Sworn Brothers, Sharing Secrets

Lin Dong finally decided to tell Wu Yun his secret.

"My treasure is a strange stone with miraculous runes on it. I call it the Stone Talisman.

The Stone Talisman can automatically absorb the energy of heaven and earth and produce a red liquid, which I call Stone Talisman Spiritual Liquid.

Stone Talisman Spiritual Liquid is extremely effective for cultivation in the Body Tempering Stage.

The reason I was able to reach the Body Tempering Seventh Level in such a short time was because of the Stone Talisman Spiritual Liquid."

He took a small bottle from his robe. Inside was a scarlet liquid, red as blood.

"However, after using too much Stone Talisman Spiritual Liquid, its effects gradually weaken. It is no longer very useful to me. I guess it can at most be useful for the Earth Yuan Stage, and even then, its effect would be minimal. It works best on those below the Body Tempering Seventh Level."

Lin Dong explained that compared to the powerful secret manual Wu Yun had obtained, this miraculous body-tempering liquid seemed less important.

Wu Yun took the small bottle and curiously examined the red liquid.

He knew the Stone Talisman inside out—better than Lin Dong did at present—but he still had to put on an act.

"There should be more to it than that, right?" After a moment, Wu Yun smiled at Lin Dong.

Lin Dong smiled as well. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Brother Wu Yun."

A smug expression appeared on his face. He believed the Stone Talisman's value was definitely no less than Wu Yun's treasure. "Indeed, there's more. So far, I've discovered two other functions.

Perfecting martial arts and refining Elixir Pills!"

"Brother Wu Yun, watch!"

Lin Dong immediately demonstrated his fist technique before Wu Yun!

Through-Back Fist! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah!

Ten impacts!

Wu Yun once again showed a look of astonishment. He felt like he was about to become a best actor. To fool Lin Dong, he had to pretend that everything was new to him.

"Through-Back Fist Ten-Impact Force? This is... As far as I know, even at its peak, Through-Back Fist can only reach Nine-Impact Force!"

"That's right. Through-Back Fist has Nine-Impact Force, but after being perfected by the Stone Talisman, it can reach ten."

"I'm currently cultivating two martial arts, and with the Stone Talisman's help, both can rise to a higher level."

"A First-Grade Martial Art can unleash the power of a second-grade one, while a second-grade martial art can unleash the power of a third-grade one."

"I think this is only the beginning. It can perfect and improve even stronger martial arts."

Lin Dong spoke with growing excitement, as though he were saying... So? My cheat is pretty amazing too, isn't it?

It was Wu Yun's turn to play along. He said in delight,

"That's incredible. At least for now, compared to the secret manual I obtained, perfecting martial arts is even more useful to us at this stage."

"And what about refining Elixir Pills?"

"If it were only the first two abilities, perhaps it wouldn't compare to Brother Wu Yun's treasure. But refining Elixir Pills is definitely even more valuable than your secret manual." Lin Dong spoke confidently, his mood extraordinarily excited.

Ever since obtaining the treasure that was the Stone Talisman, he had been secretly delighted. He had wanted to find someone to share this joy with, but he had never found a suitable person.

Today, being able to share it with Wu Yun, who had encountered the same sort of opportunity as him, made him feel much better.

"This is the Third-Grade Spiritual Medicine you gave me, Brother Wu Yun—the Purple Ganoderma!"

Lin Dong took out the spiritual medicine Wu Yun had given him and placed it on his palm.

The rune on his palm flashed, and the spiritual medicine vanished. A moment later, four smooth purple pills the size of soybeans appeared out of thin air in his hand.

"The Stone Talisman can directly refine the medicinal potency of spiritual medicines into Elixir Pills, making them much easier to absorb."

"Normally, after taking this Purple Ganoderma, we could absorb at most ten to twenty percent of its medicinal potency. But after refining it into Elixir Pills with the Stone Talisman, all its medicinal potency is fused into the pills. By swallowing and refining them, we can absorb at least eighty to ninety percent of the medicinal potency."

