Lin Mu had never expected that such a wondrous Secret Art existed in this world.
He continued cultivating the Secret Art. Faintly, crimson patterns began to emerge across the surface of his skin, though they were neither as deep nor as intricate as Qian Mu's.
However, as Lin Mu cultivated it again and again, the patterns on his body gradually increased, and their color steadily deepened.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Mu felt somewhat hungry. It was as if countless foods lay directly before him.
His consciousness extended outward and soon touched the food. A massive amount of Blood Qi flowed into his body along the cultivation technique.
Lin Mu let out a sound of comfort.
It was as though every cell in his body had been wrapped in this Blood Qi, and strength continuously surged forth from within him.
Qian Mu, who had been cultivating, sensed that something was strange.
He discovered that the vitality and blood of the Iron-Metal Beast beneath him was constantly draining away.
Even though it was already dead, its vitality and blood could not possibly drain away so quickly.
When he opened his eyes, his expression visibly changed.
Because not far from him, maple-leaf-like blood-red marks covered Lin Mu's body, while the Iron-Metal Beast's vitality and blood continuously poured into his body.
"How is that possible!?" Qian Mu's eyes were filled with shock.
He had cultivated this technique for a long time. It was an unpassed secret of his Lineage.
Yet Lin Mu knew it as well.
Seemingly noticing someone watching him, Lin Mu stopped cultivating and opened his eyes to look at Qian Mu.
For a moment, he felt rather awkward.
He had merely wanted to give it a try. He had not expected to truly cultivate the Secret Art successfully.
And he had done so right under the owner's nose.
"I thought your cultivation looked pretty interesting, so I followed along and gave it a try!" Lin Mu said with an awkward laugh.
"You learned it just by watching me cultivate?" A trace of shock appeared in Qian Mu's eyes.
Lin Mu nodded.
Qian Mu was deeply shaken.
Although the circulation route of this Secret Art appeared on the surface of the body when it was activated.
The route was exceedingly complex. Without watching it repeatedly over a long period of time, it was simply impossible to cultivate it successfully.
"Can the gap between people really be this vast?" Qian Mu could not help saying.
"I'm sorry! As compensation, I can guide your cultivation!" Lin Mu explained.
Upon hearing this, Qian Mu's pupils widened slightly.
He had cultivated this Secret Art for quite some time.
How long had Lin Mu been cultivating it, yet he was actually saying that he would guide him?
"You're not joking?" Qian Mu asked.
Lin Mu nodded. "Mm!"
Qian Mu took a deep breath. He had no choice but to admire Lin Mu's talent.
"Forget it! Perhaps there truly is an unbridgeable gulf between you and me. But since you've cultivated my family's Secret Art, you should still be careful in the future. Don't use it in front of outsiders!"
"Otherwise, if they come after you over it, I won't be able to do anything!" Qian Mu explained.
"You don't blame me?" Lin Mu was somewhat surprised.
"No! You comprehended it yourself; it wasn't as though I taught it to you. If I fought someone else in the future and they learned a move or two from me, would I have to make them spit it back out?" Qian Mu said.
He had a rather free and easy nature.
Moreover, he knew that this was Lin Mu's fortuitous opportunity.
If Lin Mu did not have the talent for it, then even if Qian Mu displayed it dozens of times before him, he would still have been unable to comprehend it.
Since he could comprehend this Secret Art, then he was meant to wield it.
A smile appeared on Lin Mu's face, and his appreciation for Qian Mu's character increased by several degrees.
"Come sit closer. Such a huge Iron-Metal Beast is more than I can use alone!" Qian Mu said.
Lin Mu nodded and moved beside the Iron-Metal Beast.
The two entered cultivation once more.
With the system, Lin Mu gained a thorough understanding of this Secret Art in merely a few hours, reaching Beginner (17%).
If Qian Mu learned of this, he would definitely be extremely shocked.
Because after cultivating for so long, he had only reached Minor Accomplishment (28%).
Lin Mu's cultivation speed was at least dozens of times faster than his.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
The two remained in the cave, cultivating the entire time.
The Iron-Metal Beast's corpse became a dried husk.
A look of excitement appeared on Qian Mu's face.
He swung his fist, and a faint gray layer surfaced across his skin.
Bang!
When his fist struck the rock, the rock shattered instantly.
Clearly, in this state, both his attack power and defense had risen noticeably.
Lin Mu's expression changed slightly. He could clearly tell that Qian Mu's skin had gained some of the Iron-Metal Beast's traits.
"Your Secret Art can not only absorb and refine energy, but also retain a portion of its traits?" Lin Mu asked.
Qian Mu nodded slightly. "That's right, but the requirements are rather complicated. I previously absorbed quite a few medicinal herbs with similar attributes, and only by combining them with the Iron-Metal Beast's vitality and blood was I able to reach this stage!"
"If you want to cultivate to this extent as well, you can only do the same as me!"
Lin Mu nodded slightly and did not say much.
Because he had discovered that when he used the Secret Art, a faint gray-gold color appeared across the surface of his skin.
The effect seemed similar to Qian Mu's.
But it was stronger than Qian Mu's.
Still, he did not want to discourage Qian Mu.
After all, how long had he been cultivating? If Qian Mu found out that he had already reached this level, he would definitely suffer quite a blow.
The system's capabilities truly are astounding!
Just one or two days of cultivation are already comparable to the results others achieve in several years!
In Qian Mu's eyes, I merely absorbed part of the Iron-Metal Beast's vitality and blood. But with the system's help, it is equivalent to absorbing several hundred Iron-Metal Beasts. The effect is far better than the medicinal herbs he absorbed!
And purer, too!
Lin Mu thought to himself.
He also knew that this Secret Art was incomplete. Otherwise, its effects would have been even stronger.
Someone from Qian Mu's family must have obtained some fortuitous opportunity, or they could not possibly possess such a Secret Art. Even this fragment rivals ordinary Third Order Secret Arts. If it were complete, it might be Fifth Order or even higher!
At that thought, Lin Mu's breathing grew heavy.
A Fifth Tier Secret Technique!
In Li City, it would be a priceless treasure.
With his current status, he was not even qualified to come into contact with one.
"I wanted to ask earlier, what is this Secret Art called?" Lin Mu asked.
"I don't know either. This Secret Art was created by my family's ancestor, but part of it was lost during its transmission. No one in my family named it, and we were simply told to cultivate it!" Qian Mu explained.
Lin Mu nodded slightly.
Every family had its own rules.
The Qian family probably placed great importance on such matters.
Since its name was unknown, they would refrain from naming it for now and wait until they found the remaining portions of the Secret Art.
"If I find the remaining chapters in the future, I will certainly return them to the Qian family!" Lin Mu said.
"Much appreciated!" Qian Mu cupped his hands and looked into the distance.
"Barring any surprises, the final contest should be starting soon!"
Lin Mu looked into the distance as well.
Just then, beams of light shot into the sky one after another, and a majestic voice rang out.
Before you continue