Chapter 73: The Road One Must Take

"The Jincheng Sect possesses the greatest overall strength; each year, most of the disciples our Qingcheng Sect selects for entry are from Jincheng," the city lord explained to Lin Hao.

For the next half hour, Lin Hao listened as the city lord described the standing and abilities of each of the twelve sects. As he listened, Lin Hao’s eyes grew ever brighter, already deciding that the first place to visit that afternoon would be the Jincheng Sect.

From the city lord’s depiction, Jincheng was the largest sect aside from Qingcheng itself. If that was the case, surely it harbored even greater treasures. Lin Hao’s eyes gleamed with anticipation for what he might find there.

“Well, thank you, city lord. Had you not told me all this, I truly wouldn’t have known. So, we’ll begin with the Jincheng Sect this afternoon?” Lin Hao asked, composed as ever after the city lord had finished speaking.

Seeing Lin Hao’s reaction, the city lord’s eyes flashed with satisfaction, and he replied with genuine pleasure, “Indeed, the first place we’ll visit this afternoon is the Jincheng Sect. Rest assured, the elders will have made proper arrangements within their sects. All you need to do is carry out your inspection.” There was an unspoken meaning in his words.

Lin Hao understood perfectly, his gaze flickering as he nodded to the city lord. “That’s good. City lord, I must say, after coming here, I realize how challenging your role is. You’ve fulfilled your duties admirably. When I return to the sect, I’ll be sure to report your efforts to my superiors.”

“Truly?” The city lord’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight, his tone becoming even more eager. “That’s a great kindness, Brother Lin Hao. You can rest assured—I will do my utmost as city lord,” he said, full of gratitude.

At that moment, a young man entered, bearing a striking resemblance to the city lord, though much younger. Lin Hao sized him up and found his strength quite respectable.

The young man immediately stepped forward and, with deference, offered a deep bow. “Brother Lin Hao.”

Lin Hao was taken aback, glancing at the city lord in confusion. The city lord, however, smiled with satisfaction at his son before turning to Lin Hao. “Brother Lin Hao, this is my son, Cheng Yu. Knowing that Qingcheng Sect sent you here, he has come especially to pay his respects.”

In truth, Lin Hao had already guessed as much upon seeing the young man. Now, hearing the city lord’s introduction, he nodded knowingly and smiled, “So it’s your son. Please, rise. Is there something you wish to discuss?”

The city lord was just waiting for this opportunity. “Indeed, Brother Lin Hao, I’ve heard that Qingcheng Sect is about to hold its selection again. I wonder if my son might have the honor to participate?”

As soon as Lin Hao asked, the city lord carefully revealed his purpose. With that, he produced a box and placed it on the table.

A glint flashed in Lin Hao’s eyes. Whenever he saw a box now, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of joy in his heart. Even so, upon hearing the city lord’s words, Lin Hao merely sat upright, making no move to take the box, instead studying Cheng Yu with a scrutinizing gaze.

The city lord, in turn, was observing Lin Hao. Seeing that Lin Hao was not immediately tempted by the offering, but instead focused on his son, he found himself thinking even more highly of the young man.

After a moment, Lin Hao spoke. “Third level of Foundation Establishment—not bad,” he said, accurately discerning Cheng Yu’s cultivation.

A complex look flashed briefly across the city lord’s eyes. Then, turning to Lin Hao, he said, “Since that’s the case, Brother Lin Hao…”

“Rest assured, I’ll take care of it. I’ll be sure to recommend him when I return. With his strength, your son will certainly be accepted into Qingcheng Sect,” Lin Hao promised, patting his chest.

Hearing this, joy shone in the city lord’s eyes, and even Cheng Yu looked visibly pleased. Cheng Yu bowed deeply to Lin Hao once more. “Thank you, Brother Lin Hao. If ever you need anything, I will go through fire and water to help you.”

“Get up, don’t be so formal. We’re all friends here,” Lin Hao said, rising to help Cheng Yu to his feet.

“Junior Brother Cheng Yu, once you’re in Qingcheng Sect, you’ll be my own junior brother. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything for you,” Lin Hao added, taking full responsibility.

The city lord and Cheng Yu exchanged glances, unable to hide their delight, and their attitude toward Lin Hao became all the more respectful. Meanwhile, Lin Hao was mostly curious about the contents of the box the city lord had brought; he cared little for their promises. After all, he intended to collect his gains and leave—chances of meeting them again were slim.

