Seeking perfection could actually hinder progress.

"Instructor, your disciple, has achieved perfection in all four trainings. Such a person is bound to teach disciples who are also outstanding."

Xu Zirong recalled Bai Qilang he had seen at the dock. If one were to speak of his demeanor, there was perhaps a slight hint of brilliance, but he didn’t seem like one blessed with unparalleled talent to break through the four barriers effortlessly.

Can this young man truly withstand the deep-sea-like entanglements and blood debts of Tongwen Hall?

Is he worthy of the personal transmission from Ninghai Zen?

"My disciple is like true gold, unafraid of being refined by fire. His temperament aligns closely with a Daoist poem I heard in my youth."

Chen Xing swept his eyes around and suddenly recited:

"Going with the flow to refine, make strong what was weak... Cleanse the dust, and attain the true flame of immortality. Refine again and again, blazing pills bright..."

He fights through adversity, remaining strong despite any setbacks.

But for his own disciple, he did not impose such demands, only commenting with ’pure gold and jade’."

Chen Xing rested his palm on the chair, his eyes filled with interest, and smiled at Xu Zirong:

"Unrefined gold is stubborn iron, unpolished jade is buried deep. Bai Qilang’s journey, if he can shine a hundred feet, will find his place once he achieves the four trainings perfectly."

Xu Zirong felt mixed emotions. As the leader in the martial circle of Yihai Prefecture, seeing the master he wished to follow admire a younger generation more than himself was quite upsetting.

"Zirong, most martial artists in Yihai Prefecture have been rendered aimless after being beaten by my disciple. Though you excel, there is inevitably a feeling of ’where there are no tigers, monkeys reign as king.’

I advised you years ago to go out and see the world."

Chen Xing rose, hands behind his back:

"I will not accept a second disciple. You should think, tonight Bai Qilang is visiting; what should I, as the master, present as a meeting gift?"

Xu Zirong was stubborn too. The big house of the Thirteen Halls frequently offered to sponsor him to become an inner sect disciple of the Upper Sect.

But he always refused, completely unmoved.

"Brother Bai, since he is at the stage of the Second Bone Training Barrier, I’ve heard that the Fenghui Trading Company in town recently acquired a three-foot Tiger Soul Demon Bone, valued at a hundred silver coins."

Chen Xing clicked his tongue:

"A hundred silver coins? The household expenses are managed by my wife; taking a hundred silver coins suddenly would be too noticeable. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Zirong, I hear you have plentiful wealth; cover it temporarily, and once I have more, I will settle the accounts."

Xu Zirong nodded in agreement:

"I will retrieve it shortly."

Over the years, he had no idea how many times he had covered financial expenses for the instructor, yet it had never been repaid.

...

...

Yuanyang Temple.

Qingfeng Daoist Child conveyed Bai Qi’s reply to the Observatory Master; Chongxu Zi smoothed his beard and said solemnly:

"It seems my recent roaming has indeed brought encounters, finding such a rare and excellent root seedling!

Qingfeng, is there any Treasure Plant Medicine still stored in the temple?

It’s someone’s first visit, so we must not neglect them."

Qingfeng pouted:

"There’s still plenty of Elixirs for nurturing the spirit and calming the mind, but other resources are scarce?"

Chongxu Zi glared:

"How are you managing the household? How much do I consume in my daily cultivation? Are you secretly embezzling funds?"

Qingfeng professed innocence loudly:

"A few days ago, Daoist Qiu came over once, our temple had two water incidents, and suffered a pest disaster.

Also, dispelling the bad luck consumed two or three parts of spiritual energy, leaving no surplus."

Chongxu Zi immediately cursed:

"Qiu Changtian, that scoundrel, truly a scourge! Expecting me to find a good seedling for him? Dream on!

I’m taking both plants!"

Qingfeng was taken aback:

"Both plants? Isn’t the Observatory Master interested in that young one? He gathers spiritual energy at his brow, though frail in body, he appears a promising seedling for cultivation."

Chongxu Zi laughed heartily:

"How can you identify seedlings just by looking with the naked eye? Qingfeng, you have much to learn yet.

The young one is indeed excellent, but not rare. The large one is a once-in-a-century top-grade seedling!

I’ve never encountered anyone with such clear and pure soul essence, like an eternally polished treasure mirror pedestal!

This is indeed the Innocent Heart!"