Chapter 34: Reaping What One Sows

"Brother Li, my talent is quite ordinary. Perhaps I should just..."

Qiu Zishi walked onto the arena, his expression hesitant and uncertain. Li Wudao waved a hand, signaling that there was no need for further words. If even a Wood Spirit Body could not quickly master a wood-attribute martial art, then no one else could.

"Brother Qiu, if I may ask, what type of martial arts have you been practicing?"

"Er, a fire-attribute fist technique and a fire-attribute sword technique," Qiu Zishi replied blankly.

Hearing this, Li Wudao’s expression turned somewhat peculiar. A Wood Spirit Body practicing fire-attribute martial arts? That’s quite something. He became even more certain that the other party was unaware of his own constitution. However, there were no Heaven-tier wood-attribute martial arts in the Scripture Pavilion; the highest were only Earth-tier. In that light, the martial art Wu Shan had produced had actually turned out to be a blessing for Qiu Zishi.

"Read this manual twice first. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me," Li Wudao said, handing over the *Green Wood Vine Palm*.

"Alright—"

Qiu Zishi braced himself, opened the manual, and began to read with great trepidation. A quarter of an hour later, his nervous agitation gradually calmed, and a glimmer of excitement appeared in his eyes.

"Brother Li, I feel like this martial art is... very well-suited to me. It’s as if I understand it the moment I see it, without any obstruction," Qiu Zishi said, feeling a bit stirred.

"That’s good. It means you are quite suited for practicing wood-attribute techniques," Li Wudao hinted subtly.

"It really is. I’ve never felt this way when practicing other martial arts before. It’s as if I’m like a fish in water, and everything just falls into place." A look of joy flashed across Qiu Zishi’s eyes as he continued his study.

Another stick of incense time passed. He closed the manual and said somewhat dazedly, "Brother Li, I think I’ve grasped the first layer."

"Try practicing it." Li Wudao nodded; this was even faster than he had anticipated.

As Qiu Zishi stepped to the center of the arena, many disciples could no longer remain calm, their eyes widening in disbelief. No way—how much time had passed? Had he really already mastered it?

Most disciples were in an uproar, with the sole exception of Qi Xingyu, whose expression remained unchanged, even bearing a cold sneer. "Mastering the first layer of a Heaven-tier technique in three quarters of an hour? What a pipe dream!" He had practiced this martial art himself and knew well the difficulties; it was certainly not something that could be grasped in a day.

Meanwhile, Qiu Zishi stood tall and slowly began to perform the martial art he had just learned. Although it was his first time practicing it, he felt an inexplicable familiarity, as if he had performed it countless times before. Every move and stance was fluid, with hardly any pauses. Even the flow of his internal energy through his meridians matched his intuition perfectly, as if it had been custom-made for him, leaving him unable to hide his astonishment.

Before long, Qiu Zishi finished his practice and stood in place, frowning slightly as he recalled the process. Although he had completed the first layer of the palm technique smoothly enough, he felt something was missing; he hadn't touched the core essence. According to the manual, mastering the first layer should allow one to manifest Green Wood True Essence, coating the palms and doubling their power. Yet, he hadn't felt that surge of energy.

"Brother Li, I..." Qiu Zishi looked toward him for guidance, feeling a bit helpless.

"It's fine. You have done very well. Now, I will demonstrate it once; observe and feel it carefully," Li Wudao comforted him. After all, it was a Heaven-tier technique; even with a Wood Spirit Body, it was impossible to fully grasp it on the first try. Seeing Li Wudao’s calm expression, Qiu Zishi’s unease dissipated, and he retreated to the side.

Seeing the master himself take the stage, the crowd perked up, watching intently. Li Wudao stood leisurely on the platform and began to practice with ease. Under the enhancement of his hundredfold comprehension, there were no difficulties in the Heaven-tier martial art. He started slowly, but soon, the transitions between his movements and palm techniques became visibly proficient and fluid. Clearly the same moves, but in Li Wudao’s hands, they were entirely different; the true artistic conception of a Heaven-tier martial art was revealed.

