The harsh knocking and that clumsy pronunciation—Ye Wen didn't even need to look to know exactly who it was. Who else but Tommy Johnson, that registered disciple brought back from America?

Hua Yi was already rising to open the door, while Ye Wen stealthily observed Elder Bei He’s expression. He noticed that after Tommy uttered the word "Master," Elder Bei He’s gaze involuntarily flickered toward that direction. Although he controlled the urge to turn his head almost instantly, it had still been noticed.

"It seems Elder Bei He is here to gauge the strength of our Shushan Sect. In that case, calling Hua Yi out suits his intentions, doesn't it?"

However, he also wished to subtly display the power of the Shushan Sect, so the two were achieving what they wanted, each according to their needs. As for Tommy’s appearance, it was a bit unexpected. He wondered if this Black apprentice, upon entering, might startle this centuries-old veteran.

Ye Wen was uncertain if these people harbored the notion of 'never passing on one's own techniques,' and if Elder Bei He found Ye Wen taking a foreign disciple utterly inappropriate, then... "Still, this is a good chance to test the waters regarding the current state of the Cultivation World. If Elder Bei He reacts strongly, it suggests the general environment of the cultivation world is much the same. If that's the case, it will be hard for me to openly bring Tommy or Chris before the many cultivators!"

"If Bei He's reaction is very subdued, then it proves the cultivation world doesn't place much importance on these matters..."

Ye Wen was contemplating this internally when Hua Yi led Tommy in—Tommy, trailing behind Hua Yi, appeared exceedingly respectful. He knew this was his Master's woman, and he dared not even glance at her too directly, always keeping his gaze lowered and showing utmost deference.

When Tommy finally turned to face Ye Wen, Elder Bei He finally got a clear look at what this 'disciple' of the Shushan Sect actually looked like. Upon first sight, Elder Bei He displayed a look of astonishment, scrutinizing Tommy from head to toe before turning to Ye Wen and asking, "Sect Master Ye, is this disciple newly accepted?"

Seeing this, Ye Wen's heart sank, immediately assuming the cultivation world had no room for outsiders. Yet, Elder Bei He unexpectedly chuckled, "Senior Ye has found himself quite the challenge..."

At these words, everyone present was bewildered. Fortunately, Elder Bei He didn't prolong the suspense, stating shortly after, "Because outsiders often lack understanding of our myriad Chinese customs and traditional knowledge, and struggle even with theories commonly known to us, teaching them is quite arduous. Often, after decades, they barely grasp the fundamentals."

Elder Bei He explained the situation in detail, and Ye Wen finally understood: it turned out that there had always been sects in the cultivation world that accepted foreign disciples. However, unless these individuals possessed exceptional natural aptitude and comprehension, the elders rarely considered taking them on. Otherwise, bringing them in required starting instruction from the most basic foundations—a tedious task ordinary cultivators couldn't easily endure.

Furthermore, China was never short on people, so there was no pressing need to seek apprentices from abroad. Thus, although there were occasional non-Han disciples, they were extremely few.

"Among the major sects today, which ones have foreign disciples?" Ye Wen was quite curious, wondering which of these old masters might be more open-minded.

"I hear that Shaolin and Wudang currently each have a few Western disciples. The one at Shaolin was accepted maybe a decade or two ago; the ones at Wudang have been there for over a century..." Elder Bei He stroked his chin, finally unable to recall any other major sect with such disciples. "Besides them, the great sects likely have none... Oh, yes, the Emei Sect is rumored to have one as well, and that person is likely the foreign cultivator with the highest attainment. I hear they have been cultivating in Emei for over two hundred years, and their flying sword techniques are incredibly potent. It’s a pity I have never had the chance to meet them!"

Ye Wen didn't particularly care about the cultivation levels of these foreigners. What concerned him was that since these renowned major sects accepted Westerners as disciples, bringing one Black and one White European to that gathering wouldn't seem too bizarre—at most, it would simply draw attention.

He called over Tommy, who had instinctively gone to the refrigerator to rummage for beer, and briefly introduced him to Elder Bei He: "This is the disciple I accepted a few years ago; his name is Tommy Johnson. Just call him Tommy!"

