a moment before immediately nodding and agreeing.
He knew cultivation was difficult, but he could gain an additional talent each year. Breaking through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation within ten years might not be difficult.
Most importantly, Lin Chan had no standing to negotiate with True Person Xuan Chen.
What a master wished to teach, when he wished to teach it, how he wished to teach it, or whether he wished to teach at all—
Was that not entirely for True Person Xuan Chen alone to decide?
Even if he taught nothing, Lin Chan could say nothing about it.
Before True Person Xuan Chen, the only trump card Lin Chan could produce was the fact that he had delivered a letter for Shu Mountain once.
He had already said what he could. Since True Person Xuan Chen's attitude had not changed, there was nothing he could do.
Still, what True Person Xuan Chen said was not without reason. He truly needed to focus more on cultivation.
Cultivation and strength were the foundation upon which one stood.
"All right, go back. But watch your health. Do not overtrain. The intensity of your cultivation must increase gradually; too much is as bad as too little."
True Person Xuan Chen gave one final reminder.
"Yes, Master! This disciple will heed your teachings! I shall take my leave now."
Lin Chan replied obediently.
Then he turned and left.
Before you continue