Windcry Valley was not far from Nuoding City, and Lin Kun reached the valley entrance before nightfall. Just as Director Yinshu had said, the area was relatively safe, with only a few weak ten-year soul beasts. The scenery was quite beautiful, and the wind often swept through the valley with a mournful whistling sound, hence its name.
Lin Kun found a sheltered spot beneath a mountainside cliff and set up a temporary camp. He lit a small bonfire and roasted some dry rations, feeling considerably more relaxed.
"Finally, some peace and quiet." As he ate, he planned out his itinerary for the next three days. "Tomorrow morning, I'll look for Wind Whisper Grass and put on a show. Then I'll focus on practicing my new movement technique and Mental Thread. This place is spacious and quiet—perfect for training."
After eating and drinking his fill, he sat cross-legged and began his nightly meditation. The Book Spirit floated within his sea of consciousness, absorbing the scant energy in the air. The sound of the valley wind seemed to carry a special rhythm, making it easier for him to concentrate.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Lin Kun awoke refreshed. Using Basic Movement Technique Mastery, he darted through the valley like an agile ape. Before long, he found several pale blue Wind Whisper Grass plants, carefully harvested them, and placed them in his backpack, completing his "surface task."
Then, he began his true cultivation.
He chose an open stretch of ground and released his Mental Thread to its limit. Ten invisible threads became like his tentacles, sensing everything around him. At the same time, his feet moved through mysterious footwork as he rapidly weaved between rocks and shrubs, dodging the "attacks" simulated by his Mental Thread.
"Rock three inches to the left! Branch sweeping in from the rear right! Simulated ground spike straight ahead!"
He muttered to himself, pushing the combined use of his movement technique and Mental Thread to the limit. His movements became smoother and his reactions faster. From afar, a figure could be seen flashing and shifting across the clearing like a phantom, moving so fast that afterimages trailed behind him, yet precisely avoiding every obstacle, as though dancing an elegant yet dangerous dance.
However, as he continued training, perhaps because he had become too absorbed, or perhaps because the valley wind was too rhythmical, his movements began to take a strange turn again...
After a rapid spin and a sliding step, his arm involuntarily traced a circle, while his mouth instinctively supplied the sound effect: "Ji Ni Tai Mei~~"
The moment he finished humming, Lin Kun stumbled and nearly fell. He quickly covered his mouth and guiltily looked around. "Damn! My occupational habit acted up again! Good thing nobody saw that..."
He had no idea that behind a huge boulder a hundred meters away, the academy teacher sent by Director Yinshu was staring in stunned disbelief, the corner of his mouth twitching. "What kind of bizarre movement technique is that brat practicing? And what the hell was that thing he was humming?"
Farther away, atop a large tree, a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect scout also wore a baffled expression as he diligently recorded in his intelligence scroll: "Target's behavior is bizarre. He dances alone in the valley while muttering strange words, possibly performing some special prayer ritual or... having an episode?"
Lin Kun adjusted his mindset and decided to practice something "normal." He drew the ordinary dagger he carried with him, attempted to attach Mental Thread to it, then hurled it with all his strength!
The dagger struck a tree thirty meters away with precision, but its power was mediocre.
"The force is still too weak." Lin Kun ran over, pulled out the dagger, and began pondering again. "What if, instead of using Mental Thread to control its flight, I use it to give it a second burst of acceleration at the instant I throw it?"
He struck his pose again, threw the dagger with all his strength, and at the same time, his Mental Thread fiercely gave the dagger's tail end a "push"!
The dagger's speed abruptly increased, plunging deeply into the trunk until it was almost buried up to the hilt!
"It worked!" Lin Kun exclaimed in delight. "The consumption is a bit high, but both the surprise factor and the power have improved! I can call this move... Mind Push!"
His playful side awakened, and he began testing all sorts of bizarre applications. For example, he used Mental Thread to suspend several daggers at once—only to nearly trip himself—or tried weaving the threads into a net—nearly exhausting his Mental Power...
Watching Lin Kun's training method, where he was serious one moment, wildly gesticulating the next, and nearly injuring himself after that, the two tailing watchers' expressions had already shifted from confusion to numbness.
Academy teacher: "This is the thing Director Yinshu sent me to protect? Can I apply to go back?" Sect scout: "Is the young lady sure she didn't send me after the wrong person? Is he really worth watching?"
Just as Lin Kun was immersed in all sorts of wild ideas, the Insight Skill and the Book Spirit suddenly issued a warning!
Warning! An abnormal energy fluctuation has been detected deep within the valley! Nature: chaotic! Violent! Rapidly spreading! A large number of weak soul beasts are fleeing in terror!
Lin Kun's expression changed. He immediately cast aside all playful thoughts and stared vigilantly toward the depths of the valley. In the distance, flocks of birds took flight in alarm, and faint tremors passed through the ground, as though something terrifying was about to emerge!
"What's going on? Didn't Director Yinshu say this place was very safe?" A bad feeling rose in Lin Kun's heart.
Very soon, he saw a scene that made his scalp tingle—rats, venomous snakes, centipedes, and all kinds of ten-year soul beasts with dark attributes were surging out from the depths of the valley in panic like a tide, numbering in the thousands upon thousands!
A beast tide?! Though it was only the lowest-level soul beast tide, its numbers were enough to drown everything!
"Not good!" Lin Kun turned pale and immediately spun around to run!
But at the instant he turned, the corner of his eye caught a faint yet exceptionally pure white light flickering behind the beast tide. It was utterly out of place amid the surrounding chaotic and violent aura!
What was that? The Book Spirit conveyed an intensely eager impulse!
Discovered... high-purity... Mental Power source... extremely rare...
An opportunity? Or a trap?
Lin Kun halted. Should he flee at once and put safety first? Or should he take the risk and see what that white light, which attracted his spirit, really was?
The two tailing watchers also noticed the abnormality. The academy teacher's expression turned grave as he immediately prepared to launch a signal flare for help. The sect scout swiftly recorded the situation, ready to report back.
Everyone's gaze focused on the surging beast tide and that faint point of white light.
Lin Kun gritted his teeth. "Damn it! The bold feast while the timid starve! I'll just take one look!"
He used his movement technique and cautiously slipped forward against the fleeing beast tide, heading toward the white light.
True danger and opportunity seemed to descend abruptly at this very moment.
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