https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-11-11-Perfection-at-the-Twelfth-Level-of-Qi-Refining/12586111/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-13-The-Eldest-Senior-Sister-and-the-Little-Senior-Sister/12586122/
Chapter 12: Choosing a Master
Chapter 12: Choosing a Master
In the abode of Elder Yuan, two figures were seated.
On the master's seat, a young Taoist priest donned in a purple robe exuded an otherworldly aura. With an appearance that seemed to be only in his twenties, he embodied the very essence of an immortal with his graceful and ethereal demeanor.
This was Yuan Mo Bai, the last disciple of the previous Heavenly Master and the junior disciple of the current Heavenly Master.
Speaking of appearances, Wang Guiyuan, sitting beside him, looked to be in his thirties, and surprisingly, he seemed older than his master, Elder Yuan.
One couldn't help but wonder if Elder Yuan had discovered the secret to maintaining his youthful looks or if it was simply Wang Guiyuan's mature demeanor.
Unlike the warm and gentle atmosphere exuded by Elder Yuan, the other occupant of the abode presented a stark contrast.
On the guest seat sat a young girl wrapped in a black cloak, revealing only her small face. Her skin was so pale that she didn't seem alive.
Fortunately, she didn't try to upstage the host, and the chill she brought was confined to one side of the abode, not affecting the overall ambiance.
After Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan greeted them, Elder Yuan smiled at Lei Jun and said, "A divine object that hides its brilliance and conceals its sharpness—truly a top-notch talent."
His words, spoken with a gentle and amiable tone, evoked the same feeling Lei Jun had when he first read the letter.
Elder Yuan then turned to Xu Yuanyuan and said, "Well done, Master Xu."
Xu Yuanyuan replied, "I didn't pay attention to his talent back then."
Lei Jun: "..."
Wang Guiyuan: "..."
Elder Yuan's smile didn't waver as he asked, "Then why did you bring him back to the mountain?"
Xu Yuanyuan: "Although I really don't want to admit it, I found him quite agreeable."
The purple-robed female crown, always calm and even indifferent, showed the first change in her expression, furrowing her brows as she sized up Lei Jun once more. Her demeanor was far from that of someone who found another agreeable.
It wasn't that she was targeting Lei Jun specifically.
She simply disliked such feelings when interacting with anyone.
Lei Jun smiled and said, "When I first saw Senior Sister, I also felt a sense of familiarity."
Xu Yuanyuan: "Cut the nonsense."
Lei Jun smiled, grateful for the first stroke of luck he had received since coming to this world.
The master and disciple duo didn't seem surprised by Xu Yuanyuan's appearance.
Wang Guiyuan sighed, "To be honest, I was worried that Brother Lei started his cultivation journey a bit late, but now it seems I was overthinking it."
He wasn't the first person to express concern about Lei Jun starting his cultivation at a later age.
Lei Jun could understand their worries.
After all, in this world, a cultivator's realm was not only related to their talent, willpower, and strength but also closely tied to their lifespan and physical condition.
As cultivators progressed in their cultivation, their life force indeed diverged from that of ordinary people.
However, just like the sun, moon, and stars, which seemed eternal but had their own lifespans and would eventually face aging and death, so too did the cultivators in this world.
They went through stages of vibrant youth, slow-growing adulthood, gradual decline in old age, and rapid deterioration in their twilight years.
For cultivators at the First Heaven of Refining Qi, time was especially pressing, as their lifespan was similar to that of ordinary people, rarely exceeding a hundred years.
The biggest hope for extending their lives lay in successfully breaking through to the Second Heaven and achieving Foundation Establishment.
Only by achieving Foundation Establishment could they prolong their lives to two hundred years.
However, Refining Qi cultivators didn't have much time to improve.
This optimal cultivation window, the best time for growth, only lasted about a quarter of their lives, roughly until they were around twenty to twenty-five years old.
After the age of twenty-five, the speed of improvement would slow down significantly.
Although Refining Qi cultivators beyond the age of twenty-five could attempt to refine artifacts, cultivate battle techniques, and gain more experience to enhance their combat prowess, their progress in terms of cultivation realm advancement would become increasingly difficult.
The period from twenty-five to around fifty years old was the prime of a Refining Qi cultivator's individual combat capability, but in terms of cultivation realm advancement, it was more like a plateau.
There was still some hope, though, as the possibility of further advancement didn't drop to zero, even if it decreased sharply.
However, if one failed to achieve Foundation Establishment by the age of fifty, congratulations—your cultivation would be stuck at the Refining Qi stage for the rest of your life, and you could expect to live only up to a hundred years.
