Chapter 608 - 204: Potential Ranking, Yunxiao Sect

In the great hall of the Xuanzhen Sect’s Main Peak.

Cao Zhen nodded slowly. His gaze swept over the silent figures in the hall before he spoke. "Senior Brother Li’s analysis was clear and his points well-made.

"However, this matter concerns the future of our sect and cannot be decided by one person’s opinion alone. The rest of you, please share your thoughts. There is no need to hold back."

The moment he finished speaking, Peak Master Zhenyue, Qin Gang, pondered for a moment before being the first to break the silence.

Dressed in dark cyan martial attire, his scholarly face held a hint of fortitude. His tone was steady. "Chu Yunhai’s Root Bone and comprehension are both of the highest caliber. Now that he has also awakened a War Body, both his potential and his actual combat prowess are at the pinnacle of the younger generation."

His tone shifted as he looked at the others, his eyes filled with deliberation. "Yang Jing, on the other hand, while his progress appears astonishing—seemingly matching three years of Chu Yunhai’s strength in just half a year—has too low a Root Bone. It’s merely an Eighth-Grade Root Bone."

"The path of the Martial Dao only grows more arduous. The limitations of one’s Root Bone become increasingly apparent. A rapid breakthrough now doesn’t guarantee he can maintain this pace forever."

Qin Gang surveyed the hall, his tone growing more solemn. "I have always maintained that for a Martial Artist, the Root Bone is their very foundation—the core cornerstone of the cultivation path."

"Some may disagree with my view, but you must all admit the critical role the Root Bone plays in the cultivation of the Martial Dao. It determines one’s ultimate potential and efficiency. This is an indisputable fact."

As he finished, the hall fell silent.

Even Peak Master Lingxi, Bai Bing, who had always argued that Root Bone was not the sole determining factor, remained silent, unable to offer a rebuttal.

Although she firmly believed that Root Bone wasn’t everything in the Martial Dao—that comprehension, latent talents, hard work, and fortunate encounters were equally vital—she had to concede that Root Bone was indeed a crucial factor in cultivation.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given the precious Bone Jade Pill to Yang Jing, just to help him improve his Root Bone and clear some obstacles for his future cultivation.

As a Peak Master, she knew better than anyone the importance of a Root Bone to a disciple’s future on the Martial Dao.

Seeing that no one objected, Qin Gang allowed a faint smile to touch his lips and continued, "Therefore, all things considered, cultivating Chu Yunhai is undoubtedly the safer choice."

"His talent is plain to see, his future trajectory clear. As long as we provide sufficient resources, he is certain to become a pillar of the sect. Our investment will not be in vain."

"I choose Yang Jing." The words had barely left Qin Gang’s mouth when a deep, resonant voice shattered the hall’s silence.

Thunder Peak Master Lei Lie shot to his feet. His burly frame was like an iron pagoda, and his eyes glinted with resolve. "There’s no such thing as a ’safer’ choice. I agree with Senior Brother Li."

"Yang Jing is not as simple as he appears. We cannot write him off because of a mere Eighth-Grade Root Bone. I believe it’s highly likely he possesses some sort of top-tier special constitution that has yet to fully awaken."

Lei Lie’s voice boomed like thunder, making one’s ears ring. "All of you, think about it. Without the aid of some top-tier special talent, how could he possibly break through three separate True Skills to the Qi Eating Realm in just over half a year, especially with his inferior Eighth-Grade Root Bone?"

"You must understand, even for an exceptionally talented disciple, breaking through a single Mid-grade True Skill to the Qi Eating Realm within two years is considered a stroke of incredible fortune. Yet Yang Jing cultivated three simultaneously, and all three have reached the Qi Eating Realm."

"This can no longer be explained away by mere luck or good fortune. He must possess an extraordinary talent that far surpasses the ordinary, one that is simply masked by the quality of his Root Bone."

He paused, his tone growing heavy. "Chu Yunhai’s talent is high, to be sure. But look across the five great sects of Jintai Prefecture—the Yunxiao Sect, the Celestial Sword Sect, the Vajra Sect, the Bishui Palace—are there truly no prodigies with talent comparable to his? There are even disciples with greater talent!"

"Our Xuanzhen Sect is already on the verge of becoming the weakest of the five great sects. If we simply play it safe and cultivate a ’reliable’ genius, we will never catch up to the other four. We’ll just be treading water."

Lei Lie’s gaze swept over them all as he said gravely, "If we want the Xuanzhen Sect to return to its peak, we must be willing to take a bold gamble!"

"We must bet on Yang Jing’s unawakened special constitution or talent. Bet that he can create a miracle."

"If we win this bet, then perhaps starting with Yang Jing’s generation, the Xuanzhen Sect can break free from its current predicament and begin its path to resurgence!"

Everyone knew that Lei Lie’s choice was a gamble, but it was a gamble for the very future of the sect.

"Unwise!" Peak Master Fen Yang, Xie Xuan, shook his head, his tone laced with concern. "The resources required to cultivate a top prospect are astronomical. Spirit Medicines, precious pills, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, even the Exotic Beast Musk for the Cultivation Sites... it would require the sect to pour in everything it has."

"Even our Xuanzhen Sect cannot afford to waste resources on that scale. I still believe we should be practical. Choosing a reliable genius like Chu Yunhai is the only responsible course of action for the sect."

"Senior Brother Xie has a point," Qin Gang said, nodding in agreement. "Once we choose a top prospect, the sect must devote all its strength to their cultivation. The cost is immense. Therefore, we must be cautious. We must be prudent. We absolutely cannot take needless risks."

"I disagree," Peak Master Qingxu, Li Zhihai, retorted, shaking his head. "Given Yang Jing’s current rate of growth, even if he doesn’t have a special constitution, his future achievements won’t be low. There’s a limit to how ’weak’ he could possibly be. Rather than cultivating a genius who can only ever play catch-up, why not take a gamble? We might just win a future for our sect!"