Zhou Baiwei really wanted to retort, but she forced herself to hold it in, her expression turning quite strange.
"What are you planning to do? The things that would catch your eye must be the secret arts of major schools and famous masters. Getting ahold of those legacies won't be easy. They're the lifeblood of each school. Even for a master who has achieved Body Ascension like you, they won't be taught so easily."
"The Special Security Bureau can help you contact some of the major schools, but you'd probably have to formally become a disciple—or at least go through the motions on the surface."
After adjusting her mindset slightly, Zhou Baiwei continued.
We're in the information age now. You can find diagrams of techniques from many schools with a simple online search, but those aren't the real deal.
The true core methods—the secret medicines, Breathing Techniques, Meditation, and True Intent—are still esoteric secrets. They are tightly held by each school and would never be shown to outsiders easily.
Many of the schools that possess these powerful secret arts have produced masters who achieved Body Ascension in the past. Their accumulated strength and societal influence over the years are immense.
Furthermore, Martial Artists have always been proud and unyielding. As the saying goes, "Poverty cannot sway, and power cannot bend." Even a master who has achieved Body Ascension can't just make them hand over their secret arts. To do so would ruin the school's reputation and be a disgrace to their ancestors.
Therefore, even though our Special Security Bureau oversees all Martial Arts Dao Cultivation in the country, we still have to negotiate these matters. We can't just decide with a single word.
"No need. That's too much trouble."
Yi Beidou shook his head, refusing.
'Join a school?'
'Even if it's just in name, it's bound to be a pile of trouble.'
'The entanglement of karma is difficult to unravel, even for one who has achieved Body Ascension.'
"That's already the fastest way. What else do you plan to do?"
Zhou Baiwei couldn't help but ask.
"You don't need to worry about that. I have my own methods."
Yi Beidou didn't elaborate.
When ordinary people learn Martial Arts, they must do so one technique at a time, practice their Breathing Techniques, and advance step by step. Each part of the process requires guidance from the correct secret teachings.
But Yi Beidou was different. He was a master who had already achieved Body Ascension. Moreover, he had cultivated the marvelous Free Heart Technique, developing his brain's functions to a degree that surpassed ordinary people beyond all measure.
He was like an Immortal descended to the mortal realm; learning the Martial Arts of mortals was naturally effortless for him.
The only thing he lacked was accumulation.
'Unwilling to teach?'
'No problem. I'll just fight them all once, and I'll learn it naturally.'
'Anyway, he was born a demon and had never been a good person. He had no intention of becoming a revered grandmaster.'
"Alright, I've already given you a lot of face today. Don't ask about anything else. It's the same as before: if you want a serious discussion, find someone who can speak to me as an equal."
Seeing that Zhou Baiwei wanted to say more, Yi Beidou waved his hand, cutting her off and leaving her words stuck in her throat. He then turned and walked back into the house.
'Damn it, this guy is so unreasonable!'
Zhou Baiwei gritted her teeth. If it were anyone else her age, who would dare speak to her like that? Even the young masters and ladies from the Beijing Circle had to be completely respectful when they saw her. Was there any one of them she hadn't beaten up?
But against Yi Beidou, she couldn't muster any fighting spirit at all. She felt like a little girl in front of him, only capable of pouting and acting cute, just like when she faced her own elders—those powerful figures in their seventies and eighties.
However, given his status, he was indeed entitled to act this way.
How could those young masters from the Capital City, who only relied on their ancestors' legacy, possibly compare to a living Human Immortal?
Even their parents' generation couldn't be compared to him.
Meanwhile, in the conference room, things were winding down. Many members of the Xu Family had reached tentative agreements with Xu Yao and taken their leave. They had all shown a degree of sincerity, but true cooperation couldn't be achieved in a short time.
They needed to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of Xu Yao, Yi Beidou, and that Zhou Baiwei before they could finalize anything.
As for Xu Guanren, the head of the first branch, he had disappeared after Yi Beidou left the conference room. He was likely planning to use all of his connections and resources to launch a counterattack.
But he would soon find out what it meant to throw an egg against a rock.
The number of people in the conference room dwindled until only the mother-daughter pair, Xu Yao and Xu Zifeng, remained. They looked at each other, a sense of unreality in their eyes.
The events of the day had been too surreal for them, surpassing their worldview and understanding.
CLICK!
Just then, a sound came from the doorway, and a handsome, middle-aged uncle with a bandaged hand walked into the conference room.
"Old Xiao! How are you doing?!"
Xu Yao quickly stood up. Earlier, once the situation had stabilized with Yi Beidou in control, Xiao Taoming had left the conference room to get his injuries treated.
