Lin Yu arranged the items one by one and placed them on the table.
He picked up the first item, activated his Life Siphon talent, and placed the black vortex onto the Flesh and Blood Pill.
Instantly, a powerful suction emanated from his palm. Strands of vital energy were drawn out from the Flesh and Blood Pill. As the vital energy entered his body, Lin Yu's physique and spirit grew stronger.
Ten minutes later.
The Flesh and Blood Pill was reduced to a mere husk, while Lin Yu's physique had improved by a third. His mental strength had not increased significantly, but it did expand his range of control over his clones by about ten meters.
"This Flesh and Blood Pill has extremely pure life energy, which is why it could be consumed so quickly. This time, my strength has increased by at least two thousand jin, and my recovery and defense have improved by thirty percent. It's much better than consuming it directly!"
This single Flesh and Blood Pill was equivalent to breaking through half a minor realm, increasing Lin Yu's strength by about thirty percent.
He picked up another item.
Talent Crystal: Sparrow Step!
He placed the Talent Crystal on his brow. Instantly, the crystal turned into light and vanished, entering his brow. The next moment, Lin Yu's vision changed, and he found himself back in the Sea of Consciousness.
Within the Sea of Consciousness's universe, two talent stars silently rotated. Suddenly, a beam of light shot in, and beside the two stars, a smaller star formed.
Concurrently, information about Sparrow Step appeared in his mind.
Sparrow Step: E-class talent ability. Consumes energy to momentarily delay, then instantly move within a distance of three inches.
Within three inches?
Lin Yu’s expression was odd. No wonder the seller wanted to get rid of it; wasn't this just Inch Movement?
Three inches was ten centimeters, a distance not even equal to one's body length, and it had a wind-up. No wonder it was being sold.
However, this talent might be a chicken rib for others, but I have the system, so I can fully upgrade it to increase the teleportation distance.
Once this talent ability is upgraded, I can combine it with the Clone Technique to research the Clone Teleportation Technique, Lin Yu thought to himself.
"System, can I upgrade my third talent now?"
"Host, not currently."
"Host, you need to upgrade your second talent to S-class before you can upgrade your third talent."
"Understood!"
It seems I need to speed up the process and upgrade my second talent, Life Siphon, Lin Yu mused.
"I need to put some pressure and motivation on Lin Fan," Lin Yu closed his eyes and communicated with his talent clone.
At this time, thirty li outside Ji City, in the wilderness.
Lin Fan was sitting cross-legged in a cave. A bonfire burned before him, with a giant leg of lamb roasting on it. He tore off a piece of meat and ate it with a muffled sound.
As he ate, he muttered, "Main body, when can I go back? I miss home."
*Splat*, he took another fierce bite.
His mouth was full. He mumbled, "Hmph, I'm out here running around, and you're sleeping at home. I'll eat, I'll eat, I'll eat eat eat!!!"
After devouring several large bites of meat and finally feeling full, he patted his round belly and *splat*, lay down on the ground, his hands spread out, looking dejected.
"The main body told me to earn ten thousand upgrade points a day. Yesterday, I earned a hundred thousand. When will you contact me? I want to go home and rest."
Thinking back to his day of monster hunting, his heart ached for home.
The conditions in the wilderness were too harsh, and no one was there to chat with him. With his talkative nature, he felt restless if he didn't speak for a day.
"Main body, if you don't contact me again, I'm going on strike!" he shouted, venting his frustration. His voice echoed in the cave.
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in his mind, causing him to sit up straight instantly.
"You want to go on strike?" Lin Yu's voice sounded in Lin Fan's mind.
Hearing Lin Yu's voice, Lin Fan shivered and quickly replied with a fawning smile:
"Main body, how dare I go on strike? I was just joking. I earned a hundred thousand upgrade points yesterday, can I have a vacation now?"
He thought that since he had exceeded his quota, the main body must be contacting him for a reward, most likely a vacation. I've exceeded my quota by ninety thousand, so can I have nine days off? he thought expectantly.
Lin Fan was already envisioning where he would go to play after his vacation.
If Lin Yu knew his thoughts, he would surely teach him a lesson.
Too unmotivated, not like his clone at all.
Lin Yu said, "Now you have two choices: Choice one: three days of vacation; Choice two: complete a performance of one million upgrade points, and I will send you to learn a trade of your choice!"
Lin Fan replied without hesitation, "I choose two!"
He had a dream of becoming a shop owner, and learning a trade would allow him to open his own shop.
Lin Yu said, "Keep working hard. The faster you complete the task, the better the trade you can learn."
Hearing this, Lin Fan's heart filled with excitement. He immediately patted his chest and promised to complete the task as soon as possible.
Lin Yu did not leave but hid in Lin Fan's Sea of Consciousness, observing his subsequent actions.
Lin Fan's expression became serious. He extinguished the bonfire, picked up his Tang sword, and walked out of the cave.
As he walked, he quietly cheered himself on, "Lin Fan, you can do it, kill!"
As an external clone, he inherited all of Lin Yu's skills except for his talents.
With the Tang sword in hand, a deep blue light attached itself to the blade, steady and unreleased, held back yet ready to strike. When he encountered a fierce beast, he swung his sword.
