Hello everyone, I'm Little Marten. I never imagined I would end up becoming Lin Dong's Second Brother.
At first, I refused to become Lin Dong's Second Brother. You can't decide I'll answer to that just because you call me it. I have to...
"Second Brother, Second Brother, what's wrong, Second Brother?"
That harassing voice, like a demonic tune pouring into his ears, sounded again and cut off Little Marten's memories. He drew a deep breath and said in utter dejection, "Forget it, forget it. Call me Little Marten instead; it sounds better, anyway."
"Little Marten, you seem to be in the Demon Spirit State. As a Peak Expert of the Death Profound Stage, how could you have fallen so easily?"
Going along agreeably, Lin Dong finally got to the real matter at hand.
"I don't know either. Not long after I obtained this Mysterious Stone Talisman, a mysterious expert ambushed me. My Physical Body was destroyed, and my Demon Spirit fled into the Stone Talisman and escaped here."
"I suspect my fall is related to this Stone Talisman. Don't show it to others carelessly, or you may bring unnecessary danger upon yourself and your clan."
Little Marten shook his head, and a faint, imperceptible shadow flickered in his eyes.
"I know. Since you were a Peak Expert of the Death Profound Stage in life, do you know a cultivation method for Spiritual Power? I want to become a Talisman Master."
Seeing that Little Marten did not want to discuss it further, Lin Dong changed the subject.
"I mainly cultivate Yuan Power, not Spiritual Power. However, this Space contains a basic Spiritual Power cultivation method collected by one of the Stone Talisman's previous masters. It does not cover formal cultivation after opening the Niwan Palace."
"Also, cultivating spiritual power requires a certain level of Yuan Power Cultivation. It seems like you haven't even properly started cultivating yet?"
Little Marten looked Lin Dong up and down, then asked suspiciously.
"A basic cultivation method for spiritual power? That's enough."
Lin Dong's face lit up. He explained, "As for Yuan Power, my father will begin giving me Personal Instruction tomorrow. It won't take long."
"You're confident. Cultivating Spiritual Power demands great talent. If you end up crying your eyes out, then that'll be..."
Before Little Marten could finish, Lin Dong had already hurried out of the Stone Talisman Space with the answer he wanted. He did not even have time to say goodbye.
"Hey, kid, work hard at your cultivation. I'm waiting for the day you get the chance to revive me, Lord Marten. Once I'm revived, I must return to the Demon Region and investigate what happened back then..."
Looking at the space that had once again become empty, Little Marten let out a long sigh.
.....
At dawn, Lin Xiao and Lin Dong sat in a clearing in the dense forest atop the mountain. They were father and son, one large and one small.
"Father, I heard the one who defeated you at the Clan Assembly was an Inner Clan youth named Lin Langtian?"
Sensing the atmosphere had grown a bit heavy, Lin Dong took the initiative to break the ice.
"Mm. I heard Lin Langtian began cultivating at ten. He displayed terrifying talent from the start. At twelve, he broke through the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering and entered the Earthly Yuan Realm. At fifteen, he reached the Heavenly Yuan Realm. This year, at sixteen, he made his first appearance at the Clan Assembly and defeated me, another Heavenly Yuan Realm cultivator, with a single move."
"The Inner Clan elders all say he can achieve Yin-Yang Intercourse between the Yuan energy within his body before turning twenty, then form his dan and become a Yuan Dan expert. He is the most sought-after genius in the Lin Clan right now, without question. Ah, your father has no resentment over losing to him."
Lin Xiao's expression tightened, and he then spoke in a low, distant tone.
"Began cultivating at ten? Heh, that was probably when he encountered that mysterious powerful soul calling himself 'Master Mu,' wasn't it?"
A cold sneer rose in Lin Dong's heart, but he said indignantly, "Being outmatched is nothing to complain about. But he had no right to use such ruthless, vicious methods to destroy the cultivation foundation of you, a fellow member of the Lin Clan."
"What good is anger? Lin Langtian may be only eight years older than you, but he's already a Heavenly Yuan Stage Expert, and his future is limitless. He's an Inner Clan genius beyond our reach."
Bringing up this rival, Lin Xiao still couldn't help but speak with bitter mockery.
"To hell with 'Inner Clan genius.' Father, at the next Clan Assembly, I will kill him myself and avenge you."
Lin Dong bowed his head, making his first vow to his father.
"Heh heh, then your father will wait to see how you perform, son. After all, you started cultivating at eight, a full two years earlier than that Lin Langtian, no less."
Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then burst out laughing while ruffling his son's head.
Seeing Lin Xiao comfort him like a child, Lin Dong pursed his lips, unbothered. Just wait, Father—ten years from now, Lin Langtian will fall.
"Alright, son, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We need to formally begin your cultivation. Only by first stepping into the First Stage of Body Tempering will you have a chance to become a true expert. I'll teach you a basic cultivation mantra first, remember it well: at the great dao's beginning, Yuan comes first, divided in three..."
Growing progressively more serious, father and son, Lin Xiao and Lin Dong, quickly settled into their roles — one teaching, one learning — in perfect harmony.
Half an hour later.
"Son, your cultivation talent is far better than mine. In half an hour, you've already developed a clear sense of qi. Keep it up and enter the First Stage of Body Tempering within a month."
Lin Xiao patted his son's shoulder, deeply moved and comforted by the progress.
"Yes, Father." Lin Dong remained neither arrogant nor impatient.
"Alright, I've taught you everything I should. Keep cultivating, work on strengthening that thread of qi sense. I'm off."
Lin Xiao waved him off, declined Lin Dong's offer to see him off, and strolled away from the dense forest with his hands behind his back.
"A month to step into the First Stage of Body Tempering? No, one day will be enough."
Lin Dong watched Lin Xiao's retreating figure and chuckled softly. He rose and slipped away, heading to the Mountain Cave behind the mountain. Something he wanted was there.
The mountain cave behind the mountain.
"Splash!"
Lin Dong stripped off his clothes and leaped into the Stone Pool at the Center of the Mountain Cave. A cool sensation pierced his body and refreshed his spirit.
"Soaking in the Stone Pool before could only sharpen one's focus. Only when blood activates the Ancestral Stone Spirit Liquid energy buried at the bottom can the pool assist cultivation."
After adjusting to the pool water's temperature, Lin Dong took a dagger from his clothes and lightly cut his thumb.
"Drip!"
"Drip!" A drop of crimson blood fell from Lin Dong's finger into the Stone Pool, and ripples spread across the surface. Bubbles began rising through the water, each with faint reddish liquid stirring inside.
Where his skin touched the bubbles, threads of pale red liquid entered Lin Dong's body through his pores. His cells absorbed them as soon as they entered and cried out for more.
More, more, we want more!
The exhilaration of growing stronger bit by bit drew a satisfied groan from Lin Dong.
"This feeling... this exact feeling..."
Lin Dong suppressed his rising joy and began circulating the basic cultivation mantra. Suction burst from within his body, greedily devouring the pale red liquid in the pool.
Change was taking place, bit by bit!