Even though it only lasted a moment, Zhao Ya felt more exhausted than after a fierce battle.
Lu Dingtai glanced at Zhao Ya, and although he seemed somewhat weary, he remained standing still, prompting a hint of admiration in Lu Dingtai’s eyes.
"How long have you been in the Third Realm?"
"Half a year."
"Not bad, being able to withstand my pressure for so long shows that your foundation is solid." Lu Dingtai praised, but then suddenly changed the topic.
"How did Junior Brother Meng die?"
Zhao Ya was momentarily taken aback.
Lu Dingtai said calmly, "It isn’t hard to guess. This jade tablet was his most cherished possession; unless he died, he would never give it to anyone else."
"And since you know about this place, it proves he mentioned me to you, and with his personality, he would never bow to me unless it was on his deathbed."
At this point, a bitter smile appeared on Lu Dingtai’s face.
"He once swore he wouldn’t see me again in this lifetime, so the fact that he sent you to me proves he is no longer alive."
Zhao Ya nodded, "Yes, my master has indeed passed away."
"How did he die?"
"He was murdered!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the desk in front of Lu Dingtai suddenly shattered, scattering the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone all over.
"By whom?" Lu Dingtai asked coldly, his expression calm.
"Cyan Bamboo Ridge and the Hong Family!"
Afterward, Zhao Ya recounted the events that had transpired.
Upon hearing the account, Lu Dingtai remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Did he ask you to deliver any messages?"
"He said that everything from the past is over, and he no longer holds any grudges."
Lu Dingtai fell silent once again, and after a lengthy pause, he finally said slowly, "You have done well. Now I offer you two choices."
"First, I will give you a considerable amount of money, and then you can leave, and as for your master’s vendetta, you need not concern yourself."
"Second, you can become my disciple; I will teach you martial arts, but in that case, I will not intervene in this feud, and everything will be left for you to resolve. Which do you choose?"
Zhao Ya did not hesitate, replying directly, "I choose the second option."
It seemed Lu Dingtai had anticipated Zhao Ya’s decision, as he nodded.
"Very well, from this day forward, you are my inner disciple, ranking fifth."
Zhao Ya didn’t put on airs and was about to kneel but was stopped by Lu Dingtai.
"Don’t kneel to me. I’m accepting you on behalf of your master, so if you must kneel, kneel to your master."
Zhao Ya said nothing else, just nodded, then suddenly asked, "Master, may I ask what realm you are currently in?"
Lu Dingtai didn’t expect Zhao Ya to ask such a question and was initially stunned, then smiled and said, "What realm do you think I’m in?"
"Fifth Realm?" Zhao Ya probed with a question.
Lu Dingtai smiled and shook his head, then sighed: "The Fifth Realm is not so easily achieved. I have only lingered in the Fourth Realm for a long time, so my strength is stronger than the average Fourth Realm, but I am still a step away from the Fifth Realm."
Zhao Ya’s heart trembled.
The pressure Lu Dingtai had exerted was incredibly strong, yet it didn’t even reach the Fifth Realm?
"What? Disappointed?"
"No, I was just wondering if the Fifth Realm is really that difficult to reach?"
"It’s difficult if you think it is, but also easy if you know how."
"For example, Zhan Feng, whom you mentioned earlier, is also in the Fourth Realm, but in front of me, he wouldn’t be able to withstand even three moves."
Zhao Ya didn’t doubt this at all.
Because the aura emanating from Zhan Feng and Lu Dingtai was simply incomparable.
"Do you know why the gap is so large despite both being in the Fourth Realm?"
"Why?"
"Because of the foundation!" Lu Dingtai paused and continued.
"If we say the Martial Dao’s five realms are like a five-story building, then a solid foundation must be laid from the First Realm. Otherwise, the taller the building, the more unstable the foundation becomes, eventually halting progress at a certain realm, or even collapsing entirely."
"This is why I used my pressure on you earlier, to see how well your foundation is laid. If it were flimsy, I wouldn’t even have given you the two choices but just handed you some money and sent you off."