*Boom!*
Instantly, a deep blue energy slash flew out, and a fierce beast was cut in half, dying quickly.
The next moment, a system prompt sounded in Lin Yu's mind.
"Ding, killed Black-bellied Ring Snake, upgrade points +10!"
Lin Fan, holding his Tang sword, walked along, making quite a commotion and attracting a large number of fierce beasts, which roared to the sky.
*Roar!*
With a raise and a drop of his hand, another fierce beast fell.
Lin Yu watched all this with satisfaction. This is what an external clone should be doing.
It can't die anyway, so let it mess around. It's a pity Lin Fan's personality is too capricious and a bit lazy.
Listening to the continuous system notifications, Lin Yu's lips curved.
He withdrew his consciousness.
Lin Yu looked at the cramped room and pushed open the door, leaving his home.
He walked through several streets and arrived in front of a luxurious Chinese-style villa.
He took out his key and opened the door!
"This villa is one of the better houses gifted by the Li family. I'll cultivate here temporarily!"
This villa was one of the assets gifted by the Li family, and it was the residence he had kept for himself.
"Home is too small to house a hundred clones. This place is spacious enough!"
Lin Yu smiled and activated his clone skill.
Instantly, white light appeared, and individuals who looked exactly alike appeared around him.
Lin Yu said, "Brothers, all of you go and learn the 'Myriad Treasure Condensing Art'!"
The clones nodded one after another, then each found a place to sit cross-legged and began to comprehend the cultivation technique, 'Myriad Treasure Condensing Art'.
This cultivation technique was obscure and difficult to learn, but with a hundred clones comprehending it together, the speed was increased by more than a hundredfold.
Lin Yu himself sat down with his knees hugged and began to meditate and cultivate.
He was now an S-class awakened one, and having undergone several extra talent mutations, his cultivation speed was not much slower than that of an SS-class awakened one.
.........
The next day.
In front of Lin Yu's house, a beautiful girl knocked on the door.
*Knock, knock, knock!!!*
After a while, there was no response.
She became a little anxious. She raised her arm, unleashing dazzling lightning, and was about to break open the door with a palm strike when a neighbor opened their door and said,
"Are you looking for Lin Yu? He went out last night."
"Do you know where he went?" the girl asked.
The neighbor shook his head, "No!"
"Oh!" The girl responded indifferently and turned to leave.
The neighbor watched the girl's retreating back and muttered, "Such a cold demeanor. Hmm, she looks like Zhao Ke."
Zhao Ke sent Lin Yu several more messages, but there was no response, which worried her.
At this moment, Professor Wang called.
Professor Wang: "Stop looking. I've already found him. Lin Yu is cultivating right now and won't be able to come out for a while. You should return to the academy with me."
Yesterday, Professor Wang had received a message from the academy, asking him to return immediately.
However, he was worried about Zhao Ke being unprotected and in danger, so he planned to take Zhao Ke back to the academy in advance.
After all, Zhao Ke had already been admitted early. It didn't matter whether she went early or late, and there was nothing left in Ji City that could help her grow.
Except for one person: Lin Yu!
This was a concern, and he could understand it, so he respected Zhao Ke's choice.
But he hadn't expected Lin Yu to be in seclusion. Would they miss each other?
Professor Wang shook his head and smiled. Young people these days.
Zhao Ke: "I want to wait for him!"
A very cold reply, Professor Wang was already accustomed to it.
Professor Wang: "At the latest by this evening, otherwise, you must come with me no matter what."
Zhao Ke: "Okay!"
Time flew by, and it was afternoon.
Lin Yu slowly woke up.
Feeling the strengthened aura within him, his lips curved subconsciously.
*Beep, beep, beep!!!*
His wristband chimed. Lin Yu looked down.
After a long while, he murmured, "Zhao Ke~"
Then, he got up and walked outside.
By the shores of Mingyue Lake.
Lin Yu and Zhao Ke stood facing each other.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the lake red, and also dyed their hair red.
Zhao Ke pushed her hair back and said, "You know, I have to go to the academy early."
Lin Yu nodded, "Yes, I know."
Zhao Ke had already sent him all the reasons via his wristband.
Zhao Ke hummed and turned to face the lake, facing the setting sun.
The afterglow cast long shadows of the two of them.
Zhao Ke smiled brightly, "I'll come to see you in the future."
Lin Yu also smiled, "I will too."
"Mm!" She nodded. Unconsciously, their hands had clasped together.
Two young teenagers who didn't understand much about romance, but when they felt a connection, they naturally held hands and connected their hearts.
This initial affection was pure and beautiful, worth remembering for a lifetime.
The setting sun dimmed slightly, and their hands parted, but their hearts remained connected.
Outside the city, Lin Yu watched Zhao Ke's departing figure, feeling a void in his heart.
He waved goodbye again, and only after they disappeared into the horizon did Lin Yu reluctantly turn back.
Back at the villa.
He couldn't calm down at all. He sent out his clones to learn the 'Myriad Treasure Condensing Art'.
He himself picked up some miscellaneous books and read to pass the time.
........
Central City.
A sword light landed in front of the city gate.
[Welcome, Sword God Senior, please enter!]