Chapter 657 - 221: The Satisfied Peak Master Lingxi

The moment Yang Jing saw that face clearly, his pupils contracted and his heart skipped a beat.

Inside the pavilion, moonlight bathed a figure in its clear glow. Clad in white, she looked like frost formed beneath the moon. This moonlit beauty was none other than his master, Peak Master Lingxi, Bai Bing.

In the instant he froze, Bai Bing’s gaze swept over. Her clear eyes were like tranquil autumn pools, and as she looked at him, even the chirping of the surrounding insects seemed to quiet.

Yang Jing didn’t dare hesitate a moment longer. He stopped in his tracks, his hand holding the food container tightening slightly as he quickened his pace toward the stone pavilion high up in the forest.

’I don’t know why Master is here, or if she’s waiting for me specifically. But since I’ve seen her, I can’t just pretend I haven’t. I have to go and pay my respects.’

Within a few steps, Yang Jing was on the pavilion’s stone stairs. He walked before Bai Bing and bowed respectfully, his voice steady. "Disciple pays his respects to Master."

Bai Bing stood in the center of the stone pavilion, her robes swaying gently in the mountain breeze. Hearing him, she merely nodded slightly, turned, and walked to the stone table inside before sitting down. Her cool voice drifted on the moonlit air. "There’s no need for ceremony. Sit and talk."

Yang Jing straightened up. He hesitated for a moment, then answered softly, "Yes." He slowly walked over to the stone stool opposite Bai Bing and sat down carefully, his back ramrod straight, not daring to relax in the slightest.

Bai Bing’s gaze landed on Yang Jing’s face, her clear eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny, as if trying to take in his entire condition over the past half a month.

As his master’s cool, beautiful eyes watched him in silence, Yang Jing felt his heart flutter. His mouth went inexplicably dry, and his fingers curled unconsciously. He felt rather uncomfortable on the stone stool, even intentionally quieting his breathing.

The silence lasted only a moment before Bai Bing slowly began to speak. Her tone was placid, betraying no hint of pleasure or displeasure. "Not bad. I was a bit worried you’d be discouraged by your loss in the contest for the top potential seed—that it would disturb your focus and affect your cultivation. It seems I was mistaken."

She paused, her clear eyes still fixed on Yang Jing, and continued, "I’ve heard you’ve been spending all your time in the Training Room lately, cultivating until dark every day. It seems that loss has become a source of motivation for you."

At her words, some of Yang Jing’s nervousness faded. A faint smile touched his lips, and his tone was candid. "You jest, Master. A day passes whether one is happy or sad. Rather than let a loss trip me up, I’d prefer to happily give my all to my cultivation. After all, a day spent miserable is never as good as a day spent happy and fulfilled."

Bai Bing nodded slightly at his words. Her cool expression didn’t change much, yet it held a hint of approval. "It is for the best that you think this way. The world prizes innate constitution and vies for Cultivation Resources, but I have always believed that neither a superior constitution nor immense Cultivation Resources are the most critical factors on the path of the Martial Dao."

Her words stirred something in Yang Jing. He immediately looked up at his master, his eyes filled with curiosity.

’The world sees innate constitution as destiny and resources as the foundation, yet Master says neither is the most critical. In her eyes, then, what is the true core of cultivating the Martial Dao?’

Bai Bing’s expression remained placid, as if she were merely stating a simple fact. She began to speak slowly, "In my view, the most fundamental core of the Martial Dao has always been the person themselves."

Yang Jing froze for a second at her words. He immediately lowered his gaze, carefully mulling over what his master had said. The single word—"person"—turned over and over in his mind, and a thoughtful glint gradually appeared in his eyes.

Seeing him lost in thought, Bai Bing didn’t interrupt, but continued in a slow, clear voice that was exceptionally distinct in the night. "A person’s body, a person’s consciousness—both are the essence and the core of the Martial Dao."

"One may have a heaven-sent constitution or a rare, special body, but if their will is not firm, if they retreat at the first sign of a setback, they will never achieve anything great."

"And even if one’s constitution is ordinary, like anyone else’s, if their will is like steel and they press forward, unyielding, one step at a time, there is no reason they cannot shine brilliantly on the path of the Martial Dao."

"Since ancient times, there have been many such peerless experts who forged a legendary path from an ordinary constitution."

As she spoke, her gaze returned to Yang Jing, and a rare, genuine satisfaction appeared in her clear eyes.

She was truly impressed with Yang Jing’s current state of mind.

An ordinary person’s life is rarely smooth sailing, let alone the cultivation path of a Martial Artist, which is by its very nature a journey of hacking through thorns.

Those peerless experts whose names resound throughout the world, who hold entire regions in awe—which of them didn’t claw their way out of one desperate situation after another? Which of them didn’t rise from the ashes of repeated failures?

Yang Jing had been defeated in the contest for the top potential seed, but he hadn’t wallowed in despair. Instead, he had settled his mind and dedicated himself to arduous training, turning his setback into motivation. A will like that was far more precious than any single victory or defeat.

Bai Bing looked at Yang Jing, her tone firm and carrying an undeniable power. "You only need to settle your mind and focus on your cultivation. Do not worry about Cultivation Resources. I will procure the top-tier resources you require."

It was just a simple sentence, but it felt like a warm current surging straight into Yang Jing’s heart.

He gazed at his master’s cool yet resolute eyes, and a searing wave of emotion washed over him. The bridge of his nose tingled, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Yang Jing took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the emotions swelling within him. He shot to his feet and bowed deeply to Bai Bing. "This disciple thanks Master for her great favor!"

Bai Bing shook her head gently, her cool voice now tinged with a hint of warmth. "You have taken me as your master, which makes you one of Lingxi Peak’s own. It is my duty to be responsible for you."