Lin Chen understood the implication in Zheng Chuan’s words. Comprehending cultivation techniques through the stone tablet didn’t cost the sect anything, as the tablet was always there. It didn’t matter how many disciples approached it.
However, jade scrolls required a cost, and it was presumably high. The sect couldn’t afford to provide cultivation technique jade scrolls to all disciples.
If one couldn’t comprehend a cultivation technique through the stone tablet but wished to cultivate it, the only option was to use contribution points to exchange for a cultivation technique jade scroll.
"Senior Brother Lin, our sect’s Canglan Treasure Manual is the foundation for cultivating all techniques. Every disciple only has one chance to engage with the Canglan Treasure Manual; the longer one persists, the greater the harvest."
"Thank you, Junior Brother Zheng."
Lin Chen turned and smiled slightly at Zheng Chuan in appreciation, something Senior Brother Gao had already told him.
All powerful cultivation techniques of the Canglan Sect are based on understanding the Canglan Treasure Manual. Without its foundation, many techniques cannot be cultivated.
After expressing his gratitude to Zheng Chuan, Lin Chen stepped towards the Canglan Treasure Manual. At the moment he moved towards it, in a corner of the hall where all entering and exiting disciples overlooked, an elderly observer was leisurely watching.
"Full potential score, hopefully, this will cause some waves."
...
As Lin Chen walked towards the treasure manual, many disciples in the hall who hadn’t started comprehending the cultivation techniques cast their eyes over.
"Who is he?"
"I saw him standing with Senior Brother Zheng just now. And as Senior Brother Zheng walked, he was clearly deferring to him. His identity isn’t hard to guess."
"Direct Disciple Lin Chen!"
In a few days, Lin Chen’s name had spread among all inner and outer sect disciples. Many who knew Zheng Chuan knew that with Zheng Chuan’s arrogance, he would only lead the way for someone superior in strength to himself.
An unfamiliar face with a status above Zheng Chuan – his identity was already obvious.
Not on par with Senior Brother Lin!
"I wonder how long Senior Brother Lin can persist."
"I remember that at the time, Senior Brother Qiao Yuan seemed to have persisted for half a two-hour period."
One step, two steps, three steps...
When Lin Chen was five zhang away from the Canglan Treasure Manual, its surface suddenly trembled violently. The originally gentle Canglan energy transformed into a monstrous wave. Countless strands of Canglan energy coalesced into mysterious runes, weaving into nine roaring blue dragons in the void. As the dragon heads rose high, ice crystals splattered, and the temperature of the entire hall suddenly dropped.
This scene left all the disciples present stunned.
They had never heard of such a reaction from the Canglan Treasure Manual.
"What’s going on?"
"What happened? I feel like the Canglan Treasure Manual is intimidating, not allowing Senior Brother Lin to approach."
Zheng Chuan and other disciples were shocked by this scene, but in the corner, the elderly observer had an unexpected glint in his eyes. It was rare for the Canglan Treasure Manual to ward someone off.
"Zheng——"
While the disciples in the hall were shocked, Lin Chen stepped forward again. As he made this move, the nine blue dragons simultaneously let out a clear dragon’s roar. Among them, three suddenly dove down, emitting a metallic clang as their claws tore through the air, shrouding Lin Chen with a force capable of crushing mountains.
"Really... truly doesn’t want to let Senior Brother Lin approach?"
Zheng Chuan took a few steps back in fright, but Lin Chen didn’t retreat. Facing the three blue dragons, he directly struck out with a palm.
The overwhelming palm wind met the whistling dragon claws, which shattered one zhang before Lin Chen, scattering the Canglan energy like falling stars, soon absorbed by other surrounding stone tablets.
With a single palm, the three blue dragons were shattered. Lin Chen advanced again, and this time the remaining six blue dragons linked head to tail, forming a blue circle above Lin Chen’s head.
"Are you discriminating against me?"
Lin Chen’s eyes turned cold. In the next moment, his body suddenly grew to a height of three zhang, and flames appeared in his hand. A giant fiery hand reached for the dragon circle above.
