Ye Xingxian arrived at the guest room with two children, both around eight or nine years old. Zhu Ju had already been waiting for some time.

"My apologies for the wait."

"Not at all."

"Jingming, Yao’er." Ye Xingxian gestured to the two children.

"You two, come and meet Master Zhu."

’Master Zhu?’

Adding a surname before "Master" signified that this wasn’t a master-disciple relationship in the truest sense. Zhu Ju understood this perfectly.

He wasn’t surprised by the Ye Family’s choice; in fact, he was relieved.

If they had truly become his disciples, having two youngsters to look after would have been quite an inconvenience.

"Master Zhu!"

"Master Zhu!"

The two children stared with wide, curious eyes at the handsome young man before them.

’I wonder what he teaches?’

’He’s so young, yet the Patriarch introduced him personally. He must be incredible.’

"Brother Zhu."

Ye Xingxian took out a booklet and handed it over.

"This is the apprenticeship gift my father mentioned. The fact that he’s giving you this shows how highly he thinks of you."

"Elder Ye is too kind." Zhu Ju reached out to accept it.

"I am unworthy of such an honor."

"No, my father is never wrong about people." Ye Xingxian shook his head, then cleared his throat before continuing.

"Brother Zhu, how does this sound?"

"Jingming and Yao’er are still very young and have been pampered their whole lives. I’m afraid they wouldn’t adapt well to Leping County. Having you take care of them would be an inconvenience, and it wouldn’t be good for anyone. Would you consider staying here in the Prefecture City?"

"If you are willing to stay, Brother Zhu, the Ye Family will buy you a residence and offer a generous apprenticeship gift."

"Well..." Zhu Ju frowned.

"I currently have no plans to settle in the Prefecture City, but your concerns are valid, Brother Ye."

"Could you let me have a few words with them alone?"

"Of course!" Ye Xingxian nodded. He then turned to the two children and instructed:

"You are to remember every single word Master Zhu says. You must not be rude in the slightest. Do you understand?"

"We understand!"

The two children nodded in unison.

After Ye Xingxian left, Zhu Ju closed the door and casually asked:

"How many characters have you learned?"

"Master Zhu," Ye Yao spoke up. "We have finished the Thousand Character Chart and the Three Volumes of Poetry and Books. Next, we are supposed to study the Four Classics."

"And your martial arts?"

"Brother Jingming reached Entering the Realm last year. I reached it three months ago."

Once again, it was Ye Yao who answered.

To have accomplished so much by eight or nine, even with the backing of their family, meant they were already well-versed in both scholarly and martial pursuits. They were far superior to this body’s previous owner.

Zhu Ju nodded.

"Find a place to sit and rest. I’m going to look at this book."

Without waiting for their reply, he opened the booklet that Ye Chongshan had specifically left for him and began to peruse its contents.

’Innate!’

’The booklet actually contains a method for reaching the Innate Realm.’

Ye Chongshan had practiced martial arts his entire life. He had sought the Immortal Dao to no avail, despaired of ever reaching the Innate Realm, and failed to achieve the pinnacle of Hard Skills.

But he hadn’t been discouraged. Instead, he had summarized his life’s experiences for posterity, hoping his descendants could follow his path and advance even further. That was the origin of this little booklet on the Innate Realm.

’No wonder Ye Xingxian said that receiving this item meant his father held me in high regard.’

’For someone with no hope of reaching the Innate Realm, this would be useless.’

’"To attain the Innate Realm, one needs a Wonderful Dharma, high Comprehension, or Spiritual Medicine. Obtaining one of the three gives you a chance. With two, success is all but guaranteed. With all three, reaching the Innate Realm is a certainty. A pity that I, Ye, have obtained none."’

Ye Chongshan’s regret was palpable between the lines.

Zhu Ju continued reading.

’"A so-called Wonderful Dharma is a Method that leads directly to the Innate Realm. Upon breaking through, one can sense the Heaven and Earth Qi, refine it into True Essence Magical Power, and attain the Innate Realm."’

’"However, a Wonderful Dharma is hard to come by. Even among the Major Sects and Aristocratic Families, they are only passed down to Core Disciples and those of the direct bloodline. Thus, there is a second option."’

Zhu Ju turned the page, a thoughtful expression on his face.

