"Moo..."
A fiery-red savage bull bellowed, its bucket-thick hooves pounding the ground until the earth trembled. Its vicious gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed on the four-year-old child nearby.
"Come on, you big dumb bull!" Lin Fan shouted at Reckless Bull, which stood three or four times his height. He took a fighting stance, his bright, wide eyes never daring to relax.
This was a vicious beast cub Qi Daolin had caught in some remote mountain gully specifically to train Lin Fan in real combat. It was not particularly powerful, making it just right for him at his current level.
With a sharp swish, the provoked Reckless Bull charged straight at Lin Fan, swift as the wind and powerfully agile. Every hoof sank several inches into the ground, sending dust flying.
Clang!
Lin Fan responded calmly. Runes lit up on his arms with a metallic sheen as he leaped onto the savage bull's back, swinging his iron fists again and again at its head.
Clangs rang out. In pain, Reckless Bull bucked and thrashed, shaking its body nonstop. Its hide grew an even fierier red, as though it were about to burst into flames, searingly hot.
Like a nimble ape, Lin Fan gripped one horn tightly and moved with Reckless Bull's rhythm. His agility was astonishing; he stayed firmly seated on its back while continuing to hammer away with his other hand.
It was an astonishing sight: a child of only four or so battling a vicious beast many times his size. It would leave anyone wide-eyed and tongue-tied, scarcely able to believe it.
At this age, most children should have been playing. No family would ever let them do something so dangerous, since one careless mistake could cost them their lives.
All the more so for a First Generation like Lin Fan, who should have been protected at this age rather than exposed to danger.
Only a madman like Qi Daolin would train his disciple this way, using such methods to improve his combat skills and strengthen his muscles and bones.
Boom!
After several more rounds of fierce resistance, Lin Fan was finally thrown off. He flew dozens of meters and slammed hard into the ground, bruised all over and covered in dirt.
"Again!"
Lin Fan struggled to his feet and roared, a ruthless determination showing through. His gaze was cold, and he refused to give up because of the pain. He hungered for strength.
He knew that in this world, power was the foundation of everything.
As the saying went, neglect your immortal cultivation today, and tomorrow you'll be brothers inside the Human Emperor Banner.
Since he had been given another life, he ought to blaze with glory, roam unhindered between heaven and earth, and live free for a lifetime.
Starry night descended. Moonlight spilled over every corner like a tide, draping heaven and earth in a veil of silver radiance tinged with mystery.
After a day of training, Lin Fan once again came to the Heavenly Immortal Academy. This time, however, no one escorted him; he came alone, having been given a magical treasure that allowed him to travel between the two places.
The Heavenly Immortal Academy was vast, grand, and magnificent. Even at night, many people came and went, men and women alike, most of them disciples.
Some were Dao companions, strolling in pairs beneath the bright moon. Every one of them was handsome or beautiful, perfectly illustrating the saying that cultivation left no one ugly, and that life lay in evolution.
Lin Fan entered without difficulty. Thanks to the natural advantages of a child's body and the black metal token the old man had given him, he could move freely throughout the place without arousing suspicion.
"This place really is huge. I didn't notice when the old man brought me, but now I can see there's a whole hidden world inside, a realm unto itself!" Lin Fan marveled. He nearly lost his way as he walked through it; fortunately, Qi Daolin had given him a map.
He looked around, in no hurry to reach the Divine Lotus Pool. The academy's scenery was as lovely as a painting, and he stopped to admire it from time to time along the way. Such sights were rare, and especially suited to unwinding after cultivation.
Auspicious mist billowed, and countless rays of rosy light shone. Even the water flowing through the grounds came from spiritual springs, the mountain peaks gave off spiritual energy, and the buildings were splendid and imposing.
All manner of divine birds and exotic beasts were also kept here: little five-colored luan birds, spirit foxes, winged heavenly horses, and a host of spirit beasts of varying shapes that Lin Fan did not really recognize. They were all gentle and would not casually hurt anyone, so walking among them posed no danger.
Only after two hours did he finally reach the Tribulation-Transcending Divine Lotus Pool. He freed himself of the things encumbering his body and jumped in.
