"That's fine by me." At this moment, even the previously opposing elder was beginning to show interest. "Ah, my dear disciple," Tang Ruowei sat across from Bai Qiuran, gently rubbing the rough tea cup in her hands. Liuyun clapped his hands and smiled. "Oh, then remind Jueyun to knock him down a peg or two first."
Tang Ruowei curiously asked, "What should I do now?"
Bai Qiuran straightened his expression, deliberately speaking in a nurturing tone, "Ruowei..."
After the apprenticeship ceremony was completed, Bai Qiuran wasted no time and began the lesson. "According to rules, the disciples directly taught by the elders are all designated with red robes. Although the Ancestral Martial Uncle does not hold an official position within the sect, given Ruowei's current status, no one should object to her receiving a red robe, right?"
Bai Qiuran spoke lightly, "Let him understand that a Heavenly Spiritual Root isn't everything."
"But the apprenticeship ceremony..."
"Turn left as you exit," Bai Qiuran replied, his expression complex as he looked at Tang Ruowei. The third elder responded. "Of course, there are no objections. By seniority, we should even refer to her as junior sister."
The sixth elder Qingyun added, "I don’t know, it might be because someone insisted on dragging her to drink earlier."
Tang Ruowei stared at his face, mulling it over for a long time, and finally managed to squeeze out two words.
After the apprenticeship ceremony was complete, Bai Qiuran did not waste a moment and immediately began his teachings.
"But the apprenticeship ceremony..." The third elder replied. Bai Qiuran smiled faintly at her and asked.
The previously opposing third elder was now showing enthusiasm. "Oh, then remind Jueyun to remember to hit his pride first."
"Are you saying that a soil spirit root at the level of Heavenly Spirit Root...? Throughout the generations, the royal family's qualifications have probably all converged on you."
"Leave this matter to me. I will soon deliver her identity token and clothing."
"I know, I know; I understand these matters better than you do," Bai Qiuran replied nonchalantly.
"Ah, something feels wrong with what I just said—why does my heart hurt so much..." Bai Qiuran lazily glanced at the elders. He led Tang Ruowei to the newly repaired cultivation area. They sat facing each other on wooden mats, and then Bai Qiuran asked, "Ruowei, do you know what is most important at the beginning of the cultivation path?"
Meanwhile, Bai Qiuran returned to his room, still facing Tang Ruowei.
Tang Ruowei asked curiously, "What should I do now?"
"Oh... you all seem to be prepared."
"Not bad, you've hardened your wings now." Bai Qiuran took Tang Ruowei through a simple apprenticeship ceremony, officially taking her on as his first formal disciple in over three thousand years of life.
"Spirit roots aren’t rare things; even consuming a Heavenly Recovery Pill can recover them."
“Master... Master.” Upon seeing the elders' reactions, Bai Qiuran was suddenly enlightened and looked at them with a smirk.
"Leave this matter to me. I will soon deliver her identity token and clothing."
"This isn’t fair."
"Since you are now my disciple, I naturally have to take responsibility to guide you further. You will surely reach a higher realm than I have. The technique you are practicing is also available in the Azure Nether Sword Sect’s library. It's sufficient as a national protective art in a mundane nation, but compared to cultivation practices, in terms of internal energy, it isn't mysterious enough, and as for external techniques, the investment isn't adequate. Trying to grasp both will only leave you lacking in both, which can’t support cultivation properly."
"Not bad, you've hardened your wings now."
"You also have a golden spirit root, which led the sect leader to take you as a disciple." The third elder replied. The sixth elder Qingyun added.
Tang Ruowei stared at her chipped teacup, pondering for a long while, and suddenly said, "Honestly, shouldn’t we change how we address each other? I feel it's not polite to address you so directly all the time."
Also, it’s better if you all change your titles. Calling her “Miss Tang” seems distant, and directly calling her "Ruowei" feels impolite." Bai Qiuran glanced at Tang Ruowei.
The elders quickly pleaded for mercy, "Ancestral Martial Uncle, please be lenient."
"Not daring to, not daring to." Just as he finished speaking, Bai Qiuran inexplicably felt a wave of sadness wash over him.
"Leave this to me." Bai Qiuran sulkily directed them away with a wave.
"Ah, now that the elders and sect leaders are gone, it feels much easier."
"Yes, there's only one method: give me your hand."
"Not bad, you've hardened your wings now." Tang Ruowei exclaimed, “I had to touch that stone for a long time before I discovered it.”
Upon witnessing the elders’ responses, Bai Qiuran immediately understood and smirked.
The elders quickly pleaded for mercy, "Ancestral Martial Uncle, please be lenient."
Bai Qiuran returned to his room, continuing to face Tang Ruowei.
"Not enough; don’t underestimate cultivation. With these qualities, you won’t be able to support a sufficiently magnificent tall building."
"Go well, work diligently, and strive.”
“Spirit roots aren’t rare, even a Heavenly Recovery Pill can remedy them.” Bai Qiuran said with indifference.
"Where is the restroom?"
After staying here for two days, Tang Ruowei, continuously being called by Bai Qiuran, didn’t react much anymore. When she heard Bai Qiuran’s question, her expression remained calm as she answered, "Master, is it the spirit root?"
Bai Qiuran forcefully pushed a group of elders out of the subdivision, then threw the unconscious sect leader back to them.
“Ah, where is the restroom?”
“Turn left as you exit.”
“Where do I find the restroom?”
"But Master, I've cultivated our Shangxuan royal family's Xuanlong technique since I was six. I believe my physical qualities are far better than ordinary mortals."
(Tang Ruowei covering her face and swiftly fleeing, Bai Qiuran coldly scoffed, "Hmph, you think you can outmatch me? Have I lived three thousand years for nothing? If I get serious, which girl could endure ten minutes before me?")
"Since you are a disciple of mine, I will naturally take you further. You'll certainly reach realms beyond mine. The technique you're practicing is also in the Azure Nether Sword Sect's library, sufficient as a mundane nation’s treasure, but in cultivation practice, it lacks the mystery internally and the investment externally; aiming for both yields inadequacies on both sides; this can’t support genuine cultivation."
"Regard this as a minimal foundation; it's essential to have a solid foundation—the foundation is your own body. To establish a good foundation, the simplest method is to build a robust physique."
Elder Qingyun echoed, "Aren’t spirit roots important?" Suddenly, Bai Qiuran’s expression turned serious as he posed a question to Tang Ruowei and the gathered elders.
They gazed at each other, uncertain if this matchmaking had succeeded or failed, but they dared not continue disturbing Bai Qiuran. So, they trudged back to their respective peaks, holding the unconscious sect leader.
Then Bai Qiuran returned to his room, continuing to converse with Tang Ruowei.
"We just need to understand one thing; spirit roots are significant but not the most important aspect of cultivation." Bai Qiuran stated with finality.
"Understood, Master, let's proceed."
With a few more exchanges, the discussion matured into laughter. Though uncertain initially, Tang Ruowei felt increasingly confident in her new path as Bai Qiuran turned his wisdom toward guiding her journey into the realm of cultivation.