Han Lin was already extremely familiar with every Move and stance of the Guardian Shami Skeleton's Five Steps Fist. The moment its shoulder moved, or its thigh lifted, Han Lin knew which Move of the Five Steps Fist it was about to execute. With the Hundred Beast Fist at the Proficient Realm, all 108 stances could be used effortlessly, transitions between Moves were incredibly smooth, without the slightest delay, making it impossible for the Guardian Shami Skeleton to find a weakness.
After a round of fighting, Han Lin seized the initiative everywhere, suppressing the Guardian Shami Skeleton from start to finish. As long as it didn't unleash its Innate Realm strength, it would be difficult to defeat Han Lin again.
After a few Moves, Han Lin saw the Guardian Shami Skeleton raise its arm, and a smile immediately appeared on his face. He saw him reach out to block the Guardian Shami Skeleton's fist, then wrap his arm around it, using a Move called "Golden Silk Snake Coil". He bent his elbow, like a heavy hammer, and smashed it towards the Guardian Shami Skeleton's chest.
Bang!
Han Lin's elbow struck the Guardian Shami Skeleton's chest, and he felt as if he had hit an iron plate. His entire arm felt a sore pain.
The Guardian Shami Skeleton couldn't help but take two steps back after receiving this blow. Just as Han Lin thought it was about to advance again, he saw the Guardian Shami Skeleton press its palms together towards him, bowing slightly, and then stood rooted to the spot, not moving.
The next moment, the old voice from before sounded again:
"Congratulations, you have defeated the Guardian Shami Skeleton. Challenge attempts: eighty-seven times. Time taken for the last battle: seven minutes and forty-six seconds. Evaluation: Below average!"
Han Lin was startled, detecting a hint of melancholy in the old voice, as if it was somewhat dissatisfied with his result.
Afterwards, Han Lin heard the old voice continue: "Reward for the challenger, one Snow Toad Strengthening Pill."
A smile of surprise immediately appeared on Han Lin's face. He didn't expect there to be a reward for successfully completing the challenge.
The next moment, a golden light descended from the sky. Within the golden light, a pill as white as jade slowly fell, drifting in front of Han Lin.
"Snow Toad Strengthening Pill, this is..." Han Lin took the pill and immediately felt a chill emanating from it. At the same time, a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted into Han Lin's nostrils.
"Snow Toad Strengthening Pill, First Grade High-Rank! Its effects can compensate for a Martial Artist's Innate Realm deficiencies, strengthen the body, increase vital energy and blood, and fortify muscles and bones. It is a secret transmitted pill of Snow Toad Temple!" the old voice continued.
Han Lin looked at the pill in his palm, a hesitant expression appearing on his face.
"This pill looks good, but can it really be eaten?"
Han Lin didn't understand this world. Suddenly obtaining a pill for strengthening the body still left him with doubts. After a moment of contemplation, Han Lin put the pill into his pocket, preparing to return to the Main World to find a way to test it on a small animal first before taking it himself.
"Having passed the Guardian Shami Skeleton's preliminary trial, you are qualified to join Snow Toad Temple and become an outer Disciple. Are you willing?" The old voice suddenly sounded in Han Lin's ear.
"Join Snow Toad Temple?" Han Lin looked around in surprise. From his understanding over the past few days, this temple had clearly been abandoned for a long time. In other words, the monks of Snow Toad Temple had either all died or had all moved away. Judging from the Guardian Shami Skeleton, the protective shield, the Snow Toad Strengthening Pill, and the set of trial rules left behind, the latter possibility was clearly greater.
Han Lin weighed it in his mind, and shouted loudly: "I am willing to join Snow Toad Temple and become an outer Disciple of Snow Toad Temple."
"Excellent! Today, Snow Toad Temple accepts an outer Disciple. The lineage of Snow Toad Temple is immortal and shall be passed down through the ages!" The old voice seemed a little excited and continued to ask: "What is your name?"
Han Lin said loudly: "Disciple Han Lin!"
"Today, Snow Toad Temple bestows upon outer Disciple Han Lin, one volume of First Grade High-Rank internal cultivation method, 'Snow Toad Force'!"
"First Grade High-Rank and it's even an internal cultivation method?" A look of shock appeared on Han Lin's face. First Grade cultivation methods correspond to the Acquired Realm. In Han Lin's high school, throughout the entire three years of high school, only one Ancient Beast Fist and one Five Elements Fist were taught. Both of these fist techniques were First Grade Low-Rank.
