Chapter 97: Deliberately Making Things Difficult

Lin Hao could not resist and flicked his hand.

A dull boom rang out.

Before him, a great crater appeared at once. All the soil in the pit was hurled to the sides, and with that single palm strike, the ground around it in the entire courtyard cracked apart, leaving only the hollowed center untouched.

Fortunately, the courtyard was large enough.

Only then did Lin Hao open his eyes. Ignoring everything else, he looked down at his own palm with unrestrained delight. As expected, he could clearly feel that he had just awakened his earth spiritual energy.

That sensation was subtle and wondrous. Rising to his feet, Lin Hao cautiously drew a trace of spiritual power and gently pressed it toward the ground before sweeping his hand again.

In an instant, the crater before him was filled. Nothing seemed unusual at all, as though nothing had happened a moment ago.

Lin Hao found this exceedingly fascinating. In no time, he was like a child who had found a new toy, waving his hand back and forth in playful experimentation.

After more than a dozen such gestures, he felt his spiritual power begin to run low, and only then did he stop, still wanting more. Looking at his palm, he was all smiles.

However, because Lin Hao had never systematically studied any cultivation method for earth-type spiritual roots, he was only following his own curiosity for the moment, testing out the most basic applications before turning them over and over again in his hands.

Now that his spiritual power was somewhat depleted, fatigue set in, and he finally came to a stop.

At that moment, with a creak, the courtyard door opened.

At the sound, Lin Hao hurriedly looked over, instantly alert.

It was Cao Yi, standing at the doorway and watching him, a hint of admiration and complicated feeling hidden deep in his eyes.

Seeing that Lin Hao had noticed him, Cao Yi walked straight over without concealment. His whole body still radiated coldness, and even his voice was flat and remote, carrying an eerie chill.

Though Cao Yi always seemed like a man beyond reach, in the days they had spoken, Lin Hao had discovered a new skill of his own: he could discern a trace of other emotions even from that calm, icy voice.

Cao Yi looked at him and said, "You awakened an earth spiritual root? Not bad."

Lin Hao actually heard praise in those words. A smile curved at his lips as he looked at Cao Yi and said, "You flatter me, Senior Brother. I have only just awakened my earth spiritual root."

"You are already quite good. Since your earth spiritual root has awakened, when you have the time, go to the Scripture Pavilion and choose an earth-type cultivation method. Cultivate it properly. You must understand that your constitution is unlike anyone else's.

"That is your advantage. Though you possess five spiritual roots, do not listen to the rumors outside. Have you not noticed that your five roots do not restrain one another at all?

"Even if you are currently focusing on the fire spiritual root, you must still dig into the others. Your spiritual roots are special. They do not suppress one another; instead, they can reinforce each other, and they will absolutely not hold back your other progress or slow your steps.

"In fact, if all five of your spiritual roots awaken, they can advance together."

Cao Yi actually said all this in one breath.

Hearing him, joy flashed in Lin Hao's eyes. He had indeed harbored this suspicion for a long time, but now that someone had said it to his face, his heart finally settled.

He looked at Cao Yi and asked, "Senior Brother, is that true? I did feel that I was a little different, but since ancient times people have always said that the more numerous and mixed one's spiritual roots are, the harder cultivation becomes, so I never dared try cultivating the others.

"I have also sensed something subtle these past few days, which is why I began experimenting."

"Do not take the experience of the predecessors and pin it rigidly onto yourself," Cao Yi said, unable to help frowning slightly. "Those experiences came from the lives they themselves lived. You are different from them, so you should try as much as you can. I also want to know where your potential truly lies."

Lin Hao could hear the encouragement and reassurance in those words, and his entire being filled with motivation.

What made him happiest of all was Cao Yi's permission for him to choose a cultivation method. That truly delighted him.

In truth, Lin Hao had also been worrying about how he might quickly obtain a few cultivation methods to practice the other spiritual roots.

He had even wondered whether he should discuss it with the system again, but when he thought of the points he still owed it, he immediately felt deflated.

Still, giving up was impossible. If worse came to worst, he would simply owe the system even more.

In any case, Lin Hao had already made up his mind to develop all of them in tandem.

Just as one dozes off only to be handed a pillow, Cao Yi's promise was nothing short of a timely rain.

Since Cao Yi, as Senior Brother, had opened the door for him, he could now openly choose a few methods he needed. Lin Hao looked at Cao Yi gratefully and said, "Really? Then thank you very much, Senior Brother. I have been worried about not having any cultivation methods to practice."

"Enough, no need for all this courtesy. You have only just begun learning the earth spiritual root, and if you want to cultivate quickly, there is a place where you can absorb far more earth spiritual energy while also getting practical training.

