It seemed that sweet rewards alone weren't enough.

But creating a cultivation method from scratch?

How could that be possible?!

Throughout the history of the Cultivation World, countless brilliant talents had tried to forge their own paths.

Yet most of them, when they tried to develop their methods to Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, either suffered a backlash that burst their true essence from their bodies or drew down a tribulation. They all met the same end: death and the destruction of their Dao.

Those who could develop a self-created method to the Golden Core realm were already exceedingly rare, let alone to the Nascent Soul realm!

It was as if the Heavenly Dao itself forbade cultivators from finding new paths, forcing them to rely on the elusive Primal Dao Canon.

And yet the great power behind Gui Xi Sect had carved out a path of their own, creating an entirely new way—and developed it far enough to prove the Dao of the Nascent Soul?!

What kind of terrifying talent and fortune would that take?

Had he... or they, in the end, developed this path to what stage?

Could they already ascend to immortality?

Just who was the demonic giant behind this sect?

But something didn't add up...

She could sense that this method was balanced and peaceful, with a surging power hidden within it and a dignified, solemn aspect. How could it possibly be a demonic cultivation method?

Could a Demonic Sect that slaughtered without restraint and treated human life as worthless create such an upright method?

She understood!

The demonic giant behind Gui Xi Sect must have stolen this method from a great power of the Righteous Path!

How despicable!

She wondered which senior cultivator had fallen victim to the Demonic Sect's cruelty!

Wait...

The person in the empowerment vision looked seven or eight tenths like Elder Qian... Could it be?

Countless clues linked together before her eyes.

It had to be!

The great power of this Evil Sect had not only assassinated Elder Qian, a righteous senior who had created this divine art, but also refined him into a flesh puppet without a mind!

They had forced him to serve this Evil Sect for all eternity, just like those pitiful spirit servants she had seen before!

In life, this elder had developed his method to such a profound level, and yet he had still fallen victim to a villain's treachery.

What a tragic and lamentable fate.

And even in death, he was denied rest. His body was imprisoned within the sect, forced not only to teach cultivation methods to the Demonic Sect's members, but even to handle menial tasks like registering new disciples.

This Evil Sect had humiliated a great power to such an extent!

In an instant, Su Ling'er's mind conjured up the entire scene:

Elder Qian, an immortal-like figure with a chivalrous heart, had been ambushed by a cunning and treacherous demonic cultivator.

The evil shadow, whose features had been indistinct, struck once and refined Elder Qian's remains into a puppet, enslaving him here for eternity, just like the spirit beasts she had seen in the Spirit Beast Garden.

Thinking of how a master of the Righteous Path had met such an end, Su Ling'er couldn't help but feel sorrow well up within her.

But in any case, she had received this senior's instruction and guidance.

So she bowed deeply to Elder Qian before her.

Senior, though you are no longer of this world, I will forever remember the kindness you have shown me. I will never use this method to commit evil or follow the crooked path!

She silently swore it in her heart.

And if this path really was viable...

Did that mean cultivators would no longer have to rely on the fragments of the Primal Dao Canon held by the great sects?

After all, this was a broad, bright road to the Nascent Soul realm, and perhaps even to eternal life!

But her natural endowment was terrible. Her Pseudo Spiritual Root remained her greatest obstacle.

Even with a divine cultivation method, how far could she go?

And why would this demonic sect give her a method it had stolen?

In short, things were definitely not that simple.

On one side lay the supreme temptation of proving the Dao and attaining eternal life; on the other, the demonic abyss of no return.

She yearned to seek immortality and the Dao, to live as long as Heaven and Earth. That was the reason she had first set foot on the path of cultivation.

But she would never become an Evil Cultivator like these people, devoid of conscience and willing to take another's life without a second thought!

The jade slip in her hand now seemed to weigh a thousand jun.

At the same time, Lin Qingfeng's consciousness withdrew from the player forum.

When he opened his eyes, he saw his junior sister bowing to Elder Qian. The sight left him utterly stunned.

Wait... He was just a function-only NPC with no feelings. Why was she bowing to him?

