"The 'Brute Elephant Art' is indeed a sixth-grade mid-tier body-tempering martial art, with impressive results. In just three days, I've broken through two levels and reached the late stage of the Aperture Opening Realm."
Lin Xuan gazed at the void before him and nodded slightly.
However, its consumption of resources was also immense. The month's worth of cultivation resources provided had been depleted in just three days.
Lin Xuan could only sigh inwardly.
Without cultivation resources, relying solely on absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate, even with his current exceptional talent, would be more than ten times slower.
Dissatisfied with such a sluggish cultivation speed, Lin Xuan had no choice but to stop.
"I need to go earn some cultivation resources."
Lin Xuan pondered.
"First, I'll head to the Martial Arts Pavilion."
The Martial Arts Pavilion was where the Flowing Cloud Sect stored its martial arts, a key location of the entire sect.
In truth, he could directly consume energy points to copy other martial artists' techniques and even obtain their level of mastery in them.
He wouldn't even need to train, making it extremely convenient.
But this was his greatest secret and couldn't be exposed.
He had to cover it up, and the Martial Arts Pavilion served that purpose.
Secondly, as a vital sect location, the Martial Arts Pavilion should have many martial arts masters stationed there.
Perhaps he might encounter some and copy their treasures.
After a brief deliberation, Lin Xuan made his decision.
He got up, left the cultivation room, tidied up, exited his small courtyard, and headed straight for the Martial Arts Pavilion.
Any new disciple, within a month of joining, was entitled to go to the first floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion and choose a third-grade martial art.
Let alone someone like him, the top potential new disciple, who could freely choose without quantity restrictions.
However, he could only pick third-grade martial arts.
On the way, Lin Xuan scanned his surroundings, looking for treasures worth copying.
But this was the outer sect, where most people's talents were inferior to his, and copying them would be a waste of energy points.
So Lin Xuan didn't focus much on talents.
Instead, he turned his attention to other aspects.
And soon, he made considerable gains.
Most new outer sect disciples were in the Aperture Opening Realm.
They couldn't afford storage rings yet.
Small items like pills and spiritual herbs, being compact cultivation resources, were carried on their persons.
Perfect for copying.
And over the course of this day, he had also gathered some energy points.
Seeing this, Lin Xuan naturally wouldn't let the opportunity slip.
He walked casually along the path, taking a winding route.
Intentionally or not, he approached within ten meters of those new disciples.
With a thought.
"Ding, consumed 500 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Second-grade top-tier pill, Blood Nourishing Pill, one bottle]."
"Ding, consumed 1000 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Third-grade mid-tier spiritual herb, Crimson Blood Ginseng, one]."
"..."
As he walked along, Lin Xuan felt a small pile of cultivation resources accumulating in his personal space.
Lin Xuan was even more satisfied.
"This should be enough for another period of cultivation."
He only stopped when his energy points were completely depleted.
He quickened his pace and headed straight for the Martial Arts Pavilion.
But before long, Lin Xuan stopped again.
The ones blocking his way were none other than Lin Yun, Wu Qili, and Chen Yu—the three who, like him, hailed from Qingyu City.
"Lin Xuan, save us!"
"Please, for the sake of being from Qingyu City, help us!"
"Lin Xuan, be careful, someone might be targeting you!"
"..."
Lin Yun and the other two rushed over, speaking frantically.
The outer sect disciple robes on them showed clear signs of damage.
Clearly, they hadn't been having a good time these past few days.
"What's wrong? What happened? Explain clearly."
Lin Xuan said.
Putting aside everything else, for the sake of Lin Yun being a fellow disciple of the Lin family, he would lend a hand.
But before they could elaborate, a group of people surged over from a distance.
Leading them was a young man in brocade robes.
It was Zhang Tao, another potential disciple from the talent test a few days ago.
"Lin Xuan, you finally came out. I thought you were going to keep hiding like a turtle."
Zhang Tao's cold shout rang out.
Behind him, a series of sneers followed.
"Lin Xuan, it's him!"
"These past three days, Zhang Tao has used his status as the legitimate son of a major clan in the prefecture to gather a bunch of lackeys and has been bullying us."
"The injuries on us are all from this group."
"..."
Chen Yu and the other two quickly said, looking at Zhang Tao's group with a hint of fear in their eyes.
After joining the Flowing Cloud Sect, they realized their talents were nothing special.
They had fallen to the bottom, subjected to wanton humiliation.
"So that's how it is!"
Lin Xuan's expression turned cold upon hearing this.
Now, he understood perfectly—Zhang Tao had deliberately oppressed Lin Yun, Wu Qili, and the others to force him out.
"What's the matter?"
Lin Xuan looked at Zhang Tao and said coldly.
"Nothing major. I just think you're not worthy of being the top potential disciple!"
Zhang Tao shouted coldly, then said:
"Come fight me. Watch me take that title of top potential disciple from you!
Don't bother refusing.
Unless you want those three fellow townsmen of yours to suffer.
You're the top potential new disciple, so with that protection, I can't touch you. But those three fellow townsmen of yours? That's a different story.
Unless you can do nothing all day and just protect them.
Otherwise, they'll be in trouble...
So, just agree!"
"Fine! I agree!"
Lin Xuan's eyes flashed with a cold glint as he spoke.
This was the first time he had been threatened like this.
It seemed he needed to show some authority.
Otherwise, every Tom, Dick, and Harry would dare to bully him.
"Good!"
Zhang Tao smiled and waved his hand:
"Step back. Let me test the strength of Lin Xuan, the top potential among the new disciples!"
Zhang Tao was absolutely confident in this duel.
He had broken through to the late stage of the Aperture Opening Realm in these past few days.
And Lin Xuan was only at the early stage of the Aperture Opening Realm during the test.
Although there was some gap in talent between them,
He didn't believe Lin Xuan could cross two levels and defeat him.
"You all step back too."
Lin Xuan said calmly to Chen Yu and the other two.
Chen Yu and the others, along with Zhang Tao's lackeys, all retreated.
At the same time, the commotion here had drawn the attention of many passing outer sect disciples.
They gathered around, watching, discussing, and making a racket.
"Isn't that Lin Xuan, the top genius among the new disciples with the highest potential? And that's Zhang Tao, also a potential disciple, right?"
"What are they doing?"
"Can't you tell? Zhang Tao has his eyes on Lin Xuan's title of top potential.
Although Lin Xuan is a genius with talent surpassing Zhang Tao,
Our Flowing Cloud Sect values strength above all.
Since both are potential disciples, if Zhang Tao defeats Lin Xuan fair and square, he can take his place as the new top potential disciple."
"I see. This should be a good show."
"I wonder who will win?"
"Probably Zhang Tao? Even though Lin Xuan has higher talent, Zhang Tao has a higher cultivation level."
"..."
Under the gaze of the crowd, Zhang Tao made his move.