Phantom Step Remnant, Phantom Takes Form

Deep within the quiet mountain cave, the only sounds were the occasional drip of water from the rock walls and Lin Chen's long, steady breaths.

After the excitement of his strength surging wildly once more, Lin Chen's emotions had gradually settled, becoming as still and deep as an ancient pool.

He sat cross-legged, his expression focused, his gaze fixed on the mysterious beast hide book spread open on his knees.

The pages were yellowed, bearing the marks of time. There were no words on them, only a series of crude, bizarre, even distorted humanoid figures. These patterns were drawn with simple lines, yet they seemed to contain some ineffable, profound meaning. Each time he looked, he felt something different.

Previously, with his cultivation at the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer Peak and his limited understanding, these patterns had appeared chaotic and incomprehensible, even making him dizzy.

But now, after breaking through to the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer Late Stage, his mental power greatly enhanced, and having gained a vague understanding of concepts like "trajectory" and "stealth" from refining the dark leopard core, he looked at the patterns again and… faintly perceived something different!

To his eyes, the seemingly chaotic lines no longer looked like simple strokes, but like flowing trajectories! Like a nimble antelope leaping, leaving no trace, yet subtly aligning with some natural rhythm of heaven and earth!

The twisted, strange postures of the figures were no longer mere contortions of limbs, but simulations of the wind's grace, the water's fluidity, the shadow's illusion, and even the nascent form of spatial jumps?!

"This… this is definitely an extremely profound movement technique!" Lin Chen's heart began to pound violently again!

Although he still couldn't fully comprehend it, even this glimpse of the tip of the iceberg allowed him to feel the technique's unimaginably profound and powerful nature!

If he could fully grasp it… to what terrifying level would his speed and evasion abilities reach?! He might even be able to contend with a Foundation Establishment Realm expert for a while with just this movement technique!

Immense surprise and longing instantly filled his heart!

He immediately held his breath, immersing his entire mind into comprehending the beast hide book!

He tried to imitate the strange steps and postures on the book.

At first, it was still incredibly difficult. The movements completely defied normal human biomechanics. Each attempt made him feel like his bones were about to crack, and his True Qi circulation became sluggish.

But he didn't give up!

He knew very well that the more profound a movement technique, the more difficult it would be to cultivate! If it were easy to master, it wouldn't be so treasured by Lin Bao!

He tried again and again, carefully feeling the subtle differences in each movement and the peculiar flow of True Qi within his body.

Gradually, he began to notice a pattern.

These strange postures and steps didn't seem to rely solely on physical strength. Instead, they required mobilizing the True Qi within his body in an extremely special and intricate way, perfectly combined with bodily movements! It even seemed to require… guidance from mental power?!

This was far beyond the scope of ordinary Yellow-tier or even Profound-tier movement techniques!

"Could it be… this is actually a remnant of an Earth-tier, or even higher-grade movement technique?!" A tidal wave of shock surged through Lin Chen!

Earth-tier cultivation techniques and martial skills! Those were legendary treasures that only top sects or ancient families might possess! Where did Lin Bao get something like this?!

However, now was not the time to ponder its origin.

Since the treasure was in his hands, there was no reason to let it go!

Lin Chen became even more focused, dedicating himself to the comprehension.

He attempted to guide the vast, liquid True Qi within him, which carried a trace of the dark primordial essence, along the faint, peculiar routes revealed in the patterns.

Hum…

As the True Qi flowed through those special acupoints, combined with the body performing those strange twists and steps, Lin Chen suddenly felt his body become lighter?!

The surrounding air no longer felt like resistance, but rather like a "medium" he could leverage!

His steps also became extraordinarily elusive and unpredictable!

It was as if he had transformed into a true shadow! A phantom that could freely weave through light and shadow!

Although this feeling was still weak and unstable, and his movements were still awkward and unpolished, he clearly captured the core essence of this mysterious movement technique!

"Fast! Bizarre! Unpredictable!" Brilliant light erupted in Lin Chen's eyes!

This movement technique was tailor-made for him!

He was already skilled in speed and surprise attacks. With this unpredictable technique, it would be like adding wings to a tiger! Whether for combat or escape, it would be his greatest trump card!

"Continue!"

Like a child discovering a new continent, Lin Chen became completely engrossed in comprehending this mysterious movement technique.

He forgot about time, hunger, and everything around him!

