In Elder Yuan's cave dwelling, two individuals were seated.
In the main seat sat a young Daoist, dressed in a purple Daoist robe. His apparent age was around 20 to 30, with an otherworldly deanor that exuded immortality and elegance.
This was Yuan Mobai.
The last disciple of the previous Tianshi and the Junior Uncle of the current Tianshi.
Interestingly, the man beside him, Wang Guiyuan, appeared to be in his thirties. Judging by appearances alone, he seed older than his master, Elder Yuan.
It was hard to tell if it was Elder Yuan’s exceptional thods of maintaining youth or if Senior Brother Wang was simply more mature in deanor.
Contrasting the warmth of the cave’s host, the other guest presented an entirely different atmosphere.
Sitting in the guest seat was a girl wrapped entirely in a black cloak, revealing only her small, pale face—so pale it didn’t seem like she was alive.
Fortunately, she didn’t disrupt the atmosphere, as the coldness emanating from her remained confined to her side of the cave.
After Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan paid their respects, Elder Yuan smiled at Lei Jun and remarked, “A hidden gem, with its brilliance subdued—truly a top-notch talent.”
His voice was warm and gentle, evoking the sa feelings Lei Jun experienced when reading his letter.
Elder Yuan then turned to Xu Yuanzhen and said, “Nephew Yuanzhen, you have an excellent eye.”
Xu Yuanzhen replied, “I wasn’t paying 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 Yuanzhen hesitated. “...Though I hate to admit it, I just felt he had a good vibe.”
The purple-robed Daoist nun, usually calm and even indifferent, furrowed her brows for the first ti as she scrutinized Lei Jun again. She didn’t look like soone who found him particularly agreeable.
It wasn’t personal—she didn’t like such feelings toward anyone.
Lei Jun said with a smile, “When I first saw Senior Sister, I also felt a sense of closeness.”
Xu Yuanzhen: “Cut it out.”
Lei Jun smiled, thankful for his first divination upon arriving in this world.
Both Elder Yuan and his disciples didn’t seem surprised by Xu Yuanzhen’s behavior.
Wang Guiyuan sighed. “Honestly, I was worried that Junior Brother Lei started too late, but now I see I was overthinking.”
This wasn’t the first ti soone lanted Lei Jun’s late start in cultivation. He had grown accustod to it.
In this world, a cultivator's progress wasn’t just tied to talent, willpower, and strength—it was also closely linked to lifespan and physical condition.
Although advanced cultivation realms altered a cultivator's life state, they were still not eternal. Like the sun, moon, and stars, they seed tiless but were ultimately bound to age and death.
Cultivators, too, experienced vigorous youth, a steady plateau in middle age, and then a decline in old age, with an accelerated downturn toward the end.
For Qi Refining cultivators at the First Realm, ti was particularly tight. Their lifespans were comparable to ordinary humans, typically less than a century.
To extend their lives, the best hope was to successfully break through to the Second Realm, Foundation Establishnt.
Foundation Establishnt granted an extension to a lifespan of 200 years.
However, the ti available for Qi Refining cultivators to improve was limited.
The most suitable growth window was only the first quarter of their lifespan—roughly before the age of 20 to 25.
After 25, the speed of cultivation progress would slow significantly.
Cultivators past 25 could refine artifacts, practice combat techniques, and accumulate experience to enhance their combat abilities, but their cultivation growth would begin to diminish.
Between 25 and 50, considered the pri years for combat capability, their cultivation levels would stagnate, forming a plateau.
Beyond 50, the hope for further advancent would drop sharply but wasn’t entirely impossible.
However, if a cultivator failed to reach Foundation Establishnt by 50, their fate was sealed—they would remain at the Qi Refining stage for life, with a century’s lifespan looming over them.
Furthermore, their physical state would begin to decline after 50. By 75, they would enter old age, with their abilities plumting like falling off a cliff.
The managers and shopkeepers Lei Jun encountered at Qingyun River Beach were once apprentices at Tianshi Mansion. As they aged, their cultivation stagnated, and they left Mount Longhu to take up other roles assigned by the Mansion.
Lei Jun had joined Tianshi Mansion at the age of 18, brought by Xu Yuanzhen. Fortunately, in the year since his entry, his cultivation realm had advanced rapidly, far surpassing many apprentices.
Wang Guiyuan said, “Regardless, Junior Brother Lei’s understanding is exceptional, and his determination is comndable. Now that his physique has revealed itself, his future is bright.”
He smiled. “If the Hidden Dragon Spirit Physique can continue to evolve, it may transform into the Tenglong Sacred Physique or even the legendary Huanglong Celestial Physique.
“Of course, if Junior Brother Lei encounters another opportunity, the Hidden Dragon Spirit Physique could also evolve into other superior cultivation physiques.”
Lei Jun humbly replied, “I dare not hope for too much, but I still appreciate your kind words, Senior Brother Wang.”
Xu Yuanzhen interjected, “The Initiation Ceremony is less than two months away, and our master has yet to erge from seclusion.”
Elder Yuan smiled. “The Sect Master’s decree earlier stated he would erge during the New Year. Be patient.”
Xu Yuanzhen nodded, then turned to Lei Jun. “Once the master erges, will you try for it?
“Now that you’ve awakened the Hidden Dragon Spirit Physique, your chances are higher.”
In other words, without the Hidden Dragon Spirit Physique, his chances were slim. Lei Jun wasn’t surprised by this conclusion.
His slim chance earlier was due to Xu Yuanzhen’s influence and the Tianshi’s personal interest.
Becoming a direct disciple of the Tianshi was extraordinary.
Not only was the Tianshi the foremost expert of Mount Longhu and a leading figure among Daoist sects, but his personal disciples also received unmatched training and resources.
These included priority access to cultivation resources and sacred grounds controlled by Tianshi Mansion, such as the legendary Upper Qing Thunder Altar on Mount Longhu’s peak.
Even prominent families like the Li clan couldn’t enter without permission.
But the Tianshi’s personal disciples could.
So might consider this arrangent unfair, but the Tianshi’s disciples were the elite among their peers—geniuses among geniuses.
Lei Jun had been ordinary in talent, making it difficult for the Tianshi to make an exception. But now, with his improved physique, the situation was different.
Lei Jun looked at Elder Yuan, who remained warm and encouraging, showing no signs of impatience.
At that mont, the light sphere in Lei Jun’s mind flashed, displaying a ssage:
> "With foundations built, fate presents a new crossroad. You may soar higher or rise and fall—everything lies within your grasp."
Lei Jun agreed—life was like this.
Take one right step, and you seem to rise; take another wrong step, and you might stumble. Continuous correct choices were needed for true progress.
The light sphere then displayed two divination sticks:
- Upper-Moderate On: "Proceed steadily. Choose a suitable ntor, gain a Fourth-Grade opportunity, and focus on cultivation. Though entangled in karmic ties, tread carefully for good fortune."
- Lower-Moderate On: "Aim high and seek imdiate ascension, but it may prove illusory with a perilous journey ahead. Bad fortune."
Lei Jun was surprised.
The divinations were as cryptic as before but beca clear when tied to reality.
The Upper-Moderate On implied that the best choice wasn’t necessarily the most obvious one.
The Lower-Moderate On warned of illusory gains—was it suggesting that even the Tianshi, a great Daoist figure, might falter?
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