Wuchenzi, kneeling on the ground, saw Subhuti sit up. The astonishment in his eyes deepened as he stared at Subhuti, as though trying to discern something.
"Wuchen, you should go back first." Subhuti rarely wore such a gentle smile.
Wuchenzi frowned. "Master, did you foresee Huoyanzi's outcome long ago?"
Subhuti sat meditating with his eyes closed. "Everything is Heaven's will."
"Master, Junior Brother Huoyanzi's character was unsuited for cultivation. What's more, he had committed many crimes before this. Yet you still accepted him as your disciple. Was it all so Seventh Junior Brother would kill him today?"
Subhuti neither confirmed nor denied it.
Wuchenzi sighed. "Master, this disciple does not understand."
"Xuanlingzi is a rare candidate. He understands the workings of fate and sees through people's hearts. Though ruthless, his ruthlessness is different. Rare, truly rare." As Subhuti spoke, he smiled again.
"Master, must cultivation truly be like this?"
"It can be this way, or it can be otherwise." Subhuti opened his eyes, seeming intent on clearing up his disciple's doubts.
"Some cultivate with insufficient spiritual roots and may follow their hearts. Some have sufficient spiritual roots but limited ability; they may follow the tide or go against it. But this junior brother of yours has no spiritual root, yet he is among the finest suited for cultivation."
Wuchenzi was puzzled. "If he has no spiritual root, why is he so well suited for cultivation?"
A mysterious smile appeared at the corner of Subhuti's lips. "Because he himself is a spiritual root!"
Wuchenzi was stunned and wanted to ask more, but then he heard someone approaching. It was Uchiha Shin.
Uchiha Shin had been waiting in the Scripture Repository, unsure whether what he had done today could move his master. Then the young attendant suddenly arrived, and Uchiha Shin leaped