Chapter 119 - 108: Force Conflict, 2nd Layer Profound Yuan Skill, 3rd Layer Iron Cloth Shirt

Chapter 119: Chapter 108: Force Conflict, 2nd Layer Profound Yuan Skill, 3rd Layer Iron Cloth Shirt

Arguments once again echoed through the Cultivation Garden, only this time, they seemed even more intense than the previous discussions over Bi Kui.

Watching the other three fall back into debate, Hong Ting, who rarely spoke, broke the silence: "I think there’s something strange about this. This person clearly has average aptitude, yet he managed to comprehend and master both the Entry-level Technique and the first layer of the Profound Yuan Technique within two hours. Such a thing has never happened in our Profound Water Sect."

The relatively calm Hong Xuancheng furrowed his brows slightly and pondered for a moment. "Are you saying the people from the Xuanfu Courtyard made a mistake during his aptitude test?"

"Impossible!" Hong Xuanqing immediately interrupted. "There has never been an error in the aptitude test. How could the reading be wrong!"

"Can we have him take the test again?" Though Hong Zhendong agreed with Hong Xuanqing, he believed that even if the testing instrument itself hadn’t malfunctioned, an error might have occurred elsewhere in the process. Otherwise, there was simply no way to explain how Su Chen had comprehended and mastered the Profound Yuan Technique in such a short time.

The Profound Yuan Technique was the sect Cultivation Technique of the Profound Water Sect, practically mandatory for every disciple. Comprehending it wasn’t the hard part; cultivating it was. This was precisely why the Profound Water Sect valued aptitude so highly—if someone’s aptitude was high, their comprehension wouldn’t be lacking either. Moreover, even if a disciple’s comprehension was poor, the massive Profound Water Sect had plenty of elders to guide them until they understood it. However, successfully cultivating the technique required more than just thorough understanding.

Yet, Su Chen had successfully cultivated it shortly after comprehending it. In their eyes, such an aptitude was definitely beyond above-average; it had to be top-tier at the very least. As for whether it was truly exceptional, that would require further testing.

Even a top-tier aptitude was more than enough to join the Profound Water Sect. Coupled with his impressive comprehension, he was practically a highly sought-after commodity. However, before formally recruiting Su Chen, they wanted him to take the test once more to dispel their last lingering doubts.

"Fine." Hong Xuancheng softly uttered a single word after a moment of deep thought, then waited for the others to reply.

Hong Ting shrugged to show she had no objections. Hong Xuanqing had already been suspicious, and since the other three were fine with it, she wouldn’t object either.

Thus, Hong Xuancheng said to Steward Yu, "Yu Xian, take this person to be tested again. Accompany him the entire time, then bring the results back to us."

"Yes, understood!" Steward Yu, who had been waiting on standby for quite a while, hastily replied before turning to leave.

The bustling Cultivation Garden briefly returned to silence. Hong Zhendong stood up, picked up Su Chen’s file, and carefully read it over again. He couldn’t help but sigh softly, "A pity."

The other three knew the reason for Hong Zhendong’s sigh. Cultivating at least three Refining Strength Techniques might sound impressive, but it was actually a useless burden. For a Martial Artist, cultivating more Cultivation Techniques was not necessarily better. On the contrary, taking on too many would ultimately end up damaging one’s own body.

The main reason they wanted Su Chen to be tested again was to judge his future potential based on the results. After all, for them, anyone cultivating two techniques fell into the category of those ’needing’ the Dissipation Skill. Anyone cultivating at least three techniques was classified as ’definitely’ needing the Dissipation Skill.

The Dissipation Skill inevitably caused a certain amount of damage to the body, requiring careful nursing for any chance of recovery. Even with a full recovery, it would still hinder their future cultivation. If Su Chen lacked a top-tier aptitude and found it difficult to progress after undergoing the Dissipation Skill, wouldn’t they have just wasted a recruitment slot for nothing? The loss would far outweigh the gain!

About fifteen minutes later, familiar footsteps sounded from afar. Only this time, they carried a faint sense of urgency.

"The test is over so soon?" Hong Xuancheng muttered to himself in confusion.

Before long, Steward Yu entered the hall. He bowed and said, "Four Courtyard Heads, Su Chen... he went down the mountain!"

"Hmm?" Four gazes uniformly locked onto Steward Yu. Even with his head lowered, he could feel the sharpness of their stares, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.

Hong Xuanqing was the first to react. She asked quietly, "For what reason?"

"Well..." Steward Yu stammered. Pursing his lips, he gritted his teeth and said, "He said that since he has no destiny with the Profound Water Sect, he simply wouldn’t force it anymore. So he left down the mountain!"

SMACK!

"What a ’no destiny’! What a ’wouldn’t force it’! What does he take our Profound Water Sect for? A place he can just come and go as he pleases?" Hong Xuancheng slammed his hand onto the wooden table, a surge of fury rising on his face.

Hong Xuanqing and the other two remained silent, though their expressions looked somewhat grim. Steward Yu stood there, trembling in silence. His back was drenched in sweat, and in his heart, he had cursed Su Chen countless times.

A moment later, Hong Xuanqing picked up her teacup, her expression composed. She took a sip, set it down, and calmly said, "Never mind. You can’t force these things. Since he looks down on our Profound Water Sect, there’s no need to force him."

Hong Xuancheng scoffed coldly. "He thinks too highly of himself. The Profound Water Sect hasn’t sunk so low as to recruit a half-crippled failure!"

Pausing for a moment, his expression eased slightly, but his tone remained deeply serious. "With such a temperament, combined with his conflicting physical strength, his path in Martial Arts is essentially severed. You can see his absolute peak with a single glance. Even if his comprehension is heaven-defying, it would be difficult for him to enter the Organ Refining stage, let alone achieve anything higher."

The other three remained silent.

Suddenly, Steward Yu spoke up cautiously, "Four Courtyard Heads, although this person has already gone down the mountain, he did manage to master a portion of the Profound Yuan Technique. Should I send someone to cripple his cultivation?"

"There’s no need. Since we dared to put the technique out there, we aren’t afraid of someone mastering it," Hong Xuanqing said, shaking her head. Her tone quickly grew sharp. "However, if he dares to use it on the outside and ruin the reputation of the Profound Water Sect..."

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Steward Yu already knew what to do. Thus, he took his leave. Today’s examination had truly filled him with fear and trepidation, but thankfully, it had ended without incident.