Chapter 52 – The most suitable path
Amidst the crowd.
The heated discussion was overwhelming.
Jiang Shuyan's face was flushed, her body at the end of its strength, yet she burst forth with an unusual and powerful force, breaking free from Lin Hao's control, and struck out in anger!
But having exhausted her spiritual energy, her moves, though fierce, lacked endurance.
In just a few moves, Lin Hao subdued her completely once again.
"Lin Hao wins!" the referee elder announced.
"Is it over just like that?"
The cultivators below the stage were incredulous. They had always thought that Fairy Shuyan had the upper hand, and that Lin Hao, this so-called demon, would end up a pile of rotten flesh.
But the result left them greatly disappointed.
"This guy is truly shameless. Winning is one thing, but to sully Fairy Shuyan's purity, he's no gentleman!"
"He's a scoundrel by nature, why would he care about others' opinions?"
"Fairy Shuyan is truly pitiful, losing the match and being taken advantage of, sigh..."
"I really can't understand how Lin Hao could improve his cultivation so quickly. I remember half a year ago, he was just a low-level cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining."
This remark shifted everyone's attention to Lin Hao's cultivation level, leaving them shocked and curious.
"Could he be an unprecedented genius?"
"Heh, you don't know, do you!"
"Lin Hao's current achievements are due to dual cultivation, stealing Primordial Yin!"
A short, stout cultivator with a bulbous nose spoke incessantly.
"If it weren't for those lowly female cultivators dual cultivating with him, how could someone with mediocre talent reach the late Foundation Establishment stage?"
Those who heard were all astonished.
"Fellow Daoist, what you're saying is nonsense. Lin Hao was punished to stay in the Demon Lock Tower, he couldn't leave, so how could he have women to dual cultivate with?"
The short, stout cultivator smirked slyly, lowering his voice, "You'd never guess.
Lin Hao had a lover in the outer sect, someone named Cui Qing'er, who acted as a go-between, allowing beautiful female cultivators to frequently visit the Demon Lock Tower."
The short, stout cultivator had a knack for storytelling, pausing at the crucial moments.
The audience, their curiosity piqued, couldn't help but urge him on, "But even with dual cultivation techniques, his cultivation shouldn't improve so quickly."
The short, stout cultivator squinted his small eyes, chuckling strangely, "Your knowledge is too shallow. The dual cultivation technique Lin Hao practices is clearly different from those recorded in the Sutra Pavilion. I suspect his technique originates from the Hehuan Sect."
"The Hehuan Sect?"
Everyone began to discuss.
The Hehuan Sect, both righteous and evil, followed a doctrine of inclusivity and did not interfere with the growth of its disciples.
The result of such wild growth was that the disciples of the Hehuan Sect were hard to distinguish between good and evil, capable of helping others in times of need, but also of forcibly seizing rogue cultivators for dual cultivation.
However, as the name suggests, the Hehuan Sect ultimately focused on the concept of joy and harmony.
For male cultivators, this was something to yearn for, while female cultivators shuddered at the thought.
Upon hearing this, the surrounding female disciples immediately categorized Lin Hao as a demonic cultivator, marking him as dangerous.
"Lin Hao practices demonic techniques, this must be reported to the sect for punishment to uphold the sect's integrity!"
"Indeed, demonic scoundrels must be eradicated!"
The short, stout cultivator shook his head, calmly saying, "Your thinking is too naive.
The sect has no rule prohibiting disciples from practicing dual cultivation techniques!"
"But he's clearly a demonic cultivator, if he's not punished, everyone will follow suit, and the sect will fall into chaos."
The short, stout cultivator retorted, "Lin Hao didn't force those female cultivators to indulge with him. Even if the sect wanted to punish him, they lack evidence."
"We can find the female cultivators who dual cultivated with Lin Hao and have them testify against him to ensure he receives the punishment he deserves."
Hearing the discussions, Jiang Shuyan felt a mix of emotions, knowing exactly how Lin Hao's cultivation had advanced.
The short, stout cultivator was only half right. Lin Hao's dual cultivation technique was indeed extraordinary, but not to the point of turning decay into magic. The real mystery lay in his physique.
Whatever his physique was, it perfectly complemented the dual cultivation technique. If Lin Hao were in the Hehuan Sect, he would thrive like a fish in water.
As for those cultivators wanting Lin Hao to be punished by the sect, it was impossible.
Because she knew that the female cultivators who dual cultivated with Lin Hao all benefited from it and naturally wouldn't testify against their benefactor.
Moreover, it concerned their reputations. Although cultivators shouldn't be burdened by fame, seeking an outstanding Dao Companion still required attention to one's reputation.
The competition reached the third round, and the remaining disciples were the elites of each peak, drawing the attention of the peak masters.
Lin Hao's decisive victory over Jiang Shuyan left the Ethereal Peak master displeased.
Although Jiang Shuyan wasn't his disciple, she was a direct disciple, and losing to someone he considered a nobody was a blow to his pride.
With a flick of his robe, he left.
Feng Cangyue said nothing, disdaining to mock others.
Murong Qinxue couldn't help but speak, "Didn't you always claim Ethereal Peak was the best of the five peaks? How is it that a direct disciple trained for three years is no match for a newly promoted direct disciple of Great Bamboo Peak?"
Hmph!
The Ethereal Peak master snorted heavily. Among the peak masters, his cultivation was the highest, and he had a fiery temper, only Murong dared to provoke him.
In the past, he would retort, but eventually realized he always ended up at a disadvantage, so he stopped arguing.
"Senior Sister Feng, I'm standing up for your Great Bamboo Peak, shouldn't you thank me?"
"You chose to do it yourself," Feng Cangyue replied coldly.
She had no interest in bickering with Murong Qinxue, her mind occupied with pondering why her young disciple's cultivation progressed so rapidly, even faster than her senior disciple.
Her senior disciple possessed the rare Nine Yang Physique, naturally attuned to Fire Spiritual Energy, and progressed rapidly in fire attribute techniques.
From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, it took only a year and a half, a true prodigy.
Yet compared to Lin Hao, still a step behind.
Could it be this boy...
"Senior Sister Feng, your precious disciple's rapid progress suggests he's on the wrong path. If he were with my Little Bamboo Peak, he wouldn't..." Murong Qinxue raised her eyebrows.
In truth, what Murong Qinxue said was exactly what Feng Cangyue was thinking.
But she wouldn't let others criticize her disciple, retorting, "Your teaching skills leave much to be desired, flower thief..."
"Besides, who says that's necessarily the wrong path.
There are three thousand paths to immortality, and only by finding the one that suits you can you go further on the path of cultivation.
His rapid breakthroughs and superior combat power to peers show that it's the path most suited to him!"