The moonlight glowed softly, casting a frosty sheen across the sky.
Under the cover of night, Lin Fan slipped out of the Heavenly Immortal Academy, aware that the commotion had stirred many. Lingering would be risky—if someone caught him, trouble would follow.
Yet, the night's gains were immense. He had finally broken through to the widely recognized extreme limit of the Blood Transformation Realm, lifting ten thousand jin with one arm. For now, he no longer needed to soak in the Tribulation-Crossing Divine Lotus Pool.
More astonishingly, he discovered he had awakened an extraordinary physique. He could transform into a golden figure, radiant and unyielding, his body vastly strengthened, reminiscent of the legendary Imperishable Golden Body.
What an unexpected delight!
"Huh? Where's little sister Ye Xian? Did she run off?" Feng Wu muttered, puzzled.
She searched the Immortal Pool for a long time but found no trace of Ye Xian.
Disappointment crept in. Their fight had reached its peak, unresolved, limited to close-quarters combat. They hadn't even unleashed their divine abilities or treasure techniques.
Burning with battle lust, she had finally met a worthy opponent, only for her to vanish.
"Hehe, you can't escape me. I'll find you!" Feng Wu's eyes gleamed with resolve, brimming with determination.
To her, any disciple in the academy could be tracked down.
If need be, she'd ask the dean for help. As a prime genius, her status was far from ordinary.
But after days of searching, Feng Wu's hopes dimmed.
The academy had no record of a girl named Ye Xian. Even the Ye clan elders swore they had no such descendant, hiding nothing.
Who is she, really? Feng Wu sank into thought.
Her curiosity about this mysterious girl deepened. Reaching the extreme limit over a year younger than her was extraordinary.
It dawned on her that there were always greater heights, prodigies with freakish talents and astonishing cultivation speeds.
The world's so-called limits were not their true boundaries.
_
As Lin Fan returned to the dilapidated mountain gate, dawn was near.
Golden rays of morning light flickered from beyond the distant peaks, stark against the starry night, like a scene of yin and yang in harmony.
"Hall Master! You're out of seclusion?" Lin Fan exclaimed, spotting Qi Dao Lin, who had been in retreat for over half a year, standing at the gate as if waiting.
Ever since learning about Lin Fan's Supreme Bone, the old man had buried himself in research, rarely seen, leaving only a pile of bone texts for Lin Fan to study alone.
"You're back early today, kid. That's not like you," Qi Dao Lin said, eyeing him curiously.
"I made a breakthrough, so I returned," Lin Fan boasted, grinning proudly. "I've reached the extreme limit you mentioned!"
"Not bad. Keep at it, but don't rush to the next realm. Your goal is to surpass the extreme limit until you feel truly exhausted, with no further progress!" Qi Dao Lin praised, his face lighting up, a rare compliment.
This was faster than he'd expected. Reaching the Blood Transformation Realm's extreme limit at just over five was nearly unmatched.
"Hall Master, about my Supreme Bone turning my treasure techniques into healing arts—have you found a solution?" Lin Fan asked eagerly, the issue weighing heavily on him.
It wasn't that his innate divine ability was weak.
Though a healing technique, it was outrageously potent. For injuries, it was unmatched—as long as he wasn't instantly killed and had a breath left, he could recover to his peak in moments, rivaling divine elixirs, with a self-replenishing effect.
Beyond that, it could neutralize others' treasure techniques, transforming even the fiercest attacks into vibrant healing energy, rendering them harmless.
But it had a glaring flaw: his own treasure techniques were also converted into harmless healing arts.
That alone he could accept. If opponents' techniques were nullified, they'd both rely on physical strength, where Lin Fan was confident he'd prevail.
The real issue was that his innate Supreme Technique couldn't be used repeatedly in quick succession. In future battles, he'd need to close the distance swiftly and end fights fast, or risk falling into a passive state.
It was worse than being a pure body cultivator or a creature with immunity to mystical arts.
"Well…" Qi Dao Lin hesitated, his expression troubled.
The runes on Lin Fan's bone that enabled this transformation were unlike anything in the bone texts he'd studied. Despite months of research, he had no answers.
Those runes were domineering, clashing with known laws and mysteries, forcefully converting other runes into one form—an extraordinary power.
It felt like a different system of dao patterns, distinct from modern cultivation, akin to the divide between Immortal Ancient Law and contemporary methods—two entirely different scripts.
Seeing Qi Dao Lin's face, Lin Fan knew the old man had no solution. Dejected, he asked, "Is there really no way?"
He didn't want to be a mere healer, forever bound to the path of physical sanctification. Long-range combat would put him at too great a disadvantage.
"There… is one way," Qi Dao Lin said reluctantly, hesitant to suggest it.
"What is it? Tell me, Dao Master!" Lin Fan's eyes lit up, a spark of hope igniting.
Qi Dao Lin sighed, reluctant. "The root of the issue lies in that bone. If you remove the Supreme Bone, it would be the most direct solution. But the process is perilous. One misstep could ruin your dao foundation, leaving you crippled—or worse, it could cost your life."
It was the only method he could devise, fraught with danger.
"Remove the Supreme Bone?" Lin Fan pondered, recognizing the grave risk. This bone far surpassed his other bones and flesh, second only to the skull housing his soul.
He recalled the "milk baby," who nearly died after having his Supreme Bone removed. Only his protagonist's fate kept him alive—anyone else would have perished.
Yet, the idea stirred him. He didn't want to be shackled by this bone forever.
Lin Fan knew that if he survived, a regenerated Supreme Bone would be stronger, like a withered tree blooming anew, thriving and transforming.
"This method requires caution. You're too young. It's best to wait until you reach divinity and gather rare treasures before attempting it. Only then will it be safer," Qi Dao Lin warned, urging restraint.
After becoming a god, a being's life force undergoes profound changes, allowing limb regeneration.
At the Heavenly Deity Realm, as long as the primordial spirit endures, the body can be reformed.
By then, losing a Supreme Bone wouldn't be catastrophic.
Of course, Lin Fan was far from divinity—decades away, at least.
"Dao Master, I understand," Lin Fan nodded, knowing not everyone was a destined protagonist. Playing it safe was wiser.
For now, his body was formidable in close combat, bolstered by his newly awakened Imperishable Golden Body. He feared no opponent in the short term.
If push comes to shove, I'll find a way to gain immunity to mystical arts. Alternating between the two, I could sweep through any foe! Lin Fan thought to himself.
Joining the Supreme Daoist Temple meant a turbulent path ahead. He had no choice but to grow stronger, or face endless pursuit, fleeing like a rat.