Not long after, Lin Fan emerged from his meditative state. The idea of fusing two divine abilities to create a supreme treasure technique was enticing, but far from feasible at his current level.
It's like I've just learned to walk, and I'm already dreaming of running, he thought wryly. He harbored deep skepticism toward those legendary transmigrators who supposedly arrived with heaven-defying comprehension, creating miracles left and right. I'm definitely not that gifted.
Seeing Lin Fan awake, Qing Yao turned to leave, heading toward her bamboo hut.
"Wait, Pretty Sister, can I ask you something?" Lin Fan called out, scratching his head.
"What is it?" Qing Yao glanced back, her clear, water-like eyes meeting his. Her skin glowed like jade, her presence holy and ethereal, as if she'd stepped out of a painting—a radiant fairy, untouchable and divine.
"You don't seem to like Senior Sister," Lin Fan said, puzzled.
Though Qing Yao and Yue Chan were master and disciple, their relationship was strikingly cold. Otherwise, Yue Chan wouldn't have been jealous of him.
Or maybe she just prefers cute, charming boys like me as her disciples? he mused cheekily.
"She's too much like me, so I don't favor her," Qing Yao replied succinctly, her voice airy and melodic, her form wreathed in soft light. Her ethereal aura made it impossible to harbor any irreverent thoughts.
"That's it?" Lin Fan blinked, baffled by the bizarre reasoning. Shouldn't a master and disciple being similar make them closer? Why does it make you dislike her? Does that mean you dislike yourself too?
"Anything else?" Qing Yao's voice floated over again.
Lin Fan shook his head, privately concluding that his Pretty Sister had some psychological quirks. No wonder she's so chilly—she's got this unapproachable vibe.
Yue Chan's visit, however, had given him a sense of the timeline. The little milk baby—Shi Hao—had likely been born by now, and his Supreme Bone might already have been taken, sending him to Stone Village.
I need to speed things up, Lin Fan resolved. Reach the Spirit Transformation Realm soon, leave this place, claim the Supreme Hall's inheritance, and maybe learn a thing or two from the milk baby about surviving a bone extraction.
_
The days of cultivation were monotonous, defined by persistence and effort.
Half a month later, Lin Fan felt his foundation was solid, free of hidden flaws. He opened another Heavenly Passage, achieving what he should have long ago: four Heavenly Passages, firmly in the mid-stage of the Heavenly Passage Realm.
Two months later, the little girl sneaked back while Qing Yao was away. This time, she didn't ambush him. Instead, she strode in boldly, issuing a direct challenge.
"I'm here to challenge you and take back what's mine—my sword, my herbs, my pills… and… and… my undergarments, hmph!" Yue Chan declared with a haughty sniff, her pride and defiance as fiery as ever.
Her aura had surged significantly, her strength noticeably greater. Brimming with confidence, she believed she could reclaim her honor this time.
"Heh, did you bring enough treasures this time? Or should I spank you like last time?" Lin Fan teased, his lips curving into a sly grin, his bright eyes twinkling with mischief.
Yue Chan shivered involuntarily, her hand instinctively reaching back as if recalling an unpleasant memory. Still, she steadied herself and said firmly, "Of course I did. But this time, the loser will be you."
She patted the new Qiankun Pouch at her waist, standing with her hands on her hips, exuding wealth and confidence.
Whoosh!
With a swift motion of her small hand, Yue Chan summoned a cascade of radiant light. One after another, Heavenly Passages materialized around her, dazzling and intimidating.
Unlike their last encounter, she now had an additional passage, reaching four Heavenly Passages—the mid-stage of the Heavenly Passage Realm.
This was the source of her confidence. For most cultivators, opening a single Heavenly Passage could take six months or even years. Yet Yue Chan had achieved it in just three or four months—a testament to her extraordinary talent.
She didn't believe the little brat could outpace her. Having only recently broken through to three Heavenly Passages, how could he possibly reach four so soon? Her confidence was unshakable.
But her smugness was short-lived. Lin Fan revealed his own four Heavenly Passages, manifesting behind him like blazing furnaces, pulsing with vibrant energy and dazzling light.
