Ji Jue was stunned.

"Just wait?"

"You can try to prepare yourself."

Tong Ting's expression turned serious: "But remember, besides this, the more you do, the more mistakes you make, especially don't try to resist.

You know the prophecy's self-fulfillment, right? Many people try to avoid or change a prophecy, only to end up actively causing its realization.

Moreover, foretelling dreams often miss the mark, nine times out of ten; the more you delve into them, the more you're likely to get stuck in a rut.

Even someone like Old Deng, an Ether Heavenly Person, wouldn't actively seek glimpses of the future, whether seeing it clearly or wrongly, it only leads to self-disturbance that is hard to extricate from."

So, let things unfold naturally.

Of course, the most important thing is...

"...there's no use in rushing, right?"

Tong Ting shrugged: "I see you thriving in the Taiyi Ring, not like someone who'd switch sites and come to our ether side.

Moreover..."

He paused for a moment, sympathetically looking at the young man before him: "How do you know, this isn't yet another trial and tempering descended by the Embers?"

The Embers are brutal, indifferent to the ordinary.

The trinity of Blood of the Melting Furnace, Unquenchable Firewood, and Heavenly Gifted Spirit is precious and rare because it's almost a sacrifice using the craftsman himself as a tribute, imploring the Embers to bestow Heavenly Fate's Work.

Thus, suffering is constant.

Thus, tempering is endless...

The path of the craftsman is fraught with thorns and obstacles, seeking such a blessing is akin to voluntarily escalating the difficulty, courting trouble.

In this process, those ordinary and reckless will naturally vanish into ashes, but even the rarest good materials will still endure hardships.

Upon hearing this, Ji Jue fell silent.

A soft sigh.

Yet that expression seemed not like fatigue or resignation, but rather... a certain calmness and serenity long accustomed to, even seemingly relieved after Tong Ting's reminder.

So at ease.

Oh, it's the Embers, should've said so earlier, I thought Zhi Fu was coming to steal my eggs!

In the brief silence, Tong Ting silently sighed.

Indeed, it's the Chosen One's call...

"Besides, today's visit has another matter for which I'd shamelessly ask for your help."

Ji Jue bowed his head in plea: "Please lend a hand without reservation."

For a moment, Tong Ting was astonished, not expecting such a gesture, instinctively straightening up, solemnly awaiting: "Go ahead, don't worry, we still have some savings at home, there's no need for formality."

"Ah?"

Ji Jue was stunned, realizing he seemed misunderstood: "No, I just wanted to ask about some techniques and issues with the Ether Path."

"..."

Tong Ting's expression twitched involuntarily.

Couldn't hold it together.

Getting so formal, specially visiting, even bringing two chickens, humbly bowing in plea... I thought you were going to kill Xu Chaoxian!

You're calling everyone together for this?!

"What is it?" Ji Jue was puzzled.

"No, it's nothing, just go ahead."

Tong Ting sighed lightly in his heart.

For this matter... why not just go find Hui Hao directly? Though her foundation is slightly weak, she can guide you into the basics, and moreover, she knows somewhat about the Tong family's matters.

Oh, it's that clumsy one who sent you, that's alright then.

Tong Ting thought of this, his fists hardened, finally understanding the mixed feelings of second brother Shengnian: Given the chance, you're useless!!!

Still need to rely on the elder uncle to lead you...

After pondering, his fighting spirit soared, rolling up his sleeves.

Just answering questions and solving problems.

If you say the essence of Embers, I might not know, but on the Ether Path, can I, a true heir of ether, not guide you?

Ten minutes later, Tong Ting fell silent.

Damn.

Might really be unable to guide.

.

The key issue lies with Chun Jun.

Ji Jue's understanding of the Ether Path isn't deep; among the Twelve Superior, he's considered dragging behind... mainly because the ether affinity isn't that great.

Moreover, having killed insufficient ether, resulting in his Heart Core and Mirror being higher than ether!

No way around it, can't go to the Tong family door saying, lend me your head, can I?

In comparison, the comprehension and understanding of the Ascension Essence are ranked forefront among the Superiors, one could say second only to the Great Group apart from his primary Embers... No way, the Great Group has killed so many.

And Chun Jun, as a Ye Family inheritance refined and improved over millennia, spanning Ascension and ether, mixing essences, combining strengths of both.

Even if all designs, methods, essences, and natures were laid before Ji Jue, learning them would still be daunting.

So much so that after trying over two hundred swords, none could verify completion.

He hasn't gone without asking the teacher.

In response, Ye Xian remained silent, merely sipping tea, glancing at his crying face — this is just the beginning, Hai Xiang Mirror is given to you, Han Xiang Chapter and Sword Talk, not even a single word has a discount, just following the drawings.

You understand the logic, you comprehend the principle...

Can't solve it, then try yourself, what, without a teacher, do you stop being a craftsman?

Torment?

Torment is normal, this is the pain and temper a craftsman should endure, not just now, but from now on, such pain will accompany you for a lifetime...

