In the Hall of Elders, Bo Chen and the elders of the Iron Vein Sect gathered to discuss their future path in martial arts. The room buzzed with an air of optimism that had been absent for decades.

"I can already feel the bottleneck of the Titanium Will Stage loosening," one elder said with a hint of excitement. "Within the next decade, I am confident I can ascend to that level."

Another elder nodded fervently. "I, too, sense the possibility. It's a pity my duties here bind me. If not for the responsibilities of the sect, I would travel the world to temper my will and shatter this final barrier. Still, I must thank Senior. Without his guidance, this path would have remained a distant dream."

The senior the elders were referring to was naturally Xiao Huzi. The elders exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with both excitement and gratitude. Xiao Huzi’s presence had rejuvenated their martial aspirations, sparking hopes they had long buried.

"Before, I would have accepted my limitations," another elder added. "But now, with the help of Senior's insights, even I dare to dream of reaching the Titanium Will Stage within the next few decades."

The other elders were equally enthusiastic, having benefited greatly from Xiao Huzi's guidance. Even they now harbored hopes of reaching the Titanium Will Stage within the next twenty or thirty years.

In this world, a martial arts master at the Stone Core Stage could easily live past two hundred years. Most of the elders of the Iron Vein Sect were in their seventies or eighties and still capable of making one last stand.

Just as the room brimmed with hope, a disciple hurriedly entered, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead.

"Sect Leader! Elders! This is urgent!"

Bo Chen's expression immediately darkened with concern. "What is it? Speak slowly, and do not panic."

The disciple tried to steady his breath, but his words came out in hurried gasps. "It’s... it’s the Chief Disciple..."

Bo Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and he stood abruptly. "What happened to him?"

The Chief Disciple mentioned was naturally Xiao Huzi. Years ago, when Xiao Huzi was accepted as a disciple by Mu Yang, he was given the position of Chief Disciple of the Iron Vein Sect.

The other elders leaned forward, their faces taut with worry. At this moment, in their eyes, Xiao Huzi was both a benefactor and the hope of the Iron Vein Sect.

Any matter concerning him was a major event for the entire sect.

The disciple quickly shook his head. "No, Sect Leader! He’s not hurt. But... but he’s gone down the mountain!"

"Gone down the mountain?" Bo Chen froze for a moment, his mind racing. "Did he say why? What reason did the Chief Disciple give for such an abrupt decision?"

The disciple swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he tried to mimic Xiao Huzi's calm yet resolute tone. "The Chief Disciple said... he wanted to ‘look at the world.’"

The room fell silent for a moment, the words hanging in the air.

"Look at the world?" Bo Chen repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "That’s it? No further explanation?"

"The world?" muttered Xu Zhi.

"Does Senior intend to gain enlightenment through worldly experiences? It’s not entirely unreasonable, but he’s too young to wander the world alone!" The head of the Discipline Court seemed to have thought of something but swallowed his words before continuing.

Bo Chen and the other elders exchanged glances.

What a joke.

Danger?

Of course, they knew Xiao Huzi's current state. Two years ago, Xiao Huzi had already reached the Titanium Will Stage.

With the strength of the Titanium Will Stage, he could defeat an army of thousands single-handedly. It might take time to eliminate such a force completely, but at the very least, he could escape unscathed.

In the absence of a Heavenly Ascension Stage cultivator, a Titanium Will Stage master could rule unrivaled in the world.

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Five months later

In the bustling heart of the Dao Zhu Dynasty’s capital, the Seven Heart Pavilion was alive with noise and energy. As the largest restaurant in the city, it brimmed with locals and travelers alike, all eager to savor its famed dishes or hear the latest gossip.

Bang!

On a raised platform in the center of the dining hall, a storyteller waved his arms dramatically, his voice rising and falling with theatrical flair.

"Eight years ago," the storyteller began, "a young child was accepted as Chief Disciple by the illustrious Iron Vein Sect, one of the three major sects of the Dao Zhu Dynasty!"

The audience leaned forward, hanging on his every word.

"They say he was born with innate wisdom, destined for greatness. On the day he was chosen, a golden figure of the Immortal appeared above the sect, its light healing illnesses for miles around!"

Gasps and murmurs filled the room.

"And now," the storyteller said, pausing for effect, "eight years later, that child has—"

"WHAT?!" an impatient listener shouted.

The storyteller chuckled, waving his fan coyly. "Come back tomorrow if you wish to know more."

Coins clattered onto the stage as frustrated patrons tossed silver and copper his way. "Keep talking!" someone demanded.

If you want a book to succeed, you must break it at the right place to spark readers’ curiosity. Otherwise, how can you make money?

The storyteller was obviously well aware of this. He collected the silver and coins on the platform before continuing his story.

"By now, that disciple should be over fourteen years old. He’s likely practicing martial arts in the Iron Vein Sect as we speak."

The storyteller unfolded a paper fan and shook his head as he spoke.

"What?"

Many guests couldn’t help but cry out in disappointment. They had been eager to hear about the amazing feats of the young prodigy, only to be met with such an anticlimactic revelation.

However, after thinking it over, they found it reasonable. What could a teenager accomplish, no matter how great their potential?

As for the strange phenomena the storyteller described, most assumed they were exaggerated tales designed to captivate the audience.

What no one in the restaurant noticed was a young boy in a black robe sitting quietly in a corner with a peculiar expression on his face.