In fact, the entire Blue Star Alliance has very strict control over cultivation methods, just like firearms. After leaving school, it is almost impossible to access cultivation methods again, and there are no cultivation methods circulating on the market. Only occasionally are cultivation methods sold on black markets, but such cultivation methods are not only expensive but also have more or less some problems. Even if ordinary people have the money to buy them, they wouldn't dare to Cultivate them.
There are a total of four ways to learn cultivation methods in the Blue Star Alliance. The simplest is to participate in the College Entrance Examination and get into university. Whether it is a Two Star Deity Sect University or a Three Gates Dao Academy University, they will teach cultivation methods for free. The second way is to go into the wilderness, enter various dangerous areas, and potentially obtain cultivation methods left over from the previous era. The third way is to use merit and contribution points to obtain them from the Alliance Cultivation Method Library. The last way is to go to various martial arts schools opened in the Base City and pay a large sum to become an apprentice, only then is it possible to learn cultivation methods.
"First Grade High-Rank, and it's even an internal cultivation method. In the Alliance Cultivation Method Library, this is worth at least ten thousand contribution points. Can I actually get it for free now? This is a huge gain!" A look of pleasant surprise also appeared on Han Lin's face.
There are at least several million Martial Artists of Late Heaven Realm in the Blue Star Alliance. Among so many Martial Artists of Acquired Realm, less than one-third possess internal cultivation methods!
To become a Martial Artist, one must Cultivate cultivation methods and condense vital energy and blood. As the vital energy and blood strengthen, the Martial Artist's Realm will also improve. However, strength is scattered while force is concentrated. General cultivation methods condense vital energy and blood, while internal cultivation methods Cultivate internal force! Compared to internal force, vital energy and blood are like scattered sand, crumbling upon touch!
A Martial Artist who has not cultivated an internal cultivation method and a Martial Artist who has cultivated an internal cultivation method – even if the former surpasses the latter by several Realms, he cannot be the latter's opponent. It's like hitting a rock with an egg; no matter how big the egg is or how small the rock is, the result of the collision can only be a broken egg!
Han Lin saw that after becoming an outer Disciple of Snow Toad Temple, he immediately obtained an internal cultivation method, and it was even the highest rank among Acquired Realm cultivation methods – High-Rank. The surprise in his heart was imaginable!
...
"Disciple Han Lin, you may sit cross-legged, empty your mind, and enter a state of stillness! The cultivation method 'Snow Toad Force' will be imparted through empowerment!" The old voice sounded in Han Lin's ear again.
"Sit cross-legged, state of stillness... This state of stillness isn't the state of stillness I know, is it?" Han Lin suddenly became a little flustered.
He had just started learning about the state of stillness and had tried a few times before, but he had never been able to enter that state of "clarity like emptiness" where his mind was completely blank. If he failed to receive the empowerment because he couldn't enter this state, Han Lin would surely regret it to death.
"Forget it, I'll sit cross-legged first and try my best to gather my scattered thoughts. As for whether I can obtain this First Grade High-Rank cultivation method, it's up to fate!" Han Lin took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the bluestone slab ground, and tried his best to gather his countless complex thoughts. To even gather his thoughts, Han Lin followed the small trick taught by his Teacher and began to silently count numbers in his mind, placing all his attention on the numbers.
The next moment, a golden light descended from the sky, enveloping Han Lin, just like every time Han Lin was seriously injured and treated him.
At the same time, Han Lin felt his whole body tremble, as if an external force had shattered all the Clutter thoughts in his mind. His entire mind was empty, without any thoughts, and he himself seemed to be drifting in the void. Everything in front of him was dark, but he felt a sense of tranquility he had never experienced before.
【Warning, warning, unknown information is attempting to forcibly infuse. Block?】
A warning sound from his brain suddenly rang out in Han Lin's mind. This sound almost pulled Han Lin out of the state of stillness.
"Block? How can I block it! Accept, choose to accept!" Han Lin immediately transmitted the command to his brain.
【Command accepted! Preparing to receive information...】
【Prompt: The volume of unknown information is large and may impact the brain, causing permanent damage. The brain is requesting to use a portion of subconscious space and is beginning to report for archiving...】
【Brain network is currently offline and cannot report for archiving. According to the 'Personal Brain Protection Act', the personal brain will activate 10% of subconscious storage space. All consequences resulting from this will be borne by the individual. Subconscious storage space is activating...】
...