Chapter 22: Incomplete Martial Skills and the Purpose of Destiny Value

For a moment, Lin Ziang's eyes lit up like a sky full of stars. A wave of excitement surged through him, his heart beating faster as the realization struck — the opportunity that Lin Fan was destined to find lay right there in the jade slip he held. The slip seemed ordinary on the surface, its dull sheen reflecting the dim light of the scripture pavilion, but Lin Ziang knew better. Hidden within its depths was a secret that could alter fate, and Lin Ziang was determined to seize it.

He swiftly moved closer to Lin Fan, who was standing just a few steps away, still engrossed in examining the jade slip in his hand. Lin Ziang called out, his voice carrying a hint of urgency masked under casualness, "Lin Fan!"

Lin Fan, sensing the sudden interruption, paused with his divine sense poised to probe the jade slip. He turned his head, curiosity evident in his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lin Ziang put on his most sincere expression, his face a picture of concern mixed with enthusiasm. "I think the jade slips I found might have the martial skills you're looking for. You should check them out," he suggested smoothly, extending his hand with several jade slips he had quickly gathered from nearby shelves.

Before Lin Fan could react or even voice a response, Lin Ziang pressed the jade slips into his hands, his grip firm yet seemingly friendly, leaving Lin Fan no choice but to accept them.

Caught off guard by the sudden gesture, Lin Fan hesitated, glancing down at the jade slips now resting in his palms. His instincts told him to be cautious, but he didn't want to appear ungrateful. After all, Lin Ziang had always been a helpful companion, guiding him at crucial moments. Refusing his offer might create unnecessary friction between them, and Lin Fan didn't want that.

He gave a small, appreciative smile and nodded. "Thank you, Lin Ziang," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Lin Ziang chuckled softly, a friendly yet knowing smile playing on his lips. "Don't mention it," he replied casually. "Go ahead and have a look. These should keep you busy for a while." He waved his hand in a dismissive manner, as if the matter were trivial, but his eyes never left Lin Fan's face, watching every movement, gauging his reactions.

Lin Fan nodded once more and turned away, stepping aside to examine the new jade slips he'd been given. He found a quiet corner, his back now to Lin Ziang, and began focusing his attention on the slips in his hand, eager to see if they held any valuable techniques.

A sly smile curled up on Lin Ziang's lips as he watched Lin Fan walk away. The moment Lin Fan was out of earshot, he quickly turned his gaze back to the jade slip that Lin Fan had just put down. Without a second's hesitation, he reached out and grabbed it. As his fingers closed around the cool, smooth surface, he felt a rush of anticipation flood through him.

Almost immediately, the system's familiar notification rang in his mind, its mechanical tone echoing with a sense of triumph.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully intercepting Lin Fan's yellow destiny opportunity. You have gained a thousand destiny points!"

"Attention! The system has unlocked the jade slip's restriction. The host can view its information at any time using divine sense!"

Lin Ziang's heart raced with excitement as he focused his consciousness into the jade slip, eager to uncover the hidden knowledge within. For a moment, his mind filled with a bright light, and then, the information flowed through him like a river.

But as he absorbed the contents, a flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

"Lin Fan's yellow opportunity is just an incomplete earth-level martial skill," he muttered under his breath, his earlier excitement waning slightly.

The jade slip contained the "Cloud-Shrouding Palm," a martial skill known to be one of the top-tier earth-level techniques. It was a powerful skill in its complete form, consisting of a total of eighteen moves that could devastate opponents with its layered, unpredictable strikes. However, the version in Lin Ziang's hands was missing a crucial part — only the first ten moves were present, while the remaining eight were nowhere to be found. This incomplete state made the technique significantly weaker, no longer the formidable force it was meant to be.

In its current form, the Cloud-Shrouding Palm was only slightly more powerful than a high-grade mysterious-level martial skill. If only it were complete… Lin Ziang thought, frustration creeping into his mind. He knew all too well that finding the missing eight moves could be like searching for a needle in a haystack — a quest that might take months or even years with no guarantee of success.

Still, he weighed his options carefully. Given his rapid cultivation speed, this half-finished earth-level martial skill would soon become inadequate. However, for the moment, it was better than nothing. A lack of a strong offensive technique had been a sore spot for him, and the Cloud-Shrouding Palm could temporarily fill that gap.

"Well, it's not perfect," he muttered to himself, his tone thoughtful. "But it's better than nothing. I'll use it for now. Once I find something better, I'll switch."

Just as he made his decision, the system chimed again, catching him off guard.

"Ding! System notification!"

Lin Ziang's head snapped up, his attention immediately drawn to the voice in his mind. "Hmm?" he responded instinctively. "What now?"

"The destiny points you've obtained can be used to enhance the level of your cultivation techniques and martial skills!" the system announced.

Lin Ziang's eyes widened with astonishment, his pulse quickening. "I can use destiny points for that?" he exclaimed, hardly believing his ears. "Then why would I even bother training hard!"

It was a revelation like none other, akin to discovering a hidden shortcut in a treacherous labyrinth. It was like being able to level up effortlessly, skipping past the countless obstacles and barriers that others would have to overcome. His mind raced with new possibilities, a vision forming of himself rising rapidly through the ranks, dominating the Three Thousand Great Worlds with unparalleled strength.

"System! Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" he demanded, a mix of excitement and annoyance coloring his voice.

"Attention! There is a drawback to using destiny points in this way!" the system warned, its tone unusually grave.

Lin Ziang's excitement dampened slightly, a frown forming on his brow. "What kind of drawback?" he asked, his voice cautious now.

"Destiny points represent fate itself," the system explained. "If the host uses them, it will be akin to defying fate, drawing malice from those destined to be protagonists!"

"The system is tailored to your strategy of pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, which is why this option wasn't revealed earlier."

"Uh…" Lin Ziang paused, thinking it over, his fingers tapping against the jade slip in his hand. He considered the system's warning carefully. If he chose to use the destiny points, he might lose the safety net of the protagonist's shield, and other protagonists might become more hostile toward him. He felt a brief flash of doubt, wondering if it was worth the risk.

But then, he shook his head, dismissing the hesitation. If I can use destiny points to accelerate my growth, I could become a master far quicker than any of these so-called protagonists of destiny. Even if they viewed him as an enemy, what did it matter? In a short time, he would leave them so far behind that they wouldn't pose any threat to him at all.

At that point, wouldn't the "protagonists of destiny" just be sheep waiting for him to slaughter?

A confident, almost arrogant smile spread across his face. "Why should I worry about them considering me an enemy? I'm already cutting off their opportunities," he murmured to himself, his voice filled with a new determination.

To Lin Ziang, these so-called protagonists were nothing more than prey — obstacles to be overcome on his path to greatness.

"Compared to becoming a hermit turtle, I'd much rather live a grand and vibrant life of cultivation!" he declared, his voice brimming with ambition.

"So, system, let these destiny points become my nourishment!" he commanded, ready to embark on a path that would bring him power beyond his wildest dreams.