"This is the Lynx Body Tempering Arts. I believe you can definitely succeed in cultivating it."
5:00 PM.
After Merlin finished his cultivation, he began to teach San Pao hand-in-hand. Seeing Merlin lying on the ground, twisting his body into various difficult movements, San Pao's pupils dilated into circles, and a human-like look of astonishment appeared on its cat face. This was because, with Merlin's body movements and breathing coordination, in its eyes, Merlin seemed like a large lynx.
More flexible than it, fiercer than it, and more like a lynx than it.
A realization quietly appeared in San Pao's eyes. This guy Merlin was a humanoid kin.
Recognition couldn't help but appear in its eyes.
And Yol and Lami beside them also listened intently to Merlin explaining the key points of the Lynx Body Tempering Arts. Their bodies' flexibility had reached the standard during the training in the past six months.
They could also start cultivating.
Soon, the two people and one cat lay on the ground, coordinating their breathing, and began to cultivate.
Merlin constantly corrected their forms from the side: "When you first start cultivating this body tempering art, you need to learn the postures and movements of the lynx. When practice makes perfect later, you won't need to deliberately lie down to cultivate anymore.
"Because by then, you will have learned the true form and intent of the lynx. The muscles and sinews of the body can enter an instinctive imitation state.
"Further on, you can cultivate the dynamic and static forces in the body.
"Still as a virgin, moving like a rabbit.
"That's exactly this state."
Watching the three of them entering the state of cultivation, surprise flashed in Merlin's eyes as he looked at the various standard limb movements made by San Pao:
"Learned quite fast."
But Merlin understood immediately. The Lynx Body Tempering Arts was originally imitating the movement principles of lynx muscles and bones.
After watching them cultivate for a while, Merlin paid no more attention to them and began to think about what creature he would equip next.
The body is the capital of revolution.
He already possessed specialization abilities like "Lightning Reflexes," "Beast Instinct," and "Durable Endurance" that could improve survival tolerance. So what kind should he equip next?
Continue to equip creatures that can obtain such specializations, or equip creatures that can obtain other special expertise?
Tiger? Pronghorn? Horse?
Or electric eel? Hummingbird?
However, after thinking for a short while, Merlin had some general ideas.
Regarding tigers, pronghorns, and horses, they were not found here on Petrel Island. He would have to go to another island not far away, Swallow Island, which had vast plains.
And about Swallow Island, Merlin only learned this after buying a nautical chart of the distribution of islands around Petrel Island during this period.
Divided by east, south, west, and north.
There were three islands with creatures around Petrel Island. Petrel Island was at the southernmost point. To the east-northeast was Minion Island with a perennial winter climate. To the west-northwest was Rubeck Island. And directly north was Swallow Island.
And that place was also in the direction opposite to Petrel Mountain near the dojo.
The shortest distance to get there was to cross Petrel Mountain and take a boat from a port village on the other end of the island.
This was the route to capture fierce beasts like tigers. As for electric eels and hummingbirds, electric eels lived in the freshwater lake area not far from his home, and hummingbirds, Merlin had discovered them on Petrel Mountain before.
However, neither of these creatures was easy to catch. Electric eels were highly dangerous, and hummingbirds were too fragile and could be killed inadvertently.
And Merlin wasn't sure if equipping dead creatures would affect the acquisition of specializations.
Merlin also thought, how about wild boars?
In his previous life, there was a saying praising "one pig, two bears, three tigers," plus the wild boar's excellent characteristics like endurance, thick skin, and virus resistance.
Merlin was a little tempted, but only a little. After all, wild boars also had many shortcomings. If he obtained negative specializations...
After all, the Equipment Slot didn't only grant advantageous specializations of creatures.
And Merlin was relatively lucky not to obtain negative specializations from San Pao.
Like cunning, ferocity, etc.... just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
Let's go see the electric eel first! After all, electricity is a very magical power.
Merlin thought so.
At this time, he took out the pocket watch from his pocket and glanced at the time. It was 6:00 PM. Then, Merlin said to Yol and the others:
"Um, I have something to do and need to go out. You guys go home by yourselves later.
"I'll be back for dinner tonight."
Hearing this, Yol stood up. Although curious, she didn't ask further. After all, he wasn't a child, and she couldn't control him too strictly and scare him.
So she smiled and said: "Alright then, we'll wait for you to come back for dinner tonight."
Merlin nodded with a smile, then glanced at San Pao, who had stood up and trotted over eagerly, and shook his head at him:
"I'm not taking you. You go home with Yol and the others."
Saying this, ignoring the disappointment in San Pao's eyes, he looked at Yol and smiled:
"When you go back to take a bath, give this little guy a wash too!"
Yol blinked, smiled, and nodded:
"Okay, I know. Then remember to come back early."
Merlin nodded, then turned and left the training ground here.
Before long, arriving at the gate, he saw Monde on duty today.
Monde also saw Merlin and immediately smiled:
"Usually you are cultivating at this time. Going out for something?"
