"Huh!"
Lin Fan exclaimed in surprise. Originally, he had planned to chop up the Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog just to roast it and fill his stomach, but he didn't expect it to drop a technique. How strange!
"Ding! Unranked technique 'Black Tiger Steals Heart' discovered. Do you wish to learn it?"
"Learn."
Lin Fan, having left the Holy Demon Sect, regretted not learning a few techniques there. Although 'Black Tiger Steals Heart' was unranked, given his previous experience with 'Monkey Steals Peach,' Lin Fan believed that as long as he leveled it up, it could be immensely powerful.
"Ding! Learned 'Black Tiger Steals Heart,' level 1, experience (0/100)."
"'Black Tiger Steals Heart,' a technique created by Jianghu's Flower Picking Lord, who died at the hands of the Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog."
...
Seeing the introduction to the technique, Lin Fan's expression changed slightly. It turned out to be a technique from a flower-picking thief. What a shocker!
However, Lin Fan did not disdain the technique. Techniques aren't inherently good or evil; it depends on who uses them. Lin Fan always considered himself a righteous person, and he would never engage in evil deeds.
After filling his stomach, Lin Fan tidied up and continued heading north. After he left, a slightly smaller Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog leaped out of the bushes. The demon dog sniffed the air and immediately roared in anger.
...
Along the way, Lin Fan encountered many fierce beasts, but they were all slain with a single sword stroke, earning him a lot of experience. In this process of killing beasts, Lin Fan realized that leaving the Holy Demon Sect might have been a wise decision. It was hard to level up there, but outside, with beasts roaming everywhere, he could gain experience from slaying them.
"Woof... woof..."
At this moment, there was a commotion in the bushes. Lin Fan frowned and stopped in his tracks, sensing something was about to happen.
Thud, thud...
A group of Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs emerged from the bushes, roaring. Lin Fan, seeing the demon dogs blocking his path, had a general idea. It seemed they were here for revenge. Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs are nocturnal beasts, usually resting during the day. Now, this large group of demon dogs blocking his way had clearly followed the scent.
"Woof!" A slightly smaller Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog, baring its teeth, glared at Lin Fan with hatred. The flames on its tail burned fiercely, charring the ground beneath it. Lin Fan, seeing their vengeful intent, wanted to reason with them, but the demon dogs gave him no chance, attacking as soon as they met.
These Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs were all at the third level of innate power. If Lin Fan hadn't cultivated the 'Indestructible Demon Body,' he might have been in real trouble today.
"Ding! Killed a level-two innate Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog, experience +8000."
"Ding! Killed a level-one innate Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog, experience +5000."
Lin Fan struck decisively, slaying the demon dogs one by one. Although the number of demon dogs was overwhelming, their attacks were absorbed as experience for his 'Indestructible Demon Body.'
"Hey, don't be too reckless..." Lin Fan shouted, slicing another Moon-Swallowing Demon Dog in half with his sword. The more they fought, the fiercer the demon dogs became, refusing to retreat even as they were decimated.
"Ding! Congratulations, 'Indestructible Demon Body' experience +1000."
...
After killing the entire pack of Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs, Lin Fan sighed slightly. "Why go to such lengths..."
"Ding! Obtained Yellow Rank Middle-Class Technique 'Immovable Emperor Fist.' Do you wish to learn it?"
"Learn."
"'Immovable Emperor Fist,' a technique of the Dayan Dynasty's royal family."
"Ding! Obtained Yellow Rank Lower-Class Technique 'Illusionary Movement.' Do you wish to learn it?"
"Learn."
"'Illusionary Movement,' a technique from the Dayan Dynasty's Tianfu Academy."
After wiping out the pack of Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs, Lin Fan acquired two techniques. It seemed many people from the Dayan Dynasty had fallen prey to these demon dogs.
