When Li Lin told him to find a new master for Li Chang’an, Li Wuji was confused.
Li Lin didn’t know how to explain either. ’I can’t just admit my skills are too limited to teach Li Chang’an anymore, can I?’
So, he could only grit his teeth and say, "I told you to find one, so go find one! Why all the nonsense? Remember, they have to be the absolute best—at least at the Martial Saint Realm. Ideally, they should all be Martial Gods!"
Hearing this, Li Wuji was even more baffled.
Finding a master wasn’t the issue. ’But what does he mean, "starting at Martial Saint, ideally all Martial Gods"?’
’Even though there are plenty of experts in the world, it’s not like Martial Saints and Martial Gods are a dime a dozen!’
Even if he was the Emperor, Martial Saints and Martial Gods were supreme figures who had long since transcended worldly control. They weren’t people you could summon at will.
Li Wuji studied Li Lin’s expression and saw that the Old Ancestor seemed extremely agitated. Not daring to say more, he ventured, "Old Ancestor, has Chang’an been throwing tantrums again? That boy... give him an inch and he’ll take a mile. I’ll go drag him over here for a beating right now so you can blow off some steam!"
With that, he stood up, ready to go find Li Chang’an.
Li Lin immediately panicked. His eyes shot wide as he snapped, "What do you think you’re doing? Chang’an is the future heir of our Great Zhou! Who gave you permission to discipline him? From now on, nobody is to lay a hand on him!"
Seeing his reaction, Li Wuji was utterly lost.
He had no idea what could have possibly happened over the past few years to turn his normally composed Grand-master into... this.
Realizing he couldn’t bluff his way out of it, Li Lin finally dropped the tough act. He sighed. "I’m only telling you this. You absolutely cannot let a word of this get out!"
Li Wuji nodded.
He couldn’t help but prick up his ears.
Li Lin let out a bitter laugh and said helplessly, "It’s not that I’m unwilling to teach Chang’an. It’s that the boy’s talent for the Martial Dao is simply unbelievable. After teaching him for just over a year, I’d basically run out of things to teach him."
Hearing this, Li Wuji nodded.
But then, feeling something was off, he dug a finger in his ear and asked uncertainly, "I’m sorry, what was that?"
He had heard him perfectly clearly.
But he thought he must be hallucinating.
’What does he mean, he ran out of things to teach after only a year?’
Li Lin shot him an irritated glare, not wanting to dwell on the topic. "It means that in the first year, I taught him every bit of Martial Dao knowledge I possess. It took him one year to learn it all. Do you understand me now?"
Li Wuji understood, but he felt like he shouldn’t have.
His Grand-master was a Martial God, a man who had reached the absolute pinnacle of Martial Arts. He was just one final step away from transcending the Martial Dao and stepping onto the path of immortality.
In his eyes, an expert of that caliber was like a towering mountain at the very end of the Martial Dao.
With every step one took toward it, the mountain only seemed more insurmountable.
But now, the words coming from his Grand-master’s mouth made his head spin.
Since he had already said so much,
Li Lin decided to stop pretending. He laid it all out, saying, "In the second year, Chang’an was already able to sit and discuss the Dao with me. We would explore the limits of the Martial Dao together, debating the similarities and differences between Martial Arts and Immortal Skills..."
"By the third year—this year—I was no longer qualified to discuss the Dao with him. His attainments in the Martial Dao advanced by leaps and bounds, far surpassing my own... For the past six months, he’s been the one guiding me on my own cultivation problems."
As he said this, Li Lin tasted bitterness on his lips. It took him a moment to continue. "I now admit that, just like all those other Martial Artists out there, I’m nothing special. So please, just take Chang’an away for now. Once I’ve gotten my head on straight, I’ll ask him for guidance again..."
Hearing this, the corner of Li Wuji’s mouth twitched.
He felt his scalp tingle.
Normally, he should have been overjoyed. After all, regardless of his personal feelings for Li Chang’an, the boy was a member of the Great Zhou Dynasty’s Imperial Family.
He was his eldest son and the undisputed Crown Prince.
But right now, Li Wuji’s mind was a complete mess. Forget being happy; just trying to process what was happening was enough to make his brain overheat.
His Grand-master teaching his son Martial Arts had turned into his Grand-master asking his son for guidance on the Martial Dao.
How many damn generations of seniority did that just skip?
’How am I supposed to address my own son from now on?’
...
...
「Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace」
Li Chang’an returned to his residence.
His younger brother, Li Yuanqing, and younger sister, Li Shiran, followed him inside. The two of them had always been very close with Li Chang’an. Basically, whenever Li Chang’an had free time, Li Shiran and Li Yuanqing would trail after him like little shadows.
Li Shiran was Li Chang’an’s biological younger sister and the current Eldest Princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
And while Li Yuanqing was not his biological brother, he was the son of a Palace Maid from the Empress’ Palace. He had been adopted by the Empress at a young age and had served Li Chang’an loyally ever since.
Clearly, both siblings were aides that his mother, the Empress, had prepared for him. Li Chang’an, in turn, held high hopes for them.
At the age of three, Li Chang’an had personally given them a modified version of the *Martial Scripture* and guided them through the gates of the Martial Dao.
Later, while Li Lin was tutoring him,
Li Chang’an hadn’t been idle, simultaneously passing on the knowledge he learned to Li Yuanqing and Li Shiran.
As a result, even though the siblings were still young—not yet eight years old—they had already made some progress on their path in the Martial Dao.