"Look, what's that loser doing at the entrance of the inner temple?"
"No way? Does this guy actually want to break into the inner temple?"
"Haha, I actually hope he tries! I snuck a test once, and that film of light can reflect your strength back at you. Last time, my bones almost fell apart!"
"Shh, keep it down! If that loser hears us, he might not break in!"
"Haha, a Peak of Physical Body Realm loser actually wants to break through the Guardian Spirit Array of the inner temple? Even if he makes it through, what then? He doesn't have any Spiritual Power?"
"Wait and see, I'll go call people! This kind of thing, you absolutely can't miss!"
"Someone come quick! Huge news! Our Ling Family's trash is going to challenge the Guardian Spirit Array of the inner temple!"
...
The surrounding discussions kept coming in, and the crowd of onlookers was still growing.
However, the focal point of everyone's attention, Ling Chen, was turning a deaf ear, his gaze firmly fixed on the ripple-like Spirit Array light film in front of him.
Ling Chen raised his right hand and pressed it slowly against the light film.
"Pff."
Ripples like water immediately surged upon the light film, followed by a strong resistance that stopped Ling Chen's palm, preventing him from penetrating the slightest bit more.
"How mystical!"
A sharp glint flickered in Ling Chen's eyes.
"Huff!"
Ling Chen withdrew his hand, took a deep breath, then stepped back half a step with his right foot to form a bow stance. Then, his upper body leaned forward slightly, his right hand clenched into a fist.
"Holy moly, is this guy seriously going to attack the Guardian Spirit Array of the inner temple?"
The onlookers were suddenly astounded.
They had thought that Ling Chen was just putting on a show, or perhaps wanted to peek inside the inner temple through the light film.
They never expected that Ling Chen would actually attack the Guardian Spirit Array!
"This guy will definitely not make it through; I've tried it. You must reach the third layer of the Condensation Realm to pass!"
A third layer Condensation Realm Cultivator spoke up.
Hearing his words, the crowd nodded. Actually, many people didn't believe it and had tried it themselves. Without exception, they all failed.
"Ha!"
Ling Chen's eyes suddenly sharpened, and with a loud shout, he used the rotating force of his body to hammer his right fist fiercely against the light film in front of him.
At first, there was nothing unusual about Ling Chen's fist, but at the last moment, as it was about to make contact with the light film, Black Spiritual Power surged out, and a layer of black light burst out instantly on his fist.
"Spiritual Power?"
The onlookers were nearly choked, the scoffing words no longer able to come out, with only these two words echoing in their minds.
The trash they mocked was actually a genuine Condensation Realm Cultivator?
But their shock didn't stop there.
"Bang!"
Ling Chen's fist hammered down hard on the light film, emitting a muffled sound.
Under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, the Spirit Array's light film violently shook and then "pff," it completely transformed into nature's spiritual energy, dissipating into the air. After that, the appearance of the inner temple came into view.
"Just as I thought."
Ling Chen grinned, then immediately stepped forward to enter the inner temple. After he entered, a layer of Guardian Spirit Array reformed at the entrance.
His figure disappeared from the eyes of the onlookers.
"Impossible!"
"How could this be?"
...
The crowd was in disbelief.
The fact that Ling Chen possessed Spiritual Power was shocking enough for them, but who could have known this guy could even break through the Guardian Spirit Array of the inner temple?
"No, the Guardian Spirit Array must be broken!"
Someone questioned.
He rushed to the front of the Spirit Array and mobilized his Spiritual Power, throwing a punch at the light film of the Spirit Array.
The light film of the Spirit Array trembled, but it did not break. Then, they saw the person who struck, his face grotesquely twisted, rolling on the ground with his right fist in extreme pain.
Clearly, the rebounding force from the Guardian Spirit Array was not easy to endure.
...
After entering the inner temple, Ling Chen scanned around.
The inner temple was much more spacious than he imagined, and although there were bookshelves, there were much fewer compared to the outer temple.
As for the books on the shelves, even fewer.
"Stop."
Just as Ling Chen was about to go over and see what the legendary Spiritual Techniques looked like, a lazy voice came over.
Ling Chen looked in the direction of the voice and saw a white-haired elder sizing him up.
"First time in?"
The white-haired elder spoke indifferently.
From the curious look on Ling Chen's face, he could easily make it out.
"Yes."
Ling Chen nodded with a smile.
The white-haired elder continued, "First, let me explain the rules of the inner hall. Each Cultivator who enters can only stay for two hours and is permitted to enter once a month. Each time they may only borrow one Spirit Art or Spiritual Technique. The next time you come, you must return the previously borrowed items before you can borrow other Spirit Arts or Spiritual Techniques."