"This feels so good! Even the exhaustion from a whole day of training is easing away!"
At that moment, Lin Fan felt utterly happy and content. He forgot the day's fatigue and hardships, letting his body and mind go blank as he floated with his face toward the sky and his back toward the lake, drifting with the ripples.
In fact, besides soaking in the Immortal Pool, the old man had also prepared medicinal meals and meat from pure-blooded vicious beasts to build up his blood and vitality. The fare was exceptionally plentiful.
Although Qi Daolin was strict with him and had devised a downright twisted cultivation regimen, he never deprived him of anything he needed. Lin Fan received no less than the heirs of the various sects, and Qi Daolin had even sneaked into certain major sects to obtain the pill formulas they used to nurture their young.
It could be said that he valued this disciple greatly, putting genuine care into nurturing him as the heir to the Supreme Dao Arena.
Splash!
Ripples suddenly spread across the tranquil surface. Then a graceful figure sprang from the water, crystalline droplets sliding down her body and glittering like pearls.
She was a beautiful young woman with a shapely figure, long hair floating like seaweed, and lively eyes like two black gemstones.
Thump!
"Oh! I'm sorry, little sister. Did I hurt you?" A clear, enchanting voice rang out, like pearls large and small falling onto a jade plate, wonderfully gentle and sweet.
Lin Fan suddenly opened his eyes and nearly spurted blood from both nostrils. The sight was simply too alluring.
Lin Fan could swear this was the most beautiful scenery he had ever seen, lovelier than green mountains and clear waters wreathed in immortal mist, or flowers blooming in profusion.
"Little sister, are you all right?" the young woman asked with concern as she bent down. Her slender fingers brushed aside a dangling lock of hair, filling that instant with boundless charm and temptation.
Especially now, those two additional moons grew larger and closer, almost reaching his nose; a slight lift of his head would bring him into contact with them. A pleasant fragrance wafted over him, and their snowy radiance shone so brightly that he could not look away.
Gulp!
Lin Fan's throat moved involuntarily as he swallowed. He froze on the spot, heat stirring in his heart and his blood flowing faster.
The young woman looked about seventeen or eighteen, at the age when beauty bloomed like a proud flower. Her skin was snowy white, her brows and eyes gently curved, and her long neck was swanlike. Her waist could have been encircled with a single hand, so supple it seemed a squeeze might draw out water.
She was a peerless fairy, brimming with beauty, stunningly exquisite, as though she had stepped out of a painting in all her graceful splendor!
Yet it was hard to imagine how such a slender waist could support her upper body. It was simply too ample.
"Little sister, are you all right? It's all my fault. I didn't notice you were here!" the beautiful girl said anxiously, her face full of guilt and concern.
Seeing the child staring blankly before her, the girl could not help wondering whether she had hurt his head in the collision and left him dazed.
Huh? She hasn't noticed I'm a boy?! Lin Fan was secretly astonished. He had thought he would be exposed, yet this beautiful girl had not noticed anything amiss.
However, he quickly realized he could not let her discover his true identity. He silently recited the Pure Heart Mantra several times, forcibly tearing his attention away from those big white rabbits before coming back to his senses.
He shook his head and answered with a smile, "Oh, big sister, I'm fine!" His voice was clear and sweet, as though he really were an innocent little girl.
Hearing Lin Fan's reply, the girl finally breathed a sigh of relief, as though a great weight had lifted. "Whew, you scared me to death. Thank goodness you're all right."
Her tone held a trace of relief and reassurance. She seemed gentle and kind, and a little sweetly silly-not like a disciple of a major sect, but rather a sheltered young girl with little experience of the world.
"Then... little sister, I'll be going now. Be careful." The girl's smile could topple a city, charming and enchanting.
"Mm!"
After the girl left, Lin Fan let out a soft breath and slipped beneath the cool water. He needed to calm himself down.
"Good thing she left, or I really couldn't have taken it. Who could withstand that?" Lin Fan muttered, both excited and relieved.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that being a small child was rather nice. How could anyone tell whether he was male or female?
With his delicate features and rosy, tender skin, no one would doubt it if he claimed to be a girl. Who would ever imagine that he was actually a boy?
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