Come Be My Whetstone!

On any other subject, Lin Ke might not have dared make bold claims.

After all, beyond every great person stood someone greater; beyond every mountain rose a higher peak.

But the Dao Foundation Lin Ke had forged was an unheard-of Thirteenfold Dao Foundation!

Ever since forging his Dao Foundation, he had never once exhausted all his Spirit Power.

Thus, even after fighting Lin Quan-meng for some forty minutes, the Amethyst Carapace covering him remained utterly unmoved.

The spectators nearby had long since begun exclaiming in amazement.

"It's been half a double-hour, hasn't it? Why do I feel like Lin Ke hasn't moved at all?"

"The aura I sense from Lin Ke really is at the Dao Foundation initial stage! I'm baffled too..."

"Could he have some treasure?"

"If he had a treasure, he'd have soared into the heavens years ago. How could he have let Li Le humiliate him like that before? Brother, you're not an inner disciple, so you didn't see Lin Ke's assessment a little over a month ago. Tsk, tsk."

"Oh? You're an inner disciple? Entering the inner sect at the Qi Refining stage-you must be quite talented! My apologies for not recognizing your distinction."

"If he had a treasure, wouldn't we be able to tell? Spirit Artifacts all give off Spirit Power fluctuations!"

"That Spirit Insect has incredible defensive power. I wonder what kind it is. I didn't get a clear look."

"It's not just defense-it also reflects force. It should be mid-grade spirit, right?"

"Lin Ke isn't very practiced with the Moisture-and-Egg Transformation Method. He probably hasn't been learning it for even a month. Otherwise, he should be able to merge with his Spirit Insect with a single thought."

The disciples buzzed with discussion. Some talked about Lin Ke's abundant Spirit Power, some about his past, and others about his Spirit Insect and spells.

Few paid any attention to Lin Quan-meng anymore.

Only Fang Du, who had already taken a seat in the distant stands, watched everything in silence, an inscrutable meaning in his gaze as he looked at Lin Ke.

Above them, Rain Spider True Person and Hua Wujiang were also discussing Lin Ke.

"What abundant Spirit Power!" Hua Wujiang exclaimed.

"When we Supreme Elders first heard about Lin Ke's Myriad-Leak Body, we discussed it. All we knew was that this constitution ranked among the very best even in the age of the Hundred Masters. Its cultivation method had simply been lost."

"To think that, besides its explosive power, the Myriad-Leak Body also possesses such abundant Spirit Power!"

By "we," he meant the Grand Elders.

Rain Spider True Person knew Hua Wujiang was one of the sect's innermost circle, and Lin Ke's condition had initially greatly interested those core figures.

After all, a constitution as unusual as the Myriad-Leak Body was a rare sight even for these Fusion Stage Grand Elders. They had found it fascinating, though later, no one had bothered with it anymore.

It was like a place where people had only ever heard that creatures called "parrots" could speak human words, but had never seen one-until one day, a talking bird suddenly flew in.

At first, everyone would naturally find it novel and fascinating.

But after spending enough time around it, their interest would fade.

That was also why no one had continued studying and examining Lin Ke afterward.

Put plainly, the Myriad-Leak Body was merely a special constitution that could not retain Spirit Power.

If it could not retain Spirit Power, the ultimate outcome would simply be that all its Spirit Power leaked away, leaving an ordinary mortal.

And so Lin Ke had gone from someone everyone came to examine to someone no one cared about, tossed into the Green Mulberry Garden and left to live or die on his own.

Now, however, Lin Ke had actually broken through to Dao Foundation. That would likely spark the interest of a whole crowd of the sect's core figures again.

Recalling the scattered scraps of records about the Myriad-Leak Body, Rain Spider True Person understood.

Lin Ke and Lin Quan-meng would probably be pestered for some time to come.

After all, these Fusion Stage Grand Elders had more free time than anyone.

"If you're interested, Supreme Elder Hua, you could take Lin Ke as your disciple," Rain Spider True Person replied.

"Take him as my disciple?" Hua Wujiang chuckled, but gave no answer.

Even if a Grand Elder were accepting Nascent Soul Realm disciples, countless people would swarm over and line up for the chance.