So, Lin Hao continued to say whatever pleased them, regardless of how many grand promises he made. In the end, it mattered little to him.

The city lord was greatly satisfied by Lin Hao’s attitude, not expecting things to go so smoothly. “Brother Lin Hao, in that case, we won’t trouble you further. Please rest a while; once noon has passed, we’ll head to the Jincheng Sect.”

“Very well, you two go rest as well,” Lin Hao replied, waving them off.

As soon as the city lord and Cheng Yu left, Lin Hao picked up the box and examined it closely. Upon opening it, his eyes widened in shock, before a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

“A high-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill! The city lord is truly generous,” he murmured.

This pill was meant for use during the Nascent Soul stage; with its help, advancing in that realm would become much easier, saving considerable effort and avoiding many detours. While Lin Hao had no use for it yet, he was confident that with time, he would reach the Nascent Soul stage. The pill would be of great benefit to him then.

He carefully stored it within his system’s space, humming a little tune as he lounged in his chair.

Once noon had passed, the city lord and Cheng Yu accompanied Lin Hao to Jincheng Sect.

Upon arrival, Lin Hao found the scene reminiscent of how the city lord had welcomed him earlier. At the gate, the Jincheng Sect elder—whom Lin Hao recognized from before—stood at the fore, flanked by a group of people awaiting their arrival.

Spotting Lin Hao, the elder hurried forward, greeting him warmly. “Brother Lin Hao, you’ve finally arrived. Please, come in!”

With great enthusiasm, the elder ushered Lin Hao inside.

The Jincheng Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the largest sect after Qingcheng. Its grandeur rivaled even the city lord’s residence.

The elder led Lin Hao on a tour, with the first stop being the martial training grounds.

Upon arrival, Lin Hao saw two large arenas. On the left, disciples sat together cultivating; on the right, martial artists were engaged in combat.

Taking in the scene, Lin Hao’s interest was piqued.

The elder, seeing Lin Hao’s keen expression, explained, “This is our training ground. The ones on the left are spiritual cultivators, while those on the right are all martial artists.”

This was Lin Hao’s first time witnessing martial cultivators. Qingfeng Sect was wholly composed of spiritual cultivators; they accepted only those capable of gathering spiritual energy, with no martial practitioners among their ranks. Until now, Lin Hao had only heard tales of martial cultivators, never having seen them in person.

After the elder’s introduction, Lin Hao stepped onto the right-hand arena, curious.

At that moment, two people were sparring at the center of the stage. Lin Hao watched their powerful attacks—none of which contained spiritual energy, yet each blow packed considerable force. Even from the sidelines, he could feel the strength emanating from them.

Glancing left, he saw the spiritual cultivators meditating with eyes closed, while on the right, the martial cultivators fought with relentless ferocity. Lin Hao was amazed by the sharpness and intensity of every move.

If he were forced to fight these martial artists without using spiritual energy, Lin Hao felt he would be at a disadvantage in terms of raw power.

This, he realized, was the defining trait of martial cultivators. Those who chose this path typically lacked spiritual roots and were unable to cultivate spiritual energy, so they tempered their bodies instead. Their advancement depended on continually pushing their physical limits, forging their bodies ever stronger.

Spiritual cultivators, on the other hand, like Lin Hao himself, could break through bottlenecks with training, strengthen their meridians, expand their spiritual seas, and elevate their mental state. There were many ways for them to advance.

But for martial cultivators, progress could only be earned, step by step, with real strength. For the first time, Lin Hao found himself admiring these martial artists.

He stood there in rapt attention, watching match after match. Each combatant left the ring battered and bruised, yet none seemed truly hurt. The force of their punches was enough to make Lin Hao wince in sympathy, but their bodies seemed barely affected—just a few bruises, no real injuries. How tough must their bodies be to withstand such punishment?

Lin Hao couldn’t help feeling envious.

He pondered that, given his current strength, if he relied on spiritual energy, he could easily keep these martial artists at bay, using his energy to shield himself and achieve a diamond-like invulnerability. But if it came down to pure bodily strength, he had no confidence in besting them.

He was deeply curious about their martial prowess.

Seeing Lin Hao so engrossed by the matches, the elder sidled up and asked, “Brother Lin Hao, are you interested in martial cultivation?”

Lin Hao nodded. “Indeed, this is my first time seeing martial cultivators. I find it fascinating.”

For these small sects, each typically included both spiritual and martial cultivators, unlike the great sects with their deep-rooted traditions and inherited techniques. The smaller sects were newer and lacked such extensive legacies.