’"Mental Realm!"’

’"Most Martial Skills at the Inner Qi Realm possess several Killing Moves or ultimate techniques, within which a unique Mental Realm is hidden."’

’"Sword Intent, Saber Intent, Fist Intent..."’

’"If one can comprehend a Mental Realm, one can also sense the Power of Heaven and Earth, using it to reach an even higher level."’

’"If you lack a Wonderful Dharma and have poor Comprehension, your only option is to consume certain Spiritual Medicines and ascend to the Innate Realm in a single step."’

’Unfortunately, unless you’re in an Immortal Sect or are blessed by the heavens, Spiritual Medicine is out of the question. A Wonderful Dharma and a Mental Realm, however, are things I can strive for.’

Zhu Ju’s eyes flickered.

’I don’t know if the Five Peaks True Form Force counts as a Wonderful Dharma that leads directly to the Innate Realm, but even if it isn’t, it must be close. After all, I can borrow a limited amount of the Power of Heaven and Earth when I circulate it.’

’And as for the Mental Realm...’

’I’ve already mastered all three Killing Moves of the Mixed Element Iron Hand. Based on what Ye Chongshan wrote, the Mental Realm must be hidden within the final move, Mixed Element Without Extremity.’

’Ye Chongshan himself probably never mastered a Martial Arts Realm. Otherwise, his description wouldn’t be so vague. He only mentioned that one must achieve the Micro level with their Strength to comprehend a Martial Arts Realm.’

Closing the booklet, Zhu Ju turned his gaze to the two children.

He hadn’t been reading for long, but it was enough time to observe the differences in the two children’s personalities.

Ye Jingming was silent and earnest. He had been a beat slower to react during the earlier questioning. Instead of sitting down, he was using the time to regulate his breathing and circulate his Cultivation Method.

Ye Yao was the lively one, as evidenced by her eagerness to answer. She hadn’t been standing for long before she started fidgeting.

But for her to have reached Entering the Realm so quickly, her Comprehension was clearly extraordinary.

"Come here," Zhu Ju said, beckoning them over.

"Elder Ye wanted me to take you as apprentices. If you are willing to accept me as your master, you must follow me to Leping County."

"Now, I’ll give you two choices."

"First!" he said, holding up a single finger.

"You follow me back to Leping County to practice the Thirteen Body Refinement. I will personally oversee your Cultivation. You will return in three years. For those three years, I will teach you with the utmost seriousness."

"Second."

Zhu Ju said slowly:

"You do not go to Leping County. I will leave a Cultivation Technique for you, but you must not show it to anyone else."

"Otherwise!"

His eyes narrowed, and a Stern Slaughter Intent fell upon them.

"Don’t blame me for being merciless!"

In the past three years, he had established the Commerce Association, fought Gui Cang, killed those who had surpassed the Breaking Limit, and even slain the Demon Saber Third Prince with a single palm strike. Though he had yet to comprehend a Martial Arts Realm, the killing intent he had accumulated was still terrifying enough to chill one to the bone.

Ye Jingming and Ye Yao were only children. They were instantly terrified, their faces draining of all color as their hearts pounded in their chests.

Ye Jingming fared slightly better, just barely managing to stay on his feet.

Ye Yao, on the other hand, collapsed to the floor as her eyes rolled back into her head, nearly fainting on the spot.

After a long moment, Ye Jingming finally stammered out:

"M-Master Zhu... I... We... we won’t go... to Leping County."

Ye Yao nodded frantically, tears welling in her eyes, barely managing to keep from bursting into sobs.

"Very well." Zhu Ju withdrew his killing intent. He picked up the brush and paper that had been set aside and wrote down the Qi Blood Nourishing Skill.

The Health Cultivation Skill from the Martial Arts Hall only covered the Blood Strengthening and Blood Coagulation realms. At most, it could lead to Body Tempering, and even that was unlikely without guidance.

Even if the two showed it to their elders, it would only be regarded as a supplementary Body Refining technique and wouldn’t draw too much attention.

The Health Cultivation Skill had its own subtleties in how it utilized Qi Blood. If they cultivated it diligently, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to raise their Thirteen Body Refinement to the External Training Fourth Realm. In this way, he would have fulfilled his promise to Ye Chongshan.