What? Langya Tianxing raised his head in shock, meaning that the Grand Elder...
His talent is very high. The Grand Elder did not answer directly, but how high it specifically is, I still need to further confirm. But one thing is certain—his potential is no less than that heir of Sifang Pavilion.
Langya Tianxing shuddered all over, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
As head of the lineage, naturally he hoped for a steady stream of talented individuals within the lineage; but as head of the lineage all the same, inevitably he considered his own clansmen.
If Mu Bai were truly as the Grand Elder said...
Go. The Grand Elder waved a hand, remember my words. Keep a far-reaching perspective, and lineage interests take precedence over everything.
Langya Tianxing bowed deeply: Understood, this disciple has received your instruction.
After leaving the thatched cottage, Langya Tianxing stood by the edge of the cliff, gazing at the brilliantly lit estate of the Langya Family down the mountain, remaining silent for a long time.
Early the next morning, Mu Bai got up early, changing into the new clothes Langya Xing had prepared for him—a moon-white long robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered at the cuffs, which was attire that only core disciples of the Langya Family could wear.
Nervous? Langya Xing handed over a cup of hot tea.
Mu Bai took the teacup, feeling the warmth radiating from his palm: To say I'm not nervous is a lie. That's the Grand Elder after all...
Ha, now you know to be scared? Weren't you quite decisive when you were kowtowing yesterday?
Langya Xing teased, then turned serious, but seriously speaking, being chosen by the Grand Elder is your stroke of fortune. For three hundred years, countless geniuses wished to apprentice under him and were all rejected.
Mu Bai took a sip of tea, the delicate fragrance refreshing his heart and mind: Brother Xing, just how strong is... the Grand Elder?
Langya Xing shook his head: No one knows. I only heard that fifty years ago due to a conflict, two of the Eight Great Families joined forces to attack, and the Grand Elder stood before the mountain gate alone with a sword for three days and three nights, leaving both families dead and wounded heavily, until finally they tucked their tails and retreated.
The teacup in Mu Bai's hand almost dropped.
Fighting two families alone? What kind of concept was this?
It's getting late, you should hurry along. Langya Xing patted his shoulder, the back mountain Forbidden Land is guarded by special personnel, and only with the token can you enter. This is what Father sent someone to deliver last night.
He retrieved a jade token from his bosom, completely emerald green, with two characters engraved on the front and a landscape painting on the back.
Mu Bai solemnly took the jade token, feeling the faint spiritual qi contained within: Thank me to the head of the lineage.
Leaving Langya Xing's courtyard, Mu Bai walked toward the back mountain according to the instructions.
Along the way, disciples of the Langya Family he encountered, regardless of age, all bowed to him upon seeing him, their attitude so respectful that Mu Bai felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
That's the Grand Elder's newly accepted disciple?
Shh, keep it down! I heard he passed yesterday, and all of them were Grade A!
To be able to catch the Grand Elder's eye at such a young age, his future prospects are boundless...
Whispers constantly reached his ears, but Mu Bai looked straight ahead, his pace steady.
He knew that starting today, his status within the Langya Family would be completely different.
Arriving at the foot of the back mountain, two guards blocked his path.
Judging from their aura, they were unexpectedly two Grandmasters of Martial Arts.
Mu Bai produced the jade token, and the two guards hurriedly and respectfully stepped aside.
After they made way, what appeared before Mu Bai was a winding stone path leading upward.
The instant he stepped onto the stone steps, Mu Bai felt the concentration of spiritual qi around him suddenly rise, every breath making one feel refreshed and invigorated.
Only then did he understand why the back mountain was designated as a Forbidden Land—the cultivation environment here was immeasurably better than down the mountain.
Walking for about half an hour, Mu Bai finally reached the summit.
Yet the scene before his eyes made him freeze—there were no towering pavilions or jade palaces as imagined, only a dilapidated thatched cottage, with a few unknown herbs planted in front of the house, and a white crane leisurely pacing beside the herb garden.
You've come?
A familiar voice came from behind, and Mu Bai abruptly turned around, seeing that the Grand Elder had already appeared three steps behind him without a sound.
This disciple pays respects to Master! Mu Bai hastily bowed.
The Grand Elder had changed into a set of gray cloth garments today, looking like an ordinary village elder, except that pair of eyes remained profound.
He nodded slightly: Follow me.
The two came to an open space behind the thatched cottage.
The Grand Elder casually waved a hand, and a stone table and two stone stools were snatched over from the side.
Mu Bai cautiously sat down, feeling the stone stool as cold and smooth as jade, and after sitting upon it all the pores of his body relaxed—it was unexpectedly a piece of rare cold jade.
Yesterday was rushed, and some words didn't get said in time. The Grand Elder produced a teapot, without even seeing a fire, steam automatically rose from the pot, and today I will speak with you in detail.
Mu Bai respectfully accepted the teacup handed over by the Grand Elder: Please speak, Master.
First of all, do you know why I took you as a disciple?
Mu Bai hesitated for a moment: Is it because of this disciple's talent?
The Grand Elder shook his head: Talent is indeed important. But an equally important reason is—he looked straight into Mu Bai's eyes, your temperament. In the first trial, when faced with such strong talent of your own, you remained equally unarrogant and unimpulsive. This is the most important thing.
Temperament? Mu Bai wore a blank expression.
Temperament in martial arts cultivation is actually extremely important, and this kind of thing still has completely no way to be trained. The Grand Elder explained, ordinary martial artists practicing cultivation methods will suffer cultivation deviation, whereas those with good temperament can rapidly practice cultivation methods without needing to worry about cultivation deviation at all.
A shock ran through Mu Bai's heart.
Wasn't this the classic unfazed-by-favor-or-disgrace trope common in past-life novels? But thinking about his two lifetimes of being human, if his temperament still wasn't strong then he might as well just bash his head against a wall and die.
What's more, right now his talent didn't have anything worth being proud of; in past-life novels, weren't the protagonists all heaven-defying in talent with invincible golden fingers? Comparing his talent to theirs could only be described as utterly mediocre.
However, the Grand Elder's tone shifted, temperament is only an auxiliary; true martial arts must still take the practice of cultivation methods as primary.
Mu Bai nodded slightly, as he also deeply agreed with the Grand Elder's view—this temperament thing was worth absolutely squat to combat power, and even if your temperament was heaven-defying when you died, you were still nothing.
Master, may I ask how I should break through to Xiantian?
The Grand Elder revealed a satisfied smile: Well asked. This is precisely the first lesson I am going to teach you—how to break through to Xiantian.
Breaking through to Xiantian requires four conditions, and at least all four conditions must be met in order to break through to Xiantian! The Grand Elder's voice echoed beside his ear.
These four conditions respectively are: an Innate Cultivation Method, Spiritual Power, the Houtian Limit, and a Dantian Qi Vortex.
Before you continue