Foolish Person, Foolish Fortune

Several instructors eagerly awaited Qingyun's selection.

Qingyun, however, looked at Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an's gaze, meanwhile, passed over the seven instructors before him and landed on Instructor Wu, who was teaching diligently and tirelessly nearby, as always.

Fifteen years ago, when Li Ji'an entered the Martial Arts Academy, young Instructor Wu had just returned home from the Prefectural City Immortal Seeking Academy.

He was only twenty-one at the time, nine years younger than Li Ji'an then.

He was a local of Shangyi County and had studied at this very academy. However, his talent was mediocre. Despite his hard work, he failed the Martial Arts Examination twice. Finally, he was recommended by the academy's former Head Instructor to study at a branch of the Prefectural City Immortal Seeking Academy for targeted instructor training.

Having spent ten years together, Li Ji'an knew young Instructor Wu's character well. He was also someone who repaid kindness. He returned to the Martial Arts Academy primarily to repay the former Head Instructor's recognition and support.

He was introverted and taciturn, yet exceptionally serious and strict about teaching the Martial Path.

He didn't seek fame or fortune; he would teach anyone earnestly, as long as they were willing to learn.

Even when facing Li Ji'an, who was already thirty years old and far past the age for practicing martial arts, he put in his full effort.

Otherwise, given Li Ji'an's age and Bone Structure at the time, even with the unsuccessful experience of practicing martial arts for a year in his previous life, he likely wouldn't have been able to cultivate the Golden Strength Technique to minor completion, let alone achieve skin grinding perfection.

"Young Instructor Wu is nearing forty now. Time is relentless," Li Ji'an sighed softly, looking at the traces of time on Instructor Wu's face.

"Young friend, Ma Yuan values brotherhood above all. Seeing you like this reminds me of my own youthful camaraderie. Today, I'll make an exception. Regardless of your brother's talent, I will take him under my wing. What do you say?" Seeing Qingyun looking at Li Ji'an, Ma Yuan, the most quick-witted among them, spoke up immediately.

Qingyun: "..."

Master Wan: "..."

You're really thinking too highly of yourself!

"Thank you for your kind offer, Instructor Ma. However, I see that instructor is the most serious and doesn't smile much. My Master taught me: a strict teacher produces outstanding disciples. Therefore, I choose that instructor," Li Ji'an said directly, no longer wishing to beat around the bush or caring about their feelings.

"Hmm?"

"Instructor Wu?"

The seven instructors, along with Master Wan, looked incredulously at Instructor Wu, who was still diligently teaching and hadn't paid attention to them.

"Kid, you want to choose Instructor Wu? Have you thought it through? Little Wu has been at the academy for fifteen years, and he still hasn't taught a single disciple who passed the Martial Arts Examination. He didn't come to select you all simply because he felt he couldn't mislead any students," Ma Yuan chuckled, looking at Li Ji'an with a hint of mockery.

Li Ji'an was unfazed. Instructor Wu was simply not one to seek fame or fortune. As for never having taught a disciple who passed the Martial Arts Examination, it was only because he hadn't encountered any promising talents. He didn't care about the quality of the talent; he was truly practicing the principles of imparting knowledge and resolving doubts.

Moreover, with Li Ji'an's ten years of experience in his previous life achieving minor completion in the Golden Strength Technique and skin grinding perfection, coupled with his current life's Wild Sparrow Physique Bone Structure and meridians, and even stronger mental power, he might achieve skin refining within two years and enter the Prefectural City Immortal Seeking Academy even without an instructor.

"I've made up my mind. I wish to become Instructor Wu's disciple."

"Very well. Since you've chosen yourself, I can't say anything more. Just don't regret it yourself," Ma Yuan said immediately.

He was willing to accept Li Ji'an only because Qingyun was a disciple of superior talent.

Li Ji'an's voluntary withdrawal pleased him; he had already shown his attitude to Qingyun anyway.

As for Li Ji'an's talent, not only Ma Yuan but also the other six instructors didn't take it seriously. It wasn't like two individuals with superior Bone Structure would appear within two years, was it?

