Chapter 1433: Skill Method Forest

"Here?" Zhang Xuan froze, filled with disbelief.

If the other party had said it was flourishing in a certain hall, or sealed in some specific place, he would have found that normal. But inside the statue of Sage Kui… How could that be possible?

Sage Kui was an ancient sage, a direct disciple of Ancient Sage Bu Shang, a grand-disciple of Master Kong, and the first head of the Saint Son Hall. He utterly detested the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, wishing to exterminate them completely.

The ruthless man, as one of the strongest among his race, even if dead, his skeleton would undoubtedly contain special powers that were intolerable to humanity. To not seal it, not hide it, but instead place it inside his own statue… Even Zhang Xuan found it difficult to comprehend.

The most crucial point was… after integrating the ruthless man's skeleton, the statue before him not only lacked any murderous aura but instead exuded a gentle, scholarly elegance. How was that achieved?

"Could you have sensed it wrongly?" he couldn't help but ask inwardly.

It wasn't that he disbelieved, but the possibility was simply too remote.

After all, Sage Kui couldn't possibly possess, let alone the Library of Heaven's Path, to suppress the ruthless man's power to the point where even a nine-star master teacher couldn't detect it, and even the Eye of Insight couldn't discern it.

"Before I integrated the skull, I might have sensed it wrongly, but now… absolutely not!" The ruthless man's tone was filled with certainty.

Before integrating the skull, his memory was incomplete, so he couldn't be sure. But now, he was 100% certain that his sternum was definitely within the statue before them, without any doubt.

"This…" Seeing his absolute certainty, Zhang Xuan frowned, "Let me see!"

His Eye of Insight pulsed as he carefully examined it.

A moment later, he shook his head.

Since previous hall masters hadn't noticed, and his Eye of Insight was at a lower realm, it was naturally even less likely for him to perceive anything.

He extended his palm and gently touched a corner of the stone statue's robe.

A book appeared in his mind.

"Stone sculpture in the inner court of the Saint Son Hall, personally crafted by Sage Kui. Formed from azure bluestone, infused with the will of an ancient sage and the ruthless man's sternum, it suppresses the inner court space and stabilizes spiritual energy…" The book detailed the origin and contents of the statue.

"It truly is inside…" Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed even deeper.

There could be no mistake; it meant the ruthless man's sternum was indeed within this statue.

Integrating the skeleton of a powerful Otherworldly Demonic Tribe member to stabilize the inner court space, yet without a trace of Otherworldly Demonic aura… he still couldn't figure it out.

"Master Zhang…" Seeing him lost in thought, Master Zhan called out.

"Oh, I was just awestruck by Sage Kui's magnificent presence and got a little distracted. Please forgive me!" Zhang Xuan quickly cupped his fists.

Neither the ruthless man nor the skeleton could be revealed. This matter had to be clarified later.

"It's alright. The first time I saw this statue of Sage Kui, I was also stunned for a long time. It feels like a venerable teacher standing before me, imparting knowledge!" Master Zhan, not noticing anything amiss, nodded with deep emotion.

"Mmm!" Zhang Xuan responded, then suddenly froze as a thought popped into his mind: "Since this skeleton was placed inside the stone statue by Sage Kui, suppressed by a saint, it means it can't develop a new will…"

Previously, whether it was the heart, finger bones, or skull, they all possessed their own wills. Now, with this skeleton encased within the statue, it likely hadn't developed its own will, which would make it considerably easier for the ruthless man to devour it.

However, correspondingly, it was also more troublesome.

To devour it, he would have to destroy the statue, and if the statue was destroyed, the entire inner court could collapse.

Neither outcome was something he wished to see.

"By the way, Master Zhan, are there any places like a Cultivation Technique Hall in the inner court? I've reached the Half-Domain realm, but I haven't learned any cultivation techniques for the Domain realm yet!"

"The inner court doesn't have such a place, but there is a Cultivation Technique Forest. It contains inheritances left by countless predecessors. All new inner court students will enter it, and what they gain will depend on their fortune and luck!" Master Zhan smiled gently.

"Cultivation Technique Forest?"

"Yes. The cultivation techniques collected in the inner court are basically at the late-stage or peak of the Saint realm. However, each inner court student has a different physique, and the suitable cultivation techniques vary. Some techniques might allow you to reach the pinnacle and become invincible among your peers, but others might fall into qi deviation if they cultivate them. Education isn't about replication or mass production; therefore, a cultivation technique isn't better just because it's more powerful, but because it suits you!" Master Zhan explained, "The Cultivation Technique Forest is precisely a place for students to make such a choice! Any student who enters the inner court gets one chance to choose. They are given a day to search, and once a choice is made, it cannot be changed!"

"I see!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Cultivation techniques, like professions, suit some people and not others. They require a choice rather than rigid imposition.

Master Kong advocated teaching according to aptitude, which precisely means that teachers should adapt their teaching methods based on each individual, rather than force-feeding information.

"If Master Zhang wishes to learn, I can take you there!" Seeing his understanding, Master Zhan said.

"Thank you!" Master Zhang nodded.

Having arrived at the inner court and learned the location of the ruthless man's skeleton, the more crucial task now was to swiftly increase his strength.

Since Luo Ruoxi was confined by the Luo Clan, she definitely wouldn't be here. Instead of wasting time searching for her in vain, it would be better to improve his strength quickly and acquire the power to resolve the situation.

"Please follow me!" Master Zhan led the way.

Before long, they arrived at a place filled with stone tablets, which from afar resembled a graveyard.

"This is the Cultivation Technique Forest. Each stone tablet represents a cultivation technique. Circulate the power within your body and walk slowly forward. When you reach the end, the cultivation technique suitable for you will automatically manifest. Even if you have many methods or are very strong, you cannot forcefully practice an unsuitable technique. Doing so would only negatively impact your strength, leading to more harm than good." Master Zhan reminded him.

"Automatically manifest?" Zhang Xuan was somewhat curious.

It was the first time he had heard of a cultivation technique manifesting on its own.

Previously, all he had seen were techniques recorded in books, which one could only learn proactively.

"Indeed. The Cultivation Technique Forest not only holds cultivation techniques but also the wills of our ancestors and their understanding of the techniques. As you walk through it, these wills will sense your physique and the cultivation techniques you are currently practicing, determining whether they align with you. If the conditions aren't met, even if you try to forcefully learn, you won't be able to comprehend or remember the content. This also prevents younger students from being overly ambitious, rushing ahead, or biting off more than they can chew." Master Zhan continued.

Although the other party was an eight-star master teacher, he was still too young, so Master Zhan couldn't help but remind him repeatedly.

Knowing this was the usual nagging of all teachers, and how he often spoke to his own students, Zhang Xuan smiled and nodded.

"I'll go in and take a look…" Understanding the nature of the Cultivation Technique Forest, Zhang Xuan no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.