Let's Plant Some Seeds

At the very center of the Floating Leaf Sect stood a grand and majestic building. It had multiple floors, and between each level, intricate carvings resembling leaf veins adorned the exterior walls, giving the structure an air of deep mysticism. 

Inside the building, on the top floor, about twenty people sat around a large table, their faces tense and filled with anger. Only one man, an elderly figure with long white hair and a flowing beard, remained standing calmly, listening to their words. A look of displeasure was evident on his face. 

A short, elderly man suddenly slammed his hand on the table and pointed aggressively at Ye Feng, his voice filled with fury. 

"Ye Feng! You may be the sect master, but that does not mean you can bend the rules however you please!" 

The other elders in the room nodded in agreement, their expressions just as discontented. 

The short elder continued, his voice growing sharper. 

"How could you assign a mere child, someone who hasn't even started cultivating, to the outer sect?! Forget reaching Arcane Awareness—he hasn't even taken his first step on the cultivation path!" 

As his words echoed through the room, the elders murmured their approval, their gazes fixed on Ye Feng with disapproval. 

Ye Feng, however, remained unfazed. He took a step forward, his eyes sharp as he spoke. 

"Ling Yun, I understand your anger, but don't you think your perspective is too narrow? Without even asking for my reasoning, you elders dare question me? Have you forgotten who I am? I am Ye Feng, the Sect Master of the Floating Leaf Sect. Who do you think you are?" 

The moment these words left his mouth, Ye Feng released his aura. 

There was no wind in the room, yet the moment his power surged, it was as if a violent storm had erupted within the chamber. 

The elders' robes fluttered wildly, some struggling to remain standing, while the weaker ones instinctively took several steps back, their faces pale with effort. 

In the center of this storm, only Ling Yun and another elderly man standing behind Ye Feng remained unaffected, their expressions unreadable. 

Ling Yun glanced at the elders who had been forced back or were barely standing their ground. His gaze was filled with contempt. 

"Pathetic." 

The elders' faces twisted in shame, yet none dared to voice their defiance. 

Ye Feng withdrew his aura, his expression softening into a warm and genuine smile as he spoke once more. 

"Now that everyone has calmed down, we can continue our discussion. Feel free to ask your questions." 

Though the elders had regained their composure, the lingering fear of Ye Feng's power made them hesitant to speak. 

Yet, among them, one individual raised his hand. 

He was young compared to the others, possessing a strikingly handsome face. His expression exuded confidence and pride. Anyone who laid eyes on him would undoubtedly think he was a chosen one, destined for greatness. 

"Yes, Mu Ye. I am listening." 

Mu Ye respectfully inclined his head before speaking. 

"Honored Sect Master, I hope you will forgive my questions. I do not mean to challenge you or seek fault in your actions—I only wish to satisfy my curiosity." 

Ye Feng looked at Mu Ye and gave a slight nod, signaling for him to proceed. 

"Thank you, Honored Sect Master. My first question is simple—why did you place a child with no prior cultivation experience in the outer sect?" 

Ye Feng stroked his beard, his voice calm and measured as he responded. 

"Because I see great potential in him. I wish to observe how he will survive and grow as the only one in the outer sect who has yet to reach Arcane Awareness." 

Mu Ye and the other elders were stunned. 

They all knew that Ye Feng had only ever taken a personal interest in one student before. 

That student was now the strongest and most talented disciple in the inner sect! 

Could this new boy be just as talented? 

If so, this was a monumental event for the sect! Another genius would mean an incredible rise in power! 

Yet, a single question burned in all their minds. 

If the Sect Master truly believed in this child's potential, why had he thrown him into a den of wolves? 

The unspoken question hung in the air until another elder, having momentarily forgotten his fear, blurted out what they were all thinking. 

"Honored Sect Master, why place this child in the outer sect? Surviving there will be extremely difficult for him." 

Ye Feng remained calm, still stroking his beard. 

"The answer is simple. He is still a child with naive dreams. He views the immortal world through rose-colored lenses. But everyone in this room knows the truth. I want him to learn that truth, just as we did." 

