novelTele Chapter 88 Fain
Chapter 88 Fain
Upon arriving at the foot of Mount Martial God, Lin Yun encountered Castro, who was waiting there. Under Castro's guidance, Lin Yun embarked on Mount Martial God.
Mount Martial God is nestled among the mountains north of Crimson Flame City. It is the residence of the Martial God O'Brien and a sacred site for the entire O'Brien Empire. The mountain peaks soar into the clouds, and the upper part of the mountain is shrouded in mist all year round. From a distance, it looks like a giant sword piercing the sky.
The two descended from the sky and stood before the stone steps at the foot of the mountain. The stone steps were about three zhang wide, paved with a single piece of black stone, each step polished smooth as a mirror. On both sides of the stone steps were dense ancient pines, with thick trunks and canopies like canopies. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the pine needles, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
"Flying is not allowed on Mount Martial God," Castro said. "It's out of respect for our teacher."
Lin Yun nodded and followed him up the stone steps.
The stone steps were long and winding, stretching as far as the eye could see. Along the way, one could see disciples of the Martial God Sect from time to time—some practicing swordsmanship, some meditating, and some sparring. When they saw Castro, they all bowed respectfully and then looked at Lin Yun with curiosity.
"That's Lin Yun Baruch? The one who defeated Senior Brother Andalu?"
"A seventeen-year-old Saint... is too young."
"I heard he can also transform into a dragon. The bloodline of the Dragonblood Warrior family is indeed powerful."
Whispers drifted past Lin Yun, but he paid no attention and silently followed Castro uphill.
After walking for about half an hour, a wide-open platform appeared ahead. The platform was paved with bluestone, surrounded by ancient, verdant pines, and in the center stood a simple stone house. The door of the stone house was open, and inside sat a person dressed in a blue robe.
Castro stopped at the edge of the platform and stepped aside.
"Your senior brother is inside. Go in by yourself."
Lin Yun bowed slightly and stepped onto the platform.
Castro turned and left, his footsteps gradually fading on the stone steps.
Lin Yun walked to the door of the stone house and stopped. He saw the person sitting inside.
The man wore a simple blue robe, his figure slender yet as straight as a pillar. His hair was short, also blue, about three inches long, and even from behind, he exuded an extremely fierce and resolute aura.
Faen, the senior disciple of the Martial God Sect, is a Saint Realm expert, ranking among the top five in the entire Yulan Continent. He cultivates the "Profound Mystery of Punishment" in the Thunder Element Laws and is most skilled in soul attacks. He has lived for over five thousand years and has witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties, making him a true living fossil.
"Come in," Farn said calmly and steadily.
Lin Yun walked into the stone house and stood opposite Faen.
Faen turned around and his gaze fell on Lin Yun.
In that instant, Lin Yun felt as if his soul had been struck by an invisible lightning bolt. A powerful spiritual force surged from Farn's eyes, piercing straight into the depths of his soul.
Lin Yun's soul reacted instinctively. Powerful mental energy surged forth like a tidal wave, deflecting the invisible attack.
A hint of surprise flashed in Farn's eyes.
"Such powerful mental strength," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "Your soul strength far exceeds my expectations."
"You flatter me, senior." Lin Yun bowed slightly.
Faen looked Lin Yun up and down, his gaze a mixture of scrutiny and admiration.
"I've met your Baruch family ancestors," Farn said. "The Dragonblood Warrior family, which once dominated the Magnolia Continent, was indeed powerful. It's a pity that they declined later. Now, only a few of you remain."
"Ups and downs are normal," Lin Yun said. "Besides, now that I'm here, I believe the day when the family rises again is not far off."
Farn nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Indeed, there are ups and downs. Over the past five thousand years, I have witnessed far too many rises and falls. The key to a family's rise lies in a Saint-level expert. You are quite good; no wonder my master favors you so much."
Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat. The Martial God favored him so much? Could it be that he wanted to take him as his disciple?
