Su Daiyi and Old Jiang Ba were ecstatic. They bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu, for bestowing the Cultivation Technique!"

Then, they turned to see their clansmen still in a daze and couldn't help but scold them. "What are you two still standing around for?!"

The little girl from the Su Family and the young boy from the Jiang Family snapped out of their stupor. "Thank you, Mr. Xu," they said, hurriedly bowing.

The rest of the clansmen wore expressions of regret mingled with deep envy. They knew that the greatest opportunity of their lives had just slipped by.

"All of you can cultivate this technique. Diligence can make up for a lack of talent," Xu Lai said softly. "Back in my day... I was also the one with average talent, the one who wasn't favored."

"Everyone can cultivate it?" Old Jiang Ba's heart pounded. He knew Xu Lai's words were worth their weight in gold. In his excitement, he bowed deeply once more. When he stood up again, his back was ramrod straight.

Although he didn't know the purpose of this Cultivation Technique, Old Jiang Ba knew that in the future, the Jiang and Su Families would surely have a place in Hua Country!

Xu Lai seemed to see through Old Jiang Ba's thoughts and couldn't help but shake his head. His perspective is too narrow. Old Jiang Ba's horizons are far too small. Xu Lai had once said that he would grant the Su and Jiang Families a straight path to success.

Hua Country? That was merely a tiny, tiny starting point.

He intended for those two children to be able to cultivate to the Golden Core Realm. This Boundary would allow both families to step beyond Earth and gain a foothold in the Solar System, or even the Milky Way.

As for anything further... just as he had said before, it would depend on their own fate and fortune.

"Let them go back. They don't need to become Martial Artists," Xu Lai said indifferently.

The Martial Dao on Earth was merely a reluctant alternative born from a world where Spiritual Energy was sparse. If they cultivated the two techniques Xu Lai had passed down—which were considered mid-to-high tier even in the Immortal Domain—they would become true Cultivators!

One path was a crooked, meandering road, still being explored. The other was a straight, bright highway trodden by countless people. Which was superior was already obvious.

"Go back now, and study this Cultivation Technique well," Old Jiang Ba said with a glare. "Remember to keep it safe. If you lose it... I'll skin you alive!"

Since the family's prospects for the next century were at stake, the young people naturally didn't dare to be careless.

"Mr. Xu, who exactly are you?" Su Daiyi stared blankly at Xu Lai's retreating figure, her eyes shimmering with a peculiar light. That Cultivation Technique... I have to cultivate it too! Only by doing so can I keep pace with Xu Lai.

However, Su Daiyi didn't know that some things were destined to be without an end from the very beginning.

...

...

At the foot of Mount Fu, a large crowd of Martial Artists and Taoists, numbering at least a thousand, had gathered, drawn by the mountain's fame. They stood on their tiptoes, as if doing so would allow them to catch a glimpse of the distinguished figure at the summit.

Xu Lai, Su Daiyi, and Old Jiang Ba strolled leisurely at the foot of the mountain, listening to the mostly First and Second Grade Martial Artists who were grandly holding forth, bragging about how they'd once had a chance encounter with Master Li Sanbai and even shared a drink with him.

"You've had a drink with my master? Aren't you something special?" A middle-aged man in a white Taoist robe spoke, instantly becoming the center of attention.

In an instant, hundreds of gazes shot in his direction, but most of them were filled with doubt. His master?

The middle-aged Daoist in the white robe covered his mouth in feigned panic, slapping his head in annoyance. "Damn it, I let it slip. I'm supposed to be hiding my identity when I'm out."

At his words, a few of the more naive Martial Artists were already convinced. They exclaimed in shock, "Are you really Master Li Sanbai's disciple?"

"Since you've discovered my identity, I shall no longer hide it," the middle-aged Daoist sighed. "That's right. I am Li Sanbai's eldest disciple, Li Qingyun!"

"Empty words prove nothing. How can you prove it?" a Fourth Grade Martial Artist sneered.

"You may not believe me, but that doesn't matter. I'm about to go up the mountain to help my master set up the array eye for the Great Array," the middle-aged Daoist said with contempt. "Besides, my master is right up there on the mountain. Who would dare to impersonate his disciple? You'd have to have a death wish!"

The crowd fell silent. His words made some sense. Furthermore, none of the Martial Artists present could see through the depth of the Daoist's Boundary. They surrounded him with respectful expressions, eagerly trying to build a connection.

"Alright, alright. You want a photo with my master? Of course, of course. For 100,000, I'll arrange it for you.

"Hmm, you want to have a drink with my master? Easy. 200,000.

"My master is from the south; there's no way he'd go to a bathhouse with you... Fine, give me 500,000, and I'll see if I can persuade him."

...

The so-called Li Qingyun was the center of an adoring crowd, and a smile bloomed on his face like a chrysanthemum.

"Mr. Xu, I have a feeling he's an imposter..." Old Jiang Ba said hesitantly.

"Your feeling is correct." Xu Lai nodded. The Daoist had not an iota of Spiritual Energy in his body; he was a complete and utter fraud. Still, to dare run a scam here... he's a special kind of talent.

"Hey! Who are you calling an imposter?!" Li Qingyun had sharp ears and overheard the conversation between Xu Lai and Old Jiang Ba. His gaze instantly turned ice-cold.

He had traveled far and wide for years, relying entirely on his wits and deception. He'd been in situations like this at least eighty, if not a hundred times, so he wasn't flustered.

Xu Lai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, saying nothing. Instead, a mocking voice rose from the crowd. "If you aren't an imposter, then how come I've never known you to be my Eldest Senior Brother?"

"Who's talking?!" Li Qingyun demanded impatiently.

"I am." An old man in a black long-sleeved robe squeezed out from the crowd.

"And who are you supposed to be?" Li Qingyun huffed.

"My name is Dongfang Xun." As the old man spoke, his words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

"It's Dongfang Xun, Master Li Sanbai's youngest disciple..."

"It really is him! I saw him at the Mingyue Tea House a few days ago. The Family Heads of the thirteen cities of Jiangnan were all incredibly respectful to him!"

"Get real. Dongfang Xun's reputation is in the gutter. He was nearly beaten to death for selling fake Spiritual Artifacts."

...

Li Qingyun's expression froze. The real deal showed up? His knees went weak, and he dropped to the ground. "Mercy! Spare my life!" he pleaded in a trembling voice.

Dongfang Xun sneered. He couldn't be bothered with the fraud. Instead, he turned, clasped his hands in a respectful fist-and-palm salute, and said, "Greetings, Senior."

Xu Lai gave a half-smile. "You're not afraid of me anymore?"

"I am still a little afraid," Dongfang Xun replied earnestly. "But when I saw a senior like yourself being slandered by a deceitful scoundrel, I simply could not bear it, and so..."

And with that "so," Dongfang Xun launched into a fifteen-minute-long speech of pure, unadulterated flattery.

Su Daiyi's brow furrowed, and she couldn't stop herself from scolding him, "Dongfang Xun, you still haven't paid back the money you owe. How do you have the nerve to show your face?"

Dongfang Xun shook his head and sighed, speaking with an air of profound disappointment, "Family Head Su, we are all working for our esteemed Senior. Why must you bring up a paltry few hundred million? So tacky. All of you have become so tacky!"

Su Daiyi: "..."

Old Jiang Ba: "..."

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