"Surprised? Shocked?" Lin Fan laughed, relishing her expression, which looked as if she'd swallowed something foul.
Yue Chan quickly regained her composure, her eyes flashing with determination. She pouted and said, "So what? Even if you have four Heavenly Passages, it's not decided who'll win!"
With that, she assumed an attacking stance, her powerful aura stirring the winds. Sand and stones swirled, dust rising in a chaotic dance.
"Hold on," Lin Fan interrupted.
"What, scared already? Ready to surrender? Call me Senior Sister, and maybe I'll let you off if I'm in a good mood," Yue Chan taunted, her cute face alight with anticipation and excitement.
Lin Fan's face darkened. Where does this defeated loser get her confidence, spouting such nonsense? Is she delusional?
"I just meant we should fight somewhere else. If we wreck this place again, Pretty Sister might pound us both into the ground," he clarified.
"Oh, right," Yue Chan said with an awkward chuckle, following Lin Fan to the back mountain—the barren area where he'd trained in the Blood Transformation Realm.
The terrain was wide and desolate, littered with scattered rocks, a stark contrast to the serene purple bamboo grove. They could fight freely here without worrying about collateral damage.
The battle erupted instantly, bursts of divine light clashing and sparks flying. The ground trembled, stones shattered, and a radiant glow enveloped the area.
The fight was fierce, the two exchanging over a hundred blows. They darted back and forth, drenched in sweat, panting heavily, their techniques dazzling but evenly matched, with no clear victor.
This time, Yue Chan was markedly stronger. Her strength and skills had improved significantly, as if she'd studied Lin Fan's tactics thoroughly. Whenever he tried to close the distance, she deftly pulled back, denying him the chance to engage in close combat. She was playing to her strengths and avoiding her weaknesses.
"My body isn't as strong as yours, so I'll defeat you with treasure techniques," Yue Chan declared gleefully, gradually seizing the initiative and shedding her earlier desperation.
"Not bad. You've improved," Lin Fan said with a smile, responding with calm precision.
But he felt the pressure. His inability to use offensive treasure techniques was a glaring weakness. Against an unfamiliar enemy, he could catch them off guard with a decisive strike. But in a sparring match with a familiar opponent, it was trickier. The same trick worked once or twice, but a wary opponent would adapt, making it harder to land a hit.
Lin Fan remained composed, his patience unwavering as he searched for an opening. He struck forward with a palm, the void rumbling with the force.
Boom!
Another clash sent a torrent of wild energy surging outward. Runes blazed like fire, their blinding light illuminating the entire valley, as if freezing the moment in eternity.
Yue Chan was formidable. She unleashed the "Heaven Transformation Divine Ability," channeling the force of Lin Fan's attack through her feet into the ground. The energy traveled along the earth's veins, shattering a distant stone hill, five or six zhang in size, into dust.
The sight was terrifying, and Yue Chan's heart skipped a beat. Had she not redirected the force with her divine ability, the consequences of taking that blow head-on would've been dire.
"Peacock Treasure Technique!"
In the next moment, Yue Chan formed a hand seal, summoning a flurry of runes in the air. A massive peacock, shimmering with five-colored divine light, materialized, its body as large as a small mountain—an awe-inspiring sight.
The peacock let out a piercing cry, its voice splitting the clouds and cracking stone. It unleashed a torrent of five-colored divine light, rolling forward like a tidal wave, its overwhelming power bearing down on Lin Fan.
"She's learned a new treasure technique?" Lin Fan thought, stunned by its might.
Yet, he noticed Yue Chan wielded this technique with greater ease than before. Though its power was slightly less, she showed no signs of strain or pallor, unlike when she'd pushed beyond her limits in their last fight.
She's really gotten smarter, Lin Fan murmured to himself. She's avoiding techniques that overtax her, staying within her limits.
_
The barren back mountain roared with the clash of their powers, the air thick with divine light and the echoes of their battle. The once-quiet valley now pulsed with the intensity of their duel, a testament to Yue Chan's growth and Lin Fan's unyielding resolve.
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