High above the vast expanse of the sea, Lin Feng soared through the air on his Crimson Soul Flying Sword. In his hand, he held a jade slip, examining its contents mid-flight.
The slip contained the appearance-altering technique he had obtained from An Yuexi—Thousand Faces Illusion. Its rank surpassed Lin Feng's expectations; it was actually an Earth Grade Upper Rank technique. Such a high-level art was invaluable, practically impossible to acquire through conventional means. Yet, he had secured it with such 'ease' that Lin Feng couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
After handing over the jade slip, An Yuexi had promptly bid farewell and departed. Her wariness toward him was palpable—clearly, she carried many burdens. Yet, Lin Feng had no interest in prying or meddling. Once she left, he resumed his journey back to Zhenhai City.
After meticulously reviewing every detail within the jade slip, Lin Feng stored it away. A thoughtful expression settled on his face. Moments later, he subtly channeled his true essence. Raising a hand, he swept it across his face subtly.
The muscles beneath his skin shifted subtly, accompanied by faint, almost imperceptible creaks of bone. In mere blinks, his appearance transformed completely—he now resembled a sallow-faced middle-aged man.
Casually conjuring a low-level Water Mirror Art, Lin Feng inspected his new visage. Admiration flickered in his eyes.
"What an incredible technique," he murmured to himself. "Practically undetectable... It requires a steady drain of true essence, but it's negligible. And that faint energy fluctuation blends seamlessly into my natural true essence circulation. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would likely struggle to see through it, wouldn't they?"
Admittedly, the technique had its limits. No matter how flawless the disguise, it merely altered appearance. For cultivators, the most defining characteristic wasn't looks but the unique signature of their true essence. Against someone familiar with that essence, even the most adept disguise would crumble.
Still, in specific scenarios—like being widely hunted and needing to avoid crowds—it was invaluable. For Lin Feng, with his prior experiences, mastering Thousand Faces Illusion was undeniably worthwhile.
Enthused, Lin Feng began practicing the technique earnestly. He cycled through numerous appearances. At first, the transformations took time, but he grew increasingly adept. Before long, a mere thought allowed him to shift forms in an instant.
He 'played' extensively before reverting to his original face. A quiet realization dawned on him.
"Is this technique... truly so simple? An Earth Grade Upper Rank art learned this effortlessly?"
He pondered briefly, his eyes lighting up with insight.
"Or perhaps... it's not that the technique is inherently easy. Could it be... my learning ability has surged? Is this another gift of Stellar Radiance Mantra? Or rather... is this one of the core boons of possessing a Celestial Spirit Root?"
He recalled his earlier battle with Hu Tonghai and the Water Dragon Strangulation Art he'd employed. Back then, he'd merely skimmed the technique's contents, yet executed it flawlessly on his first attempt—a Earth Grade Middle Rank art no less! Could something so advanced truly be mastered so readily?
Lin Feng vividly remembered struggling for days, enduring countless failures, just to grasp a mere Human Grade Upper Rank technique like Net of Flames Art. Comparing that painstaking process to effortlessly mastering Earth Grade techniques now felt like traversing worlds apart.
The speed of learning techniques intrinsically linked to 'talent.' So... had he truly become a 'genius'?!
The thought sparked a surge of inner excitement and pride. Doubt lingered, though. To test his theory, he retrieved two other jade slips acquired from Yue Shuo's storage ring.
Water Concealment Art—Earth Grade Lower Rank. It combined water-based evasion with stealth, allowing the user to submerge in water without protective true essence, move freely, and partially mask their aura. A remarkably practical technique.
Healing Water Art—also Earth Grade Lower Rank. This was a supplementary technique focused on healing, particularly effective against poison-induced injuries.
Neither technique served direct combat, yet their value rivaled the Earth Grade Middle Rank Water Dragon Strangulation Art. Yue Shuo, a Nascent Soul cultivator, clearly carried no mediocre treasures. It underscored the stark difference between rogue cultivators and those from sects. Killing Huang Yisong of the Yunhuang Sect yielded no techniques, while the rogue Yue Shuo kept his entire wealth on his person.
After studying the Healing Water Art method multiple times, Lin Feng contemplated silently. He then formed a series of hand seals. A soft, azure glow enveloped his right hand.
He pressed it gently against his chest.
Instantly, a wave of coolness radiated outwards, suffusing his entire body. Lin Feng felt profound relief as his internal injuries began healing noticeably faster. Moments later, as the technique's effect faded, the last remnants of his wounds vanished completely.
This confirmed it—he'd mastered Healing Water Art. In mere moments!
Suppressing his exhilaration, Lin Feng turned to Water Concealment Art. Another ten minutes passed before he stored the jade slip. Channeling his true essence, he abruptly plunged his flying sword downward, aiming straight for the sea surface. Just before impact, he retracted the Crimson Soul Flying Sword.
He slipped beneath the waves soundlessly, without even a ripple. The moment he submerged, his form vanished entirely—no trace, no shadow.
The sea surface remained utterly placid, as if nothing had transpired. Only after ten minutes, nearly a hundred li away, a figure burst skyward. It was Lin Feng!
Remounting his Crimson Soul Flying Sword mid-air, Lin Feng's eyes brimmed with awe and exhilaration. Unquestionably, he'd fully mastered Water Concealment Art.
Once, Lin Feng had despaired over his agonizingly slow cultivation pace. Only the desperate hope of finding his parents had anchored him. He'd gritted his teeth, grinding forward with 'trash-tier' aptitude. Even after acquiring Repair Technique, his poor cultivation talent haunted him. Recalling the crushing humiliation of testing as a mere low-grade Fire Spirit Root filled him with lingering resentment...
But now, with his spirit root unsealed and honed by the unparalleled Stellar Radiance Mantra, he'd undergone a transcendent metamorphosis. He possessed an aptitude so prodigious that even Earth Grade techniques yielded instantly!
A genius... I've become a genius!!
This singular thought consumed Lin Feng. An overwhelming sense of vindication washed over him. He yearned to roar his joy to the heavens, unleashing the pent-up frustration that had festered within him for so long.
...
Lin Feng's mood soared to unprecedented heights. Even the monotonous azure sky and endless sea seemed breathtakingly beautiful. After flying exuberantly for a while, his excitement gradually subsided.
He then retrieved Hu Dao Zhenren's storage ring and began a thorough inspection. The cultivator's flying sword was merely a mid-grade spiritual artifact, and his trident, though a high-grade artifact, might be coveted by ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Yet, neither impressed Lin Feng. Other treasures within the ring held no exceptional value, though the haul of mid-grade spirit stones was substantial—nearly a million, rivaling the hoard from Yue Shuo, an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Soon, Lin Feng found several jade slips. They contained the vile Hu Dao's cultivation method and a few techniques. Among them was the sand-summoning art he'd witnessed during their battle—Raging Sands Art. Astoundingly, it was also an Earth Grade Middle Rank technique. Thrilled, Lin Feng immediately dove into learning it. As anticipated, he grasped its fundamentals almost effortlessly. Another surge of pride washed over him—the feeling of being a genius truly is sublime.
"Core Detonation Art?!" Lin Feng exclaimed softly after mastering Raging Sands Art. He picked up another jade slip, scanning its contents. His expression shifted to astonishment.
"So that's it..." he murmured. "That bastard used this technique back then? No wonder... it wasn't just a crude Golden Core self-detonation after all..."