"Senior?" I repeated, amusement lacing my tone. I neither confirmed nor denied the title, letting their imaginations fill the gaps.
We spoke then, exchanging words laced with hidden meanings. I shared my insights, the truths I had unearthed over the years. I spoke of spirit will—its formation, its nature, the methods I had devised to temper and control it.
At first, skepticism flickered in their eyes. But as my words unraveled concepts they had struggled with for decades, their disbelief gave way to awe.
Mu Yang, a master of the Titanium Will Stage himself, listened in silence. I could see the gears turning in his mind, the gaps in his understanding closing as realization dawned.
Bo Chen trembled with emotion. "For years, I have been trapped at the Stone Core Stage, unable to break through. The Titanium Will Stage was nothing but a distant dream. But now… I finally see hope." His fists clenched, determination burning in his gaze.
Even Mu Yang, who rarely betrayed his emotions, could not hide his astonishment. Doubts swirled in his mind. Was this the moment he had been waiting for? The opportunity to reach the Heavenly Ascension Stage?
I turned my gaze to him, my voice softer now. "Master, your foundation is solid, but the Titanium Will Stage is not merely about cultivation. It is a test of one's mind, one's spirit. No external force can substitute the trials required to temper it. Only through experience—through hardship, enlightenment, and struggle—can one truly step forward."
Mu Yang nodded solemnly. "You are right. To temper my will, I must undergo trials or wait for the moment of enlightenment."
I allowed myself a faint smile. "Fortunately, I anticipated this."
With a flick of my wrist, a jade scroll materialized. "This is a technique I created—a method to directly enhance one's spirit will. It is untested, but I believe it will prove invaluable."
Mu Yang's hands trembled as he accepted the scroll. "You… created a technique for the spirit will?"
I nodded. "Consider it a small token of gratitude for the guidance you gave me."
Mu Yang laughed bitterly, shaking his head.
A small token? He knew better. Techniques for strengthening spirit will were nearly nonexistent. For generations, those who sought mastery over the mind walked a perilous road, embracing suffering to forge their will. Even the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty's royal family likely possessed only a handful of such techniques.
Mu Yang bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior."
The others followed, their reverence clear. Then, one by one, they left, their minds filled with thoughts too heavy to voice.
As silence returned to the ancient halls, I rose. My fingers brushed against the spine of an old tome, its worn pages holding knowledge long forgotten.
Time moved forward, unbothered by the affairs of mortals.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Scripture Pavilion
Waves of an inexplicable aura swirled in the air, yet they dared not breach the door, as though held at bay by an invisible force.
Inside, I opened my eyes and exhaled.
"Peak of Titanium Will Stage."
For two years, I had devoured the knowledge of the Iron Vein Sect, refining and perfecting everything it had to offer.
Now, there was nothing left for me here.
I rose to my feet, my gaze turning toward the horizon.
"Seventeen years left in this world."
"I won't waste another moment."
Beyond the sect lay a vast world, filled with unknown martial paths.
I want to see it.
In the Hall of Elders, Bo Chen and the elders of the Iron Vein Sect gathered to discuss their future path in martial arts. The room buzzed with an air of optimism that had been absent for decades.
"I can already feel the bottleneck of the Titanium Will Stage loosening," one elder said with a hint of excitement. "Within the next decade, I am confident I can ascend to that level."
Another elder nodded fervently. "I, too, sense the possibility. It's a pity my duties here bind me. If not for the responsibilities of the sect, I would travel the world to temper my will and shatter this final barrier. Still, I must thank Senior. Without his guidance, this path would have remained a distant dream."
The senior the elders were referring to was naturally Xiao Huzi. The elders exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with both excitement and gratitude. Xiao Huzi's presence had rejuvenated their martial aspirations, sparking hopes they had long buried.
"Before, I would have accepted my limitations," another elder added. "But now, with the help of Senior's insights, even I dare to dream of reaching the Titanium Will Stage within the next few decades."
The other elders were equally enthusiastic, having benefited greatly from Xiao Huzi's guidance. Even they now harbored hopes of reaching the Titanium Will Stage within the next twenty or thirty years.
In this world, a martial arts master at the Stone Core Stage could easily live past two hundred years. Most of the elders of the Iron Vein Sect were in their seventies or eighties and still capable of making one last stand.
Just as the room brimmed with hope, a disciple hurriedly entered, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead.
"Sect Leader! Elders! This is urgent!"
Bo Chen's expression immediately darkened with concern. "What is it? Speak slowly, and do not panic."
The disciple tried to steady his breath, but his words came out in hurried gasps. "It's... it's the Chief Disciple..."