Within the confined space of the cave, his body continuously performed all sorts of strange, contorted movements! Sometimes he slithered like a snake, sometimes he flickered like a phantom, and sometimes he leaped lightly like a swan!

Each attempt was accompanied by the intricate circulation of True Qi and intense concentration of mental power!

Every failure was followed by an immediate pause, a careful recall of the patterns' trajectories, an adjustment of True Qi circulation details, and then another attempt!

During this process, the Myriad Dao Furnace was not idle either!

Although it couldn't directly absorb information like it did when refining cultivation manuals, it emitted a strange fluctuation that enveloped the patterns on the beast hide book, as if performing some kind of "simulation" and "deduction"!

Trickles of clearer, more intuitive comprehension flowed into Lin Chen's mind like a gentle stream! Helping him understand the profound patterns faster and grasp the key points of the strange movements more quickly!

Even more, the Furnace was making extremely subtle adjustments and optimizations to this movement technique based on Lin Chen's own physique and True Qi characteristics?! Although this optimization was far less obvious than when it refined the "Basic Qi Refining Art" and "Surging Wave Palm," it made Lin Chen feel that his compatibility with this movement technique was slowly increasing! It felt as if it was gradually becoming truly his own!

"This Furnace is simply a heaven-defying assistant!" Lin Chen marveled inwardly again!

With the Furnace's help, his speed in comprehending this mysterious movement technique was definitely more than a hundred times faster than anyone else's!

Time flew by as Lin Chen engaged in this almost frenzied cultivation and comprehension.

Unknowingly, another day and night passed.

Outside the cave, the sun rose and set, light and shadow shifting.

Inside the cave, Lin Chen's figure became increasingly elusive, increasingly... bizarre!

At times, he left trails of afterimages on the ground; at others, he clung silently to the rock walls like a gecko; and at yet others, he executed unbelievable evasive maneuvers within the confined space!

Although his movements were still far from perfect or fluid, even a bit stiff, the difference compared to two days ago was like night and day!

He had already begun to grasp the mysteries contained within the first few diagrams of this mysterious movement technique! And he had integrated them into his instincts!

"Hoo..."

Lin Chen slowly stopped his practice, exhaling a long breath of stale air.

His face showed a hint of fatigue, but more than that, it was filled with unconcealable excitement and satisfaction!

"Although it's far from mastery, or even from being considered an introduction, the power of this movement technique is already becoming apparent!" Lin Chen's eyes gleamed.

He had a feeling that with the little he had grasped, if he were to execute it at full power, his speed and evasion abilities would increase by at least fifty percent compared to before! Moreover, due to its unpredictable trajectory, it would definitely have a surprising effect in actual combat!

"This movement technique doesn't have a name yet..." Lin Chen looked at the Beast Hide Book in his hand, pondered for a moment, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Since it's so elusive and bizarre, like a ghost or a phantom, why not... call it the 'Phantom Step'!"

Although it was just a name he casually gave it himself, it was quite fitting.

With this 'Phantom Step' as a trump card, coupled with his powerful cultivation at the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer Late Stage, his potent optimized 'Surging Wave Palm', and the heaven-defying cheat, the Myriad Dao Furnace...

Lin Chen felt that he now truly possessed the capital to establish himself, and even venture out, in the perilous Green Peak Mountain Range!

"It's time to go out and stretch my limbs!"

Lin Chen stood up, his eyes burning with intense fighting spirit!

Two days of secluded cultivation, while his strength had surged again, had also left him feeling somewhat stifled.

He needed to fight! He needed to train! He needed to test his strength through life-or-death battles with demonic beasts, to hone his combat skills, and to... obtain more cultivation resources!

After all, the Spirit Stones and Crimson Sun Grass he had plundered from Lin Bao had been almost entirely consumed when he broke through to the Seventh Layer Late Stage. To continue improving rapidly, he needed to find new "fuel"!

And this vast Green Peak Mountain Range was undoubtedly the best "hunting ground"!

He carefully put the mysterious Beast Hide Book back against his body, then meticulously checked his equipment and condition.

Once he confirmed that everything was ready, he took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with sharp light, like a sword about to be drawn!

"Green Peak Mountain Range... here I come, Lin Chen!"

With a flash of his figure, Lin Chen, like a phantom merging into the shadows, silently left the hidden cave that had brought him such great improvement!