Chapter 78: Ancestor and Xu Mo Meet Once Again
While the majority of the sect was busy watching the first round in the twenty battle arenas, and the other minority were the participants themselves, the sect had become deserted. Not the whole sect—only the outer sect—though there were still guards from the Disciplinary Hall stationed at the four corners of the Hidden Dragon Sect.
Flip—Flip.
It felt strange. I was left alone in the technique hall. There were still a few elders in seclusion in the outer sect, but as the only youth left, there was this indescribable feeling in my chest.
It was like I was back to square one.
Flip—Flip.
Most people might fear being left alone with no one to care for them in the world. But from the beginning, I had been alone in this world, and truth be told, I did not feel alone. Even though I said I was alone from the start, there was this strange feeling inside me that proved me wrong. There was never a day when I had gone to sleep on an empty stomach. If not three meals a day, I was at least able to have one. Even if it wasn't enough to completely fill my stomach.
I was better than 95 percent of mortals. I could have been left on the streets and become a beggar, but I was left at the front of an orphanage. And before that, I could have died for any reason, yet I lived and was later adopted by a kind and nice couple.
Flip—Flip—.
As it is said, everyone is made up of Spiritual Energy from the Great Dao. But some have just enough to pass the threshold into the realm of cultivators, while others remain mere mortals. Even then, the majority of mortals mature early because their short lifespan forces them to adapt quickly. Meanwhile, many cultivators, who live long enough to see generations of mortals pass away, stay in secluded chambers in pursuit of stronger realms, leaving a gap in their mental age.
Pat—
I froze when a hand appeared on my shoulder. But when I heard the familiar voice from behind, I was beyond shocked.
"What are you thinking? All the pages of the skill book have been flipped through."
I stood up, leaving the seat empty, and nodded toward the Ancestor.
"Sit, sit." The Ancestor gestured for me to retake my seat. I no longer rejected the offer and sat down beside the strongest person currently present in the whole sect.
"So, what were you thinking that you didn't even notice you were flipping pages in empty space?"
I smiled at the Ancestor. The elder reached out his hand and ruffled my hair.
I took the stone out of my mouth and put it inside my robe.
"Ancestor, just feeling the silence in the surroundings." I spoke after a very long time, and my voice seemed unfamiliar even to me.
"If you're feeling left out, why didn't you participate in the tournament? You know what they say—an empty mind is the devil's home." The Ancestor withdrew his hand from my head and looked at me with concern.
"No." I shook my head and continued, "Ancestor, you got it wrong. Instead, I find comfort in silence."
"Oh!" The Ancestor had a gleam in his eyes as he observed me. "You are quite mature for your age. Do you know, after reaching this age, I now find solace in silence and enjoy my own company? You talk like an old man."
I smiled slightly as the Ancestor implied that I was an old man. I did not reject that title—my mother had also said that sometimes I spoke like an old man.
"When I was your age, my master had headaches because I always sneaked out of the sect to go on short adventures. And after encountering certain opportunities, I reached my current heights." I understood what the Ancestor was trying to convey. He meant that although I had the talent to reach his level, if I wanted to progress further than him, the adventures of my youth would have helped me—if I had any. Who knew how long it would take me to reach the Ancestor's level? By then, my potential would likely deteriorate, and the effects of pills and medicines that would have been potent in my youth would have a minuscule effect.
"I believe that if fate has stored an opportunity for me, then no one in this world can take it away from me." Before the Ancestor could contradict my statement, I added, "Or, in the end, all that remains is regret—that I could have done this or that."
"My father used to say, 'Expect disappointment, and you will never be disappointed.'"
"That's why I don't ask others how or where they went on adventures, or what happened to them for such a sudden change to occur. Because in the end, it would only dishearten me. If I had gone, I might have gained something too." While saying this, a few faces flashed past my mind.
Hahaha...
The Ancestor lightly slapped his thigh with his palm and broke into laughter. "Fate? I wouldn't have agreed with your statement about fate if you hadn't completed your sentence with the last part you just spoke." The Ancestor held back his laughter and spoke in a serious tone, "We cultivators cultivate because we don't want fate to decide our future."
"Ancestor, I don't mean to sound disrespectful to you, but I just wanted to say that this is my own perception of life." I said in one breath and closed my eyes tightly, afraid the Ancestor might get angry.
Tik, tik—
Some seconds ticked by, but no sound came. Carefully, I opened one eye and saw the Ancestor deep in thought.
"Well, I can't control your life choices. And as you said, everyone has a different perception of cultivation. Just like that, your insights at the Qi Condensation realm would surely be different from what mine were back then."
"Well, forget about that. I came here for something else," the Ancestor said as he leaned forward. "Why did you not report her?"
My eyes widened as I was caught off guard by the Ancestor.