That white-haired elder faintly smiled, constantly ruffling his long beard that reached down to his chest. He provoked a sense of mystery from Xu Yong, while the latter felt like he was seeing nothing at all. Furthermore, the white-haired elder seemed as if he was slightly fading out of the world.
"I never thought my successor would be a child that hasn't even stepped into cultivation yet." smirked the elder.
"Senior, may I ask who you are or where I am?" probed Xu Yong.
The elder continued to stand, not hearing Xu Yong's question. He continued probing Xu Yong. "Fifteen years of age, weak constitution, Grade 1 Spirit Essence, and an ordinary, colorless Qi Essence."
Despite not having knowledge of terms in cultivation, Xu Yong was smart and knew that the elder was telling him that he was weak and had average talent. He quite didn't know how to respond, but he became adamant on asking.
"Senior, do you know where we are?"
The elder put a surprised expression. "Oh! How could I forget. You don't even have a will nor aura. Quite peculiar, you are."
Time seemed to slow down and stop. Xu Yong continued to ask questions, only for the elder to continue ignoring him. He finally had enough and walked towards that elder.
Xu Yong put no airs and asked in a pleading tone. "Senior, please answer my questions, where are we and who are you?"
"Youngsters shouldn't be so impatient, more so in here considering we're in a crack of spacetime." smiled that elder.
Xu Yong couldn't respond, so he just simply sat down and closed his eyes, waiting for the elder to take the initiative. Seconds passed, minutes passed, and finally, hours passed. Xu Yong of course couldn't feel the exact time as he was a mortal, but he felt like it had been hours.
In the middle of a flourishing world, two figures could be seen, quietly minding their own business. After countless hours, Xu Yong finally heard the elder speak.
Stroking his beard, the elder spoke. "While you are of average talent, such innocence is fit to be the successor of my Samsara Triad Art."
"What is the Samsara Triad Art?" asked Xu Yong.
"It's a cultivation technique that is fit to be called the strongest and yet riskiest cultivation technique there is in the entire universe. You should be grateful, hahaha." laughed the elder.
Xu Yong quickly became delighted. He was a complete beginner towards cultivation, and although he was quite educated, that was catered to general knowledge. The Xu Family branch in Sun Prefecture had declined over the years, but it still held many businesses that made others greedy. This allowed them to educate Xu Yong but not give him a better environment for cultivation.
Clearly, cultivation is expensive. Materials for formations alone cost a fortune, and the Xu Family branch only had one main formation with a few smaller formations spread throughout their territory. That allowed them to fight for a position in the relatively weak Sun Prefecture.
The cost for formations, servants, guards, and their entire workforce was astronomically high that their businesses could barely make up for it. This allowed Xu Yong to live a peaceful life, but at the same time, did not allow him to be trained as a genius. Only at fifteen years old did the family branch allow Xu Yong to step into cultivation.
But, there was another reason why Xu Yong was allowed to start cultivation at fifteen, and that was because that a person's body doesn't truly mature enough until fifteen, and that is where the body starts to grow up rapidly. Starting cultivation at this age can allow for maximum efficiency as the body starts to strengthen itself. Cultivating at this time can strengthen the body even more so in many ways.
Of course, a new-born baby could start cultivation right away. Cultivation resources could be poured into that baby, allowing the parents to upgrade their baby's body, Spirit Essence, and Qi Essence. Those resources are all rare items that couldn't be bought even if you have money. Only those with connections and power could snatch those resources, and the Xu Family branch was not of them.
The elder suddenly became solemn. "Only those who have experienced pain, guilt, and regret can start to cultivate in this cultivation technique. Although there are some things that I cannot say to you, all I ask of you is to keep a steady heart."
A bad feeling rose in Xu Yong's chest. He figured the mysterious elder would teach him a peerless cultivation technique, and considering his situation, there would be no better cultivation technique in his environment better than what the elder had said. That is, of course, if the elder's words could be trusted.
Xu Yong bowed towards the elder. "Thank you for your benevolence, senior. I am just confused on my situation right now."
"We're in a crack of spacetime, like I said. Time doesn't affect this place, nor is this a dream of yours." It seemed like the elder saw through Xu Yong's questions.
He continued. "This is reality, but your body is currently in one of the outer six planets orbiting the Divine Realm. Your soul is currently here, brought about by me, of course."
Xu Yong was about to ask a question again when the elder suddenly waved his hand.
"You're wondering why you're here? Why you're suddenly bestowed a heavenly opportunity? Don't ask too many questions. All things in life have their own destinies. This is merely just one of your destinies right now."
Xu Yong was overwhelmed. He felt a certain type of responsibility given to him. It felt like he was suffocating. The elder telling him his destiny already made him feel tightened, as if his destiny was a heavenly secret he couldn't possibly know.
"You're confused and overwhelmed right now. Your cloudy future will slowly split apart, allowing you to see the middle of your path. Only then will you learn what your destiny is, step by step. For now, I will bestow upon you the Samsara Triad Art. You can't cultivate it right now due to the matter I told you of before. But as for that matter, I cannot say. All you have to do is wait for it. You still seem unsure of your path, but I trust the heavens will show you the way."
Just like that, the elder vanished. Then the world. Darkness filled up Xu Yong's vision, and as he opened his eyes, his head hurt. But the pain came with new information.