108: Chapter 108 Only with deep roots can a tree flourish

Liu Ruyan of the Jinyang Sect spoke about the Icy Sword Intent.

Lu Yu, the "Gale Sword" of the Qinglan Sword Sect, spoke about his swordplay, which was famous for its speed.

Another Disciple from the Medicine King Valley spoke about Spiritual Plant cultivation.

Another female Disciple from the Qingxin Pavilion spoke about the Heart Clearing Incantation...

One after another, each had their own merits.

But the atmosphere maintained a delicate balance throughout.

Until that person took the stage.

Li Sha.

When he stood up, the surrounding air seemed to grow a few degrees colder.

Those near him instinctively moved aside.

Li Sha strode onto the Dao Discussion Platform and stood still before the wooden table.

He did not sit down, nor did he pour any tea; he simply stood there, his blood-red eyes scanning the audience.

Below the stage, there was absolute silence.

"Li Sha."

He spoke, his voice hoarse and low.

"From the Blood Fiend Sect."

He paused, seemingly organizing his words.

Then, he said three sentences:

"Cultivation is killing."

"The more you kill, the stronger you become."

"If you disagree, feel free to try me."

After speaking, he turned and left the stage.

The entire audience erupted into an uproar.

"This is called discussing the Dao?"

"Too arrogant!"

"People from the Blood Fiend Sect are indeed all lunatics!"

Discussions rose and fell, but Li Sha turned a deaf ear.

He walked straight back to his seat, sat down, and closed his eyes as if nothing had happened.

Li Changsheng watched his back, his brow furrowing slightly.

Those three sentences, though arrogant, were not necessarily false.

The Cultivation Techniques of the Blood Fiend Sect indeed improved through slaughter.

For Li Sha to have cultivated to the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak, the number of lives in his hands probably truly exceeded a hundred.

Such a person was the most dangerous opponent.

After Li Sha left the stage, the atmosphere became somewhat cold.

For a moment, no one else went up.

City Lord Xia stood up and was about to speak when he suddenly saw a figure rise.

On the Qinglan Sword Sect's side, Li Changsheng slowly stood up.

He walked toward the Dao Discussion Platform with steady, unhurried steps, his expression as calm as water.

On the stage, he sat down before the wooden table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, then set down the teacup and looked at the audience.

Countless eyes fell upon him.

There was curiosity, expectation, disdain, and even coldness.

"Qinglan Sword Sect, Li Changsheng."

He spoke; his voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Today, I would like to speak about a principle."

He paused and continued.

"This principle is something I realized from farming."

Someone in the audience chuckled.

Farming?

A Cultivator talking about the principles of farming?

Li Changsheng ignored the laughter and spoke to himself.

"My name is Li Changsheng, and I come from Qinghe Town."

"Qinghe Town is a small place with no Spiritual Veins or opportunities."

"I was able to Cultivate to Qi Refining Level 1 there entirely by relying on a family-inherited Spirit Ape Fist."

The audience gradually quieted down.

"Later, Qinghe Town suffered a Demonic Calamity."

"People from the Blood Fiend Sect came, and the ancient demonic thought 'Spirit Devourer' broke its seal and ran rampant. That night, thousands died."

Li Changsheng's voice remained calm, but the audience could hear the weight within it.

"I watched those people die with my own eyes, yet I could do nothing."

"From then on, I understood a principle: to protect those around me, I must become strong."

He looked up, his gaze scanning the audience.

"But how to become strong? Killing? Plundering?"

"No. I chose a stupider path: farming."

Some people in the audience looked puzzled.

Li Changsheng continued.

"After coming to the Qinglan Sword Sect, I was assigned to the General Affairs Hall to work in the warehouse."

"Later, I entered the Hundred Herb Garden and was assigned a C-grade spiritual field."

"Since then, my days have been spent planting, watering, fertilizing, and weeding—day after day, month after month."

"Someone asked me, what's the point of farming?"

