Ji Jingqiu carefully remembered the teachings.
He had previously felt that this visualization map was certainly extraordinary, and revealing it would bring trouble to both himself and Elder Mu.
The map that Li Buyi discovered last time is now hidden in the crevice between the bed and the wall.
"Elder Mu, do you want me to bring you that visualization map tomorrow?"
"No need, since you've already comprehended it, it's of no use now, burn it when you get home."
Elder Mu shook his head, the words "Why is that" echoing in his mind.
"Alright." Ji Jingqiu nodded, "By the way, Elder Mu, do you study genetic engineering?"
"Hmm, what about it?"
Ji Jingqiu explained his situation and concerns.
"Gene enhancer?" Elder Mu's eyebrows instantly furrowed, "You dare to touch that stuff? Aren't you afraid... You're not afraid."
His furrowed brows suddenly relaxed and even lifted a bit, as he exclaimed:
"You kid really are talented, coming up with such a method?"
"But still, you need to be cautious, the biggest challenge in genetic engineering is the 'uncontrollability', not from internal factors, but from external environmental influences."
"There's something you might not have heard of. Before gene editing was marketed, it went through at least thirty years of long-term testing, with no issues during that period, but twenty years after going to market, it exploded like a bomb."
Ji Jingqiu was shocked, he indeed had not found this information online.
Over a hundred years ago, after the explosion of genetic engineering, all the legislators, media, public figures who had advocated for gene editing... were almost all thrown into prison, various so-called scandals were rampant, already indistinguishable between truth and lies.
"What external environmental factors?"
"If this old man could find the answer, I'd be this year's recipient of the Federation Nebula Award."
Elder Mu glanced at him, then suddenly asked: "What does the Bodhi Tree you planted look like, and what is the Wisdom Light like?"
Ji Jingqiu paused, puzzled: "What Bodhi Tree?"
Elder Mu's body stiffened, then quickly returned to his calm and indifferent demeanor.
He nodded, walked to one side, and said calmly with some praise:
"Very good, I was just testing your resolve. Remember, don't tell anyone!"
"Come here, I'll do a simple physical examination for you, the institutes of sun and moon can't match my precision."
While Ji Jingqiu was arranging himself into the equipment.
Mei came over, saw Elder Mu standing there lost in thought, and teased:
"What's the matter, were you shocked by Ji Jingqiu's extraordinary talent?"
Only to hear Elder Mu mutter utterly disoriented,
"In my ancestral days, they foresaw the myriad beings of heaven and earth..."
Hearing the old man ramble on about his ancestors' glorious history again, Mei felt her ears practically grow calluses, interrupted and said:
"Stop! I wanted to ask earlier, is it possible your Mu family has been training in reverse order?"
Elder Mu instantly furrowed his brows coldly and said, "You may look down on the unworthy descendants of the Mu family over the millennia, but do you still see the three Supreme Grandmasters of my Mu family in your eyes?"
Mei blinked, seeming to have misspoken, forgive me, forgive me.
"Training in reverse? Reverse it and try training yourself!" Elder Mu scoffed coldly, "Seeing Bodhi, illuminating the Supreme Wisdom Light, were things that even the three great Grandmaster ancestors of my Mu family lusted after but couldn't attain; you think they haven't tried every method?"
Mei suddenly said: "Is it because he survived the Evil Poison Disease, the Realm of Ten Thousand Tribulations you mentioned last time?"
Elder Mu nodded, then shook his head:
"That's one of the 'causes', but it's not the root cause."
"You think, in our family history, no one thought about enduring countless tribulations before trying to comprehend this map? Every single one tried, all to no avail."
"Then they haven't endured enough." Mei shrugged, "Otherwise, what do you think is the reason?"
"It's about choice, and more so about 'fortune', a fortune where heaven and earth unite in effort!" Elder Mu stated gravely.
"Whose choice?" Mei looked puzzled, "Fortune, isn't that just vague rumors?"
"Rumors?" Elder Mu scoffed, "Didn't you once aspire to the title of Martial Artist? Tell me, how many titles are there in a generation?"
