Fear

"Therefore, as long as we don't announce this, the outside world won't know about our sect's cultivation situation for some time."

After hearing Lin Xiao's words, General Mo thought about it again and realized that it was indeed true.

So far, the only people who know that Lingxian Sect allows cultivation without Spirit Root, besides the members of the Lingxian Sect themselves, are probably close friends like myself.

Knowing that spreading this matter too early would be detrimental to the sect, no one would dare to divulge it.

He certainly wouldn't tell anyone, since his son is in this sect.

And who knows, maybe my whole family will come here to cultivate in the future?

Then it would be even less likely that this sect would be placed in a dangerous situation.

Furthermore, even if he really wanted to harm his son and insisted on revealing this matter, given his status as a mere mortal, it's uncertain how many cultivators would believe him.

After all, the idea of cultivating without Spirit Root is a myth that has never been heard of throughout history.

Moreover, it came from the mouth of a mere mortal.

But General Mo thought for a moment, and then spoke:

"A few years is fine, but if it goes on for too long, unless Lingxian Sect never recruits new members, this matter will inevitably be exposed sooner or later."

Lin Xiao smiled gently and nodded slightly:

"That's right, so I will try my best to improve my strength as soon as possible, and I will also urge everyone in the sect to train hard. So what if we are exposed then?"

Seeing Lin Xiao's confident expression, General Mo pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile.

The young man before us has achieved the Golden Core in less than a year, which is simply impossible for most people.

Although the others in the sect did not cultivate as quickly as him, their speed was still unmatched by other sects outside.

Therefore, perhaps in a few years, the Lingxian Sect will no longer need to fear those other sects.

General Mo then bid farewell to Lin Xiao and left the sect's main hall.

He was already thinking about whether to bring his family over after the New Year and have them join the Lingxian Sect.

After bidding farewell to General Mo, Lin Xiao sat alone in the sect's main hall for a while, staring blankly at a corner of the hall.

He had originally thought that after he entered seclusion and reached the Golden Core, he would have some free time and could just wander around.

However, General Mo's words today shattered his beautiful dream.

This reminded him that he still needed to cultivate; the Golden Core Stage was still not enough in the eyes of the surrounding sects.

Lin Xiao, who was originally sitting on the straw mat, leaned back and lay on the ground in a "spread-eagle" position.

Ah, being a sect leader is so difficult.

The more the sect develops, the heavier the burden on one's shoulders becomes.

Why.

"Master, is it too late for me to disband the sect now?"

system:...

[Reply to the host: Once a sect is established, it cannot be disbanded. Even if you nominally disband it, as long as the disciples still Lingxian Sect in their hearts, they can continue to cultivate. The sect will exist in name only. At that time, the disciples will still face the various risks and dangers you are currently worried about. Disbanding the sect will only make the host a coward who shirks responsibility; it will serve no other purpose.]

Lin Xiao:...

Hey, did you have to be so harsh?

However, Lin Xiao also knew that what the system said was correct.

Unless their sect has only this many people for its entire life, never recruiting new members and becoming a super-reclusive sect that never leaves the world, they will inevitably face those problems.

But he also harbored a dream: to enable all people of pure and steadfast character to cultivate immortality...

Suddenly, Lin Xiao said to the system:

"Master, what do you think about our sect going into seclusion for decades or even centuries, until all our members have achieved great cultivation, before emerging into the world?"

The system replied in his mind:

[The sect's development strategy is entirely up to the host.]

So Lin Xiao began to ponder the matter of having the sect go into seclusion for a period of time.

To be honest, he was a little panicked.

Previously, when they were only at the Qi Refining Foundation Establishment Realm, their sect was not considered a significant force, so he didn't think his sect would need to face too many challenges.

But now that the sect has stepped into the nation's sights, and is also in the eyes of the three major sects that have long occupied the Pusi Kingdom, he is somewhat worried.

He was afraid that something might happen to his family and friends because of unforeseen circumstances.

He feared that Xiushui Village would face annihilation because of him and because of the Lingxian Sect.

Such consequences were far too heavy for him.

--

Lunchtime.

Jiang Youfu brought out plates of steaming hot dishes from the stove.

The members of the Lingxian Sect had been waiting at the dinner table, eagerly anticipating this moment.

"Hasn't Brother Xiao arrived yet?"

Qin Jianghe, not seeing Lin Xiao, asked.

Mo Yuanjiao looked towards the sect's main hall and saw Lin Xiao coming out. He smiled and said:

"They're here! They're here!"

Everyone saw Lin Xiao walk over calmly, smile at them, and say softly:

"Were you waiting for me? Let's eat."

Lin Dayou glanced at him but said nothing.

After Jiang Youfu served all the dishes, everyone began to eat in a lively atmosphere.

After lunch, Lin Xiao locked himself in the sect's main hall for a long time.

Sun Yigao vaguely sensed that Lin Xiao seemed to have something on his mind, but Lin Xiao didn't say anything, so he thought about it and didn't ask for the time being.

It wasn't until after dinner, when everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and dispersed to engage in their own private activities, that Lin Xiao found his Old Master Lin, Lin Dayou, who was chatting and relaxing with his grandfather.

When Lin Dayou saw Lin Xiao coming to find him, he didn't ask anything. He stood up, told Old Master Lin, and then led Lin Xiao towards the back mountain.

In the inky darkness of the night.

The father and son walked side by side in silence down the road.

Lin Dayou walked forward for quite a while with his hands behind his back before suddenly asking:

"You brat, just say what you want to say or shut up. Do you need your old man to start the conversation for you?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao took a deep breath before speaking:

"Father, I'm starting to panic. I'm thinking of hiding the sect."

Lin Dayou continued walking steadily ahead without stopping, his voice as calm and steady as his steps:

"Are you worried that the business is expanding too fast?"

Lin Xiao, who was following behind Lin Dayou, nodded.

"I'm terrified. If someone hadn't warned us beforehand, and if Senior Liao hadn't defended themselves so well, Xiushui Village would have been wiped out long ago. These past few nights, just thinking about how if any step hadn't been connected, or if any step hadn't been done properly, the people in the village might have been gone, terrifies me."

To his surprise, he saw Lin Dayou nodding and saying:

"It's good to be afraid; knowing fear is a good thing. I'm just afraid you don't know what fear is."

"Erlang, we've always been just ordinary people, without any extraordinary abilities. Ever since you started cultivating, watching your cultivation level rise day by day, I sometimes really worry about you. You're so arrogant, so unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, so unaware of what fear is."