Then he pointed to Elder Bei He: "This esteemed gentleman is Elder Bei He, a guest elder of the Kunlun Sect from Kunlun Mountain. When you see him in the future, remember to address him as Senior!"

Though Tommy wanted to perform a respectful bow, his gesture was very peculiar. Elder Bei He recognized instantly that this Black man was definitely a modern person, carrying a distinct modern aura in his every move. He smiled and said, "If bowing feels awkward, then don't bother. Just do what's comfortable for you!"

Once these words were spoken, Tommy dropped all formality, stepping forward for a hug and handing over the beer he was holding: "Buddy, want one?"

Elder Bei He accepted without ceremony, immediately opening it and taking a long swig: "This is much better. Being spontaneous brings true happiness!"

Ye Wen rolled his eyes, feeling like the stuffy old guard while Elder Bei He, dressed in full traditional robes and wearing a Taoist crown, looked like the modern individual. With his ancient attire, if he were given a whisk, people outside might mistake him for someone who reads fortunes.

Conversely, Ye Wen, seated opposite, wore a light shirt, blue-black denim jeans, and a pair of Adidas sneakers—looking anything but like an ancient master.

Of course, even though the conversation between Elder Bei He and Tommy appeared casual, Ye Wen subtly detected something. He realized that in every gesture and movement, Elder Bei He was continuously probing Tommy's strength. Given that Elder Bei He was significantly stronger than Tommy, Tommy’s abilities were being roughly gauged without his own realization.

"His body is very strong, his physical strength immense. There seems to be a very peculiar energy within him—it feels somewhat like internal energy, yet distinct. Given the intensity of this internal energy, such a powerful physique shouldn't be possible... This Shushan Sect is truly a Martial Cultivation lineage!"

Since the last time he saw Ye Wen, he had suspected Ye Wen belonged to the Martial Cultivation lineage that had supposedly vanished three hundred years ago. Seeing Ye Wen’s disciple now only solidified his conviction: the Shushan Sect must be the branch of Martial Cultivation whose legacy everyone believed was broken. What surprised Elder Bei He even more was that Tommy had only joined a few years ago...

When Tommy stepped away, Elder Bei He suddenly said, "Sect Master Ye, might I ask for a private word?"

Asking for a private word was merely a polite pretext; the real meaning was, "Let’s find a place where no one can overhear," or perhaps, "Everyone else should step aside."

Hearing this, Ning Ruxue and Hua Yi automatically found excuses and departed, leaving only Ye Wen and Elder Bei He in the hall.

Only then did Elder Bei He finally ask, "Senior... you must belong to the Martial Cultivation lineage, correct?"

Ye Wen did not answer. Instead, with a casual wave, he opened the nearby refrigerator, drew out a bottle of soda using his Purple Qi Grand Luo technique, and then closed the refrigerator door.

Seeing just this one move, no one would believe him to be a martial artist, as this skill seemed vastly different from what was generally understood as martial arts; it appeared much closer to sorcery.

However, to an insider like Elder Bei He, the difference between Ye Wen's action and actual spellcasting was clear. This move was evidently achieved by projecting his own internal force outward. In contrast, techniques like the 'Five Ghosts Fetching Objects' rely on spiritual energy to command nearby unconscious spirits to assist in the task.

Of course, many others could also draw upon the surrounding grand elemental energy to achieve such feats, but Ye Wen’s action was clearly distinct from theirs.

More importantly, when Ye Wen utilized Purple Qi Grand Luo, Elder Bei He, highly sensitive to the terrestrial elemental energy, could discern that what Ye Wen released was not the spiritual energy cultivated by (cultivators) like themselves, but the Zhenqi (True Qi) of a martial artist.

"Senior is indeed a Martial Cultivator!"

Before, it was only suspicion, and while shocked, there was always a small voice wondering if he had guessed wrong. After all, the presumed demise of the Martial Cultivation lineage had caused quite a stir in the cultivation world back then.

Ye Wen wasn't surprised; the title of Martial Cultivator was a fact, and he saw no need to deny it—especially since his own cultivation method was somewhat unique, which could benefit the Shushan Sect in establishing its footing in the cultivation world.

