The candlelight flickered quietly within the cave.
Lin Sheng watched Lou Feng finish arranging the simple bedding before the boy finally drifted into a deep sleep. His breathing gradually became steady, the exhaustion accumulated over the past several days finally overwhelming his young body.
Only after confirming that his newly accepted disciple had truly fallen asleep did Lin Sheng slowly withdraw his gaze.
The smile on his face gradually faded.
Replacing it was contemplation.
He casually picked up the iron hammer lying beside the forge and gently placed it onto the weapon rack before walking toward the teleportation altar hidden in the deepest part of the cave.
The altar remained exactly as before.
Ancient runes covered its surface while countless formation lines intertwined like veins beneath the stone. The centre spatial rune had already been destroyed during the forced activation of the teleportation array, leaving behind a damaged formation that could no longer function.
His gaze eventually settled upon a small piece of translucent jade lodged within one of the energy outlets.
Unlike the spirit stones of the Immortal Cultivation Continent, this jade contained remarkably gentle spiritual energy.
There was no violent fluctuation.No traces of elemental attributes. Just like the ones he found before.
Its energy resembled calm flowing water, naturally integrating with the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Crystal quietly completed another comparison.
•[Energy sample comparison complete. Similarity with Mid-Grade Spirit Stone: 78.3%. Energy purity exceeds standard Mid-Grade Spirit Stone by 31.6%.
Energy output considerably gentler. Preliminary conclusion: Alternative cultivation resource.]•
Lin Sheng nodded slightly.
His earlier guess had been correct.
This continent seemed to possess its own cultivation resources.
Perhaps...
The jade served the same purpose as spirit stones.
That realization also explained another phenomenon.
Ever since arriving on this continent, he had noticed something fundamentally different about the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
It was calmer.
Much calmer.
The spiritual energy lacked the restless nature common throughout the Immortal Cultivation Continent.
Instead, it flowed steadily through mountains, rivers and forests almost as though it possessed its own rhythm.
No wonder.
Only an environment like this could naturally produce such gentle spiritual jade.
His thoughts gradually shifted elsewhere.
Martial arts.
According to the memories extracted from Lou Feng, this continent wasn't ruled by immortal cultivators.
It was ruled by martial artists.Sects certainly existed. Dynasties also existed.
Immortal cultivators seem to be non-existent here.
Yet the overwhelming majority of powerful individuals cultivated martial paths rather than immortal techniques.
That alone made this continent fundamentally different.
Lin Sheng wasn't surprised.
Instead...
He felt relieved.
At the very least, he hadn't appeared in another region controlled by immortal cultivation forces.
That meant his current identity carried far fewer risks.
His silver eyes slowly turned toward the sleeping Lou Feng.
The boy's breathing remained peaceful.
His expression, however, became increasingly thoughtful.
When he first searched Lou Feng's memories, he had merely intended to understand this unfamiliar continent.
Unexpectedly...
The boy's life itself had become the greatest discovery.
His parents had died when a demonic beast attacked their village.
He became an orphan overnight.
The only inheritance left behind by his parents was a small house together with several acres of farmland.
Shortly afterward...
Everything was taken.
The local Wind Tiger Gang forcibly seized both the land deed and house deed.
The villagers remained silent.
Not because they lacked sympathy.
But because no ordinary family dared offend the local gang.
Only one person had extended a helping hand.
Uncle Wang.
And because of that...
He had been crippled.
Afterward, the gang attempted to eliminate Lou Feng entirely.
The desperate escape.
The cliff.
The miraculous survival.
The strange spiritual fruit capable of nourishing the body.
The hidden cave concealed behind the waterfall.
The cultivation inheritance.
Even...
The spiritual roots perfectly matching the techniques stored within this cave.
Lin Sheng silently organized every event.
One after another.
The more he analyzed them...
The stranger they became.
Coincidence?
Perhaps.
One coincidence.
Two coincidences.
Three...
Eventually, coincidence itself became statistically impossible.
Crystal simultaneously began calculating.
•[Current probability that all events occurred naturally: 0.00037%.
