Elder Ma waved his hand, put away the Mirror of Heaven Appraisal, and sat back down on the meditation cushion, a touch more gratification now evident in his expression.

“Pointing this out was not to blame you. It was to illuminate the path you must walk from now on.”

He looked at Su Ming, his tone becoming unprecedentedly grave, even carrying a trace of a sense of entrustment.

“Su Ming, do you know, this old man’s entire life, his aptitude has been mediocre, and reaching the Golden Core realm was his limit. Yet within this Cloud Hidden Sect, even those lofty Peak Masters, when they see this old man, must respectfully address me as ‘Junior Brother Ma.’ Do you know why?”

Su Ming shook his head. “This disciple does not know.”

“Because this old man’s greatest contribution in his life is not his own cultivation, but these eyes.” Elder Ma pointed at his own eyes. “This old man is good at recognizing people, and even better at employing them.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and pointed at the faintly discernible main peaks in the sea of clouds in the distance.

“One hundred and seventy years ago, I brought back from a noisy mortal market a ragged, stubborn child who was obsessed with watching the trails of ants moving on the ground. Everyone else thought he was an idiot, but this old man saw he possessed a natural heart for formations. His Daoist title is Xuanheng, and he is the current Peak Master of Formation Peak.”

Su Ming’s heart shook violently. The Peak Master of Formation Peak? Luo Feng’s master?

“Ninety years ago, during the sect’s grand selection. A youth whose parents were both mortals, with a patchwork, chaotic spirit root, was rejected at the gate. He knelt before the mountain gate for three days and three nights. This old man overrode all objections and sponsored him to go train in the bitter, freezing lands of the far north. His Daoist title is Lingyun. He is now the Chief Seat of the Discipline Hall, at the early Spirit Transformation stage, overseeing the sect’s laws and punishments, impartial and incorruptible.”

Elder Ma’s voice was not loud, but it struck like metal hitting stone, each word hammering against Su Ming’s heart.

He turned around and looked at Su Ming, his eyes blazing as if gazing upon a rare treasure.

“They have both become the towering pillars of the sect. And today, I see you.”

Su Ming instinctively wanted to utter some modest words, but Elder Ma raised a hand to stop him.

“Do not belittle yourself. Your Dao foundation is damaged, that is the will of heaven, beyond mortal power to change. But everything you have done these past few months in the Repair Hall, this old man has seen it all.”

“Your understanding of the sect’s ‘system,’ your ability to unravel complex matters, to simplify the intricate, your ‘capability’ to establish order from the minute details, to transform decay into wonder…”

Elder Ma spoke each word deliberately, his voice like a great bell: “Its value is absolutely no less than that of a Spirit Transformation cultivator!”

“A Spirit Transformation cultivator can suppress the fortune of an entire sect single-handedly. But this ‘framework’ of yours, if it can be implemented across the entire sect, can make the Cloud Hidden Sect’s foundation three parts thicker! Can double the utilization rate of the sect’s resources!”

“This is the path of longevity! This is the true ‘pillar of the sect’!”

Su Ming felt a surge of hot blood rush straight to his head, his breathing even becoming rapid.

“Master, is this Elder Ma… giving me empty promises?” Su Ming murmured in his heart.

“No.” Lin Yu’s voice was unusually serious. “Disciple, this old man is a man of insight. He understands the value of ‘productive forces.’ In this cultivation world where individual might is paramount, he is the first person I’ve seen who recognizes the value of ‘organizational structure’ and ‘efficiency.’ This old man, he’s got something.”

Elder Ma seemed tired from speaking, breathing lightly a few times, his previously straight spine slightly hunched.

He took out a jade slip and a token that was neither metal nor wood from his robes and solemnly placed them before Su Ming.

“This old man has used the last of his authority to fight for a ‘special approval’ for you.”