The sect had plenty of people with special constitutions, but only a handful at the Fusion stage.

Only the appearance of a genius like Lin Quan-meng would draw a Grand Elder's attention. Ordinarily, they would not be disturbed.

Just as the two were talking, the situation in the arena changed again.

Lin Ke withdrew his protective barrier!

Lin Quan-meng had long since been drenched in sweat. After all, she had not used the Moon-Jumping Intent she had just mastered; it consumed too much Spirit Power.

Seeing Lin Ke withdraw his barrier, her eyes lit up, and she asked curiously, "Why did you do that?"

She certainly did not believe Lin Ke had run out of Spirit Power.

His unflushed face and steady breathing made it clear that Lin Ke's body was still brimming with Spirit Power.

Even if she fought for another double-hour, she still would not be able to break through his defenses.

"I've more or less figured out this technique's limits," Lin Ke said with a smile. "This is the perfect opportunity to practice some other Spell Arts against you."

"Be careful."

With that, he stirred his Spirit Power, sending it racing through his body. A sound like a waterfall crashing onto the water below rang out, and fighting spirit surged through him.

He wanted to test his proficiency with spells!

Just as he had thought, in this world, combat was unavoidable-inevitable.

Besides, to him, spells, Spirit Insects, and all such things were what he had dreamed of encountering and mastering while reading novels and watching television shows and films in his previous life.

Since that was the case, why not hone his skills?

With two great figures like Rain Spider True Person and Hua Wujiang watching, his life would hardly be in danger.

Then let's really enjoy this fight!

"You're treating me as a whetstone?" Lin Quan-meng had no idea what Lin Ke was thinking. His words merely startled her for a moment, before fighting spirit blazed in her eyes as well.

"Good! I like the way you put it!"

"I've comprehended Moon-Jumping Dance Intent, while you're at Dao Foundation, with at least a Sixfold Dao Foundation. That puts us on roughly equal footing."

"Let's see whether I grind you until you snap, or you shave me flat!"

As she spoke, an astonishing brilliance shot from her eyes, and her entire bearing changed.

Profound beyond profundity, wondrous beyond wonder.

A mysterious fluctuation emanated from within Lin Quan-meng.

She began the Axi Moon Dance.

And this was an Axi Moon Dance imbued with intent.

Yet above them, Rain Spider True Person and Hua Wujiang paid no attention to Lin Quan-meng. Instead, their attention returned to Lin Ke.

"At least a Sixfold Dao Foundation..." A strange look appeared in Rain Spider True Person's eyes. "So this is the Myriad-Leak Body? Without breaking, there is no rebuilding. Break first, then rebuild—and success yields a Sixfold Dao Foundation."

"Indeed. A pity there are so few records..." Hua Wujiang narrowed his eyes. "If I weren't usually busy fathoming the Spirit Transformation Method, I'd really like to take him in and train him."

Hearing that, Rain Spider True Person's eyes shifted. "Then why not recommend him to another Supreme Elder?"

Hua Wujiang shook his head. "Those other old fellows are even more obsessed than I am. Apart from the Year Festival, when have you ever seen them appear? It's only because I gained a little insight today that I thought of taking Lin Quan-meng as a disciple. Otherwise..."

"A little insight?" Delight appeared on Rain Spider True Person's face. "Then congratulations, Supreme Elder Hua."

Gaining even a little insight at the Fusion stage was exceedingly rare.

"Haha, it's too early for that. I'm still far from Spirit Transformation!" Hua Wujiang smiled, clearly delighted with this "little insight" himself.

Then he changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Rain Spider True Person, why are you so concerned about this boy Lin Ke?"

Looking into Rain Spider True Person's eyes, Hua Wujiang smiled. "That isn't like you."

Rain Spider True Person did not answer immediately. Only after thinking for several seconds came the reply, "Actually, I'm not sure whether I imagined it..."

"At the last Year Festival, it seemed the Golden-Wing Queen glanced at Lin Ke."

"What?!" Hua Wujiang's expression changed instantly, his eyes widening.

"Is that true?!"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner about something so important?"

"I'll notify the Chief Supreme Elder right now!"