Ordinary People Can't Do It, but That Doesn't Mean I Can't

When Li Xian heard the news.

His first reaction was that it was ridiculous. So damn ridiculous!

His second reaction was, Cao Xiong had just died like that?

A generation of heroes had met such a hasty end. It was truly a cause for endless sighs.

His final reaction was that the Buddha Son would arrive soon.

There wasn't much time left for Li Xian.

He needed to find a way to raise his strength to the Upper Three Ranks as quickly as possible.

The people of the Cao Gang had never seen a Upper Three Ranks Martialist in their lives. Asking them would probably be a waste of time.

The two White Dragon Temple monks who had stayed behind weren't very strong, but they were fairly knowledgeable. Li Xian decided to ask them.

"Masters, is there any other way to break through to the Upper Three Ranks as a Martialist?"

Guan Jing said, "There is one other way, but it's very difficult for ordinary people."

Li Xian perked up and hurriedly asked, "What is it? Tell me!"

Guan Jing didn't keep him in suspense. He continued, "Ordinary Martialists who want to break through a realm devote themselves to studying a single cultivation method. As long as they have good talent, strong comprehension, and a cultivation method with a high ceiling, they have a chance of reaching the Upper Three Ranks."

Li Xian nodded, as if to say, I know all that. Get to the point.

Guan Jing went on, "But there's another way.

"That is to gather the strengths of a hundred schools and make them your own!"

Li Xian understood.

"You mean to win through sheer numbers?"

Guan Jing nodded. "Exactly."

Li Xian hesitated. "Will that really work?"

"Of course!"

"Has anyone tried it?"

"Yes!"

"Who?"

"Patriarch Moluo of White Dragon Temple was once an ordinary novice monk with mediocre talent. Yet by using this method, he broke through to the Upper Three Ranks of the Martialist Realm and eventually reached the Upper One Rank. He laid the foundation for White Dragon Temple's century-old legacy!"

A glint flashed in Li Xian's eyes.

As long as someone had walked this path before, there would be no problem.

Guan Jing shook his head with a sigh. "It's just a pity that this method is extremely difficult. An ordinary person spends a lifetime studying a single cultivation method, let alone finding the time to train in a dozen, or even dozens, of them. This is an impossible path of cultivation!"

Li Xian smiled. "Ordinary people can't do it, but that doesn't mean I can't!"

Guan Jing didn't believe a word of it. "Hall Master Li, I know you're very talented, but there's no need to waste your time on this."

Li Xian asked, "Then where should I spend my time?"

Guan Jing said solemnly, "Hall Master Li, you're our last hope. The Buddha Son hasn't arrived yet, so hurry and leave. Go as far away as you can. Once you find a higher-level cultivation method and master it, and become stronger than the Buddha Son, come back and avenge us!"

So he was telling me to run.

Li Xian watched the two monks without saying a word.

Guan Yi agreed with his senior brother.

"Hall Master Li, my senior brother is right. This is the best option we have for now."

Li Xian laughed despite himself.

"Find me a few more cultivation methods. I'll show you just how talented I am!"

Come on, someone like me with a cheat only has to worry that the cultivation methods won't meet my needs. I've never had to worry about failing to master one.

"Hall Master Li, you mustn't..."

Guan Jing tried to persuade him again, but Li Xian waved a hand and cut him off.

"Enough. Just do as I say, Masters."

"Uh..."

The two monks looked at each other, unsure what to do.

As he was about to leave, Li Xian suddenly turned back and asked,

"Where is your Buddha Son now?"

Guan Jing said, "I heard the Buddha Son was seriously wounded in his battle with the Abbot. No one knows where he's hiding to recover."

That was good news.

"Oh, so we still have time."

Li Xian smiled faintly.

Then he turned and left.

That night, at the Cao Gang headquarters, aboard the Dragon Ship.

"You two were quick about it. You've already gathered so many cultivation manuals."

Li Xian looked at the pile of manuals stacked into a small mountain before him and couldn't help smiling.

Guan Jing said, "It wasn't difficult. These are just some of the higher-level cultivation methods selected from White Dragon Temple and the Cao Gang. I don't know whether they'll help you."

Li Xian picked up an internal cultivation Mind Method and flipped through a few pages. He found that it was much like Crimson Sun Nine Songs.

"This will do. It's already quite good," Li Xian said with satisfaction.

"Li Xian, are you really going to do this?" Liang Haisheng asked worriedly from the side.

He had already learned of Li Xian's strength from Guan Jing and Guan Yi.

Now, the people of the Cao Gang regarded Li Xian as their last hope.

Only he could deal with the Buddha Son.

But not yet. He had to reach the Upper Three Ranks and grow stronger before he could stand a chance against the Buddha Son.

Opposing the Buddha Son now would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

"Of course!" Li Xian said nonchalantly.

Liang Haisheng earnestly advised him, "Li Xian, think it over. With so many cultivation methods, just reading them all would take more than a day or two, let alone training until you've mastered them. That's pure fantasy. It's just not realistic."

"Heh..." Li Xian smiled without replying.

Liang Haisheng continued, "I've already arranged for a boat to take you to Songzhou Prefecture, where you can lie low for a while. You should keep a low profile and patiently build up your strength. You can come back and avenge us later."

Guan Jing nodded in agreement. "That's right. I agree with Gang Leader Liang's suggestion. Even if the Prefectural Army and my uncle, Yuan Zhen, come to stop us, we'll hold them off at all costs and get you away."

At that, Li Xian abruptly shut his book.

"So, you agree?" Liang Haisheng asked in delight.

"No." Li Xian shook his head. "I nearly forgot about that monk, Yuan Zhen."

"Uh, what do you mean?"

Guan Jing and the others were confused.

Li Xian smiled. "Before I go into seclusion, I'll deal with Yuan Zhen first."

"Huh?"

A day later.

Night.

In Yuan Zhen's residence, the monk was hard at work in his room.

Ever since his son died, this elderly monk, who wasn't quite ready to admit his age, had become a little unhinged.

He quickly put his grief behind him and shifted to a new mindset: while he was still able, he had to hurry and father another child.

With the deliberate help of Chen Zhongwu of the Prefectural Army, Yuan Zhen soon found a young, beautiful woman who looked like she'd bear children easily.

With a new goal in mind, Yuan Zhen quickly cast aside the Cao Gang and the Buddha Son's instructions, spending his days lost in a life of pleasure.

After they were done, Yuan Zhen was drenched in sweat.

"Heh..."

Just then, a soft chuckle came from outside the window.

"Who's there?!"

Yuan Zhen jumped in fright and leaped out of bed.

Only then did he realize that a figure had appeared outside the window at some point.