Boom!
As the hand tugged and tore, it forcefully pulled down one of the blue dragon figures. The blue dragon howled, trying to escape Lin Chen’s giant hand, but after a few struggles, it was incinerated by the flames, leaking vast amounts of Canglan energy from the fingertips.
The disciples witnessing this were stunned by Lin Chen’s displayed strength.
"Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique, this little fellow has quite a temper too."
The elderly observer smiled at the sight of Lin Chen, transformed into a three-zhang giant.
"Senior Brother Lin, since the Canglan Treasure Manual is preventing you from approaching, perhaps you should stay back for now."
In the hall, amidst the shock, a high-pitched voice rose: "The Canglan Treasure Manual has never repelled disciples before. Maybe wait for the elders to arrive and decide."
Hearing this, many disciples showed expressions of agreement.
They had never heard of the Canglan Treasure Manual repelling a disciple before; it was highly likely something unusual about Senior Brother Lin triggered such a response.
However, Lin Chen completely ignored the speaker.
He was currently roused with fire; why could others approach but not him?
He was determined to see what the Canglan Treasure Manual had to stop him.
The commotion in the hall also drew the attention of many disciples outside in the square, who were now rushing into the hall. Some disciples even left to inform the stewards of the situation.
But before these stewards could report the news, an authoritative voice rang out in the Inheritance Hall square.
"No one is to disturb Lin Chen!"
The two stewards who had arrived at the hall entrance immediately stopped upon hearing this.
It was the Sect Leader’s voice.
The Sect Leader was already aware of the situation and forbade anyone from disturbing Lin Chen, indicating that Lin Chen being repelled by the Canglan Treasure Manual wasn’t a bad thing.
The two stewards exchanged a glance. Perhaps this situation hadn’t occurred before because previous disciples and Lin Chen were different.
...
Whish whish whish!
Figures informed of the news quickly rushed towards the Inheritance Hall.
Gao Zeming was among them.
"Junior Brother Lin is really... Just recently caused a stir throughout the sect, and now it’s happening again?"
Gao Zeming sighed as he, along with a few other stewards, stepped into the hall.
At this moment, inside the hall, Lin Chen was only one zhang away from the Canglan Treasure Manual, having already torn apart the remaining six blue dragons.
Swish!
The Canglan Treasure Manual suddenly erupted in brilliant purple-blue light, shooting towards all the stone tablets in the hall.
One point, two points, three points...
As the vast Canglan energy surged from the manual, the entire Inheritance Hall was enveloped in an ice-blue starry sea, awakening hundreds of dormant stone tablets like ancient divine awakenings. The surrounding Canglan energy vanished, revealing lines of text.
"Look here, this is the Azure Wave Sword Technique!"
A disciple exclaimed at the sight of a stone tablet in front of them. The originally blurry tablet lines transformed into dragon-like sword Qi shadows, condensing into seven Northern Dipper stars suspended atop the tablet.
"Azure Wave Cold Light Technique!"
"Brahma Heaven Sea Boiling Seal!"
"This is the Canglan Thunderbolt Step!"
...
All the disciples watched in fear at the stone tablets revealing cultivation techniques. Not only mantras, but even the evolution of the techniques themselves was on display.
The Inheritance Hall contained three hundred stone tablets, corresponding to three hundred martial arts techniques!
Stewards like Gao Zeming, who entered the hall, were also stunned by the unprecedented situation unfolding in the sect.
"Could this be the doing of the Canglan Treasure Manual, intending to make Lin Chen give up approaching it?"
Gao Zeming entertained what he believed to be a rather ludicrous notion, as he couldn’t find another explanation for the display from the stone tablets.
"What are you standing around for? If the stone tablet’s martial arts are revealed, if you wish to cultivate, approach the stone tablet immediately."
An elderly voice rang out, and Elder Zhao Yulin appeared at the hall entrance, gazing at the disciples still stunned in place with a face full of ’hate iron for not becoming steel’.
PS: One more Chapter before midnight