"I'm okay. My bones and tendons were dislocated, but there's no permanent damage. It'll probably take a few months of rest to heal completely, though. I'm sorry, Ah Yao. I wasn't much help this time."
Xiao Taoming said apologetically.
"Why be so formal between us?"
Xu Yao gently stroked Xiao Taoming's bandaged arm, her eyes filled with heartache.
"Mom, Uncle Xiao, when are you two getting married?"
Just then, Xu Zifeng, who couldn't stand watching their affectionate display, suddenly blurted out. The two of them instantly separated as if shocked, both of them blushing beet red.
"You brat, you and your big mouth!"
Annoyed and embarrassed, Xu Yao smacked Xu Zifeng on the head. Then, her expression became serious as she looked at Xiao Taoming.
"Old Xiao, what exactly is going on with my Beidou?"
Xu Yao asked in a low voice.
At the mention of this topic, Xiao Taoming's expression became extremely strange.
It was a mix of disbelief, intense reverence, longing, admiration, and awe.
"Your family's... I don't even know how to put it. You've heard of the Human Immortals, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas of ancient times, right?"
"Those legendary figures were probably on his level. Body Ascension, an enlightened master of the Dao, a rarity in this world. Perhaps he's the reincarnation of some great sage who was reborn into your Xu Family, endured twenty years of trials, and achieved success in a single day?"
Xiao Taoming chose his words carefully before finally speaking.
He had met Yi Beidou before, but had only thought he seemed a bit dazed due to his supposed autism. He was tall and well-built, but there was nothing else unusual about him.
'Thinking back now, the so-called autism must have been an Immortal's trial.'
'A Fallen Immortal cast down to the mortal world, succeeding in his trial and recasting his Golden Body. The ancient Myths weren't just baseless rumors.'
Hearing Xiao Taoming's words, Xu Yao and Xu Zifeng were speechless for a moment.
Every parent hopes for their child to succeed. In an ordinary family, some hope their child becomes a doctor, others a lawyer. Even in wealthy families, they might only hope for their child to become a great politician, artist, or entrepreneur. But who would dare hope for their child to become an Immortal or a Bodhisattva?
They would need some time to accept this reality.
Just then, footsteps were heard at the door, and Yi Beidou walked into the conference room.
"Beidou, all the branches of the Xu Family have now expressed their willingness to support us, to consolidate and cooperate more deeply. This is a great opportunity, especially with you here to back us up. What do you think the company should do to develop in the future…?"
Xu Yao asked Yi Beidou cautiously after some deliberation. Her tone and attitude were completely different from the casual way she had previously treated her junior.
Xu Zifeng opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
What Yi Beidou had done today, especially the image of him killing a man with a single palm strike as if squashing an ant, was still deeply seared into her mind. It made her understand that the person standing before her was no longer the relative she once knew. Even her own mother was treating him with unprecedented gravity.
Sensing the subtle change in their attitudes, Yi Beidou's expression remained as tranquil as an old well. This was something he had long expected.
As one's status changes, so do personal relationships—sometimes even souring because of it.
There is a divide between Immortals and mortals. That is why the first thing a Cultivator must do is sever their emotional ties.
Yi Beidou, however, didn't mind. He did as he pleased.
"Aunt, I don't concern myself with worldly affairs, so you don't need to tell me these things. With my protection, as long as I don't perish, the family business can sail smoothly. But you should also understand that 'what is full must overflow' and 'going too far is as bad as not going far enough.' You must act with a steady hand. Do not forget righteousness for the sake of profit or advance blindly. As the company develops, it must give back to society. The strength of the collective is the true path to success. Otherwise, no matter how much money you make, it will all be for nothing."
"Most importantly, you must restrain the members of the family. They are not to use my name to commit evil. If I find out they have, I will personally take action and clean house."
Yi Beidou had no intention of severing his family ties. As long as he was alive, he was confident he could protect them all.
Besides, of the four great elements—wealth, location, technique, and companionship—one could not go anywhere in the world without wealth. This could be considered mutually beneficial.
"I understand."
Xu Yao nodded solemnly.
"Alright, Aunt. Business here is concluded. I have my own things to do, so I'll be taking my leave now. If you need anything in the future, you can call me."
Yi Beidou said, and then everyone felt a gentle breeze sweep through the conference room. Like a puff of smoke, Yi Beidou had vanished.
At that moment, Xu Yao and Xu Zifeng understood more profoundly what Xiao Taoming had meant by "Immortal" and "Bodhisattva."
"I wonder what a person like my cousin is planning to do?"
Xu Zifeng couldn't help but murmur.
"How can you and I possibly fathom the plans of such a being?"
Xiao Taoming sighed.