Free Web NovelChapter 235: Chapter 158: Feixing Society, Flying Star Chart, Mid-stage Flying Star
Getting to know nearly five hundred people was no easy task, but with Li Wen’s current Primordial Spirit strength and memory, he was more than capable of handling it.
By the time he returned to the tables where the disciples of Nine Heavens Peak had gathered, the melodious chimes signaling the start of the soirée rang out.
Hosting this month’s Flying Star soirée was the head senior sister of Bibo Peak, Su Yingxue.
Dressed in an aqua-blue gown, she possessed a graceful figure and an air that was at once gentle and capable. As she stood on the main stage, the aura of an advanced Flying Star Level cultivator emanated from her, yet it wasn’t oppressive, putting everyone at ease like a gentle spring breeze.
The twelve major peaks took turns hosting the Flying Star soirée. This time, it was the turn of Bibo Peak, famous for its water-attribute Divine-Demon Body cultivators and for having the highest proportion of female disciples.
Su Yingxue began with a brief opening statement, her voice clear and pleasant.
"Fellow disciples, with the new year approaching, we gather tonight to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao. As is tradition, our discussions will prioritize Cultivation Techniques."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the hall.
"I will pose a question for everyone to ponder: ’During cultivation, if you are suddenly assailed by emotional phantasms welling up from the depths of your mind, causing a Reverse Flow of your qi and blood and scattering your Spiritual Energy, how can you stabilize your mind and channel that energy without interrupting your Cultivation Technique?’"
The moment she finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
Everyone present was a prodigy of the Flying Star Level and knew full well how thorny the problem was.
It touched upon the operation of Cultivation Techniques, mental fortitude, energy control, and an understanding of the inherent flaws in certain techniques.
After a brief silence, discussions arose once more, but their content was a world away from the previous idle chatter.
Everyone furrowed their brows. Some closed their eyes in contemplation, while others began hushed discussions with those seated nearby. A few even traced the trajectories of True Essence in the air with their fingers, running through their deductions. The atmosphere swiftly turned serious and focused.
At first, Li Wen’s mind wandered slightly; he hadn’t expected a scene like this.
He had assumed this kind of "soirée" would be more of a social obligation, but he never imagined it would actually be a platform for pure, efficient academic debate.
These elites from the various major peaks were all so earnestly engrossed in solving the problem.
Gu Yan, who was beside him, noticed his expression. A knowing smile touched his lips as he sent a soft voice transmission:
"Quite different from what you expected, isn’t it, Junior Brother? I was just as surprised the first time I attended. But this atmosphere—one that casts aside pageantry in favor of a focused pursuit of knowledge—is the very essence of these Flying Star gatherings."
"What truly brings us together isn’t social niceties, but the shared pursuit of power and the desire to build a foundation of knowledge for when we might one day fight side-by-side. Come on, let’s give it some thought."
Gu Yan gave him a meaningful look. Li Wen nodded, reined in his thoughts, and began to ponder the problem.
With the profound knowledge he had accumulated as a level 12 scholar, combined with the invaluable experience of having his heart tempered by lightning and his Primordial Spirit refined countless times while cultivating the "Nine Heavens Divine Body," analyzing problems of mental interference and energy disruption was squarely in his wheelhouse.
Time ticked by, but the intensity of the crowd’s contemplation and discussion did not wane.
Finally, Su Yingxue announced from the stage, "Those who have an insight, please come forward and speak in turn. The rest of you may show your agreement by raising your hand."
In succession, seven disciples rose to present their solutions.
Each solution had its own merits. Some advocated for forcefully suppressing the mental phantasms, others suggested diverting the flow of energy, and still others proposed guiding the phantasms to find an outlet for release.
Many in the audience raised their hands, showing their support for the various proposals.
When the speakers had finished, the solutions were ranked by the number of hands raised in support. The top three proposals garnered the most concentrated approval.
When the fourth speaker’s proposal received considerable support, Li Wen inwardly shook his head.
It wasn’t that the senior brother lacked skill, but that in Li Wen’s opinion, his handling of one crucial point was somewhat crude and lacked finesse.
His gaze fell on the proposal from the senior brother who had ranked third in approvals. In his heart, he found that method far more ingenious.
Just then, from the main stage, Su Yingxue’s gaze, fluid and observant, happened to fall upon Li Wen.
She seemed to have caught the subtle shifts in his expression as he listened intently. A curious smile touched her lips, and she spoke in a clear voice:
"I have long heard that Junior Brother Li Wen possesses outstanding comprehension and unique insights. I wonder, after hearing the perspectives of your fellow disciples, what are your thoughts? Perhaps you could offer a critique?"
In an instant, all eyes in the hall focused on Li Wen once more.
Many looked on with anticipation, while the eyes of some held a challenging glint, eager to test him.
Seeing he had been called upon, Li Wen didn’t feign modesty. He rose calmly and said, "Senior Sister Su, you flatter me. I dare not claim to have any great insights. The ideas of my senior brothers and sisters have all been very illuminating."
He began by acknowledging the previous speakers before changing tack. "Having observed all the proposals from my senior brothers and sisters, I find myself most inclined toward the third path, proposed earlier by Senior Brother Zhang."
At these words, a flash of surprise and delight crossed the eyes of the senior brother who had ranked third—a man by the name of Zhang Song.
Many others also showed looks of interest.
Li Wen continued, "Senior Brother Zhang’s approach begins with the method to ’bind the spirit externally and observe the mind’s sea internally.’ The core of this is to use a spiritual seal as an anchor to stabilize the dispersing nodes of Spiritual Energy around the body, while simultaneously..."
He paused, then added in a steady voice, "The key is the construction of the Spiritual Energy reflux channel, which must be..."
As Li Wen laid out his clear and precise analysis, the smile on Su Yingxue’s face first gave way to mild surprise, and her eyes began to shine.
And when Li Wen articulated the most critical, ingenious application—a point that was identical to the correct answer—Su Yingxue’s limpid eyes were instantly filled with profound shock.
She stood rooted to the spot, lips slightly parted, frozen for a full two or three seconds.
It would be impossible for someone to so accurately grasp and reveal the crux of the matter after hearing the explanation only once, unless they possessed both an incredibly profound understanding of a Cultivation Technique’s mechanics and a mind of meticulous, hair-fine precision.
