Chapter 49: Great Teacher
Li Pin was a little surprised. "You've manifested Force?"
He had estimated that Lin Xiaolu would be able to manifest Force this month, but he had thought that it would only be next week or the week after. He didn't expect that she'd succeed in the blink of an eye.
"A great teacher produces great disciples."
When Fang Lingjue found that no accident had taken place, he quickly became at ease.
"If I'm not wrong, the two young ladies haven't reached eighteen years old yet, right?"
"She has only manifested Force. It's nothing worth making a fuss about," Li Pin replied.
He then looked at Lin Xiaolu, who seemed very elated, with an expectant look on her face, as if she hoped he'd praise her.
"Not bad, but you still have to continue to work hard," said Li Pin to Lin Xiaolu.
He then mentioned, "To rise above the others in the Jiang Province Martial Competition's junior category, one must be able to reach Covert Force. They are still a far cry from the real geniuses."
"Mmhmm." Lin Xiaolu nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Brother."
"What do you mean that they are a far cry!?"
At this moment, Shan Hu couldn't hold it in anymore. She glared at Li Pin and said, "You only considered that Xiaolu wasn't eighteen yet, but you've forgotten that it hasn't even been half a year since she picked up martial arts! To be able to manifest Force in less than half a year... what is she if not a genius!?"
Li Pin's expression remained calm as he listened to this.
However, Fang Lingjue was struck by this piece of information and his pupils contracted fiercely.
He was aware of this as well.
Lin Xiaolu and Li Yunyao both signed up for a membership with Changfeng Martial Hall when they started practicing martial arts. Looking at the time they had started, it was true that it hadn't even been half a year since they started practicing martial arts!
To be precise, it had been less than five months. To be able to manifest Force in over four months….
Such aptitude!
Fang Lingjue gasped. "Li Pin, you found yourself a treasure! Considering how she had manifested Force in over four months, if this trend continued, wouldn't she be able to achieve Core Formation like you in another three to five years!? Her comprehension and talent are hard to find even in the White Crane Sect! You have found someone to succeed you!"
"Three to five years…."
Li Pin did a quick calculation.
With him succeeding in condensing his qi to form a Core, his understanding of Core Force and Core Formation became even stronger. If things went well, it was true that he had a very high chance of helping both girls reach Core Formation within three years.
He nodded. "The timing should be thereabout, but it'd still depend on their cultivation progress. If there are discrepancies from my expectations, then it will take longer."
"You're really lucky." Fang Lingjue looked at Li Pin enviously. "Theoretically, a genius like this should look for a grandmaster or even a Martial Saint to be able to unearth her aptitude to the greatest extent. However, you are a genius yourself and have a chance to become a grandmaster. It won't be considered a waste of her talent for you to be her teacher."
Li Pin smiled and didn't respond to this.
However, Li Yunyao couldn't help but ask with anticipation, "Brother, you mentioned that Xiaolu would be able to achieve a breakthrough this month and I'll be able to do the same next month. Considering how she had attained her breakthrough half a month earlier, does that mean that I'll be able to achieve a breakthrough this month? Will I also be able to manifest Force and become a real martial artist?"
"That'd depend on how much hard work you put in and if you can grasp that fleeting inspiration," replied Li Pin.
"I can definitely do it." Li Yunyao immediately turned to Lin Xiaolu. "Xiaolu, Xiaolu, hurry up and tell me what it feels like to manifest Force. Let me share some of your good luck."
"I.... When I was sparring with Sister Shan Hu earlier, my power and her Force collided and I suddenly comprehended it…."
Lin Xiaolu didn't know how to put it into words.
The two of them quickly went to the side to exchange their experiences.
Fang Lingjue, on the other hand, looked a little surprised after hearing from Li Yunyao that she'd be able to manifest Force next month.
A thought suddenly struck him out of nowhere and his countenance shifted.
He wasn't the only one. The eyes of Shan Hu, as well as the others such as Xu Huan and Zhang Le who were attracted over by the commotion, also contracted concurrently. An astonishing guess appeared in their mind at the same time.
"Li Pin... their aptitude... they shouldn't be considered martial arts geniuses that are hard to find amongst ten thousand people, right?"
Fang Lingjue felt his voice quiver with disbelief.
"They are considered quite outstanding," replied Li Pin.
However, his words verified the guess that Fang Lingjue. Shan Hu, Xu Huan, Zhang Le, and the others had in mind.
Fang Lingjue stared at Li Pin, eyes full of shock. "So... under the situation where neither of them are martial arts geniuses, you managed to mold two people who have no prior martial arts foundation and had never even officially got into martial arts previously into Force Cultivators in less than two years!?"
Li Pin understood why Fang Lingjue was so surprised.
It wasn't anything impressive for the martial artists in this world to train themselves into top-notch geniuses. What was truly impressive was to teach an ordinary person into a martial arts genius. A martial artist who excelled in teaching students enjoyed an even more prestigious status than grandmasters.
That was because of… Astral Cultivators!
Astral Cultivators needed to transform their power into their battle prowess through different methods such as manifesting Force, forming Core, or attaining Aura Force. They would then strive for even higher levels.
After each Astral Cultivator succeeded in their meditation, they tended to invite Aura Force Grandmasters to teach them. Most martial artists might even be like Cao Tianyou, taking the initiative to visit Astral Cultivators to form a relationship with them even if they wouldn't assume high positions in the future.
However, a true great teacher wouldn't have to fret that they wouldn't have any Astral Cultivator disciples. The top-notch great teachers would even be able to attract Astral Cultivators to come to them.
Their connections would be unimaginably wide.
They'd only need to make use of their connections and statuses a little to be able to enjoy far better prospects than other martial artists of the same level.
However, Li Pin had no intention of becoming a "great teacher."
It was a waste of time.
"Maybe it's because they have absolute trust in me. Other people might not see such good effects," Li Pin explained.
"Li Pin... why not... let Shan Hu train with you for a few months?" Fang Lingjue asked carefully, secretly glancing at Lin Xiaolu and Li Yunyao.
Even though neither of them was a rare martial arts genius, it took Li Pin only a little over four months to mold them into Force cultivators…. That was even better than those great teachers! If he could replicate such results a few more times, there'd still be Astral Cultivators who had just succeeded in their meditation to visit him to get his guidance even though he had not attained Aura Force.
The prospects of this route would be even better than becoming an Aura Force Grandmaster or even a Martial Saint.
Shan Hu looked at Li Pin. "I..."
She no longer viewed Li Pin as a rival, and there was a sliver of yearning in her eyes when she heard Fang Lingjue's suggestion.
Li Pin didn't reply but looked at Fang Lingjue. "Hall Master, you should know what my goal is. To fulfill this goal, I won't waste too much effort on other matters."
"The view that grandmasters and Martial Saints can get to see..." Fang Lingjue said, "It's just that if you really have such capabilities... This route would be a lot more exciting than the path you are aiming for."
"Everyone has their own definitions of what is good or bad. I personally prefer my current path," replied Li Pin.
When Fang Lingjue heard this, he shook his head a little regretfully.
Shan Hu's gaze also dimmed a little.
However, at this moment, Li Pin said, "But if it's just Shan Hu, I can still find some time to give her some guidance."
Shan Hu instantly beamed.
Fang Lingjue also gave her a hint with his gaze.
Without any hesitation, Shan Hu instantly cupped her hands together and bowed, "Master, please accept a bow from your disciple."