Chapter 491: Chapter 480: The Sword Cultivator Father
"Dad? What did you say?" Ye Sheng simply couldn’t believe his own ears. What did his father say? He respected his choice? That he had already arranged with Uncle-Master Ming Shi for him to learn Artifact Refining in the future?
"Sheng’er," Ye Qiu sighed deeply, his eyes losing their luster as he seemed much more decrepit, "Dad has been thinking a lot these past few days. Was I wrong?"
Ye Sheng’s eyes widened in shock, he was completely dumbfounded and at a loss for how to respond, the raging wind whistled past his ears, and he began to wonder if he was experiencing auditory hallucinations.
"Dad has been thinking about whether forcing you to practice the sword was really the right thing to do. These last few days, Dad has reflected a lot and has come to understand something. Everyone’s mindset on the path of cultivation is different. Cultivation should be in harmony with the Heavenly Dao rather than going against one’s true intentions. Continuing like this will only lead to an unstable heart, so go and do what you wish. You don’t have to practice the sword anymore, Dad won’t force you again. Go prepare yourself, I promised your Uncle-Master Ming Shi that I’ll no longer interfere with your cultivation. Get ready, and in a couple of days, move to Artifact Refining Peak," Ye Qiu said earnestly, hoping his son wouldn’t misunderstand any longer.
But he wasn’t aware that Ye Sheng was full of confusion and then despondency. His father said that he would no longer interfere with his cultivation— wasn’t that just disappointment? Is he really that inadequate?
Ye Qiu thought that his son was still immersed in shock and completely failed to perceive his emotions and then awkwardly forced a smile, one somewhat ghastly, "It’s getting late, go to sleep after you finish soaking in the medicinal bath."
When Ye Sheng returned to his room, he still couldn’t believe the words he had just heard. Was his father truly giving up on his practice of the Sword Dao and leaving him to learn Artifact Refining?
Ye Sheng’s mind was in utter turmoil. His father was truly disappointed in him, and he wouldn’t care for him anymore?
As Ye Sheng lay in the bath tub, the medicinal water continuously shaped his muscles and bones, but the physical pain left him numb, his mind repeatedly echoing the words Ye Qiu had said to him.
He didn’t know whether to feel joy or disappointment at this moment. Logically, he should be happy since he could finally study what he liked, Artifact Refining. But every time he thought of his father’s disappointed and decrepit demeanor, he felt worthless, thinking that he must have let his father down for his expectations to have been dropped.
It must be so!
Ye Sheng fiercely punched the medicinal water, shamed by his past laziness.
"Senior Brother, now that Hidden Sword Peak only has some Outer Disciples, at this sect’s disciple recruitment conference, do you intend to take a few Direct Disciples?" Previously, Ye Qiu had intended to pass his teachings on to Ye Sheng, so Qin Guan never inquired more, but since Senior Brother has decided to let Ye Sheng go to Artifact Refining Peak, it’s necessary to accept a couple disciples. Otherwise, wouldn’t Hidden Sword Peak’s teachings be lost?
But what he didn’t know was that his words deeply stabbed Ye Sheng’s heart. His thoughts ran wild, surely it was because he wasn’t good enough that his father decided to take new disciples.
"We’ll see," Ye Qiu replied noncommittally. After speaking, however, he contemplated the Sect Leader’s junior brother’s words more carefully. Since he had already decided to let Sheng’er switch to Artifact Refining, Hidden Sword Peak would definitely need to choose someone else to carry on the legacy. Indeed, the matter of accepting disciples could be considered.
Seeing his father, Ye Sheng took a secretive glance before lowering his head in disappointment and shame.
Two days later, the day came for Tianyan Sect to recruit disciples. As the foremost sect in the Xuanyuan Realm, countless individuals would come each time to be accepted.
Recruitment wasn’t just about innate talent but also enlightenment. So, after testing their Spirit Roots, the children would also be made to walk the Heavenly Ascending Stairs.
