"Old man, let's see what you have to say tonight." Li Lin glanced at the sky, showing a hint of a mischievous smile, then tidied up and left the back mountain.
At night, in the secret chamber of the Li family's firewood room, under the dim light, an old man and a young man were fiercely battling each other.
In a month, Li Lin's progress had exceeded Uncle Jiang's expectations. His Open Mountain Palm had become proficient in Li Lin's hands. Each move and posture was executed with precision and ease.
"Old man, be careful," Li Lin said lightly, leaping with an agile twist and dodging Uncle Jiang's punch. His Open Mountain Palm created a gust of wind, aiming straight for the waist.
At this moment, Uncle Jiang's eyes showed a hint of admiration. He unbelievably shifted to the left, changing his hand seal, and thunderously swung a punch.
"Green Spirit Armor, old man, come on." Li Lin smiled, and a pale yellow scale armor appeared around him, directly resisting Uncle Jiang's punch. His Green Spirit Armor, powered by his martial warrior level strength, had significantly improved in defense, with the scales becoming much more solid.
"Good boy, did you think I wouldn't know you've broken through to martial warrior?" Uncle Jiang's eyes gleamed mockingly, his body incredibly turning into a residual image that disappeared in front of Li Lin's Open Mountain Palm.
"Bang!"
Uncle Jiang then miraculously landed a punch on Li Lin's palm from the side. The colliding forces caused a dull sound in the chamber, and Li Lin's body was instantly shaken and staggered backward.
"Old man, you've been tricked." At the same time, Li Lin's left hand, unknown when, had gathered spiritual energy into a tangible flame and struck out.
"Whoosh whoosh..." The flames roared, exploding several meters and enveloping Uncle Jiang in intense heat, but in the next instant, a layer of water materialized around him, extinguishing the flames.
"Child's play." Uncle Jiang glared at Li Lin, his face showing a hint of a black smudge, probably from the flame.
"Remember, the strongest attack of spiritual power is a direct attack on the soul, not physical. In close combat, a spiritualist can be at a disadvantage if not careful. Be mindful of that in the future," Uncle Jiang advised seriously.
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"I understand, Uncle Jiang," Li Lin replied, aware of the disadvantages in close combat as a dual cultivator of spirit and martial arts.
"However, sometimes a surprise attack can be effective. But remember, always hide your true strength. The moment you're fully exposed is when you're most vulnerable," Uncle Jiang continued.
Li Lin nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of keeping some of his abilities hidden.
"Today marks a month, and you've passed the test. From now on, you don't need to come here anymore," Uncle Jiang said solemnly.
"Uncle Jiang, I still have much to learn from you," Li Lin said.
"Remember, a true strong person is forged through self-training, not taught. You're now both a spiritual and martial warrior, officially stepping into their ranks. Your path ahead is long, and only you can walk it," Uncle Jiang imparted.
"Uncle Jiang, I understand," Li Lin replied.
"You're not my disciple, but I'll give you this book of alchemy, containing my life's learning, pill recipes, and herb information. It should help you in the future," Uncle Jiang said, handing Li Lin a jade slip.
"Thank you, Uncle Jiang," Li Lin said, storing the jade slip in his storage ring.
"Be careful when making pills in the back mountain. There are a few capable people in the Li family. Your frequent visits might attract attention. It's best to keep a low profile for now, especially with Tianbao Sect. They have a significant background, so be cautious in your dealings," Uncle Jiang advised further.
Li Lin was startled, realizing that Uncle Jiang had been aware of all his actions. He nodded, already cautious about Tianbao Sect.
"Alright, from now on, your matters are none of my concern. You play your role as the young master, and I'll be the servant. Remember, don't disturb me, or I'll cripple your cultivation," Uncle Jiang warned sternly.
"But Uncle Jiang..." Li Lin began to speak but was interrupted.
"I'm leaving. From now on, you're on your own," Uncle Jiang said and walked out of the chamber.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Li Lin knelt and solemnly kowtowed three times, saying, "Old man, although you didn't accept me as your disciple, in my heart, you are my master."
Uncle Jiang's seemingly aged figure paused slightly before leaving the chamber, his eyes showing a comforting look unseen by others.
After staying a while in the chamber, Li Lin closed it and returned to the courtyard, coming back earlier than usual.
Thinking about the events of the past month since his transmigration, Li Lin, now a martial artist and dual cultivator of spirit and martial arts, realized his future path relied solely on himself.
"The Li family," he thought. A confrontation with them was inevitable. He planned to arrange his mother's departure from all this but needed more time and careful planning.
Li Lin then sat cross-legged and began cultivating. The profound Yin Yang Spirit Martial Art allowed simultaneous cultivation of qi and spiritual energy. Energy from the world entered his body, transforming into qi and spiritual energy.
His self-cultivated qi and spiritual energy were significantly slower compared to refining Marrow-Cleansing Pills. Li Lin truly understood Uncle Jiang's words that normal cultivation would take a hundred years to reach the martial master level.
After cultivating until dawn, he stopped upon hearing his mother going to the laundry room. Exhaling slowly, he reflected on the night's modest gains.
"What should I do today?" Li Lin mused, realizing he had been struggling to find things to do recently.