"Am I this famous already?" Xiao Huzi shook his head slightly.

He didn’t find the attention surprising. The Iron Vein Sect was one of the three major sects of the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty, a sacred place for martial artists. Naturally, every move he made would attract attention from the outside world—especially since he had been accepted as a disciple by a master like Mu Yang.

With the elders and Sect Leader Bo Chen making no effort to suppress the news, it was only natural for rumors to spread and evolve into various versions over time.

Xiao Huzi enjoyed the delicacies of the Seven Heart Pavilion. After finishing his meal, he left some silver on the table and walked out.

On the streets paved with blue stone slabs, the bustling crowd and the shouts of vendors created a lively atmosphere. Xiao Huzi moved among them, blending in seamlessly.

He eventually arrived in a secluded area in the southwest corner of the city, where he rented a shop for three pieces of gold for an entire year.

After tidying up the shop, he moved in. Five months passed during which Xiao Huzi traveled the world, enjoying the beauty of nature. For the first time since arriving in this world, his heart and mind felt completely at ease, unburdened by worries.

During his travels, he deliberately suppressed his cultivation level and engaged in battles with monsters and martial artists alike. The outcome was always the same—he emerged victorious every time.

Initially, he found inspiration in fighting other martial artists, observing their techniques and approaches. However, this interest waned as he quickly realized that no one could truly challenge him.

Feeling uninspired by the lack of worthy opponents, Xiao Huzi decided it was time to attempt a breakthrough into the Heavenly Ascension Stage. He understood that reaching this realm required him to comprehend and establish a unique domain.

To achieve this, he resolved to immerse himself in the mundane world, experiencing its intricacies and drawing inspiration to craft a domain that reflected his own path.

The shop he had rented, tucked away from the main streets, was perfectly inconspicuous—a characteristic Xiao Huzi found ideal for his purposes. Xiao Huzi decided he would sell paintings.

The next morning, Xiao Huzi opened the shop’s door, cleaned it like an ordinary shopkeeper, and then sat at the table.

He unfurled a pristine white scroll, opened an ink bottle, and dipped his brush into the black ink.

A faint whisper reached his ears. It was so subtle that it could easily have been ignored if he hadn’t been focused. Concentrating his mind, Xiao Huzi listened carefully, and slowly, words formed in his mind.

He murmured softly, "Heaven and Earth are impartial;

They treat all creatures as straw dogs.

The sage, too, is impartial;

To him, the people are like straw dogs.

The space between Heaven and Earth

Is it not like a bellows?

Empty, yet never exhausted.

The more it moves, the more it yields.

As Xiao Huzi spoke these words, he felt a strange sensation—he both understood something profound and felt he understood nothing at all.

A few days ago, Xiao Huzi noticed a subtle but profound change within himself. He began to hear faint whispers in his ears. When he focused and listened carefully, he was astonished. The words he heard were profound and brimming with deep meaning.

Only after fully comprehending one set of whispers would another emerge, revealing even greater insights. This mysterious phenomenon was one of the reasons he chose to embrace a mundane life, seeking to understand the whispered truths while grounding himself in simplicity.

Clearing his mind of all distractions, Xiao Huzi picked up the brush and made the first stroke on the scroll, his thoughts completely blank and serene.

He began by sketching a hawk. Its form was bold and sharp, soaring proudly through the sky. Its talons were extended menacingly, while its wings spread wide as if to shroud the world beneath them. The hawk’s entire being radiated a fierce vitality, exuding both grace and death.

Beneath the hawk, Xiao Huzi painted a rabbit—a fragile creature oblivious to the predator above. Its eyes were filled with curiosity and life.

Nearby, he added a snake, slithering silently, biding its time. Surrounding the scene was lush vegetation, detailed down to the smallest leaf.

As Xiao Huzi painted, his mind immersed itself in the scene. The image was no longer mere ink and paper—it became alive in his consciousness.

The hawk’s screech echoed in his ears. He felt the rabbit’s fear, the snake’s hunger, and the wind buffeting the hawk’s wings. Each creature, with its desires and struggles, was bound by the same indifference of nature.

For hours, Xiao Huzi painted, carefully refining every detail. The hawk’s feathers glistened with a metallic sheen. The snake’s scales shimmered under imagined sunlight. The rabbit’s fur seemed to ripple with life, caught mid-leap.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, he added the final stroke to the scroll.

"Nature is indifferent," Xiao Huzi muttered, gazing at the cycle of life and death depicted in his painting. "It has no favorites, no enemies, no allies. It simply is."

"Mortals cling to importance, yet to the Tao, we are no different from straw dogs—temporary, fleeting, and ultimately part of a greater flow."

This realization struck him like a thunderbolt.

The heavens and earth, vast and boundless, were unconcerned with the struggles of mortals. Their forces moved unceasingly, like a bellows, breathing life and destruction without bias.

The more he meditated, the more his understanding deepened.

The Tao treated all things equally, whether the mightiest warrior or the humblest insect. It nourished all creatures and phenomena but held none in special regard.

The sage, seeking harmony with the Tao, mirrored the impartiality of Heaven and Earth. This impartiality didn’t imply unkindness or apathy—it reflected the ability to act without bias, attachment, or judgment. To treat people as "straw dogs" meant valuing them appropriately in the moment but not clinging to them or being overly swayed by their actions or opinions.