Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord had been closely observing
That he could still remain so calm and unruffled — Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord truly appreciated Nie Li for this. The boy truly lived up to his name. Nie Li's level of Dao comprehension had undoubtedly reached a state of transcendence in the truest sense.
Lord Chimu transmitted his voice to Nie Li: "Nie Li, don't be so headstrong. The chance to become my Master's disciple is an extraordinary blessing. Don't give it up just because of Lord Wuyan. Lord Wuyan's father once saved my Master, and he was also my Master's first disciple. My Master has always been exceptionally kind to him. His temperament is a bit narrow — don't take it to heart. Once you become Master's disciple, you won't need to worry about him causing you any trouble!"
Nie Li transmitted his voice back to Lord Chimu: "Lord, I know what I'm doing."
Compromising was simply not an option for Nie Li. If it came down to it, he'd just decline the apprenticeship altogether.
Lord Wuyan was also a man skilled at reading people. Seeing that Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord said nothing, a cold glint flashed through his eyes. He let out a derisive laugh and looked at Nie Li: "You think the Heavenly Cloud Divine Temple is some place where you can come and go as you please? Absolutely laughable! A mere Heavenly Fate Realm cultivator who actually thinks he's someone of importance?"
Hearing Lord Wuyan's words, Nie Li didn't grow angry. With perfect equanimity, he replied: "My lord, I hold Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord in high regard and am willing to become his disciple. But I'm merely stating my conditions and seeking Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord's opinion. Whether he accepts or not is entirely his business. Your jumping up and down here seems rather unnecessary, doesn't it?"
"You—" Lord Wuyan was seething with fury. In the greater world, a Heavenly Fate Realm ant who dared speak to him like this would already be dead.
The other four Lords, aside from Lord Wuyan, couldn't help but take another look at Nie Li. The fact that he dared to retort against Lord Wuyan with such composed defiance meant he probably wasn't just an ordinary Heavenly Fate powerhouse.
Though all four Lords maintained their vigilance toward Nie Li, they were not the type to stir up trouble needlessly. They remained silent, observing.
Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord smiled and spoke: "Nie Li is quite right. Taking on a disciple is a matter of mutual willingness. Even I, when accepting a disciple, must consider whether Nie Li is willing. The rest of you need say no more."
"But Master..." Lord Wuyan was still unwilling to concede.
That Nie Li could be this obtuse and yet Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord would still tolerate him?
"Say no more!" Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord furrowed his brow slightly, his expression showing a trace of displeasure.
Seeing this expression, Lord Wuyan immediately fell silent. He knew that Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord was growing genuinely irritated. He could only stand respectfully to the side.
"Nie Li, among the characters you wrote for me, there was one that read 'Wu' — 'Nothingness.' What is your interpretation?" Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord looked at Nie Li with a smile, intent on testing him.
"The meaning of this character is: Nothingness is the Way; follow the natural order. In nothingness lies all action; through nothingness, all things are accomplished," Nie Li said.
"Nothingness is the Way?" Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord was visibly taken aback. He had believed his own understanding of emptiness and non-action was already quite profound. He hadn't expected that Nie Li's insight into 'nothingness as the Way' seemed to surpass his own. He couldn't help but murmur to himself, "In nothingness lies all action; through nothingness, all things are accomplished..." After a moment, he let out a sigh. "Truly profound and mysterious. I am humbled beyond compare!"
Hearing Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord's words, everyone froze in astonishment. Even Lord Chimu and the others were struck speechless with surprise.
Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord had just said he was humbled beyond compare?
Who was Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord?
He was a Martial Ancestor level powerhouse. One of the five great pillars of the Feathered God Sect!
In the minds of Lord Wuyan, Lord Chimu, and the others, Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord was an invincible, supreme existence. And yet, in the realm of Dao comprehension, he believed he was inferior to Nie Li? This completely overturned everything they knew!
That fellow must have gotten his hands on some secret manual somewhere and was just using it to fool people, Lord Wuyan thought to himself. He absolutely refused to believe that a Heavenly Fate Realm ant like Nie Li could possess such deep insight into the Dao. If Nie Li's Dao comprehension were truly that profound, his cultivation would have surged long ago — how could he still be stuck at the Heavenly Fate Realm?
What Lord Wuyan didn't know was that Nie Li's Dao comprehension had indeed reached that level. Normally, his cultivation should have advanced rapidly, perhaps even breaking through to the Celestial Star Realm long ago. But because of that vine within his body, his cultivation remained stubbornly unable to break through.
The other four Lords exchanged glances, and a peculiar look passed through their eyes as they regarded Nie Li. Regardless of anything else, their own Master had personally admitted his inferiority. They had no choice but to reassess this young man before them — at the very least, they needed to place him on equal footing with themselves.
"Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord flatters me. I merely stumbled upon this insight through a fortunate coincidence. Compared to Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord, I am far inferior," Nie Li said quickly. He certainly couldn't tell them he had been reborn.
"You are too modest. Even if you obtained this insight from ancient texts, the fact that you could distill that understanding and inscribe it into characters is already an extraordinary feat. While there may be little I can teach you in terms of Dao comprehension, I can still offer you guidance in the path of cultivation. If you are willing to become my disciple, from now on you may come and go freely through the Heavenly Cloud Divine Temple, answerable to no one!" Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord said with a gentle smile.
"Then I thank you, Master!" Nie Li hastily bowed. With Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord taking him as a disciple, the Nether Domain Controller likely wouldn't object — he might even be delighted.
Countless people had sought to forge a connection with Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord, but had retreated in the face of the vast gap in their standing.
Becoming Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord's disciple would be an enormous help in establishing his position within the Feathered God Sect in the future!
"Good, good, good!" Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord laughed heartily. Undoubtedly, Nie Li was the disciple he valued most since he had begun taking students.
Lord Chimu couldn't hide his own surprise. He had never expected that Master would actually agree to Nie Li's conditions. In the entire history of the Heavenly Cloud Divine Temple, this was the first and only exception! Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord had always been extraordinarily strict with his disciples, yet with Nie Li, he seemed remarkably lenient.
The other four Lords were also somewhat taken aback. It seemed Nie Li would become the most unique disciple in the entire Heavenly Cloud Divine Temple. And with Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord placing such extraordinary importance on Nie Li, they would need to maintain a good relationship with this junior brother going forward.
A flicker of jealous fury passed through Lord Wuyan's eyes. Nie Li's arrival had made him feel a tremendous threat. He had always been Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord's first disciple, the most favored among all the students. But now Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord had made a special exception for Nie Li — the message was unmistakable.
"Everyone else, leave. I wish to discuss Dao comprehension with Nie Li at length!" Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord announced with a hearty laugh.
Receiving Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord's instruction, Lord Chimu and the others bowed and withdrew. Lord Wuyan cast an irritated glance at Nie Li before leaving as well.
Nie Li remained in the great hall, engaging Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord in conversation as they explored the depths of Dao comprehension. They talked for several hours.
Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord's eyes grew ever brighter. Everything Nie Li said proved to be remarkably insightful, benefiting him greatly. He had truly unearthed a priceless gem! With Nie Li's talent, it wouldn't be long before the boy shone with dazzling brilliance — it was entirely possible that he would become a pillar of the Feathered God Sect in the future!
Thinking of the Feathered God Sect's perilous situation, Heavenly Cloud Divine Lord resolved to invest even more effort in Nie Li.