Chapter 17: Encompassing the Heavens (1/2)

Chapter 17: Encompassing the Heavens

“I already told you, this damned old man has a mental problem. He hasn’t accepted a single disciple yet. No matter what you do, it won’t matter.”

Wang Doushan chewed on a piece of grass as he spoke frankly. They were seated in an octagonal room in the Hidden Dragon Institute.

Su Chen sat on one of the lounge chairs in the room, leaning against the back and gazing out the window at the scenery near the lake. “Perhaps it’s because I haven’t found his weak point yet. There must be something that can move him.”

“I think he just doesn’t want to accept a disciple in the first place! Is there anyone else in the entire Hidden Dragon Institute who is more unreasonable? No! Tell me, how can he call himself a damned personal instructor if he doesn’t accept disciples? If you don’t want disciples, don’t fucking come to the Hidden Dragon Institute in the first place!”

“Yes, why come to the Hidden Dragon Institute if you don’t want to be a personal instructor?” Su Chen muttered. “Since he is here, he probably does want a disciple. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t yet achieved his standards yet.”

“Haven’t achieved his standards yet? If someone as talented as you isn’t good enough, who is?” Wang Doushan asked scornfully. “Does he have to wait until a genius that only appears every 10,000 years appears to accept a disciple?”

Upon hearing these words, Su Chen couldn’t help but think aloud, “He is pursuing the same dream countless others from the Intelligent Races have been pursuing for tens of thousands of years. With this in mind, it might not be that strange for his standards to be of a never-before-seen genius.”

“Still in the mood to joke around, huh?” Wang Doushan harrumphed.

He sat down opposite Su Chen, the grass in his mouth bouncing around furiously.

“I don’t understand. There’s so many outstanding personal instructors in the Institute, yet you only have eyes for this stubborn, crazy old man. Just what do you see in him?”

“Hmm……” Su Chen thought for a moment, then replied, “I have two reasons. One is because I respect him. I respect him not only because he is the only person so far who has scolded me like I’m a dog yet commands obedience from me, but also because he has a heart encompassing the heavens…… To know that it is impossible to do, yet continues doing it, is enough to command respect and admiration.”

Wang Doushan nodded. “Okay. Although that does make him a little silly, the old saying that ‘the world is driven by fools’ is quite apt. What’s the second reason?”

“The second reason is that I want to follow in his footsteps, pursuing the same dream the human race has had for tens of thousands of years. He’s the only one striving for such a goal among all the personal instructors, so who am I to find if not him?”

Wang Doushan smacked his forehead. “My goodness, you’re just as crazy as he is! Su Chen, have you still not realized it?”

He gazed at Su Chen intently, drawing out each word clearly. “It is impossible. You can’t do it!”

“Impossible?” Su Chen gazed at Wang Doushan.

Wang Doushan firmly nodded. “Tens of thousands of years have already passed. How many talented individuals from the Intelligent Races have pursued this dream? Yet no one has achieved it. Or what if we’ve already succeeded, and bloodlines are the best and most optimal way of controlling Origin Energy. Why seek alternative methods?”

“Because I don’t have a bloodline,” Su Chen replied. “And I’m not alone. There are many, many people who don’t have a bloodline.”

Wang Doushan froze.

“In addition, bloodlines aren’t powerful enough,” Su Chen added. “The enemies of the Intelligent Races are, in the end, the Beast Race, and it will only ever be them. But the power of bloodlines originates from the Beast Race! How can you rely on the strength of your enemies to defeat them? For example, you, Wang Doushan, have the bloodline of the Snow Crane. Even if you awaken your bloodline to its maximum potential – 50% – can you compare with the real Snow Cran Emperor? No, never! Never will you exceed the strength of the Snow Crane. This bloodline gave you power, but at the same time it has limited your potential!”

When Wang Doushan heard this, his jaw dropped. He wanted to argue, but couldn’t find the words to do so.

This was a principle every person understood.

Perhaps by putting all their efforts into cultivating, their strength would increase, surpassing that of another bloodline of the same level. However, the restrictions put on them by the bloodline set a limit on their potentials; they would never overcome this limit.

This was also why the human race was so helpless – even at the peak of their strength, no Intelligent Race could ever surpass the Beast Race.