And as for your personal condition, you'll start to slowly decline around the age of fifty.
By the time you reach seventy-five, you'll be in the twilight of your life, and your cultivation will plummet like a cliff.
Some of the managers and shopkeepers you met earlier at Qingyun Beach used to be disciples of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, but they left Dragon-Tiger Mountain and abandoned their cultivation paths because their advancing years and stagnant progress forced them to give up.
Lei Jun only joined the Heavenly Master's Mansion at the age of eighteen with Xu Yuanzhen, but fortunately, his cultivation base has been steadily improving and soaring at a rapid pace, surpassing many other disciples.
Wang Guiyuan sighed, "Regardless, Junior Brother Lei has an extraordinary aptitude and a commendable will. Now that his root bones and natural talent have been revealed, his future looks bright."
He smiled faintly, "If the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body can continue to transform and elevate, there are also the Soaring Dragon Sacred Body and the legendary Imperial Dragon Immortal Body.
"Of course, if Junior Brother Lei encounters other opportunities, it's not impossible for the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body to transform and improve into other superior cultivation body types."
Lei Jun: "We shouldn't be too greedy, but thank you, Senior Brother Wang, for your kind words."
Xu Yuanzhen: "There are less than two months until the Transmission Ceremony, and Master hasn't emerged from seclusion yet."
Elder Yuan: "The Chief had sent a message earlier, stating that he will be emerging from seclusion during the New Year, so we should remain patient."
Xu Yuanzhen nodded and then turned to Lei Jun.
"Since we've waited for Master to come out of seclusion, do you want to give it a try?
Now that you've awakened the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body, your chances are much better."
In other words, without the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body, the chances would be slim... Lei Jun wasn't surprised by this conclusion.
The initially slim chance was also entirely dependent on Xu Yuanzhen's reputation and the Heavenly Master's own intentions.
Being personally taught by the Heavenly Master carries a different significance.
Aside from the fact that the Heavenly Master himself is the top expert of Dragon-Tiger Mountain and one of the foremost figures in the Taoist world, the guidance he offers his disciples is unmatched by any other elder.
The treatment in other aspects is also incomparable to that of ordinary disciples.
Not only will various cultivation resources be prioritized, but the Heavenly Master's Mansion will also grant priority access to various blessed lands and caves under their control.
For example, the immortal realm at the peak of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, shrouded in azure lightning, is called the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Cave.
In recent years, the Li family has become increasingly high-profile, but they still cannot enter without permission.
However, the Heavenly Master's personal disciples are allowed to do so.
Some might consider this arrangement unfair.
But the Heavenly Master's personal disciples have always been the most outstanding few among their peers in the Mansion.
They are geniuses among geniuses in the entire world.
Their peers for comparison are the leading figures of the same generation from other major families and sacred sites.
Thus, it's only natural to put the best resources to the best use.
Previously, with Lei Jun's mediocre root bones, it would have been difficult for the Heavenly Master to make an exception.
But now that he has advanced to a Spirit Body, the situation is naturally different.
Lei Jun looked at Elder Yuan, who remained as amiable as ever, showing no signs of displeasure, and even encouraging him with his gaze.
However, the glowing sphere in Lei Jun's mind suddenly flashed again, and words appeared:
"With a solid foundation, your path ahead will once again present a choice. You may continue to soar high or experience ups and downs; it all depends on your heart."
Lei Jun agreed with this assessment.
This was often the case in life.
Taking one step right could set you on the path to success, but the next step could be a misstep.
Consecutive correct choices were necessary for one's destiny to truly take off.
After the glowing sphere flashed, two lots appeared in Lei Jun's sea of consciousness:
"A moderately good lot. Stay grounded and choose a renowned master before you. Gain a fourth-grade opportunity, grasp it, focus on your cultivation, and accumulate for a breakthrough. However, be cautious in the future due to intricate cause and effect. Auspicious."
"A moderately bad lot. Aim high and strive for a chance to soar to the heavens, but it's all a mirage and the road ahead is bumpy. Inauspicious."
Lei Jun was surprised.
While the lots were as vague as before, they seemed obvious when combined with the actual situation and his current state.
The moderately good lot suggested choosing a suitable master... Was the implication that the best option might not be the most suitable?
The moderately bad lot mentioned a mirage... So, without being the Heavenly Master's personal disciple, the future would be extremely bumpy.
... Could it be that the current Heavenly Master, a formidable figure in the Taoist world, was about to face some sort of downfall or misfortune?
(End of Chapter)
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