Under the arena, watching Lin Yuan's defeat, Lin Hongru's mouth twitched.
Defeat was not terrifying; what was terrifying was that he had just accepted his second brother's flattery before losing. This was clearly slapping himself in the face!
People's joys and sorrows are not shared. Unlike Lin Hongru's dejected look, Lin Wu's heart was blooming with joy. He hadn't expected his own daughter to win, and to win so unequivocally.
Control Sword with Qi! To have entered this realm at twenty years old clearly meant a much brighter future than Lin Yuan's. What if you, Lin Yuan, had won for over a decade? I only need to win once to surpass you.
Seeing his granddaughter achieve mastery in the Way of the Sword, Lin Yuehao, who was standing nearby, was also very happy. He smiled at his second son and said, "Xiao Shuang performed very well. Let's allocate those bottles of high-grade Pill of Foundation Cultivation from the family to her!"
Lin Wu quickly thanked him. High-grade Pill of Foundation Cultivation was an extremely precious item even for the Lin family. He hadn't expected the old master to bestow them all upon his daughter with a wave of his hand. This made him even more elated, feeling as if he had finally risen above others and his luck had turned.
As for Lin Hongru, he was even more depressed because the high-grade Pill of Foundation Cultivation had originally been prepared for Lin Yuan. However, he couldn't say much; the best resources should naturally go to those with the greatest talent.
With Lin Yuan's defeat, the Lin family's annual meeting officially entered its final stage. Although the battle between the Lin Family's Twin Prodigies had concluded, the excitement in many people's hearts had not diminished in the slightest, and they were still discussing the match results with great fervor. Clearly, compared to the monotony of previous years, many preferred to see underdog stories.
And Lin Shuang that night had satisfied this desire. Whether it was the psychological warfare of feigning weakness earlier or the decisive Control Sword with Qi later, it was a classic protagonist's script that was hard not to be stirred by.
The annual meeting thus concluded, in a way that surprised many.
Lin Yun said goodbye to the young lady beside him and then held Zhao Zhiyi's small hand as they left; the place was simply too noisy.
On a quiet path, Lin Yun and Zhao Zhiyi walked towards their courtyard, illuminated by the dim light of the surrounding lanterns.
At this moment, Lin Yun began to inquire about the cultivation technique Zhao Zhiyi practiced.
The young lady spoke, "Brother Yun, why are you suddenly asking about this? The cultivation technique I practice is called the Azure Water Formula, a water-elemental technique."
Lin Yun nodded as if suddenly enlightened, thinking that it was no wonder her small hands were as tender and smooth as a tender shoot; the cultivation technique must have played a role. This relieved his previous worries; those small hands were indeed not suited for wielding rough weapons.
With this thought, Lin Yun began to search his mind for water-elemental cultivation techniques. As he was thinking, the two returned to their small courtyard.
In the room, Lin Yun beckoned to Zhao Zhiyi.
The young lady's pretty face flushed, thinking the man was eager to go to bed and rest. Lin Yun did indeed pull the young lady into his embrace, but not to go to bed; he was preparing to impart cultivation techniques to her.
The cultivation technique he intended to impart to Zhao Zhiyi exceeded the rules of this world; nothing in the lower realm could contain or write it, so he had to teach it personally.
The next second, Lin Yun placed his hand on the girl's fair forehead, and a vast, profound Dao rule emerged from her.
Witnessing this peculiar scene, Zhao Zhiyi's almond eyes showed a hint of surprise, and she looked curiously at the man standing close to her.
At this moment, Lin Yun explained, "I am about to impart a cultivation technique to you. Don't be nervous; close your eyes and feel it carefully. It will be over soon."
Following the man's words, Zhao Zhiyi obediently closed her eyes. However, her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed her inner unease.
She never imagined that the transmission of consciousness for cultivation techniques would happen to her one day. The cultivation technique the man imparted to her, Zhao Zhiyi had only tried to comprehend a small part of it, yet the profoundly mysterious Dao fluctuations had already filled her with shock. Although she didn't know what level of cultivation technique this was, it was definitely priceless and extremely precious.
Compared to the cultivation technique she was currently comprehending, her previous Azure Water Formula was simply trash of the trash, incomparable.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yun withdrew his right hand, ending the impartation.
Zhao Zhiyi slowly opened her eyes, her tender red lips slightly parted, and a hint of horror flashed across her exquisite face.
She was now certain that the cultivation technique in her mind was not just priceless, but immeasurable, a true treasure beyond value. If it were leaked, it was estimated that all cultivators in the world would hunt her down relentlessly. For this was a true Dao cultivation technique, pointing directly to the most profound methods of cultivation in heaven and earth. This had transcended the traditional practice of meditation and Qi gathering; it was true cultivation of the Dao.
If her previous Azure Water Formula could only allow her to cultivate up to the Peak Qi Gathering stage at most, then by switching to the cultivation technique Lin Yun had imparted to her.
Zhao Zhiyi had a premonition that this world would no longer be her limit. Cultivation, cultivation; in the end, wasn't it all about seeking longevity? If one could live forever, no one would want to die, and she was no exception.
