23: Young people should communicate more

Xiao Ruobai was immersed in the profundities of Shadow Step when he suddenly felt a familiar aura approaching from down the mountain, causing his steps to instinctively pause.

Remembering his Master's usual admonitions about keeping a low profile, his thoughts stirred, and he quietly activated the Cannot See Through Me Cultivation Technique that Gu Changge had taught him.

The surging Late Stage Foundation Establishment spiritual energy within him receded like a tide, and the circulating battle Qi also retracted deep into his Meridians.

His powerful Qi and blood were concentrated between his internal organs, not revealing the slightest hint of sharpness.

In an instant, the aura around him plummeted, settling firmly at the Body Tempering Realm First Heaven.

He looked no different from an ordinary Body Tempering Realm Disciple, only his eyes, due to the recent Epiphany, still retained a clear brightness.

Gu Changge watched his practiced movements, a nearly imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

This kid, he's learned the meaning of "hiding one's true ability" quite quickly.

The fierce momentum from practicing the footwork hadn't even subsided, and in a blink, he could feign a naive and innocent look. It reminded him a bit of how he used to fool the Sect Elders back in the day.

He took a sip of tea, and a leisurely thought floated through his mind: Hmm, a teachable student.

Before long, Xuan Yangzi's laughter pierced through the bamboo forest: "Junior Brother Changge, I'm here!"

Xiao Ruobai, hearing the sound, had already stopped, appearing as if he had just finished basic Cultivation Techniques, his aura stable, not revealing the slightest flaw.

As soon as Xuan Yangzi settled onto the stone stool, he pulled a Storage Ring from his sleeve and pushed it onto the table: "Here, for your Disciple."

Gu Changge swept his Divine Sense across it; inside were a hundred dusty medicinal herbs, still clinging to soil at their roots, yet subtly exuding a warm medicinal fragrance.

"These are 'Azure Vein Grass.' Don't look down on them; when boiled into a medicinal bath, they are excellent for nourishing the Physical Body."

"I remember this kid was frail when he first joined the Sect and couldn't handle ordinary Body Tempering soups. This grass is mild and perfect for him to recuperate."

Gu Changge glanced at the jade box and thanked him, "Senior Brother, you're too kind."

"Hey, why be polite with me?"

After Xuan Yangzi finished speaking, his eyes fixed on the purple clay teapot by Gu Changge's hand.

His hand was quicker than his mouth; he grabbed the teapot and poured himself a full cup, then gulped down the steaming tea.

It scalded him, making him grimace, but he couldn't bear to spit it out, mumbling, "Your tea is still the best. My lousy tea tastes like plain water... Speaking of which, what exactly is the origin of this tea?

Drinking it always makes me feel comfortable all over. Last time, I was stuck at a Bottleneck for half a year in seclusion, and after three cups of your tea, hey, I inexplicably broke through."

Xuan Yangzi's hand was already on the teapot; he poured himself a cup, took a big gulp, and smacked his lips.

"This tea's effects are so Heaven-Defying. I thought you'd be lucky to have a few leaves, but I didn't expect you to still have some."

Gu Changge smiled, slowly saying, "Picked from the back mountain, an unnamed wild tea."

"You're full of it."

Xuan Yangzi smacked his lips, poured himself another cup, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"A while ago, I was flipping through the Sect's secret texts and saw a drawing of enlightenment tea. The leaf veins were exactly like your tea.

But isn't that thing a legendary treasure that can make even Great Emperors experience Epiphany?

Let alone our Azure Profound Sect, even an ancient relic like the Myriad Law Pavilion, with its ten-thousand-year Legacy, probably couldn't gather a single leaf."

Gu Changge raised his hand and pushed the teacup towards him, interrupting him: "Drink your tea."

Xuan Yangzi said no more, holding the teacup and closing his eyes.

The warmth of the tea spreading on his tongue sank down his throat, transforming into countless tiny light particles that permeated his limbs and bones.

The blocked passages deep within his Sea of Consciousness slowly loosened, like frozen soil moistened by spring rain.

The spiritual energy throughout his body flowed more smoothly, and even the fatigue between his brows faded a bit.

The extremely dense spiritual energy within Zizhu Peak transformed into a pale green airflow, barely visible to the naked eye, surging towards Xuan Yangzi's body.

His robes subtly fluttered, and the ribbon in his hair gently trembled, as if an unseen vortex was quietly operating within his body.

One incense stick, two incense sticks... It wasn't until the sun climbed to the bamboo tips that Xuan Yangzi slowly opened his eyes, divine light flowing within, an undisguised smile on his lips.

He lightly tapped the stone table with his fingertip, and the tabletop actually glowed with a faint spiritual light — clearly, this hour of insight was more effective than years of his seclusion.

"Good heavens..."

Xuan Yangzi let out a long sigh, his gaze towards the bamboo forest becoming somewhat complex.

"Your tea is truly extraordinary."

No sooner had he spoken than his gaze fell upon Xiao Ruobai, seeing the young man weaving through the bamboo using Shadow Step.

He glanced into the bamboo forest, his gaze lingering on Xiao Ruobai, and his eyebrows slightly raised: "Your Disciple... has he already reached Body Tempering Realm First Heaven?"

Gu Changge followed his gaze and lightly hummed, "Mm."

Xuan Yangzi immediately perked up, stroking his chin in wonder.

"If I remember correctly, your Disciple's Aptitude was Low Grade Mortal, wasn't it?

It's only been less than a month, and he's already reached Body Tempering Realm First Heaven. That speed isn't slow at all.

Although Body Tempering Realm First Heaven isn't much in the Sect, this progress is quite good among the newly recruited Disciples."

"His Heart-Nature is decent, but his Aptitude is far inferior to your Disciple with the Jinghong Sword Body."

Gu Changge smiled and said modestly.

Xuan Yangzi's gaze lingered on Xiao Ruobai's agile figure.

"This child, like you, is quiet but hides things."

"I say, Changge, this Disciple of yours is good material, but he can't always stay cooped up Cultivating on Zizhu Peak."

Gu Changge looked up at him but didn't speak.

Xuan Yangzi continued, "They're all sixteen or seventeen, an age when they should be roughhousing with their peers. This child spends all day buried in Cultivation; I'm afraid he hasn't left Zizhu Peak since joining the Sect, has he?"

He gestured towards the bamboo forest with his chin: "Let him go to the front mountain more often, spar with Inner Sect Disciples, or even just watch others spar in the training grounds.

Cultivation isn't just about practicing in isolation; interacting with others helps you discover your shortcomings. Besides... always being cooped up can easily lead to Heart Demons, couldn't it?"

Gu Changge tapped the rim of his teacup with his fingertip, his gaze falling on Xiao Ruobai.

A faint smile flickered in his eyes.

This kid, it's time he went out and saw people.

Xuan Yangzi stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing into a slit, then changed the subject: "If you ask me, it's fine if Xiao Ruobai doesn't want to go out."

He suddenly leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

"I'll take a bit of a loss and have a few of my Disciples — Xuan Feng, Jinghong, and the others — come to Zizhu Peak to keep him company. Young people, after all, it's always good to interact more."

Gu Changge's hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly, and he looked up at Xuan Yangzi.

He saw his Senior Brother, the Sect Master, with a sincere expression that said, "I'm doing this all for the children's good," yet a shrewd glint flickered in his eyes.

"..."

Gu Changge suddenly realized — good heavens, after all that beating around the bush, he was waiting for this!"

What worry about his Disciple getting Heart Demons, what young people needing more interaction... This old fox clearly had his eye on Zizhu Peak's Cultivation environment and was trying to scheme benefits for his own Disciples!