NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 305
CHAPTER 305: An Unusual Disciple
Jiu Han raised an eyebrow, contemplating the weight behind Lu Ming’s words.
“I have no time for these distractions. I need to focus on cultivation.”
A slow smile crept across Jiu Han’s face.
“That one sentence alone could earn him a pass…” he murmured to himself.
Lu Ming’s words had struck a chord. With his endless lifespan and vast experience, Jiu Han knew all too well the truth in the saying: “The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago. The second-best time is now.”
As an educator, Jiu Han had long since learned that talent wasn’t everything. What truly mattered was work ethic. The most tragic figures he’d encountered over the centuries weren’t the untalented—they were the gifted who wasted their potential on laziness and distractions. Jiu Han had seen too many prodigies falter on the path.
It seemed Lu Ming wasn’t one of them.
At the Cultivation Hall, both Lu Ming and Lin Feng were immersed in their dream scenarios, waiting patiently. Jiu Han watched from afar as they navigated their own paths.
For two full hours, neither showed a hint of impatience. Lin Feng sat calmly, waiting. Lu Ming, however, took the time to practice his family’s Body Forging technique, his focus unwavering.
One repetition, two, three, four…
By the fourth round, sweat was pouring off Lu Ming’s body. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, but he didn’t stop—until a familiar voice interrupted him.
“Why the sudden diligence today?”
Lu Ming looked up and saw his father standing before him, arms crossed, a faint smile on his lips.
“Father,” Lu Ming greeted, bowing slightly. “I’ve come to realize how much time I’ve wasted in the past. I want to make up for it.”
Old Lu, a plump middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to Jiu Han in demeanor and appearance, chuckled at his son’s earnestness.
“It’s good that you’ve come to this realization. You’re still young. There’s time yet for hard work.”
After a brief pause, Old Lu’s tone shifted slightly.
“Today, I’ll give you two options for your cultivation.”
“The first is a fast-track method. You’ll reach the Ancient Realm in a hundred years.”
“The second is a foundational method. It’s slower, but it will offer far greater potential in the future. Which do you choose?”
Both Lu Ming and Lin Feng fell silent in their respective dream worlds, weighing their options.
After a long moment, Lin Feng spoke first. “Father, which path would you have me choose?”
Jiu Han, observing from his vantage point, turned his attention to Lu Ming, eager to hear his choice.
“I’ll take the foundational method,” Lu Ming said, his voice steady.
The temperament test wasn’t about right or wrong. It was about revealing the core of a person—their character, their temperament, and how they viewed the world.
Just as with the earlier temptation scenario, where following their desire didn’t necessarily mean failure in the exam, there was no “wrong” choice here either. Yielding to temptation wasn’t inherently a flaw. It was simply a part of being human.
Similarly, in this cultivation scenario, there wasn’t a correct or incorrect answer.
“Lin Feng asked his father for guidance,” Jiu Han mused. “Not out of indecision, but out of respect. His father, being a quasi-Divine realm expert, is naturally wiser. And Lin Feng’s trust in that wisdom shows obedience. That’s commendable.”
Turning his focus to Lu Ming, Jiu Han nodded thoughtfully.
“Choosing the foundational method shows ambition. This boy has great aspirations. He doesn’t want the easy path. He’s aiming for something bigger. That’s good.”
Yet, had Lu Ming chosen the fast track, that wouldn’t have been wrong either. It would have indicated someone grounded in the present—perhaps lacking in grand ambition but focused on diligent progress.
There was even a third path that neither took: asking for a method that was both fast and stable. It would’ve suggested flexibility and quick thinking, though perhaps a tendency to seek shortcuts. But everything in life has two sides. That option too had its merits.
With different choices made, Jiu Han’s two promising candidates were now set on different paths.
“The real test comes next,” Jiu Han thought with a smile. “Let’s see what they do now.”
In the dream world, their father offered Lu Ming and Lin Feng the foundational techniques they had chosen. Naturally, no technique was both fast and stable, and each had its own unique challenges.
While he explained the key points of the cultivation method, both were interrupted by whispered messages from servants, causing brief flickers of concern to pass over their faces.
Lin Feng, ever observant, immediately asked, “Father, is something wrong?”
Old Dad simply shook his head, brushing the concern aside.
Lu Ming, on the other hand, was too engrossed in the lessons he’d just learned, oblivious to his father’s brief moment of worry.
Old Dad cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “That’s all for today. I have some matters to attend to. If you have any questions about your cultivation, come see me.”
He stood to leave, but as he reached the door, he turned back to Lu Ming.
“Oh, and be careful. There may be some turbulence in the city soon. Stay home. Don’t go out with your friends.”
Lu Ming nodded. “Understood, Father.”
As his father left, Lu Ming returned to his training, his focus never wavering.
Lin Feng, however, didn’t take his father’s warning lightly. As soon as he returned to his courtyard, he summoned a servant and quickly gathered information about the situation in the city.
“Enemies…? A duel?”
Lin Feng frowned as he pieced the story together.
Every quasi-Divine realm’s life was filled with legendary moments, and his father was no exception. With such a status often came enemies, and recently, without the candidates’ knowledge, a major event shook Xuanshui City.
A newly promoted quasi-Divine Realm expert, Jie Hai, had arrived and openly challenged Old Dad to a life-and-death duel. It was personal—Jie Hai sought revenge for his father and brother.
Old Dad couldn’t refuse. The duel was set for one month from now.
After absorbing this information, Lin Feng pondered deeply, weighing his options.
Meanwhile, Lu Ming had no knowledge of the situation and no desire to inquire further. He returned to his courtyard and immediately resumed his intensive training.
The contrast between Lu Ming and Lin Feng’s behavior did not go unnoticed by Jiu Han.
“Lin Feng’s observational skills are sharp. His performance has been nearly flawless…”
“And as for Lu Ming…”
Jiu Han watched as Lu Ming, in the dream, focused solely on cultivating—only stopping to eat or sleep. His dedication was relentless.
“What is it with this disciple of mine?” Jiu Han mused, shaking his head slightly. “He’s a bit… unusual.”
It wasn’t that Lu Ming had made any wrong decisions. In fact, it wasn’t his place to interfere in his father’s affairs. And if his father hadn’t shared certain details, there was no need for him to know. Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have been able to help.
No, there wasn’t anything wrong with Lu Ming’s actions.
And yet… something felt off.
“Hmm. I’ll watch him a little longer,” Jiu Han muttered under his breath, refocusing his attention on the dream examination hall.
End of Chapter 305