C95 Secret

Lin Xuan felt a surge of quiet elation upon acquiring the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts. True, he had exhausted all his accumulated energy points in one fell swoop, but that was of little consequence. He could always earn more. By assimilating the treasures he had replicated today, his strength and potential were poised for another tremendous leap.

A glint of satisfaction sparkled in Lin Xuan's eyes. His journey today had indeed been worthwhile. Yet, this was neither the time nor the place to utilize his new gains. The entire episode unfolded in the blink of an eye, eluding the notice of anyone around.

Without betraying any emotion, Lin Xuan turned to the elder in white before him, bowing respectfully, "Greetings, Martial Uncle. How should I address you?"

"My surname is Wang," the elder replied.

Wang Xufeng, the white-clad elder, gave a slight nod and continued, "I noticed you've been browsing the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion for some time. Haven't found the right secret manual? Perhaps this one will suit you." He offered the manual to Lin Xuan, his eyes twinkling with an enigmatic light.

"Thank you kindly," Lin Xuan said, accepting the manual with a bow. He thumbed through the pages, but a thought struck him like lightning, sending shockwaves through his mind. This was the very Golden Scale Barbarian Elephant Art he had replicated for 200,000 energy points.

He hadn't anticipated that Wang Xufeng would present the manual to him so readily. Was there a hidden reason for this?

A whirlwind of thoughts tore through Lin Xuan's mind, yet his composure remained intact as he attentively perused the manual. After a moment, he looked up, his face alight with joy, and ventured, "Martial Uncle Wang, about this secret manual..."

"This Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts came to me by chance. It's incomplete, yet its power is formidable. Should you master it to Great Completion, it will rival even Rank 5 Body Building Martial Arts. You seem to possess the robust physique and strength ideal for this practice, which is why I suggested it to you. If it doesn't appeal to you, then let it be. I'll say no more. You may return the manual to me."

Wang Xufeng spoke with a detached air.

Having said that, he extended his hand, making a motion as if to reclaim the secret manual.

"I've taken a liking to this secret manual. Thank you for it."

Lin Xuan quickly clutched the manual to his chest and bowed, his face alight with excitement.

"If that's the case, you're dismissed."

Wang Xufeng gestured dismissively, his demeanor remaining cool and unbothered.

"I'll take my leave now."

Lin Xuan offered another bow and hastened down from the first floor, his steps quick with eagerness.

Wang Xufeng's gaze followed Lin Xuan's departing figure, the gleam in his eyes growing more profound.

"Have you found yet another test subject?"

A chilly voice drifted down from the third floor at that moment.

A middle-aged silhouette descended the stairs.

The Outer Sect Head Elder would have been taken aback had he been present, for the presence of this middle-aged figure was indistinguishable from the Sect Master's.

He was none other than Liu Wuya, the current Sect Master of the Drifting Cloud Sect.

It was a mystery when he had arrived on the third floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

"Sect Master, I assure you, this will be the last time," Wang Xufeng said, a flicker of panic in his eyes as he quickly offered an explanation.

"But this is Lin Xuan we're talking about. He could very well be the most gifted individual our Drifting Cloud Sect has seen in a century!"

A trace of annoyance crossed Liu Wuya's face, his expression chilling.

"His talent is precisely why I recommended the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts to him.

If he can master the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts to Great Completion, the Drifting Cloud Sect will have nurtured a true prodigy!"

Wang Xufeng's voice rose with fervor as he made his case.

Liu Wuya's anger subsided at this, and he let out a sigh:

"After all these years, you still cling to hope.

If it weren't for that, you wouldn't still be struggling to break through to the Spiritual Essence Stage."

His voice wavered with emotion, but Wang Xufeng cut him off.

"Sect Master, let's not dwell on the past," he said, regaining his composure.

"Very well, this is your last chance. Repeat this mistake, and there will be consequences."

Liu Wuya's tone evened out.

"As for Lin Xuan, I will grant him the privileges of our elite disciples, in recognition of his exceptional performance."

Once he makes it onto the Strong List and achieves the status of a Core Disciple, I will grant him triple the cultivation resources as reparation.

His future progress will be up to him.

You should not interfere with him, especially not his cultivation."

"Yes, Sect Master," Wang Xufeng responded with a bow.

Afterward, they both departed.

Curiously, despite their not-so-quiet conversation, the disciples selecting martial arts manuals on the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion remained oblivious.

This included everything that transpired after Lin Xuan encountered Wang Xufeng.

Upon leaving the Martial Arts Pavilion, Lin Xuan's face radiated excitement and joy, yet his heart was cold as ice.

His previous demeanor was nothing but a facade.

By now, he was nearly convinced that there was something amiss with the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

And the issue was grave.

It was likely riddled with numerous conspiracies and schemes.

But as a mere ordinary Inner Sect disciple at the Qi Transformation Stage, he stood no chance against the Sect Seniors at the pinnacle of the Spirit Opening Stage.

He had no choice but to swallow his grievances for now.

At least outwardly, he couldn't afford to show any signs of suspicion.

Once back, he planned to assimilate the cultivation insights he had copied from Wang Xufeng, before deciding whether to pursue the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Before long, Lin Xuan made it back to his dwelling without incident.

He proceeded directly to his cultivation chamber and settled into a meditative posture.

With a focused intention, he began to merge with the insights of others.

The Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts was the first technique he delved into.

As Lin Xuan concentrated, a torrent of information flooded his mind.

He even felt a slight swelling in his brain, an unprecedented sensation.

Yet this martial art had induced it.

The Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts might just surpass his wildest expectations.

Lin Xuan mused inwardly.

He closed his eyes and delved deeply into the martial art, absorbing it with earnest.

In no time, half an hour had elapsed.

Lin Xuan's eyes fluttered open, revealing a glint of complex emotions.

On the surface, the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts appeared flawless.

Its formidable power was beyond his initial belief.

Merely at the beginner level, it enabled Wang Xufeng, at the peak of the Spirit Opening Stage, to contend with an adversary in the Early Spiritual Essence Stage.

This was achieved without invoking the Concept, relying solely on his physical prowess.

Imagine if someone were to master the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts to the Initial Perfect Level or even reach Great Completion—how formidable would they become?

Lin Xuan couldn't help but covet the formidable power of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Yet, he remained level-headed.

His awareness was crystal clear.

Through Wang Xufeng's insights, he realized that the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts harbored numerous secret flaws.