Spirit Taming Warrior, Blazing Sun Seal

Lin Zhao held the Spirit Taming Secret Record, his fingertip tracing the page with the medicinal ingredient ratios. After confirming it was correct, he took out a specially made Mystic Iron glove from the wooden box. The glove was cold against his palm, and the anti-slip texture on his fingertips felt itchy. He had specifically asked the blacksmith to make it this way, fearing he might injure his hands while practicing the Seal Incantations.

He picked up a small pinch of medicinal ingredients and carefully placed it in his palm. His fingers rapidly shifted through the Seal Incantations, and he quietly recited the mental cultivation mantra. With a sudden push forward of his palm—

"Pfft!"

The medicinal ingredients scattered across the floor. Forget about any Flame Current, not even a spark appeared.

"Does wearing gloves not work?" Lin Zhao frowned, staring at the ingredients on the ground and muttering, "But what if my hand gets burned without gloves? If the Seal Incantation triggers an Internal Energy backlash, it'll be a big problem."

After hesitating for a moment, his eyes lit up: "Use True Qi to protect my palm!"

As the thought moved, the Mystic Dragon True Qi in his Dantian surged through his meridians to his palm. His palm was instantly enveloped in a layer of pale green light, and even the surrounding air became slightly hot. He was now a Second-rate Master, and the thickness of his True Qi was far beyond what it used to be. He could even catch a blade barehanded.

He formed the seals again, recited the mantra, and sent his palm forward with a powerful thrust!

"Hiss—!"

It was like igniting a fuse. Lin Zhao clearly felt his Internal Energy surge from his Dantian to his arm, converging in his palm along the meridians. The medicinal ingredients instantly ignited with a "whoosh." A foot-long flame erupted like molten iron, and the flames, accompanied by a sizzling sound, distorted the surrounding air. The bluestone bricks on the ground were instantly scorched black.

Even more astonishingly, he touched his palm, and it wasn't hot at all. He figured that when the Seal Incantation was activated, the Internal Energy spontaneously formed a protective layer, eliminating the need to expend extra True Qi to prevent burns.

After a short while, the Flame Current extinguished, leaving only a faint warmth in the air.

Lin Zhao clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white. "It worked! From today onwards, I'm also half a Spirit Taming Warrior!"

He eagerly opened his Proficiency Panel, and indeed, a new line of text appeared:

Lin Zhao—Blazing Sun Seal: First Level (3/1000)

"Hahahaha!" Lin Zhao couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, his voice echoing in the secret chamber. "This Proficiency Panel is amazing! I can actually use my own Internal Energy to perform a Seal Incantation that only the Kang Clan bloodline can practice!"

"This makes things easier!" He picked up the medicinal ingredients from the ground, his eyes full of determination. "The medicinal ingredients for the Blazing Sun Seal are cheap and easy to get. I'll set a small goal—reach the Third Tier by the end of the year!"

As he spoke, he tried the Blazing Sun Seal again. The Flame Current from his palm swept across the ground, leaving behind scorched marks.

However, the current flame was too short and the duration too brief. Unless he was right up against an opponent's face, it would be difficult to injure them.

But the Spirit Taming Secret Record clearly stated that the Blazing Sun Seal's flames had five tiers: crimson, orange-yellow, cyan-blue, purple, and finally, colorless flame. It was said that reaching the colorless realm would allow its power to rival the "Heaven Burning Palm" of a formal Spirit Taming Warrior.

Lin Zhao practiced with great enjoyment, not caring about the cost of the medicinal ingredients.

To gather the Hundred Year Barrow Withered Bone Ash for the medicinal ingredients, his subordinates had been frequenting the old barrows outside the city these past few days, returning each time with a full bag of ash.

As for the materials for the other three major Seal Incantations, he hadn't been idle either. Under different identities, he had posted bounties in the Xuan Yao Pavilions of all the prefectures in the northern region. Although he knew the chances were slim, what if he got lucky?

While Lin Zhao was busy practicing his Seal Incantations, the construction of the Lin Family Fortress's territory had not been neglected.

The training of the Cavalry Squad was in full swing. To avoid detection by neighboring forces, he had specifically chosen a training ground in a secluded valley deep within the Qixia Mountain Range. The place was hidden in the clouds, and the flat open space in the valley was compacted by the horses' hooves. Fifty cavalrymen, clad in Mystic Iron armor, swung their spears, the wind they generated strong enough to bend the surrounding wild grass. The thunderous hoofbeats echoed far within the valley.

