Moonlight cascaded like silver, pure and gentle, bathing the world in a soft glow.
The lake shimmered, its waters wreathed in mist, strands of radiant light weaving into dazzling rainbows that dazzled the eyes. The air carried the rich fragrance of divine herbs, vibrant with life, brimming with divine essence and vital energy. Cultivating here would yield twice the results with half the effort.
After just half a day of soaking, Lin Fan felt invigorated, his blood qi surging as if reborn, his body cleansed of impurities, flawless and pure.
"If I could soak here every day, I'd live forever, immune to evil qi, even without cultivating!" Lin Fan murmured, awestruck by the pool's wonders.
As a mere mortal ignorant of cultivation, the benefits were already profound. For a cultivator, the gains would be unimaginable.
"No wonder it's a holy land for cultivation. This immortal lake alone could nurture countless prodigies."
Lin Fan was envious, yearning to stay here indefinitely. Compared to the Supreme Dao Field's dilapidated ruins, this was heaven to their dog kennel—a phoenix nest versus a wasteland. This was the immortal sanctuary he dreamed of, but alas, he'd boarded a pirate ship, and jumping ship wasn't easy.
As dawn faintly broke, Qi Dao Lin returned, his lips curled in a pleased grin. He whisked Lin Fan away, back to the desolate sect ruins.
Broken walls, overgrown weeds, and a scene of utter decay greeted them. It was so barren it could pass for a primal jungle—no one would question it. There wasn't even a proper place to sleep.
"From now on, mornings are for studying bone runes with me. The rest of the day, you cultivate. Nights, you soak in the immortal pool," Qi Dao Lin declared from the dao platform, his presence solemn and commanding, exuding an air of supremacy.
"Got it!" Lin Fan agreed eagerly, his eyes lighting up. He was thrilled, willing to spend every moment in the pool if allowed, and not—definitely not—because he'd heard that even-numbered days were reserved for the female disciples of the Celestial Immortal Academy.
"Once you embark on the path of cultivation, there's no slacking. Perseverance is key. As a successor of the Supreme Dao Field, if you can't one day reign supreme over the world, I'll cast you out!" Qi Dao Lin's tone was stern, his warning grave.
Lin Fan inwardly scoffed. You haven't even dominated the world, old man, and you expect me to rule it? Ridiculous. But he nodded earnestly. "I'll stick with it, I swear!"
"Good!" Qi Dao Lin smiled, handing him a grueling training regimen. Every day was packed, leaving no time for rest beyond meals.
Lin Fan gaped. Is this for humans? Climbing mountains against torrents, running thousands of miles with giant boulders, no breaks—this was worse than plowing oxen! A brutal schedule! He'd even have to fight wild beasts, teetering on the edge of death.
And this was just phase one. Worse awaited.
"Let's begin your formal cultivation. I'll teach you bone runes. Listen carefully, no distractions!" Qi Dao Lin's demeanor shifted to that of a strict master.
Lin Fan sat cross-legged, attentive. This was his first step on the cultivation path—a momentous occasion.
"Bone runes are mystical symbols, wielding profound, unfathomable power. When living beings master and wield these symbols, they gain strength far beyond mortals, capable of reshaping heaven and earth…"
As Qi Dao Lin spoke, he demonstrated, radiant symbols blooming in his palm, exuding a captivating force. They shimmered with a metallic sheen, sparking flames one moment, crackling with lightning the next—utterly miraculous.
Lin Fan stared, transfixed, unable to look away. The runes held a magnetic allure, drawing him into a trance-like fascination.
Runes were profoundly mysterious, embodying immense power, the very structure of the world's origin, a manifestation of the great dao. Only by mastering them could beings truly touch the essence of cultivation.
Yet, few could wield runes effectively. It demanded exceptional insight. Some spent lifetimes failing to grasp a single rune, let alone use it.
Even among those who learned runes, most lingered at rudimentary applications, unable to adapt or innovate. A cultivator's strength was inseparable from runes—the mightier the cultivator, the more numerous and profound their runes.
Lin Fan sank into contemplation, immersed in the sea of runes, replaying those simple symbols in his mind, as if carving them into his soul.
Qi Dao Lin, seeing him slip into a state of enlightenment so quickly, smiled. For a first encounter with runes, Lin Fan's aptitude was extraordinary.
Still, he cautioned, "Mastering runes isn't quick. Take it slow, don't rush. Exhausting your mind can harm you."
Comprehending runes was complex and risky. Wrong methods or haste could lead to injury.
Suddenly, a hum startled Qi Dao Lin into stunned silence.
A glow flared in Lin Fan's palm, a strange, radiant symbol materializing, pulsing with mysterious power.
"Dao Master, how's my progress?" Lin Fan grinned, his innocence disarming as he waved the rune, stirring the air with a buzzing hum.
Qi Dao Lin's brow twitched, his eyes wide. In less than an hour, this kid had mastered a rune and wielded it! He'd only explained the basics, not even touching on how to harness runes. Was this really Lin Fan's first time with bone runes? Are all Primordial Beings this fast?
Comparing himself, Qi Dao Lin felt the gap keenly. His first rune had taken half a month—a speed already considered swift.
"Passable, but compared to true geniuses, you're still lacking. Don't get cocky!" Qi Dao Lin said, feigning nonchalance to mask his shock.
"Oh, I'll work harder," Lin Fan replied, diving back into the runes.
Inwardly, he marveled. The world's prodigies are insane. He'd thought his speed was impressive, only to learn he was merely average.
Heh, I've struck gold! With this talent, the Supreme Dao Field's revival is assured! Qi Dao Lin thought, chuckling to himself. But I can't let him get arrogant. Gotta temper him.
Time flew, and morning gave way to afternoon.
Now, Lin Fan trudged through the wilderness, a boulder several times his size—hundreds of pounds—strapped to his back, training his physique.
The first cultivation realm, Blood Transformation Realm, required relentless body tempering, forging the flesh into a treasure-like state. But it wasn't just physical—it involved comprehending bone runes, channeling the world's origin into divine light to nourish the blood and flesh.
Strength in this realm varied widely. The weak wielded mere thousands of pounds of force; the strong, tens of thousands, even over a hundred thousand, enough to split mountains and shatter stone. There was no upper limit.
For prodigies, the benchmark was clear: a single arm wielding 100,000 pounds of pure physical strength. Aspiring to dominate their generation, this was Qi Dao Lin's mandate for Lin Fan.