Sogen concluded his training with Mr. Rudriger and made his way toward the Vola plantation.
The moment he stepped through the entrance, he spotted Adel and Airo busily tending to the young trees. Upon noticing him, both of their faces lit up with genuine delight.
"Young Master!"
They hurried over to greet him before returning to their work.
Not long afterward, Karl arrived as well. After exchanging greetings, he gave Sogen a detailed report on the plantation's progress. The saplings were healthy, their roots had taken hold, and everything was developing exactly as planned.
Satisfied, Sogen walked toward the center of the plantation where the array was engraved into the ground.
He knelt down and made a few subtle adjustments to the formation.
A faint ripple spread through the intricate carvings before gradually settling down.
Sogen carefully observed the changes. Although the array was only a low-grade formation, its performance exceeded his expectations. The spiritual qi within the plantation was slightly denser than the outside world. The increase wasn't significant, but it was enough to promote healthier growth.
However, enriching spiritual qi had never been the formation's true purpose.
Its greatest strength lay elsewhere.
The formation functioned like an automated irrigation system from the modern world. By relying solely on engraved runes and the flow of spiritual qi, it continuously monitored the plantation, distributing sunlight evenly across every tree while guiding water to wherever it was needed most.
It constantly adjusted the balance on its own, ensuring that no tree received too much or too little of either resource.
A machine without gears.
An invention without metal.
Everything was accomplished through nothing more than carefully carved formations.
Till now, Sogen's understanding of formations could only be described as superficial.
However, ever since the system rewarded him with the Ancient Array Manual, his knowledge had grown by leaps and bounds. Although he was still far from becoming a true array master, he had already surpassed ordinary cultivators by a considerable margin.
At the very least...
Unlike the average cultivator who would panic and lose his life the moment they stepped into an unfamiliar formation, Sogen was confident he could remain calm and find a way out.
That alone was enough to make him smile.
After finishing his inspection, Sogen returned to the wooden pavilion, where Karl respectfully served him a steaming cup of tea.
The gentle fragrance of the tea drifted through the air as silence settled over the courtyard.
A few moments later, Adel and Airo approached him.
Adel lowered his head, his fingers tightly clenched. He opened his mouth several times, yet no words came out.
Noticing the boy's unusual hesitation, Sogen raised an eyebrow.
"If you have something to say," he said calmly, "then say it."
Adel took a deep breath.
His nervousness vanished in an instant.
"Brother Sogen!"
"I want to become as strong as you!"
"I want to beat every thug in this world so no one can bully innocent people anymore."
His fists trembled with determination.
"So... please teach me cultivation!"
The words burst out in a single breath.
The courtyard fell silent.
Sogen looked into Adel's eyes.
There was no greed.
No desire for wealth.
No fantasy of becoming famous.
Only a stubborn determination that burned brighter than fire itself.
For a brief moment, Sogen saw the unwavering resolve hidden inside the young boy.
Before he could answer, Karl hurriedly stepped forward.
"Young Master... please forgive the child."
Karl bowed deeply before continuing in a solemn voice.
"He is still ignorant and does not understand what he is asking."
Sogen remained silent.
Karl slowly looked at Adel before speaking words that carried unusual weight.
"In this world... asking someone to teach you cultivation is not as simple as asking for guidance."
"It is a request that carries a lifetime of responsibility."
His voice became heavier with every sentence.
"Every cultivation technique, every martial art, every secret art... is a legacy passed down through generations."
"Once a master teaches someone, that disciple doesn't merely inherit techniques."
"He inherits the master's reputation, his enemies, his responsibilities... and even his sins."
Karl's expression turned grave.
"If the disciple lacks character, the master's legacy may fall into evil hands."
"If the disciple is incompetent, the master's techniques will become laughingstocks."
"If the disciple commits atrocities, the world will remember the master's name before it remembers the disciple's."
He paused before speaking the final words.
"There have been countless experts whose lifetimes of glory were destroyed by a single worthless disciple."
"Some lost the respect they had spent centuries building."
"Some saw their treasured inheritances stolen because an unworthy disciple leaked them."
"And some watched their disciples murdered by old enemies who wished to erase the next generation before it could bloom."
Karl looked directly at Adel.
"That is why accepting a disciple is regarded as one of the most sacred decisions a cultivator can ever make."
"It is not simply teaching."
"It is entrusting another person with everything you have spent your entire life protecting."
Silence once again enveloped the courtyard.
Even the breeze seemed to have stopped.
Although Adel was still very young, the hardships he had endured had forced him to mature far beyond children of his age.
The world had robbed him of the innocence most children took for granted.
So, the moment he heard Karl's words, he understood the meaning behind them.
His expression gradually stiffened.
Only now did he realize...
The request he had made so earnestly was not a simple plea for strength.
It was a burden heavy enough to decide another person's lifetime.
A trace of guilt flashed across his eyes as he lowered his head in silence.