In truth, Ye Ling had countless ways to explain the mysterious nature of talismans. After all, he had an entire civilization's worth of knowledge backing him.
But he worried that speaking too broadly, too abstractly, or too grandly would instead provoke Ai Yueli's displeasure. From what she had shown, her focus was absolute.
That was why he deliberately avoided steering the conversation toward something as lofty as the Dao.
At the end of the day, he was still a beginner on the path of cultivation. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator was practically everywhere in the cultivation world.
Jumping straight into metaphysical discussions would only make him seem lofty but impractical, all talk and no grounding.
However, since Ai Yueli herself had opened with laws and concepts, Ye Ling no longer felt the need to hold back.
"I believe that cultivating immortality is a process of constantly strengthening oneself until one can connect with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."
Ai Yueli didn't speak, but her blinking clearly quickened. Knowing he was on the right track, Ye Ling continued, "So whether it's cultivation or the Six Arts, the ultimate goal is the same: to connect with the Great Dao and draw a response from the world's laws."
"Mhm."
Ai Yueli nodded, her voice carrying a rare hint of delight. "No wonder the Sect Master praises you as a cultivation prodigy. Your perspective truly is different."
"Fourth Martial Aunt flatters me."
Ye Ling scratched his head, feigning embarrassment. "Those kinds of topics sound too lofty and hollow. I was worried that saying them outright would only make Fourth Martial Aunt laugh at me, so I kept them to myself. That probably led to a misunderstanding."
"Indeed."
Ai Yueli nodded again, as if something had just occurred to her. "People these days, even after reaching the Soul Formation Stage, still fail to understand the importance of connecting with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. They insist on waiting until the Tribulation Transcendence Stage to explore it. Truly ignorant."
"Fourth Martial Aunt, that's not quite right. If the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth were something everyone could comprehend, wouldn't all beings under heaven be able to ascend?"
Ye Ling paused, then looked into Ai Yueli's beautiful golden eyes. "There's a saying down the mountain: an immortal is made of ninety-nine percent single-minded devotion to the Dao, plus one percent cultivation talent."
He stopped for a moment before asking, "Fourth Martial Aunt, do you know the next line?"
"I don't."
Of course Ai Yueli wouldn't know one of Ye Ling's pre-transmigration sayings. She shook her head, clearly ready to listen.
"But without that one percent of cultivation talent, even one hundred and twenty percent devotion to the Dao would still be useless."
The words were something Ye Ling had made up on the spot, but they did reflect a truth.
If he had transmigrated without a system or any cultivation talent, he would probably still be struggling through worldly life. He might have done well enough, but it would never compare to the freedom of cultivation.
Some things simply can't be achieved through effort alone. They also require status, opportunity, or extraordinary talent.
This was a realization Ye Ling had come to long before his transmigration. Though the words were fabricated, the emotion behind them carried the weight of his own experiences.
"I misspoke."
Ai Yueli might seem rigid, but she didn't cling stubbornly to her authority as a senior. If she was wrong, she admitted it. With a serious expression, she said, "What you said actually aligns with something my Master once told us."
"As time passes, cultivation methods will gradually become simpler, so that more people can come into contact with cultivation, allowing those without innate talent to still touch upon the immortal path."
"It seems the times have changed, yet I'm still bound by ancient teachings."
Ai Yueli brushed aside the hair at her forehead, a look of newfound understanding appearing on her beautiful face.
"Actually, Fourth Martial Aunt wasn't wrong either. It's just that everyone's talents are different, and so what each person can achieve naturally differs as well."
Without realizing it, Ye Ling had gradually taken control of the conversation.
"For ordinary people, being able to cultivate at all is already a stroke of luck. It's only natural that they can't connect with the Great Dao. But if geniuses follow the same path, they're simply wasting their talent."
"You've covered both the straight talk and the counterpoint. You're quite the clever one."
Ai Yueli was in a good mood. She blinked a few extra times, and her beautiful golden eyes grew noticeably brighter.
"These are all my sincere thoughts. I hope Fourth Martial Aunt can see that."
The corners of Ye Ling's lips lifted slightly, a fresh, easy smile like a passing breeze appearing on his handsome face.
"Very well. You pass."
Ai Yueli extended her jade-like hand. With a light flick of her pale index and middle fingers, a piece of yellow paper appeared as if by sleight of hand.
Looking at Ye Ling, she said, "Since you already have a clear understanding of cultivation, the next step is to see whether you possess the affinity for the Talisman Dao."
"Please instruct me, Fourth Martial Aunt."
Ye Ling didn't know what Ai Yueli was planning, but at this point, there was no way he was backing down.
The yellow paper gave him a faint sense of danger, but how could a man admit he wasn't up to it in front of a beautiful woman?
Seeing that Ye Ling was ready, the yellow paper in Ai Yueli's hand suddenly burst into flame. In a dizzying moment, the world spun, and Ye Ling realized he had been pulled into a strange space.
"Just as you said, cultivation is about connecting with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. The talisman just now was linked to the laws of space, so once activated, it drew you into this realm."
Ai Yueli's voice echoed from all directions as she continued, "This is a trial space I prepared for those who seek the Dao. Unfortunately, all these years, no one has passed my first trial. Martial Nephew, if you can make it out of here, I will take you as my disciple."
"Uh… Fourth Martial Aunt, this doesn't seem to match what you said earlier, does it?"
Ye Ling stood within the space, his surroundings completely blank, as though nothing had even begun yet.
"What doesn't match?"
"Didn't you say you would only ask about my impression of talismans?"
"Martial Nephew, that's not quite right."
For once, Ai Yueli's tone carried a hint of playfulness.
"Geniuses should be tested in ways befitting geniuses. If I used the methods meant for mediocrities to test you, wouldn't that just waste your talent?"
"…"
Ye Ling was left speechless.
Did I just lift a rock only to smash my own foot?
Still, it wasn't a total loss. At the very least, he'd learned that his seemingly rigid Fourth Martial Aunt actually had a girlish side.
She held grudges.
Unprovokable. Absolutely unprovokable.
Ye Ling silently resolved that until he was strong enough to beat these elders, he would keep his mouth firmly shut.
"Don't worry. At worst, you'll just get injured."
Ai Yueli's calm voice rang out again.
Is that supposed to be comforting?
You really can't underestimate any beautiful woman.
Steadying himself, Ye Ling said, "Being acknowledged as a genius by Fourth Martial Aunt is my honor. Come on."
Ai Yueli didn't respond. But within the previously empty space, lines of irregular, floating characters began to appear one after another.