The Earth Saint nodded. The Heaven Saint had grown stronger, just like him. Over these past six years, crossing countless mountains and rivers, he had comprehended the essence of the landscape and integrated it into his fist technique. He was progressing.
The Heaven Saint was also progressing. Just from this single sword strike, it was evident that his swordsmanship was far sharper than before. His rapid progress made the Earth Saint eager to find some free time to properly spar with him. He wouldn't be disappointed.
Han Yan's eyes reflected the brilliance of that sword strike. Her expression remained calm, her heart like still water, without a ripple of disturbance.
"It's over. Everything should be over. Perhaps this is the best outcome."
In this desperate situation, with no means of fighting back, surrender was the best option. Her only regret was her younger sister. From the past until now, she had worried incessantly for her sister, constantly matching wits with Lin Fan for her sake. However, this struggle was often just Han Yan amusing herself.
At this moment, she didn't believe Lin Fan could withstand the attack. She even felt a hint of amusement. Even if he was deeply cunning, what could he do? In the face of absolute strength, any cleverness was a joke. Even if you, Lin Fan, could win over my sister, so what? Now, aren't you still controlled by others? The treasure jade pendant is, after all, an inanimate object. Losing one's life for a lifeless thing is the most foolish act.
Lin Fan looked up.
Such a weak move. But the colors are so dazzling.
The Heaven Saint, fueled by anger, struck with all his might, vowing to defend his dignity.
Just then, the Earth Saint, who had been critiquing the Heaven Saint's technique, reacted and hurriedly shouted, "Don't kill..."
He had been enjoying his commentary, but then he realized the situation and became anxious upon seeing this scene. It wasn't that Lin Fan couldn't be killed, but that certain matters required his presence.
Hearing these words, the Heaven Saint didn't react at all. No one stop me. I must prove myself.
However, when the giant sword landed on top of Lin Fan's head, a terrifying scene unfolded. There was no brain matter splattering, but rather a clang, like metal colliding.
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out.
It was very strange.
Cracks appeared on the giant sword, forged from an unknown rare mineral. The Heaven Saint's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
"No..."
A wail escaped his lips.
The giant sword shattered into fragments, scattering across the ground with a pleasant tinkling sound.
"Sigh!"
Lin Fan sighed, appearing quite helpless about this.
"My sword."
The Heaven Saint's eyes were wide, staring down at the scattered fragments of his giant sword. He looked dazed, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
"Are you alright?" Lin Fan asked with concern.
"You..."
The Heaven Saint glared at Lin Fan, placing all the blame on him. At this moment, the Earth Saint patted the Heaven Saint's shoulder. "Admit it when you are outmatched. Stand down."
Filled with grief and despair, the Heaven Saint closed his eyes, lowered his head, and scooped up the fragments of his sword. He was heartbroken. The giant sword had accompanied him for so long, carrying his love for the way of the sword. It also embodied his will.
Setting aside the sentimental value, the giant sword was forged from rare extraterrestrial meteorite, a divine weapon, indestructible and unbreakable.
At this point, the most shocked person was Han Yan. She couldn't believe this was the outcome. She then realized how deeply Lin Fan had concealed his strength, his cunning was terrifying. If he was this powerful, why hide in the Purple Mountain? Now that she thought about it, perhaps all of this was his scheme.
"Wow, so amazing!" Han Xiaoxiao cheered with delight, looking very excited.
Lin Fan smiled at Han Xiaoxiao, reassuring her.
The Earth Saint knew that the Heaven Saint had lost his will to fight. The giant sword was very important to him, and witnessing its destruction was unbearable for anyone.
"Master Lin, impressive methods, impressive strength. I didn't expect you to deceive the whole world. Admirable, truly admirable."
He hadn't expected Lin Fan's strength to be so terrifying. He was no match for him. Although they hadn't fought, he knew that someone who could withstand the Heaven Saint's strike and shatter his giant sword possessed unfathomable strength, reaching a realm he could only dream of.
Lin Fan frowned. "I haven't deceived anyone."
He couldn't understand these people. He had no idea what they meant. Their words were baffling and difficult to comprehend.
"Deception or not, it no longer matters. Next, it's my turn to spar with you."
The Earth Saint was serious. He knew he wasn't Lin Fan's opponent, but as a cultivator of fist techniques, even if he knew there was a mountain ahead, he had to forge ahead without hesitation.
"I really don't want to fight you. There's a gap between your strength and mine, a rather large gap. Such a spar would be meaningless."
"However, besides sparring, there's also guidance."
"You mentioned you cultivate fist techniques. I happen to know some as well. I can offer some pointers. The skilled can guide the unskilled. This is a form of teaching."
Lin Fan had found a new source of enjoyment. Thinking about it carefully, it made a lot of sense. Back when he and Old Zhang relied on each other for cultivation, he longed for an expert to appear and guide him. Unfortunately, they had always supported each other in their cultivation.
