45: Chapter 45 The Turning Point

The chill of late autumn had permeated Emerald Bamboo Peak.

Most of the bamboo leaves had withered and turned yellow; with a gust of wind, they rustled down, covering the bluestone path in a thick layer.

The morning frost was even heavier, and small icicles hung from the eaves, glinting with a cold light in the rising sun.

Lin Xuan walked out of the Quiet Room, the white vapor from his breath condensing into a mist. He stretched his limbs, his bones emitting a slight crackling sound.

Four months had passed since his return from Cloud Mist Valley.

Over these four months, his cultivation had steadily improved. Thunder Flash Step, Palm Thunder, and Thunder Whip Technique had become increasingly proficient, and the "residents" within the Spirit-Taming Tower Space had also made their own progress.

However, recently, beyond his Cultivate, he felt a vague sense of inadequacy.

His means were still too singular.

Although his lightning Spells were powerful, their attributes were single-minded. If he encountered opponents with high lightning resistance or special environments, he would be restrained.

While the startling thunder whip was good, it was ultimately a close-combat weapon, lacking flexible responses for mid-to-long ranges. His beast taming was even more of a trump card that could not be easily exposed.

"I should learn some basic Spells of other attributes," Lin Xuan decided. "I don't need to master them; I just need to cover my shortcomings to handle complex situations."

In the afternoon, he came to the Dharma Transmission Pavilion again.

The One-armed Elder was still curled up in the bamboo chair. Seeing Lin Xuan enter, he raised his eyelids: "It's you again. What do you want to learn this time?"

"Senior, this Disciple wishes to exchange for the Jade Slips of 'Earth Escape Technique' and 'Fireball Technique'," Lin Xuan said respectfully.

The old man raised his eyebrows: "Earth Escape Technique is for saving one's life and running away, and Fireball Technique is the most basic attack Spell. You, a Thunder Cultivator, why learn these?"

"This Disciple's cultivation is still shallow, and my methods are singular. I want to learn more basics just in case," Lin Xuan replied truthfully.

The old man stared at him for a few moments, then suddenly laughed, revealing his toothless gums: "Kid, you are quite pragmatic. Unlike some Disciples who fixate on the few Spells of their main attribute, only knowing to turn back after hitting a wall."

He fished a black stone plate from the side of the lounge chair: "Earth Escape Technique and Fireball Technique are in the second cabinet of the first floor. Go in and get the Jade Slips yourself; I will remove the Restriction when you come out."

"Thank you, Senior."

Lin Xuan walked into the pavilion and quickly found the two Jade Slips. The old man removed the Restriction for him.

Carrying the two new Jade Slips, Lin Xuan returned to the mountain stream valley and began to experiment.

The 'Earth Escape Technique' was indeed difficult. He wrapped his body with spiritual energy and attempted to sink into the ground.

The result was that he got stuck after sinking only half a foot; the surrounding soil felt like glue, incredibly sluggish. When he struggled to get out, he was covered in dirt, looking utterly disheveled.

But he was not discouraged and tried again and again.

By the afternoon of the third day, he could barely sink three feet underground and move about a zhang in distance at a turtle's pace. Although slow and shallow, it might save his life at a critical moment.

The 'Fireball Technique' went relatively smoother. Thunder Spiritual Energy was violent, but after converting it into fire spiritual energy, it was easier to condense. It was just that the loss during the conversion process meant the final fireball only had 70-80% of the power of a normal Qi Refining Level 2 Cultivator, and the color was a dark red, not condensed enough.

But this was enough. The purpose of the Fireball Technique was more for igniting, driving away, creating chaos, or dealing with wood-attribute monster plants or insects that feared fire, rather than being a primary killing method.

During practice, Lin Xuan also discovered an interesting thing.

Because of his long-term practice of the 'Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art' and enduring the lightning Body Tempering, his Physical Body strength seemed to far exceed that of Cultivators at the same level.

Once, when he failed to perform the Earth Escape Technique, he fell from a half-zhang high slope and hit his back against a protruding rock.

He thought it would be excruciatingly painful, but he only let out a muffled groan. When he rolled over and looked, his clothes on his back were torn, but there were only a few faint white marks on his skin, not even breaking the skin.

