It has been nearly nine years since Ling Xian first started his cultivation journey at 14. This amount of time isn't considered long, but it's not considered short neither.
Back then, he was a mortal who couldn't cultivate. To some people, he was even considered a handicap. Luckily, he coincidentally encountered the Painting of the Nine Immortals, which helped him jump start his journey. Then, he began his journey courageously and bravely until he became the completion levelled cultivator today!
Though the glory he has today is very much interlinked with his natural talent, it is also the result of his hard work. If he didn't train very hard and pay with sweat and blood, how could he have achieved everything he has today?