Two days later, Lin Fan encountered the Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs four more times and various other fierce beasts along the way. After reaching the innate stage, Lin Fan finally understood the use of true essence. Using 'Illusionary Movement' and 'Immovable Emperor Fist' consumed true essence, and Lin Fan was troubled by how to quickly restore his true essence, as it could only recover to its best state during rest.
Lin Fan believed that the method to restore true essence quickly must be related to a heart technique. He knew he needed to find one eventually.
Through these encounters, Lin Fan gained a new understanding of the Moon-Swallowing Demon Dogs: they were beasts that always sought revenge. Due to these repeated battles, Lin Fan's cultivation level rose, and he reached the second level of innate power, with his true essence doubling.
After three days, Lin Fan felt he was nearing the edge of the dense forest. He wondered if the other side was the Dayan Dynasty. Lin Fan didn't have a clear goal; he didn't know what he wanted to do. His current plan was to improve his cultivation and surprise his senior brothers and sisters at the Holy Demon Sect when he returned.
At this moment, Lin Fan sat under a giant tree, resting. Using 'Illusionary Movement' to travel had consumed a lot of true essence, but the technique was incredibly effective. In these past few days, the speed at which he moved using 'Illusionary Movement' was ten times his usual pace. The 'Illusionary Movement' technique had reached level five, and 'Immovable Emperor Fist' had reached level three.
Boom, boom...
Suddenly, Lin Fan felt the ground shaking violently. He jumped up, wondering if something was happening again. But as soon as he stood up, a vast, overwhelming wave of energy rushed toward him like a tide.
"What the... What's going on?" Lin Fan was stunned. What kind of powerful being was emitting such intense energy?
Lin Fan looked ahead and saw the sky darkening, like the end of the world. He wanted to run away, thinking it was best not to get involved in dangerous situations. But curiosity got the better of him. He thought it wouldn't hurt to sneak a peek, right?
In the end, Lin Fan crept forward cautiously.
...
"Mo Yixuan, hand over the Seven Saints Treasure Map, and I'll spare your life."
Two figures were chasing each other in the sky, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. "Haha, who would've thought the dignified Linglong Sword Pavilion would stoop to robbery?" The black-clad man being chased sneered, but he dared not linger.
"Hmph, the Seven Saints Treasure Map was left by the ancestors of the Seven Saints. Hand it over!"
"Bian!"
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, and a stone bridge, exuding an ancient aura, emerged from the void, blocking the black-clad man's path.
"Hand it over." The person blocking the black-clad man's path was a woman of stunning beauty, her aura sacred and inviolable. Mo Yixuan looked at the woman warily, clutching a worn scroll tightly in his hand.
"Niman Tian, do you really want to have a life-and-death struggle with me?" Mo Yixuan asked.
"Do you even qualify?" Niman Tian snorted coldly. "Sword of Reincarnation."
...
Lin Fan, hiding in the distance, was dumbfounded. This was too intense! If he went over, wouldn't he be killed? But then something strange happened. It seemed the two of them had been fighting so fiercely that they were now unable to move. They stood still on the ground, motionless.
Even so, Lin Fan didn't dare approach.
"Haha, Niman Tian, ginger is still spicier with age. Although you're a top talent in the Xuanhuang World, when it comes to actual combat, you're still too inexperienced." Mo Yixuan laughed bitterly, his face pale.
"Despicable," Niman Tian retorted, not speaking further as she closed her eyes to heal. "Today, the outcome is still uncertain. Linglong Sword Pavilion's swordsmanship may be the best in Xuanhuang, but when it comes to healing, it's among the worst in the world. Now that neither of us can move, let's see what you can do to me." Despite his bravado, Mo Yixuan was also desperately trying to recover.
Lin Fan, still hiding at a distance, heard everything clearly. The most critical piece of information was this:
"Neither of us can move."
...
"Can't move, huh..." Lin Fan muttered to himself, his expression changing. "Damn, if they can't move, why am I just watching? Grandpa's coming!" Lin Fan's eyes lit up as he dashed toward the two.