Lin Dong picked up a purple pill, suppressing the delight in his heart as he said leisurely, "The medicinal potency gained from absorbing one of these pills is roughly equal to consuming one Purple Ganoderma, yet the Stone Talisman can refine one Purple Ganoderma into four pills."

Hiss! Wu Yun sucked in a cold breath! At that moment, he completely imitated the astonishment and shock Lin Dong had displayed earlier when listening to his introduction!

This was the Stone Talisman function Wu Yun coveted most.

Refining Elixir Pills was far too important for cultivation.

What cultivators fought over was nothing more than wealth, companions, techniques, and territory!

And the ability to refine Elixir Pills allowed one to firmly grasp hold of wealth! Wu Yun said, "Compared to Brother Lin Dong's Stone Talisman, my opportunity—having obtained only an ultra-first-class secret manual along with several high-grade martial arts—is simply not worth mentioning."

Lin Dong said, "Not at all. Brother Wu Yun's cultivation technique and martial arts are enough to look down upon the entire Great Yan Dynasty. How could my mere Stone Talisman, which can produce spiritual liquid, perfect martial arts, and refine Elixir Pills, amount to anything?"

After saying this, the two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

They had such perfect tacit understanding when it came to humblebragging!

"Brother Wu Yun..."

"Brother Lin Dong..."

"You go first!"

The two spoke in unison again!

With the atmosphere having reached this point, their relationship naturally had to advance another step.

Both of them had the same thought.

Lin Dong said, "Brother Wu Yun, how about the two of us become sworn brothers?"

Wu Yun said, "I was just thinking the same thing!"

"I, Wu Yun!"

"I, Lin Dong!"

"Hereby become sworn brothers of different surnames!"

"We shall share blessings and bear hardships together!"

"We shall live and die together, bound through fortune and misfortune!"

"We do not ask to be born on the same year, month, and day, but only to die on the same year, month, and day!"

"Elder Brother, please accept this bow from your younger brother!"

"Rise, Second Brother!"

The two clasped hands, their shoulders bumping together.

"You have already explained the Stone Talisman's secret to me. Now it's my turn to tell you about the secret manual. This place is too open and unsuitable for passing on techniques. Let's go to your room. I'll write the secret manual down for you!"

When they returned to the small courtyard of Lin Dong's home, the first thing they did was head into his room.

Qing Tan had always followed Lin Dong everywhere. Earlier, the two had shaken her off while they talked, and now that they were back, they still ignored her.

She wanted to play with them, but Lin Dong shut her outside.

"Brother Lin Dong, what are you two doing going into a room together in broad daylight? Why aren't you taking me with you?"

"You're still young. I'll tell you later. Stand guard outside. If anyone comes, remember to warn us." Lin Dong directly assigned the little girl the task of guarding the door.

"Hmph!" Qing Tan puffed out her cheeks.

"Ever since Brother Wu Yun came, Brother Lin Dong doesn't want me anymore."

Though she was sulking, Qing Tan obediently stood guard outside.

After entering Lin Dong's room, the two eagerly began searching for paper and brushes.

Wu Yun said, "I'll write, and you memorize. Burn it after reading!"

Lin Dong said, "Understood!"

Wu Yun picked up a brush and began writing.

"Heavenly Treasure Record..."

"Big Brother, your handwriting... is so ugly!"

"As long as you can read it!"

Wu Yun wrote one section, and Lin Dong memorized one section. Once he had memorized it, they burned it! Even by dinnertime, the two were still in the room.

"Brother Lin Dong, it's time to eat!" Qing Tan called out.

"Got it, we'll be done soon!"

Wu Yun and Lin Dong hurriedly put away the paper and brushes, destroying all evidence.

"There is still much content in the Heavenly Treasure Record. It can't possibly all be written down in such a short time, and you can't memorize it all either. Let's stop here for today. You have already memorized the most basic and core Heavenly Mystery Skill. We have plenty of time ahead of us; we can slowly fill in the rest later."

"Mm!"