Lin Yichen, naturally, did not disappoint Zhang Ergou and the others.
Within a few moves, he had rendered his opponent utterly defenseless.
Not long after, Lin Yichen's opponent directly conceded, and Lin Yichen successfully advanced, becoming one of the victors.
...
"Well done!"
Upon Lin Yichen's return, Zhang Ergou and his companions stepped forward to congratulate him. Although the rankings were not yet finalized, Lin Yichen had successfully secured a ticket into the mystic realm.
Seeing Zhang Ergou and the others react so strongly, Lin Yichen smiled helplessly.
He slapped Zhang Ergou on the shoulder. "What are you putting on an act for? This is nothing."
Lin Yichen couldn't deny that he was envious and jealous of Zhang Ergou's rapid increase in cultivation.
Back when he was in the outer sect of the Misty Sect, he was someone Zhang Ergou looked up to. Yet, in less than a year...
Zhang Ergou had already reached the mid-stage Golden Core realm, while he hadn't even touched the threshold of Golden Core.
Lin Yichen even had a fleeting thought: was Zhang Ergou Heaven's illegitimate son, receiving special treatment?
Of course, these words could not be spoken aloud. On the surface, they continued to joke and laugh.
Zhang Ergou also saw something in the expressions of the others. His cultivation had indeed increased a bit too quickly.
It was making these former outer sect prodigies feel a sense of frustration.
Such emotions were dangerous. For their own good, Zhang Ergou couldn't let them continue thinking this way.
On a smaller scale, it could affect their personal mental growth.
On a larger scale, it was a stumbling block on the path of cultivation.
If their mindset turned awry, it could directly manifest as a heart demon during future breakthroughs to higher realms.
It could completely sever their cultivation path.
He was only seeing this trend now, and fortunately, there was still time.
If this situation were allowed to continue, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Seeing their almost identical expressions, Zhang Ergou straightened his face. Today, he intended to help his friends completely change their mindset.
Lin Yichen, Lin Yueru, Xiao Qingyu, Wang Teng, Lu Xiaoyu, and the others saw Zhang Ergou's expression change.
They all became nervous. This was the first time Zhang Ergou had been so serious.
Normally, they would joke and play with Zhang Ergou, overlooking the fact that he had already reached the mid-stage Golden Core.
But when Zhang Ergou's expression turned serious, they felt the unique pressure of a Golden Core stage cultivator.
Xiao Qingyu swallowed and asked cautiously, "Ergou, what's wrong?"
"My friends, today I have something very important to tell you. The words may be harsh, but you will understand after you hear them."
Zhang Ergou did not answer Xiao Qingyu's question but spoke directly.
"Have you noticed that your mindset has changed these past few days?"
Zhang Ergou stared intently at the people before him.
"Ah? Why do you say that, Ergou?" Lin Yueru was the first to ask, followed by a look of confusion on Lin Yichen and the others' faces.
"Have you noticed that in the past few months, you've lost some confidence, or rather, my breakthroughs have made you feel pressured."
"Ergou, why are you talking about this?" Xiao Qingyu asked in a low voice.
While it was true that what Zhang Ergou said was factual, it made them feel quite embarrassed to hear it said so directly.
"Don't rush to deny what I'm saying. I've seen the changes in you these past few days."
"If this continues, it will definitely not be a good thing for any of you."
Zhang Ergou's expression grew even more serious.
"Ergou, is it really that serious?" Lin Yueru asked softly.
"No, Senior Sister. You haven't grasped the gravity of the situation yet. By the time you realize it, it might lead to disaster."
Zhang Ergou's serious demeanor also affected Lin Yichen and the others.
They frowned and listened quietly as Zhang Ergou spoke.
"On the path of cultivation, what are we cultivating? Before I truly began cultivating, my master, the Spring Sun Hermit, told me that the most important thing in cultivation is a clear and unobstructed mind."
Zhang Ergou spoke slowly, deliberately using the vocalization method of the Tyrannosaurus Roar.
His cultivation was far superior to the others, directly affecting their souls.
"The growth of external power is temporary. Once your realm improves, your cultivation will naturally increase significantly."
"Have you been agonizing over why you haven't broken through to the Golden Core stage after so long?"
"I've even broken through to the mid-stage Golden Core, yet your cultivation is still stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage?"
Lin Yichen and the others nodded frantically. What Zhang Ergou was saying struck them to the core.
If Zhang Ergou hadn't looked so serious, they would have wanted to punch him.
It was just too damn accurate!
"Perhaps you're still stuck in the mindset of when I was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. You were the prodigies of the outer sect."
"And now you've been surpassed by someone you once considered a younger brother. Naturally, you can't accept such a cruel reality immediately."
Zhang Ergou spoke with increasing fervor, while the others listened with shining eyes.
Because Zhang Ergou was saying the very things they dared not speak, and keeping them bottled up for so long would make anyone sick.
Even though cultivators no longer fell ill.
The consequences for a cultivator who became fixated were far more severe.
Zhang Ergou's words provided them with a sense of release, and their expressions gradually softened.
"Furthermore, watching me grow stronger day by day fills your hearts with anxiety. But it is precisely this anxiety that prevents you from breaking through to the Golden Core stage."
"Why?"
"Because the seeds of heart demons have been planted in your hearts. Although they are weak now, they are already affecting you."
"Ah, is it really that serious?" Lin Yueru and the others exclaimed.
They naturally knew about heart demons, but they doubted Zhang Ergou's claim that they had planted the seeds of heart demons in their hearts.
"Senior Sister, don't think I'm speaking nonsense. Think carefully, when you saw me break through, didn't you feel a sense of envy, jealousy, and hatred?"
Hearing Zhang Ergou say this, Lin Yichen and the others frowned again.
After a moment of silence, they all nodded. Zhang Ergou was not an outsider, and there was no point in hiding anything from him.
"That's it. With your current cultivation, you should have long reached the Golden Core stage. But because of that tiny bit of jealousy in your hearts,"
"You cannot calm your minds, nor can you achieve the state of having a clear and unobstructed mind. As a result, you become increasingly anxious, and your state of mind becomes more restless."
"Breakthroughs become ever more distant."
As soon as Zhang Ergou uttered these words, Lin Yichen was the first to tremble, his entire aura changing...