Elder Meng summoning him alone was in all likelihood regarding the Great Dao Association. Perhaps he had the intention of taking him as a disciple?
The powerhouses of the Eternal Continent, like those of the Immortal Realm, enjoyed long lifespans. If they had no hope of a breakthrough, the diligent ones would choose to establish a sect, while the lazier ones would choose to take a Heavenly Pride as a disciple.
It was both a way to pin their hopes on their disciples and a means to pass the time.
Han Xuanji, of course, did not reject the idea of taking a Master; to him, the benefits of doing so far outweighed the drawbacks.
With a powerful Master as his backer, it would also be easier for him to enter and leave places of Dao Resonance.
Without hesitation, he adjusted his direction.
Han Xuanji walked unhurriedly toward the location Elder Meng had directed him to.
And Han Xuanji's movements were also quickly noticed by those who were paying attention.
Seeing this, the powerhouses from various provinces and cities nodded in understanding. They didn't even bother to approach a Heavenly Pride of this caliber.
Han Xuanji would certainly never choose them. Instead of wasting time on him, they might as well look for some Earth-Grade or even Black-Grade seeds. Although some of these people had been eliminated early on, it did not mean their Aptitude was poor; many simply came from humbler backgrounds. If nurtured with great effort, their future achievements would not be low.
For instance, Li Tiantong's performance had caught the eye of many forces, and even some Sage forces were already getting in touch with him.
As for the Hun Family?
These established Sage forces did not care. In their eyes, the Hun Family did not even have a single Sage now, so they could no longer be called a Sage force at all, and it was impossible for them to retain a talent like Han Xuanji. Nonetheless, since Han Xuanji was currently still with the Hun Family, these forces did not dare to be too arrogant.
As Han Xuanji walked through the crowd, his peripheral vision caught sight of Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was standing in a corner of the high platform with Wang Chong. Although his face was still a bit pale, his mental state was good.
Seeing Han Xuanji, he nodded slightly in greeting, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
As the Divine Son of Da Sheng, although he had given up on competing for the position of Sage Emperor, he still possessed the Saint King Bloodline. His potential was astonishing, and he had been reserved early on by a mighty figure of the Holy Court. Thus, Elder Meng would not make a fool of himself by approaching him.
Seeing that Han Xuanji was highly regarded by the Great Dao Association powerhouses, Xiao Yan felt happy for him as well.
After a brief exchange with Wang Chong, he quickly adjusted his mindset, looking forward to his next battle with Han Xuanji.
The two exchanged glances, everything understood without words. Han Xuanji nodded, said nothing more, and continued walking forward.
Soon, Han Xuanji passed by several buildings and arrived at an attic.
Finding no guards, Han Xuanji stepped inside naturally.
The first floor was completely empty.
Without giving it much thought, Han Xuanji stepped onto the second floor of the attic.
The furnishings here were simple. Rather than a place for a mighty figure to receive guests, it looked more like an ordinary study.
A few bamboo scrolls lay scattered on the desk, and by the window was a low table with two cups of clear tea, from which a faint fragrance drifted.
Elder Meng stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his back to the door, watching the crowd gradually disperse in the distance.
His figure was not tall, and he could even be considered thin, but standing there, he was like a mountain—steady and unshakable.
As Han Xuanji stepped into the attic, he slowly turned around, his gaze falling upon Han Xuanji, sizing him up for a moment.
He looked very closely, a rare trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Han Xuanji's performance at the Law Conference was already enough to demonstrate his potential.
But standing before him in person, the feeling was different.
This young man was neither arrogant nor impetuous, neither servile nor overbearing. He was neither carried away by winning the championship nor panicked by being summoned alone.
This state of mind was even more precious than talent.
"I saw your entire performance at the Law Conference,"
Elder Meng spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a weight that could not be ignored:
"Whether facing Song Tiancheng, Ling Cang, or Xiao Yan at the end, your performance was unquestionable.
Your spiritual energy is vast, your Dao Foundation is powerful, and both your Physical Body and mental willpower far exceed those of the same Realm.
For all these traits to appear in a single person is something that, even after my many years of cultivation, I have rarely seen in either the Holy Court or the Great Dao Association."
These words carried immense weight.
As a Sage of the Great Dao Association, what kind of Heavenly Pride had he not seen?
Those of Han Xuanji's caliber did exist, but they were very rare and were usually fought over by big figures.
The big figures referred to here were mighty figures at the Sage Lord level.
As for peerless figures at the Sage King level, they had long stopped concerning themselves with worldly affairs, spending their years in seclusion or having vanished without a trace. Let alone taking disciples, even the high-level executives of the same force might not see them once in ten thousand years.
Han Xuanji did not interrupt, but simply listened quietly and nodded slightly.
Being too humble was not good either, as it would seem somewhat arrogant.
He couldn't very well say his performance was actually just average, could he?
Elder Meng paused, his gaze lingering on him for a moment before slowly revealing the true purpose of this meeting:
"I have summoned you here because I wish to ask you one thing: are you willing to take me as your Master?"
His tone remained calm, as if speaking of an ordinary matter, but if one listened closely, a rare trace of solemnity could be detected.
"To this day, I do not yet have a Direct Disciple.
If you join my lineage, you will be my sole successor.
I will do everything in my power to nurture you and help you step into the Saint Realm as soon as possible."
(T/N: Does Xuanji even need a master at this point. Well whatever, maybe he needs one to keep the hostile forces at bay)
Having said this, he spoke no more, merely standing quietly in place, waiting for Han Xuanji's answer.
The reason he had summoned Han Xuanji alone was also because he was uncertain; if he were rejected by Han Xuanji in public, he would lose face.
Summoning him in private meant that even if he was rejected, as long as Han Xuanji wasn't foolish enough to speak of it, no one else would know, right?
The Meditation Room fell silent for a moment.
The tea fragrance curled upward, and the sunlight filtering through the window lattice cast long, thin shadows on the floor.
Han Xuanji could feel the sincerity in Elder Meng's gaze.
Elder Meng had summoned him alone without any grand display precisely because he did not want to pressure him.
Han Xuanji, however, did not experience much of a fluctuation in his emotions.
He had already anticipated that Elder Meng's summons was highly likely related to taking him as a disciple, but actually hearing those words still caused his thoughts to churn for an instant.
The benefits of taking Elder Meng as his Master were obvious.
A Master at the sixth-layer Sage level, the identity of an External Affairs Elder of the Great Dao Association, and the status of an influential Elder in the Ninth Holy Hall of the Holy Court—all of these combined meant that Han Xuanji could gain access to more and higher-level resources, legacies, and places of Dao Resonance.
More importantly, with this connection, it would be much more convenient for him to conduct his affairs.
He had already used the System to investigate Elder Meng's background. The man had cultivated to this point by climbing up step-by-step from the very bottom, securing a firm foothold in the Great Dao Association and holding a concurrent position as an influential Elder in the Holy Court, which was a testament to his methods and strength.
Furthermore, Elder Meng acted with propriety and had principles, making him far more reliable than those who blindly pursued self-interest.
Right now, he was even maintaining a posture that was almost begging him to become his disciple, without putting on the airs of a Sage to coerce him.
Han Xuanji's thoughts raced. Just as he was about to speak, a cold, clear voice suddenly came from the doorway.
"Little Meng, we agreed that you would bring the champion over for me to see first."