Chapter 53: Puppet

In the Five Beasts Exercise, his progress in the “Mammoth Shakes the Mountain” technique was also rapid.

Now, Li Yi could take fifteen steps in one go. Each step landed like a mountain, and each step echoed like thunder. The Earth Essence he stirred up had grown to the thickness of a little finger.

The Earth Essence truly lived up to its name as the “Mother Qi of All Things.” In just three months, he grew taller, his strength gradually increased, the vitality within his body became as vigorous as an elephant’s, and his blood and qi boiled. Although he hadn’t personally tested it, Li Yi vaguely felt that his defense, recovery, magic resistance, and poison resistance had all improved slightly.

More mysteriously, even his profoundly mysterious bone constitution—the so-called “Elemental Affinity”—had been quietly growing.

Especially his earth affinity, which was particularly noticeable.

The half-step spell, “Ink Earth Wall,” now required no Magic Gesture, yet its power bonus did not diminish at all.

Moreover, after taking ten steps, a new peculiar phenomenon appeared.

Starting from the eleventh step, resonating with the spirit of the earth gave rise to an indescribable communion of consciousness.

With one footfall, every sound within over thirty meters, both above and below ground, entered his ears in meticulous detail.

Even the blooming of a flower, the growth of a blade of grass, or a tree sprouting a new branch were all clear to him.

During his occasional nighttime cultivation, he could even hear the wailing of mountain spirits deep within the mountains.

All these peculiar phenomena were greatly beneficial for mages at the Sigil Mage level and above in comprehending Rules and advancing their Conceptual Realm.

But for the current Li Yi, they were simply like playing music to a cow—utterly wasted.

However, this only strengthened his determination to cultivate.

Furthermore, after three months of cultivation, the second image in the Five Beasts Exercise, “Siren Splits the Tide,” showed signs of loosening.

Perhaps the Samsara Shroud could sense a person’s blood, qi, and vitality. Once certain conditions were met, the second image would unlock.

Stranger still, the Heavenly Prophecy Ring also joined in, adding to the excitement.

—”Dust Python Shakes Its Scales.”

Clearly, this was a new movement derived from the Five Beasts Exercise, strange and unpredictable.

However, it did not come with a clear price tag. Instead, it left a long string of question marks, seemingly also requiring certain trigger conditions.

“Better to deduce the Softshell Turtle Dream Art first! I haven’t even gathered ten thousand White Crystals yet. Thinking too much is pointless.”

Li Yi eyed it covetously but wasn’t in a hurry. You eat a meal one bite at a time; becoming fat in one bite isn’t realistic.

Nevertheless, this made him harbor many doubts about the Heavenly Prophecy Ring.

The Heavenly Prophecy Ring had, time and again, produced deductions and changes for the “Meditation Art,” “Dao Transformation Armament,” and now the “Five Beasts Exercise.” Yet, it paid no attention to spells and secret arts, which felt rather odd.

Li Yi vaguely felt that things were definitely not so simple.

…

Today, as always, monotonous and diligent cultivation continued.

Li Yi never underestimated himself, nor did he consider himself a genius. He wouldn’t say the slow bird must fly early, but to surpass others, one must work harder than them. In this world, things were actually that simple.

One foot fell, thunder suddenly rumbled, as if startling the earth. Earth Essence rose from the depths of the earth, circulating through his body with his feet as the axis, nourishing, tempering, and transforming his physique.

“Hah…”

Pain and exhilaration intertwined. His body trembled slightly. Li Yi adjusted his breathing and began to step forward, one slow step after another.

After ten steps, all movements within over thirty meters fell upon his ears. Even the buzzing of mosquitoes was crystal clear.

Just as he was immersed in cultivation, discordant footsteps suddenly reached his ears.

“When you meet him later, you must be polite. Keep that little temper of yours in check,” a man’s admonishing voice sounded. “I’ve heard many people say that kid is very unusual…”

“Unusual? How so?” The woman clearly had a contrary nature. Hearing this, she became displeased instead, her tone arrogant. “He’s not even a Spell Apprentice. He just won first place in a Martial Display? As for his Rune attainments, I heard he can’t even draw a single Droplet Rune…”

“When you meet him, absolutely do not say such things.”

The footsteps drew nearer, sounding rather unpleasant to Li Yi’s ears.

As expected, a knock came at the door.

“Who are you? What business do you have with me?”

Interrupted in his cultivation, Li Yi sighed softly and opened the door.

The brother and sister outside the door took a deep look at Li Yi, momentarily stunned, their faces showing surprise and doubt.

