He continued to Qing Tan, keeping his true intention masked. "The weapon I will forge for you will initially be simple, a single small petal flower which will breed new petals after each growth stage. Its power will grow, depending on the number of petals attached to it, and their complexity. The ultimate form will eventually allow you to wield the power of extreme Yin destruction, a power equal to your physique."
As Lin Yi spoke, Qing Tan's pupils brightened with profound fascination and determination. She immediately decided. "I want that, Big Brother! I want the Qinglian flower weapon!"
Lin Yi nodded, the goal settled. "Very well. You will receive it soon. But first, let me teach you the two techniques, which will be extremely compatible with your physique."
Qing Tan nodded eagerly, her face flushed with enthusiasm. "Yes, Big Brother!"
Lin Yi gave a small, approving smile as Qing Tan readily agreed. "Come, little Tan. Let us not waste time. We will start the training in the private hall."
He turned around and walked toward the private hall at the backside of the courtyard, Qingtan following behind him..
After a while, they appeared in the secluded private hall of the Lin Family's new courtyard. The hall was a vast, open space, specifically designed for cultivation and spar, insulated by sound-dampening stone and a simple Yuan Power-sealing array.
Lin Yi turned to face her, his demeanor shifting into that of a meticulous, focused teacher.
"The first technique is the Dark Descent Palm Art. It is a nine-layered Yin-attribute martial art designed to channel the concentrated essence of your Terminus Devil Core," Lin Yi began, his voice clear in the empty hall. "Each layer has a unique effect, and its power will scale directly with your mastery of your physique."
He raised his right palm, and the atmosphere in the hall compressed. Despite suppressing his Manifestation Realm Creation Power back to a mere Heavenly Yuan level for demonstration purposes, the sheer quality of the force was undeniable. A deep, abyssal layer of dark energy emanated from his palm, instantly chilling the air and causing the ambient light to dim unnaturally.
"The first layer is Dark Rise," he stated, and the dark layer immediately condensed and spread on the floor below their feet, next moment the dark layer transforming into a colossal, five-fingered palm shadow made of pure, abyssal Yin energy.
The shadow transformed into dark palm rose with a chilling stillness, its movement impossibly slow, yet radiating an undeniable power of absolute closure. The colossal palm swept across the floor, effortlessly absorbing the light, and rose to close around a specific point in the center of the hall… the spot where Qing Tan was standing.
Qing Tan's breath hitched, her body tensing, the dark energy surrounding her creating a momentary sense of suffocating isolation. Just as the massive, ethereal fingers were about to meet, sealing her completely within the dark embrace, Lin Yi's expression remained calm, and he simply willed the power to dissipate.
The Dark Palm vanished instantly, like an illusion dissolving in sunlight. The hall returned to its previous level of light, but the memory of the absolute, crushing darkness lingered.
"The effect of Dark Rise is suppression and absolute physical confinement," Lin Yi explained, watching her carefully. "You must use it with complete control; the suppression can be lethal to weaker opponents."
He then released the second form. The dark energy coalesced again, but this time, it took the shape of a spinning vortex… a Dark Spiral. The spiral in the middle of a huge dark palm hovered, silently rotating, giving the impression of an endlessly sinking vortex.
"The second layer is Dark Spiral. It is a defensive and offensive technique," Lin Yi continued. "It can negate and absorb any kind of physical or Yuan Power attack. The absorbed energy is temporarily stored within the spiral's vortex."
Next, he demonstrated the third layer. The Dark Spiral vanished, only to be instantly replaced by a perfectly flat, mirror-like palm of dark energy… the Dark Reflection.
"The third layer is Dark Reflection. It is a specialized counter-attack," Lin Yi stated. "It is capable of reflecting the energy absorbed by the Dark Spiral back at the opponent, or even reflecting their own attack. It can only be initiated immediately after successfully executing the Dark Spiral."
Lin Yi demonstrated the sequence, absorbing the Yuan Power from a quickly manifested, small Yin-Fire ball into the Spiral, then immediately converting the Spiral into the Reflection, which fired the Yin-Fire ball back out with slightly increased power. He then explained the severe consequences of misusing the techniques and the exact mental pathways required to execute each form, ensuring the Terminus Devil Yin energy flowed without causing internal instability.
After the meticulous explanation, Lin Yi stopped. He stepped forward and gently patted Qing Tan on the forehead. A subtle, cool wave of mental energy… his Peak Fifth Seal Earthly Soul power… flowed from his fingertips, depositing a complex, structured memory into her mind before instantly sealing it away, inaccessible for now.
"These three layers are enough for you for now, until you reach the Qi Creation Realm," Lin Yi instructed, his voice firm but encouraging. "When you truly reach the Qi Creation Realm, the fourth layer will appear in your mind. The subsequent layers will unlock upon reaching the corresponding major realms after that. Do not attempt to force the later layers, or you will damage your core."
Qing Tan blinked, a flicker of daze in her eyes from the sudden mental infusion. She immediately focused, recalling the knowledge. A subtle astonishment crossed her face as she realized that the complex sequences and precautions of the first three layers of the Dark Descent Palm were perfectly sketched into her memory, allowing her to recall and practice them with perfect clarity. She nodded firmly, the joy of receiving such a potent technique shining in her eyes.
"Yes, Big Brother! I understand," she confirmed.
Lin Yi nodded in return, satisfied with her comprehension. He then moved on to the second technique.
"The second technique is special. It is a prototype and does not possess a grade," Lin Yi told her, catching her attention once more. "Rather, this technique will transform into a companion technique for your weapon in the future. The direction it develops… its power, its elegance, its specific utility… will depend entirely on your talent, how you choose to use your weapon, and the unique connection you forge with it."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at her forehead once again. This time, the mental wave was less about structure and more about imagery.
A vivid memory appeared in Qing Tan's consciousness: a figure that looked exactly like her, clad in flowing robes, moving through a complex sequence of stances. The figure was not fighting; it was dancing… a lethal, graceful dance of destruction. The movements were fluid, sweeping, and impossibly beautiful, immediately attracting her full attention.
Qing Tan's brow furrowed in concentration as she watched the figure. A moment later, her expression became confused. She realized that the figure's movements were subtly changing in response to her own subconscious thoughts. When she thought that certain steps appeared more graceful or tactically optimal than others, the figure immediately began optimizing the next stances in the sequence, refining the direction of the flowing dance.
She was immersed, captivated by the new experience of manipulating the figure's dance in her own mind. The technique was not merely a set of fixed movements but a fluid, adaptive blueprint for movement and combat that shaped itself to her will.
...