"Is it so rare? Wasn't it very common in the past?"

Elder Bei He sat back down. After all, he was a cultivator of several hundred years, and no matter how shocked he was, it wouldn't last long. In this short span, he had already regained his composure.

At this point, Ye Wen asked again, "Right, I have a general understanding of the current powers in the cultivation world, but I wonder which of the older masters are still active?"

Elder Bei He assumed that Ye Wen had been operating in the mundane world since emerging and therefore wouldn't know the current state of the cultivation world—it wasn't entirely strange. Several centuries could bring about earth-shattering changes to many things, so he proceeded to give a detailed introduction to the current masters and prominent figures.

This exposition not only informed Ye Wen who stood at the apex of the cultivation world’s hierarchy but also gave him a rough idea of the ultimate goals within this world.

It turned out the cultivation world didn't have vague concepts like 'Golden Core' or 'Nascent Soul.' Ye Wen had only gleaned those terms when probing cautiously at the beginning. He learned that the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages were specific to the cultivation methods of certain sects, not universal benchmarks. It was fortunate that Ye Wen had used modern novels as a cover when he first inquired, otherwise Elder Bei He might have detected a flaw.

At that time, he had said something like this: "Recently, I had some free time and read some novels. I found many that described cultivation, but they all madly fixated on Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and similar concepts. I found it quite amusing..."

Hearing only that far, Elder Bei He had smiled and joined in: "If the cultivation realms and stages in the True Cultivation world were that clear and defined, there wouldn't be nearly as much conflict. If it were real, it might not be a bad thing!"

Then Ye Wen understood: the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages did exist, but they belonged to the cultivation path of the Pill Cauldron Sect. The major sects today did not follow that particular set of advancement routes.

For example, the Kunlun Sect advocated for following the natural Dao, letting things unfold as they will. The same technique might yield different results in different people. The entry mantra for Kunlun is the Kunlun Dao Art, which serves as both the initiation and the ultimate scripture—how far one advances depends entirely on the individual.

The Emei and Qingcheng Sects belong to the Sword Cultivator lineage. Every disciple chooses a Dharma Treasure flying sword to nurture and temper meticulously; much of their cultivation power is vested in this sword. Of course, once they reach the realm of 'Man and Sword as One,' the distinction becomes less absolute.

The methods of the Hundred Herbs Gang are rooted in entering the Dao through medicine. Their techniques are quite peculiar, but outsiders rarely learn the details. Elder Bei He only had a vague idea because he had once saved someone from the Hundred Herbs Gang.

Shaolin goes without saying. Wudang does not practice the Golden Core-style cultivation either. It is rumored that Wudang is the lineage closest to Martial Cultivation among the sects, yet they still lean towards true cultivation.

The Huashan Sect practices 'Qi Nurturing.' It is said that this Qi is refined from the very beginning, and if taken to the extreme, it can refine the self and lead to 'Ascension in Daylight!' This sounds somewhat similar to the 'Seven-Colored Dou Qi,' but it lacks the ferocity of the latter.

In summary, each sect has its own methods, with almost no common ground. The only thing that allows them to grasp the gap in strength between parties is likely the so-called 'Two Tribulations.'

Ye Wen did not hear much about these Two Tribulations from Elder Bei He, only inferring their existence from scattered remarks.

These two tribulations virtually slice the strength of all contemporary cultivators into two distinct segments.

As Elder Bei He spoke, Ye Wen gathered that once a person began engaging with cultivation techniques, they were considered a (cultivator). However, these cultivators had limited strength, and even if they held influence in the secular world, they couldn't cause much upheaval. Only upon passing the first great tribulation could one be considered to have stepped into the ranks of the masters.

Once this tribulation was passed, they could all be called Earth Immortals—implying 'Immortals on Land.' Elder Bei He smoothly interjected, "Senior must have crossed the threshold into Earth Immortal; I wonder how many years it has been since then?"

Ye Wen smiled without answering.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to speak; it was that he didn't know how to answer. Should he say he had no idea about any tribulations? He wasn't even sure if he counted as an Immortal.