He quickly calculated in his mind. If the God of War really wanted to take him as a disciple, what should he do? Refuse? Would that anger the God of War? Accept? But the God of War was a lower-level god who became a god by refining a lower-level godhood. In terms of the profound mysteries of the laws, he only knew one of the mysteries of the fire element. What he could teach him was really limited.
"Lin Yun, I heard you also cultivate lightning-based laws?" Faen suddenly spoke, interrupting Lin Yun's thoughts.
"Yes," Lin Yun said, "I know a little bit about it."
"Shallow stuff?" Farn laughed. "Being able to defeat Andalu is no small feat. How about we have a spar?"
Lin Yun was taken aback. A sparring match? With this Saint Realm expert who had lived for over five thousand years?
"Senior Faen, your strength far surpasses mine," Lin Yun said, fully aware of his own limitations.
"No." Farn shook his head. "Others might not be my match. But you're different. Your mental strength is so powerful, and the stronger the mental strength, the stronger the resistance to soul attacks, and soul attacks are what I specialize in. So, the gap between us isn't that big."
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, with your current strength, you can be ranked in the third tier in the entire Yulan Continent."
Lin Yun's heart stirred. He was quite clear about the division of the strong in the Yulan Continent into the third tier, and with his current strength, he was considered one of the top in the third tier.
Fann, thinking he was unaware, explained, "Currently, the strongest on the entire Yulan Continent are naturally the top few god-level experts. Below the god level, the first tier consists of us, the five at the peak of the Saint Realm—myself, Hise, Desli, Tulilei, and others. The second tier includes the Pope of Light, the Pope of Darkness, and a dozen or so others. The third tier is the level of Hedson. You defeated Andalu, who is considered strong even in the third tier, so you already possess the strength of the third tier."
Lin Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. Let's have a friendly spar, but we'll stop when we've reached a point."
"Haha, good, that's enough." Fain laughed, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Confident but not arrogant, not bad."
The two walked out of the stone house and came to the open space in the center of the platform.
Lin Yun took a few steps back, took off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body. Then, he took a deep breath and slowly released his dragon form.
Azure scales emerged from beneath his skin, quickly covering his arms, torso, and legs. Sharp claws grew from his fingertips, dragon horns emerged from the sides of his forehead, and a dragon tail extended from the end of his spine. The entire process took only a few seconds, and a dragon-blooded warrior covered in azure scales, with two horns on his head and a spear-like tail stood before Farn.
A hint of surprise flashed in Farn's eyes.
"Dragonification... the symbol of the Dragonblood Warrior family. Truly living up to its reputation."
He slowly drew the longsword from his waist. The sword was entirely blue, with faint crackling electricity running along its blade, radiating a chilling aura.
"Lin Yun, I'm very fast, you need to be careful," Fain warned.
"Alright. Speed is also my forte." Lin Yun gripped the long sword in his hand tightly.
His understanding of the lightning-based laws was the "profound mystery of lightning speed," and his understanding of the light-based laws was the "profound mystery of light speed," both of which pursued the ultimate speed. Although there was still a gap compared to the limits of a veteran saint like Fan, who had lived for over five thousand years, he was confident that the difference wouldn't be too great.
Lin Yun didn't wait for Faen to make the first move. He knew that against such an opponent, striking first might not be effective, but at least it would allow him to test the opponent's strength.
He propelled himself forward with his feet, his body transforming into a streak of light as he charged towards Fane. Purple lightning crackled on his longsword, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound as it slashed down at Fane's head.
He used all his strength in that strike.
Ninefold Thunder Blade – Hundredfold Hidden Force.
This is a unique move he created based on the "Ninefold Thunder Blade" secret technique from the Swallowed Star world, combined with the lightning laws from the Panlong world. He concentrates the power of lightning into the blade, and with a single slash, the power continuously accumulates on the blade, like a hundred bolts of lightning striking in succession. Although it is not as defenseless as Lin Lei's Earth Profound Technique - "Hundredfold Wave" in the original work, it is superior in speed and explosive power, with each layer of hidden force carrying the penetrating power of lightning.
A hint of admiration flashed in Farn's eyes.