"For those at the third or fourth level of the Condensing Qi Realm, they can only borrow lower-grade Spirit Arts and Spiritual Techniques. Those at the fifth or sixth level can borrow middle-grade, and only those above the seventh level can borrow top-grade."
"Hmm, your cultivation level is..."
At this point, the white-haired elder paused, astonishment coloring his features, as he couldn't sense Ling Chen's cultivation level. He was, after all, a formidable Cultivator in the Spirit Sea Realm, and yet he couldn't determine the cultivation level of a junior?
"Young man, how did you get in here?"
The white-haired elder said, huffily.
This youth doesn't exude any trace of Spiritual Power; he must unquestionably be in the Physical Body Realm. A fellow in the Physical Body Realm being able to enter the inner hall surely sneaked in.
But at the entrance of the inner hall, there was a Guardian Spirit Array, how could it possibly have let a youngster in the Physical Body Realm find an opportunity?
"I came in from there."
Ling Chen pointed toward the shimmering Spirit Array.
"Impossible!"
The white-haired elder flatly denied.
This Spirit Array has been established for decades. If a kid in the Physical Body Realm could get in, this place would have been crowded long ago.
"It's true!"
Ling Chen nodded earnestly.
Knowing the elder might think he was in the Physical Body Realm, he stretched out his right hand, and a layer of Black Spiritual Power surfaced once more.
"You really have Spiritual Power?"
The white-haired elder was taken aback.
Since Ling Chen possesses Spiritual Power, why couldn't he sense the latter's cultivation level?
"Condensing Qi Realm, late stage of the second level?"
After sensing the aura of the black light, the white-haired elder finally ascertained Ling Chen's cultivation level, speaking with a hint of surprise.
Ling Chen looked far too young; reaching the second level of the Condensing Qi Realm usually happened at sixteen or seventeen. But this youngster appeared only about fourteen or fifteen.
"Could it be that he's a prodigy from my Ling Family?"
The white-haired elder exclaimed in surprise.
Then, shaking his head, he said, "Your talent is excellent, so all the more reason you should not act rashly. Alright, hurry up and get out, this isn't a place for you now. Come back when you reach the third level of the Condensing Qi Realm!"
Hearing the elder call him a genius, Ling Chen was stunned. Wasn't his status as a waste well-known by now? Yet this old man called him a genius?
However, thinking about how hard it was for him to get in only to be sent back out, Ling Chen rushed to explain: "Elder, I really did pass through the Spirit Array to get in!"
"Impossible! Young man, lying is not a good habit!"
The white-haired elder shook his head and said, "This Spirit Array, unless one reaches the third level of the Condensing Qi Realm, it is absolutely impossible to break through!"
"I really can break through this light barrier!"
Ling Chen reiterated.
Looking into the youth's determined eyes, the white-haired elder was startled and asked, "Really?"
"Mm-hmm."
Ling Chen nodded firmly.
"I don't believe it! Unless, you show me!"
The white-haired elder said.
"If I break through this light barrier, can I pick a Spirit Art here?"
Ling Chen inquired.
Of course, he could demonstrate, but if the elder still wouldn't let him choose a Spirit Art after watching, wouldn't that be a waste of time?
"You can. You're only at the second level of the Condensing Qi Realm; I, as the Hall Master here, have the authority to let you choose a Spirit Art! Not to mention lower-grade Spirit Arts, even middle-grade ones are yours for the choosing!"
The white-haired elder nodded.
"You truly have the authority?"
Ling Chen looked somewhat incredulous.
Sure enough, the white-haired elder grew angry, glaring at Ling Chen and saying, "Rest assured, I am the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall!"
"Good!"
Ling Chen smiled faintly.
Under the guidance of the white-haired elder, he walked out of the exit.
When the others saw Ling Chen come out, their expressions first froze, then they began to sneer: "So what if he went in? He still got kicked out, didn't he?"
But, Ling Chen did not leave; instead, he approached the entrance where the Spirit Array's light barrier was.
"Greetings, Hall Master!"
The onlookers greeted the white-haired elder with a bow.
Most of them were Cultivators, and naturally recognized the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall.
However, the white-haired elder ignored them and turned to Ling Chen instead, saying, "Go ahead, make your move."
He refused to believe it; he had personally tested the strength of this Spirit Array. Without the cultivation of the third level of the Condensing Qi Realm, it was absolutely unbreakable.
"Then, Hall Master, watch carefully!"
Ling Chen said, raising his right hand suddenly, then clenching it into a fist. Black Spiritual Power surged to his fist instantly, and the black light erupted.
This time, he didn't even bother using his physical strength. With the experience from before, he had already sensed the light barrier's limit of endurance.
"Bang!"
Ling Chen's fist once again struck the light barrier, ripples cascaded across it, and finally unable to bear it any longer, it dissolved into luminous specks and vanished.