"In the Immortal Dao, fate is everything. If you truly do not wish to pursue this path, I will not force you. But with your talent for cultivation, it would be such a shame not to learn from me..." Elder Whitehair shook his head as he spoke, his tone filled with regret.
Vivian Lu's gaze landed on Joe Di, who stood not far away. To be honest, her main reason for coming this time was to take Joe Di away. If this weren't the Yanwu Martial Arts Academy, she wouldn't have bothered with credentials or tricks—she would have simply broken Joe Di's limbs and dragged him off by force.
But at the gates of Yanwu Martial Arts Academy, even if her master Quentin Jia were present, he would not dare to act recklessly.
Yet now, before she could take Joe Di away, she had already encountered her own fateful opportunity.
Vivian Lu was no fool. She knew well that such a chance was rare and elusive. If she refused it today, she might never get another. No matter how gifted she was, the Immortal Dao would not favor her a second time.
Her current master had not taught her much, yet she had still managed to become a Xuan-level martial artist in a very short time. She knew her talent was truly exceptional.
Joe Di felt Vivian Lu's gaze settle on him, and his heart skipped a beat. When he first met her, she had been a shy girl—just speaking to him would make her blush all the way to her ears.
But now, her expression changed, showing only intense inner turmoil—there was no trace of shyness or blushing left. Joe Di even saw a hint of unwillingness in her eyes.
Suddenly, Joe Di remembered how he'd once marveled at his luck: by chance, he met Vivian Lu, who could help him enter the academy. Then, by chance, Vivian Lu forgot her identification card...
Joe Di took a deep breath. How could there be so many coincidences in this world? If you removed the 'Xiao' from Vivian Lu's name, wouldn't she be just Lu Wan? He recalled Ruan Shou saying that Jia Buli had sent Lu Wan to deal with him. It seemed this Vivian Lu was indeed Lu Wan.
He had survived the destruction of his family, yet after arriving on Earth, he'd somehow lost his sense of crisis. Joe Di felt deeply guilty about this. Vivian Lu bore him no murderous intent—only a sense of unwillingness. Most likely, she wanted to take him back to Jia Buli, not kill him herself.
"Disciple Lu Wan is willing to follow Master and cultivate together. But I still have lingering attachments in the mortal world. Please, Master, help me sever these ties..." Lu Wan had already changed her mind in that instant. She could not go back; no matter what, she had to leave with Elder Whitehair and pursue the Dao.
Quentin Jia had treated her well before. As she was about to leave, he would have her master kill Joe Di first. For someone like her master, who was nearly an immortal, eliminating someone as insignificant as Joe Di would be simple and effortless.
Elder Whitehair smiled slightly, nodding with great satisfaction. "Speak your request. I will surely fulfill it."
Joe Di immediately sensed trouble and quickly stepped forward to bow. "Senior, are you an Innate expert? Such means are beyond anything I could have imagined, even in my dreams."
Elder Whitehair glanced at Joe Di. When he first saw Joe Di, he had sensed something mysterious about him. Now, that feeling had vanished. He must have been mistaken at first glance.
Joe Di had previously stood together with his disciple Lu Wan, so he was considered somewhat familiar. Now, as Joe Di asked his question, Elder Whitehair seemed to recall something from long ago. After a moment, he replied, "I once thought being Innate was the pinnacle of strength. Now I know, Innate is not true power. The real masters soar through the skies, traverse the earth, summon wind and rain—this is the Dao we must pursue."
"Master..."
Lu Wan had just called out again, but Joe Di interrupted her, "Wan, are you leaving? I, I..."
Joe Di looked at Lu Wan's delicate face, his eyes brimming with tears—he was just one sentence away from begging her not to go.
No one doubted Joe Di's expression. He and Lu Wan had seemed quite close outside the gate, so it was clear to everyone they were likely a couple. Now that Lu Wan was leaving, it was only natural that Joe Di would be reluctant to let her go.
Lu Wan was about to ask her master to help sever her worldly ties so she could focus on cultivation, but she suddenly paused. She sensed her master would not grant her wish—especially when she saw the fluctuation in his eyes as Joe Di spoke with tears in his own.
It seemed her master was a completely different kind of person from Quentin Jia—her master valued emotion. If she asked him to eliminate Joe Di now, it might backfire.
Thinking this, Lu Wan parted her lips, looking at Joe Di in disbelief. "But—but I've only just met you. How can you... how can you..."
Joe Di was stunned. Had he been mistaken? Was this person not the Lu Wan sent by Quentin Jia to kill him?
But in a flash, Joe Di realized he hadn't been wrong. The other party had simply changed her mind about killing him. It seemed Lu Wan was worried Elder Whitehair wouldn't harm him, or perhaps that her master's opinion of her would change. Whatever the case, it was good news for him.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Joe Di shook his head. "Maybe we've only just met in your eyes, but to me, we've known each other for a long time. I've always kept you in my thoughts. I never imagined you'd leave before we could do more together... I know I can't stop you. Go and pursue your cultivation. If one day you achieve the Dao and still remember me, come and see me."
At this, Joe Di paused, looking at the Martial Arts Academy Admission Certificate in Lu Wan's hand. He continued, "Before, you insisted I take this certificate. I didn't want it; I only hoped you'd enter the academy and learn martial arts. Now I'm the one asking for it. I'm afraid one day you'll be too far ahead, and I won't be able to catch up. Don't worry, I'll work hard so you won't leave me too far behind..."
As Joe Di spoke, he stepped forward to take the Martial Arts Academy Admission Certificate from Lu Wan's hand.
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Lu Wan was furious, but when she saw her newly accepted master smiling at her, she calmed down. Her master wanted to see how she would handle this. If she failed, she would leave a poor impression in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Wan handed the Martial Arts Academy Admission Certificate to Joe Di. "Take this. My father sold most of our family's assets to get it. I don't know why, after knowing each other for so short a time, you can't forget me. I'm going to follow Master in pursuit of the Dao; let this certificate be the end of my worldly ties. Take care of yourself—after this, we are no longer connected."
Sure enough, after Lu Wan finished speaking, her master nodded approvingly. "Well done. The Dao I pursue is about letting go of the past, not clinging to it. Any attachment or dust in the heart must be set aside and truly let go. Whether you love someone or not, being able to sever all ties with a single certificate is itself a kind of Dao. From today, you will follow me to Celestia to become my disciple and learn the Dao."
"Yes, Master." Lu Wan obediently knelt on the ground. Her previous reluctance about handing over the certificate to Joe Di was now forgotten.
"Congratulations, Senior, on accepting a fine disciple!" All those who had accompanied Elder Whitehair now bowed in congratulations after Lu Wan completed her apprenticeship.
"Good. Today was worth the journey. Until we meet again." With a wave of his hand, Elder Whitehair lifted Lu Wan to her feet. Then Joe Di saw him take a single step, gliding across the lake at the academy entrance before disappearing into the shade of the trees.
"That man is truly powerful," Joe Di thought in awe.