Back Mountain

"Not bad, not bad, you even know that if talent isn't enough, you can make up for it with hard work. A promising child!" Jiang Ming's voice echoed continuously in the bamboo forest. The sudden appearance of the voice startled Zhang Xiao Fan and Tian Ling'er, so much so that Zhang Xiao Fan thought it was a ghost.

"Who's there?"

"Senior sister, could there be ghosts in this bamboo forest?"

"Ghosts, my foot! What little ghost would dare to appear in Qingyun? This is a human voice." Tian Ling'er retorted, knocking Zhang Xiao Fan hard. She didn't believe Zhang Xiao Fan's talk of ghosts; it was clearly someone in the bamboo forest.

Hearing this, Zhang Xiao Fan covered his head where Tian Ling'er had hit him and quickly said, "Then who is it? Could it be the senior brothers trying to scare us?"

"Impossible. Eldest Brother and the others have been watched like hawks by my mother recently. They wouldn't have the leisure to tease us, and besides, they don't have the skill to do that," Tian Ling'er said. Hearing Zhang Xiao Fan suspect Song Daren and the others, she quickly dismissed the possibility.

"Who's there? Hurry up and come out..."

"I'm right in front of you, Little Ling'er..."

Tian Ling'er: "Seventh Senior Brother?..."

Seeing this, Jiang Ming descended from the bamboo top and appeared before Zhang Xiao Fan and Tian Ling'er, smiling as he looked at Tian Ling'er. He opened his mouth and said, "What's wrong, Little Ling'er? Do you still remember this senior brother?"

Seeing the unfamiliar young man who had suddenly appeared before him, Zhang Xiao Fan was shocked. Hearing Jiang Ming say this, he quickly turned his head to look at his senior sister, Tian Ling'er.

Tian Ling'er was just as startled as Zhang Xiao Fan when Jiang Ming appeared before her in the blink of an eye. Looking at the familiar face before her, she confirmed that it was indeed Seventh Senior Brother. Although she knew that Seventh Senior Brother's cultivation was profound and his training speed was extremely fast, she had never expected that Seventh Senior Brother, who had only been down the mountain for a short time, would reach this level of cultivation after returning. Tian Ling'er, who had instantly regained her senses, excitedly said, "Seventh Senior Brother, you're back! When did this happen?"

"Just yesterday evening, but it was already late, so I didn't go to see you. Besides, yesterday I heard from Master that he had taken in a new disciple after I went down the mountain, so I came to the Back Mountain early this morning to take a look." Jiang Ming looked at Tian Ling'er, and as soon as he finished speaking, his eyes turned to Zhang Xiao Fan. Seeing Zhang Xiao Fan's shocked expression, he immediately said,

"You must be Zhang Xiao Fan, the new disciple Master took in. I am your Seventh Senior Brother—Jiang Ming."

"I saw your morning practice just now. You're working very hard. Although your talent isn't the best, your diligence and temperament can completely make up for your shortcomings and surpass others later on."

Coming back to his senses, Zhang Xiao Fan saw that the person had introduced himself and was actually his Seventh Senior Brother, whom he had never met, and immediately lowered his guard. Seeing Jiang Ming say that he could surpass others later on, his heart was stirred, and he excitedly said, "S-Seventh Senior Brother, hello. I am Zhang Xiao Fan..."

"Hmph... Seventh Senior Brother, you probably don't know, but Xiao Fan hasn't even completed the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao since he started. This speed is about to make my dad angry. Surpass others later on?..." Tian Ling'er said, thinking that Jiang Ming didn't know about Zhang Xiao Fan's situation, and immediately retorted.

Seeing Tian Ling'er say this, Jiang Ming didn't blame her. After all, Zhang Xiao Fan would indeed create the Qingyun Sect's record for the slowest time to complete the first level. However, Jiang Ming had seen too many people with outstanding talents, but those who ultimately achieved great success were not necessarily those people. Moreover, they were cultivators. For those who cultivate the Dao, a heart that yearns for the Dao is too important. There were too many people with mediocre talents who surpassed others later on. Thinking of this, he shook his head at Tian Ling'er and said,

"Xiao Fan, Ling'er, you must know that cultivators are going against the heavens. Those who achieve great success are all people with tenacious wills. Moreover, in one's life, one shouldn't compete for temporary gains or losses. Until the very end, no one knows what will happen. Do you understand?"

