Chapter 200: The Debate of Reality and Illusion

“No way?”

Everyone who guessed this possibility was suddenly stunned.

Their eyes widened, staring hard at Ye Xuanzhen on the field, almost turning cross-eyed…

The more they looked, the more sure they became. At this time, the changes in Ye Xuanzhen’s magical power were getting clearer. With each wave of his large sleeve, the change in magical power became more subtle. But from the way of the Flowing Cloud Sleeves method, what he did was even totally wrong. Each path of the sleeve wave, each shift of magical power, did not follow the scriptures.

But strangely, what he showed was still the Flowing Cloud Sleeves, with incredibly fine changes.

The whole pavilion fell silent, with only the sound of the large sleeves waving.

Whether it was the five Elders of the Leshui Sect or the few fellow disciples who had already stepped far back, they all watched Ye Xuanzhen with a bit of nervousness and surprise. They saw him dance faster and faster. His steps were sometimes unsteady, sometimes neat, sometimes delicate, sometimes grand. At the very end, he suddenly laughed out loud. Both large sleeves whipped swiftly toward the sky fast, like trying to link with the void.

In that moment, in everyone’s mind, they felt his magical power changed very perfectly, mixing with heaven and earth.

“Wow!”

This amazing feeling lasted only a second, like a dream.

As this dream appeared, Ye Xuanzhen pulled back all his magical power at once and stood still on the spot.

Both large sleeves slowly fell down, resting at his sides.

The energy around his body rose like boiling water, then slowly shrank back, fading into him.

Ye Xuanzhen stood quietly for a long time. Then he slowly turned around and bowed deeply to Fang Cun.

Fang Cun, sitting at the high seat, showed a happy smile and gave him a light nod.

…

“Whoa…”

“Did he really break through?”

“Really? Enlightened just like that, broke the Condensed Radiance Realm right away?”

“Oh…”

All the Elders of the Leshui Sect were shocked.

The disciples were shocked too!

They were lost in a feeling they had never seen before, almost like a miracle. Their hearts raced, and words failed them.

Swish—countless gazes turned right away, landing on Fang Cun’s face.

The looks were full of wonder and shock…

Not just the disciples, even the Leshui Sect Elders felt this way…

Amid all these stares, Fang Cun sat calmly without moving, still and untroubled, as if it were a small thing.

…Of course, these Leshui Sect Elders and disciples did not know that Fang Cun was actually a bit confused too.

…

What he had said to these three disciples earlier was not at all made up.

Now, he had three inches and three-tenths talent. For the flow of magical power, he had a sharp sense others could hardly notice. After studying the six scriptures deeply, his gift was really strong. Especially since he practiced the Formless Treasure Body Scripture, his foundation was firmer than most.

Finding problems in cultivation was super easy for him.

This was not because he was stronger than these Leshui Sect Elders. It was because his vision was wide.

These Leshui Sect Elders also trained from the roots of the thirty-six meridians.

But Fang Cun started with one hundred and eight meridians from the beginning.

It was like: A place had a big drought. Some heard about it and thought going there meant hunger for sure;

Others realized this place was dry, so taking grain to sell could make huge money;

Then, a few saw why the drought happened, how long it would last, and helped stop it…

These Leshui Sect disciples were like those afraid of hunger.

The Leshui Sect Elders were like those seeing a chance to do business.

Fang Cun was like those who could figure the truth of the drought itself.

Of course, to say it right, the best was Fang Chi. By working out the Formless Treasure Body Scripture, he likely grasped the heavens’ workings, even the very root. Without the Formless Treasure Body Scripture, Fang Cun could not have done this much…

Still, even if Fang Cun could see these things, he could not wake someone up with one word and help them reach a new level. What he said to these Leshui Sect disciples was just pointing out weak spots, so they walked a straighter path…

But heck, who knew Ye Xuanzhen would just go with it?

I just tossed out my thoughts, like giving advice, and then you broke through?

Right then, Fang Cun’s mind was spinning wildly.

But on the outside, he had to smile.

…

“Second Young Master Fang, this old man… this old man truly… truly does not know what to say…”

After being stunned for a long while, that Leshui Sect Elder Chen suddenly jumped up. He flashed over to Ye Xuanzhen’s side fast. He waved his sleeve, brushed past with magical power, and checked all the openings and changes in his cultivation. When he learned Ye Xuanzhen had now truly entered the Condensed Radiance Realm and was in the finest state ever, his whole face turned stone-like…

After a time, he slowly turned around. Then, as a powerful Golden Core master, an Elder of a sect, he bowed deeply to Fang Cun.

