My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 496: Chapter 222: Honey?

But Qin Fang had already made up his mind. He could only smile and say, ”Thank you for your concern, Master Zhou. I am endlessly grateful. However, please rest assured. My choice to study the Path of Spiritual Sense is merely to dip my toes in. I won’t get deeply entangled, much less force a breakthrough... The Root Skill will remain my priority.”

Seeing that Zhou Xuanmo was about to say more, Qin Fang said earnestly, ”Master Zhou, during the battle with the Path of Non-Birth, I experienced their bizarre Huoxin and Soul Control techniques firsthand... If Senior Brother Yun hadn’t used his Divine Sense to resist them, the outcome of that battle... I’m afraid it would have been uncertain.”

He looked at Zhou Xuanmo with a sincere gaze. ”The Three Religions are stirring up storms in Canglan, and the Path of Non-Birth specializes in techniques of the Divine Soul. Right now, I’m safe under the Sect’s protection. But surely I can’t hide under the wings of my seniors forever, can I?”

”I am the Hall Master’s True Inheritance of the Guiyuan Lineage. In the future, I must follow the example of our Sect’s elders and protect our juniors. It’s inevitable that I’ll have to face the Three Religions directly... Surely, Master Zhou, you don’t hope that I’ll have to turn tail and run every time I encounter the Path of Non-Birth?”

Zhou Xuanmo froze, his mouth agape, momentarily speechless.

Qin Fang bowed respectfully. ”Please believe me, Master Zhou, I know my own limits. For instance, the Leaf Skill I’ve chosen, ’Void Mirror Observation,’ primarily enhances the Divine Soul’s defenses. I have never dared to forget my foundational Cultivation, and I am keenly aware of my priorities.”

Qin Fang paused, his tone growing even more earnest. ”Master Zhou, I have always valued my life, and I’m even more aware of the responsibilities I carry. I would never recklessly chase achievements or do something so risky as to destroy my own foundation. It’s just... when you already know where the danger is, you can’t go in completely unprepared... can you? ...So, I ask that you grant my request.”

Qin Fang’s words left Zhou Xuanmo stunned. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but when the moment came, he found he had nothing to say.

...Qin Fang’s reasoning was sound, and he had explicitly stated he would only study it superficially, without being reckless.

’What else could I say?’

’Especially his point about the Three Religions causing chaos in Canglan. As the Hall Master’s True Inheritance of the Guiyuan Lineage... he would indeed have to confront them eventually.’

’...That was his responsibility.’

After a long, stunned silence, Zhou Xuanmo could only let out a soft sigh. Still, his voice was laced with worry as he said, ”Then... you must hold fast to your original purpose... This Path of Spiritual Sense is treacherous. A little study is enough. You must not get lost in it!”

”The Path of Spiritual Sense is mysterious and deceitful, and in the Early Stage, it provides a very significant boost to one’s combat strength... The more of a genius someone is, the easier it is for them to become addicted to the power and profundity of the Path of Spiritual Sense, to gradually sink into it, and then to spend their days and nights in Contemplation, exhausting their mind, damaging their Divine Soul, and ultimately losing themselves... You must remember what you’ve said today. For you, the Path of Spiritual Sense is merely a tool! ...You absolutely must not mistake the means for the end!”

Qin Fang bowed earnestly. ”Please rest assured, Master Zhou. I understand.”

Zhou Xuanmo wanted to say more, but in the end, he could only let out another soft sigh and wave his hand. ”Fine, fine. Go on, then.”

Seeing that Zhou Xuanmo had stopped trying to persuade him, Qin Fang let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the elder before him, whose eyes were still filled with concern, and said respectfully, ”Please don’t worry, Master Zhou. I promise I won’t be reckless... In that case, I will take my leave now.”

Zhou Xuanmo sighed in resignation and could only wave his hand.

Qin Fang bowed and took his leave.

Only after Qin Fang had left did a low murmur of discussion arise from the first floor.

”Senior Brother Qin is actually going to start on the Path of Spiritual Sense?”

”I heard that the Celestial Martial Hall is so desolate now precisely because they all pursued the Path of Spiritual Sense... Senior Brother Qin...”

”But Senior Brother Yun was so awesome in that last battle against the Path of Non-Birth! If it weren’t for him, who knows how many more of us would’ve died...”

”The Path of Spiritual Sense is dangerous, but it seems really powerful!”

”You’re making me kind of want to try it...”

The disciples’ voices reached Zhou Xuanmo’s ears, and he instantly flew into a rage, roaring, ”You dare to covet the Path of Spiritual Sense? How many heaven-sent prodigies have ended up as husks, neither human nor ghost, just because they were curious about the wonders of Divine Sense? Ask yourselves, do you have what it takes to walk the Path of Spiritual Sense?! You idiots can’t even master a simple Body Technique Leaf Skill! And you dare speak so lightly of Divine Sense?!”

Zhou Xuanmo’s sudden outburst left the disciples stunned. Then, with embarrassed expressions, they lowered their heads and didn’t dare to speak.

”Your Senior Brother Qin is cultivating Divine Sense, one, because he has the Talent for it! And two... because it is his duty!”

”He is a True Inheritance of the Guiyuan Lineage, shouldering the heavy burden of revitalizing and protecting the Sect! With the Three Religions on the attack, someone has to stand on the front lines! The Path of Non-Birth specializes in Divine Sense—it’s insidious and devious—so someone has to be on the front lines to understand them and to fight them! Nephew Qin has no other choice. He is forced to tread this path simply to gain another means of self-preservation and a way to counter our enemies. It’s a selfless, necessary sacrifice!”

”Your job right now is to diligently and steadily cultivate your Root Skill, lay a solid foundation, and raise your Cultivation! You need to consolidate your own strength and master the skills for self-defense and for slaying foes! If the day truly comes when Demons and heretics are at our gates, you can at least be the support for Nephew Qin and all the other senior brothers and sisters fighting on the front lines! ...Instead of being useless burdens who’ve crippled your own Cultivation out of curiosity, forcing them to get distracted from a bloody battle just to turn around and save you! ...Do you understand?!”

Zhou Xuanmo’s voice echoed through the silent first-floor hall of the Scripture Pavilion.

The disciples, flushed red with shame from the scolding, could only stammer, ”We understand...”

Zhou Xuanmo’s eyes widened in a glare. ”Have you not eaten?! Louder!”

”WE UNDERSTAND, MASTER ZHOU!”

This time, the voices were much more uniform and much louder.