He didn't take the blow head-on. His body transformed into a streak of azure lightning, and just as the longsword was about to strike, he dodged to the side and simultaneously drifted back three steps.
"boom--"
The longsword struck the ground, shattering the bluestone and sending dust flying. The hundred layers of hidden force contained in that strike exploded on the ground, turning the ground within a radius of several meters into dust.
Farn's pupils contracted slightly. He saw the terrifying energy contained in that strike—Lin Yun's blade vibrated hundreds of times in that instant. If that strike had landed on him, even he would likely have suffered greatly.
"Excellent swordsmanship," Farn praised.
He raised his left hand, and a bolt of cyan lightning condensed in his palm before striking towards Lin Yun.
Lightning Laws - Lightning of Punishment.
That wasn't ordinary lightning; it was lightning imbued with the power of a soul attack. The cyan lightning was extremely fast, even faster than Lin Yun's lightning speed.
Lin Yun had no time to dodge and could only raise his knife to parry.
"boom--"
A bolt of blue lightning struck the blade, producing a deafening roar. Lin Yun was thrown back three steps, the longsword in his hand humming.
But what shocked him was not the power of the lightning, but the changes that occurred after it shattered.
Azure lightning exploded on the blade, turning into countless tiny arcs of electricity that spread along the blade to Lin Yun's arm and shoulder, before shooting straight into his mind.
"This is... a soul attack?"
Lin Yun felt a powerful spiritual force, like an invisible blade, pierce deep into his soul. The stinging pain made him tremble, and the long sword in his hand involuntarily veered off course.
Farn's sword was already at his feet.
The sword tip stopped three inches in front of Lin Yun's throat.
"You lost." Farn sheathed his sword and stepped back, a slight smile on his lips.
Lin Yun stood there, panting heavily. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and the back of his clothes was soaked through.
"Senior Fan, your soul attack is too bizarre," Lin Yun said with a wry smile. "It's impossible to defend against. If my soul power weren't strong enough, this move would have killed me."
"Your soul power is indeed very strong," Farn said. "I have cultivated the profound mysteries of punishment for five thousand years, and soul attacks are my forte. There are only a handful of Saint-level experts who can remain conscious under my soul attacks. You are one of them."
Lin Yun couldn't help but think of the soul attack he had comprehended from the rules of death. Compared to the soul attack techniques that Faen had studied for thousands of years, his was still too rudimentary. Of course, it wasn't that the rules of death were inferior to the lightning laws, but rather that Lin Yun's understanding of the rules of death was too shallow, not even scratching the surface. After all, the rules of death were best at attacking the soul.
"That strike of yours was no ordinary one either." Farn looked at the pulverized bluestone on the ground, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes. "A hundred layers of hidden force, the power of a single strike comparable to a hundred strikes combined. Did you create this yourself?"
"I guess so," Lin Yun said. "The inspiration came from a sword technique."
Farn nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
"You're not only skilled in lightning-based laws, but your first move was also powered by earth-based laws, right?" Farn asked.
"That's right," Lin Yun said. "I cultivate multiple systems of laws."
Farn was silent for a moment, then said, "Cultivating multiple systems has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that there are many methods and ways to defeat enemies; the disadvantage is that your energy is scattered, making it difficult to reach the pinnacle in any one system. You need to find a good balance."
"I understand," Lin Yun said.
Farn nodded and turned to walk toward the stone house.
"Come on, I'll take you to see the teacher."
The two left the platform and continued uphill along the mountain path.
At the summit of Mount Wushen stood a stone palace. But instead of taking Lin Yun to the palace, Faen led him to a cave halfway up the mountain.
The cave entrance was small, only about a meter high, and the rocks at the entrance were dark brown with a faint sheen. A stream of hot air, carrying the smell of sulfur, billowed out of the cave.
"The teacher is inside," Farn said. "Come with me."
The two entered the cave.
The cave twisted and turned, its narrow passages barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The stone walls were crimson red, and the temperature rose the further in one went. Sweat beaded on Lin Yun's forehead, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.
After walking for a while, a cave appeared ahead, plunging straight down. The cave was unfathomably deep; looking down, it was pitch black, and the bottom was nowhere in sight.