He specifically tested it. He used ordinary force to whip his arm with a tree branch, leaving only red marks; he punched the bluestone hard, and his finger bones ached slightly, but there was no damage.

"Is this the effect of lightning Body Tempering?" Lin Xuan looked at his palms, which looked unremarkable, and felt shocked in his heart.

He had always known that the 'Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art' had a Body Tempering effect, but he didn't expect the effect to be so significant.

This was only at Qi Refining Level 2. If he cultivated to a higher level, how strong would his Physical Body become?

A thought took root and sprouted in his heart like a seed.

"Dual Cultivation of Law and Body..."

If he could use Body Refining techniques to make up for his close-combat shortcomings, combined with the mid-to-long-range lethality of lightning Spells and strange movement techniques, and supplemented by various means of beast taming...

His combat system would be more three-dimensional and harder to deal with.

This idea made his heart race. But Dual Cultivation of Law and Body meant more resource investment and a harder path of cultivation. He needed to be cautious.

Just on the fifth day when Lin Xuan was pondering the possibility of Dual Cultivation of Law and Body, a sudden piece of news, like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, exploded throughout Emerald Bamboo Peak.

In the morning, Lin Xuan had just finished his cultivation and was preparing to go on duty in the medicinal garden when the courtyard gate was "banged" open by Chen Hao.

"Lin Xuan! Something big has happened!" Chen Hao's face was flushed, not knowing if it was out of anger or anxiety, "The Outer Sect competition has been cancelled! Cancelled just like that!"

Lin Xuan was stunned: "Cancelled? Isn't there still three months left?"

"Who knows what the higher-ups are thinking!" Chen Hao punched the stone table in the courtyard, "I just came out of the Mission Hall, and the announcement has already been posted! 'Cancelled for reasons, postponed indefinitely'! Just these few words! We bottom-layer Disciples have been looking forward to this opportunity for so long, and it's just gone!"

He became more agitated as he spoke: "I've asked around, other peaks are the same! All Outer Sect competitions have been cancelled! Isn't this just playing with people? I was counting on the competition to earn contribution points to exchange for a Magical Artifact!"

Lin Xuan's brows were locked tightly. The Sect suddenly cancelled an important competition, there must be a reason. And it affected all Outer Sects, it was definitely not a small matter.

"Don't be anxious, I'll go ask around." He pacified Chen Hao, already having a plan in mind.

He did not go to the Mission Hall to see the announcement, but went straight to the Qinglin Valley medicinal garden — Deacon Wu might have more accurate information.

The atmosphere in the medicinal garden was also somewhat unusual. Zhao Ming, Qian Xiaohu, and Sun Yun were gathered together whispering. Seeing Lin Xuan come, they quickly beckoned.

"Senior Brother Lin, have you heard? The competition has been cancelled!" Zhao Ming lowered his voice.

"I've heard, but I don't know the reason," Lin Xuan said.

"I heard from a Senior Brother from Sharp Metal Peak," Sun Yun whispered, "It seems something happened at the border, and the Sect has transferred a lot of manpower there."

Just as they were talking, Deacon Wu walked out of the bamboo house with his hands behind his back, his expression more serious than usual. He glanced at the four people gathered together and said in a deep voice: "What are you all gathering here for? Go do what you need to do."

Zhao Ming and the other two shrank their necks and hurriedly dispersed to work.

Lin Xuan stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Deacon, this Disciple has some questions about spiritual plants I would like to ask."

Deacon Wu looked at him, seemingly understanding his intention, and nodded: "Come in."

Inside the bamboo house, Deacon Wu did not make tea, but spoke directly: "Are you asking about the cancellation of the competition?"

"Yes. This Disciple is dull and does not understand the Sect's deep meaning, and feels uneasy in my heart," Lin Xuan said.

Deacon Wu sighed, sat down behind the table, and tapped his fingers on the table unconsciously: "It doesn't matter if I tell you, this matter will spread soon. Our Sanyang Sect's old enemy, the Xuanyin Sect, has been active frequently at the northwest border recently."