Probability exceeds normal statistical deviation.]•
Lin Sheng slowly exhaled.
He had encountered something similar once before.
Gu Qing.
At first glance, her opportunities had appeared ordinary.
Yet after tracing them backward...
Every encounter had perfectly connected with the next, eventually allowing her to obtain an inheritance capable of restoring fragments of memories from a previous life.
Now...
Lou Feng displayed an eerily similar pattern.
Except...
His opportunities weren't directed toward soul inheritance.
They were directed toward cultivation itself.
If Lin Sheng hadn't appeared first...
This cave would have belonged entirely to Lou Feng.
The cultivation techniques.
The spirit stones.
The formation knowledge.
Everything.
Combined with his Fire and Metal spiritual roots...
The boy would have embarked upon a path perfectly suited for him.
Lin Sheng gently rubbed his chin.
"So..."
"I've met another one."
There was no excitement in his voice.
Only caution.
His first instinct had naturally been to eliminate the source of future uncertainty.
After all...
A dead Child of Luck posed no threat.
Yet that thought disappeared almost as quickly as it arose.
The Heaven Dao Mechanism.
Ever since arriving in the Immortal Cultivation Continent, it had attempted to erase him repeatedly.
Assassins, countless tribulations, The Void Entity and the Rank Five flood dragon.
Every time he survived one disaster, another quickly followed.
Although he couldn't prove the connection absolutely...
The timing was simply too precise.
If killing Gu Qing might have invited another backlash...
Then killing Lou Feng, another apparent Child of Luck, could very well produce consequences he couldn't currently withstand.
More importantly...
For the first time since his transmigration...
The oppressive sense of impending death had vanished.
It was as though the invisible gaze that had constantly lingered over him had finally withdrawn.
Whether because he had crossed continents...
Or because the Heaven Dao Mechanism couldn't immediately locate him...
He didn't know.
Nor did he intend to test that theory through unnecessary risks.
Lin Sheng looked once more toward the sleeping child.
Instead of seeing a future enemy...
He saw something far more valuable.
An observation subject.
If Lou Feng truly was favored by the heavens...
Then watching him grow might allow Crystal to uncover the operating principles behind the Heaven Dao Mechanism itself.
Compared to killing him...
That possibility possessed immeasurably greater value.
A faint smile finally appeared upon Lin Sheng's face.
"It seems..."
"I've found another research project."
The quiet voice echoed softly through the cave before disappearing into the silence.
After carefully sorting through Lou Feng's memories, Lin Sheng gradually gained a clearer understanding of the Martial Continent.
Unlike the Immortal Cultivation Continent, where sects ruled above all else, this land was built upon countless occupations that supported the martial path.
Beast hunters ventured into dangerous mountain ranges to harvest demon beast materials.
Alchemists refined medicinal pills using precious herbs.
Formation Masters were almost nonexistent, their inheritance seemingly having no existence.
Instead...
One of the most respected profession throughout the continent belonged to Divine Weapon Forgers.
From ordinary steel weapons to treasured divine arms capable of accompanying powerful martial artists throughout their lives, nearly every kingdom relied heavily upon master smiths.
After weighing every option, Lin Sheng chose this profession without much hesitation.
It suited his current situation perfectly.
His injuries remained severe.
Although his physique recovered far faster than ordinary cultivators, the damage suffered by his meridians during the passage through the void still required time.
Crystal estimated nearly two months before they could completely recover.
Only then would he attempt to advance into the Astral Gang Realm.
Until then...
Remaining inside the cave while cultivating and forging weapons would attract the least attention.
It was also an excellent opportunity to train Lou Feng.
Lin Sheng withdrew his thoughts before walking toward the blazing furnace near the cave wall.
The flames roared quietly beneath a massive iron cauldron.
He inserted a rough iron ingot into the fire before patiently waiting for it to glow crimson.
Standing nearby, Lou Feng watched everything with sparkling eyes.
To him...
Every movement his master made appeared mysterious.
Several moments later, Lin Sheng removed the burning iron and placed it upon the anvil.
Clang!
The first hammer strike echoed throughout the cave.