Lin Qingfeng looked at Su Ling'er. She wore a solemn expression, as if she had "met a great master and received the Dao."

What was the point of doing that to Qian Buyu, who didn't have any feelings?

Forget it. The important thing was to get down to business.

So he asked, "Junior Sister, how is your comprehension coming along?"

Su Ling'er jolted and quickly gathered herself, then answered respectfully:

"Reporting to Senior Disciple Brother, I... I was just grateful to see Elder Qian personally impart his cultivation to me, so I couldn't help myself."

She didn't dare reveal the slightest hint of anything amiss.

Even if this method came from the hands of demonic cultivators, I'll use it for the Righteous Path. I'll never treat human life as worthless like they do!

Lin Qingfeng studied his junior sister and pondered for a moment.

Could she think that cultivating this method would be a waste with her kind of aptitude?

After all, she has a four-element Pseudo Spiritual Root, and her natural endowment is terrible.

So he said, "Junior Sister, do you feel that with this method alone, your aptitude still leaves you with little hope of reaching the Great Dao?"

Su Ling'er's heart tightened.

Lin Qingfeng continued, "The Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual may be our sect's supreme treasure, but a treasure like this is a fine steed that needs a good saddle."

"The Sword Refining Art I mentioned to you before is the one and only fine saddle suited to your steed!"

"Think about it. The Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual tempers your flesh and foundations, greatly reducing the pain you'd suffer when cultivating the Sword Refining Art.

And the Sword Refining Art hones your body, turning your mortal form into a weapon.

Together, these two methods form the supreme path of cultivating both body and method. Aren't you tempted?

When the time comes, even the shackles of your Pseudo Spiritual Root will be shattered under the hammer blows of countless strikes!

Reaching for the Nascent Soul realm in the future won't be difficult, either!

If you're worried it won't be enough, you can always consume a large number of pills when you try to break through your bottlenecks.

In the future, you can even work with the sect's sword cultivators, using your body as the sword and merging with the sword. The power... You understand."

She understood!

Su Ling'er understood it all!

So that was it!

So Senior Disciple Brother had brought her to learn the senior's Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual only so she could better cultivate the inhumane Sword Refining Art!

First, use this bright and righteous divine art to break down her psychological defenses;

then, use the indisputable fact of her limited aptitude to force her down the desperate path of cultivating both body and method!

But... the earth-shaking might of the Nascent Soul aspect in that vision still lingered in her mind.

The Nascent Soul realm was something she hadn't even dared to dream of.

But to become a sword in another's hand?

To end up as nothing more than a magic treasure?

She lowered her eyes. Her long lashes trembled as they concealed the turmoil in her gaze.

Su Ling'er finally spoke.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Disciple Brother. It's just... Ling'er would like a little more time to study the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual."

"As for the Sword Refining Art, please let me... think it over a little more."

Seeing his junior sister's expression, Lin Qingfeng was a little baffled.

Was there any need to look so miserable?

The two methods complemented each other perfectly. They were practically a comeback package tailor-made for people with poor aptitude!

The Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual could even reduce the pain. NPCs would suffer far less when cultivating the Sword Refining Art!

Without cultivating the Sword Refining Art, could she really break through with her aptitude?

Besides, as long as they had enough spirit stones, plenty of disciples would willingly be blood-sacrificed on the spot to help her succeed!

Lin Qingfeng shook his head helplessly. It seemed that sweet rewards alone weren't enough.

This junior sister was all talk. Her convictions still weren't strong enough.

She still needed more pressure. It was time to give her a taste of the stick.

As it happened, their next stop was the Monster Locking Tower, where they could fight monsters and collect spirit stones.

He had to make her understand once and for all: in the Cultivation World, being weak was a sin!

If she didn't cultivate the Sword Refining Art, her future would end here. She'd have no value at all!

That compassionate smile reappeared on Lin Qingfeng's face.

"Very well. Choosing your path is something you should take seriously."

"Come, Junior Sister. I'll take you somewhere that might... help you make up your mind."

"That place... is called the Monster Locking Tower."