"What did you say?"
The Earth Saint's face darkened. He felt as if someone was insulting his martial arts in front of him.
Lin Fan smiled. "I'll guide you."
He was speaking the truth. After completing missions in the dream realm, he had received rewards.
The Fist Scripture.
He rarely used it, mainly because he encountered too few strong opponents. The ones who wanted to spar with him were too weak. He feared that using even a little force would kill them.
"Good, good. You insult my martial arts, which is like killing my wife and children. Today, I want to see what you're capable of."
The Earth Saint had been training in fist techniques since he was three years old. Exceptionally talented, he learned everything quickly. At the age of twelve, he had already mastered his family's secret techniques, surpassing his father in skill. Later, he left his hometown to visit famous teachers, experiencing countless battles, both victories and defeats. The ultimate benefit was astonishing.
He gathered hundreds of fist techniques and fused them into one.
At twenty-seven, he had honed his own fist technique. He spent decades perfecting it, and now, he dared not say he had reached the realm of returning to simplicity, but he had reached a level unmatched by anyone before or since.
"Greedy Wolf Seven Kills, Shattering Sun, Moon, and Stars."
The Earth Saint roared, his fist intent surging. The wind howled and clouds churned. A clear wind arose in the courtyard. Everyone looking at the Earth Saint felt that standing before them was a god of fists who had cultivated his techniques to the ultimate level.
The Earth Saint was different from the Heaven Saint. He pursued the pinnacle of fist techniques and would give up everything for them. The Heaven Saint was different. He had once been able to compete with the Earth Saint, but since he had sheathed his sword, he had gradually relaxed, no longer pursuing that ethereal path. His passion for the way of the sword had weakened, and so had he.
"Hmm." Lin Fan watched, nodding as if seriously evaluating. "Your fist intent is quite good, but it seems to be lacking something. Throw a punch, let me see where your flaws lie."
"No, your heart isn't sincere enough."
Although Lin Fan rarely cultivated secret techniques, he understood something about intent. With a powerful Martial God will, he naturally understood more.
The Earth Saint seemed to have transformed into a different person, his gaze sharp, his aura powerful.
He ignored Lin Fan's words completely.
To him, these were just empty words.
Acknowledging them would be an insult to himself.
But Lin Fan continued to mutter to himself.
"Let me show you, your fist lacks many things."
At this moment, Lin Fan was like a teacher imparting knowledge to his students.
Suddenly, a fist intent erupted from Lin Fan, an ethereal and intangible force invisible to the naked eye. It pierced the clouds in the sky, enveloping the earth. Everyone, regardless of their location, whether they were laughing, grieving, or drinking merrily, felt as if their bodies were suppressed by an unknown force.
It was very uncomfortable.
Very alarming.
They didn't know why this was happening, nor why they felt this way.
With Lin Fan's strength, covering the planet with his fist intent didn't seem excessive.
At this moment, the Earth Saint, who was about to attack Lin Fan, felt a sudden blow to his heart. His entire intent dissipated. He looked at Lin Fan in shock and disbelief. Others might not see it, but he did.
An illusion?
No, definitely not an illusion.
In his eyes, Lin Fan was radiating light. An illusory figure appeared above him, a progenitor of fist techniques, a saint of fists, demonstrating some profound and complex fist technique.
This was something others couldn't see.
Only someone like him, who had cultivated fist techniques to a certain level, could see it.
"What kind of fist technique is this?"
The Earth Saint's mouth was dry, his body burning. It wasn't from illness, but from encountering such fist intent. His blood was boiling. When it reached its peak, the excitement was difficult to suppress.
Lin Fan said, "Fist Scripture."
"Fist Scripture?" The Earth Saint had never heard of such a fist technique before. It was completely foreign to him. He had no idea what it was.
Lin Fan smiled. "If you want to learn, I can teach you."
The Earth Saint abruptly looked up at Lin Fan. He was smiling, his expression unchanged, his eyes gentle. He didn't seem to be joking.
"You... Are you really willing?"
"Yes, you love fist techniques, and I know some. You are weak, I am strong. It's normal for the strong to teach the weak. When you become strong, you can also teach others. In the end, everyone can become excellent, and your final reward will be happiness. Don't you agree?"
Lin Fan's ideal was to teach what he knew to others.
Keeping it to himself would never allow him to experience this kind of joy.
After passing it on to others, watching them learn, that kind of happiness was truly unimaginable.
The Earth Saint slowly walked towards Lin Fan, as if he had made a decision. He bowed to Lin Fan.
"I hope to be able to learn fist techniques by your side, Master Lin. I hope you will grant me permission."
Regardless of age, the more accomplished one is the teacher.
The Earth Saint wanted to experience stronger fists.