The Blacksmith Workshop was even more bustling. The light from the furnace's fire illuminated half the sky, and the blacksmiths, bare-chested, swung their hammers. The clanging sounds could be heard for half a mile.

Mystic Iron weapons were piled to the side, gleaming coldly, and the output of armor was increasing.

Maintaining such a cavalry force incurred significant expenses for food, pay, and military equipment. However, the ore veins and farmsteads of Qixia Mountain were sufficient to support it. Lin Zhao had already calculated that as long as no major accidents occurred, these expenses were manageable.

Diplomacy, however, had not gone as smoothly.

Captain Hu from the neighboring territory had recently been engaged in extensive construction and was associating closely with the Celestial Masters' Manor. It was obvious to everyone that he had become a vassal of the Celestial Masters' Manor.

The Xuanqing Temple, presided over by Daoist Zhang, had also been completed. With the support of the manpower and resources Lin Zhao had allocated, the temple was built magnificently, with upturned eaves and a vermilion gate, exuding an imposing aura.

On the day of the consecration, Lin Zhao specifically had two boxes of silver delivered as a gift. When the boxes were opened, the dazzling silver made people's eyes water.

Daoist Zhang's smile reached his ears, and he personally performed the "Spirit Calming Blessing" for Lin Zhao, muttering, "Lord Lin is kind-hearted; he will surely be blessed."

Lin Zhao lowered his head, but inwardly sneered. With his current strength, eliminating Daoist Zhang and his Guardian Martial Masters without anyone noticing would be a simple matter.

But he couldn't act. Not only could he not seek revenge, but he also had to show goodwill everywhere. Except for refusing to cede the territory of the Lin Family Fortress, he agreed to all of Daoist Zhang's other demands.

For example, he donated a thousand taels of silver to the Celestial Masters' Manor in his personal capacity. When the Xuanqing Temple lacked labor, he immediately sent serfs to help for free.

This led Daoist Zhang to believe that Lin Zhao was a pushover and he secretly thought, "The Qixia Mountain of the Lin Family Fortress will sooner or later fall into the Celestial Masters' Manor's grasp."

Daoist Zhang was eyeing Qixia Mountain because he had accidentally obtained a treasure map, and the marked location was within the Qixia Mountain range.

After researching local historical records, he discovered that this area was once the fief of the Meng Clan nobility. The treasure map was likely related to the Meng family's legacy. The Meng family had been supporters of the "Evil Suppression Army," the predecessor of the Celestial Masters' Manor. Daoist Zhang had a hunch that the Meng family's Martial Arts Secret Codex and military equipment were hidden beneath Qixia Mountain.

However, Qixia Mountain was not the Celestial Masters' Manor's territory, so he couldn't mobilize a large number of people to search. He could only wait patiently.

In his opinion, Lin Zhao's frequent displays of goodwill indicated that he could no longer withstand the pressure and wanted to curry favor with him early on, hoping for a good price later.

To further win him over, Daoist Zhang also requested the Northern Garrison City branch of the Celestial Masters' Manor to issue Lin Zhao an "Evil Suppression Iron Talisman," stating that it was an improved version of the previous generation's "Spirit Calming Talisman" and had a stronger deterrent effect on Malevolent Spirits.

"Lord Lin, this Iron Talisman looks like it's made of iron, but it's actually more precious than gold!" Daoist Zhang handed over the talisman, his tone full of pride. "This is the Demon Suppression Division's recognition of the local lord's loyalty. Not everyone can obtain it!"

Lin Zhao quickly accepted it with both hands, a smile plastered on his face. "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master! Thank you for the Celestial Masters' Manor's favor!"

He immediately ordered the year's territorial tax silver to be paid—a stack of silver notes was handed over, and Daoist Zhang's steps were noticeably lighter as he departed.

Watching Daoist Zhang's retreating back, the smile on Lin Zhao's lips instantly turned cold. "This 'money tree' of Xuanqing Temple will soon start extorting money from the people. Let this old Daoist enjoy himself for a few more days. When the time comes, I'll collect it all, with interest!"

In the twenty-fourth year of Great Ming's Jingli calendar, during the Flower Dynasty Festival.

