If There's No Avoiding It, Allocate Points
With trepidation, the team of instructors approached Deacon Zhang again, truthfully reporting the students' panic and their united plea, earnestly requesting that the Earth Spirit Sect end this perilous Demon Hunting Trial.
Faced with the pleas of the crowd, Deacon Zhang was not as indifferent as before; he even managed a forced smile. "I understand the feelings of the instructors," he said, his tone softening slightly, as if he were seriously considering the matter. "After all, lives are at stake. I will report this to my superiors."
However, Deacon Zhang inwardly groaned, "With so many people putting pressure on me, it's really not easy to refuse directly. It seems I can only stall for time and ask Li Xuan's opinion."
He reassured the mentors for a few moments, then hurried off to Li Xuan's residence.
At this moment, Li Xuan was sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, his blood and qi surging, faintly radiating a scorching aura. He slowly opened his eyes, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. The "hunting" of the past few days had brought him great gains, and his blood and qi had become increasingly refined and pure, allowing him to steadily step into the second level, "Blood Gives Rise to Rosy Clouds."
"It's a pity that some cowards are hiding and refusing to come out. What a waste of this great opportunity," Li Xuan muttered with slight dissatisfaction, showing considerable disdain for those students who chose to cower in the shadows.
Just then, Deacon Zhang knocked on the door and entered.
"Nephew Li, the instructors from those dynasties outside have all arrived, requesting that the Demon Hunting Trial be ended." Deacon Zhang briefly explained the situation.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling displeasure. "End? Why end it?"
Deacon Zhang explained with a wry smile, "After all, quite a few people have died, and people are filled with fear. They're worried..."
"What are you worried about?" Li Xuan interrupted him, his tone chilling. "What's the big deal if a few good-for-nothings die? Are you really going to give away these precious Earth Spirit Spring spots to outsiders? Our Earth Spirit Sect is nurturing the future of the sect, not the lackeys of other dynasties!"
Deacon Zhang was taken aback by Li Xuan's words, and surprisingly, he found some truth in them. However, he still forced himself to say, "But... but the Battle of the Python Gate is, after all, a rule set by the sect. Inviting various dynasties is also for..."
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible!" A cold glint One Flash in Li Xuan's eyes, his dissatisfaction with Deacon Zhang intensifying. "A mere Qi Refining Realm dares to talk about rules in front of me? When I reach the Major Accomplishment of my cultivation, you'll be the first one I absorb!"
Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, a vast and powerful aura suddenly descended! An elderly man with white hair and beard, and a tall stature, appeared in the quiet room as if by teleportation. This man was none other than Li Xuan's grandfather, Li Potian, a highly respected Internal Force Realm expert within the Earth Spirit Sect!
"Greetings, Elder Li!" Upon seeing the old man, Deacon Zhang was immediately shocked and bowed deeply, cold sweat even beading on his forehead.
"Grandpa," Li Xuan said respectfully, suppressing his fierce aura.
Li Potian glanced indifferently at Deacon Zhang without saying a word, but the invisible pressure emanating from him made Deacon Zhang feel as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Deacon Zhang, Li Xuan's meaning is the sect's meaning." Li Potian spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Yes, Elder!" Deacon Zhang dared not utter a single word of rebuttal and hurriedly nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Li Xuan's lips curled into a smug smile, and he continued, "Pass down the order: all students must continue the pursuit of the Ash Demon! Anyone who does not participate will be considered to have automatically forfeited their qualification for the Battle of the Python Gate and will be directly eliminated!"
Upon hearing this, Deacon Zhang looked troubled; this order was far too domineering.
"Hmm?" Li Potian let out a soft hum.
Deacon Zhang trembled all over, no longer daring to hesitate in the slightest, and said respectfully, "Yes! I will do it right away!" After saying that, he hurriedly withdrew as if he had been granted a pardon.
After Deacon Zhang left, Li Xuan turned to Li Potian and respectfully said again, "Thank you for your support, Grandpa."
Li Potian nodded, his gaze falling on Li Xuan with a hint of expectation. "Xuan'er, you know how much effort the family has poured into you. Remember, never let them down."
"Grandson understands!" Li Xuan replied firmly.
Li Potian nodded in satisfaction, then vanished without a trace in One Flash.
Inside the quiet room, only Li Xuan remained. He felt the surging power within him, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Grandmaster? Hmph, my goal is far more than just Grandmaster!"
