“You have already mastered the sixth layer of the True Solar Fire Yuan Skills, which is truly beyond my expectations,” said Lu Changsheng’s mentor after coming out of solitary cultivation, his approval for Lu Changsheng’s progress growing ever stronger.
The “True Solar Fire Yuan Skills” is a unique cultivation technique of the Tai Hua Holy Land and an Emperor Tier mid-level technique, divided into nine layers. Normally, only an Immortal Emperor could cultivate the “True Solar Fire Yuan Skills” to Great Perfection.
Lu Changsheng, having just reached the ninth level of the Golden Immortal Realm, had already mastered the sixth layer. With such progress, it was possible for Lu Changsheng to cultivate the “True Solar Fire Yuan Skills” to the ninth layer in the Quasi-Emperor Realm.
“Junior brother’s aptitude is indeed terrifying,” Lin Qinghan said with a helpless smile.
She was only barely keeping up with Lu Changsheng’s progress, despite being in the Quasi-Emperor Realm herself.
Also under the guidance of Lin Xuantong, and having started cultivating the “True Solar Fire Yuan Skills” at the same time, Lin Qinghan, who had already reached the Quasi-Emperor Realm, still found it challenging.
In other words, Lu Changsheng’s aptitude surpassed Lin Qinghan’s.
Even Lin Xuantong’s eldest disciple, Qingyang Immortal Emperor, might not have an aptitude comparable to Lu Changsheng’s.
Lin Xuantong guided Lu Changsheng in cultivating both the “True Solar Fire Yuan Skills” and the seventh layer of the “Eternal Holy Scripture.”
After the morning lessons were over, Lu Changsheng returned to continue teaching his disciples.
After Lu Changsheng left, Lin Xuantong turned to Lin Qinghan and said, “Daughter, what do you think of this young man?”
“Ah?”
Lin Qinghan was surprised by Lin Xuantong’s unexpected question.
“This young man’s aptitude is too astonishing. If he continues his cultivation, he might even have the potential to take over the leadership of Tai Hua Holy Land from me. But after all, he is an outsider, not of our ancient Tai Hua bloodline, which might not win over the crowd. The ancestors and Supreme Elders would probably not agree to me training him as a successor. Consequently, I cannot pass on the strongest batch of our Holy Land’s cultivation techniques. Our Lin Family are the direct descendants of that great expert who founded the Holy Land. If he could join our clan, not only would others have nothing to say, it would also allow our clan to continue controlling the Holy Land. Of course, it all depends on your own wishes,”
Lin Xuantong intended to groom Lu Changsheng as the next Saint Lord of Tai Hua, but there was more than one power faction within the Holy Land. Even Lin Xuantong had to balance different factions carefully.
Lu Changsheng’s high aptitude was clear, but the biggest issue was that he was an outsider with only a short time in the Tai Hua Holy Land; his interests were not yet tied to the Holy Land.
People like Lin Xuantong, Lin Qinghan, Jiang Yu, and others—whose ancestors established the Tai Hua Holy Land and lived there generation after generation—acted with the interests of the Holy Land in mind, and this was beyond reproach.
If Lu Changsheng, without family in the Tai Hua Holy Land, were to leave or even betray the Holy Land, it was not impossible.
Lin Qinghan hesitantly played with a lock of her hair, “Let’s wait and see. I always feel he already has someone in his heart…”
“I see.”
Lin Xuantong scratched his head. Although his cultivation could reach the heavens, he had no intent to interfere with the young ones’ romantic entanglements.
As a being who had just begun to understand cause, effect, and fate, he often let nature take its course, rather than forcibly acting against the will of heaven.
“But his aptitude is extremely high. Under my guidance for ten thousand years, he’s neither arrogant nor impatient, extremely low-profile, and a kind-hearted person with excellent temperament. It really would be a waste not to cultivate him carefully. I will discuss this with the ancestors.”
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Lin Xuantong then headed towards the back mountain of the Holy Land.
“Respected ancestors, I have a matter to discuss with you.”
“Is there something so serious that even you cannot decide?”
The ancestors, who were in secluded cultivation on the back mountain, manifested avatars using their Divine Skills, and these avatars appeared.
“I plan to appoint my disciple as the Holy Son and cultivate him in the next step.”
“What?!”
“Lin Xuantong, do you realize what you are suggesting?”
“Holy Sons and Holy Maidens are cultivated as the next Saint Lord and can come into contact with our Tai Hua Holy Land’s core cultivation techniques and some secrets. He is a Loose Cultivator who came from the outside; we cannot be sure of his background. If he’s a pawn planted by the Demon Realm within our Tai Hua Holy Land, then the consequences would be unimaginable.”
The ancestors were visibly shaken.
While Holy Sons and candidates for Holy Sons both enjoy privileges like half-price exchanges for cultivation techniques and Elixir Pills, their treatment differs like heaven and earth after reaching the Immortal Emperor Realm.
Holy Sons and Holy Maidens are potential candidates for the next Saint Lord. Since Holy Sons and Maidens may fall before becoming Immortal Emperors, the ancestors didn’t see much difference between them and the candidates.
However, once they become Immortal Emperors, it becomes very difficult for them to be killed. Even the Grand Freedom Buddha, when struck by the Taiyin Goddess Puppet’s sword, could escape, demonstrating the strong survival ability of Immortal Emperors.
Once a Holy Son becomes an Immortal Emperor, the Holy Land will cultivate them with full power, and the gap between them and the candidates will grow larger and larger.
The strongest among the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, without any surprises, will become the next Saint Lord.
Lin Xuantong ascended to the position of the Saint Lord of Tai Hua with the status of Holy Son.
The Guanghan Palace Master succeeded to her position as Palace Master with the status of Holy Maiden.
The major Holy Lands rely on this system to cultivate the strongest Saint Lords, ensuring that every generation’s Saint Lord is the cream of the crop.
Lin Xuantong said gravely, “I have investigated secretly, and this young man ascended from a minor world; his relationships are simple, and he’s not someone from the Demon Realm… Furthermore, his aptitude is even above Qingyang’s.”
“…”
The ancestors fell silent.
This was high praise indeed.
Lin Xuantong’s eldest disciple, Qingyang Immortal Emperor, was the pride of Tai Hua Holy Land in his time, dominating an era, and all young talents of that era, including Holy Son candidates and even Lin Xuantong’s eldest daughter, the then Holy Maiden, were overshadowed in his presence.