"It's a waste of time. But I don't think so."

He stood up, walked to the edge of the Dao Discussion Platform, and looked down.

"Cultivation is like planting a tree; only with deep roots can the leaves be lush."

"This is the principle my Master taught me."

"For a tree to grow tall and strong, its roots must be deep and stable. Cultivation is the same."

"If the Foundation is unstable, no matter how fast the progress, it's just a castle in the air that will collapse with a single push."

He raised his hand, and a ball of pale green light appeared in his palm.

The light was soft and warm, radiating vibrant vitality.

"My cultivation was grown bit by bit like this."

"There were no shortcuts, no miraculous encounters—only day-after-day persistence."

"Every watering, every loosening of the soil, every time it was nurtured with spiritual power was part of building the Foundation."

He withdrew the light and looked at the audience.

"So, I want to tell everyone that there are thousands of paths in cultivation."

"Some rely on killing, some on Alchemy, and some on comprehending the Dao."

"No matter which path, as long as it is walked steadily and uprightly, one can reach the end."

"But if the Foundation is unstable, no matter how fast you go, it will be in vain."

He paused and said softly.

"Cultivation is like planting a tree; only with deep roots can the leaves be lush."

"I hope everyone can find their own path and plant their own roots."

After speaking, he turned and left the stage.

Below the stage, there was silence for a long time.

Many people were deep in thought.

Those disdainful gazes had disappeared at some point.

Replacing them was a thoughtful expression.

"Good!"

Lin Jingyun was the first to stand up and applaud.

The applause was sparse at first, but it grew louder and louder, finally merging into a wave of enthusiastic applause.

Li Changsheng returned to his seat and sat down.

Li Changqing looked at him with pride in her eyes. Shi Tiezhu smiled foolishly and gave him a thumbs-up. Li Xiaocao clapped hard, her small face flushed with excitement.

In the distance, at the Qingxin Pavilion's side, Su Qianxue looked at Li Changsheng, a glint of brilliance flashing in her eyes.

The Junior Sister beside her whispered.

"Senior Sister, this person spoke really well."

Su Qianxue nodded without speaking.

On the Medicine King Valley's side, Yun Yifei looked at Li Changsheng with a smile, deep in thought.

The Disciple next to him whispered.

"Senior Brother, this person is quite interesting."

Yun Yifei nodded.

"He is indeed quite interesting."

On the Jinyang Sect's side, Chen Yuanba glanced at Li Changsheng and said indifferently.

"This kid is stronger than I imagined."

Lin Jingyun chuckled.

"Of course, he's my friend."

Only on the Blood Fiend Sect's side did the atmosphere remain cold.

Li Sha kept his eyes closed, as if he hadn't heard anything.

But Xu Sen, who was beside him, stared intently at Li Changsheng, his eyes full of resentment.

After the Dao discussion ended, Disciples from various sects interacted privately.

Lin Jingyun was the first to run over and put an arm around Li Changsheng's shoulder.

"Brother Li! Well said!"

"'Cultivation is like planting a tree'—I like that!"

"I'll go plant a few trees myself later!"

Li Changsheng smiled and didn't say much.

Zhou Yuan also walked over and nodded to Li Changsheng in recognition.

He was still a man of few words, but his gaze was slightly softer than before.

Yun Yifei from the Medicine King Valley also approached and said with a smile.

"Brother Li, have some time to visit the Medicine King Valley? We can exchange farming experiences."

Li Changsheng nodded.

"I will definitely go if I have the chance."

Several female Disciples from the Qingxin Pavilion watched from afar, whispering about something.

Su Qianxue didn't come over; she just nodded to Li Changsheng as a greeting.

In the crowd, Li Changsheng felt a cold gaze.

He looked up and happened to meet Xu Sen's eyes.

Xu Sen stared at him, his eyes full of resentment.

But he didn't speak, simply turning and leaving.

Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze, his expression calm.

The Dao discussion had ended.

The real confrontation was still to come.