Excitement surged through the elders. 

Yes, this reasoning made sense. But could the Sect Master not have taught him this lesson in a gentler way? 

Was this not too cruel for a mere child? 

Another elder raised his hand hesitantly. 

"Honored Sect Master, isn't the outer sect too harsh and merciless for someone who has never cultivated before? Could you not have chosen an easier path for him?" 

Ye Feng's expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied. 

"I did not, because I want him to walk the hardest path and achieve the impossible. If he cannot do that, then he does not deserve the talent he was born with." 

The elders finally understood Ye Feng's intentions. 

He wanted to forge a disciple whose will was as unyielding as steel, someone who carved their own path through blood and sweat. 

But another realization struck them—Ye Feng had said that if the boy failed, it would mean he did not deserve his talent. 

And that begged the question… 

What kind of talent did this boy possess to warrant such an arduous trial?! 

Ling Yun reacted to Ye Feng's words for the first time. Even he was curious—what kind of talent was this? 

Ling Yun got straight to the point. 

"Ye Feng, what kind of talent does this boy have that you expect him to walk such a difficult path?" 

Ye Feng continued stroking his beard and smiled. Seeing even Ling Yun intrigued pleased him. He slowly opened his mouth and spoke. 

"He has a 3rd Tier talent." 

The eyes of everyone in the room nearly popped out of their sockets. If someone else had seen them like this, they might have thought these high and mighty immortals were ordinary people. 

Loud voices echoed through the room. 

"WHAT?! 3RD TIER?!" 

"HEAVENS, OUR SOARING LEAF SECT HAS BEEN BLESSED!" 

"HAHAHAHAHA...!" 

Even Ling Yun's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he suddenly shouted. 

"YE FENG, YOU MADMAN! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO A CHILD WITH SUCH TALENT? WE NEED TO TRAIN HIM PERSONALLY!" 

Even the man standing behind Ye Feng was stunned into silence. 

Ye Feng seemed very satisfied with everyone's reaction. He smiled proudly and added a few more words. 

"I understand how you all feel, but I disagree. If we take this child and train him personally, he will certainly become a powerful cultivator. But he will only be a powerful cultivator. He won't unlock his full potential, and when he faces a catastrophe, he will collapse instantly. He needs to walk a slow and steady path. Only then can he truly reach his potential." 

The elders, after listening to Ye Feng, started to acknowledge his reasoning. However, some still had concerns. 

"But what if this child breaks on the difficult path you've chosen for him, Ye Feng?" 

Ye Feng stood firm and resolute. 

"Then I would have been mistaken, and he would prove unworthy of his talent." 

What a ruthless statement! Would such a great talent be wasted just like that? 

This thought crossed the minds of the elders. The doubt in their eyes was obvious. 

Ye Feng noticed this and looked at them. 

"Have you forgotten Zhou Yu? We raised him with extreme care, ensuring he never faced any real problems. And what happened? He crumbled the first time he encountered true hardship! It took him years to recover. Yes, he is still the most talented and strongest student in the sect, but we all know his potential was far greater. That child collapsed because he had a weak mind—and we made him that way! We never gave him a chance to strengthen his mind. That was our mistake. I, Ye Feng, will not make the same mistake again." 

The elders fell silent. They knew their sect leader was right. Zhou Yu's downfall had been a tragic event. But what if his mind had been stronger? Would he still have collapsed? 

No, he definitely wouldn't have! 

This was like raising an eagle in a cage. If you raised an eagle in captivity from birth, could it become the king of the skies? 

Of course not! 

Ye Feng understood this very well. But he couldn't undo his past mistakes. He could only ensure he didn't repeat them. And he wouldn't! 

"Unless this child is in danger of being crippled or killed, no one is allowed to help him! If any of you interfere, I won't hesitate to punish you. So don't blame me." 

The elders now understood how serious the Sect Master was. If they intervened, they would undoubtedly face severe consequences. 