However, she had long since accustomed herself to accepting her mediocrity. According to Zhao Zhiyi's estimation, she would be very content if she could cultivate to Peak Qi Gathering in this life. If she were fortunate enough to break through to the Origin Opening Realm, it would be a blessing from heaven. Yet today, she had encountered an opportunity to defy fate.
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Zhao Zhiyi did not ask where Lin Yun got the cultivation technique from. She was a smart girl and understood that some things were best kept to oneself. If she asked, it might make both of them uncomfortable.
Zhao Zhiyi took a deep breath, a glint of light flashing in her watery eyes. She didn't say thank you because it was no longer something that could be repaid with simple words. Fortunately, she was a woman, and he was a man. Thinking this way, things seemed simpler.
...
New Year's Eve passed uneventfully, yet not devoid of meaning.
Lin Yun woke up the next morning. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window, scattering onto the floor in dappled patterns.
Zhao Zhiyi had obviously awoken earlier and was lying on the bed, blinking her eyes and staring at him curiously.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?" Lin Yun chuckled.
The young lady didn't speak. At some point, she seemed to recall something and said softly, "Brother Yun, I just discovered that you seemed to have imparted two cultivation techniques to me last night. Which one should I practice?"
Lin Yun didn't answer directly but instead asked, "Which one do you want to cultivate the most?"
Zhao Zhiyi thought for a moment, "The first cultivation technique, the Mystic Water True Scripture, is most compatible with my physique, but the second one, the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Scripture, seems a bit simpler. However, I haven't finished reading either of these cultivation techniques yet, so I don't know which one is better."
Cultivation techniques are not divine abilities or martial skills; generally, one cannot cultivate multiple simultaneously. A cultivator can only practice one cultivation technique at a time, otherwise, it could lead to internal True Qi disorder and death by explosion. Re-cultivating only becomes possible after dissipating one's original attribute True Qi.
Lin Yun did not hide anything from the girl and frankly explained the differences between the two cultivation techniques.
The Mystic Water True Scripture is a very orthodox water-elemental cultivation technique, with little to add; cultivating it to the highest realm can directly lead to the Great Dao of water.
The Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Scripture, on the other hand, is a 'wedding dress' cultivation technique, leaning towards unorthodox paths. It is mostly used by demonic cultivators to seize others' cultivation; essentially, it makes a wedding dress for others. Generally, those who practice such techniques are either deceived or have no choice.
Lin Yun imparting the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Scripture to Zhao Zhiyi was not for the purpose of seizing her cultivation later, but simply to give her another choice. Everything in the world has its opposite; for every seizure, there is anti-seizure. His original intention was to be able to directly boost Zhao Zhiyi's cultivation through divine techniques in the future. And to achieve this, practicing a 'wedding dress' cultivation technique was a prerequisite. This was his deeper consideration. It couldn't be helped, Zhao Zhiyi's talent was too poor; without his help, she might not be able to reach the end.
For Zhao Zhiyi, it seemed like a choice of cultivation techniques, but it was actually a choice between two different Dao paths. Choosing the Mystic Water True Scripture would mean that in the future, she would largely have to rely on herself. She would need to comprehend her own Great Dao, study the various Dao rules of the vast universe, especially the Dao of Water. This path offered her greater freedom and a broader space for cultivation. Of course, it also meant more dangers and perils. She would have to compete with all sorts of prodigies and outwit various ancient monsters, carving out a path through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Choosing the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Scripture would mean that Zhao Zhiyi would, to a certain extent, be his subordinate. Her potential might not be as high, but her baseline would be astonishing. It could be said that whatever level Lin Yun reached in the future, she would definitely be able to reach as well.
Although Lin Yun hoped Zhao Zhiyi would choose the latter, he did not forcefully make the decision for her. It concerned her future Dao, and he would accept whatever choice she made.
After listening to Lin Yun's detailed explanation of the two cultivation techniques, Zhao Zhiyi did not hesitate for too long. She chose the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Scripture. Her reasoning was simple: she didn't believe that after being mediocre for twenty years, she could suddenly transform into someone capable of competing with all sorts of prodigies. From Lin Yun's words, she could also guess how perilous the Dao path was; the so-called genius competitions on this endless continent were likely mere child's play.
She was self-aware; she didn't believe a single cultivation technique could completely change her. Frankly speaking, in the end, cultivation was likely still about one's character, wisdom, and methods. These were not her strengths. If she had been good at these, she wouldn't have been offered as a sacrifice for a political marriage with the Lin family without any chance to resist.
She had petty cleverness, but when it came to great wisdom, she admitted she was still far off. In life, sometimes understanding oneself is more important than understanding others. It's not shameful to acknowledge that you are not the protagonist, not the center of this world. Only by seeing oneself clearly can one take the next step better.
Lin Yun was very satisfied with Zhao Zhiyi's choice. In his past life, he had seen too many once-brilliant prodigies fall silently. The competition for the Great Dao, though sounding passionate, was not a path suitable for everyone. On this road, having him was enough; he didn't want the people around him to tread this path as well.