Li Xuan took a breath and finished explaining, one by one, the cultivation method for the Innate Realm that he had compiled.
"Disciple, do you remember it?"
The cultivation method for the Innate Realm was the first one he had painstakingly compiled. Its theories, framework, and everything else were far more complete than the Skin Tempering, Bone Refining, and Organ Refining of the Foundation Realm.
It had even pointed out the location of the Heaven and Earth Bridge and the Dantian Sea of Qi.
With such a more detailed cultivation method, Xu Yan should, in theory, find it easier to comprehend and cultivate successfully.
"Master, this disciple remembers it!"
Xu Yan spoke respectfully.
"As for the Innate method, comprehend it carefully in your spare time. You must not neglect your cultivation in the Qi and Blood Realm, nor must you reach for what is beyond your grasp.
"You must keep your feet firmly on the ground!"
Li Xuan solemnly reminded him again.
"Master, this disciple understands. Before my Vital Energy reaches perfection, I absolutely will not cultivate the Innate method or attempt a breakthrough."
Xu Yan spoke with great solemnity.
"Mm!"
Li Xuan nodded, then said, "There are these four lines that explain the Innate Realm. You should remember them too."
"Yes, Master!"
Xu Yan's spirits lifted, and excitement appeared on his face.
"The Heaven and Earth Bridge links through, shedding mortal dust; swallow and exhale Spiritual Qi, returning to the Innate; true qi vast and boundless; ride qi into the air and ascend to the azure heavens."
Li Xuan spoke each word clearly.
"The Heaven and Earth Bridge links through, shedding mortal dust... ride qi into the air and ascend to the azure heavens?"
Xu Yan muttered and repeated it once. He felt as if some understanding had stirred within his heart.
He simply felt that the Innate Realm seemed not far away from him!
"Comprehend it again in your spare time. Once your Vital Energy reaches perfection, you'll be able to break through to the Innate Realm."
Li Xuan glanced at his disciple.
The method for the Innate Realm had already been passed on to his disciple. When Xu Yan would comprehend it was impossible to know.
However, he believed that with Xu Yan's comprehension and his astonishing ability to fill in the blanks—and with his firm belief in the martial path Li Xuan had taught him—
Xu Yan would certainly be able to comprehend it.
"It's about time I tried taking on another disciple.
"The disciple must have excellent comprehension and a wild imagination. Only then can he comprehend these made-up techniques."
Li Xuan pondered inwardly.
The martial cultivation method for the Qi and Blood Realm was already complete. If he passed it on to a new disciple, would he receive feedback as well?
Could the new disciple cultivate it successfully?
Yet Li Xuan had an intuition: for his new disciple to receive greater feedback, that disciple had to cultivate a newly compiled technique.
He believed this intuition could not be wrong.
Therefore, taking on another disciple meant he had to compile another set of techniques.
The realm could remain unchanged, but the technique had to be different!
"Now that I have experience, compiling another one should be relatively easy. The problem is that disciples are hard to find.
"Ordinary people definitely won't do. Their comprehension is poor, and their ability to fill in the blanks isn't strong.
"They certainly won't be able to cultivate it successfully."
Li Xuan looked at Xu Yan, who was immersed in the cultivation formula of the Innate Realm. He knew very well that if not for this foolish disciple's exceptional comprehension, astonishing ability to fill in the blanks, and firm belief in the martial method he had taught him, Xu Yan would never have cultivated it successfully.
And thus activated Li Xuan's golden finger.
Therefore, his requirements for a disciple's talent absolutely could not be lowered.
"Qi Kingdom is so vast. I'll surely be able to find a second suitable disciple."
Li Xuan was filled with anticipation.
If he could not find one in Qi Kingdom, he could go to Wu Kingdom.
"I could also scout out one or two suitable people. If I don't take them as disciples, surely I can take them as servants, right? I'll pass on the cultivation method of the Qi and Blood Realm and see how it works.
"If servants aren't suitable, what about nominal disciples?
"I'm a Reclusive Master. How can I casually accept disciples?
"So servants it is."
Li Xuan had formed a few ideas.
It was still unclear whether others could successfully cultivate a martial method that had already been developed.
Even if they could cultivate it successfully, they should still have to meet certain requirements in terms of aptitude.