“You are… Li Yi?” The young man was the first to react, asking, “How did you…”

No wonder they were shocked.

As the saying goes, the brave delight in mountains, the wise delight in water, and not without reason.

Martial artists have a majestic, mountain-like aura, while mages have a profound, ocean-like depth that is hard to fathom.

Martial artists and mages often can be distinguished at a glance without deliberate disguise.

But the young man before them had a unique aura. He possessed both an outwardly resolute, mountain-like quality and an inwardly profound, ocean-like reserve. These two auras blended together, creating a distinctive temperament that made one forget worldly matters upon seeing him.

Naturally, they were unaware that Li Yi possessed a unique body-tempering secret art—the Five Beasts Exercise.

Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts?

Sharing the same thought, they were somewhat astonished.

“I am. What business do you have with me?”

Li Yi also calmly sized up the two before him. They were only slightly older than him, likely Inner-Mansion Disciples.

The man had ordinary looks, but the woman was quite pretty. Although she couldn’t match the unique charm of beauties like Su Xuan’er or Bai Yun, she had her own delicate and dainty appeal.

Both were Lower-Rank Spell Disciples in cultivation. The man was slightly stronger, perhaps only a hair’s breadth away from being a High-Rank Spell Apprentice.

“Oh, it’s like this, I…” The young man’s expression was very respectful, his attitude very humble, putting on the airs of a lord seeking talents. Clearly, he wanted something.

Just as he was about to speak, the young girl, willful and perverse, showed a look of disdain on her face. With a sharp cry, she stepped forward.

“Brother, let me test his weight first! If his skills are lacking, he won’t be of any use anyway!”

“—Divine Intent Lion’s Roar!”

Before the man could stop her, the young girl took a deep breath. It was as if a lotus flower bloomed on the tip of her tongue, countless golden rays of light gathering between her lips.

“ROAR!”

Mental power gathered between her lips and teeth. As she opened her mouth, it transformed into a golden lion’s head that shot out violently!

The lion head was ferocious, with bared fangs, rampant and overwhelming, its imposing manner astonishing.

Its form actually grew against the wind. Within a few breaths, the golden lion head reached several meters in height, as if to devour a mountain, wildly pouncing forward!

Li Yi’s eyes flickered, lost in thought.

This technique was similar to Psychic Blast but incorporated other principles. Its power was probably more than double.

However, it wasn’t enough yet…

A faint, mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips. Li Yi’s expression remained calm. He stood firm as a mountain, not moving an inch.

“Hah!”

Just as the lion head was about to engulf Li Yi, the mockery on the young girl’s face grew thicker. She waved her long sleeve, and the giant lion’s shadow let out a mournful cry, disintegrating like ice.

“Everyone says your ‘Snap’ is swift as lightning, unpredictable as shadow. I thought it was something amazing?” The young girl brushed off her robe and gave a light, disdainful snort through her nose, speaking with great masterful airs. “Rumors are indeed exaggerations. It seems the talk about you crushing Qin Yun was probably just hearsay…”

The young man’s expression changed slightly. Clearly, swayed by the girl’s words, he became hesitant.

“What is your business?” Li Yi looked at them a few times. Naturally, he couldn’t be bothered to explain and spoke indifferently, “If you have no business, please leave…”

The young girl’s Divine Intent Lion’s Roar solely pursued outward appearance. Frankly, it was just for show. Against his meticulously tempered mental barrier, it truly wasn’t much to look at.

Li Yi was completely confident that without even using his Snap, if the Lion’s Roar struck him, the one to suffer a rebound and severe injury would only be the other party.

“However, although misapplied, the technique itself is somewhat interesting…” Li Yi thought to himself.

The Divine Intent Lion’s Roar was also a combination of sonic attack and Psychic Blast, quite similar to Li Yi’s “Snap” in a different way. Moreover, the roar of this lion contained an aura of grandeur and righteousness that could shake one’s soul, and it dealt extra damage to undead and evil creatures.

If he could draw lessons from it, it would greatly benefit the evolution of his “Snap.”

However, this technique was likely a secret art. Li Yi dismissed the thought.

“My name is Zhao Xu, and this is my younger sister, Zhao Qin.” The young man hesitated repeatedly, gritted his teeth, bowed his head, and apologized. “My sister has a troublesome personality. She offended you. I’m truly sorry.”

You don’t hit a person who smiles at you. Li Yi also didn’t want to press the matter and appear petty. He said lightly, “It’s fine. But I’m very busy. If you don’t have important business…”

“To be frank, I do have a request…” Zhao Xu hesitated for a long moment and said, “Do you know about the Hundred Puppets War?”