The news of Nan Zun becoming Zhang Fan’s disciple was not intentionally concealed. Within a day, it spread throughout the Six Royal Mansions and then rapidly across the Boundary Heart Continent, shocking everyone who heard it.
"Senior Nan Zun actually became Zhang Fan's disciple? What kind of charisma does he possess?"
Even many cultivators within the Canghai Hall couldn't comprehend it. Although Zhang Fan was very powerful, there was no need for Nan Zun, the strongest of the Wu Shan Star Domain, to become his disciple. However, concerning Nan Zun, most people only dared to discuss it in private, not openly.
Canglan Mingyue and Canglan Qiuyue never dreamed that Zhang Fan, whom they had considered an opponent in the Da Luo Realm, would now transform into their grand-disciple.
While Zhang Fan's current strength was indeed formidable, in their hearts, they still treated Zhang Fan as an equal. Now, having to kneel and address him as grand-disciple felt somewhat stifling.
"Senior Zhang Fan is my master, and naturally, he is also your grand-disciple. If you dare to show any disrespect in the future, I will personally purge the sect," Nan Zun's deep eyes fixed on the two, his vast soul power emanating outwards. Canglan Mingyue and Canglan Qiuyue felt as if a mountain was pressing down on them, making it difficult to breathe.
"Yes, Master." This was the first time they saw their master so serious. Canglan Mingyue and Canglan Qiuyue quickly and obediently responded, their mindsets rapidly shifting.
"You may leave. For a long time to come, I will be following Master in cultivation. Do not seek me unless it is a major issue."
After Canglan Mingyue and Canglan Qiuyue withdrew, Nan Zun couldn't help but shake his head. "This Wu Shan Star Domain is ultimately too small, and it limits their horizons. Senior Zhang Fan accepting me as a disciple was likely due to my unwavering determination in seeking the Dao. This is my fortune."
The talent required to cultivate the rules of the Dao to perfection at the Nascent Soul stage was beyond what most cultivators in the Wu Shan Star Domain could imagine. They only knew it was difficult but didn't realize it was a rare existence even across the Myriad Domains Starry Sky.
Zi Wu Immortal King was also an exceptionally brilliant existence at the Nascent Soul stage, but his cultivated Dao rules only neared perfection. Even so, he broke through to the Dao Integration Immortal King realm in a mere ten thousand years.
And Zhang Fan, not only did he cultivate both the Dao of the Sword and the Dao of Lightning at the Nascent Soul stage, but he also cultivated both to perfection. Nan Zun himself couldn't imagine what heights he would achieve in the future.
Tribulation Crossing Immortal Venerable?
Or the Grand Unity Immortal Emperor, standing at the pinnacle of the Myriad Domains Starry Sky?
Being accepted as a disciple by such an existence was something Nan Zun had never thought possible.
However, regardless of the future, his most important task now was to overcome the current predicament.
Casting aside his miscellaneous thoughts, Nan Zun walked alone to the Golden Light Immortal Mansion.
"Disciple Canglan Nan Zhou seeks an audience with Master." Nan Zun stood outside the Golden Light Immortal Mansion, bowing, and said loudly.
Lin Haotian emerged from the Golden Light Immortal Mansion. Upon seeing him, Nan Zun quickly called out, "Senior Brother!"
Lin Haotian nodded, a smile appearing on his honest face. He said, "Third Junior Brother, Master asked me to bring you to see him."
One was a seven-tribulation realm cultivator who had cultivated for decades, and the other was a half-step Nascent Soul expert who had cultivated for over ten thousand years. Yet, the latter addressed the former as Senior Brother. If an outsider were to witness this scene, they might feel uncomfortable.
However, to Lin Haotian and Nan Zun, it seemed perfectly natural.
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Nan Zun said very politely.
Although Lin Haotian was only a seven-tribulation realm cultivator, as the Master's eldest disciple, Nan Zun, despite possessing the strength to defeat him with a single palm, remained extremely courteous.
Led by Lin Haotian, Nan Zun was brought to the third floor of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion.
"Haotian, you may leave. Unless I summon you, no one is allowed to disturb us," Zhang Fan instructed.
"Yes."
As Lin Haotian departed, only Zhang Fan and Nan Zun remained on the third floor of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion.
"Nan Zhou, do you know what is most important in the path of cultivation?" Zhang Fan asked, looking at the burly man standing before him.
Nan Zun hadn't expected his Master to ask such a question. After pondering for a while, he replied, "This disciple believes that to go further on the path of cultivation, both talent and effort are indispensable."
"Possessing talent without diligent cultivation will only be a waste of that talent."
"And cultivating forcefully without talent will lead to little achievement in a lifetime."
Zhang Fan chuckled at his words and shook his head. "The talent and effort you speak of are conditions for cultivation, but not the essential conditions. The most important thing in the path of cultivation is luck."
"What do you mean by achievement? Does cultivating into a Nascent Soul True Immortal count as an achievement? Does reaching the Void Refinement stage count as a great achievement?"
"But do you know that if one were born in a sacred land of a central star domain, even without talent, and even without diligent cultivation, some people could still easily break through to the Nascent Soul stage, and reaching the Void Refinement stage would not be too difficult?"
"In the central star domain, countless cultivators break through to become Nascent Soul True Immortals every year. But in the Wu Shan Star Domain, one is rarely produced in a million years."
"Does this mean that the cultivators of the Wu Shan Star Domain lack talent or do not cultivate diligently?"
Zhang Fan's words made Nan Zun tremble. For so many years, he had believed that his current achievements were the result of his own talent and diligent cultivation. But at this moment, he realized that while his talent and effort were indeed important, the most crucial factor was his birth in the Canghai Hall.
There, he could obtain cultivation resources far exceeding others and have more powerful cultivators guide his practice.
If he had been born into a sect with a Nascent Soul True Immortal residing there, he might have cultivated the rules of the Dao to over 900,000 paths before even stepping into the half-step Nascent Soul stage.
"Of course, luck is not narrowly defined as birth. Just like Zi Wu, he was born ordinary, but his luck was extraordinary. He could obtain more resources than you, and his cultivation path was naturally smoother."
"Master's words are like a sudden enlightenment; this disciple accepts the teaching." Nan Zun bowed respectfully. These words had indeed profoundly impacted him, shattering his long-held ingrained perceptions and giving him a clearer understanding of the world.
Zhang Fan smiled. Nan Zun's birth determined that it was difficult for him to realize this. For example, talented cultivators above the Wu Shan Star Domain had opportunities to be chosen by the six top powers, but what of it?
They were still trapped in the resource-scarce and Dao-deprived border star domains. Breaking through to become Nascent Soul True Immortals remained as difficult as climbing to heaven, and it was hard to glimpse the vast world outside.
On Earth, the concept of luck was even more pronounced. Some were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, possessing billions of wealth even without much education. Others were intelligent and gifted but came from poor backgrounds, and despite being well-learned, they still worked for others, with very few being able to start their own businesses.