While Wen Ran focused intently on grinding the next material—a silvery-blue lotus flower with a pearl-like core in the center—his master's eyes were watching him from a distance. The old man was hidden in the shadows, his presence veiled by his mastery over spiritual energy.
"Amazing," the old voice murmured, his words filled with a sense of quiet admiration. "When he really wants to, he can learn on his own... but it's taking him far too long."