Chapter 78: Soul Technique

"Do not underestimate the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber. Only once it reaches the Consummation realm of Round and Harmonious can its true power be revealed; it is absolutely not something those common, dime-a-dozen martial arts can compare to!"

When Xiao Zongting said this, he felt quite proud inside.

It was in his hands that the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber evolved from an unremarkable martial art into a unique saber technique that reached a certain extreme in balance!

Xiao Zongting was confident that this saber technique was enough to be passed down through the ages!

Having lost all his own martial arts and having no son, his focus was on spreading this saber technique far and wide during his lifetime!

Therefore, he taught this saber technique without reservation, pouring all his knowledge into the Escorts at the Yuanshun Escort Agency!

It was precisely because of this that many Escorts regarded Xiao Zongting as their mentor in their hearts.

"Xiao Lao, Entering Micro and Consummation both have requirements for the strength of one's Mental Power, right?" Duan Rong asked after a moment of thought.

"Naturally," Xiao Zongting replied. "Whether it is Entering Micro or Consummation, one needs sufficiently strong Mental Power to have a chance!"

The bright look in Duan Rong's eyes dimmed rapidly.

His Mental Power level was only Level 1. He estimated it was impossible for him to ever cultivate the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber to the Entering Micro or Consummation realms!

"You need not be anxious! With your talent, your Mental Power must be stronger than mine. As long as you practice diligently, Entering Micro and Consummation should not be difficult!" Seeing Duan Rong's gaze suddenly dim, Xiao Zongting thought he lacked confidence and encouraged him.

Duan Rong looked at Xiao Zongting and asked with an expectant look: "Xiao Lao, can the strength of Mental Power be improved acquiredly?"

As Duan Rong asked this question, he immediately felt nervous. This question was the one weighing at the bottom of his heart.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zongting gave Duan Rong a strange look, sneered, and did not answer him.

Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat; looking at Xiao Zongting's expression, it seemed there was no hope!

Just then, Xiao Baijiao walked out slowly carrying a plate of osmanthus cakes and candied fruit. She happened to see Xiao Zongting's expression, so she placed the plate on the tea table, shot Xiao Zongting a glare, and chided coquettishly: "He asked you, so just tell him! I don't know what you're sneering for!"

After saying this, Xiao Baijiao swayed her waist and returned to the Inner Room!

Xiao Zongting sat on the grand armchair, feeling somewhat sheepish.

Xiao Zongting's original intention was not to answer Duan Rong's question.

Because, in his view, a Martial Artist must have a simple mind, practice diligently, and constantly investigate the ultimate! To achieve their own Martial Path!

Knowing things unrelated to one's current stage of cultivation is merely an obstacle of knowledge!

However, since Xiao Baijiao had spoken, he could not refuse to answer.

His daughter's happiness was the most important thing!

It was just a little obstacle of knowledge; this kid was so smart, he would surely be able to overcome it himself!

"Do you know what the foundation of the Eight Great Sects of the Nine Provinces is?" Xiao Zongting asked suddenly.

Duan Rong blinked. Weren't they talking about the acquired improvement of Mental Power? How did it get back to the foundation of the Eight Great Sects?

Seeing Duan Rong remain silent, Xiao Zongting answered his own question: "It is the Soul Technique that can improve Mental Power acquiredly!"

"Soul Technique!?" A bolt of lightning seemed to roll through Duan Rong's heart.

This meant that Mental Power could be improved acquiredly; in that case, he had grasped a straw to save his life!

Watching Duan Rong's excited appearance, Xiao Zongting snorted coldly and said: "Improving Mental Power acquiredly is equivalent to forcibly changing a person's martial arts talent! It is no different from being reborn! How could such an opportunity be easily obtained?"

Duan Rong understood the meaning of Xiao Zongting's words, and his surging heart felt as if it had been doused with a ladle of cold water.

"Take the Taiyi Sect as an example! The Soul Technique they teach to improve Mental Power is a Sect-level action; only the Elder Council has the authority to teach it!"

"Even the Sect Master cannot teach it privately!"

"Any private transmission is equivalent to treason! The nine generations of their clan will be exterminated, and they will be hunted forever!"

"Except for Core Disciples and some Inner Sect Disciples with special merits, for anyone else to come into contact with a Soul Technique that improves Mental Power acquiredly is no different from a pipe dream!"

"Shen Yanliu is a dignitary of a county and an Outer Sect Disciple of the Taiyi Sect, but he has already been sent away; he has no hope in this life!"

Hearing this, Duan Rong's heart fell to the bottom of the valley!

If even Shen Yanliu had no hope, what the hell was he even considering!

In fact, the Taiyi Sect had an opportunity to recruit disciples every three years!

At that time, they would open their gates wide to recruit talents from all over the world to serve as fresh blood!

Every level of county and prefecture Ya Men had assessment points!

The Taiyi Sect would send Outer Sect Disciples to each assessment point to supervise the examinations!

Those who obtained an assessment quota could participate in the examination, and once selected, they could become a Registered Disciple of the Taiyi Sect!

After two years as a Registered Disciple, one could be assessed for promotion to an Outer Sect Disciple!

After three years as an Outer Sect Disciple, one could be assessed for promotion to an Inner Sect Disciple!

If a Registered Disciple failed the promotion assessment after two years, they would be sent back to their place of origin!

If an Outer Sect Disciple failed the promotion assessment after three years, they would be sent to fill an official vacancy to manage the secular world for the Sect!

Since Shen Yanliu had already become the Magistrate of Xiangu County, he must have failed the assessment to be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple!

That was why Xiao Zongting said he had no fate with the Soul Technique in this life!

Duan Rong no longer remembered how he left Xiao Zongting's courtyard; he walked through the Yuanshun Escort Agency feeling somewhat dejected...

This path was simply impassable for him!

Shen Yanliu had only made it to Outer Sect Disciple!

If his Mental Power could not be improved, his ability to use Devouring Artifact Spirit would be reduced to a useless skill.

Without the bonus of Devouring Artifact Spirit, relying on his own talent to cultivate, he would be nothing more than an ordinary person.

A Martial Artist's Mental Power level was their cultivation talent!

His Mental Power level was merely a weakling's Level 1!

If that were really the case, he would even remain at the Inner Breath Realm Second Layer forever!

Let alone being an Inner or Outer Sect Disciple, he wouldn't even have the chance to participate in the quota for Registered Disciples!

Although the current Duan Rong was worth over ten thousand, and through his ability to use Devouring Artifact Spirit, he believed that as long as he was willing, he could definitely develop other ways to make money!

However, the true core resources of this world cannot be bought with silver or money!

If one's own strength is sufficiently formidable, silver and money are a gateway of convenience!

If one's own strength is weak, a large amount of silver and money will instead become a source of disaster!

Duan Rong walked out of the alley with somewhat heavy steps; he stood at the alley entrance and suddenly froze there!

This place was exactly a corner of the Martial Arts Arena!

That three-hundred-year-old Ginkgo Ancient Tree was just half a zhang away; as a light breeze brushed past, the leaves all over the tree reflected the sunlight like countless flickering eyes.

As if having received some kind of silent summons, Duan Rong once again walked slowly to the front of the Ginkgo Ancient Tree and pressed his palm against the tree trunk, with its withered and cracked bark!

Now, he only had one single-plank bridge he could walk, and that was to put in the effort on the Tree Spirit!

This was the loose thread in his hand, the only needle's eye he had to pass through!

(End of this chapter)