Several days had passed since the Outer Sect Minor Competition. The minor flesh wounds on Xiao Qi's body had fully healed with the help of medicinal pills and his own recovery. During the day, he continued his routine as usual: meditating and refining qi, helping out in the kitchen, practicing fire control and footwork—as if that honorable defeat in the competition had left little trace in his heart. However, Master Xuan Lin had keenly noticed that this youngest disciple occasionally had an extremely faint, age-inappropriate gloom flicker between his brows, and his cultivation seemed to carry a subtle hint of urgency that wasn't there before.
That night, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. Xiao Qi had just finished his evening meditation session and was preparing to rest when a patrolling senior brother came to relay a message: Master was waiting in the meditation chamber. Xiao Qi's heart tightened slightly. He didn't know why Master was summoning him so late at night. Could it be that he had made some mistake during his daytime cultivation? Not daring to delay, he straightened his robes and hurried toward the secluded courtyard where Master practiced cultivation.
The meditation chamber was lit only by a single blue lamp, casting a dim, yellowish light. Master Xuan Lin sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his eyes lightly closed, his presence as steady as a mountain. Hearing Xiao Qi's footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and unrippled.
"Disciple Xiao Qi pays respects to Master." Xiao Qi bowed respectfully.
"Sit." Master Xuan Lin pointed to the prayer mat opposite.
Xiao Qi obediently sat down, feeling somewhat apprehensive. He lowered his head, awaiting Master's instruction.
After a moment of silence, Master Xuan Lin spoke slowly, his voice deep and steady. "During your daytime cultivation, your mental energy seemed somewhat restless. What is the reason?"
Xiao Qi's heart jumped. He hadn't expected Master to observe so keenly. He hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Disciple... disciple just feels that my cultivation progress is too slow. After losing in the minor competition... I feel somewhat anxious, wanting to improve my strength more quickly." He didn't conceal it, voicing the hidden frustration and anxiety stirred up by the competition.
Master Xuan Lin, upon hearing this, didn't scold him for being overly ambitious as Xiao Qi had expected. Instead, he nodded slightly. "Knowing shame and then showing courage is not a bad thing. However, for cultivators, cultivating the heart comes first. If the heart is unsettled, then qi easily becomes restless. Restless qi leads to deviations in cultivation, making it difficult to solidify one's foundation. Even if there is temporary progress, it's like building a tower on sand—ultimately difficult to endure." His gaze rested on Xiao Qi, as if it could penetrate his exterior and see the turmoil deep within his heart.
"Your aptitude may be ordinary, but your mental fortitude is resilient. You can immerse yourself in understanding subtle details—this is a rare quality. Don't let temporary victories or defeats, temporary speed or slowness, disrupt your own pace. Accumulate steadily and unleash powerfully, let things take their natural course—that is the true path."
"Accumulate steadily and unleash powerfully..." Xiao Qi murmured these four words. The restless emotions in his heart gradually calmed under Master's peaceful yet powerful words. He remembered the focus and accumulation when practicing fire control with the frying pan, practicing flipping—wasn't that another form of "steady accumulation"?
"Disciple understands." Xiao Qi raised his head, his eyes regaining their usual clarity and determination. "In the future, disciple will definitely calm my heart and mind, stabilize my foundation, and no longer seek quick results."
A trace of satisfaction, almost imperceptible, flashed in Master Xuan Lin's eyes. He shifted the topic, his tone still flat but carrying a hint of deeper meaning. "Additionally, when observing your body, besides the spiritual energy gained from your own cultivation, it seems... there is another hidden force, latent and not yet manifesting. Its nature is upright and harmonious, faintly resonating with your bloodline."
Xiao Qi's heart trembled violently. He abruptly looked up at Master, his heart involuntarily accelerating. Hidden force? Did he mean the jade pendant? Or... the Xu family bloodline? Did Master... notice something?
Master Xuan Lin didn't press about the source of that power. He simply continued, "This force seems to be dormant, perhaps for protection, perhaps as a seal. It's not something you can actively control at your current level. Forcing it would bring no benefit, only harm. You must wait for the opportunity to arrive, for your mindset to mature, and then it may reveal itself, becoming usable by you."
Opportunity... mindset... Xiao Qi tightly clenched the corner of his robe. In his mind flashed scenes of the jade pendant saving him from danger multiple times, soothing his mind and spirit. Master's words seemed to dispel some of the mist that had long shrouded his heart. He had always known the jade pendant was extraordinary, but he didn't know its origins, much less how to treat it. Now, although Master hadn't explicitly said it, he had given Xiao Qi a clear direction—no need to force it, let things take their natural course, strive to improve oneself, and wait quietly for the right time.
Master Xuan Lin emphasized, "Cultivation begins with cultivating the heart—accumulate steadily and unleash powerfully. Aptitude is like uncarved jade—it needs patient polishing. There seems to be a dormant force within your body. Wait quietly for the opportunity; don't underestimate yourself."
"Thank you for Master's guidance!" Xiao Qi bowed deeply once more, this time with genuine gratitude from the heart. Master hadn't probed his secrets, yet when he was confused, had given him the most pertinent guidance.
"Go." Master Xuan Lin waved his hand, closing his eyes again. "The Discipline Hall lineage doesn't seek to stand out above others, only seeks a clear conscience and solid footing. Remember this."
"Yes, disciple will remember Master's teachings!"
Xiao Qi retreated from the meditation chamber. The night breeze brushed his face, carrying the unique coolness of the mountains. He looked up at the night sky—the bright moon remained pure and luminous. The gloom and urgency in his heart had already dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented clarity and solidity. Master's midnight talk was like timely rain, extinguishing the flames of impatience ignited by the competition, and also pointing out the attitude he should adopt toward the secrets within his body.
He would no longer fret excessively over his slow cultivation progress, nor would he feel bewildered and uneasy about the mystery of the jade pendant. He knew his aptitude was ordinary, the path ahead difficult. But he had Master's guidance, the companionship of his senior brothers and sisters (even if strict companionship), his own chosen path of "steady accumulation," and that dormant power that required opportunity and mindset to awaken.
The path lay under his feet—step by step, solid progress was all that was needed. On this long cultivation journey, he was not walking alone.
With this realization, Xiao Qi stepped forward under the moonlight, walking steadily toward his dwelling. His figure, under the clear, cold moonlight, appeared exceptionally resolute.