Tie Quzhong nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, undisguised appreciation evident in his gaze as he looked at Tie Ruonan.
Previously, when Tie Quzhong had heard that Tie Ruonan was chosen as the successor to the Iron Mask True Inheritor through the Iron Mask Selection, he had harbored some doubts.
But after spending time together over this period, Tie Quzhong had come to fully acknowledge Tie Ruonan, considering her the most promising rising star among the current generation of the Tie Family.
"Tie Ruonan, for you to possess such profound insight, that is very good."
"Fang Yuan is vicious and cruel — he seized my Immortal Orifice, forced me to cultivate using my Second Empty Orifice, and left me perpetually under his control. I'm finished, my prospects are bleak. But you have great potential. With your current accumulation, you already have enough to ascend!" Tie Quzhong said with gratification.
Tie Ruonan did not modestly deflect. "Yes. These past few days, relying on the power of the Demon Suppression Tower, I've been in secluded cultivation, and after referencing the tribulation experiences of numerous senior family members, I'm eighty to ninety percent confident about the tribulation of ascension!"
"Very good. But you should delay a little. With the two realms in confusion, everything in upheaval, and Heavenly Will in disarray, ascending now would come with losses. The opportunity of Learning from Nature occurs only once in a lifetime — it is extremely important." Tie Quzhong advised.
"Oh? This junior would like to hear the details."
Tie Quzhong then explained in detail: "During the process of Learning from Nature, a cultivator can pose questions to Heavenly Will and receive answers. If a question is too difficult, exceeding the limits of heaven and earth, no answer will be given."
"For example, if you wished to ask about the method of immortality during Learning from Nature, heaven and earth would be unable to provide an answer."
"If a question is too simple, while the cultivator can receive an answer, the precious opportunity is not being utilized to its fullest — a great pity."
"The ideal scenario is a question of moderate difficulty, yielding a flawless and complete answer. But such situations are exceedingly rare, and we have no way to ensure them."
"Therefore, the most mature approach is to ask a question slightly above your level. This way, the answer received is guaranteed to be correct, but it won't be complete — a small portion will be missing."
"The missing parts can then be supplemented through our own efforts and resources during future cultivation."
"This is the most effective way to utilize Learning from Nature."
Tie Ruonan's eyes gleamed with light as she pressed further: "Then how should I specifically gauge the difficulty of these questions?"
"Generally speaking, inquiring about the Immortal Gu recipes of ordinary Seventh Transformation Immortal Gu serves as the benchmark. Any Gu Insect related to the Records of the Human Ancestor is no ordinary Gu."
"Beyond that, ask questions closely related to yourself. Since you specialize in the Metal Path, ask questions pertaining to the Metal Path. But if you ask about unrelated paths like the Earth Path, the effectiveness will be very low. Matters concerning paths like the Dream Path require even greater caution."
Meanwhile.
Southern Border.
Iron Tooth Mountain.
In an unnamed mountain cave.
Wu Yong clasped his fists and bowed with a cupped-fist salute, smiling: "Daoist Oblivion, I've brought some fine wine this time."
Before him sat an elderly Gu Immortal, cross-legged on the ground, his hazy eyes blinking open as if he had just woken from sleep.
The old man sighed and spoke: "Lord Wu Yong, this is already your third visit. You hold the lofty position of an Eighth Transformation Gu Master, the Alliance Leader of the Southern Alliance, yet you show such courtesy to a mere Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal like myself."
"I understand your intentions, but this old man only wishes to cultivate in seclusion and avoid entangling myself in worldly disputes."
"Though your wine is fragrant, this old man is not fortunate enough to partake."
This old man was a reclusive cultivator of the Southern Border who specialized in the Wisdom Path, known as Daoist Oblivion.
The Wu Family excelled in the Wind Path and held no advantage in the Wisdom Path.
Wu Yong had been searching for a reliable candidate and, upon learning that Daoist Oblivion was living in seclusion on Iron Tooth Mountain, had come personally time and again, hoping to recruit him.
Wu Yong said with a serious expression: "You are mistaken, Fellow Immortal. In the present world, with the two realms in confusion, black and white indistinguishable, and the Five Region Conflict practically upon us — who can remain uninvolved?"
"Even if you have no desire to trouble others, in times of chaos there are always those who refuse to remain idle — the Fang Family of the Western Desert, for example."
"Receiving some support from Fang Yuan, the Fang Family boldly invaded the Wan Family, even causing the fall of the Wan Family's Supreme Grand Elder."
"This is precisely the call of a chaotic era."
"Even if Heavenly Court funded the Wan Family to victory, how is Star Constellation Immortal Venerable fundamentally any different from Fang Yuan?"
"As a wise cultivator of the Wisdom Path, you cannot afford to overlook this."
Daoist Oblivion sighed deeply once more: "Better to be a dog in times of peace than a man in times of chaos. In the present world, Great Love Immortal Venerable, Star Constellation Immortal Venerable, Giant Sun Immortal Venerable — each one leads a supreme force, possessing immense foundations capable of easily overturning the balance between super forces. People like you, Wu Yong, may grow excited and restless, but this old man sees nothing but sorrow and suffering."
"Lord Wu Yong, there is no need to persuade me further. Please return."
Wu Yong sighed deeply, forced to retain his hopes, and bid farewell to Daoist Oblivion with profound regret.
This world was vast.
There was Shi Zhong, who labored quietly and refined Immortal Gu in secret; and there was Xiao Qixing, who, leveraging his great-grandfather's influence, was already scheming to obtain a Seventh Transformation Life Gu before he had even ascended.
There was Nuer Tu, who had received family sponsorship and was already a Gu Immortal; and there was Tie Ruonan, still a Gu Master specializing in the Metal Path, who had received guidance from seniors and come to understand the secrets of Learning from Nature.
There were ambitious figures like Wu Yong, and Gu Immortals like Daoist Oblivion who were content to remain in seclusion, unwilling to involve themselves in worldly conflict.
And then there was the super force with a bleak future, uncertain of its very survival from one day to the next — the Fang Family.
The Fang Family's main base.
In the great assembly hall, the atmosphere was heavy.
The Fang Family had been defeated.
Suffering devastating losses!
What was to be done?
Whether it was Fang Gong, Fang Dichang, Fang Leng, or Fang Yun, their hearts were weighed down with gravity.
Wangu Chou had reclaimed all of the Wan Family's lost territory, but the Anti-Fang Alliance still remained.
Had the alliance not been busy deliberating over the specifics of their division of spoils, the Fang Family would already have suffered the alliance's attack.