“Ah…”

Fang Cun saw this and quickly stood up. He bowed back to Elder Chen, smiling: “Elder, please do not praise me. This was not Second Young Master Fang’s deed. It was this Ye disciple who worked hard day after day. When his time came to break through, Fang Cun just happened to be there…”

This was true—Fang Cun thought back but did not feel he had such skill himself.

It seemed like pure luck.

Ye Xuanzhen broke through because he was ready all along.

“Ha, Elder Fang, we all watched it, yet you say this? You’re putting us to shame…”

But the other Leshui Sect Elders heard him and stood up too. They gave a bitter smile while bowing, faces full of feeling.

They truly did not believe Fang Cun’s words. If he was ready, Ye Xuanzhen had been ready for two years.

Two years ago, people said he could break through any time. But he refused to—no one could make him.

Now, because of your single phrase, he broke through, and you say it was luck?

Who would buy that?

In front of us, one word helped a disciple break through. Especially after seeing that guard mountain disciple, Rain, show his gift earlier—he admitted his insight came from your teaching. What was this?

Totally true!

“Hah, this junior speaks truth. The Leshui Sect has deep roots. You Elders are so skilled—surely you see your disciples’ flaws but let them gain experience. My speaking out today was careless.”

Seeing it might not be cleared up soon, Fang Cun could only reply with a helpless smile.

“Careless?”

“Ha! If that’s carelessness, do it more!”

The Leshui Sect Elders listened to Fang Cun, feeling joyful and a bit touched.

They taught these disciples so long without success, yet Fang Cun managed with one phrase. It was unreal. If Fang Cun went around bragging that Leshui Sect Elders could not teach, he could have gotten famous by stepping on the whole sect. But back then, the sect wouldn’t have been able to argue.

Now, here he was protecting their honor?

This Second Young Master Fang had such high talent yet stayed humble? Truly…

Even knowing he came with big troubles, they liked him more by the minute.

With all the shock in the air, Fang Cun secretly thought: Should this plan work now?

…

“One word hits the gap in our disciple’s heart, opening his mind to break through?”

While the whole Leshui Sect was buzzing excitedly, nearly putting Fang Cun on a pedestal, a man in black robes stood on the Main Peak. Listening to an Elder’s stunned and amazed report, he turned around with a grave face.

“True every word! It was Ye Xuanzhen—the one with old fame stuck not breaking through for two full years!”

That Elder said eagerly: “When we took him in as a disciple, we saw him as a key Immortal Seedling. But his talent for Talisman arts was low—he loved magical skills instead. His progress was swift, so many Elders guided him. We thought if he passed the Light Condensation stage, he could build to the Golden Core level. Then our Leshui Sect could shine in skills, beyond just Talismans…”

“Never dreamed the boy stalled at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Three slow years with no gain—we were set to give up on him!”

“Then at this moment, Second Young Master Fang woke him up with one phrase…”

“…….”

“That makes no sense. How could someone his age and stage enlighten others?”

The Leshui Sect Leader heard this more, and his face filled with doubt.

“Sounds odd, but we all saw it…”

The reporting Elder sighed: “And the phrases he said? Even this old man thought about them more and caught so much… Let go, merge with the world. Hmm! The more I chew on it, the deeper the truth seems—profound and wonderful…”

“This talk holds great wisdom, almost touching on debates of true not-true…”

The Leshui Sect Leader also pondered long before saying: “Still, such insights cannot come from Second Young Master Fang just yet.”

The Elder paused: “That is…”

“If I guess right, it should be Immortal Master Fang Chi’s own grasp!”

The Leshui Sect Leader suddenly grinned, as if seizing the truth. He laughed: “Those at Immortal Master’s stage know the Great Way deeply. Their stray words truly can stir hearts and wake minds at key moments…”

“But for Second Young Master Fang, at his stage and age, to use it is sign of unreal talent.”

The Elder heard the Leader and nodded inside, taking it for good sense.

He hesitated slightly: “What about Second Young Master Fang entering the Scripture Hall?”

“Why ask? Let him see it!”

The Leshui Sect Leader beamed and replied without a thought: “For riches, tricks, backing, or guts in Second Young Master Fang—I would not blink. But talent like this? Now I feel it’s interesting.”

“Hah, really, it’s now a fine chance for our Leshui Sect.”

“Under the bet, let him see whatever he wants. If he fails later or brings trouble, then Leshui Sect just bent to the wager—forced to let him into the Scripture Hall. If he actually grows strong someday, then we Leshui Sect saw cleverly early—adding warmth in his storm. Either way, we lose nothing…”

“Why not seize this chance?”