"How many Founding Marshals does the Federation have?"
"…What does that have to do with this?"
Mei frowned, feeling that the old man was making fun of her.
"Why not?" Elder Mu sneered coldly, "Do you think these seven titles are randomly chosen, just randomly established?"
"Talk about fortune, it's more like an invisible Martial Arts legacy, stemming from the seven who opened paths for the world!"
Otherwise, why do you think even people from the Six Great Families opt to press their luck and wait to compete for the title?"
Mei frowned, her tone slightly annoyed:
"I've always thought this title system is stupid.
Every twenty years a generation, every twenty years a fight for the title, yet they specifically restrict the age to no more than 25 years old.
Some people were too young in the previous generation, and overage in the next, how can they compete?"
She herself had faced this situation, wanting to compete, and having the ability to compete, yet she was just over the age by one year!
Elder Mu dismissively said: "It's all about fate and luck, if your luck is bad, what fate can you speak of?"
Mei was at a loss for words from his retort.
She was unconvinced and said: "Then what about Ji Jingqiu's luck? If he wants to compete for the title this generation, he doesn't have many years left."
Elder Mu looked at her as if she was a fool and said gruffly:
"That guy probably has such bad luck that it hit rock bottom and bounced back!
So, since he met me this year, his fortunes have turned, and he's begun his comeback!"
Only then did Mei realize.
Asking whether a young man who has suffered from Evil Poison Disease since childhood has good luck...
That was obviously a foolish question.
"Then you just mentioned fate!"
Mei still felt that the old man was making fun of her.
"You don't understand," Elder Mu murmured, "Not only did he realize Bodhi, but he also saw the manifestation of an ancestor in the Spirit Ocean, that's the key point…"
Mei suddenly shivered: "Elder Mu, I remember there were rumors that your ancestor, once awakened, is still hidden in some corner of the world, meditating daily and waiting for someone?"
Elder Mu fell silent.
This was exactly the possibility he had considered previously, although it was absurdly incredible, it was not necessarily impossible.
If that were true, then Ji Jingqiu would be the one chosen by the ancestor.
He would be what's known as the 'destined one.'
Since the ancestor of the Mu Family, the third Supreme Grandmaster during his lifetime also advanced the Fire House Buddha Hell Visualization Map to the Realm of Ten Thousand Tribulations.
However, in the end, he still failed to realize Bodhi and activate the Wisdom Light.
"Are you planning on notifying the Mu Family?" Mei asked.
She knew very well about the deep rift between Elder Mu and his family; otherwise, he would not have left for so many years without any contact.
Elder Mu was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "No, not notifying. Even if we should, it shouldn't be now, at least wait until he breaks through the Heart Image Realm."
"What's the matter, do you want him to help you avenge, or are you afraid that he will be harmed by the Mu Family?"
Elder Mu responded without hesitation,
"Today's Mu Family is a mix of good and evil, their loyalty has long since scattered.
If they discover that an outsider has realized Bodhi and activated the Wisdom Light once controlled by the ancestor, I can't predict what they might do.
So this matter mustn't be made public!"
Mei shrugged: "You're the boss, whatever you say goes."
Elder Mu suddenly spoke: "Don't you have some spare cash recently? How about you invest in him."
"Ha, you want me to invest in this kid?"
Mei instantly became cautious,
"What are you, old man, eyeing my wallet now?
Wait, are you trying to tie me to this kid's chariot?"
Elder Mu spoke expressionlessly:
"A youngster who has embarked on the Supreme Heavenly Path, suspected to be appointed by my family's ancestor, isn't he worth your investment?"
"Aren't you going to heavily invest now while it's still in initial shares, rather than waiting until someone with keen insight snatches him away?"
At these words, Mei became instantly conflicted.
Seeing her still hesitating.
"I remember, didn't the master of Yang Yan Martial Arts Hall send you a lot of messages not long ago, inquiring about this kid's specific situation?"
"It seems someone has already noticed some kind of potential in this kid…"