Entering the study, Wu Guang arrived at a medium-sized, ten square feet room that was full of scrolls. These scrolls were lying on small stands, tables, shelves, and even covered the sturdy stone table that was placed at the center of the room. Elder Chen walked towards this table and indicated Wu Guang to sit on one of the chairs. The elder also sat down at the head of the table, in a chair made from jade. This throne-like chair was engraved with different images of the totem beasts representing each of the five Wildlands tribes.

Noticing that Wu Guang was looking at it, Elder Chen confirmed

"This is a chair made in resemblance of the Chief of chiefs throne. A gift that the tribal council sent after the Boundary road was established and the rules of trade and conduct were set"

"Could elder be the white-robed envoy that is used as an example of behavior and temperance in the tribes?"

"It has been many years since then, they still remember?" Elder Chen practically admitted spoking with a smile that had a glint of nostalgia

"Now, I have called you here to speak with you of a matter. But before, let me confirm a thing. Are you sure that you want to enter the cultivation path by joining the sect? I have seen that you are well-liked by Old Rui, and your uncle also praised your skills before the City Lord. The martial path is dangerous, and differently from others, you have other paths available"

"I am sure. Elder May not know, but my family was assassinated and I may still be considered a target. Even if I am not, I intend to later seek justice" Wu Guang gave an answer that he had already prepared from before. After all, it would be strange that a youngster that lost his family would forget about it.

"I see. And if the Sect took care of administering justice?"

"I have always wanted it. Even if I don't reach the heights, I still want to try my best" Here Wu Guang didn't lie, his real self only knew the cultivation path and as for the heights he mentioned, the ones that he did not reach in his previous life, were so high that no cultivator from this plane knew how are they called.

"I see" After this exchange, Elder Chen grew quiet.

Seeing that the elder was thinking about something, Wu Guang also immersed into thought "I wonder why the elder asked me this? We have known each other only for a day, and I haven't proven my worth or made anything that displeased him. Has he guessed something? But that's impossible, he did not pay attention to Wu Guang before, he didn't even know who he was before the ambush" While thinking about this, he wasn't nervous, after all, it was impossible for anyone below the Saint realm to feel the changes that the soul merge provoked. And for when a Saint realm expert appeared, both Wu Guang and Bai Qi would be the same and new being.

"You may wonder why I asked you this" Elder Chen broke up the silence, then without explaining further asked

"Do you know how are disciples selected during the entrance tests?"

"I don't" Shaking his head honestly answered Wu Guang

"The first three tests determine the entrant's aptitude, character, and knowledge. Passing the three would make you an outer disciple. Then more tests covering talents and previous cultivation are administered, these ones are to determine if someone is worthy of being a personal or internal disciple in waiting " Seeing the surprised expression that Wu Guang had at the mention of the latter, he continued explaining

"Although the sects consider that the best age to start the training is around 14 years, some members of nobility or military families start training a bit earlier, using their family techniques. Some young people had the fortune of growing in areas with high qi concentration and are blessed by almost innate cultivation start without any training"

Wu Guang nodded in understanding after hearing the explanation, but inwardly he was a bit surprised to know that even here, in a place with the lowest qi concentration possible even for a minor realm there were some people like the latter. He had appeared here, from all the other places exactly because of the low qi concentration, higher concentration would have made it impossible for his remaining soul power to materialize.

For the fact of people born with cultivation, the surprise was inexistent, after all on stronger planes this was a normal thing. Most people were born with innate cultivation that varied on the qi concentration. For example, the Four Forests plane had no one who was born on the soul realm or lower, and everyone below the saint level was considered a mortal.

After taking a brief pause while Wu Guang digested the information he had just said, Elder Chen pointed at one of the scrolls on the table

"This scroll contains the best breathing and qi circulation technique that I own, take it. In your room, you should have a book titled 'The Path'. It's a book that the Wisdom Palace edited some years ago and now is considered essential to every person who aspires to cultivate. It explains all the different realms and has some explanation on how to start your cultivation"

"Elder, thank you" Rising and bowing, Wu Guang took the scroll. Although he wasn't interested in whatever technique he was given, this was blatant permission to start cultivating. All breathing techniques were untraceable, and if the person who practiced them didn't speak, no expert below the Dao comprehension could sense the difference between one and another. Asking about the circulation technique of someone was considered taboo, and without asking could be only found inserting qi and using a special technique meant for scanning the meridians of the cultivator. So now, he could cultivate without appearing suspicious, and use the techniques from his memories without any worry.

"You may ask yourself why I am giving you this opportunity... While healing you, I scanned your body and found that your aptitude is very good, adding that the healing involved a qi resource that somewhat raised it, so you should be able to reach a mid-level of the Body realm before the exam"

"Thank you" Wu Guang remained bowed during all this time. "Strange that he didn't specifically mention the wood essence, maybe he doesn't know its full effects?" after this quick thought, he straightened up while saying

"I will fulfill the Elder's expectations"

Seeing the determined expression on Wu Guang's face, Elder Chen smiled and concluding their exchange said

"Good. The doors in the opposite direction of where are you staying lead to four secluded cultivation rooms. You should go and see one of them today. After reading through 'The Path', you may be able to sense the qi today. The investigation of the maps and documents will take some days, so you should be able to make your first step during the time we remain here in the tower. Now go"

Bowing again to the Elder, Wu Guang exited the study. Elder Chen, who remained sitting muttered in a low voice

"I may be too old to change my foundation with the Wood Essence and deal with the matter from seven years ago. If this young man manages to excavate the remains in his body successfully, the rest shall belong to him, and hopefully, he will fulfill the promise in my stead".

Someone who knew Elder Chen would be extremely appalled to hear such thought, as he was considered the paragon of righteousness. Using someone for something like fulfilling a promise the elder himself had given was absolute nonsense. And to say they would be close to the truth, as albeit not directly, Elder Chen had already decided. This would remain a secret, but he would be telling Wu Guang everything and even offer him to refuse and forget the matter.