Free Web NovelChapter 316: Chapter 132: Final Placement, A Bet
The moment he finished speaking, the main hall fell silent.
The charcoal in the brazier occasionally let out a soft CRACKLE, a sound that was all the more distinct in the quiet hall.
Zhou Yunyi lowered her gaze to the cooling tea in her cup. Her fingertips gently traced its side, but she remained silent, clearly unwilling to use one of Yunxi Peak’s slots for a disciple with an Eighth-Grade Root Bone.
Bai Bing sat ramrod straight, her brow slightly furrowed. Her calm gaze rested on the pattern of the blue bricks on the floor, and her aura remained as cool as ever. She didn’t speak for a long time. The silence from both women made their stance clear: neither intended to accept Yang Jing.
Seeing this, Qin Gang sighed softly. A hint of understanding, mixed with some relief, flashed in his eyes. "Since neither of you is willing to take him," he said slowly, "we’ll proceed as planned. Sun Ningxiang will be admitted to Yunxi Peak tomorrow. As for Yang Jing, have him leave the island. An Eighth-Grade Root Bone is, after all, far too inferior. He simply isn’t fated for the cultivation opportunities of a great sect like our Xuanzhen Sect."
Just then, Bai Bing, who had been silent all this time, suddenly looked up. Her cool gaze swept over Qin Gang in the main seat. Her thin lips parted, and she finally spoke, her steady, crisp voice breaking the hall’s tranquility. "Though I’ve never met Sun Yong myself, I have heard Peak Master Yunxi mention him. She said he has always acted with prudence and never does anything without a solid reason. A disciple he recommended so earnestly can’t possibly be just some mediocre talent with an inferior Root Bone."
She paused, tapping her fingers lightly on the edge of the table. "Yang Jing is barely twenty, yet he has already solidly broken through to the Huajin Realm. That level of cultivation might not be outstanding within the Xuanzhen Sect, but don’t forget, he was cultivating in a remote place like Yuhe County. That place is barren and lacks even the most basic Cultivation Resources. What kind of high-grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could he possibly have consumed there to help raise his cultivation?"
Her tone grew more serious as a barely perceptible glint of contemplation passed through her eyes. "With the aptitude of an Eighth-Grade Root Bone, in a place lacking resources, he went from just starting the Martial Dao to the Huajin Realm in a mere two years. That cultivation speed far surpasses an ordinary Martial Artist. It’s absolutely not something that can be achieved through hard work alone. It suggests he likely possesses some kind of hidden, undiscovered talent that has simply yet to manifest."
Upon hearing this, Qin Gang nodded slowly. "Senior Brother Sun did mention in his recommendation letter that Yang Jing has a resilient temperament and might possess a powerful hidden talent," he said in a deep voice. "But in my view, the Root Bone is the foundation of the Martial Dao, the very cornerstone that allows a Martial Artist to go far. With an inferior Root Bone, the capacity of his meridians and his upper limit for vital energy are naturally restricted. Even if he has some talent in other areas, it can compensate for a time, but not for a lifetime. With such an aptitude, how far can he really go on the path of the Martial Dao? He will never amount to much in the end."
Bai Bing gently shook her head, a flicker of disagreement in her cool eyes. She turned her face slightly, avoiding Qin Gang’s gaze.
This was to be expected. The path of the Martial Dao was long and winding. Over the course of their long cultivation, every Martial Artist developed their own beliefs and insights. Understandings of the Martial Dao naturally varied; some valued Root Bone and innate talent, while others prized temperament and perseverance. It was difficult to say who was right or wrong, and nearly impossible to reach a consensus.
Qin Gang noted Bai Bing’s reaction, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint smile. His tone was probing, goading her as he spoke. "Since Peak Master Lingxi finds my ideas too one-sided and disagrees with my philosophy on the Martial Dao, why don’t you accept this boy? You can cultivate him personally and we’ll see what kind of future he can carve out on the path of the Martial Dao—whether he can truly break the shackles of his Root Bone."
Hearing this, Bai Bing fell silent. A trace of hesitation appeared on her cool face, her brow furrowed as if weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, she nodded lightly. "Very well. My Lingxi Peak hasn’t recruited many new disciples this year, so our numbers are a bit low. In that case, Lingxi Peak will accept Yang Jing. We’ll see what fate has in store for him."
When Qin Gang heard this, he let out a sigh of relief. The conflict and worry this matter had caused him vanished, and it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His heart felt much lighter.
’The placements for Sun Ningxiang and Yang Jing are finally settled. I’ve given face to both Zhou Yunyi and Sun Yong, and this whole affair is finally over. The bit of fellowship I still owed Sun Yong as a fellow disciple has been honored. In the future, if he comes to me with another request, I’ll have grounds to refuse. At the very least, I’ve done my best to help him today.’
At this thought, Qin Gang couldn’t suppress a slight smile, the relief in his eyes impossible to conceal.
Bai Bing saw this subtle change in Qin Gang’s expression clearly, and her brow furrowed even deeper. "You’ve calculated this well, Peak Master Qin," she retorted, her cool tone laced with displeasure. "However, your philosophy of the Martial Dao—that one’s Root Bone determines their entire destiny—is far too arbitrary. A good Root Bone is certainly a great help on the path of cultivation, saving a person from many detours, but it is by no means the only thing a Martial Artist relies on to advance. Temperament, perseverance, and opportunity are all rungs on the ladder for a Martial Artist to climb."
Hearing Bai Bing publicly attack his martial philosophy again, the smile slowly vanished from Qin Gang’s face. A flash of impatience crossed his eyes as he sneered, "You make it sound so simple, Peak Master Lingxi. Since our philosophies on the Martial Dao are so at odds, with each of us sticking to our own arguments, how about we make a bet?"
At his words, Bai Bing’s brow furrowed even tighter. A scrutinizing look passed through her cool eyes, and her aura grew even more placid. She met Qin Gang’s gaze directly and asked in a level tone, "What do you want to bet?"
