Zhang Lan was momentarily choked with emotion, unable to help but glare at Mo Hua:
"You brat, youâve started spouting nonsense again. Do you think reaching Feather Transformation is such a simple matter?"
"My father is my father. Heâs just stubborn, not truly ignorant. How could he really coerce me into Feather Transformation?"
"He himself cultivated for a lifetime, painstakingly enduring for centuries until he finally got lucky, a spark from the spirit, barely reaching Feather Transformation."
"Upon achieving Feather Transformation, one becomes a True Man."
"The difficulty of the Feather Transformation Realm is clearer to him than anyone; how could he possibly force me..."
At this point, Zhang Lan paused, feeling both relieved and somewhat wistful:
"Actually, not to mention Feather Transformation, even the Golden Core is very challenging, largely depending on whether the Heavenly Dao favors you."
"Once luck is too poor, forming the core will always fail. Many people get stuck here, and stuck for a lifetime."
"I was just like that before, worried that the Golden Core was too hard; if I couldnât break through, I would be at the mercy of fate, so I stayed stagnant in the Qi-refining Realm."
"If it werenât for Tongxian Cityâs crisis, I wouldnât have broken through to Foundation Establishment so easily."
"But luckily, every drink and peck has its predestined order. I somehow benefited from the misfortune, forcing myself to progress to the Golden Core..."
Zhang Lan rested his head on his arms, crossed his legs, lying on the giant stone, his whole body visibly becoming quickly âlazyâ again, his tone also languid:
"Starting Qi Refinement at thirty is considered a senior cultivator."
"Forming the core at forty makes one a young talent, with plenty of time."
"I can enjoy a more leisurely period for a while..."
Mo Hua imitated Zhang Lan, resting his head on his arms, crossing his legs, lazily lying down, enviously said:
"Itâs really nice... I donât even know when Iâll be able to form the core..."
Zhang Lan didnât mind, "Youâre now Taixu Gateâs pride, backed by a Sect, not lacking inheritance, not lacking guidance from seniors, with so many Elders taking care of you. Why worry about forming the core?"
Mo Hua sighed, "This has nothing to do with inheritance. Uncle Zhang, youâve said it yourself, forming the core is about personal luck."
"Good or bad luck, it all depends on whether the Heavenly Dao favors you. If the Heavenly Dao doesnât favor me, then itâs very difficult..."
Zhang Lan nodded, "Thatâs true..."
His luck was good, but that didnât mean Mo Huaâs luck would be good too.
He actually hoped Mo Huaâs luck would be good too.
But such matters are ruled by the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao wouldnât listen to him.
Zhang Lan pondered carefully for a while, then sighed helplessly, "I canât help you with this..."
"If it were before, I could still bring some insights from the Zhang Family for you to refer to..."
"But now, since youâre already a disciple of Taixu Gate, with Taixuâs deep foundations and long heritage, you probably donât need the Zhang Familyâs..."
Zhang Lan suddenly shivered internally, immediately sat upright, losing all his leisurely mood.
He almost forgot!
Water Passing Step!
This is the real matter!
Mo Hua saw his sudden changes, feeling a bit strange.
Zhang Lan, with a serious face, checked Mo Huaâs "testimony": "Mo Hua, do you remember how you got your Water Passing Step?"
Mo Hua nodded, "A passing, kindhearted uncle left it for me."
"Donât say it wrong, if you say it wrong, I might die." Zhang Lanâs face tightened.
Mo Hua puzzled, "Is it that serious?"
Zhang Lan nodded, "Originally no, but now there is, very serious!"
Originally, he was just a supervisor in a remote Little Immortal City, by chance teaching an ordinary Little Loose Cultivator only a little bit of his Zhang Familyâs Ultimate Technique Body Skill.
But now the meaning has changed, he has virtually "sold" his Zhang Familyâs Ultimate Technique Body Skill to Taixu Gateâs current elite prodigy.
Still, under the spotlight, seen by the Chief Elder.
This is plenty of trouble.
And during the day, Elder Feng and the Chief Elderâs conversation was overheard by Zhang Lan from beginning to end.
Back then, the Great Elder Zhang, in front of Elder Feng, lavishly praised the Feng familyâs prodigy, commending his Wind Wandering Steps and Wind Wandering Steps as being unparalleled.
Then, Carefree Sectâs Wind Wandering Steps, Feng familyâs Wind Wandering Steps, were under everyoneâs gaze, surpassed by Mo Hua.
And what Mo Hua learned was his Zhang familyâs Water Passing Step.
This matter, Elder Feng is better off not knowing.
If he knew, he would definitely think Great Elder Zhang was being âsarcasticâ to him.
On the surface, praising how outstanding the Feng familyâs prodigy is, how exceptional his movement technique is, while secretly passing his Zhang familyâs Ultimate Technique Body Skill, letting a Taixu Gate disciple suppress the Feng family.
Elder Feng would be infuriated.
Even if he doesnât say it openly, heâd surely hold a grudge deep down.
Along with causing potential rifts between the Zhang family and the Feng family.
Therefore, this secret about Water Passing Step absolutely must not be leaked.
This isnât Zhang Lan avoiding the hardship of choking on food and kneeling at the ancestral shrine.
But is truly for preserving the two hundred years of friendship between the Chief Elder and Elder Feng, and the generational bonds between the Zhang family and the Feng family.
Zhang Lanâs expression, as resolute as the Mountain Stones of Taixu Mountain:
"Never, never let it slip!"
Mo Hua felt the heavy weight of cause and effect within, earnestly nodded, "Donât worry, not even death would make me speak."
"Good!"
Confirming Mo Huaâs resolute gaze, Zhang Lan finally felt at ease, reverting back to his "lazy" mode, drinking and admiring the mountain views.
After that, the two chatted about some past events in Tongxian City.
Zhang Lan also inquired about Mo Huaâs recent situation.
Learning that apart from being busy every day with cultivation, practicing Taoist Skill, drawing formation, everything else was good...
The Sect was fine, fellow disciples were amiable, Elders were friendly, the Sect Leader and Ancestor were also kind.
Zhang Lan was completely at ease.