Chapter 239: The Young Elder
Li Lang stared blankly in response to the unknown boy’s question. It made him uncomfortable as a stranger looked straight at him without blinking or saying a word. Seeing the scene, Li Lang’s companion was about to step in when the man in question suddenly broke his silence.
“Elder Nong?!”
Hearing this, the boy frowned. He carefully regarded Li Lang’s face with an expression that said he was trying his best to rummage through his memories. After a brief moment, he wore an embarrassed expression as he clasped his fist in greeting.
“Apologies. I don’t seem to recognize you. May I ask who you are?”
“Um, it’s been some time, so it’s no surprise you don’t recognize me. My name is Li Lang. You once helped me when I was young, bringing me from Lingyu Town to Xiang Yang City. You also taught me about cultivation when I knew nothing about it!”
Upon explaining himself, Li Lang quickly glanced down as if he had made a mistake. He wasn’t sure if he should’ve blurted out those words in public. The young man before him was somewhat trustworthy and had a notable identity. He was an elder of the Clear Heart Sect! That meant he was a member of an orthodox sect.
Li Lang had a pleasant impression of the young elder. He was the one who had taught him the basics of cultivation. Throughout their interaction, Elder Nong had been nothing but kind, despite him being nothing more than a talentless mortal back then.
“Li Lang? The big-headed kid from way back? How can this be? You’ve reached the peak of Energy Gathering already?! But you only have grade one aptitude. What kind of fortuitous encounter did you have during the few years since then?”
For better or worse, Li Lang had maintained the habit of using his Wave Dampening Art. It was often useful to have others underestimate you. All it cost in exchange was the respect afforded to a Foundation Establishment Realm expert. If Elder Nong knew about his real cultivation, his eyes would surely pop out of their sockets.
Still, it had come as quite a shock to Elder Nong that the little boy he had helped on a whim had made such quick progress. Normally, by the time mortals with grade one aptitude reached the peak of the Energy Gathering Realm, they would be middle-aged. It was why all the sects never recruited them. The time and investment they needed to put into these untalented individuals until they were useful was more than they could bear. It was simply a losing investment.