[Heavenly Palace], atop the Dao Platform of Miluo Palace.
Lu Yang and Si Sui sat facing each other like teacher and student in discussion. Si Sui sized Lu Yang up, then spoke first:
"Fellow Daoist, how many years have you cultivated for?"
Lu Yang considered it and answered honestly, "Less than a thousand years, I suppose."
"No wonder, less than a thou... thousand."
Si Sui's voice abruptly caught.
How many years?
With your Wisdom Light, you reached Golden Core completion in less than a thousand years?
After a brief silence, Si Sui finally calmed himself. "A thousand years, then. That does explain it. No wonder Fellow Daoist's foundation is simply a complete mess."
Lu Yang wore an earnest expression. "Please speak plainly, Senior."
Si Sui said solemnly, "To transmit the Dao, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts—these correspond to different types of students, divided according to their aptitude and foundation."
"Some students know absolutely nothing about cultivation. They need the Dao transmitted, knowledge imparted, and doubts resolved. I generally take such students as personal disciples, keeping them by my side and teaching them day and night, lest they take a wrong turn or make some mistake. The finest among them was Pan Huang."
Si Sui spoke at length:
"Then there are some students who already have their own Dao and their own skills and methods, yet still have difficult doubts on the path of cultivation."
"For instance, Zhi Fa."
"He cultivates the Dharma Power Dao and came to attend my lectures. For such students, I have them stand at the outer perimeter, because they have their own Dao Path. Listening to too much of my teaching would instead harm them."
"Beyond that, there are many other kinds of students. Some excel in techniques and possess formidable divine abilities, yet have no