On the other side, Deacon Zhang's cold, hard voice echoed in everyone's ears, announcing the Earth Spirit Sect's unquestionable decision. "All students must continue the pursuit of the Ash Demon! Anyone who hesitates will be considered to have automatically forfeited their qualification and will be immediately eliminated!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the faces of the team instructors instantly turned extremely ugly, their dissatisfaction overflowing. Someone was about to speak in rebuttal when Deacon Zhang preemptively added in a detached tone, "This is a rule personally established by Elder Li of our sect."
"Elder Li?!" Upon hearing this, the instructors were all shocked! Li Potian was a genuine Internal Force Realm expert within the Earth Spirit Sect! With this powerful figure speaking, how could they dare to have the slightest objection? Even if they had a thousand complaints, they could only suppress them, bow in agreement, and then retreat with a heart full of resentment and helplessness.
"This is outrageous!" one instructor roared inwardly. "The Earth Spirit Sect is increasingly disregarding us remote dynasties!" However, after the anger subsided, only a deep sense of powerlessness remained. What could they do when their strength was inferior?
The instructors relayed the Earth Spirit Sect's firm orders to their respective students. A stir immediately broke out among the crowd, with varying reactions.
Some trainees looked worried, their eyes filled with fear of the "Ash Demon" and anxiety about the future. Others, like Xi Feng, however, had excited glints in their eyes, eager to make their mark and stand out from the crowd!
"Hmph, a bunch of cowards!" Xi Feng glanced at Dongfang Yueming and the others who had chosen to stay at their lodgings, and sneered inwardly. "They really are cowards. Do they think they're worthy of participating in the Battle of the Python Gate?"
Qin Rushuang and Shi Qing both looked rather grim. They exchanged a glance, as if they could read each other's thoughts in each other's eyes.
"It seems there's no way to avoid it." Dongfang Yueming sighed inwardly, but her eyes gradually sharpened. "Since there's no way to avoid it, then we can only..."
Without further hesitation, he turned and went back to his room.
Closing the door to shut out the outside noise, Dongfang Yueming immediately focused his mind and summoned his attribute panel.
[Character: Dongfang Yueming]
[Realm: Body Tempering - Tendon Transformation Realm (Minor Accomplishment) (Gain 20 points daily)]
[Techniques: Basic Skin Tempering Method (Perfection), Layered Wave Skin Tempering Method (Perfection), Crimson Sun Flesh Refining Method (Perfection), Nine-Turn Coiled Dragon Force (Perfection), Hundred Beasts Bone Tempering Method (Perfection), Ten Thousand Beasts Bone Tempering Method (Perfection), Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method (0/100, Minor Accomplishment), Nine Oxen Tendon Transformation Method (0/20, Not Yet Entry)]
[Martial Arts: Basic Thirteen Fast Saber Forms (Perfection), Swift Gale Movement Technique (Perfection), Venomous Snake Dagger Technique Fierce Tiger Fist Technique (0/1, Not Yet Entry), Fierce Tiger Fist Technique (Perfection), Gale Saber Technique (Perfection), Whirlwind Leg (Perfection), Blood Burning Secret Method (Perfection), Crimson Flame Fist Technique (0/200, Not Yet Entry)]
[Points:500]
"Unconsciously, I've accumulated so many points." A glint One Flash in Dongfang Yueming's eyes, and without further hesitation, he focused his mind on the [Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method]!
"Point Allocation!"
[Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method (0/200, Major Accomplishment)]!
A surge of immense energy coursed through his body, his meridians crackled and popped, and his strength steadily increased!
"Add Point Allocation!"
[The Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method (Perfection)]!
Boom!
An even more powerful aura erupted from Dongfang Yueming's body! His muscles and bones seemed to have undergone a thousand hammer blows, reaching a whole new level of flexibility and strength! The second level of the Tendon Transformation Realm —Perfection Tough as a Jiaolong —was achieved!
Feeling the surging power within him, Dongfang Yueming nodded in satisfaction. He glanced at the remaining points.
[Points: 200]
"I have exactly 200 points left," he thought to himself. "Enough to Entry the [Crimson Flame Fist Technique]. If I ever encounter a danger I can't overcome, this might become an unexpected trump card. After all, the Crimson Flame Fist Technique is extremely valuable even to Qi Refining martial artists."