He pointed at the token. “This is a special permit for the Transmission Pavilion. It allows you early entry to select a Foundation Establishment stage cultivation method. The reason given is that you need a new method to stabilize your cultivation, in order to better manage the Repair Hall, which concerns the sect’s practical affairs. Those old sticklers had quite a few objections, but considering this old man’s face and the Repair Hall’s achievements, they tacitly consented.”

Su Ming’s hands trembled slightly.

A Foundation Establishment stage cultivation method!

This was something countless outer sect disciples dreamed of! Typically, one could only obtain it after performing great meritorious service, or reaching the peak of Qi Refining and passing layer upon layer of assessments.

“For this trip, focus on water-attribute methods, with formations as your application. Remember, don’t bite off more than you can chew.” Elder Ma instructed. “After entering the pavilion, go straight to the third floor and find a method called the ‘Like Water Art.’ While this method is not the foremost in offense, its strengths lie in its enduring, mellow nature and exceptional compatibility. It is most suitable for your water and wood mutually generating constitution, and best matches your ‘moistening things silently and imperceptibly’ temperament.”

“As for the rest, it depends on your fortune. But remember, do not aim too high and chase after what is beyond your reach.”

Su Ming received the token and jade slip with both hands, feeling their weight, heavier than ten thousand pieces of gold.

“This disciple… will certainly live up to the Elder’s high hopes!”

Elder Ma looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. There was gratification, worry, and also a trace of reluctance.

“Go.”

He waved his hand, as if having exhausted all his mental energy, and turned back around to face the lonely cold moon outside the window.

“This Repair Hall, you built it with your own hands. From now on, no matter the storms, you must protect it well. As long as it exists, you will have roots within the sect.”

“During this old man’s seclusion, the External Affairs Hall will be temporarily managed by Steward Liu. If you encounter an unresolvable crisis…”

Elder Ma’s voice lowered, as if hesitating.

A moment later, he sighed softly. “If you encounter an unresolvable crisis, take this token and go to Formation Peak to seek out Xuanheng. Just say… it’s that old man who took him to watch the ants moving, asking him to repay a favor.”

Su Ming abruptly looked up at that hunched back, his eyes growing warm.

This was a true life-saving talisman!

This was the final escape route Elder Ma had paved for him, using a favor from one hundred and seventy years ago!

“This disciple… will remember!”

Su Ming knelt on the ground and solemnly kowtowed three times.

The heavy stone door slowly closed behind him with a dull thud, isolating two worlds.

Inside the door, a seclusion ground of uncertain life and death.

Outside the door, the unpredictable and treacherous world of cultivation.

Su Ming stood beneath the corridor. The night wind, carrying a chill, blew against his face, dispersing the warmth on his body, but it could not disperse the warmth transmitted from the token in his embrace.

For the first time, he felt so clearly that a weighty legacy, far surpassing individual life and death, had already fallen upon his shoulders.

“Master.” Su Ming called out softly in his heart.

“Hmm.” Lin Yu’s voice was lazy, yet it carried a reassuring steadiness.

“Does it mean we… can’t just think about hiding like we did before?”

“Hiding is still necessary, that’s the basic policy.” Lin Yu yawned, his phantom figure turning over inside the ring. “But, since someone has set up the stage and aimed the spotlight at us, if we keep shrinking backstage, it would be a bit of a waste of this old man’s effort.”

“Then we…”

“We’ll do as the old man said!” Lin Yu chuckled. “First, go to the Transmission Pavilion and get our hands on that ‘Like Water Art’! Water benefits all things without contending—this is the highest realm of the Way of Survival! With this method, plus your formations, we can sink roots deeper than anyone else in this Cloud Hidden Sect!”

“As for that Steward Liu…” Lin Yu sneered. “An administrator, thinking he can mess with us technical types? If he dares reach out, we’ll let him know what ‘dimensional reduction strike’ means!”

Su Ming took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the token in his hand.

He looked up at the bright moon overhead, his gaze gradually becoming clear and resolute.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep