Stone Talisman

At the sound of that crisp crack, Lin Xiao froze.

"Father, didn't you say the Through-the-Back Fist wasn't so easy to learn? Why could Big Brother make a sound after watching it just once?" Lin Dong asked timidly.

"Mu'er, perform it again." As though he had not heard Lin Dong's words, Lin Xiao spoke to Lin Mu with a grave expression.

Crack!

Lin Mu performed the Through-the-Back Fist once more, and another crisp sound rang out.

"Good! Good! Good!" Lin Xiao said "good" three times in succession, his expression extremely excited as his eyes shone while looking at Lin Mu.

Lin Mu could understand Lin Xiao's excitement. Someone like him, who had learned the Through-the-Back Fist after watching it only once, was undoubtedly a peerless genius. Lin Xiao himself had needed a full week just to get started.

In truth, Lin Mu had held back. After the system had raised his proficiency to the beginner level, he could produce three sounds with the Through-the-Back Fist if he went all out. However, that would have been far too shocking, so he had only produced one.

"Big Brother is amazing!" Lin Dong was excited as well.

"Second Brother, your talent is also quite good. As long as you practice a few more times, you'll be able to produce a sound too," Lin Mu said.

"Talent is only one aspect. Diligence is equally important. When cultivating, you must never be lax," Lin Xiao said sternly.

"We understand!" Lin Mu and Lin Dong replied in unison.

The day slipped away as the two continued cultivating without pause. Lin Mu had only just come into contact with martial arts techniques and was curious about them, which was why he practiced diligently for the entire day. With the system, he had no need to cultivate so arduously.

By evening, Lin Xiao said, "That's enough cultivation for today."

Lin Xiao was also quite satisfied with how hard the two had worked.

"Father, you go back first. I'll practice a little longer," Lin Dong said.

"I'll stay with Second Brother," Lin Mu added.

Lin Xiao gave them a reminder but did not stop them, returning alone. Today had been the happiest day he had experienced in years. Both Lin Mu and Lin Dong possessed excellent cultivation talent.

Crack!

Lin Dong performed the Through-the-Back Fist once more and successfully produced a sound.

"Looks like it really isn't that difficult!" Lin Dong said.

After that, Lin Mu and Lin Dong practiced for roughly another two hours, by which time the sun had already disappeared behind the mountains.

"Big Brother, there's still some time. Let's go soak there," Lin Dong suggested.

Lin Mu knew Lin Dong meant that cave, a place known only to the two of them and Qing Tan.

"Mm." Lin Mu nodded. He had stayed behind because he wanted to see that stone talisman, but since he possessed the system, there was no need for him to steal Lin Dong's fortuitous opportunity. Still, he wanted to witness this second divine artifact of heaven and earth for himself.

The two ran deeper into the Back Mountain. About ten minutes later, a steep cliff appeared before them. They leaped down along several protruding rocks on the cliff face. Those rocks were inconspicuous, yet they formed a hidden path.

The two were thoroughly familiar with this route, so as long as they remained careful, no accidents occurred. Soon, a cave concealed beneath several enormous boulders appeared before them.

The cave was extremely well hidden. With the surrounding protruding boulders providing cover, it would be impossible to notice unless one deliberately searched for it. Of course, under normal circumstances, no one would do such a thing.

As they jumped into the cave, a cool breeze washed over them. It stood in sharp contrast to the heat outside, making it a fine place to escape the summer heat.

The cave was not especially spacious, and aside from a stone pool roughly two or three zhang wide at its center, there was nothing unusual within it.

"The stone talisman should be up there," Lin Mu said, glancing above the pool.

Splash!

Lin Dong stripped off his clothes until only his underpants remained, then jumped into the pool. He immediately called out to Lin Mu, "Big Brother, come down!"

Lin Mu also wanted to test the effects of the Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid. He was drenched in foul sweat anyway, so a soak would do him good. He removed his clothes and jumped in as well.

Drip!

A drop of blood fell from Lin Dong's arm, which was covered in bloody wounds, into the pool. The water immediately seemed to boil as blood-colored bubbles rose one after another from the surface.

"Big Brother, what's happening?" Lin Dong asked in shock.

"Don't panic. It should be a good thing. Haven't you noticed the changes in your body?" Lin Mu said. Those crimson liquids were being absorbed into their bodies, slowly strengthening them.

"The wounds on my arm have become much lighter." Lin Dong spoke in astonishment. After Lin Mu's reminder, he too noticed the changes in himself.

About ten minutes passed before the pool water stopped boiling.

"Big Brother, I'm about to break through to the Body Tempering Fourth Layer!" Lin Dong said excitedly. He had only recently broken through to the Body Tempering Third Layer, yet after soaking here for a while, he was already about to break through again.

Lin Mu's strength had also increased slightly. The Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid had a considerable effect even on those at the Body Tempering Fourth Layer.

"There's something strange about this pool," Lin Mu said, and Lin Dong nodded in agreement.

Lin Mu raised his head and looked at the ceiling of the cave, where he spotted a faint glimmer.

"Second Brother, go up and bring that thing down." Lin Mu pointed toward the cave ceiling.

Lin Dong immediately climbed up and took down the stone talisman. It appeared to be a stone the size of two fingers, pale grayish-white in color. Yet when he held it in his palm, it felt strangely soft. That texture did not seem like stone, but neither was it like jade, much less wood.

"Big Brother, what is this?" Lin Dong asked.

"It should be the source of the strangeness in this pool," Lin Mu said, without explaining much more to Lin Dong.

"Big Brother, you found it, so you should have it," Lin Dong said.

"Second Brother, you should keep it. But you must not let anyone else know. The effects of this pool water are no less than those of a third-grade spirit medicine. If others find out, it will bring a great disaster upon the Lin Family," Lin Mu warned.

He had a system, so the Stone Talisman was not of much use to him.

"Mm." Brother Lin Dong nodded solemnly. Though he was still young, he understood the principle that an ordinary man could invite disaster by possessing a treasure. He tucked the Stone Talisman away close to his body.

"Brother Lin Mu, Brother Lin Dong." At that moment, a crisp voice like a yellow oriole's call came from the cave entrance. A young girl then appeared before them—it was Qing Tan.

"Hehe, I knew you two would be here." Qing Tan smiled smugly.

Qing Tan was a little girl of around thirteen or fourteen. She wore only a simple set of light-colored clothes, but the plain outfit could not conceal the liveliness on her small face. Though still young, her features were already quite delicate, and when her big eyes blinked, she looked especially adorable.

"Brother Lin Mu, Brother Lin Dong, Mother sent me to call you two for dinner," Qing Tan said.

"Qing Tan, let's go!" Lin Mu said with a smile, rubbing Qing Tan's head.

"Brother Lin Mu, don't touch my head. You'll mess up my hair," Qing Tan said, pouting.

"Qing Tan has grown up now. She knows how to care about looking pretty. She's no longer that little snot-nosed girl who used to follow me around all day," Lin Mu said with a laugh.

"Stupid Brother Lin Mu, all you know is how to bully me." Qing Tan was a little embarrassed by his words and walked ahead by herself, drawing hearty laughter from both Lin Mu and Lin Dong.

The three of them happily made their way home together.