This is only the first time.

If you truly want to seek answers, that's fine. When you are desperate with misery and even want to give up on the path of craftsmanship, come to find me then.

Other than that, you must explore and complete everything about Chun Jun yourself.

Just like that, Ji Jue's ever-expanding ego was lightly challenged with a bit of difficulty, and he ran into a complete fiasco by himself.

After over two hundred attempts, Ji Jue could already be certain that his technique, timing, and operation were undoubtedly flawless.

Therefore, the problem could only lie in the mindset and understanding.

"During my refining, oh, don't mind these terms... My final conclusion is that the spiritual essence in the Ascension Series' endless purification and the ether's transformation are disconnected, causing contradiction and conflict, resulting in insufficient purification."

Ji Jue asked, "My abilities are indeed limited. After repeated attempts to no avail, I'd like to ask, how can I obtain the most pure and blank record to carry the spiritual essence's ascension?"

"... "

Tong Ting was dumbfounded for a long time, "Huh?"

"I mean..." Ji Jue repeated his words.

Tong Ting remained silent, his expression gradually serious. On one hand, most of the Embers' jargon was hard to understand; on the other hand, he finally understood Ji Jue's ether-related needs.

He needs an absolutely pure recording medium to cooperate with the spiritual essence's ascension and transformation.

"Impossible."

Tong Ting shook his head decisively, "From a realistic standpoint, for you and me, a purely blank record doesn't exist."

"Huh?"

Ji Jue was dumbfounded.

To know, recording is something that, for the ether, is akin to paper, easily crafted, freely created. How could even a blank sheet of paper not exist?

"You may not understand the ether's conditions, but you are a craftsman, so let me ask you—" Tong Ting inquired: "Does the Wise Stone you pursue exist?"

"Of course..."

Ji Jue fell silent even before finishing his sentence.

Wise Stone, an absolutely pure spiritual essence, the ultimate realm of purification, the theoretically flawless base of spiritual essence.

Has it ever existed?

Humans can only infinitely approach purity, just as the Chosen One can infinitely close in on the Superior, but can never reach the 'absolute' level.

"Right? You can infinitely approach that level, but can never say it is absolutely pure. Sometimes the term 'absolute' represents nothingness.

This applies to the Ether Path as well."

Tong Ting slowly began speaking: "The Ether Path indeed covers a wide range, with many applications, but inherently it's about observing, invoking, interpreting, even rewriting history or records.

Simply put — what has existed will inevitably exist again, what has been done will inevitably be done again.

[There is nothing new under the sun]"

"Do you know what's the most critical for the Ether Chosen One?"

Speaking, he picked up a mangosteen from the fruit plate on the table, lifted it, and slowly brought it to Ji Jue's eyes, "At this moment, what are you doing?"

"Observing?" Ji Jue asked.

Tong Ting nodded, "And then?"

"... Understanding?"

"But what about after observing and before understanding?"

Tong Ting laughed, "You need to understand in your heart what you are seeing... Tell me, what did you see, Ji Jue?"

Such solemn yet mysterious appearance made Ji Jue lose confidence.

"Mangosteen?"

"Very good." Tong Ting nodded affirmatively, telling him: "At this moment, you've already entered the Ether Path's threshold."

"... "

Old Deng, are you kidding me?

Ji Jue looked at him dumbfounded, confused, frowning, pondering carefully. While Tong Ting let him think slowly and peeled the mangosteen to eat.

Until a long time later, Ji Jue's expression subtly changed, he finally understood what Tong Ting referred to.

"You're saying— 'Naming'?"

Damn!

Tong Ting's movement paused.

He looked up, his expression transformed, displaying a sense of regret and pain similar to missing out on a five-million lottery, even lament.

He is indeed a good material.

Just a hint and he gets it...

Damn, how did Embers get a hold of him?

No, ether, at least show some strength! What are you thinking!

Back then, if you even showed a sign, I would have faced the Taiyi Ring, Desert Market, and Security Bureau to bring him back at all costs!

"That's right."

Tong Ting chuckled in self-deprecation, nodding in affirmation.

One true phrase is worth a thousand volumes, perhaps a thousand volumes stem from it, but the truly crucial core remains the genuine essence.

[Name].

This is the focal point of the Ether Path, the key among keys, at times even more important than [Observe] and [Understand].

What the ether eye sees is endless phenomena, yet the ability to accurately encapsulate and grasp the essence from endless threads, to sharply discern the one grain different in a sea of endless sand, is most important.

To discover the key and important point in an instant, using the most precise way to encapsulate, even name it, ultimately locking onto it.

This forms the base of all interventions.

Everyone has eyes, everyone can train to [Observe]; bound threads, nine generations can [Understand], but without a [Name], the foundation for all Ether Path operations doesn't exist.

Once named, even amidst countless similar creations in the mortal world, one can effortlessly pinpoint the direction and phenomena they need.

If unnamed, who can differentiate between Ji Jue and a dog?

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