"Simply put, there are no shortcuts in the Martial Dao. Anyone trying to achieve their goals through shortcuts will ultimately pay several times the price."
"From your description, it seems Zhan Feng used some secret technique to forcibly elevate his realm. Such strength might fool ordinary people, but to me, it’s just a joke."
Lu Dingtai’s straightforward words accurately depicted the nature of martial cultivation, leaving Zhao Ya deeply convinced.
As expected of a master whom Meng Lei praised even on his deathbed, his mere insight was already extraordinary.
"What about the fabled Meridian Opening above the Fifth Realm?" Zhao Ya asked, determined to uncover the truth.
Upon hearing this question, Lu Dingtai frowned slightly, seeming to choose his words carefully. After a long pause, he spoke dreamily.
"That is the true path to transcendence in the Martial Dao. We are merely circling the starting point, and even upon reaching the Fifth Realm and achieving full Blood Exchange, it’s only the first step."
Transcending in Martial Dao!
Hearing these words, Zhao Ya felt a stirring in his heart, wanting to ask more.
Lu Dingtai waved his hand, "Enough, don’t ask such questions in the future. The Martial Dao shuns lofty and unrealistic desires; consider other things once you reach my level."
"Understood!" Zhao Ya replied.
"Mingdong!" Lu Dingtai called out.
Gu Mingdong promptly entered from outside.
"Go call your senior sister."
"Yes!"
Gu Mingdong glanced at Zhao Ya, full of surprise.
He hadn’t heard what the two had discussed earlier, but he did hear the sound of the desk shattering.
At the time, he thought this boy was doomed because to anger the master meant seeking death, akin to chatting with King Yama.
But upon entering, he found Zhao Ya standing there unharmed, and the master seemed very kind to him.
What was going on? Who exactly was this person?
Gu Mingdong quickly buried these questions in his heart and left hurriedly.
After he left, Lu Dingtai said to Zhao Ya, "The one coming is the first disciple I took, also your master’s only daughter. Did he mention her to you?"
"He did mention her!"
Zhao Ya recalled the times Meng Lei had spoken to him about Meng Shiwen and nodded.
"Good, then. That child grew up with me, and I’ve indulged her to be a bit proud and aloof, so when you see her, don’t speak too much about Meng Lei, especially regarding his death, understood?"
"Understood."
Then came the sound of footsteps, and a woman walked in.
This woman appeared to be in her twenties, tall and striking, with a cold, elegant demeanor that, standing there, exuded an aura of aloofness that seemed to keep others at a great distance.
From her features, Zhao Ya could vaguely see the traits of Meng Lei.
She was none other than Meng Lei’s only daughter, Meng Shiwen.
"Master!" Meng Shiwen greeted respectfully.
"Hmm, let me introduce you. This is Zhao Ya, from Wuxiang City. He will now be your junior brother."
Meng Shiwen looked at Zhao Ya, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
In contrast, Zhao Ya first paid his respects.
"Senior Sister!"
Meng Shiwen nodded slightly, "How is he?"
Her tone was calm, as if inquiring about someone unrelated.
Zhao Ya glanced at Lu Dingtai,
Lu Dingtai sighed, "Your father has unfortunately passed away."
Meng Shiwen showed no reaction, just an indifferent acknowledgment before lowering her head.
This reaction from Meng Shiwen stirred something in Zhao Ya’s heart.
Back then, Meng Lei had told him his daughter was somewhat unruly and incorrigible.
Seeing Meng Shiwen’s current state, Zhao Ya could vaguely piece together the situation.
Separated by thousands of miles from Wuxiang City, Meng Lei, after establishing the Changlong Escort Agency, had likely returned little.
Growing up in such an environment lacking paternal love, Meng Shiwen’s resentment towards Meng Lei was understandable.
Zhao Ya couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Lu Dingtai changed the topic at this point, "Mingdong, make another trip and call your master and uncles over. Tell them I have important matters to announce."
By now, Gu Mingdong was utterly stunned.
He had heard Lu Dingtai introduce Zhao Ya earlier.
This young man, in a turn of events, had suddenly become his junior uncle?