Conversation

Hearing this, the two who were about to take their leave did not refuse.

They had long been filled with curiosity about this long-rumored Path of Heart-Questioning.

Now that Immortal Lin was inviting them, they agreed after a brief moment of thought.

Fortunately, the two of them had come alone today. Xue Chengfeng knew how to drive the carriage, so they had not brought any attendants.

After tying the carriage to a nearby tree, the two stood before the Path of Heart-Questioning. They exchanged a glance, exhaled a breath, and took large strides into it.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao thought for a moment and returned up the mountain first.

He would have Little Luan keep an eye out for when the two of them woke up later, and then he would come back to see them off.

After Lin Xiao finished assigning the task of keeping watch to Little Luan, he headed to the sect's main hall, intending to open the New Year's gift the system had given him yesterday to see what it was.

Unexpectedly, Mo Yuanjiao happened to be walking toward him. Upon seeing him, he immediately ran over as if pumped full of boundless energy:

Sect Master Senior Brother, are you free right now?

Lin Xiao, not understanding the context, asked:

Is something the matter?

Mo Yuanjiao felt that since he asked this way, it meant he was free, so he said very happily:

My dad wants to chat with you!

Hearing this, Lin Xiao figured that the system's New Year's gift was just sitting there anyway, and he could look at it whenever, so he nodded and said:

Sure, where is your dad? I will go find him.

Mo Yuanjiao immediately reached out to stop him, saying:

No need, no need! I think it is perfect for you two to chat right here in the sect's main hall. Wait a moment, I will go get my dad right away!

Saying that, he ran off like a wisp of smoke.

Lin Xiao stood alone in place. He thought for a moment and decided he might as well put away the New Year's gifts sent by Lord Tong and the others first.

Thus, he first went to the Affairs Hall and found Liu Yunan.

That is right, nowadays Liu Yunan would sit in the Affairs Hall during his free time every day.

He specifically handled all kinds of trivial chores within the sect.

When Lin Xiao came over, he unsurprisingly saw Liu Yunan behind the desk, seriously keeping accounts. Beside him was a stack of positioning sound transmission talismans, presumably mostly used for communicating with Jiang He.

Baldy, some New Year's gifts have arrived.

Hearing Lin Xiao's voice, Liu Yunan finally realized someone had come in. He raised his head, took a hasty glance at Lin Xiao, and immediately lowered his head to continue the work in his hands.

He had to finish early; he still had to go eat Fuzi's cooking later.

What New Year's gifts?

Seeing him busy, Lin Xiao did not waste words. He took out all the New Year's gifts sent by Lord Tong and the others from his private storehouse and placed them on the empty floor to the side:

The New Year's gifts sent by Tong Shuzheng, the Prefect of Liaoju Prefecture. They aren't anything too precious, so I accepted them. I gave two Solidify Foundation and Cultivate Vitality Pills as a return gift. Register this, and from now on, we will treat them as normal friends and engage in standard courtesy exchanges.

Hearing this, Liu Yunan looked up again, glanced at the pile of New Year's gifts Lin Xiao had placed to the side, then lowered his head again and nodded in reply:

Alright, got it. Prefect Tong is a decent person. I will register them in a bit.

Having explained these matters, Lin Xiao did not disturb his work any further. He left the Affairs Hall and returned to the sect's main hall.

He did not have to wait long before Mo Yuanjiao arrived with General Mo.

After Mo Yuanjiao dropped General Mo off, he let him in and then very thoughtfully closed the main hall's doors tightly on his own initiative.

Before leaving, he even wore an expression that said you two take your time chatting, there is no need to rush out until you are done.

General Mo looked at his youngest son's punchable appearance and felt quite helpless in his heart.

Neither he nor his first wife had this kind of temperament.

He really did not know who this boy took after.

Seeing General Mo arrive, Lin Xiao took the initiative to cup his hands in greeting and said:

General Mo, you encountered danger as soon as you arrived at the Lingxian Sect this time. Over the past two days, this junior hasn't had the time to speak with you privately. Please forgive me, General.

General Mo hurriedly raised his hands to return the greeting and said:

Not at all. Sect Master Lin is a young genius. To become a sect master at such an age and manage such a large sect, I understand you must be busy every day. Being able to spare some time to chat with this Mo right now makes me very happy. There is no need for apologies.

After General Mo finished speaking, the conversational ball was in Lin Xiao's court. He figured he couldn't just directly ask what the other party wanted to talk about, right? That would be a bit awkward, so he opened his mouth and asked:

General Mo, have you been accustomed to the food and lodging at the Lingxian Sect these past two days?

Seeing that Lin Xiao, despite his age, did not straightforwardly ask what he wanted to discuss but instead took a roundabout approach, General Mo sighed in his heart. If only his own son could learn half of what this youth possessed, it would be great.

Since the other party treated him politely, and he wasn't one to beat around the bush either, he smiled and said:

The food and lodging are both excellent. The Lingxian Sect has outstanding people and a spiritual environment, with serene surroundings. Living here these few days, I feel as if I have grown several years younger overnight, haha.

Saying this, he did not pass the conversation back to Lin Xiao, but directly stated:

Sect Master Lin, what are your thoughts in establishing this Lingxian Sect? I heard from Yuanjiao that cultivation in your noble sect surprisingly does not require spirit root aptitude, but rather depends on one's character? As long as one's character passes the test, anyone in the world can cultivate to immortality?

Hearing that he was asking about this, Lin Xiao replied:

That is indeed the case. In our Lingxian Sect, spirit roots are of little use.

Receiving his confirmation, General Mo frowned slightly. He stayed silent for a moment before continuing:

From ancient times to the present, I am not clear on distant places, but at least in the Pusi Kingdom and several surrounding countries, among all the sects allied with them, I have never heard of any sect whose cultivation method does not rely on spirit roots. I presume Sect Master Lin is aware of this?

Lin Xiao nodded:

I know.

General Mo added:

I heard from Yuanjiao that in the private school at the foot of your noble sect's mountain, many of your sect's mental cultivation methods have been placed there. Then Sect Master Lin must also know what consequences would arise once the news spreads that your sect allows cultivation without a spirit root?

Lin Xiao then said:

I have thought about everything General Mo has mentioned and worried about. Is General Mo concerned that my Lingxian Sect will become a target for everyone later on?

General Mo was not polite and directly nodded:

I do have such concerns. On one hand, I am worried that Yuanjiao might be harmed because of this. On the other hand, I also feel that your noble sect has a very promising future and should not be cut short here.

His worries were human nature, and Lin Xiao completely understood. He spoke up:

I am also aware of General Mo's worries. But actually, does General Mo know that in order to practice our sect's mental cultivation method, it is not just about character, but there is another threshold?

Oh? What threshold is that?

To practice our sect's mental cultivation method, one must be a disciple of our sect, otherwise they cannot gain any cultivation base.

Hearing this, General Mo did not fully understand. He frowned, but did not speak up to interrupt Lin Xiao, quietly waiting for him to continue.

Lin Xiao continued:

Furthermore, the mental cultivation methods in the private school at the foot of the mountain have actually all been modified by Yigao. The parts used as teaching materials are basically excerpts focusing on ideology and do not involve the cultivation aspect.