Otherwise, with his isolated background and the ticking clock, it would be nearly impossible to resolve Huang'er's situation properly.
And now, the Supreme Sacred Ancestor of the Eternal Sacred Land was right before him. Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to negotiate?
For a moment, Jiang Chen fell into contemplation, weighing how to broach the matter with the Sacred Ancestor.
After all, the Sacred Ancestor held a position of unimaginable authority. What was a lifelong affair to Jiang Chen and Huang'er might not register as anything significant to someone of that stature.
So how to bring it up—Jiang Chen had to think carefully.
"Young man, the Eternal Sacred Land has always been generous to its own disciples. Your feelings for the Yan girl can receive the Sacred Land's backing. However, the prerequisite is that you must demonstrate sufficient potential—to show us that you are worth our full support, even if it means offending the Xiahou clan. That, we wouldn't mind."
Ziche Min had actually said something similar to him before. But what exactly constituted "sufficient potential"? What standard defined enough? That was a difficult line to draw.
Jiang Chen asked directly, "Sacred Ancestor, how is this potential to be measured? What must this junior accomplish to earn the Sacred Land's recognition—and to receive its full support?"
"Until now, there has been no standard. However, I can establish one for you now. Listen well."
Jiang Chen said hastily, "This junior is all ears."
"First, the Eternal Sacred Land possesses the River of Eternity. You will meditate beside the River of Eternity and, within half a year, comprehend the laws of heaven and earth to obtain a Heavenly Position Talisman. That will fulfill the first requirement."
"Second, no genius of the Eternal Sacred Land freeloads. You must make sufficient contributions to the Sacred Land. Within one year, bring your contribution points to one hundred thousand."
"Third, once you have completed the first and second conditions, I will personally conduct an assessment of you. If you pass my assessment, henceforth you will be my direct-lineage genius. Your standing, while not necessarily equal to the three Holy Sovereigns, will be on par with the Grand Elders of the Elder Council. At that point, whatever you wish to do, the Eternal Sacred Land will naturally support you with its full might."
Three conditions. The first and second were hard requirements.
The third was more nebulous, carrying a heavy element of subjectivity. What counted as passing the Sacred Ancestor's assessment? What were the criteria?
Though questions swirled in Jiang Chen's mind, he did not press further. He knew that as long as a framework existed, he could work with it.
What Jiang Chen feared most was having no framework at all.
"Very well. My time is limited. Young man, make good use of yourself. Do not waste your talent."
The Sacred Ancestor's spiritual manifestation vanished in a flicker.
Jiang Chen stood in a daze for a moment before breaking into a quiet laugh, murmuring to himself, "With hard standards like these, things become manageable. Comprehend the laws of heaven and earth within half a year and obtain a Heavenly Position Talisman?"
This, at least, Jiang Chen felt confident about. In his previous life, his understanding of the myriad worlds surpassed even the Sacred Ancestor's by a wide margin—likely by more than tenfold.
In his previous life, cultivation aside, his insights into the martial dao, though purely theoretical, were nevertheless extraordinary. His capacity for comprehension had been absolutely first-rate.
Half a year—neither particularly long nor particularly short.
Jiang Chen estimated he had roughly seventy to eighty percent confidence. The Sacred Ancestor had specifically mentioned the River of Eternity, which suggested the river held some special significance.
So Jiang Chen speculated that meditating beside this River of Eternity might prove advantageous.
Of course, that was only speculation on his part.
As for accumulating one hundred thousand contribution points within a year, Jiang Chen had no clear concept of that yet. After all, he had only just passed the Nine-Bend Cloud Grotto in the past two days—he was barely a formal disciple. The specifics of the sect's operations were still largely unfamiliar to him.
Fortunately, at that moment, Ziche Min returned.
"Shao Yuan, has the Sacred Ancestor… left?" Ziche Min lingered outside the cave dwelling, still somewhat timid.
"He's left. Elder Ziche, please come in."
Hearing this, Ziche Min finally stepped inside.
"Elder Ziche, your timing is perfect. There are some matters I'd like to ask you about." Jiang Chen was still rather lost when it came to these things, so he hoped to draw on Ziche Min's knowledge.
Ziche Min was naturally curious about what the Sacred Ancestor had told Jiang Chen, and he didn't decline. "Shao Yuan, if you have any questions in the future, don't hesitate to come to me. Whatever I know and can share, I will hold nothing back."