Chapter 33: A Life Born to Toil

The ease with which my master’s cultivation base surges is truly terrifying. It is no wonder they say there are heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people; that saying is certainly no lie!

Ye Chen’s reverence for his master deepened even further in that moment.

Li Tianyuan’s aura gradually faded. He slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile on his face. Seeing Ye Chen’s dazed expression, he chuckled and said, "Disciple, have you finally finished your training?"

Hearing his voice, Ye Chen hurriedly snapped back to reality and bowed slightly. "Congratulations, Master, on advancing your cultivation."

"It is merely a small breakthrough, nothing worth mentioning," Li Tianyuan replied with an indifferent wave of his hand. He looked at Ye Chen and added, "You, on the other hand, have done very well. To reach the early Foundation Establishment stage in just five days—you are truly worthy of being the one I chose."

"This is all thanks to your cultivation, Master!" Ye Chen bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with veneration. He knew full well that everything he had was a gift from his master, and he felt no arrogance or complacency.

"That is your own fortune," Li Tianyuan said earnestly. "I am merely here to protect your path; whether you can reach the peak depends entirely on yourself."

"I shall take your teachings to heart, Master!" Ye Chen nodded solemnly. A teacher leads one to the door, but the path of cultivation must be walked alone. His master was right; his journey was his own, and no one could take it for him. This was an eternal, ironclad truth.

"You have been training for many days, it is time to rest. Disciple, come, sit and have a cup of tea." Li Tianyuan gestured to the chair by the stone table.

The lad had been training for five days straight without sleep or rest; as his master, how could he not feel a pang of sympathy? Of course he did—if his disciple wore himself out, who would be left to provide him with cultivation returns? Therefore, balancing work and rest was the best approach.

"Thank you, Master!" Ye Chen nodded and sat down. Looking at the teapot before him, he could clearly smell an intoxicating, rich aroma. Without a doubt, this was spirit tea with extraordinary properties, far removed from the mundane teas of the world.

Ye Chen picked up the pot and poured two cups. He respectfully offered one to Li Tianyuan and took the other, sipping it gently. As the tea slid down his throat and into his stomach, Ye Chen froze, his expression turning to one of disbelief. He had known the tea was special, but he never expected it to be a thousand times more potent than he had imagined.

At that moment, he felt every pore in his body relax. His mind became exceptionally clear, as if his very soul had been cleansed. The two profound immortal arts his master had bestowed upon him, which previously felt obscure and required immense time to decipher, now suddenly clicked into place. Everything became clear, as if he had pierced through the veil of mystery!

This realization sparked an irrepressible urge to cultivate. He felt that if he practiced now, he would achieve twice the result with half the effort.

"Master, this tea..." Ye Chen exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

"What is it? Do you find the tea quite exceptional?" Li Tianyuan asked with a faint smile, as if he had anticipated this reaction.

"Yes, Master!" Ye Chen nodded vigorously. "The moment I drank it, I felt my mind sharpen and my spirit cleansed. It was like a sudden epiphany, a moment of profound enlightenment! This is truly miraculous."

"Since that is the case, then have some more," Li Tianyuan said, finding the boy's reaction amusing.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen downed the rest of the tea in one gulp. He then abruptly stood up, his brows glowing with excitement, looking as energized as if he had been injected with adrenaline.

This startled Li Tianyuan. Before he could speak, Ye Chen blurted out impatiently, "Master, I cannot stay. I have just had an epiphany and must go into seclusion to practice. I am afraid I cannot keep you company for tea."

With that, without waiting for Li Tianyuan’s permission, Ye Chen bolted toward his quarters.

*Ugh! This kid!*

Li Tianyuan watched Ye Chen run faster than a rabbit, his mouth twitching violently. He had thought the boy must be exhausted after five days and nights of continuous training, so he had invited him to relax and rest. But instead, one cup of Enlightenment Tea and the boy was off to seclude himself again.

It was just... the life of a natural-born workhorse. Even the "nine-to-six" grind of his past life wasn't this terrifying! It really wasn't that he was exploiting his disciple; the boy was simply demanding to be overworked.

Li Tianyuan shook his head, half-laughing and half-sighing. On second thought, he understood Ye Chen's urgency. After all, the boy had poor aptitude and had reached the Foundation Establishment stage purely through grueling, diligent effort. Now that he had finally experienced an epiphany, how could he not seize the opportunity?

Still, there was no need to be *that* hurried. Could he not rest for a while, chat with his master, and brag a little? Did he have to be so impatient? Besides, even if he missed this chance, it didn't matter. He had plenty of Enlightenment Tea; he could have an epiphany whenever he wanted.

...

However, Ye Chen did not hear his master’s inner calls. He ran at full speed, reached his room in the blink of an eye, and immediately sat cross-legged to adjust his state.

"Master is truly a divine being. First, he granted me the immortal arts to awaken my divine body. Now, with just a cup of tea, he has allowed a dullard like me to experience an instant epiphany. This is simply heaven-defying."

Feeling that mysterious, profound state, Ye Chen’s face was filled with shock. Casting aside all distractions, he began to circulate his cultivation technique. Sure enough, he felt a sense of transcendence, as if he could see through all things. Gradually, he forgot the outside world, immersing himself completely in his practice.

...

Not long after, under the Enlightenment Tea tree, Li Tianyuan heard the system’s chime.

【Ding!】

【Disciple Ye Chen has gained insights while practicing the "Zhou Tian Starry Sky Technique." Host receives a return of eighty-one Zhou Tian Stars.】

*Sigh!*

It was just like climbing the ranks in a game! Truly, playing well is not as good as being matched well. With such a hardworking disciple, why would he ever need to train himself? Li Tianyuan listened to the system prompt, feeling a sense of deep emotion. If he had a few more disciples like this, becoming invincible would be an inevitability.

...

Just as Li Tianyuan was lost in thought, Jiang Yuli, who had been training inside the Haotian Sword Tower, was struck with astonishment.

Before her, the Haotian Sword suspended in the air suddenly manifested a line of glowing text. The characters were vigorous and powerful, containing a majestic sword intent and a sharp, piercing edge.

"I am Li Xiaoyao, Sword Emperor of the Lingxiao Holy Land. Before my passing in the 518,000th year of the Ziwei Era, I have recorded my life's work, the sword art 'Eternal Sword,' into the Haotian Sword, awaiting a fated successor to comprehend it!"

"Whoever receives my legacy must protect the Lingxiao Holy Land, or I shall not rest in peace even in death!"

"May you become a peerless sword cultivator and not betray my legacy! — Li Xiaoyao, Sword Emperor of the Lingxiao Holy Land."