If Qiu Zishi’s palm technique was the spirit of grass and trees, then Li Wudao’s was a boundless, infinite forest. Under the gaze of the crowd, the young man in white moved with effortless grace. In a trance, they felt as if they were standing in an ancient jungle, and a subtle aura of green wood drifted out.

"Hum—" A low hum resonated.

A wisp of green light erupted from Li Wudao’s palm, shooting out like a green arrow that pierced the sky before vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"This is... Green Wood True Essence?! Damn it, this brat actually mastered the first layer!" Qi Xingyu stared in shock, his heart filled with fury. It had taken him seven days to barely grasp the first layer. How could Li Wudao? No, he must have practiced it before! That must be it! Qi Xingyu could not bring himself to believe it and silently tried to convince himself.

After a long while, he suppressed his anger and muttered coldly to himself, "Even if you mastered it yourself, so what? I don’t believe that brat can master it in such a short time..."

On the arena, Li Wudao stepped aside and smiled at Qiu Zishi. "Try again."

The latter nodded slightly, standing on the stage in deep thought. He closed his eyes, recalling every detail of Li Wudao’s performance and cross-referencing it with his own shortcomings. Time ticked away. Without realizing it, another stick of incense time passed. The onlookers, seeing him standing still and doing nothing, began to grumble.

"A waste of time, just a desperate struggle!" Qi Xingyu sneered incessantly. With only two quarters of an hour left, Qiu Zishi was like a dead man doing nothing; it was impossible for him to master it.

Just as the crowd was growing impatient, Qiu Zishi finally opened his eyes. He took a deep breath, the simulated practice flashing through his mind. In the next instant, he thrust his palm forward, resolute and unyielding. Suddenly, a streak of green True Essence wrapped around his palm, identical to what Li Wudao had displayed.

"I actually succeeded?" Qiu Zishi looked at the light in his palm, his mind dazed and disbelieving.

"Indeed," Li Wudao stepped forward and patted his shoulder encouragingly.

"Thank you, Brother Li. I didn't let you down; I did it." At this moment, Qiu Zishi’s feelings were complex, but joy predominated. For the two Heaven-tier martial arts he had been practicing for half a month, he had only barely scratched the surface, far from being able to manifest True Essence. Now, under Li Wudao’s guidance, in less than two hours, his technique had reached the realm of "subtlety," increasing his strength by at least twenty percent. It was an indescribable surprise.

"Hiss! He really mastered it! A genius!"
"That’s True Essence manifesting through the body, and the aura isn't weak! One needs at least an Earth-tier technique to achieve that!"
"Should we say Qiu Zishi has great comprehension, or that Senior Brother Li is a great teacher?"
"Either way, to be able to master it in such a short time—Senior Brother Li didn't exaggerate at all. It seems we misunderstood him."
"True. Senior Brother Li’s ability is plain for all to see. If he can teach Qiu Zishi so well, he can surely teach us too."

The disciples chattered, gasping in shock, all stunned by the result. What they witnessed today defied common sense, leaving them unable to calm down for a long time.

"He really mastered it?!" Jiang Churan and the others were moved; after a moment of stunned silence, they felt genuinely happy.

"The Young Prince is awesome!" Li Dabao shouted from below the stage, his face flushed with excitement. One would think it was he who had mastered the technique.

"Good!" The most excited person in the entire venue was Lin Yan. He clenched his fists tightly, his expression fervent. Previously, Wu Shan had humiliated and slandered him and Li Wudao; now, with their names cleared, he had finally vented his frustration.

However, throughout the entire process, Li Wudao remained as calm as water, neither happy nor sad. Because the outcome had long been destined and was entirely within his expectations; they were mere clowns who could not stir up any trouble.

