"Master, you've misunderstood. Here's what happened: that day, I found two skeletons in a cave..."
Lin Jichen hurriedly recounted the entire incident.
After listening, Leng Feiyan nodded slightly, showing no intention of blaming Lin Jichen anymore.
"It seems this is your own fortune. I misunderstood you. Learning an additional Spirit Skill will be beneficial for you, especially when you head to the Thunder Marsh."
As Leng Feiyan spoke, she took out two items and handed them to Lin Jichen.
"Master, what are these?" Lin Jichen asked, puzzled.
Leng Feiyan's expression was a bit evasive as she said, "These are your rewards for defeating me earlier. Although you used... some underhanded methods to win, I keep my promises."
Recalling the scene from earlier, Leng Feiyan felt a strange sensation in her chest and quickly turned her head to pretend to look at the bright moon in the night sky.
Lin Jichen, however, was overjoyed. He had thought that using such despicable means to take advantage of his master would surely make her angry and that she wouldn't give him any rewards.
Unexpectedly, the rewards still came, and there were two of them!
Master still cares about me, heh heh~
In his hands were two rewards: a skill book and a ring.
[Mysterious Grade Spirit Skill · Autumn's Lament Slash]:
Passive Effect: During combat, each use of a skill forms a layer of 'Autumn's Lament'. Each layer provides 2 points of strength and 2 points of defense, stacking up to 10 layers.
The passive effect lasts for 2 minutes. If a skill is used within 2 minutes, the time resets. If no skills are used or if combat ends, the passive effect disappears.
Active Effect: Converts Autumn's Lament into sword intent and releases it at the opponent. At least 1 layer of Autumn's Lament is required to activate the effect, with each layer causing a minimum of 200 base skill damage.
Cooldown: 30 minutes, Mana Consumption: 1000 points.
Note: As long as the active effect is not used, the passive effect does not enter cooldown and does not consume mana.
Requirement: Sword Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm with 70 points of innate attributes or higher.
Seeing this skill, Lin Jichen could only exclaim, "Amazing!"
This skill could both attack and defend, with dual active and passive effects.
The passive effect increased his strength and defense by 2 points each with every skill used, up to a maximum of 20 points each.
The active effect released all accumulated passive effects, dealing a minimum of 200 skill damage and up to 2000.
This Spirit Skill was incredibly versatile, combining the passive benefits of a heart technique with the power of a skill.
Both aspects were present. In his previous life, Lin Jichen had never seen such an impressive Mysterious Grade Spirit Skill sword technique.
Like the Phoenix Feather, it had never appeared in the Tale of Immortal.
It was one of Leng Feiyan's exclusive private collections.
Then he looked at the ring, which was crystal clear and dark purple, clearly not an Ordinary Grade item.
[Mysterious Grade · Purple Essence Ring]: Innate Charm +1, Backpack Space +1000 slots.
This was the first time in this life that Lin Jichen had seen equipment that increased innate attributes.
The Youth Retaining Pill was an elixir and didn't count, plus it was an Earth Grade Youth Retaining Pill.
This ring was only Mysterious Grade, and he had never seen a Mysterious Grade item that increased innate attributes. He could only admit that he was still too ignorant.
The items in the hands of a master were never ordinary.
Although the innate attribute increase wasn't much, the 1000 slots of backpack space were incredibly valuable.
He wouldn't have to worry about running out of space in his ring and constantly needing to clear it out.
His Spirit Grade Stone Sinking Ring only had 100 slots, which was quite spacious, but compared to the Purple Essence Ring, it was insignificant.
After learning the skill and putting on the ring, Lin Jichen was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Master, for your generosity!"
Leng Feiyan smiled slightly but said with concern, "You are about to head to the Thunder Marsh. I hope these two items will help you. Remember, the Thunder Marsh is extremely dangerous. Don't be reckless. If you encounter an unbeatable enemy, run away. There's no shame in that."
"I will remember, Master. I will return safely. When I come back, I'll take you on a date... I mean, to comprehend the Dao Heart," Lin Jichen said with a smile.
Leng Feiyan, however, declined.
"This time, I won't be able to go with you for a while."
Leng Feiyan explained, "After traveling with you in the mortal world, I've gained some insights. Once you break through to the Crystal Formation, I plan to go into seclusion for a while."
"What? How long will you be in seclusion?"
Lin Jichen was anxious. His golden opportunity—was it slipping away just like that?
Leng Feiyan thought Lin Jichen was reluctant to part with her and felt touched. She comforted him, "Don't worry. I have a feeling it will be a short seclusion, lasting from half a month to two months at most."
Lin Jichen breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost thought it would be several years, which would have ruined his happy days.
"Master, why don't you go into seclusion right away? Don't let my matters delay you," Lin Jichen urged.
The sooner she went into seclusion, the sooner she would come out.
But Leng Feiyan still refused, saying, "No need. I won't have peace of mind for seclusion until I see you successfully break through. Otherwise, it might give rise to inner demons. I'll wait until after you break through to the Crystal Formation."
Leng Feiyan glanced at the still unconscious Master Jinghui and said, "Besides, I need to visit Tianyin Temple."
"Alright, I won't let you down, Master. I will successfully cross this tribulation!" Lin Jichen clenched his fists.
With Leng Feiyan valuing him so much, he had to succeed in crossing the tribulation.
"With that confidence, I can rest assured. By the way, after you reach Crystal Formation, before I go into seclusion, I'll treat you to a meal," Leng Feiyan said.
"A meal?" Lin Jichen was taken aback.
"Yes, this time in Everwinter City, you treated me to so many things. I also want to treat you once. Tell me what you like to eat, and I'll have disciples procure it from the best restaurants in the mortal world."
Lin Jichen hadn't expected Leng Feiyan to plan to treat him to a meal. He thought for a moment and asked expectantly, "Master, can I eat... something you cook?"
The way he stretched the word "you" almost made Leng Feiyan misunderstand.
"Something I cook? But I've never cooked before," Leng Feiyan said, troubled.
"No problem, as long as it's made by you," Lin Jichen said nonchalantly.
Leng Feiyan pouted slightly and said, "Then why didn't you think of cooking for me when you treated me?"
Lin Jichen was stunned and then laughed awkwardly, "You're right. Never mind, let's just have some delicacies from the mortal world."
Leng Feiyan smiled without responding, but she was secretly considering trying to cook for her disciple.
The Azure Phoenix flew back to the Sword Sect at an incredible speed.
Leng Feiyan casually tossed Master Jinghui onto Quiet Reflection Cliff and then took Lin Jichen back to the Sword Palace.
They had spent the entire day outside, and it was already dawn.
Leng Feiyan knew Lin Jichen was about to depart for the Thunder Marsh and repeatedly reminded him to be careful.
She wanted to give Lin Jichen a Soul Talisman.
But for the sake of Lin Jichen's future growth, she restrained herself.
If Lin Jichen had a Soul Talisman, he would become dependent on it and would never become a true strong cultivator.
Her father had treated her the same way, and she had grown through it.