The feedback gained by later cultivators was not very high.
This intuition had arisen deep in Li Xuan's heart, and he believed it was related to his golden finger.
Therefore, if he wanted to obtain greater feedback, he still had to accept disciples and compile new techniques.
So it was time to leave.
Li Xuan glanced at his disciple, who was still lowering his head and pondering the method of the Innate Realm, and said, "Disciple, pack your luggage. It's time to leave."
"Master, what's wrong?"
Xu Yan was stunned.
"It's time for me to go out and take a look around as well."
Li Xuan spoke calmly.
"Master, you're not going into seclusion anymore?"
Xu Yan's face was full of astonishment.
"Since I have accepted a disciple, it's time for me to enter the mortal world. Besides, where can't one live in seclusion?
"'The greatest hermits hide in the marketplace!'"
Li Xuan wore an inscrutable expression.
"The greatest hermits hide in the marketplace?"
Xu Yan murmured the line. His spirits immediately soared. His master truly was a Reclusive Master!
Where could one not live in seclusion?
For a true master, what place could not be used for seclusion?
Even the noisy streets could serve as a place of seclusion.
"Yes, Master!"
Xu Yan nodded excitedly and began packing his luggage.
There was not much luggage.
Apart from a few changes of clothes, it was mostly the gifts he had brought when becoming Li Xuan's disciple.
Li Xuan toyed with a Jade Ruyi in his hand. He found himself liking this Jade Ruyi more and more.
A horse pulling a shabby wooden cart emerged from the mountain forest.
Li Xuan sat on the cart, playing with the Jade Ruyi as he looked at the dense forest and deep mountains gradually receding behind him. His heart filled with sighs and emotion. Since transmigrating, he had finally walked out of the mountains.
He had finally left the little village.
It was now approaching dusk.
Xu Yan led the horse with light steps, making no sound when his feet touched the ground.
His Light Swan Movement Technique had improved considerably again.
"Master, Yunshan County Town is ahead. Shall we stay in Yunshan County Town, or go straight to Donghe Commandery City?"
Xu Yan asked.
"Let's stay in Yunshan County for a while first."
Li Xuan pondered for a moment before speaking.
He would see whether there were any suitable candidates for disciples in Yunshan County.
Yunshan County was merely a small county town, with a population of only tens of thousands. That evening, the county's residents suddenly saw a horse cart entering the town.
There were two young men. One led the horse, while the other sat on the cart.
The young man on the cart was dressed plainly, but he was playing with a Jade Ruyi in his hand. It was flawless throughout, and anyone could tell at a glance that it was worth a great deal.
A beggar squatting by the roadside stared at the person on the cart for a long while. Excitement appeared on his face as he exchanged a meaningful glance with a middle-aged man running a stall nearby.
The stallkeeper silently nodded, packed up his stall, and left. He entered a small alley and disappeared without a trace.
The entire scene fell into Li Xuan's eyes.
But he remained unmoved.
Wealth should not be flaunted—such caution was only for the weak.
Qi Kingdom's martial strength was far too low. There was fundamentally no one capable of threatening him.
Even if powerful cultivators existed, they would not think much of the objects in his possession, such as the Jade Ruyi.
"Master, my family has a shop in the county town, and we've purchased a courtyard. Let's go there now."
Xu Yan spoke.
"Disciple, you arrange it as you see fit."
Li Xuan did not care.
These miscellaneous matters would naturally all be left to his disciple to arrange.
In the central area of the county town, in front of a small courtyard, Xu Yan stepped forward and knocked on the door. Before long, a servant opened the door and came out.
"Young Master? Young Master, please come in!"
When the servant saw that it was Xu Yan, his face immediately blossomed with smiles.
"Clean everything up for me. Find somewhere else to live."
Xu Yan gave the order directly.
"Yes, yes, Young Master. Please come in!"
The servant's face was covered in obsequious smiles. As he spoke, he moved forward to take the reins, but Xu Yan ignored him, leading the horse straight into the courtyard.
"Master, this is only a small place in the county town, so the accommodations are rather crude..."
"It's fine."
The servant looked at Li Xuan sitting on the horse cart and could not help freezing.
Master?
Had the richest man's foolish son been deceived again?
Before you continue