I Just Wanted to Teach Cultivation, But Goddesses Keep Coming!

Chapter 306: Chapter 306 Why the Auction House Smells Like Aphrodisiac and Greed

In another part of the region, another piece of news arrived that sent a ripple of shock through the ranks of another huge influence.

It concerned one of their most prized disciple, Fang Yuan, and the details were troubling.

“This cannot be real. Fang Yuan was defeated? His opponent merely glanced at him, and he collapsed in defeat? And now his whereabouts are unknown?” a monk exclaimed, his voice taut with disbelief and underlying worry.

His eyes darted across the room as if hoping someone could deny the report, or perhaps explain it away. Fang Yuan was a prodigy, disciplined and strong, yet the jade slip seemed to leave no room for doubt.

“It is exactly what is written on the jade slip, master,” another monk replied, his tone respectful but somber.

He held the jade slip carefully, as if its delicate surface contained not just information, but the weight of their responsibility.

The first monk’s brow furrowed. “Did you check his soul lantern? Tell me he is still alive. It cannot be true that Fang Yuan would simply vanish.” His voice, though controlled, betrayed the depth of his concern.

“Disciple Fang Yuan is still alive, master. I examined his soul lantern earlier today. His spirit burns steadily so he is not dead,” the other assured him, bowing slightly.

The relief was faint but present, a small comfort in the face of so much uncertainty.

The senior monk paced slowly, his hand brushing his long beard, deep in thought.

“Lin Feng… a young master from an ancient clan. Which one this time? Is it the Primal Chaos Clan or the Void Imperial Clan again?” He muttered the names under his breath, recalling the most recent incidents that had shaken the empire years ago.

Each ancient clan carried immense influence, and their young masters were notoriously cunning, reckless, and utterly spoiled by power and privilege.

He paused, realizing that speculation was pointless without evidence.

“Even guessing is meaningless. Until we know the facts, all we have is fear and supposition,” he murmured, more to himself than to the others in the room.

The jade slip had brought a challenge that could not be handled through conjecture and now it required precise action and the right person to intervene.

“Master, do you wish me to go and fetch Disciple Fang Yuan back to the temple immediately?” the junior monk asked, eager to act yet careful not to overstep.

“No,” the senior monk said firmly, though his voice carried the weight of command. “I have a more suitable task for you. Seek out Elder Qin Ran and instruct her to retrieve Fang Yuan. She knows how to handle these matters. She has dealt with spoiled young masters from the ancient clans before, and she understands the subtleties of dealing with their arrogance and cunning.”

The disciple bowed deeply, his resolve clear. “I understand, master. I will find Elder Qin Ran at once and deliver your instructions. She will know what to do.”

With that, he departed in haste, leaving the senior monk alone with the jade slip.

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint rustle of robes.

***

Meanwhile, Lin Feng was busy teaching his students. Today, however, he took a noticeably different approach.

Unlike yesterday, he did not stand up front and preach the Dao in vast, unfathomable profundity. There were no grand visions, no overwhelming enlightenment descending like a heavenly tide.

If he were to preach the Dao every single day, then in less than a year, many of his students would likely reach the threshold of immortality.

Such a thing might sound like a blessing, but in truth, it was a disaster waiting to happen.

Power gained too quickly was like a towering structure built on sand. It might rise swiftly and look magnificent, but the moment it faced true pressure, it would collapse without warning.

Cultivation was not merely about absorbing energy or comprehending laws. It was about tempering the body, refining the mind, and strengthening the soul through time and experience.

Without these, even the greatest power would twist its wielder into something unstable and dangerous.

Lin Feng understood this better than anyone. He had no intention of creating a group of hollow immortals who lacked foundation and discipline.

Because of this, he shifted his method entirely.

Instead of preaching, he walked among his students, answering their questions one by one, addressing their flaws directly, and guiding them toward a more balanced path.

“Mentor Lin Feng, why can’t I feel any motivation to cultivate? I’ve tried everything, but all the time I just feel sleepy and weak,” a middle-aged man asked hesitantly.

The moment he spoke, countless gazes turned toward him.

His face flushed a deep red, embarrassment creeping up his neck. In the cultivation world, exposing one’s weakness in public was no small matter. Many present could not help but smirk inwardly.

After all, cultivators thrived on comparison, and seeing others struggle often brought a twisted sense of satisfaction.

But the man had reached his limit. His progress had slowed to a crawl, and recently, it had become even worse.

Every time he tried to cultivate, an overwhelming fatigue would overtake him, as if his very body rejected the process.

If this continued, his path would end here. So even if it meant losing face, he had to ask. Lin Feng only gave him a single glance. That one look was enough.

“You rely too much on spirit stones to achieve breakthroughs,” Lin Feng said calmly, his hands clasped behind his back as he stood tall before the crowd.

The words were simple, yet they struck like a hammer.

The middle-aged man’s body trembled slightly.

“This is a classic case of excess,” Lin Feng continued. “Spirit stones are pure, but they are not without impurities. Over time, the toxins within them accumulate in your body. At first, the effects are negligible, but as the buildup grows, it begins to hinder your cultivation instead of aiding it.”