Chapter 30: Dragon Jade Hand!

Seeing Lin Chen’s indifferent attitude, Tuntun was nearly driven to madness. He gnashed his teeth against a spirit jade, the crunching sound serving as an outlet for his simmering rage.

"I’m so mad! To think he actually dares to look down on me!"

Soon enough, the second-tier spirit jade was completely devoured.

"Lin Chen, give me more spirit jade!" Tuntun demanded, reaching out.

Lin Chen tossed him a few more second-tier jades, but Tuntun swiped them away, acting haughty. "I don’t want second-tier jades! Didn't that girl have Elder Xu send you plenty of third-tier ones? I want those!"

"You’re quite the handful," Lin Chen muttered with a lip curl, though he still handed over a few pieces.

Tuntun’s pace slowed significantly as he ate the third-tier jade; he could no longer wolf them down. After half an hour of chewing, he finally finished them off.

"Hiccup!"

Tuntun let out a burp, and a visible stream of spiritual energy sprayed from his mouth, dissolving into the air. Suddenly, he clutched his stomach, crying out, "Lin Chen, I... I ate too much. I can’t stand up. Help me... rub my belly, I’m so stuffed!"

Lin Chen rolled his eyes. What a glutton! Yet, despite his complaining, he reached over to rub Tuntun’s belly anyway. After a few moments, a mysterious glow erupted from Tuntun’s body. Seconds later, accompanied by a low hum, he leveled up—advancing from the first rank to the second.

"It’s a pity; relying solely on spiritual energy to unseal my bloodline power is still too slow. If only I had some Beast Origin Fruit."

After the breakthrough, the spiritual energy both inside and outside Tuntun’s body was completely exhausted. Beast Origin Fruit was a treasure capable of raising a Phantasm Beast’s grade, making it exceptionally precious. For a Beast Tamer, the Phantasm Beast was the source of most of their strength. If a beast could raise its grade via the fruit, it would also bestow tremendous benefits upon its master.

Tuntun leapt up, triumphant. "Now that I’m second-rank, more of my bloodline power has been unsealed. Do you feel stronger? Don’t thank me—I just love helping little weaklings cultivate!"

"No," Lin Chen replied, shaking his head.

"Damn it!" Tuntun was incensed. "You clearly didn't sense it carefully. Quick, try again!"

Seeing him so anxious, Lin Chen smiled. "There is a slight increase in the spiritual energy within my body, and my Myriad Wood Zenith Physique feels a bit stronger. It’s not bad; I suppose you aren't entirely useless."

"Nonsense! I am the Primordial Hongmeng Tree!"

Tuntun puffed up with pride once more.

"What are you acting so smug for? You were the first of the nine 'eggs' in my Phantasm Space to hatch! That just means you’re the weakest. The smallest weakling is always the first to hatch, understand?" Lin Chen couldn't help but tease him.

"Awoo! I’m so mad! If the others hadn't hatched yet, I’d beat them to a pulp to show them who the real boss is!" Tuntun brandished his fists, the lush green leaves on his head shaking violently.

"Tell me, you’ve gone from first to second rank, so why is there absolutely no change in your appearance?" Lin Chen picked Tuntun up and scrutinized him. It was true—there was no change at all. "Other people’s Phantasm Beasts are so imposing, and here you are, a little sapling the size of a palm, looking like a weakling."

"What do you know? The strength of a Phantasm Beast has nothing to do with size. What good is being a big, dumb brute?" Tuntun curled his lip. "I’m done arguing with you!"

With that, Tuntun trotted off to the side. Having just leveled up, he was mentally exhausted and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

"As Tuntun gradually improves and unseals his bloodline power, my own combat strength will grow alongside him." Lin Chen threw a few punches, noticing that the sound of the air being rent was sharper, and his power had increased slightly. His comprehension of the Emperor’s Art had also deepened.

"Since I restarted my cultivation, I haven't been lacking in techniques, but my martial arts skills are a bit lacking. I need to find some that can boost my combat power." Lin Chen clutched a Spirit Gathering Bead, lost in thought.

The bead absorbed the spiritual energy in the area, forming a vortex that poured frantically into Lin Chen’s body. He decided to ask Tuntun again once he woke up. If Tuntun didn't have any suitable martial arts, he would go ask Su Yuwei.

With that thought, Lin Chen closed his eyes and began the breathing and meditation method recorded in the Emperor’s Art, absorbing the spiritual energy from the void, circulating it through his body, and exhaling the impurities.

"Hoo!" His voice was low, like the breath of a dragon.

With every intake and exhalation, he absorbed the essence of the spiritual energy completely, wasting nothing. In terms of breathing techniques alone, he was far superior to other geniuses.

The night passed quietly. Tuntun rubbed his eyes and woke from his slumber. The morning sun shone on Lin Chen, making his figure appear even more upright.

"Lin Chen, you cultivated all night? How diligent." Tuntun yawned, having slept very comfortably.

"Tuntun, do you have any martial arts skills? Something strong that can increase my combat power." Lin Chen had not forgotten what Xu Kun had told him the day before: recently, many disciples would come to challenge him under various pretexts. If he could win, he would fight; if he couldn't, he would dodge!

"Martial arts? Let me think..." Tuntun furrowed his brows, racking his brain. It was clear that his memories and bloodline were still sealed. The Emperor’s Art and the Myriad Wood Zenith Physique had been things he grasped while unconscious and then shared with Lin Chen. Now that Lin Chen was asking for martial arts, he had to carefully sift through his memories to see if any existed.

"I actually do!" A few moments later, Tuntun’s face lit up with excitement. "This martial art is very powerful and has growth potential. Do you want to learn it?"

"Less talk, teach it to me!" Lin Chen urged.

"I can teach you, but you have to give me ten third-tier spirit jades!" Tuntun opened his mouth wide, grinning. "With what you gained in the Thunder Prefecture and what that girl gave you, you definitely have them. Don't hide them; hand them over!"

"Forget it then." Lin Chen turned to leave. "I’ll go ask Su Yuwei! She can definitely provide me with better martial arts!"

"Hey, Lin Chen, don't joke around! My martial art is definitely the strongest!" Tuntun’s smile froze. "Ten is a bit much. How about five? Five? As long as you give me five third-tier spirit jades, I’ll teach it to you!"

Seeing Lin Chen actually about to walk away, Tuntun panicked. "Three! Three is enough, right?"

"One!" Lin Chen took a single third-tier spirit jade from his storage ring and said with a straight face, "Take it or leave it. If you don't want it, I’m leaving. Su Yuwei has plenty of martial arts anyway!"

"You're ruthless!" Tuntun looked as if he were about to cry.

And so, they completed the trade for the price of one third-tier spirit jade.

"This technique is called the Dragon Jade Hand. Once unleashed, your palm will have the might of a true dragon and be as hard as jade! It also shares similarities with your Myriad Wood Zenith Physique, and they can enhance and promote each other!" Tuntun raised his hand and transmitted the memory directly into Lin Chen’s mind.