"Behind the Enforcement Hall there is a blessed land suited especially for people with earth spiritual roots.

"You may go there to cultivate tomorrow. Take my token with you. I will inform them in advance."

With that, Cao Yi tossed Lin Hao a token.

Lin Hao caught it instinctively. Looking down, he saw Cao Yi's name engraved upon it.

He silently remembered this kindness and nodded heavily.

Seeing this, Cao Yi said nothing more and turned to leave.

The next day.

Recalling what Cao Yi had said, Lin Hao first went to the Scripture Pavilion and chose an earth-type cultivation method.

He did not pick anything especially profound, but instead selected one of the more basic ones. Since Lin Hao had previously known very little about earth cultivation and had little exposure to it, he feared that if he chose something too advanced all at once, he would only end up trying to swallow more than he could digest.

So he took only the most fundamental method and headed straight for the blessed land Cao Yi had mentioned.

However, this blessed land actually belonged to the Enforcement Hall. Cao Yi had indeed spoken to them beforehand, but recently his extra care toward Lin Hao had already aroused the dissatisfaction of many people.

The Enforcement Hall was no exception. In every sect, it was a rather special existence, and its members paid little heed to Cao Yi's orders. There was no need for them to curry favor with him.

After receiving the message, the Enforcement Hall did not even notify the elders. Instead, several disciples privately suppressed the matter.

Although Cao Yi, as the Azure Cloud Sect's Senior Brother, was certainly qualified to enter that blessed land, he had actually given that qualification to Lin Hao, who had only joined the Azure Cloud Sect a few days earlier.

Naturally, the Enforcement Hall was extremely displeased.

A few of them had already decided to make things difficult for Lin Hao.

Thus, when Lin Hao arrived, he first passed by the Enforcement Hall.

At the entrance, he was stopped.

"Stop right there! Who are you?"

Though Lin Hao was already rather well known and there was hardly anyone who did not recognize him, the disciples of the Enforcement Hall still deliberately made trouble for him.

At first, Lin Hao did not think much of it. He stood at the doorway and said humbly and respectfully, "Senior Brother, my name is Lin Hao. I was ordered here by Senior Brother to go to the blessed land."

As he spoke, he took out Cao Yi's token.

One of the men took it with a swagger and glanced at it.

Then he slapped it back into Lin Hao's hands.

He did not care the slightest bit about the token.

Lin Hao was startled and caught it quickly. He did not understand why this man was acting this way, and his expression darkened a little.

Seeing that Lin Hao had been frightened by such a trivial gesture, the man could not help looking at him with disdain.

He wore the uniform of the Enforcement Hall and stared at Lin Hao with open contempt, curling his lip as he said, "You say Senior Brother Cao Yi sent you here, and that makes it true? What can a little token prove? Why did we not receive any message from Cao Yi?

"Get lost and find somewhere cooler to stand. Lin Hao? What Lin Hao? Hmph, I am your grandfather!"

With that, he shoved Lin Hao and tried to push him out of the Enforcement Hall.

The others joined in the jeering as well.

"Exactly. Our Enforcement Hall is not some place where any cat or dog can walk in. Lin Hao? Who is that? Never heard of him!"

"Heh, probably some nobody no one has ever heard of. And he still dares to come here and act all impressive."

"Yes, overestimating himself!"

The three behind him laughed at Lin Hao together.

A flash of anger crossed Lin Hao's eyes. Yet thinking of something, he still forced the anger down and said, "This token was indeed personally given to me by Senior Brother. How can you be certain it is fake? Besides, Senior Brother said he had already spoken to you."

"What do you mean, spoken to us? Who told you that? Did any of you receive such a message?" As soon as the man heard this, he turned back and asked the people behind him.

"No."

"Didn't receive anything, Senior Brother."

They all shook their heads, saying they had heard nothing.

The man looked at Lin Hao triumphantly and said, "You see? None of us received any message from Senior Brother. I advise you to go stand somewhere cool and leave. Stop causing trouble here, brat. Look carefully: this is the Enforcement Hall. Be careful or we'll take you straight to the main hall and discipline you properly. Hahaha!"

Lin Hao said nothing and stood where he was, calmly watching them mock him. Yet the hand clutching the token had veins bulging along it, betraying the unrest in his heart.

Still, Lin Hao was no longer under the control of a heart demon. Especially after going through that ordeal, he had learned to suppress his temper quite well.

Only after they had finished mocking him did Lin Hao remain as steady as ever, looking at the man before him and saying, "May I ask for Senior Brother's esteemed name? Since you claim not to have received any instructions from Senior Brother, I will return to ask him whether he simply forgot."