"Good! Good! Excellent!"

Chen Yixin was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands and roared with laughter.

"Mastery of combat is less important than one’s overall Dao Practice... If you can’t reach Foundation Establishment, what good is it to dominate the Qi Refining realm with just a few Magic spells?"

"Uncle Bai, your brilliant son has such spirit and character at such a young age. With him, how could you possibly worry that the Bai Family won’t prosper?"

Bai Xianzhong wore a pleased expression, his gaze toward Bai Zichen filled with gratification. "Yi Xin, you exaggerate. There are countless examples of those who are brilliant in their youth but fail to live up to that promise as adults. We’ll have to see how he develops from here."

"Now that the Combat between our juniors is over, shall we return to the Council Hall to continue our discussion?"

"That was precisely my thought."

Chen Yixin gave Bai Zichen a complicated look. The Chen Family had been the more eager party in arranging this summit between the two clans. ’With such an outstanding member in the Bai Family’s next generation, I have to wonder if the Chen Family can maintain this equal footing decades from now.’

Although the full-powered Divine Sense attack had been devastatingly effective, its side effects were also quite apparent.

Waves of exhaustion washed over Bai Zichen’s mind. He hadn’t felt like this in a long time, not since mastering the Divine Casting Technique.

’This was just a sparring match on the stage. In a true life-and-death battle, it would be far too risky... At best, I could manage a one-for-one trade. Things would be dire if there were other enemies around.’

’Spiritual Sense Attack Magic Techniques can’t be this crude and simple. Compared to a truly complete Cultivation Technique, what I’ve cobbled together on my own has probably only tapped one percent of its potential.’

Bai Zichen made a mental note to look for Cultivation Techniques related to Divine Sense when he got the chance.

Furthermore, he couldn’t afford to be reckless just because he had a strong Divine Sense.

’If I use a move like this against a Cultivator whose Divine Sense is stronger than mine, I won’t just fail to harm them—I’ll suffer a backlash.’

On his way back, he politely declined several invitations from his clanmates to celebrate. All he wanted right now was to go home and get some sleep.

He only paused when he reached Bai Qiguang and his friends, feeling their gazes of awe and admiration.

"You lot. The newest among you started cultivating a year ago, the longest three or four years, yet you all have nothing more than First-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation. You’re an embarrassment to the Bai Family."

"Starting next week, come to my courtyard. I’ll make time to check on the progress of your Cultivation Techniques. If you have any difficulties with your cultivation, you can ask me then."

Bai Zichen realized he was out of the loop on clan affairs and didn’t even have anyone to run errands for him. Thinking this, he proactively extended an olive branch.

Bai Qiguang and his friends had only recently completed their Spirit-Guiding. With no close elders in the clan to look after them, they naturally had no one to guide their cultivation.

This was also why they would be easy to win over and would likely work diligently.

Besides, Bai Zichen didn’t need assistants with high cultivation, just people who were reliable and quick-witted.

"That’s wonderful!"

"Thank you, Brother Chenn! We’ll be sure to cultivate hard and not disappoint you!"

The group was ecstatic, so overjoyed they looked ready to jump for joy.

After his victory over Chen Xiu, Bai Zichen’s prestige was at its zenith.

Before, there had been some debate within the Bai Family about who had more potential, Bai Zichen or Bai Ling. But after this battle, at least among the clan members who had witnessed the match, that debate was over. They now tacitly acknowledged Bai Zichen as the number one talent of the Bai Family’s younger generation.

To think that such a peerless genius would offer to guide their cultivation—Bai Qiguang and his friends were so deliriously happy they could barely think straight.

As soon as Bai Zichen walked away, a crowd of eager clan members swarmed them.

"Qi Guang, how did you get on good terms with Brother Chenn? He’s always been a recluse focused on his cultivation, he never even comes to the clan gatherings."

"Take me with you on your next visit! I’ve been stuck at the Qi Refining Third Layer for five years, and I can’t seem to break through no matter what I do. If Brother Chenn shares some of his experience, I might finally find the inspiration I need for a breakthrough!"

"Xiaoji, we’re from the same village! You can’t leave me out of an opportunity like this!"

As everyone chattered at once, Bai Qiguang and his friends, who had never experienced such a commotion, could only bow their hands and plead for space.

But the wiry, monkey-like Bai Ji was quicker on his feet. He raised his voice and shouted, "Brothers, it is already a tremendous honor that Brother Chenn has noticed our low cultivation and is willing to spend his precious time guiding us! We have no right to make decisions on his behalf. When we see him next week, we will be sure to pass along all of your earnest requests."

"If Brother Chenn agrees to take on more people, we will let you all know immediately!"

Bai Wei watched this scene from a distance, his heart sour with resentment. "Sister," he sneered, "look at those weathervanes, all flocking to him. As if a few words of guidance from that Bai Zichen could actually do anything for their cultivation!"

"Never mind them. Aren’t you curious how Bai Zichen managed to cultivate his Magic to such a refined and masterful degree while only having a Sixth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation?"

Even Bai Ling, who always maintained a cool and confident facade, felt her self-assurance waver for the first time.

’Facing a clan brother whose cultivation is advancing so rapidly and who possesses a talent for Top-Grade Magic... can I really surpass him?’

"Dwelling on it is pointless," Bai Ling said, her tone sharp. "When we get back, you are to focus on your training. You’ve wasted the last two years messing around, and your cultivation has fallen behind!"

Bai Ling collected herself and gazed deeply in the direction Bai Zichen had gone, as if she had just made a firm decision.

...

In a grotto beneath the water, a waterfall cascaded down, its thunderous roar painful to the ears.

Dozens of yards deeper into the cave, the walls were embedded with Luminous Pearls that cast a faint, white glow.

The surrounding space of the grotto showed clear signs of having been widened by the slashes of a Flying Sword.

There was a set of stone table and stools, a stone bed, a Cyan Jade Meditation Mat, and a Stone Bookshelf.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Bai Zichen would never have believed that the reclusive Clan Leader’s legendary Cave Mansion was so crude and simple, far less opulent than the residences of the other Elders.

But the Tier Two Top Grade Spiritual Qi was undeniable. Situated at the very heart of the Spirit Vein and further enhanced by a Gathering Spirit Array, this was the location with the purest Spiritual Qi in all of Hanxiu Peak.

Bai Zichen stood there obediently. Two days after the Chen Family cultivators had departed, the Clan Leader had sent a message summoning him.

But at this moment, Bai Xianzhong was holding a Spiritual Pen, marking something on a scroll spread across the stone table, and he didn’t even look up.

After paying his respects, Bai Zichen could only stand there quietly, not daring to disturb him.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Bai Xianzhong finally finished his task. He tossed the Spiritual Pen into its holder and said with a beaming smile, "That boy from the Chen Family is the Foundation Establishment Seed they are grooming for the next generation, pouring the entire clan’s resources into him. It is very good that you were able to defeat him."

"More importantly, you haven’t become intoxicated by your victory in the Combat. You understand that cultivation is the true foundation. So many young people are blinded by fame and glory, getting hopelessly lost in it. By the time they realize their mistake, it’s already too late."

"With the teachings of the Clan Leader and the Elders, Zichen naturally understands that Magic is merely a secondary skill."

Bai Zichen understood that this was all just a preamble; the real substance of their conversation was still to come.

"In two months, it will be the one-hundredth birthday of Sect Leader Wei Dao of the Qingfeng Sect. The invitation has already arrived."

Bai Xianzhong suddenly changed the subject, bringing up a seemingly unrelated matter.

"When the time comes, you will accompany me to the Qingfeng Sect to celebrate Sect Leader Wei’s birthday."