In the Profound Truth Sect's Main Peak Hall.
Cao Zhen nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the silent figures in the hall as he said, "Senior Brother Li's reasoning is clear and well founded.
"But this concerns the sect's future. We cannot rely on one person's opinion alone. The rest of you should speak your minds as well, without reservation."
As soon as he finished, Mountain-Suppressing Peak Master Qin Gang pondered briefly before being the first to speak.
Dressed in a dark blue-black martial outfit, he had a refined face with a trace of steely resolve. In a steady voice, he said, "Chu Yunhai's root bone and comprehension are both among the very best. Now that he has awakened a battle body, both his potential and his actual combat strength stand at the pinnacle of the younger generation."
Then his tone shifted. He looked at the others with a weighing gaze. "By contrast, although Yang Jing appears to have advanced swiftly, seemingly matching Chu Yunhai's three years of progress in half a year, his root bone is far too poor. It is only eighth-grade root bone.
"The further one travels along the martial path, the harder it becomes, and the more apparent the shackles of root bone grow. Breaking through quickly now does not necessarily mean he can maintain that pace forever."
Qin Gang surveyed everyone in the hall, his tone growing more solemn. "I have always believed that, for a martial artist, root bone is the foundation upon which one stands, the most essential cornerstone of cultivation.
"Some may disagree with me, but none of you can deny the crucial role root bone plays in martial cultivation. It determines both the ceiling and the efficiency of cultivation. That is an indisputable fact."
His words plunged the hall into silence.