Leave?
Lin Bei gave Zhang Teng a long, searching look.
Before his Golden Finger had activated, never mind Zhang Teng leaving—he would probably have had to pack up and flee himself.
But...
Things were different now.
There was no way he would let Zhang Teng leave.
Lin Bei knew that his Golden Finger's greatest function was extrapolation.
But its greatest flaw was that it needed someone with insight to lay the foundation.
People...
What they feared most was seeing hope.
Because hope and a future would drive people to pursue them at any cost.
Even if that road was filled with thorns and danger.
Faced with Zhang Teng's request, Lin Bei asked without the slightest hesitation.
"Zhang Teng, do you really want to leave?"
"No!"
Zhang Teng answered without hesitation, his head lowered and his voice quiet.
"Then stay and devote yourself to cultivation."
Lin Bei slowly rose, walked to the door, and clasped his hands behind his back, looking up at the distant sky.
"If the sky falls, your master will hold it up for you."
Though Lin Bei's voice was not loud, it struck Zhang Teng's heart like a hammer weighing a thousand tons.
An indescribable emotion welled up within him.
His Lineage's scheming had left his dantian destroyed.
His relatives, afraid of the Nanyang Commandery Prince's wrath, had driven him out...
For a time, Zhang Teng had believed that self-interest should come above all else in life.
Yet.
In the face of the Nanyang Commandery Prince.
Lin Bei had told him.
If the sky fell, his master would hold it up!
"Master... I... can I stay?"
Zhang Teng struggled to suppress his emotions, but his voice still trembled a little.
"Of course. Focus on cultivating, and don't overthink it."
Lin Bei spoke softly without turning around.
"But the Nanyang Zhou Clan is too powerful... I'm worried..."
At Zhang Teng's words, Lin Bei immediately felt that something was wrong.
Oh no.
This kid isn't planning to leave without saying goodbye, is he?
With that thought, Lin Bei realized he needed to give him something to settle his nerves.
"No buts."
Lin Bei's voice was calm and firm.
"With your master here, the sky... will not fall!"
Zhang Teng stared at Lin Bei's back, stunned.
Lin Bei struck while the iron was hot.
"Instead of fretting that the sky might fall, go focus on cultivating!"
Lin Bei turned around and looked at Zhang Teng seriously, speaking with earnest concern.
"You forge your own path. If thorns lie ahead, push through them!"
"As long as you grow stronger fast enough, sooner or later you'll trample the Nanyang Zhou Clan beneath your feet."
Sure enough, a spark of resolve flashed in Zhang Teng's eyes at those words.
Seeing that his words were working, Lin Bei administered another potent dose.
"Remember, the path of immortal cultivation is to defy Heaven! Those who submit remain mortal; those who defy become immortal!"
"In your master's eyes, the Nanyang Zhou Clan is nothing more than a whetstone on your path to growth! In the future, you'll be wagering your life against Heaven itself!"
Lin Bei's speech sent Zhang Teng's blood boiling, filling his heart with heroic spirit.
"Your disciple has learned his lesson. Why should cultivators like us fear a mere Nanyang Zhou Clan?"
"Good!"
Lin Bei's face was full of approval.
"Go! Cultivate the Breath-Absorbing Art diligently. Once you've reached perfection in it, begin tempering your Dao Body."
"Your disciple obeys!"
He watched Zhang Teng and Tieniu leave.
Lin Bei finally could not keep up the act any longer, feeling as though his head had swollen to the size of an ox's.
He had managed to steady Zhang Teng.
But the Nanyang Zhou Clan clearly was not easy to deal with.
"I've got it!"
Inspiration suddenly flashed through Lin Bei's mind.
If I can't afford to provoke them, surely I can still hide from them?
Lin Bei had already decided.
Tomorrow, he would find an excuse and coax Zhang Teng into traveling with him...
That excuse was simply perfect!
Just then.
A voice suddenly rang out in Lin Bei's mind.
[Your disciple has cultivated the Breath-Absorbing Art to (perfection). Your Breath-Absorbing Art has advanced to (limit-breaking).]
