Too straightforward!
Lin Fan's attack was devoid of flair, raw and brutal, relying on sheer force to overwhelm his foe.
No one could've imagined that without using a single offensive treasure technique, he'd shatter the skull of a pureblood ferocious beast's cub with one punch—his valor unmatched!
"Argh…"
The young pixiu roared in agony, blood blooming from its battered brow, its horn webbed with cracks. It staggered, trying to rise, but its strength failed, collapsing in a heap, barely clinging to life.
"Fight's over… Looks like it's an even-numbered day again, heh…" Lin Fan muttered, glancing at the darkening sky with a knowing grin. His favorite time was approaching.
The battle barely registered in his mind—it was just another mandatory lesson, a daily grind he never skipped, come rain or shine.
As he turned to head for the Tribulation-Crossing Divine Lotus Pool, Qi Dao Lin called out, "Hold on! I gave you those primal rune bones. Why didn't you use any treasure techniques? You fought purely with your body!"
Lin Fan froze mid-step, his expression shifting. He glanced at his chest, a wry look crossing his face, as if he had a grievance he couldn't voice.
"You didn't learn them? That's impossible. I gave you simple legacy techniques, not complex ones. There's no way you learned nothing—or did you not even try?" Qi Dao Lin asked, puzzled.
This disciple's talent, while not unparalleled, was top-tier, even among Primordial Beings. Failing to grasp basic treasure techniques was unthinkable. These weren't high-level arts like Heavenly Rank or Archaic Vicious Ten techniques—just ones suited to his current realm.
A skyscraper rises from solid ground. Qi Dao Lin hadn't pushed Lin Fan toward lofty goals, starting with the basics, understanding that "the dao is simplest at its core." Every technique held profound truths, and mastery flowed from simplicity to depth.
Finally, Lin Fan spoke, sheepish. "Well… I learned them, but… they come out a bit… different."
"Different how?" Qi Dao Lin pressed.
"Dao Master, see for yourself."
Lin Fan's body glowed, runes flaring as he ignited in blazing flames. A fiery red divine bird materialized, letting out a low cry, soaring behind him with spread wings.
This was the Fire Skylark legacy technique, not particularly powerful or profound compared to supreme clans' arts, but it was easy to learn, imbued with a trace of fire dao mysteries.
Boom!
The skylark spewed a dazzling stream of divine flame, streaking toward the fallen pixiu at breakneck speed.
In an instant, the flames engulfed the beast, forming a roaring blaze. But, astonishingly, instead of roasting or reducing it to ashes, the fire seemed alive, actively healing the pixiu's wounds!
The caved-in, bloodied brow miraculously mended under the flames' touch, restored to pristine condition, as if never injured.
"Roar…"
The pixiu, expecting death, roared in confusion as it regained its strength, utterly baffled by what had happened. But as it staggered to its feet, another fist slammed into its head, a mountain-like force knocking it out cold.
"My techniques only heal—no damage at all!" Lin Fan said, spreading his hands in frustration.
He'd mastered the techniques long ago, but no matter how he cast them, they only healed. At first, he thought it was a fluke, a mistake in learning. But after studying several minor techniques, he realized they all did the same.
This was why he avoided using techniques in combat—not only were they useless, they'd buff his opponents, making him a full-on "healer."
"Such a phenomenon?" Qi Dao Lin's calm shattered. He'd never seen anything like this before.
Approaching Lin Fan, he examined him closely. This was no trivial matter. A cultivator without offensive power was at a severe disadvantage, doomed to be a support, hiding behind others for protection. Such a path meant reliance on others, with little chance for greatness.
"Attack me. Cast another technique!" Qi Dao Lin ordered, a theory forming.
Lin Fan raised his hand, unleashing a technique. A streak of light flashed, divine radiance erupting, runes raining down, appearing formidable.
Yet, as expected, the technique brimmed with vitality, devoid of harm, as if transformed.
"As I thought, it's your Supreme Bone. It's altering your mana, turning all attacks into healing effects," Qi Dao Lin concluded, intrigued by the novelty. Rather than altering the techniques, it was assimilating them, unifying all into one.
A spark lit in his eyes, a bold idea forming. If all the world's techniques could be fused into one, how powerful would that be? Could it rival the Supreme Hall's lost Six Paths Reincarnation Heavenly Art? One commanded myriad techniques; the other merged them into a singular whole.
"Hall Master… Hall Master… can you fix it?" Lin Fan called softly, snapping Qi Dao Lin from his reverie.
As a fiery soul eager to charge into battle, he had no desire to be a lifelong healer. How humiliating! Reborn to conquer the heavens, embrace beauties, and live freely—how could he cower as a support?
"This is new to me. I'll need to study it first," Qi Dao Lin admitted, unwilling to make rash judgments.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you, Hall Master. I'm off to soak in the Divine Lotus Pool." Lin Fan grabbed the pixiu's hind hoof, dragging it along. Pureblood beast meat was too nourishing to waste.
"Hey, you're so eager for the pool but slack off in daytime training. Your feathers haven't even grown, and staring too much isn't good for you!" Qi Dao Lin chided, his tone earnest.
"What're you saying, Dao Master? The divine herbs here are rare and great for cultivation. Of course I wanna soak more. Didn't you tell me to go?" Lin Fan shot back, inwardly scoffing. You're the impure one, always peeping, and you dare lecture me?
Thwack! Lin Fan yelped, clutching his head.
"Insolent disciple, daring to scorn your master! Get to training. If you don't hit the 100,000-pound of strength Extreme Blood Transformation Realm in a year, I'll deal with you!" Qi Dao Lin barked, asserting his authority to save face.
Lin Fan shot him a glare, scampering off, muttering curses. Outrageous, bullying a kid! In my past life, you'd be locked up for years!