"Junior Brother Lin, stay here for now. There are clothes in the cabinet inside." Yin Xiaotian still felt somewhat guilty toward Lin Fan. He had actually suspected his junior brother of being a spy earlier. His junior brother had risked his life to destroy that war behemoth, yet he had still entertained such thoughts. The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he became, until he wanted to find a crack to hide in.
Lin Fan looked at the house before him and was quite satisfied. Then he asked, "Where are you two senior brothers going?"
Yin Xiaotian said, "Dazhuang and I are on duty today. We have to return to our posts shortly. We'll come chat with you tomorrow." With that, he turned and left.
There were still many things Lin Fan had not figured out. He needed some quiet time alone.
"Take your time, senior brothers." Lin Fan smiled and waved.
Yin Xiaotian and Gao Dazhuang turned around and looked at Lin Fan in puzzlement. "Was there something else, Junior Brother Lin?"
"Huh?" Lin Fan froze. I didn't say there was anything. Then he immediately caught on. "Nothing. Safe travels, senior brothers."
"Get some rest, Junior Brother Lin."
Fuck, wasn't 'take your time' just a way of wishing you a safe trip? You actually thought I wanted something. How frustrating.
He returned to the room.
Though simple, it was clean. He hurriedly removed the cloth covering his crotch and changed straight into the clothes.
Walking around dressed like that all the way here could damage his glorious image.
Enough of that. Time to see just what this golden finger can do.
System, come out. No response.
Golden finger, come out. Still no fucking response.
With a thought-panel-the scene from earlier immediately appeared in his mind.
Name: Lin Fan. Cultivation: Body Tempering Second Stage (+) Hard Cultivation Points: 150. Points: 30. Talent: undying body. Lottery: Bronze (100), Silver (300), further options locked.
The panel's data had changed considerably. Compared to before, it had gained two categories: talent and treasure chests.
"Undying body" needed no explanation; he already knew about that. As for the lottery, it seemed he could exchange points for draws.
He had drawn an Eternal-grade prize earlier. It seemed his luck had been pretty good then. However, the lottery options did not currently include Eternal grade. It looked like he still needed to keep working hard.
But these Hard Cultivation Points left him a little speechless. Surely he could not be expected to get hacked to death every day. At least there had to be another way.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The grand, sonorous tolling of a bell rang out.
Its lofty tones shook the soul and carried a warning.
Having merged with the original owner's memories, Lin Fan suddenly understood.
This was the Flame Magnificence Sect's distinctive bell. Whether they were within the sect or far away on a battlefield, it rang at set times.
Its purpose was to remind disciples to cultivate diligently and increase their strength. Only strong individuals could make a strong sect. This was the Flame Magnificence Sect's guiding principle.
"Right, every disciple of the Flame Magnificence Sect learns a cultivation art when they join."
"The Body Refining Art!"
Lin Fan searched his mind and found the cultivation art.
Regardless of what kind of disciple they were, everyone in the Flame Magnificence Sect had to practice the Body Refining Art upon joining.
The Body Tempering Realm had nine levels in total. The differences between individual levels were not too great, but the flesh grew increasingly powerful. Eventually, even the bones, marrow, internal organs, and other parts of the body would become capable of smashing through anything.
Of course, that was merely an exaggeration. No one could truly cultivate to the point of being impervious to blades and spears, but they could hone their flesh to its limits in preparation for entering the Earthly Dipper Realm.
According to the records, there was a threshold every three levels. Reaching the Body Tempering Ninth Layer required paying an enormous price.
"Damn, I came to this world and only have one cultivation method. This is seriously poor. If I drew a peerless cultivation art in the lottery, I'd really soar into the heavens."
Lin Fan grumbled inwardly.
"Forget it. I'll give it a try. If cultivation is too slow, I'll just kill myself. I'll do it as many times as I can."
He already understood the current situation. It was very unsafe.
They were facing an invasion by the Sunshine Sect. In his memories, this sect neighbored the Flame Magnificence Sect, but its territory was small and its resources insufficient. Yet it had countless powerhouses, and its strength far surpassed the Flame Magnificence Sect's. Thus, the Sunshine Sect wanted to invade the Flame Magnificence Sect and obtain more territory and resources.
But how could the Flame Magnificence Sect's countless billions of people agree? Whatever else might be said of them, they certainly did not fear death. At this moment, they set aside all internal warfare to resist the Sunshine Sect on every front.
Lin Fan sighed. "I transmigrated here and didn't even get a decent identity. The pressure's piled mountain-high."
Cultivate!
He circulated the cultivation art.
In an instant, his body connected with the air. Intense vibrations spread through the air like ripples from a stone thrown into water, tempering his flesh.
Resonance and compression.
Ever since gaining his undying body, he had lost his sense of pain. But according to his memories, the pain of cultivation was exceptionally hard to endure. Many people could not persevere and could only cultivate slowly.
Suddenly, something astonished Lin Fan.
Hard Cultivation Points +1 Hard Cultivation Points +1
His Hard Cultivation Points kept increasing. Lin Fan was utterly astonished, as though he had discovered a new continent, exclaiming in disbelief before becoming thoroughly excited.
"Holy shit!"
"So it really works like this! If I could only gain Hard Cultivation Points by getting hacked to death, who knows how long reaching the highest realm would take? I never imagined cultivating on my own was the real key. This feels fucking amazing."
Some time later.
Lin Fan stopped cultivating.
He checked his Hard Cultivation Points. They had actually reached 3,750.
Add points. I've got to add points.
He clicked the (+) sign directly.
Buzz!
A strange sensation flowed throughout his body. When he checked the panel again, his cultivation had changed.
Cultivation: Body Tempering Third Level (+) Hard Cultivation Points: 1,750.
Previously, advancing one level had only required a hundred Hard Cultivation Points. He had never expected reaching the third level to consume 2,000. Wasn't that difference a little too huge?
Still, Lin Fan was already very satisfied. Others needed months to advance a single level, while he had reached it in just a short while. Tell me, does that scare you or not?
There was a hurdle before the third level. After the third level, the flesh began to change, slowly becoming as hard as stone.
Going from the third level to the fourth required willpower, because that torment was not something an ordinary person could endure.
After discovering this little secret, how could Lin Fan hold back? He absolutely had to cultivate like mad.
Only with formidable strength could he run wild to his heart's content. Otherwise, what use was relying on his undying body alone?
Cultivate!
At sunset, Lin Fan abruptly opened his eyes.
Hard Cultivation Points: 5,750.
Add points.
His little hand moved.
Cultivation: Body Tempering Fourth Stage (+) Hard Cultivation Points: 1,750.
In an instant, he crossed from the third level into the fourth, and his flesh underwent a tremendous transformation. His originally smooth skin suddenly grew rough, sprouting patches of sharp, hornlike scales. At a touch of his finger, they were incomparably hard. Then the scales slowly subsided and merged into his skin, and his rough skin became smooth once more.
"Didn't they say there was a hurdle between the third and fourth levels? Where the hell did mine go?"
Seeing this, Lin Fan could not help laughing loudly. Why even fucking bother playing anymore? I'm outright cheating here. Am I leaving anyone else a chance to live?
His journey to the pinnacle of life was about to accelerate again.