The Four Conditions for Breaking Through to Innate

"What?" Langya Tianxing looked up in shock. The Grand Elder's meaning was...

"His talent is very high." The Grand Elder didn't answer directly. "How high specifically, I still need to confirm further. But one thing is certain—his potential is no less than that of the Sifang Pavilion's heir."

Langya Tianxing trembled, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

As the family head, he naturally hoped for a continuous stream of talented individuals in the family; but as the family head, he couldn't help but consider his own clansmen.

If Mu Bai truly was as the Grand Elder said...

"Go." The Grand Elder waved his hand. "Remember my words. Keep a long-term perspective; the family's interests are above all else."

Langya Tianxing bowed deeply. "Yes, this disciple has learned his lesson."

After leaving the thatched hut, Langya Tianxing stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the brightly lit Langya Family mansion below, silent for a long time.

The next morning, Mu Bai woke up early and changed into the new clothes Langya Xing had prepared for him—a moon-white robe with faint cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs. This was attire only core disciples of the Langya Family could wear.

"Nervous?" Langya Xing handed him a cup of hot tea.

Mu Bai took the teacup, feeling the warmth in his palm. "It would be a lie to say I'm not nervous. That's the Grand Elder..."

"Ha, you know fear now? Weren't you quite decisive when you kowtowed yesterday?"

Langya Xing teased, then turned serious. "But honestly, being noticed by the Grand Elder is your fortune. In three hundred years, countless geniuses have wanted to become his disciple but were rejected."

Mu Bai took a sip of tea, the fragrance refreshing. "Brother Xing, how strong is the Grand Elder... exactly?"

Langya Xing shook his head. "No one knows. I only heard that fifty years ago, due to some conflict, two of the Eight Great Families joined forces to attack. The Grand Elder, alone with his sword, stood at the mountain gate for three days and three nights. Both families suffered heavy casualties and retreated in disgrace."

The teacup in Mu Bai's hand almost fell.

One person against two great families? What kind of concept was that?

"It's getting late, you should go." Langya Xing patted his shoulder. "The forbidden area in the back mountain is guarded by specialists. You can only enter with a token. My father sent this last night."

He took out a jade token from his embrace. It was emerald green, with the character "Two" carved on the front and a landscape painting on the back.

Mu Bai solemnly accepted the token, feeling the faint spiritual energy within it. "Please thank the Family Head on my behalf."

Leaving Langya Xing's courtyard, Mu Bai followed the instructions toward the back mountain.

Along the way, any Langya Family disciple he encountered, regardless of age, bowed to him. Their respectful attitude made Mu Bai a little uncomfortable.

"Is that the Grand Elder's new disciple?"

"Shh, keep your voice down! I heard he passed yesterday, and with all A-grades!"

"To be noticed by the Grand Elder at such a young age, his future is limitless..."

Whispers constantly reached his ears, but Mu Bai kept his eyes forward, his steps steady.

He knew that from today onwards, his status in the Langya Family would be completely different.

At the foot of the back mountain, two guards blocked his path.

Judging by their aura, they were both Grandmasters of Martial Arts.

Mu Bai took out the jade token. The two guards quickly and respectfully moved aside.

After they moved, a winding stone staircase leading upward appeared before Mu Bai.

The moment he stepped onto the stairs, Mu Bai felt the concentration of spiritual energy around him surge. Every breath felt refreshing.

He finally understood why the back mountain was designated as a forbidden area—the cultivation environment here was countless times better than that below the mountain.

After walking for about half an hour, Mu Bai finally reached the summit.

The sight before him stunned him—there were no magnificent palaces as he had imagined, only a simple thatched hut. In front of the hut grew a few unknown herbs, and a white crane leisurely paced by the medicinal garden.

"You've come?"

A familiar voice came from behind him. Mu Bai turned sharply, seeing the Grand Elder standing three steps behind him, having appeared without a sound.

"Disciple greets Master!" Mu Bai quickly bowed.

The Grand Elder had changed into a gray cloth robe today, looking like an ordinary old man from a mountain village, only his eyes remained deep.

He nodded slightly. "Follow me."

The two of them arrived at an open space behind the thatched hut.

The Grand Elder waved his hand casually, and a stone table and two stone stools were conjured from the side.

Mu Bai sat down cautiously, feeling the stone stool was as cool and smooth as jade. After sitting down, all his pores felt relaxed. It was actually a rare piece of cold jade.

"Yesterday was rushed, and there were some things I didn't have time to say." The Grand Elder took out a teapot. Without any fire, hot steam automatically rose from the pot. "Today, I will tell you in detail."

Mu Bai respectfully accepted the teacup handed to him by the Grand Elder. "Master, please speak."

"First, do you know why I accepted you as my disciple?"

Mu Bai hesitated. "Is it because of my talent?"

The Grand Elder shook his head. "Talent is indeed important. But equally important is—" He looked directly into Mu Bai's eyes. "Your state of mind. In the first trial, facing such strong talent, you remained neither arrogant nor impatient. That is the most important thing."

"State of mind?" Mu Bai looked bewildered.

A person's disposition is actually very important in Martial Dao cultivation, and it's something that can't be trained at all. The Grand Elder explained that ordinary martial artists might suffer from qi deviation when cultivating techniques, but those with good dispositions could cultivate them rapidly without any fear of qi deviation.

Mu Bai's heart trembled.

Isn't this the common 'unflappable' trope from novels in my past life? But then again, having lived two lives, if my disposition isn't strong by now, I might as well just smash my head against a wall.

Besides, my current talent isn't anything to be proud of. The protagonists in those novels from my past life all had heaven-defying talent and invincible cheat systems. Compared to them, my talent is merely mediocre.

However, the Grand Elder shifted his tone. "Disposition is only an aid. True Martial Dao still primarily relies on cultivating techniques."

Mu Bai nodded slightly. He strongly agreed with the Grand Elder's statement. Disposition was useless for combat power. If you're dead, no matter how amazing your disposition is, it's worthless.

"Master, how can I break through to the Innate realm?"

The Grand Elder revealed a satisfied smile. "Well asked. This is precisely the first lesson I intend to teach you – how to break through to the Innate realm."

"Breaking through to the Innate realm requires four conditions. At least all four conditions must be met to achieve the breakthrough!" the Grand Elder's voice echoed in his ears.

"These four conditions are: an Innate Cultivation Method, Spiritual Power, the Houtian Limit, and a Dantian Qi Vortex."