Bai Yan's invitation to Wang Ping this time had seemed to involve scattered, trivial topics. Like someone with muddled thoughts, he had jumped to another subject before finishing the first. Yet in truth, his purpose had already been achieved.
The thoughts Wang Ping had originally set aside had now been stirred up again, though he did not reveal what was on his mind.
When Bai Yan issued his dismissal, Wang Ping naturally did not linger. Just as he set down his teacup and rose, Bai Yan suddenly said, "That Taiyin Disciple sleeping within your Thousand Wood Temple has already qualified to advance to the Fourth Realm. He will succeed within a sixty-year cycle."
Wang Ping froze. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he did not refuse. Cupping his hands, he said, "I thank Fellow Daoist Tongyu on his behalf."
"I should be thanking you instead. His advancement can balance yin and yang. It is truly difficult for my Taiyin Sect to raise a Disciple capable of advancing to the Fourth Realm." Bai Yan rose and returned the salute.
Wang Ping found it difficult to say anything more.
Yulian communicated with Wang Ping within the Spirit Sea. "Old Tongyu really has good luck, running into such a fine opportunity."
It truly was a fine opportunity. To resist assimilation by Outer Realm Lifeforms, the True Lords had tacitly begun nurturing Fourth Realm Disciples under their command. Yet advancement to the Fourth Realm was simply too difficult for the Mystic Sect and Heaven Sect. Every chosen candidate was one in ten thousand, and even then, failure remained possible.
The cost of this constant trial and error was immense, because Third Realm cultivators also needed to be replenished in time. Otherwise, subsequent advancement into the Third Realm would become exceedingly difficult.
After exchanging