In the secret chamber of the Lin Family Fortress, Lin Zhao slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

He performed an internal scan of his meridians and saw the Mystic Dragon Seed coiled at the very top like a small golden dragon, its head held high and its chest puffed out, its scales shimmering with a faint golden light. The Mystic Wolf Seed, Black Bear Seed, Netherworld Seed, and Blood Poison Spider Seed lay obediently below. The Netherworld Seed, in particular, had grown larger than before, enveloped in a faint black mist, its Internal Energy fluctuations rippling outwards like tides.

"Bone Softening Technique, finally at the Fifth Level!"

Lin Zhao -- Bone Softening Technique: Fifth Level (Perfection), Core Principles: Swift Shadow Step, Bone Shrinking Shapeshifting.

"So, the fifth level is the limit for the Bone Softening Technique?" Lin Zhao felt the internal energy from the Bone Softening Inner Qi Seed surge through his limbs and bones, making his whole body feel light and airy.

He suddenly threw a punch, the fist's shadow moving as fast as a phantom, the wind whistling; then he delivered a whip kick, the air cracking like a whip, even making the wooden table next to him tremble.

"My attack speed has increased significantly. Let's test my running speed!"

Lin Zhao strode to the training ground -- this was where he usually tested his speed, with a wooden stake planted a hundred paces away.

He took a deep breath, his back arching like a coiled leopard, and then he pushed off the ground with his feet, leaving a shallow pit in the bluestone bricks!

His figure instantly turned into an afterimage, the wind whistling past his ears. The internal energy from both the Mystic Wolf Inner Qi Seed and the Bone Softening Inner Qi Seed poured into his legs. In just three breaths, he had passed the hundred-pace mark!

"It used to take five breaths with Intermediate Rapid Speed, but now it only takes three breaths with Advanced Rapid Speed!" Lin Zhao stopped, panting slightly, his eyes filled with excitement. "It seems like only a two-breath difference, but it's actually a qualitative leap! Cultivating internal arts is all about using internal energy to transform the physical body and break through limits -- every breath saved, even every moment saved, is capital for survival!"

At a speed of three breaths for a hundred paces, ordinary people wouldn't be able to see him clearly, only a blurry shadow.

Lin Zhao clenched his fist, even more satisfied. "Besides the Bone Softening Technique, the Blazing Sun Seal has also improved quite a bit during this time."

He opened his System Panel again:

Blazing Sun Seal: First Level (456/1000)

Although still at the First Level, the proficiency had increased significantly, making his palm strikes much faster and his power delivery more agile.

As his proficiency grew, his connection with the spiritual energy between heaven and earth became closer, and the scale of his blazing internal energy increased with every palm strike.

Lin Zhao walked to a blackheart wood tree, about a bowl's thickness in diameter, and stood ten feet away. He took a deep breath, his palm began to glow with a crimson halo, and he struck out with his palm!

"Boom!"

A three-foot-long stream of blazing internal energy shot out like molten lava, slamming into the tree trunk.

The bark instantly carbonized, emitting black smoke, and crumbled into ash at the slightest touch. The air was filled with a sulfur-like smell that made people cough -- this was the unique scent produced by internal energy that had been refined a thousand times and mingled with the blood and qi in his palms.

Lin Zhao blew away the smoke from his palm, his expression turning serious. "If the Celestial Masters' Manor saw this move, they would definitely recognize me as a heretical martial artist. So, I must hide the Blazing Sun Seal well. Anyone who has seen it must die."

He knew clearly that the Wen Clan had said that after the Great Ming was founded, the royal family's contact with the Celestial Masters' Manor gradually lessened. For centuries, there had been no widespread chaos caused by malevolent spirits, but the Celestial Masters' Manor's foundation, built over thousands of years, was by no means something he, a half-baked Spirit Taming Warrior, could contend with.

Even those mysterious heretical martial artists could only hide in the no-man's-land, not daring to show themselves -- he had to be even more cautious and not let his guard down.

"However, with the Blazing Sun Seal, my strength is indeed different." Lin Zhao clenched his fist, feeling a slight itch. "I wonder if I can contend with a Heavenly Gang Realm Grandmaster Warrior now?"

The thought that had just surfaced was immediately suppressed. "No! Be steady! Duke Wei and the Night Raven Tower haven't bothered me again, so it's good to focus on cultivation. It's not too late to settle old scores after I become a Heavenly Gang Realm Grandmaster Warrior!"

Eight years had passed since the sixteenth year of Jingli in the Great Ming.