"Wu Shan, what do you have to say now? I believe everyone has their own judgment regarding right and wrong." Li Wudao had not forgotten this treacherous villain.

In an instant, all eyes in the venue fell upon Wu Shan, filled with deep criticism and anger, like sharp needles; they looked as if they could kill him. Maliciously slandering a Senior Disciple was a grave crime! Moreover, all the disciples had witnessed Li Wudao’s ability and were now genuinely convinced and eager. To some extent, Wu Shan’s targeting of Li Wudao had touched their own interests—how could they not be angry? After all, if they offended Li Wudao, how would they ask for guidance on martial arts in the future? A single spirit stone for instruction—if such a good opportunity were missed, they would have nowhere to cry.

"A mere inner-sect disciple daring to slander a Senior Disciple—what a gutsy dog!"
"Senior Brother Li’s strength is plain to see. That despicable villain Wu Shan dared to spread rumors; he must not be let off lightly!"
"True, he must be severely punished, or my anger will not be appeased!"

For a time, the disciples below the stage were in an uproar, their anger surging like waves crashing against the shore, sweeping toward Wu Shan.

"This... how could it be..." Wu Shan panicked, his mouth trembling and his face turning as pale as paper. Qi Xingyu was no better; his pupils shrank, and he stood frozen as if struck by lightning, having lost the ability to think. "Impossible, absolutely impossible..." he muttered to himself, his eyes devoid of any luster.

"Senior Brother Wu, it is time to fulfill the wager. Will you do it yourself, or shall I?" Li Wudao looked at Wu Shan coldly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"I... I..." Wu Shan stammered, his mind in chaos, subconsciously looking toward Qi Xingyu. But the latter’s expression was as cold as stone; he didn't even look at him, casting him aside like a worn-out shoe.

"So hesitant? Daring to do it but not daring to take responsibility—how shameful!"
"If you don't dare to do it, we'll do it for you!"
"Where did all that arrogance from before go? You coward!"

The onlookers sneered with disdain. Hearing the overwhelming chorus of curses and urgings, Wu Shan desperately wanted to flee, but the surrounding area was packed tight. Before the wager was fulfilled, the disciples would not let him leave. His heart turned to ash; his face was ashen with regret. If he had known, he wouldn't have been so greedy; for the sake of one Heaven-tier manual, he had buried his entire martial career.

Alas, there was no medicine for regret in this world. In the next moment, Wu Shan made his decision. He extended a trembling hand and slammed it into his own dantian. With a muffled thud, as if something had shattered, he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees, his face withered. He had crippled his own dantian, cutting off his path to future cultivation.

With this, the disturbance on the martial stage gradually subsided. Before leaving, Wu Shan gave Li Wudao a venomous look, said nothing, and hunched over, stumbling bleakly off the stage. The crowd parted to make a path; the onlookers merely watched with cold eyes, and no one stepped forward to help him. Wu Shan’s actions were a classic case of lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet; it was entirely self-inflicted and not worth a shred of sympathy.

Now that he had fallen, everyone pushed him further. He no longer had a place in the Xuantian Sect, and it was doubtful if he would even survive in the future. Watching Wu Shan exit the arena on his own, Li Wudao frowned slightly, his gaze flickering imperceptibly toward Qi Xingyu, who acted as if nothing had happened. He hadn't expected Wu Shan to cripple himself rather than expose the Seventh Prince—he was ruthless. He also hadn't expected Qi Xingyu to be so heartless, leaving no trace of evidence, giving him no opportunity for retaliation.

"Qi Xingyu has just joined the sect; he shouldn't have the power to make an inner-sect disciple serve him so loyally. There must be someone else controlling this from behind the scenes. Who could it be?" Li Wudao pondered, his heart sinking. The Seventh Prince posed no threat to him, but the person behind him was another matter. It seemed he would have to find someone to investigate when he had the chance.