Cheng Zhen spoke those words with complete seriousness.
Su Hao had nearly thought this guy was gloating over his misfortune.
Su Hao raised a brow. "I've never fought others for anything, never gone looking for trouble, never stopped anyone from becoming an immortal or a saint, and never wanted to be the strongest under heaven. Yet these troubles have come knocking on my door of their own accord. Someone is plotting against me—how is that a good thing?"
"Refined gold is tempered by fire; bright jade is brushed free of dust," Cheng Zhen replied simply.
Su Hao immediately understood what he meant and shook his head helplessly. "Oh, so it's all that stuff about a treasured sword's edge emerging from grinding, about tempering oneself, about Heaven assigning great responsibility to a man—is that it? Boring. I only want to cultivate in peace. I don't want to become any refined gold or bright jade."
"Heh, these troubles will not disappear merely because you do not want them. You say you do not contend with others and do not prevent others from becoming immortals or saints. But the higher one goes, the narrower the road becomes. To become a saint, there is only one path left. You may think you have not obstructed anyone, but that is only because you do not know it."
Cheng Zhen smiled.
"Please enlighten me, senior disciple brother." Su Hao fell into thought. So someone wanted to become a saint, and he had somehow become an obstacle? Yet even after a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, he still could not grasp the connection.
"There is nothing to enlighten you about. Taiqing has his misgivings and is unwilling to get involved. If you seek my help, then you will have to repay this favor