"Master!"
A proper voice came from the hall entrance.
Lu Heng looked at the boy silhouetted against the light with a faint smile.
After not seeing him for a long time, the child had grown taller again, his body looking much sturdier, and a mighty aura was gradually beginning to show.
It seemed this child was doing well at Danyang Sect.
"It's this kid! I almost forgot, this child is very steady and unobtrusive at Danyang Sect."
Wuchenzi sat at the tea table and poured a cup of tea for himself and Lu Heng.
"Come in quickly." Lu Heng beckoned to Lu Daniu.
Lu Daniu was very polite. After entering, he first performed a standard Danyang Sect salute to Wuchenzi.
"Martial Uncle-Grandfather."
"Mm, mm, good child, go sit with your master."
"Yes." Lu Daniu bowed again and retreated to Lu Heng's side.
"You've gotten much sturdier. The food at Danyang Sect must be good."
"Heh heh, Master, we mostly learn through external trials now, so we naturally eat more."
"Mm, you didn't go out today?"
"We go out every few days. Today, by chance, I was in the sect and didn't go out."
"Indeed, you are fated with your master. It's not easy for your master to come here, and it happens that you haven't gone out."
Wuchenzi stroked his beard and drank his tea.
Seeing that Lu Heng's tea was running low, Lu Daniu, with keen observation, refilled the cups for Lu Heng and Wuchenzi.
"Has Da Niu completed his theoretical coursework? Is it alright to let him go down the mountain to train on his own?"
Lu Heng remembered that new disciples at Danyang Sect usually only studied theoretical courses for a year.
If possible, Lu Heng thought it would be faster for Lu Daniu to grow if he traveled outside on his own.
"It's possible, but I think it would be safer to train with disciples of the same cohort."
Wuchenzi knew that Lu Heng valued Lu Daniu greatly, so he gave a conservative opinion.
"Da Niu, what do you think?"
"I want to train on my own."
Lu Daniu already had a clear understanding of what training entailed.
Moreover, he was different from previous disciples. Those disciples were confirmed for cultivation when they reached twelve years old.
He, however, had been delayed for several years because he couldn't cultivate.
But these past few years, looking back, weren't they also an advantage?
He had lived in the marketplace for many years, and his experiences had made him understand the ways of the world.
Otherwise, when he first learned that there was a way for those who couldn't cultivate to do so, he wouldn't have volunteered.
Seeing Lu Daniu's determined gaze, Lu Heng showed a satisfied smile.
This was one of the reasons he had come to this other world.
Only by letting Lu Daniu become completely independent could he let go of his concerns in this other world and focus on understanding matters of the alien world.
Previously, in his communication with the aliens and the robots they created, Lu Heng had a vague feeling that it might not be an easy task.
Furthermore, Lu Heng couldn't spare too much attention to developing technology in the apocalypse while also clearing out the zombies.
In this other world, Lu Daniu was the only one he considered a concern.
"Since that's the case, and you have both made your decision, I will not try to dissuade you further. I will have someone help Lu Daniu complete the necessary procedures at Danyang Sect, and then he can confidently descend the mountain to train."
Pausing, Wuchenzi fumbled in his robes and took out a token, handing it to Lu Daniu.
"This is the identification token for direct disciples of Danyang Sect. I have just imprinted your name on it. Keep this well. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can seek help from any Danyang Sect establishment."
Lu Daniu did not stand on ceremony and readily accepted the token from Wuchenzi.
"Da Niu thanks Martial Uncle-Grandfather Wu."
"Good, good."
Wuchenzi's kindness towards Lu Daniu was entirely due to his desire to foster a good relationship with Lu Heng.
He could see Lu Heng's affection for Lu Daniu, so he wanted to show his appreciation out of love for Lu Heng.
Wuchenzi knew that Lu Heng might not lack other gifts, so giving him a genuine Danyang Sect identity token was more practical.
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen young friend Lu for a long time. Your cultivation speed is too heaven-defying. I can't even discern your level now, and I can feel an oppressive aura of a superior being from you.
What level of Enlightenment are you at now, young friend Lu?"
"I encountered some fortuitous encounters. I am now at the fourteenth level of Enlightenment."
Lu Heng looked at the two in the room. Both were stunned by what Lu Heng had said.
They both gasped.
When Wuchenzi and Lu Heng first met, Wuchenzi was at the eighth level of Enlightenment, and Lu Heng was at the fifth.
Yet, in just over a year, Lu Heng's level had more than doubled.
And looking at Wuchenzi, he was still at the eighth level of Enlightenment.
He could no longer discern Lu Heng's level.
"You, you, what kind of fortuitous encounters did you have? If you said you had reached level eight or nine, I could understand. I imagine you are already the strongest on the entire Shenyuan Continent, with no one able to surpass you."
"Is that so? I'm not very familiar with that."
Lu Heng indeed had little contact with people from the Shenyuan Continent and didn't know who the most powerful individuals here were.
"Yes, and I remember you had multiple elemental abilities before. If you said you were second on the continent, I doubt anyone would step forward to claim they were first."
Lu Heng smiled and did not continue this topic with Wuchenzi.
"No wonder you could capture an adult Fire Phoenix."
Wuchenzi recalled that his own Fire Phoenix was hatched from an egg he found, and he marveled at Lu Heng's abilities.
"Then I'll take Da Niu to handle some procedures. I might not be able to come over for a while after this. If you need anything, just have someone leave a message for me at my shop."
Lu Heng felt that matters here were mostly settled. He stood up, intending to leave with Lu Daniu.
"Ah, you're leaving already? How is your friend, that genius who self-taught alchemy?"
Actually, Wuchenzi had many things he wanted to discuss with Lu Heng, and he didn't expect him to leave after just sitting for a while.
Speaking of that, Lu Heng turned around and looked at Wuchenzi.
"Recently, he refined a pill that he says can enhance attributes. I'm not sure of its quality, but perhaps you could take a look."
He almost forgot about this. Lu Heng took out a glass bottle from his懷, poured out two pills, and handed them to Wuchenzi.
"Your glass bottle is truly beautiful. I knew young friend Lu wouldn't be lacking in good things."
Taking the pills, Wuchenzi sniffed them.
Just as Lu Heng had thought, there were no such pills on the Shenyuan Continent. That's why Wuchenzi hadn't understood Lu Heng's words earlier and had focused his attention on the glass bottle.
"If you like this bottle, I'll give you some."
Lu Heng waved his hand over the table, and immediately a pile of glass bottles of various sizes appeared on Wuchenzi's tabletop.