For cultivators, spiritual wisdom and talent were equally important.
Most people thought that spiritual wisdom was an inherent gift. If one was smart, he would be smart; if one was foolish, he would be foolish. Between the two lied a heavenly moat.
Nonetheless, this was not the truth. Buddha had left behind Buddhist doctrines while Daoists had moralistic proverbs. Scriptures, as well as works of philosophers and One Hundred Saints, also existed. If one truly understood the meaning of these scriptures, even foolish living creatures could obtain spiritual wisdom.
Talent can be destroyed but spiritual wisdom cannot be lost.
Not many managed to gain enlightenment solely through the use of these scriptures. However, if there were figures like Huike who could lecture such sophisticated content with simplicity, it would be different.