Liu Ran's earlier action might have looked simple to an outsider. However, Chen An knew that it was no simple feat to completely reprint the Evening Moon Vine's talent skill in a blank skills book.
Liu Ran scratched his head. He knew that he could not hide this from Chen An, and he was also partly at fault.
After obtaining the Evening Moon Vine, he had new-found confidence. In addition, the Evening Moon Vine had grown swiftly in his hands, so it was the most formidable plant-based beast that he had. He had thus been filled with confidence and became overly complacent.
When he had come to this place, he had agreed to a battle with that fellow. He had been under the impression that he would be able to win and then inquire about the Joint Combo.
Never had he expected to lose and then bump into Chen An. Aside from the loss of face, he had certainly let Chen An down.
"I'll tell you the truth. I am born with a talent to create skills books. The skills book that I create can reprint the skill completely. In addition, the beast that I extracted the skills book from will not suffer any harm."
This was also his trump card. Although many people knew this, he would not reveal this on his own accord.
Chen An nodded as he listened. "It turns out that a skills book is created in this way."
Liu Ran was stupefied. "Buddy, you didn't know this? How did you think skills books are produced? It could not possibly be blown here by strong winds…"
"You actually have such a talent?" Lin Yingxue sized up Liu Ran from tip to toe.
Liu Ran felt indignant. "Why are you staring at me like this? I'm not as inferior as you think. No matter what, I'm an extraordinary talented Beast Tamer who specializes in plant-based beasts."
He was not lying. Liu Ran had a portable chamber that had high compatibility with plant-based beasts. It was to the point where he could take away any kind of plant-based beasts.
"You?" Lin Yingxue expressed her disbelief.
"Why do I have to lie to you? In terms of understanding of plant-based beasts, I'm so much better than you."
Lin Yingxue felt indignant. "Well… A while ago, who has been…"
"Alright, stop it." Liu Ran could not win against Lin Yingxue in this argument, so he surrendered.
"In that case, you can have as many skills books as you want. So, they are of no value to you at all?" asked Chen An. After pondering deeply, that seemed logical.
Liu Ran waved his hands quickly. "Please, don't think of it that way. The skill of a beast, especially the talent skill, is a very precious thing. Every extraction is considered a loss."
After all, no one would be willing to let other people use the skill of their own beast.
Chen An asked again, "You made your skills-book-creating talent sound very great. Let me ask you again. Can you extract the Joint Combo and create a skills book from it?"
As he said this, both Liu Ran and Lin Yingxue were stunned. This was a very bold idea. If he could do that, the Joint Combos book would simply be a priceless treasure!
It was a pity that no one could create it.
The value of a Joint Combo was not something that money could measure. There would be a huge commotion if it were to exist!
"That's impossible. To be able to create a skills book, one needs to meet stringent criteria. They have to possess an innate talent in it. There are also good and poor talents." Liu Ran sighed and said regretfully, "For example, the skills book created by some people are less effective than the original skill. The many low-grade skills books that you've read before might have originated from high-grade beasts but created by lousy Skills Book Creators. Therefore, they are now called rubbish skills."
Lin Yingxue nodded. For example, Chen An's skills book titled "Vast Sky" might be useful for a one-time surprise attack, but it was not feasible for long-term use.
Liu Ran added, "Some Skills Book Creators will injure the beasts severely during the creation process. If the consequence is serious, death may occur."
This was no different from killing the chicken and taking its eggs.
"There are also Skills Book Creators who will not cause any harm to the beasts but themselves." Having said that, Liu Ran had a bitter smile. "Take me for an example."
Chen An recollected Liu Ran's worn-out look after he had finished creating the skills book a while ago.
"I'm not boasting. I'm already considered a highly talented Skills Book Creator. Yet, I'm unable to extract the Joint Combo skills book. I can't even see the tip of the iceberg. Sigh…" Liu Ran threw both his hands up helplessly.
"Even the most formidable Skills Book Creator can't do that?"
"Anyway, I've not heard of it."
Lin Yingxue felt slightly dejected. She felt uneasy whenever she thought of Zheng Qing, the threat to Chen An.
"Liu Ran, can you tell me exactly how you extract and create a skills book?" Chen An's question was not entirely out of curiosity. He had been tempted when he saw the Sandstorm Rose's Joint Combo.
"Why? Do you want to learn it? Why are you that stubborn? Have I not said it? Creating skills books requires talent. You can't force it."
"How do you know that I can't when you have not even taught me?"
"It's pointless. I don't know how to teach, and you can't learn them as well."
Liu Ran tried to persuade Chen An to give up on this notion soon. Ordinary-grade skills books could only be created by destined Skills Book Creators. The requirements on the creator would certainly be more stringent for Joint Combos.
"Don't be too stubborn. You can't force such things. You may end up harming yourself badly if it's not managed well. And the damage is irreversible."
Liu Ran had seen people who had forcefully tried to create skills books although they were not qualified to. In the end, they had become cripples.
Unfortunately, Chen An was a very persistent man. "You don't need to care about that."
Upon seeing that Chen An was resolute, Liu Ran had no choice but to say evasively, "Alright. Listen well."
Lin Yingxue's interest was also piqued, and she leaned her ears over.
However, Liu Ran was extraordinarily vague.
"First, you have to… R-right. It's like that. Next, you have to… Did you see that clearly? That's right. This is the way to go. Last, you have to… No, no. Not like that. That won't work. It's like this. Do you understand me? It'll be fine if you do."
For a long time, Liu Ran stood by himself as he gestured and drew in the air. He got rather carried away, and Lin Yingxue felt an urge to kick him.
"Oh." Chen An had an enlightened expression.
"Did you understand what he said?" Lin Yingxue was doubtful. If it was that easy to learn how to create a skills book, would they still be a rare thing in this world?
Chen An looked serious as he sat in front of Liu Ran and said, "Give me a blank skills book."
This was a very common item. Every Skills Book Creator would carry with them at least one or two of it.
Liu Ran took out one of his books and asked Chen An what he intended to do with it.
He saw Chen An summoning Dou Buxiang. His left hand tapped on Dou Buxiang's horn while his right hand was placed on the blank skills book's cover page. Judging from his action, he was about to reprint the skills book.