Elder Bei He simply assumed Ye Wen was unwilling to disclose the information and continued casually, "This junior only passed that hurdle about twenty years ago, regaining this youthful appearance! It extended my lifespan by several hundred years. If nothing unforeseen happens, I have five hundred more years of freedom..."

It turned out that once cultivators entered the cultivation world and dedicated themselves to practice, their lifespan increased—at minimum, they could live for over three hundred years.

If they crossed this threshold to become Earth Immortals, they gained at least another five hundred years. However, this five hundred years was not fixed. If one neglected cultivation during this period, their lifespan might run out in just two or three centuries. If they cultivated diligently and continued to improve, they might live indefinitely.

Of course, if they could pass the second great tribulation...

"Then one achieves Ascension in Daylight, traveling to the legendary realm of the Great Immortals..."

Elder Bei He sounded quite dejected when he reached this point. "This junior no longer expects to achieve the status of a Great Immortal in this lifetime, but I wonder if the current foremost figure in the cultivation world, Senior Zhang Sanfeng, can accomplish this!"

Since the spiritual energy on Earth had grown increasingly thin, cultivators felt a sense of disillusionment, as no one had managed to ascend, causing them to lose their motivation for striving. Now, the older generation hoped Zhang Sanfeng could ascend, because his success or failure was no longer just his own concern—it was tied to the survival of the entire cultivation world.

If Zhang Sanfeng couldn't ascend, the younger disciples might lose the drive to continue cultivating, potentially plunging the cultivation world into chaos (what would happen when unrestrained power lacked a goal was easy to imagine). But if Zhang Sanfeng successfully ascended, everyone would continue cultivating peacefully, thus avoiding disaster.

Ye Wen understood the critical nature of the situation, but these concerns were currently beyond his immediate scope.

After talking for a while, Elder Bei He suddenly realized that he had been doing all the talking. He had intended to solicit more information about the Shushan Sect from Ye Wen, but somehow the conversation had spiraled into him divulging a torrent of seemingly useless information (things he considered insignificant, which is why he spoke so freely). He had forgotten his main objective.

"Look at me, I've been talking such nonsense!"

Ye Wen thought to himself, It’s fine, I enjoy listening. The more you say, the better! Regrettably, Elder Bei He then steered the topic away from those matters and focused solely on Shushan: "Might I ask, Senior, have you encountered any disciples who caught your eye?"

Ye Wen shook his head. "Finding a suitable disciple isn't that easy. Besides, my school has only just opened; I need some time to observe them properly!"

Elder Bei He paused, then understood that Ye Wen wasn't observing their innate talents—for cultivators of his stature, innate aptitude involved Root Bone, Comprehension, and Understanding. Root Bone was visible at a glance, and Comprehension could be roughly discerned after spending some time together. It shouldn't require this much time.

The only plausible explanation was that this esteemed Senior was assessing the students' moral character. Considering the state of the world now, character truly required careful scrutiny.

"The Old Senior is indeed cautious..."

Ye Wen did not reply. His mind was still absorbed by what Elder Bei He had just said, especially the part about achieving the status of Earth Immortal only after passing the first tribulation, and the assessment that his own strength was likely at that level.

"When did I undergo a tribulation?" Ye Wen scratched his head. "Could it be that I haven't reached the Earth Immortal level, and Elder Bei He misjudged?" But then he immediately felt that was impossible; Martial Cultivators had existed before. Since Elder Bei He could claim he had reached the Earth Immortal realm, he must have reached it.

Ye Wen felt the only possibility lay in everything that happened when he broke through the void.

"Could that strange phenomenon not just be because of my ring, but also related to the first tribulation? Could I have succeeded in passing the tribulation without realizing it?"

After careful consideration, this seemed the only explanation. Moreover, his physical constitution and strength had indeed improved significantly after he broke through the void, though the environmental factors prevented him from immediately noticing it. In his original world, such an increase in power would have been apparent with just a slight circulation of energy.

"Then... have my Junior Sister and Hua Yi also succeeded in passing their tribulations?"

(To be continued) RA