"Brother Bai, don't mind me. Go on, I'm listening."
Xu Yi flipped through the notes as he instructed Bai Jizi.
He knew Bai Jizi's way of speaking. He was surely building up to something after first downplaying it, and still had some genuine insight he hadn't shared.
Bai Jizi said, "As for cultivating a True Intent Supernatural Ability, it's truly as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Everyone's already said that the difficulty lies in the intent, not the supernatural ability. To melt the true intent of mountains, rivers, the sun, moon, and stars into a supernatural ability, transforming nature's wonders into the wonders of a cultivation art—that is to seize the marvels of heaven and earth and wield the power of creation."
"So the key is to comprehend true intent. On that subject, I once heard a story from my late master. It was about Long Jizi, who went to Mount Mang to temper his intent. He spent seven years in the mountains without sleeping or eating, traversing all three hundred li of Mount Mang. In time, he came to recognize every single leaf on the mountain. And sure enough, Long Jizi perfected his intent and cultivated a world-shaking supernatural ability. It's a simple story, but it tells of the hardship of tempering one's intent—and, of course, the path to doing so: when sincerity reaches its utmost, even metal and stone will yield."
Xu Yi closed the notes and applauded softly. "How true: when sincerity reaches its utmost, even metal and stone will yield. I've learned something today."
His face was flushed with excitement. When he suddenly spoke, Bai Jizi was startled, then smiled. "Brother Xu, you flatter me. I'm merely repeating my late master's words. In truth, cultivating a True Intent Supernatural Ability is thirty percent personal effort