Merlin nodded and smiled:
"Something came up. Let's play together when free. Let's go hunting on the mountain together sometime!"
Monde nodded with a naive smile, watching Merlin walk away with a brilliant smile.
At this time, a young man beside him said enviously, "Worthy of a VIP student! So carefree, leaving whenever he wants."
Hearing this, Monde turned his head, staring straight: "Merlin has a very good relationship with Eldest Senior Brother and Eldest Senior Sister. I heard he can already spar with Eldest Senior Brother on par!"
Hearing this, the person shut up instantly, panic flashing in his eyes. He just said a sour remark out of envy, with no malice.
He suddenly thought that Monde had a good relationship with Merlin, so he smiled fawningly:
"Monde, you know I just have a big mouth. I have no malice."
Monde glanced at him. Although his character was naive, he wasn't stupid. He smiled and said:
"Merlin often goes hunting on the mountain. I've seen him personally take down more than ten jungle wolves bare-handed."
He stopped there.
After all, those who understood, understood.
And the latter's face began to turn faintly pale, and he swallowed saliva.
...
The breeze blew gently.
Merlin arrived at the lake not far from the villa area.
The longest diameter of the lake was about three hundred meters, and the shortest was about one hundred meters.
Overall presenting an oval shape.
Ripples appeared on the lake surface in the wind, and a group of wild ducks swam across the water not far away.
A dense forest grew around the lake.
And electric eels generally lived in the turbid areas near the shore in shallow water, with weak light. Merlin looked around and soon arrived at the downstream position of the lake. The lake here was formed by the upwelling of the underground river of Petrel Island.
At this moment, Merlin arrived beside the river channel four meters wide downstream.
This winding small river flowed west from here and finally merged into the sea.
Walking west along the small river.
Before long, he entered a dimly lit forest.
And as he entered the forest, various small animal calls began to appear frequently.
Not long after, Merlin arrived at a tributary of the small river. This was an oval small pool eight meters long and five meters wide, surrounded by tall trees. The environment was dark, the water surface turbid, with many water plants and leaves growing and floating inside.
The pool wasn't deep either, about half a meter at the edge, and the deepest center was only about 1.5 meters deep.
Previously, when Merlin and Yol came here for a run, they learned from a townsman that a monster fish capable of discharging electricity lived in the pool here.
It was said that it had even electrocuted people to death.
Merlin took a deep breath. At this time, he drew his katana from his waist. This was an overall thicker and wider Demon Sword (Cursed Blade).
Total length 101 cm.
Handle length 28 cm.
Blade length 73 cm.
Blade width 3.2 cm.
Blade thickness 0.7 cm.
The cross-guard was in a cross shape.
The blade body was generally straight, but from the middle section to the edge, there was a streamlined curve.
The blade body was generally dull, but at the edge, there were strange dark red flame-like patterns.
The scabbard was black. According to Fiore, it was forged with a composite material and had a metallic texture.
Examining his blade, a long blade that appeared simple and low-profile overall, yet revealed an exquisite and grand atmosphere everywhere.
Demon Sword, Night Earl (Ye Jue).
This was a precious blade that was both heavy and incredibly sharp.
And Night Earl's characteristic was also very simple, which was blood absorption. The blade would quickly absorb the blood stained from the prey's body,
Thereby maintaining its own purity.
And at this very moment.
Holding this fierce weapon that looked like a katana but was thicker and more slender.
Looking at this precious blade, a smile couldn't help appearing in Merlin's eyes. As for why Night Earl was called a Demon Sword?
Merlin remembered the words Fiore said solemnly to him half a year ago:
"The main material for forging the blade was obtained by chance during a ruin exploration when I was young.
"This strange metal has the characteristic of absorbing blood, and holding it in hand for a long time will make people bloodthirsty and murderous.
"And your Night Earl forged from it also has this characteristic.
"I don't know if this is good or bad for you, but since you decided, I won't say more.
"Whether it's good or bad, use it or discard it, it's up to you to decide!"
Strange brilliance flashed in Merlin's eyes. Bloodthirsty and murderous? A negative state that can influence and interfere with the mental level.
That is calamity and suffering, which is a Calamity effect.
And he was someone who would be accompanied by Calamity for life. Calamity? Just his minions.
However, during this period of use, Night Earl indeed had some adverse effects on Merlin's mental state. But after gradually understanding and analyzing the principle of this Calamity effect, Night Earl's mental influence on Merlin had become almost ineffective.
Moreover.
The Lynx Visualization Merlin practiced could increase his mind's resistance to external objects with continuous cultivation.
Just a fierce weapon.
If Merlin was really influenced and became bloodthirsty and murderous, it could only mean that Merlin actively pursued it himself.
At this moment.
Taking a step, Merlin stepped into the pool simply and neatly.
Instantly,
With feet stepping on the mud and water plants at the bottom of the pool, standing in the water covering his knees, Merlin waved Night Earl to stir the water bottom near the shore.
Beating the water to startle the electric eel.