The discussion was gradually coming to a conclusion. The elders were no longer as aggressive and furious as they had been at the start; rather, they had adopted a much more constructive attitude. Some even requested permission and left before the conversation was completely over. 

Soon, only Ye Feng, Ling Yun, and the man behind Ye Feng remained in the room. Ling Yun walked up to Ye Feng and stopped. 

Ye Feng looked at him, curious about what he was going to say. 

Ling Yun's expression was complex, making it difficult to discern his emotions. He stared into Ye Feng's eyes for a while. Ye Feng, in turn, stared back at him. 

It was as if the two old men were testing each other in a way only they could understand. 

After a while, Ling Yun showed an expression of victory. Then, he turned around and walked toward the exit without saying a word. When he reached the door, he lifted his hand slightly and silently stepped out. 

Ye Feng watched his departure with a look of dissatisfaction. 

No one knew what they were thinking except for them. 

With Ling Yun gone, Ye Feng stepped onto the terrace of the room and gazed toward the outer sect. 

"Don't disappoint me, kid..." 

... 

Tian Han was sitting in his room, trying to cope with the pain and soreness. He didn't have the energy to get out of bed. He was wondering how he would survive in this sect. 

"I have to get stronger. If I don't, the injuries I have now might seem insignificant compared to what awaits me in the future. To get stronger, I need to train, but how can I train in this condition?" 

Just then, he felt a pang of hunger in his stomach, followed by a loud growl. It seemed he wasn't the only one exhausted. He needed to get up and go to the kitchen, but he really didn't want to move. Every movement sent waves of pain through his body. 

But if one wished to become an immortal, they had to be at peace with pain. Of course, Tian Han's situation was a bit different. 

He tried to stand up, letting out a few strange noises that made it clear how much pain he was in. In the end, he managed to get on his feet. He had succeeded, but he was wobbling from side to side like a penguin. 

When this awkward walk combined with his small body and adorable face, it created a rather funny and endearing sight. 

With his penguin-like walk, Tian Han finally made it to the kitchen. He had spent a great deal of effort to get here, and now he was in even more pain. Then, he heard another noise from his stomach. 

Gurrrr… 

Holding his stomach, he looked around for something to eat. There were only some dried meat and porridge. His face twisted in disgust at the sight, but he was too hungry. Even if he didn't like it, he had no choice but to eat. 

He started eating the dried meat and porridge, mumbling complaints to himself, but he kept eating because his body needed nourishment. At that moment, he really missed home. 

"If my mother were here, I wouldn't have to eat such dry and tasteless food. She would make me the most delicious meals. Did I make a mistake by leaving home?" 

Right after that thought, Tian Han used his aching arm to slap himself. 

"Don't be ridiculous, Tian Han. You came here because you want to become an immortal. Stop whining and keep going." 

Tian Han was right. He had come here to become an immortal, and for that, he had to work hard. He wanted to be strong and achieve his dreams, but he also wanted to stop being bullied. So, he quickly finished his meal. 

He wanted to train, but his body was in terrible shape. Forget training—he could barely move. So, as soon as he finished eating, he set out on his journey back to his room, waddling like a penguin. 

It was a long and difficult journey for him! 

Tian Han finally completed his arduous trip back to his room with his penguin walk. He lay down on his bed, entering a state of rest. 

Staring at the ceiling, he pondered what he could do in his current condition. Training was out of the question—he could barely walk. It would take him a few days to start training again, but if his estimates were correct, at least by tomorrow, he would be able to walk properly without the penguin waddle. 

But what should he do tomorrow? Training was impossible, that was certain. 

As he lay in bed, thinking, an idea came to him. 

"Yes, the garden! I can work in the garden and plant some seeds. And later, maybe I can find a place to sell them." 

Tian Han decided to work in the garden. It was a logical choice—his body wasn't in a condition to train, and this way, he might even gain something from it. 

He started planning out his tasks for tomorrow in his mind. He thought it through carefully and finalized his plan. It was worth mentioning that he was quite a clever child. 

Before falling asleep, he spoke to himself. 

"Alright, let's plant some seeds."