C6 Make Disciples Stop Cultivating.

He had been certain that his previous plan would bring the sect to its knees, but he hadn't counted on Chen Ping emerging out of nowhere and completely foiling Su Yinjian's scheme. It was an embarrassing turn of events, especially since Su Yinjian hadn't even concocted an excuse for his failure before someone else did.

"Sect Master, we assure you that we won't let you down. From now on, we'll dedicate ourselves even more to our cultivation and won't succumb to frivolity as we did before."

Once the disciples had dispersed, Su Yinjian seethed with frustration, clenching his teeth. He had never anticipated this outcome; instead of luring the disciples into idleness, he had inadvertently spurred them to greater diligence.

"After overhearing that conversation, everyone has redoubled their efforts in cultivation, no longer showing the slackness of before," they had said.

"Remember to balance work with rest," he had advised them. "Overexertion is detrimental to your cultivation and offers no benefits. Better to relax a bit..."

"Sect Master, since you shared those words with us, we've seen the error of our ways. We won't fall back into our old, indulgent habits," they had assured him.

"Indeed, since your talk, we've recognized our faults and have been much more committed to our training. We've made significant progress in our cultivation levels, and we owe it all to your guidance," they had said, gratitude in their voices.

"The clan's strength is undeniable. We've heard that Elder Chen has been in deep seclusion for days and could break through at any moment, all thanks to your tireless efforts to refine our spirit," they had praised.

These words only deepened Su Yinjian's resentment towards Chen Ping. He knew he was just displacing his anger, but he couldn't help feeling irked.

After that incident, he had repeatedly encouraged the sect's disciples to engage in leisure, only to be resolutely rejected each time. How could he amass the 'muddle-headed points' the system required for him to exchange for more items when everyone was so earnest in their practice? How long would it take to fulfill the system's mission at this rate?

Su Yinjian realized he couldn't let this situation continue. After much deliberation, an idea struck him.

"Summon the elders," he commanded. "Tell them there's an urgent matter to discuss that will impact the future of our entire sect."

Everyone in the sect revered Su Yinjian, treating his words as if they were sacred. So when he made the call, the disciples promptly fetched the elders, who arrived swiftly.

Su Yinjian looked them over and was surprised to see even Chen Ping, who had been in deep seclusion, among them.

Recalling how Chen Ping's previous remarks had sabotaged his grand plan, Su Yinjian forced out his words through gritted teeth.

"Elder Chen Ping, weren't you in the midst of seclusion, on the verge of a breakthrough? It's nothing urgent; why have you come? If this delays your progress, I'll bear the blame."

Su Yinjian's dissatisfaction was palpable in his tone, which carried a hint of sarcasm. Yet Chen Ping seemed unfazed, even amused, by Su Yinjian's words.

He appeared to take them as a compliment, his smile widening with self-satisfaction. Then, with a cheerful demeanor, he responded to Su Yinjian.

"I owe it all to the Sect Leader's previous words, which allowed me to timely recognize my errors and grasp the deeper meaning behind them. That's how I achieved my breakthrough. I had planned to enter seclusion, but when the Sect Leader declared it a matter of great importance for the sect, I knew I had to prioritize his guidance."

Su Yinjian surveyed the elders, who were all awaiting his address.

"Therefore, I'll get straight to the point. All sect disciples are to cease their cultivation and assemble in the sect's square. I have important news to share!"

Upon Su Yinjian's declaration, the elders' brows knitted in concern. They were uncertain about his motives. Su Yinjian had indeed taken actions that had previously caught them off guard, actions from which they had reaped benefits.

Yet, the abrupt command for all disciples to halt their cultivation was beyond their expectations. The Great Elder approached Su Yinjian, pausing before he voiced his concern.

"Normally, we'd heed the Sect Leader's words, trusting there's good reason behind them. But I believe it's unwise for the disciples to cease their cultivation entirely. Even if the Sect Leader advocates for a balance of work and rest, complete cessation isn't the answer, is it?"

After all, some disciples were deep in seclusion, on the cusp of breakthroughs. It would be detrimental to interrupt their progress.

The Great Elder's objection left Su Yinjian somewhat at a loss, but he had already devised a persuasive argument.

With that, Su Yinjian presented some items he had previously gathered—formation diagrams. He was unsure if the disciples could decipher them, but that was of little concern to him. In fact, their confusion suited him just fine.

"These are the formation diagrams I've prepared. My request for you to stop cultivating is to give you the opportunity to study these formations and begin learning how to use them."

Su Yinjian spoke, eyeing the crowd with a narrowed gaze. The Great Elder, however, remained unconvinced, feeling that Su Yinjian was perhaps being too impulsive this time. He stepped forward again, attempting to dissuade him.

"Yet, Sect Leader, not all disciples possess the aptitude for formation study. Forcing a halt in their cultivation could backfire, especially for those ill-suited to formations—it's unlikely they'll achieve success in this area."

Su Yinjian's eyes remained narrowed as he regarded the Great Elder, choosing to remain silent.

Chen Ping, interpreting Su Yinjian's demeanor as one on the verge of anger, decided to intervene. It was inappropriate for a Sect Leader and a Great Elder to engage in open conflict. He spoke up to ease the tension.

"Great Elder, please, let's not rush to judgment. The Sect Leader must have his reasons for this decision. Let's hear him out. After all, we've been skeptical of the Sect Leader's methods before, only to be proven wrong by the outcomes, haven't we?"

The Great Elder hesitated, reflecting on the advantages they had gained, as well as Su Yinjian's seemingly ludicrous yet effective ideas that had led to their breakthroughs. Reluctantly, he stepped aside.

It wasn't that the Great Elder sought to challenge Su Yinjian out of spite; rather, the radical move to suspend all disciples' cultivation was simply too outlandish, and he found it hard to reconcile with.

Previously, the disciples had been indulging in leisure, but Su Yinjian had been honing their spirits—a rationale the Great Elder could comprehend. However, the study of formations was an entirely different discipline from cultivation.

If the adage holds that with enough diligence, disciples can reap rewards on their cultivation journey, even with minimal talent, then the case of array formations stands in stark contrast.