Bright sparks scattered in every direction.
Without using Gang Qi or Martial Intent, Lin Sheng relied solely upon perfect control over force, each strike carrying just enough strength to reshape the glowing metal without wasting even the slightest movement.
Watching the rhythmic hammering, Lou Feng unconsciously held his breath.
Only after nearly a hundred strikes did Lin Sheng finally put the hammer aside.
He turned toward the boy.
"The first step of weapon forging..."
"...isn't technique."
"It's strength."
He glanced calmly at Lou Feng's thin frame.
"With your current physique, you can't even properly lift a forging hammer."
"Forget forging."
"You wouldn't last half an hour."
Lou Feng lowered his head in embarrassment.
His body had indeed become extremely weak after years of malnutrition.
Seeing this, Lin Sheng reached into his sleeve.
A jade bottle appeared in his hand.
Opening it, he poured out a single crimson medicinal pill.
The instant it appeared, a rich medicinal fragrance spread throughout the cave.
Lou Feng's stomach immediately growled.
His eyes widened uncontrollably.
"...Spirit... Spirit Pill?"
He had heard countless stories from travelling storytellers.
Spirit Pills were treasures only immortal masters possessed.
Ordinary people could spend their entire lives without ever seeing one.
Lin Sheng casually tossed the pill toward him.
Lou Feng hurriedly caught it with both hands as though afraid it might disappear.
Before he could speak...
Another object landed beside him.
It was a thick book bound with rough animal hide.
The characters written upon its cover were completely unfamiliar.
Lou Feng blinked repeatedly.
"...Master?"
Lin Sheng calmly replied,
"Literacy."
"From today onward, you'll begin learning to read and write."
"The language inside this book will become your foundation."
Lou Feng carefully opened it.
The strange characters looked completely different from anything used within the surrounding villages.
Seeing the confusion on his face, Lin Sheng explained,
"If you wish to inherit everything I know..."
"...then this language is mandatory."
"Without it, many inheritances cannot even be understood."
He pointed toward the Spirit Pill still resting in Lou Feng's palm.
"Take the pill."
"It will strengthen your physique."
"Then spend the next seven days memorising every character inside that book."
"I expect results."
"After seven days..."
"...I'll begin teaching you properly."
Lou Feng's expression immediately became serious.
"Yes, Master!"
Just as he prepared to swallow the Spirit Pill, another thought suddenly surfaced.
His joyful expression slowly dimmed.
"...Master."
Lin Sheng glanced toward him.
"What is it?"
Lou Feng hesitated for several breaths before lowering his head.
"...Do you..."
"...have any medicine capable of healing crippled legs?"
His voice grew softer.
"It's... for Uncle Wang."
"He only tried to help me..."
"...but the Wind Tiger Gang crippled both his legs."
"They said he should've minded his own business."
Remembering the elderly man lying helplessly inside his broken house, Lou Feng clenched his fists so tightly that his nails nearly pierced his palms.
If not for Uncle Wang...
He would've starved long ago.
Lin Sheng quietly observed the boy.
He could naturally tell that Lou Feng wasn't lying.
Despite suffering such misery himself, the first person he thought about after receiving hope...
...was someone else.
After a brief silence, Lin Sheng nodded slightly.
"There is."
Hope instantly lit up Lou Feng's eyes.
"Really?"
Lin Sheng's expression remained calm.
"There is."
"But nothing comes without effort."
He pointed toward the ancient book lying on the ground.
"Finish memorising it."
"Seven days."
"If your progress satisfies me..."
"...I'll personally heal your Uncle Wang."
The boy's eyes immediately turned red.
He hurriedly knelt before Lin Sheng.
"Thank you, Master!"
"I won't disappoint you!"
Watching the determined child clutch both the Spirit Pill and the ancient book as though they were priceless treasures, Lin Sheng quietly turned back toward the furnace.
The rhythmic sound of hammer striking iron soon echoed through the cave once more.
Behind him...
Lou Feng had already begun painstakingly tracing the first unfamiliar character with trembling fingers, silently vowing that no matter how difficult it became...
...he would master every single word within seven days.