Bo Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he stood abruptly. "What happened to him?"
The Chief Disciple mentioned was naturally Xiao Huzi. Years ago, when Xiao Huzi was accepted as a disciple by Mu Yang, he was given the position of Chief Disciple of the Iron Vein Sect.
The other elders leaned forward, their faces taut with worry. At this moment, in their eyes, Xiao Huzi was both a benefactor and the hope of the Iron Vein Sect.
Any matter concerning him was a major event for the entire sect.
The disciple quickly shook his head. "No, Sect Leader! He's not hurt. But... but he's gone down the mountain!"
"Gone down the mountain?" Bo Chen froze for a moment, his mind racing. "Did he say why? What reason did the Chief Disciple give for such an abrupt decision?"
The disciple swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he tried to mimic Xiao Huzi's calm yet resolute tone. "The Chief Disciple said... he wanted to 'look at the world.'"
The room fell silent for a moment, the words hanging in the air.
"Look at the world?" Bo Chen repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "That's it? No further explanation?"
"The world?" muttered Xu Zhi.
"Does Senior intend to gain enlightenment through worldly experiences? It's not entirely unreasonable, but he's too young to wander the world alone!" The head of the Discipline Court seemed to have thought of something but swallowed his words before continuing.
Bo Chen and the other elders exchanged glances.
What a joke.
Danger?
Of course, they knew Xiao Huzi's current state. Two years ago, Xiao Huzi had already reached the Titanium Will Stage.
With the strength of the Titanium Will Stage, he could defeat an army of thousands single-handedly. It might take time to eliminate such a force completely, but at the very least, he could escape unscathed.
If he wished to see the world, then who in this world could stop him?
Five months later
In the bustling heart of the Dao Zhu Dynasty's capital, the Seven Heart Pavilion was alive with noise and energy. As the largest restaurant in the city, it brimmed with locals and travelers alike, all eager to savor its famed dishes or hear the latest gossip.
Bang!
On a raised platform in the center of the dining hall, a storyteller waved his arms dramatically, his voice rising and falling with theatrical flair.
"Eight years ago," the storyteller began, "a young child was accepted as Chief Disciple by the illustrious Iron Vein Sect, one of the three major sects of the Dao Zhu Dynasty!"
The audience leaned forward, hanging on his every word.
"They say," the storyteller continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "that on the day of his selection, a golden figure of an Immortal appeared above the sect! And with a single breath, that divine presence cured all illnesses within a hundred miles!"
Gasps of disbelief filled the hall.
The storyteller leaned forward. "And now, after eight long years, that very same disciple has—"
"WHAT?!" an impatient listener shouted.
The storyteller chuckled, waving his fan coyly. "Ah, patience, patience! If you wish to know more, you must return tomorrow."
Coins clattered onto the stage as frustrated patrons tossed silver and copper his way. "Keep talking!" someone demanded.
The storyteller grinned. Hook. Line. Sink. He had them.
He cleared his throat and resumed.
"By now, that disciple should be fourteen years old. He is likely honing his martial arts, refining his will, preparing for a future that will shake the heavens themselves."
He unfolded his paper fan and shook his head dramatically.
"What?"
Many guests couldn't help but cry out in disappointment. They had been eager to hear about the amazing feats of the young prodigy, only to be met with such an anticlimactic revelation.
However, after thinking it over, they found it reasonable. What could a teenager accomplish, no matter how great their potential?
As for the strange phenomena the storyteller described, most assumed they were exaggerated tales designed to captivate the audience.
What no one in the restaurant noticed was a young boy in a black robe sitting quietly in a corner with a peculiar expression on his face.
Am I truly this renowned already? The thought amused me as I shook my head.
It wasn't surprising. The Iron Vein Sect stood as one of the three great pillars of the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty, a place where martial artists sought enlightenment, where legacies were carved into stone. With my acceptance as Mu Yang's disciple, it was inevitable that eyes would turn toward me.
And with the elders and Sect Leader Bo Chen making no effort to suppress the news, rumors would naturally spiral out of control, evolving into something grander than reality.
I focused instead on the steaming delicacies before me, savoring the refined flavors of the Seven Heart Pavilion. The meal was exquisite, but food was merely food. After finishing, I left a few silver pieces on the table and stepped outside.
The city pulsed with life. The streets, paved with azure stone slabs polished smooth by countless footsteps, teemed with merchants, artisans, and travelers. The air buzzed with the cries of vendors, the clinking of coins, the laughter of children darting through the crowds. I walked among them, just another face in the sea of humanity, blending in effortlessly.