"Ah? Little Li, you..." Old Wan exclaimed in surprise. But in the next moment, his thoughts shifted. The skill level of the instructors in the academy was about the same in his opinion. On the other hand, Instructor Wu's attitude and character were the best.

Furthermore, with Li Ji'an's Wild Sparrow Physique, choosing any instructor would guarantee him success in the Martial Arts Examination.

Thinking this, he stopped speaking and looked at Little Wu, who was still teaching diligently, a hint of envy in his eyes.

Is it a fool's blessing?

This was an Immortal Seed who could very likely become a grandmaster in the future. Once he advanced to the Grandmaster realm, with this teacher-student connection with Little Wu... tsk tsk, it would surely lead to immense fortune!

"Young friend, come and cultivate with me," Ma Yuan said, no longer paying attention to Li Ji'an and focusing intently on Qingyun.

"Then I'll also cultivate with Instructor Wu," Qingyun said without hesitation.

"No!"

"No!"

Li Ji'an and Ma Yuan said almost in unison.

Ma Yuan didn't want to lose out on this performance opportunity.

Li Ji'an's reasoning was twofold: First, although Instructor Ma's character was questionable, he was willing to invest in geniuses and could provide more resources. If Qingyun truly wanted to achieve success in the Martial Path, it would be more suitable for him. Second, he didn't want Qingyun, this black sheep who had no desire to practice martial arts, to damage Instructor Wu's Dao heart.

In Li Ji'an's view, there was no such thing as achieving great things when one didn't truly want to from the bottom of their heart, especially in the Martial Path.

Such plots only existed in novels and television shows.

Even the most heaven-defying talent wouldn't suffice.

After all, only when one genuinely desires to achieve something can they strive for it and succeed.

And if they don't want it from the bottom of their heart, even if forced to practice, they wouldn't put their heart into it, so how could they succeed?

Based on his understanding of Qingyun, this kid truly didn't want to.

Unless something extraordinary happened to change his mindset, he would never achieve success in the Martial Path in this lifetime!

"Ah? Then... Junior Brother, who do you think I should choose?" Qingyun asked dejectedly, but he was accustomed to obeying Li Ji'an's words.

After he finished speaking, the seven instructors in front of him all took a deep breath.

They never expected that this genius with a top-tier Bone Structure would be so obedient to the young man beside him, seemingly afraid to refute him even in the slightest.

"Young friend, even though you will follow Instructor Wu in the future, I, Ma, promise to provide you with additional resources," Ma Yuan hastily made a solemn promise, regretting his previous attitude towards Li Ji'an.

The other six looked at Li Ji'an, their eyes flashing rapidly as they gave him frantic hints.

Li Ji'an looked at Ma Yuan, then turned to Qingyun and smiled slightly, "Since Instructor Ma values you so highly, you can follow Instructor Ma for your studies."

Qingyun nodded indifferently. His goal was simple: to blend in, and ideally, to be kicked out of the Martial Arts Academy when they could no longer tolerate him.

"Hahaha, good, good, Qingyun, don't worry, I guarantee you won't regret today's choice," Ma Yuan was immediately overjoyed.

He even walked up to Li Ji'an and nodded heavily at him, "Little Li, you can rest assured too. If you need anything in the future, just come find me."

"Thank you, Instructor Ma," Li Ji'an nodded.

Master Wan stood to the side, watching as everything had been settled, especially Ma Yuan's elated demeanor. He finally decided not to disrupt the harmonious scene.

Originally, the academy's regulations explicitly prohibited revealing the aptitude of apprentices to the instructors, intending for instructors to treat everyone equally rather than all vying for the best prospects. However, over time, with frequent rule-breaking, this regulation had become a mere formality.

"In that case, Little Wu, here's a new apprentice who will follow you for his studies," Old Wan called out to Instructor Wu not far away.

Instructor Wu walked over without any change in his expression upon hearing this.

He was accustomed to such scenes; usually, after the other instructors had chosen, they would foist off the ones they didn't want onto him.

He didn't mind; as long as he treated them equally.

"Li Ji'an?" Instructor Wu's memory paused slightly as he looked at the roster handed to him by Master Wan.

A hint of recollection flickered across his usually stern face.

"What is your relationship with Li Jichang?"