Before the lesson began, the Supreme Patriarch explained to Pan Long why he would not teach him the cultivation method of his lineage.
"The cultivation method of my lineage comes down to two words: 'nonaction.' Nonaction does not mean retreating or doing nothing like a turtle hiding in its shell. What needs doing must still be done. It means not insisting that you must succeed or do it perfectly. But... that lack of insistence does carry a measure of yielding. At the very least, yielding is hard to avoid as you practice it."
The Supreme Patriarch looked at Pan Long and smiled. "You managed to force your own spiritual light into view. That tells me you're stubborn to the bone. Teaching you not to be stubborn would be difficult, and worse, it would go against your nature. You wouldn't get far on that path."
Pan Long nodded, showing that he understood.
"Then, Patriarch, is the other skill you intend to teach me suited to someone stubborn?"
"Exactly," the Supreme Patriarch said with a smile. "It came from a friend of mine who was stubborn beyond belief. He was always declaring that reason stood above everything under heaven. No matter the matter or whom he faced, he insisted on arguing his case."
"It's a wonder he survived."
"It was no easy feat. But since he did survive, he became very strong." The Supreme Patriarch sighed. "There are many immortals, but precious few are stronger than him. You wouldn't even need all the fingers on one hand to count them. Someone like me? If I fought him in earnest, he'd smash me to pieces in the span of a few breaths."
Pan Long's eyes lit up.
Longevity mattered most. The longer he lived, the more sights he could see, and the more