He had grown from a ten-year-old child into an eighteen-year-old youth. His height had stopped growing after reaching eight feet, and although his physique was sturdy, there were many power-type martial artists in this world who were even more imposing than him.

"The Mystic Dragon Secret Medicine is almost gone. The Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique is only at the fifth level (9456/30000), not even thirty percent complete. I need to find Pangolin Dragon Essence again." Lin Zhao looked at the cultivation technique list on the System Panel and couldn't help but sigh:

Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique: Fifth Level (9456/30000), Core Principles: Dragon Scale Qi

Thousand Stream Force: Second Level (888/5000), Core Principles: Sequential Force Release

Iron Rhinoceros Technique: Third Tier (1222/10000), Core Principles: Iron Wall Physique

Rampaging Bull Force: Third Tier (3698/10000), Core Principles: Rampaging Bull Charge

Blood Poison Spider Breathing Technique: Fourth Level (15889/20000), Core Principles: Spider Sense Warning

Bone Softening Technique: Fifth Level (Perfection), Core Principles: Swift Shadow Step, Bone Shrinking Shapeshifting

Black Bear Technique: Fourth Level (Perfection), Core Principles: Bear Power

Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique: Fourth Level (Perfection), Core Principles: Wolf Leap (Can be Fused)

"Unknowingly, I've already learned eight cultivation techniques." Lin Zhao's gaze suddenly stopped at the Core Principles column of the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique -- the words "Can be Fused" were particularly striking.

With a thought, a line of prompts immediately appeared on the System Panel:

[Do you wish to fuse the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique into the Bone Softening Technique?]

[After fusion, the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique will dissipate, and the quality of the Bone Softening Technique will slightly increase. When the quality increases to a certain level, the Bone Softening Technique can break through its limit.]

[Note: Currently, only techniques of the same type can be fused.]

[Note: Fusion will consume mental energy and internal energy. Please ensure you are in a safe environment!]

"There's such a thing?" Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment, muttering to himself, "What will happen to the Inner Qi Seed after fusion? How much will it actually improve me?"

But the System Panel only provided these prompts, nothing else. Lin Zhao thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "Let's try it! The Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique was originally of poor quality, and its core principles overlap with the Bone Softening Technique. There's no loss in fusing it!"

He quickly prepared enough dry rations and clean water, sat cross-legged in a secret room, and silently recited, "Begin fusion!"

The next second, the Mystic Wolf Inner Qi Seed in his heart meridian suddenly let out a mournful cry. The Bone Softening Inner Qi Seed, like a nimble shadow, immediately wrapped around it, emitting fine suction cups and sucking the Mystic Wolf Seed's internal energy bit by bit.

The Mystic Wolf Seed grew smaller and smaller, eventually turning into a wisp of smoke and being completely absorbed; the Bone Softening Seed, on the other hand, grew larger, its halo becoming brighter. Even the Blood Poison Spider Seed, which had previously not dared to approach, was provocatively touched by it -- but upon seeing the Mystic Dragon Seed above, it immediately backed down, obediently lying below, not daring to act arrogant anymore.

"These Inner Qi Seeds actually have a bit of sentience?" Lin Zhao watched in amazement.

When he opened the System Panel again, the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique had disappeared, and the description of the Bone Softening Technique had changed:

Bone Softening Technique: Fifth Level (Perfection, Can Break Limit, Current Breakthrough Progress 1/3), Core Principles: Intermediate Rapid Speed, Bone Shrinking Shapeshifting.

"A Mystic Wolf Technique at its fourth-level limit only adds 1 point to the breakthrough progress?" Lin Zhao couldn't help but curse, "This System Panel is like a pay-to-win game. I still need to find two more speed-type techniques at the fourth-tier limit to break through? That's pretty shady!"

Although he cursed, Lin Zhao's eyes lit up: it might not seem very useful now, but if he really wanted to break through the limit and upgrade the Bone Softening Technique to the highest or even divine grade, this fusion function would be crucial!

You see, top-tier and divine-grade cultivation methods are rare finds. He didn't hold out much hope for those, but lower-grade and higher-grade methods could be collected slowly. As long as he learned enough cultivation methods, he would eventually achieve the convergence of all arts, mastering them all!

By then, let alone creating his own divine-grade cultivation method, he might even be able to… surpass divine-grade!

Lin Zhao clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination. This path, he was set on it!