Chapter 92: Exploring the Chaos Forbidden Land

Ye Chengkong slowly rose to his feet. Before Lin Yun could speak, the old man charged.

So fast!

Lin Yun's pupils contracted. Even though Ye Chengkong was holding back, his speed was still astonishing. Fortunately, Lin Yun hadn't only been improving his cultivation and swordplay during this time; his movement technique had also advanced. He had finally broken through to the third layer of the Void-Rushing Ghostly Method, and with it, he had finally learned his first proper movement art: the Ghostly Void Steps.

This technique allowed him to evade an opponent's attacks with extremely subtle movements during combat, ensuring his body could conserve as much momentum as possible to retain sufficient strength for a counter-attack. It was like an exercise in fine control—making him stronger when fighting powerful opponents, and allowing him to completely suppress weaker ones, eliminating any chance of having the tables turned.

The moment Ye Chengkong rushed him, Lin Yun executed the Ghostly Void Steps without hesitation. He appeared not to move from his spot. But as Ye Chengkong's fist flew towards him, he used offense as defense, simultaneously activating the technique to convert the defensive momentum into an attack. While evading, he launched a counter-strike against Ye Chengkong.

Although Ye Chengkong had been observing Lin Yun's abilities these past few days, he had to admit that this young man was more difficult to deal with than he had imagined. This Ghostly Void Steps technique was something he couldn't quite comprehend.

However, while Lin Yun could exchange a few blows with Ye Chengkong, it was only because the old man was restraining his power. After they had fought like this for nearly a quarter of an hour, Ye Chengkong thrust out his palm. Lin Yun met it with his own, and was forced back several steps.

"Not bad… not bad at all!"

Ye Chengkong's praise was genuine. Although this young man was a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, he showed none of their typical traits. Instead, his attainments in the Way of the Sword and his cultivation had reached a state of pure mastery.

"In terms of movement, combat skill, and willpower alone, you have already surpassed many people," Ye Chengkong said. "With such a solid foundation, increasing your cultivation from now on will be a natural progression."

As he spoke, he tossed a pair of bracers in front of Lin Yun.

BOOM!

The bracers slammed into the ground, blasting a large crater.

Damn, is he going to make me wear weights?

"Put them on," Ye Chengkong said flatly. "I forged this item from a divine meteorite that fell from beyond the heavens. It will suppress a portion of your power. This will not only help you advance your cultivation a hundredfold, but it will also continuously strengthen your physique and make your control over your power more precise."

A true expert was judged by the control they had over their own power. Even the current Lin Yun couldn't claim to be able to control his Yuan Qi with perfect ease.

Following Ye Chengkong's instructions, Lin Yun put on the bracers. Instantly, his arms felt as if they were filled with lead. Forget fighting, even lifting them was a struggle.

"There are many ways to become an expert. These bracers will suppress your power to a certain level. This will, in turn, cause your cultivation speed to increase. You can remove them one day when you reach a realm above Myriad Law. When that time comes, you will understand what I mean."

Throughout their sparring sessions, Lin Yun had never seen Ye Chengkong use any other methods, but he could sense that the man before him was also a master of the sword. It was very strange. How could such an expert appear in the Ancient Forbidden Land of the Beast Taming Sect?

"Many thanks to Senior for your dedicated guidance these past days. One day, this junior will return to this forbidden land and take you away from this place."

After bidding farewell to Ye Chengkong, Lin Yun set out on the path to the Chaos Forbidden Land. He knew his opponent would not be easy, but his confidence had grown considerably. You think I've been training for nothing all this time?

It was worth noting that it only took Lin Yun a little over a day to adapt to the bracers. And Ye Chengkong had been right. He didn't know the principle behind it, but the bracers did indeed increase his cultivation speed. Coupled with his own ceaseless training, the results were astounding. What might take others half a month to achieve, Lin Yun could accomplish with a single night's sleep. The comparison was truly infuriating.

He killed many exotic beasts along the way, but the closer he got to the Chaos Forbidden Land, the more difficult they became to deal with. The beasts in this land were all continuously evolving their power in some fashion. And those near the Chaos Forbidden Land all possessed a clear sense of territory.

Trespassers will die!

A few days later, after felling a dark-red Red-Sheathed Mantis with a single strike, Lin Yun looked up with satisfaction. In the distance, the ground was a sea of flowing lava. Yet upon this molten earth stood a magnificent palace.

Lin Yun glanced behind him. For some time now, he had felt as if someone was following him. But no matter how he searched, he could never find them. This could only mean one of two things: their strength was far greater than his, or their control over their own aura was simply consummate.

Lin Yun's own killing intent was now quite strong, which by extension allowed him to more accurately perceive the killing intent of others. A radius of fifteen zhang around him was under his control. But even so, he still couldn't detect the other's presence.

"Am I just imagining things?" Lin Yun muttered to himself.

That seemed nearly impossible. Even Ye Chengkong couldn't have deceived his senses so completely. He was reluctant to believe that there could be a creature in this place even more formidable than Ye Chengkong. The possibility, he thought, was almost nonexistent.

Pushing these thoughts aside, he continued forward, taking a moment to glance at his panel.

[Name]: Lin Yun

[Realm]: Origin Sea - Stage 3

[Destiny Template]: Son of Misfortune (Gray)

[Attributes]: Fated Calamity (Black), A Bleak Future (Gray), A Glimmer of Hope (Blue)

[Fate]: After joining the Beast Taming Sect, he hoped to use the Ancient Forbidden Land to increase his strength, but was framed by a villain and ultimately dies at the hands of the Desolate Ancient Exotic Beast, Ezu, the Calamity Ancestor.

[Recent Turning Point]: Enters the Chaos Forbidden Land to find a way out, encounters the encirclement of the Desolate Ancient Exotic Beast, Ezu. Life and death hang on a single thread.

A flash of delight crossed Lin Yun's face. On a single thread! That meant he still had a chance. It wasn't a certain-death situation. Although this "Fated Calamity" was vicious, even a sliver of hope was good enough. It seemed running into Ye Chengkong was truly a stroke of incredible luck.

Lin Yun had considered trying to get some information about Ezu from Ye Chengkong, but he was worried about exposing his own secrets. After thinking it over, he had decided it was safer not to ask. After all, his understanding of the old master was mostly one-sided. The great elder had never once spoken of his past.

But none of that mattered to Lin Yun now. As he drew closer to the Chaos Forbidden Land, the beasts within had also discovered him!