The Heavenly Ascending Stairs was a long staircase extending from the foot of the mountain to halfway up the Main Peak, replicating the Heavenly Ascending Stairs of the Tianyan Sect in the Upper Realm. During the ascent, the Array inside would release Illusion Realms, and only those with tenacious and pure hearts could more easily complete this part of the staircase.
"You go too." As Ye Qiu and the others were watching the new disciples climb the Heavenly Ascending Stairs, a person flew over with a child of about ten years old in his hand.
"Brother Wu’an, you’ve arrived." This person was none other than Lin Shen’s master, who practiced the Heartless Path, and the child who was about ten years old was the Heart Demon in Ye Sheng’s heart from his past life, Lin Shen, the Child of Destiny with Five Spirit Roots.
Master Wu’an nodded at Sect Leader Qin Guan and then stopped paying attention to the others, tossing Lin Shen at the foot of the mountain under the Heavenly Ascending Stairs.
"Brother Wu’an, what is this about?" Seeing that the others remained silent, Sect Leader Qin Guan felt compelled to speak.
"The disciple I’ve taken in, Lin Shen." Master Wu’an was a bit like Ye Qiu in one respect – both were men of few words.
However, although Ye Qiu was taciturn, he was generally approachable, just like how Sect Leader Qin Guan and Perfected Ming Shi would not stand on ceremony with Ye Qiu, but when facing Master Wu’an, everyone’s faces would unconsciously tighten, showing a reluctance to engage in more conversation.
Although Master Wu’an was not popular, he was indeed Tianyan Sect’s number one expert, and upon his acknowledgment of his disciple, everyone curiously looked over.
Lin Shen was about the same age as Ye Sheng this year, but the young boy indeed had a face full of tenacity and coldness. Even though others had already climbed halfway, he showed no dissatisfaction or anxiety about his late start, and steadily walked forward. It seemed as if he found the Illusion Realm too easy, and he gradually picked up speed.
"Hmm!" A group of Nascent Soul old monsters watched and nodded, feeling that this child’s temperament was commendable.
Ye Sheng also curiously watched the person of the same age, and seeing his rapid pace couldn’t help but think back to his own time climbing the Heavenly Ascending Stairs.
"Don’t compare, you two are different people, and the age at which you climbed the stairs is not the same." Just as Ye Sheng began to reminisce, Ye Qiu’s voice echoed in his ear.
A smile unconsciously curved on Ye Sheng’s lips, and a warm current flowed through his heart; it appeared his father truly cared about him. He stopped focusing on Lin Shen and shifted his gaze to the other young disciples.
These past few days his father had forbidden him from sword practice, resolute in wanting him to switch to Artifact Refining instead. Henceforth, Hidden Sword Peak would certainly have other disciples to carry on the legacy. He wanted to help his father see if there was anyone suitable for sword practice.
"Wow!" An elder suddenly uttered a small exclamation of surprise, drawing everyone’s attention. Following his gaze, it turned out that Lin Shen, who had started climbing last, had already surpassed more than half of the people in just a quarter of an hour.
"Master Wu’an, may I ask what kind of Spirit Root this child has?" This elder asked curiously, knowing it was impossible to sway Master Wu’an’s disciple, but he couldn’t help but inquire.
"Five Spirit Roots." Master Wu’an was as always, a man of few words.
Five Spirit Roots?
Everyone exchanged glances and then closed their mouths, no longer paying attention to Lin Shen.
Because in their eyes, the talent of the Five Spirit Roots was simply too poor. It was no longer like in Ancient Times. After the Immortal Demon War, the Great World split into three thousand Small Worlds, three thousand Middle Worlds, and three thousand Great Worlds. Five Spirit Roots were considered superior Spirit Roots during the abundant Spiritual Energy of Ancient Times, but in the Small World, with their slow absorption of Spiritual Energy and enormous expenditure, they had fallen to the lowest rank of Spirit Roots.