C96 Decisiveness

The critical point here is that Wang Xufeng was merely at the pinnacle of the Spirit Opening Stage, without having made the leap to the Spiritual Essence Stage.

The Spiritual Essence Stage represents the apex within the Drifting Cloud Sect. While the number of individuals who have attained this level isn't vast, it's certainly more than a mere handful—exceeding ten practitioners.

Wang Xufeng's attribute panel revealed that his innate talent surpassed even that of Xu Annlan.

Rumor had it that among the elite disciples, Xu Annlan's aptitude was only outshone by the current Elite Senior Brother, Liu Qianyu.

Given Xu Annlan's status as one of the sect's most gifted, his potential to reach the Spiritual Essence Stage was, in theory, unquestionable.

Yet, with Wang Xufeng's talents eclipsing those of Xu Annlan, how could he languish for decades at the zenith of the Spirit Opening Stage without advancing to the Spiritual Essence Stage?

There had to be an underlying cause.

And it was highly probable that the cause was the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Despite Wang Xufeng's efforts, his mastery of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts stalled at the beginner level, rendering any amount of expended cultivation resources futile.

Nevertheless, he continued to pour vast resources into this practice annually.

Lin Xuan's gaze twinkled as he pondered.

He swiftly drew several conclusions.

If he was correct, the might of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts was immense, certainly beyond the grasp of a warrior at Wang Xufeng's level.

Upon its fortuitous discovery, Wang Xufeng had eagerly embarked on its cultivation.

Yet, the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts harbored a significant drawback.

It had the potential to cap a martial artist's progress.

Failing to attain a requisite proficiency meant hitting a ceiling in cultivation, beyond which further breakthroughs became elusive.

This shed light on the conundrum of Wang Xufeng's stagnation: despite his considerable talent and standing among the Drifting Cloud Sect's elite, he had been unable to ascend to the Spiritual Essence Stage for decades.

It also clarified why Wang Xufeng persisted in investing heavily in the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts each year, despite the apparent lack of advancement.

A glint of sharpness passed through Lin Xuan's eyes as he gave a slight nod.

It now made sense why Wang Xufeng had sought him out.

Since joining the sect, Lin Xuan had distinguished himself with exceptional performance and talent.

It seemed Wang Xufeng wanted him to practice the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts as a test subject, to observe and deduce a method for breaking through the technique.

"Should I then take up the cultivation of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts?" Lin Xuan pondered silently.

He didn't immediately dismiss the idea.

He wasn't intimidated.

Given his demonstrated talent, even if he chose not to cultivate the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts and risked offending Wang Xufeng, it was unlikely that Wang Xufeng would dare retaliate.

After all, Lin Xuan had emerged as the Drifting Cloud Sect's top prodigy, with potential soaring to at least the Spiritual Essence Stage.

Meanwhile, Wang Xufeng, hindered by his practice of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts, was likely to remain trapped at the peak of the Spirit Opening Stage, unable to advance.

The question of who held more value was clear.

Even if Wang Xufeng harbored any ill intentions, the Sect Seniors would never permit it.

But Lin Xuan's deliberations weren't about Wang Xufeng; they were about the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts itself.

He needed to leverage every available means to enhance his strength swiftly.

The Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts presented an excellent opportunity. Once he mastered the basics, his power would surge dramatically.

Furthermore, the extraordinary nature of this technique was evidenced by the phenomena surrounding it.

It was quite possible that no other martial art in the entire Drifting Cloud Sect or the Scorching Sun Domain could match it.

He might rely on this martial art for a considerable time to come, potentially turning it into a formidable ace up his sleeve.

With this in mind, Lin Xuan was not keen on abandoning the cultivation of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Yet, the significant drawback of the technique gave him pause.

If this flaw were to hinder his future progress, preventing advancement...

Wouldn't that mean he, too, might face a barrier he could not overcome?

If that were the case, he'd be at a significant disadvantage.

Hence, Lin Xuan couldn't just decide on a whim.

He had to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Without delay, Lin Xuan resumed reflecting on Wang Xufeng's insights into the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

The manual in question was Wang Xufeng's own handwritten copy; he had pored over the original so many times that he had committed it to memory.

There was no longer a need for him to consult the text.

Shortly after, Lin Xuan's eyes snapped open, a glimmer of excitement shining through.

He had made some headway.

From Wang Xufeng's experiences, it was clear that he dedicated considerable time and effort each year to practicing the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Year after year, Wang Xufeng could distinctly perceive advancements in his practice.

This persistent progress was precisely why Wang Xufeng hadn't abandoned his efforts—he clung to hope.

Yet, despite his endeavors, he couldn't quite reach the Initial Perfect Level.

It was as if an insurmountable chasm lay between them.

A flicker of contemplation crossed Lin Xuan's face.

This indicated that Wang Xufeng's inability to break through wasn't due to any external limitations.

In theory, a breakthrough was within his reach.

The likely culprits for Wang Xufeng's struggles were insufficient talent or a lack of cultivation resources.

Lin Xuan gave a slight nod in agreement.

This was probably why Wang Xufeng sought out someone with promising talent like him for experimentation, likely suspecting the same and seeking confirmation.

The frostiness on Lin Xuan's face gradually melted away.

With that in mind, he felt ready to take on the cultivation of the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

Neither of the potential obstacles fazed him.

Armed with the duplication system and given ample time, he had the potential to outstrip anyone.

Regarding cultivation resources, should his talent rise, his power would naturally follow suit, ensuring he wouldn't fall short of resources.

He had an abundance of strategies at his disposal.

He could even resort to seizing the cultivation resources of others.

After some thought, Lin Xuan reached a resolution.

He would commit to mastering the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts.

This time, he would use Wang Xufeng's efforts as a trial.

Moreover, the Sect Seniors were likely aware of this situation.

Their willingness to sanction Wang Xufeng's actions was a gamble in itself.

Given that they were willing to sacrifice a top-tier genius like him, the sect seniors would likely offer him appropriate compensation.

Lin Xuan speculated.

He then dismissed the matter.

He was ready to enter seclusion.

Before he began practicing the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts, he resolved to first utilize the replicated treasures to enhance his talent.

Whether to accelerate the advancement of his cultivation realm or to master the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts, the greater his talent, the better.

With a mere thought,

He decided to use them.

A powerful wave of warmth coursed through Lin Xuan's body and mind.

Gradually, Lin Xuan's aura began to rise.