"Your disciples pay their respects, Master!" the two said in unison, bowing respectfully.
"No need for formalities. Both of you, rise!" Heavenly Venerable Daoling said with a wave of his hand.
The two rose and stood respectfully to one side. Li Xiaoya was behaving so well because Senior Brother Liu Hang had already given him plenty of instructions on the way. Besides, he was no longer a complete newcomer to the Cultivation World. He knew what Heavenly Venerable Daoling's name meant here. Being respectful took no effort and brought plenty of benefits, so why not?
Heavenly Venerable Daoling looked Li Xiaoya over. The boy stood there respectfully, his complexion much better than when he had first arrived. He had grown considerably taller, too, and now looked quite handsome and had become much more cultured and courteous. Heavenly Venerable Daoling scanned him again with the Heavenly Eye Art. His cultivation had reached the Second Layer of True Cultivation, while his divine sense was actually as strong as that of someone at the seventh or eighth level. He nodded inwardly, but said mildly, "Your cultivation has only reached the second level, though your divine sense is quite good!"
"Your disciple is incompetent!" Liu Hang said hastily, looking anxious.
"No need to be so anxious, Hang'er. This is hardly your fault. In fact, the results of your teaching have exceeded my expectations," Heavenly Venerable Daoling said, waving his hand. His meaning was plain: if the teaching had failed, the problem lay not with the teacher, but with the student, Li Xiaoya.
"It is my aptitude that is poor. Senior Brother cannot be blamed for failing to teach me properly!" Though Li Xiaoya was young, he understood what Heavenly Venerable Daoling meant.
"If you can think that way, then your senior brother's teaching has