"Xiao Fan, I have high hopes for you. Your future achievements will definitely surpass Master and even the Sect Leader Martial Uncle. You must persevere and do what you think is right." Jiang Ming thought of the successive encounters Zhang Xiao Fan had in the original work. Those with weak minds would probably have already become demons. Thinking of this, Jiang Ming looked at Zhang Xiao Fan and immediately gave a reminder to give him a shot in the arm. Only when he saw Zhang Xiao Fan did he realize that the reason why Zhang Xiao Fan had such a high level of cultivation in the future was not only because of those experiences or various opportunities, but also because of his own character, morality, and so on. Jiang Ming always believed that talent determines the lower limit, while character and perseverance determine the upper limit.

Hearing this, Zhang Xiao Fan saw that Jiang Ming had such high hopes for him and even believed that he would surpass Master. His heart was filled with excitement. Since becoming a disciple, only this Seventh Senior Brother, whom he had just met, had said this and believed in him so much. Zhang Xiao Fan, who was extremely excited, finally couldn't help but say, "T-Thank you, Seventh Senior Brother... I will work hard."

"Pfft... Seventh Senior Brother, you're not joking, are you? Xiao Fan will surpass my dad and even the Sect Leader Martial Uncle? My dad would find it laughable if he heard that." Tian Ling'er, who had been holding back until now, finally couldn't help but laugh. She didn't notice the flash of disappointment in Zhang Xiao Fan's eyes when he heard this.

Tian Ling'er found Jiang Ming's words extremely ridiculous. Xiao Fan actually believed such a false statement. He was really adorably silly!

Time passed like this for more than two years. During these two years, Zhang Xiao Fan finally completed the Buddhist and Daoist foundation building, officially completing the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao and stepping into the second level. Tian Ling'er had finished her bamboo-chopping practice long ago. Only Zhang Xiao Fan came to the Back Mountain early every morning to chop bamboo, regardless of the cold or heat.

Since Jiang Ming's words to Zhang Xiao Fan more than two years ago, Zhang Xiao Fan had become even more serious and hardworking. He knew that he had a senior brother who always believed that he could surpass others later on, even though he had spent three years on the first level and had been ridiculed for three years. But only Seventh Senior Brother encouraged him every day before dinner, telling him to work hard and believe in himself.

Zhang Xiao Fan knew that he couldn't let Seventh Senior Brother down and couldn't let Seventh Senior Brother be ridiculed by everyone. He wanted to let his senior brothers and senior sisters know that he, Zhang Xiao Fan, could do it.

Jiang Ming had been watching Zhang Xiao Fan's efforts all along. He didn't help Zhang Xiao Fan. He knew that as long as he gave Zhang Xiao Fan the first volume of the Heavenly Book, Zhang Xiao Fan could definitely shorten the foundation-building time.

However, Jiang Ming believed that this was a necessary path for Zhang Xiao Fan's growth. Three years of tempering would eventually be exchanged for a soaring flight in the future, just like Xiao Yan in Battle Through the Heavens. Three years of ridicule had been exchanged for a tenacious will, which was why he became the Flame Emperor in the future.

In the past two years, Jiang Ming's cultivation had gone from the fifth level on the surface to the eighth level now. He also had some clues about the fusion of cultivation methods. Jiang Ming's rapid cultivation once again stunned Tian Buyi, Su Ru, and the others. Especially Zhang Xiao Fan, who was shocked by the speed of this Seventh Senior Brother. This also gave Zhang Xiao Fan another laughingstock. Tian Ling'er would say to Zhang Xiao Fan from time to time, "Look at Seventh Senior Brother, he has improved four levels in two years, while you finally completed the first level in three years. So, Xiao Fan, don't even think about surpassing my dad. Just work hard slowly! After all, there's no way you can do it!"

As for Jiang Ming's specific cultivation level, Tian Buyi also forbade it from being spread. He wanted Jiang Ming to take first place in the Seven Peaks Tournament to prove that he, Tian Buyi, knew how to teach disciples, especially to make Cang Song look good.