C121 Guide

At that moment, Tian Guangliang's face was alight with happiness, his heart brimming with gratitude for Lin Xuan.

He had utterly forgotten that Lin Xuan had just cunningly tricked him and extorted his entire savings.

Such is human nature.

Observing this, Lin Xuan simply smiled, keeping his silence.

This approach helped him sidestep some unnecessary complications.

Without delay, Lin Xuan turned to survey the crowd and proclaimed confidently:

"I never challenged Tian Guangliang. We merely had an exchange of martial arts insights.

That's pretty standard, isn't it?"

Though he appeared to be musing to himself, his voice carried far and wide.

The sound waves reverberated, reaching every corner of the gathering.

The audience wore peculiar looks, fully aware of Lin Xuan's underlying motive.

Yet, they unanimously voiced their agreement.

"Indeed, that's quite normal."

"All I saw was Senior Brother Lin sharing martial arts techniques with Tian Guangliang."

"It was Tian Guangliang who initiated it."

"I haven't witnessed any sort of challenge either."

Under Lin Xuan's penetrating stare, everyone present actively chimed in.

Lin Xuan gave a slight nod, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

It was a blatant fabrication.

But under his imposing presence, they all played along.

Lin Xuan was thoroughly pleased.

Clearly, in this world, power is paramount.

Without formidable strength, such a spectacle would be impossible.

Lin Xuan reflected on this as he turned and strode forward.

The disciples watching were struck with fear.

It was clear Lin Xuan intended to continue his shakedown.

They hurried to keep pace.

Inwardly, they all hoped Lin Xuan would pass by their pavilion without pause.

Currently, Lin Xuan, though only a new disciple, had managed to unsettle and intimidate the majority of the elite disciples.

Had the other Inner Sect disciples witnessed this, they might have been petrified.

But in that moment, the gathered disciples dared not dwell on such thoughts.

They had no choice but to follow Lin Xuan in silence.

After all, Lin Xuan's might was unmatched, and no one could contend with him.

Moreover, Lin Xuan's conduct was within the bounds of the rules; they had no authority to intervene.

Before long, Lin Xuan had navigated past several pavilions and came to a halt outside pavilion number eighteen.

Before Lin Xuan could speak up, Zhang Xin, the occupant of the 18th loft, stepped forward from the crowd and said,

"Senior Brother Lin, here are 120,000 contribution points and 8,000 spirit stones as compensation for your guidance in martial arts, Junior Brother. I hope for your leniency!"

With that, he presented his Identity Badge and a storage ring to Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan was momentarily taken aback, then he quickly recovered with a slight smile.

He hadn't expected such proactive acknowledgment without having to take any action himself. It was a welcome surprise.

"Quite impressive," Lin Xuan acknowledged, accepting the storage ring and transferring the 120,000 contribution points to his Identity Badge.

He then added, "Since that's the case, I'll give you some instruction. Demonstrate the martial arts you excel in for me to see."

Lin Xuan's offer left the crowd momentarily stunned. Was he truly going to offer them guidance? Could it be true?

Skepticism flickered across their faces. Lin Xuan had only recently started and had quickly become powerful due to his exceptional talent. Could his understanding of martial arts truly surpass theirs?

Nonetheless, Zhang Xin, after a brief pause, complied with the request. He had given Lin Xuan a considerable sum and intended to make it count.

Zhang Xin performed his most proficient sword technique. This was no duel, so he didn't unleash his full power but made an effort to showcase his skill.

"Your Fire Cloud Sword Art is commendable, certainly at Great Completion," Lin Xuan observed calmly.

"Yet, you seem to have been trapped at this stage for quite some time, with no further progress, correct?"

Zhang Xin's expression brightened, and he nodded eagerly.

Lin Xuan elaborated, "The Fire Cloud Sword Art may appear to be a fire attribute martial art, but it's actually an expression of freedom and ease, like the dance of flames."

"The essence of this sword technique lies in its substance, not its form. Your issue is that you've become too fixated on the moves and have lost sight of its true spirit. That's why you've been unable to advance beyond Great Completion."

"Because when it comes to techniques, you've reached the pinnacle of Great Completion. To advance further in your cultivation, you'll need to grasp the true essence."

"Before each practice session, I recommend you spend some time observing the drifting white clouds in the sky or reflect deeply before you begin."

Lin Xuan spoke deliberately, his voice slow and even.

Zhang Xin's gaze grew increasingly intense.

Soon enough, Lin Xuan had said all he needed to.

"Come, hand me your sword!"

Lin Xuan instructed.

Zhang Xin appeared dazed, still digesting Lin Xuan's words.

He instinctively passed the sword to Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan accepted the sword, flourished it with a flourish, and launched into an attack.

A streak of cold light sliced through the Void, transforming into a scarlet cloud that settled upon the pavilion.

Instantly, a semi-transparent shield flickered to life atop the pavilion.

It was a protective barrier from a Spell Formation.

The sword's radiance, now a scarlet cloud, descended upon the formation's barrier.

A loud boom echoed.

The Spell Formation's barrier trembled slightly, its glow fading before vanishing altogether.

He turned and tossed the sword back to Zhang Xin.

"What do you think of that swordplay?"

"Senior Brother Lin, is that the true intent of the Fire Cloud Sword Art? I've got it. Thank you for showing me the way!"

Zhang Xin, snapping out of his reverie, hurriedly expressed his gratitude to Lin Xuan, his face alight with joy.

"The Fire Cloud Sword Art is truly formidable. This is fantastic!"

Zhang Xin marveled to himself, somewhat incredulous.

Lin Xuan merely smiled, offering no comment.

Nearby disciples, having overheard the exchange, were initially petrified with astonishment.

As they came to their senses, they inhaled sharply.

The atmosphere quickly turned animated.

"Did he grasp the true meaning of the Fire Cloud Sword Art that swiftly?"

"His aptitude for comprehension is astounding, isn't it?"

"The power behind his sword is remarkable. I'd wager only the top ten could match that, right?"

"Is this the sect's premier prodigy? His natural gift is downright frightening."

The disciples buzzed with amazement and disbelief.

They had once thought Lin Xuan's formidable prowess was solely due to his innate talent.

But now, they realized they had been mistaken.

Lin Xuan had executed it perfectly just by observing Zhang Xin's practice.

Moreover, he seemed to have grasped the true essence of it.

The notion was utterly horrifying!

They couldn't bring themselves to believe that what they were witnessing was real.

Yet, the undeniable truth unfolded before their very eyes, compelling them to accept it.

It was only then that they fully appreciated the sheer terror of Lin Xuan's talent.

In the top ten pavilions in the distance, even those who had not ventured out were jolted by surprise, deeply shaken by the display.

The might of this sword technique far surpassed the fist technique Lin Xuan had previously demonstrated.

Indeed, Lin Xuan's true strength lay in his swordsmanship.

Currently, there was no one capable of pushing Lin Xuan to wield his sword technique.

Lin Xuan also possessed a remarkable aptitude for understanding.

He was an incredibly formidable individual.

They all paled in comparison to him.