"Go down." Farn jumped straight inside.
Without hesitation, Lin Yun jumped down as well.
"call--"
After falling for quite a while, the two landed gently like drifting leaves. Fain's control of his battle aura was extremely precise; he made almost no sound upon landing. Lin Yun, on the other hand, used wind magic to slow his descent, also silently.
After landing, the two continued forward into the cave. The temperature inside the cave rose higher and higher, and the stone walls changed from crimson to bright red, as if they might melt at any moment.
"Such a high temperature." Lin Yun was secretly surprised.
He looked at Faen and noticed that Faen was covered with a faint layer of cyan battle aura, which insulated him from the high temperature. Lin Yun also released the water-based "Water Curtain Heavenly Splendor," and the cool water element enveloped his body, resisting the heat wave in the cave.
After walking for a while, a dark stone gate appeared ahead. Despite the high temperature, the stone gate showed no signs of turning red, indicating that its material was extraordinary.
"Whoosh—"
A scorching heat emanated from within the stone gate, accompanied by a faint, oppressive aura. Faced with this oppressive aura, Lin Yun felt an urge to prostrate himself in worship.
That was the pressure of a god-level expert. Even though the Martial God had restrained most of his power, just a trace of his aura was enough to make a Saint-level expert feel suffocated.
"Teacher, Lin Yun has arrived." Faen stood in front of the stone gate and said respectfully.
"Alright, Fan, you may leave now." A detached voice came from inside the stone gate.
"Yes, teacher." Farn respectfully withdrew and turned to walk back the way he came.
Lin Yun stood alone in front of the stone gate, feeling somewhat nervous.
"Come in," the God of War's voice rang out again.
The stone gate opened silently.
Lin Yun took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Behind the stone gate was a massive stone chamber. In the center of the chamber was a lava pool, where molten lava churned and emitted a blinding red light. Above the lava pool, a man clad in black armor floated.
The man appeared to be in his forties, with a burly build, rugged features, and eyes that burned like flames. He hovered cross-legged above the lava pool, the lava beneath him churning and surging, yet none dared approach him even slightly.
Martial God – O'Brien. One of the three god-level powerhouses on the Yulan Continent.
"Lin Yun, seventeen years old, a Saint-level Archmage, a Saint-level Dragonblood Warrior, has already embarked on the path of comprehending the elemental laws..." The God of War's voice remained indifferent. "Lin Yun, you are quite good. Over the years, I have seen countless geniuses, but I have never seen one like you."
"Thank you for your praise, Martial God." Lin Yun bowed slightly.
The God of War's gaze fell on Lin Yun, and he remained silent for a moment.
"Would you be willing to become my disciple?" the God of War suddenly asked.
Lin Yun was startled.
Just as he expected, the God of War wanted to take him as his disciple.
Lin Yun's mind raced. He was absolutely unwilling. It wasn't that he looked down on the God of War, but rather that the God of War truly had nothing to teach him. A lower-level god who became a god by refining a lower-level divine spark only knew one profound mystery of the fire element in the laws of nature; what he could teach him was extremely limited.
Moreover, he was walking a unique path—cultivating seven elements simultaneously, with two worldlines corroborating each other. No one could teach him this path; he had to walk it himself.
"I'm sorry." Lin Yun thought for a long time before saying firmly, "I hope to reach the god level through my own efforts."
The stone chamber fell silent.
The lava churned in the pool, making a "glug-glug" sound. The God of War hovered above the lava, motionless, his expression unreadable.
Lin Yun felt a little uneasy. He hoped that the God of War wouldn't get angry.
"Very well." The God of War finally spoke, his voice still indifferent, but seemingly carrying a hint of admiration. "I guessed that a peerless genius like you would naturally have his own pride."
Lin Yun breathed a sigh of relief.
"However," Wu Shen's tone shifted, "I still have to give you a piece of advice. There are many kinds of elemental laws, and what you need to do is choose one path and stick to it. It's best not to study several paths at the same time."
