In the days that followed, Lin Yue devoted almost all his time to cultivation.
Every morning, he meditated beside the Innate Spirit Spring, absorbing the pure energy in its water. During the day, he practiced using the Chaos Little Light Orb near the cave, trying to condense several orbs at once or change their flight paths. In the evening, he returned to Pangu's side to review the day's insights and consolidate his cultivation.
He told Pangu every detail of his contest with Su Qingyan over the spirit grass, their joint battle against the vicious beast, and their agreement to compete. He made a point of mentioning the effects of the Three-Leaf Golden Ganoderma. "Senior, that innate spirit grass truly lives up to its reputation. Even though only a few scraps of leaf remained, refining them not only accelerated my cultivation but also nourished my foundation. The vortex in my dantian is much more solid than before."
As he spoke, he took the last unrefined scrap of leaf from his storage pouch and held it out to Pangu. "There's still a little left. Please refine it, Senior. It might do you some good, too."
Pangu slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the scrap, then at Lin Yue, and shook his head, signaling that Lin Yue should keep it for himself. The aura around him remained unfathomable, as if the innate spirit grass were nothing more than an ordinary plant to him.
Lin Yue didn't press him and put the scrap away. He knew Senior Pangu's cultivation was far beyond his own; perhaps he truly had no use for the remnant.
Pangu's gaze lingered on Lin Yue for a moment, as if assessing how much he had grown. After a while, he spoke in a deep, weighty voice. "You were somewhat rash during the fight, but you knew how to assess the situation, use your opponent's strength against it, and work with someone else. Not bad."
It was the first time Pangu had praised Lin Yue so directly. Delighted, Lin Yue hurriedly replied, "It's all thanks to your guidance, Senior."
Pangu waved a hand without responding, then lightly traced a line across the ground with his fingertip. A faint golden light flashed, and a simple diagram appeared on the earth. It showed a vicious beast resembling a giant bear, along with two small figures: one attacking the beast's head with flames, the other circling behind it to strike its legs.
It was the scene of Lin Yue and Su Qingyan fighting the Chaos Giant Bear together.
Then Pangu moved his fingertip again, adding a few more strokes to the diagram. He marked the beast's attack paths in red and drew several arrows by the two figures, pointing toward the openings between the beast's attacks.
Lin Yue stared at the diagram, growing more astonished the longer he looked. With only a few strokes, Pangu had pinpointed the weaknesses in their fight. For instance, after each swipe of the bear's paw, its chest was exposed for a moment. And when it turned, the wound on its hind leg was revealed more clearly as it shifted its weight. Lin Yue hadn't noticed any of these details at the time.
"Stay clear of its strongest attacks and strike at its weaknesses," Pangu said beside him. "Every living thing in chaos, strong or weak, has a weakness. A skilled fighter doesn't rely on strength, but on spotting weaknesses and seizing the right moment."
Lin Yue suddenly understood. He finally saw why Pangu had drawn the diagram. This wasn't merely a review of their earlier fight; Pangu was teaching him a way of thinking in battle—how to find an enemy's weaknesses amid a rapidly changing fight, and how to use the surroundings and timing to achieve the greatest results at the smallest cost.
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior!" Lin Yue rose and bowed, his admiration for Pangu growing deeper. Until now, he had focused only on cultivation and increasing his energy, neglecting the importance of combat skills. Now he understood that skill could sometimes matter more than strength.
Pangu gave a slight nod and withdrew his finger. The diagram on the ground vanished with it. He closed his eyes again, as if nothing had happened.
Lin Yue could no longer contain his excitement. He went outside the cave and began to simulate a fight against a vicious beast, applying Pangu's advice. He imagined the giant bear's attack paths, tried to anticipate its weaknesses, and then attacked with the Chaos Little Light Orb.
He went through the exercise again and again, stopping only when the sun was setting. Though exhausted, he felt he had gained a great deal. His understanding of combat had reached a new level.
"I may not lose the contest three months from now." Lin Yue gazed at the distant chaos airflow, his eyes brimming with confidence. With Senior Pangu's guidance and his own hard work, he knew he would be much stronger in three months.
By the time he returned to the cave, night had fallen. Seeing Pangu still seated on the rock, Lin Yue quietly walked over, sat down cross-legged beside him, and began reviewing the day's insights.
Moonlight streamed through a crack in the cave's ceiling, illuminating the two of them. One was as steady as an ancient mountain; the other, as full of life as the rising sun. Amid the dangers of chaos, they made a peaceful, harmonious picture.
Lin Yue knew he owed his growth to Pangu's guidance and protection. He silently resolved to grow stronger as quickly as possible, so that one day he, too, could become someone capable of protecting others, just like Senior Pangu.
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