The next second.
Lin Bei felt a flood of knowledge about the Breath-Absorbing Art pour into his mind.
The spiritual energy drawn in and released through his breathing also became profound in his eyes.
It seemed endlessly mysterious and ever-changing, yet also like the source of Heaven and Earth, the essence of all things.
At that moment, his understanding of breath absorption entered an entirely new stage.
Without another word, Lin Bei put the Breath-Absorbing Art into motion.
Sure enough.
His efficiency in tempering his Dao Body had more than doubled!
"Sure enough, sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting!"
The gloom brought on by the Nanyang Zhou Clan was instantly swept away.
Just then.
Zhang Teng's voice came from outside the door.
"Master, are you there?"
"Come in!"
Zhang Teng pushed the door open and entered.
"Master, your disciple has cultivated the Breath-Absorbing Art to perfection, but there's something I don't understand. Please enlighten me."
"What is it?"
Zhang Teng hurriedly explained.
"Master, after cultivating the Breath-Absorbing Art to perfection, I kept feeling as though I'd faintly grasped something."
Zhang Teng sounded somewhat puzzled.
"It's a very mysterious feeling. I feel as though Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power is a blank sheet of paper, yet also ever-changing."
Ever-changing?
And like a blank sheet of paper?
Lin Bei froze, inwardly startled.
This kid has actually touched the threshold of limit-breaking?
He had only sensed these things after his own Breath-Absorbing Art broke past the limits of perfection.
In that instant, Lin Bei suddenly realized something.
Why had his Golden Finger only undergone Limit-Breaking when Zhang Teng's Breath-Absorbing Art reached perfection? Why had it shown no response during cultivation?
So that was it...
Only at the moment of perfection could the foundation for limit-breaking be established, allowing further extrapolation...
Lin Bei could not help growing curious. If Zhang Teng's Breath-Absorbing Art reached the limit-breaking level...
Could his own Breath-Absorbing Art improve further?
With that thought, Lin Bei began offering guidance without holding anything back.
"Teng'er, you've touched the threshold of limit-breaking."
"Remember your current insights and keep cultivating. You may be able to break past the limits of perfection in the Breath-Absorbing Art."
"The limit-breaking level?"
A spark of joy flashed in Zhang Teng's eyes.
He had once heard Lin Bei say that his aptitude was mediocre... those with truly fine-grade aptitude could break through their limits on their own!
Before, he had no real concept of it. Now he did.
"So this is limit-breaking?"
Zhang Teng was overjoyed!
But after that surge of joy, he felt somewhat dejected.
He could only sense it faintly. As for breaking through, he still had no way to do it on his own.
"The essence of Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power is the very source from which Heaven and Earth are formed. This method can only be grasped intuitively, not conveyed in words..."
Lin Bei smiled.
"First, quiet your mind. Your master will demonstrate."
Lin Bei decided to try guiding him.
He was also eager to see what would happen if Zhang Teng broke past perfection in the Breath-Absorbing Art and reached the limit-breaking level.
Could his Golden Finger use that as a foundation to continue extrapolating?
"Yes, Master!"
Zhang Teng immediately began settling his mind and calming his breathing.
Lin Bei promptly sat cross-legged, his expression solemn.
Then Lin Bei began circulating the Limit-Breaking Level Breath-Absorbing Art.
Zhang Teng seemed to gain some insight...
At times he looked puzzled; at times he sank into contemplation.
When Lin Bei completed one full cycle of breath absorption, Zhang Teng's eyes blazed with light.
"So that's it! Master, I understand!"
Without further hesitation, he immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating the Breath-Absorbing Art.
The next second.
A voice rang out in Lin Bei's mind.
[Your disciple's Breath-Absorbing Art has surpassed perfection and reached the limit-breaking level. Your Breath-Absorbing Art has advanced to (second limit-breaking).]
Lin Bei was stunned!
It actually...
Could it really undergo Limit-Breaking a second time?
Before you continue