Lin Yun was taken aback. He naturally understood what the Martial God meant. His simultaneous study of seven elemental laws might be seen by others as overestimating his abilities. Specializing in one element greatly increases the probability of becoming a god; cultivating multiple elements simultaneously might mean never mastering any one to its full potential in a lifetime.
But he had his own ideas. The cultivation systems of the two worlds corroborated each other, giving him an unparalleled advantage in comprehending the laws. Moreover, what he wanted was not simply to become a god, but to forge his own path.
"Thank you for your guidance, Martial God." Lin Yun didn't explain, but simply bowed respectfully.
The God of War seemed to see through his thoughts, but didn't say anything more.
"Go back now," the Martial God's indifferent voice rang out again.
Lin Yun knew that the God of War might be dissatisfied, but there was nothing he could do. He respectfully took his leave and turned to walk out of the stone chamber.
The stone gate slowly closed behind them, isolating them from the scorching magma and the divine pressure.
Lin Yun walked out of the cave, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
The Martial God wanted to take him as a disciple, but he refused. It was his choice, and he didn't regret it. But the Martial God's final advice forced him to consider—was the path of cultivating multiple systems truly viable?
"It's possible," Lin Yun told himself. "It definitely will be possible."
He stepped out of the cave, the sunlight washing over him and dispelling the chill and heat of the cave. Farn was still waiting for him at the entrance.
"Did the teacher give you a hard time?" Farn asked.
"No," Lin Yun said. "The Martial God is magnanimous and wouldn't hold a grudge over something like this."
Farn nodded without asking any further questions.
"Senior Faen, thank you for your guidance today." Lin Yun bowed slightly.
"You're welcome." Farn waved his hand. "You have great talent, but you have a long way to go. Keep up the good work."
Lin Yun nodded, and his body slowly rose into the air.
"Farewell, senior."
Until we meet again.
Lin Yun transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.
Farn stood at the cave entrance, watching the streak of light disappear into the distance, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"A seventeen-year-old Saint Realm cultivator... with multiple cultivation paths..." he murmured, "Interesting."
Lin Yun flew at high speed through the air, heading towards Crimson Flame City.
He was still savoring his sparring match with Fan. The profound soul attack of the Punisher had made him realize his shortcomings at the soul level. Although his soul was powerful, its application was still too rudimentary. Fan could infuse his soul attacks into lightning, making each bolt of lightning carry the stinging pain of the soul—this technique was worth studying in greater depth.
"After I get back, I need to deepen my understanding of the rules of death," Lin Yun thought to himself.
The soul attack in the rules of death is similar in principle to the profound mystery of punishment in the lightning laws. If he could combine the two, his strength would reach a new level. Moreover, in addition to the methods of soul attack, the rules of death also include methods of soul defense. Once he learns the method of soul defense, he will not be helpless when facing opponents who are proficient in soul attacks.
Lin Yun accelerated and disappeared into the horizon.
The outline of Crimson Flame City came into view. He flew towards the direction of O'Brien Imperial Academy, and slowly descended above Walton's dormitory.
Walton was practicing the Bloodflame Blade Technique in the yard. Seeing Lin Yun return, he stopped what he was doing and ran over.
"Second Brother! Did the God of War make things difficult for you?" Walton's eyes were full of worry.
"No." Lin Yun smiled. "The Martial God just wants to take me as his disciple."
"Take you as my apprentice?" Walton's eyes widened. "And you agreed?"
"No," Lin Yun said. "I refused."
Walton gasped. "You rejected him? You rejected the God of War?"
"I refused," Lin Yun said. "I don't need anyone to teach me how to walk this path."
Walton looked at Lin Yun with eyes full of admiration.
"Second brother, you're amazing!"
Lin Yun smiled and patted Walton on the shoulder.
"Practice diligently. I'll take you home when you're on vacation."
"good!"
The setting sun painted the horizon a golden-red hue, casting long shadows of the two brothers. In the distance, Mount Wushen loomed in the twilight, resembling a silent, gigantic sword.
Lin Yun looked in that direction, a firm belief welling up in his heart.
I will walk my own path.