Chapter 2172 - 2169: Petty Thief

Chapter 2172: Chapter 2169: Petty Thief

"Of course it was your illusion. Do you think it was an Immortal? We’re all mere mortals." Ling Xuesong said irritably, while the other two just smiled and kept silent.

This old man was really blunt, Lin Tian forced a smile. However, he wasn’t sure about the feeling he had earlier. Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, it wasn’t something he could consider at the moment.

"Stop talking so much, what did you feel just now?" Ling Xuesong asked again.

Lin Tian thought for a moment and said, "I felt the solar essence as tiny particles, like photons, emitting light and heat, containing scorching energy."

"Hmm, that’s more like it. Solar essence is inherently a fire attribute energy, so it’s scorching, and extremely masculine and firm. Try to condense this energy." Ling Xuesong nodded in satisfaction and continued to guide him.

Lin Tian extended his hand again, but this time he didn’t release the Purple Flame; instead, he condensed the solar essence. As he had just been training, a large amount of solar essence had gathered around, so it wasn’t difficult for Lin Tian to condense it.

Normally, the physical eye cannot see the solar essence, not even experts like Ling Zishan and Ling Xuesong, who can only sense it.

But as Lin Tian condensed it, a ball of white light began to faintly appear, and the frequency of its flashes increased until it stabilized. On Lin Tian’s palm appeared a ball of white light, dazzling and scorching, like a small sun.

Looking at this energy, Lin Tian finally understood why the sun was so harmful to the yin souls of the Netherworld. Its extremely masculine and firm power was a natural counter.

Lin Tian was a zombie, also a Yin Sha thing, so he originally would be restrained by this power. However, the Nu Ba lineage was too unique; they could cultivate fire power, so the solar essence energy became a supplement for him instead.

"Indeed, your talent is exceptional, succeeding on the first try. Not bad, not bad." Zhuge Cai Zhe praised.

"Now, use this energy to control this leaf." Ling Xuesong picked up a leaf from the ground and handed it to Lin Tian.

The leaf fluttered down, and just as it passed in front of him, Lin Tian suddenly released the energy ball. With a whoosh, a gust of wind blew, sending the leaf flying until it hit a nearby tree trunk. But embarrassingly, not even a bit of bark fell off.

"Uh, it’s always like this when you’re starting out. Even though a leaf is light, it’s actually not easy to control because before you master it, the leaf can’t withstand stronger forces, so it lacks lethality. On the contrary, using your own sword would be best, as you’re most familiar with it." Ling Xuesong wasn’t disappointed, instead, he patiently explained.

"My sword?" Lin Tian murmured, gesturing with his hand. The Heavenly Tribulation Sword materialized and then plunged into the ground.

Lin Tian’s finger tapped on the sword’s hilt, and a dot of Purple Flame spread, igniting the entire sword. His hand was one arm’s length from the sword as he grabbed at the air. Meanwhile, Lin Tian sensed the surrounding fire attribute energy and gathered it toward the Heavenly Tribulation Sword.

Ling Xuesong and the other two did not interrupt Lin Tian, allowing him to train freely.

Buzz buzz buzz...

The Heavenly Tribulation Sword began to vibrate, emitting a sword humming sound, as if it was about to fly, but no matter how hard Lin Tian tried, it just vibrated and couldn’t leave the ground.

"Master, the energy you’re controlling is too weak, you can’t even overcome gravity." The Sword Spirit reminded him.

Although the Sword Spirit couldn’t perform Sword Control, it could leap, and when the Heavenly Tribulation Sword was first born, it escaped through leaping, so in a sense, it controlled better than Lin Tian now.

"Can’t even overcome gravity?" Lin Tian felt a bit dejected. If he couldn’t even manage Sword Control, how could he ever fly like Nu Ba?

Sigh...

Lin Tian exhaled deeply and withdrew the Purple Flame, not trying again. Of course, it wasn’t because he was discouraged or giving up, but because he knew that at his current level, he couldn’t yet use the Heavenly Tribulation Sword in the air.

However, Lin Tian knew that he had already found the right path. As long as he continued to train this way, sooner or later he would achieve the goal of Sword Control. Moreover, after training in the third Chapter of the Beast Hide Cultivation Technique and unblocking more meridians to increase his strength, training Sword Control would be twice as effective.

"Lin Tian, don’t be disheartened. For a beginner, you’ve already done well to reach this point. I can sense that your Purple Flame Energy has great potential; it just needs time to cultivate." Ling Zishan consoled, thinking that Lin Tian was discouraged.

Lin Tian put away the Heavenly Tribulation Sword and laughed openly, "Don’t worry, Aunt Ling. The word ’give up’ isn’t even in my dictionary..."

He was about to say more when someone rushed in from outside. There weren’t many people who could come and go freely in the back mountain, and it was Little La Jiao, Ling Shuiyao.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she exclaimed in surprise, "Why is it so hot in the courtyard so early in the morning? What are you all doing?"

Then she noticed Ling Xuesong’s face was smudged with soot and asked even more curiously, "Great Grandpa, what happened to you? Just climbed out of a chimney? You all are up to something."

"Shuiyao, don’t be so disrespectful and rowdy, or you’ll make Lin Tian laugh." Ling Zishan glared at her, admonishing.

"I treat Lin Tian as one of us, that’s why. In front of outsiders, I’m still a well-mannered child." Ling Shuiyao giggled, holding Ling Zishan’s hand and shaking it, acting all spoiled.

Ling Zishan looked helpless and said, "Early in the morning, why aren’t you training properly? What are you doing here in the back mountain?"

"Oh, I almost forgot something important because of all of you interrupting me." Ling Shuiyao seemed to have just realized it, though she had been talking nonstop. Little La Jiao mysteriously said, "We caught someone near the forbidden area of the treasury."

"Someone trespassed in the treasury?" Ling Zishan furrowed her eyebrows, her voice slightly somber.

Ling Xuesong, however, laughed lightly and said, "The Ling Family is hosting the Ancient Martial Arts competition, gathering Ancient Martial Artists from all over. It’s probably some petty thief having mischievous thoughts."

"Do you know who this thief is?" Ling Shuiyao smiled even more mysteriously, and there was a hint of schadenfreude.

"Situ Ruoling?" Lin Tian’s heart stirred, guessing.

Ling Shuiyao was startled and said, "How did you know?"

From her reaction, everyone knew that Lin Tian had guessed correctly. Ling Xuesong also furrowed his brow and said, "So, it’s someone from the Situ family."

Lin Tian scratched his forehead, recalling last night’s events, and couldn’t help but say, "Last night Situ Ruoling came to the back mountain to see me, talking about fulfilling a bet and causing a big commotion. Thinking back now, with her proud and ruthless character, she couldn’t possibly fulfill such a bet. She probably came to the back mountain to probe the situation."

"It’s a good thing you, the big scoundrel, resisted the temptation and didn’t fall for her honey trap." Ling Shuiyao patted Lin Tian’s shoulder, looking very appreciative.

But she was glared at by Ling Zishan immediately after she had finished speaking, clearly showing that the term "big scoundrel" was problematic.

Ling Zishan didn’t further reprimand her but instead asked, "Where is Situ Ruoling locked up now?"

"She’s in the little black room. It’s not like we’re going to give her a warm welcome." Ling Shuiyao said matter-of-factly. Having finally caught an opportunity, she was thinking about how to teach Situ Ruoling a lesson.