The group moved through the wild forest, Lin Feng's mind still swirling with the aftershocks of battle. His body felt denser, more resilient, and the world seemed sharper, more vibrant. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the subtle changes. Every attribute orb he absorbed made him feel less like a stranger—and more like a warrior.
Yu Yan tucked the boar's spirit core into her pouch and wiped her blade. "We'll rest here for a bit. That fight would've drawn attention," she said, glancing at the sun filtering through the canopy. "We can't risk another big beast ambushing us."
Zhang Wei propped his club against a tree and stretched his arms. Jin and Min flopped down on the grass, breathing heavily. Lin Feng sat beside them, still quietly amazed at his luck—and his secret.
"Not bad for your first real fight," Min said, grinning. "You didn't freeze or run."
Lin Feng shrugged modestly. "Guess I got lucky."
Zhang Wei looked him up and down. "You moved like someone with training. Where'd you learn to fight?"
Lin Feng hesitated, piecing together a story. "My father taught me a little self-defense. Nothing like what you all can do."
Yu Yan smiled. "You should consider joining a martial sect. With some training, you'd fit right in. Especially with that spirit—most newcomers panic the first time a beast charges."
Jin rummaged through his pack and handed Lin Feng a chunk of dried meat. "Here. You'll need your strength. The wilds don't get any safer the deeper you go."
As the group ate and shared stories, Lin Feng watched each of them closely. He wondered about the limits of his ability. Could I copy more than one innate talent? What if someone had a unique bloodline or constitution? Would it overwrite what I already have—or would I keep collecting them?
He looked at his panel, almost expecting an answer:
Attributes:
Strength: 6 | Speed: 8 | Body: 7 | Spirit: 1.1
Innate Talents:
Flame Spirit Constitution (Dormant)Stone Skin (Dormant)
Skills:
None
So I can have more than one… but they're dormant. Maybe I need to awaken them somehow, Lin Feng mused.
A distant howl echoed through the forest, sharp and chilling. Yu Yan's expression turned serious. "That's a Shadow Wolf. They hunt in packs. We need to move."
The group quickly gathered their things. As they prepared to leave, Lin Feng lingered near Min and offered his hand. "Thanks for backing me up."
Min grinned and shook his hand firmly. The panel flickered:
No new talent copied. (Already acquired: Stone Skin)
Lin Feng nodded to himself. So the system wouldn't duplicate what he already had. Good to know.
They set off, moving quietly. The forest changed as they went—trees grew taller, the undergrowth thicker, and strange, glowing fungi dotted the shadows. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of the wild intensified.
After an hour of careful travel, they reached a small stream. The water was crystal clear, but the rocks beneath gleamed with an unnatural blue hue.
Jin knelt to fill his flask. "Stay alert. Spirit beasts come to drink here."
As if summoned, a rustle in the bushes made everyone freeze. A creature emerged—a deer with silvery fur and golden antlers, its eyes intelligent and wary.
Yu Yan whispered, "That's a Silverlight Deer. Its antlers are valuable, but it's fast and can use light-based spirit techniques."
Zhang Wei's grip tightened on his club, but Yu Yan held up a hand. "Don't attack unless it threatens us. Silverlight Deer are gentle unless provoked."
The deer dipped its head to drink, then gazed at the group. Its eyes lingered on Lin Feng, and he felt a strange resonance—a tingling in his chest, like an unspoken invitation.
Suddenly, the deer's antlers glowed. Shafts of light shot from them, striking the bushes behind the group. With a yelp, a shadowy wolf leapt out—one of the pack that had been stalking them. The light seared its fur, sending it fleeing.
Lin Feng's panel flashed:
Innate Talent detected: Radiant Grace (Silverlight Deer)
Skill copied: Light Beam (Beginner)
Lin Feng's breath caught. I can copy from spirit beasts too!
The deer glanced at him once more before bounding away, vanishing into the forest's depths.
Yu Yan let out a relieved sigh. "We were lucky. If that wolf had called its pack, we'd have had a real fight."
As the group relaxed, Lin Feng felt a new warmth stirring inside—a gentle, luminous energy, so different from the fiery heat of Yu Yan's constitution or the toughness of Min's skin. He wondered what "Radiant Grace" would do if he could awaken it.
As dusk settled over the forest, the group found a defensible hollow to camp. Yu Yan and Zhang Wei took first watch. The brothers dozed off quickly, exhausted.
Lin Feng lay awake, staring at the unfamiliar stars above the treetops. His thoughts raced.
I can copy the gifts of anyone or anything—martial artist or beast. Every fight, every encounter, is a chance to grow. But what does it mean to have so many talents? And what will happen if others find out?
He clenched his fist, feeling the promise of power and the weight of secrecy. In this world of monsters, sects, and spirit energy, his journey was only beginning.
But he would not walk it alone.