Chapter 56: Talent Assessment

"You concede!"

At the martial arts school's entrance, Fang Can bowed to the disciples who had gathered around his master.

Saying this, Fang Can pulled out two hundred taels in silver notes from his pocket: "This is compensation for the damage, plus two days' rest expenses for Master Jin. My apologies for the disturbance."

With those words, Fang Can turned and ran off, leaving the disciples staring at their master in stunned silence, unsure what to say.

"This guy really came just to spar?" a few disciples couldn't help saying, then picked up the silver notes nearby: "He's actually pretty decent."

……

After a simple warm-up, Fang Can ran swiftly to a remote mountain area, deep and seldom visited, to reflect on the results of this battle.

This Master Jin was undoubtedly the strongest opponent he'd faced since the Four Guards of the Tiger Demon Sect's leader—his openings were painfully few, but not nonexistent.

Some of his techniques had minute flaws; since Fang Can intended to fully master and integrate all forms, he naturally needed to patch those gaps.

Yet this battle also served as a wake-up call for Fang Can: his stamina bar was long, but his Mind Phase blue bar was far too short.

If he encountered a Mind Phase expert and failed to defeat them before depleting his blue bar, he would lose.

Put another way, if just ten warriors of Master Jin's caliber had simultaneously attacked him using their Mind Phases, his Mind Phase would have been drained in mere seconds.

He would then be slaughtered without resistance.

Had this scenario not been revealed through this sparring session, and instead surfaced suddenly during a group ambush, he might have suffered a devastating blow.

'I need to manifest a technique similar to a Mind Seal.' Fang Can frowned inwardly.

After all, Mind Phase affects only the mind, not the physical body—it cannot even lift a needle or damage a single cell.

If so, then if he completely sealed his spirit, rendering it as lifeless as an inanimate object, and hardened his consciousness like stone, Mind Phase would have no effect on him whatsoever.

At that point, combat would become a pure contest of physical strength, with everyone's Mind Phases neutralized.

For a moment, Fang Can was torn—his skill tree had too many branches to invest in.

Whether modifying the Great Sun Indestructible Demon Body or the Subdue Tiger Subdue Dragon Golden Body, or creating a new Mind Seal technique, all would demand immense time.

Of course, though it's troublesome now, if he fully unlocked all these skills, his power would become nearly unmatched within the Transformation of the Mortal Body realm.

'The path of martial arts is long and arduous…' Fang Can sighed, then froze, looking down at his arms.

His skin had turned a deep crimson from engorged blood, and his vision remained perpetually veiled by a red haze.

"I forgot to turn off the Evil Tiger Shishen Technique," Fang Can muttered silently, looking up at the sky.

The noon sun shone upon him, and with his second talent, 【Unyielding Resilience】, it continuously replenished the depletion caused by the Evil Tiger Shishen Technique.

"Feels like… at this consumption rate, I can sustain it for at least another half-hour," Fang Can thought coldly.

Not to mention that as his blood bar drains further, his second talent's healing speed will continue increasing.

So… as long as his body can endure the strain, he might maintain this burst state indefinitely.

"Huh…" Fang Can exhaled softly, his eyes returning to normal, his engorged muscles regaining their Bai Xi hue, replaced only by a faint hunger.

He stretched his limbs lightly.

He could clearly sense that this technique, described as severely depleting one's foundation, posed no real issue for him now, stacked with dual buffs.

"Puh." He spat out a small amount of stagnant crimson blood from within, wiped his lips, and nodded in satisfaction.

Losing a bit of blood was a trivial cost—his blood replenished with every breath. Clearly, he could now use this technique frequently without restraint.

After resting briefly in place, Fang Can walked slowly along a back path back to the Rising Sun Martial Arts School.

Ye Yonglie had been waiting for a long time; upon seeing Fang Can return, he hurried forward, delighted: "Master, congratulations on your victorious return."

"Prepare a full meal for me—I'm starving," Fang Can said, clutching his stomach.

"Naturally, I've already instructed the servants to prepare it; you need only wait a moment," Ye Yonglie replied respectfully.

Watching Ye Yonglie prepare to welcome him with a feast, Fang Can gradually grew accustomed to the man's devout demeanor.

"Tomorrow, pick out three more Mind Phase martial artists for me—I'll keep fighting."

With those words, Fang Can turned and left, heading toward Ye Qingshi's chambers.

Inside, the girl sat with her cheek propped on her hand, facing him sideways.

Her flawless face bore long, silken black hair, a few strands gently brushing her Bai Xi cheeks, adding softness and elegance.

Hearing the door open, Ye Qingshi turned to Fang Can, her eyes heavy with resentment.

She had wanted to flee, but under her father's stern gaze, she knew at once she couldn't escape.

Thinking of how she'd been treated like a mere object today, the girl clenched her teeth, glaring at the boy: "Fang Can! I want to learn martial arts—I won't be treated like cargo anymore!"

"You can't do it," Fang Can replied flatly. "Martial training is hard."

"I can endure it!"

"Your talent is all on your face. This so-called determination is just fleeting enthusiasm—you'll slack off in two days."

Fang Can glanced at the girl. Her beauty had nothing to do with intelligence, willpower, or aptitude. Someone as handsome and gifted as himself was rare indeed.

"So give up," Fang Can said slowly.

"Does that mean someone without talent truly can't learn Wu Gong?" Ye Qingshi asked, disappointed.

"Not necessarily—but your talent is truly terrible, unprecedentedly bad," Fang Can sighed.

Meeting Ye Qingshi's puzzled gaze, Fang Can said slowly:

"Just now was a small test—I didn't even know your true talent level."

"But when I said your talent was poor, you didn't doubt me—you truly believed you were talentless."

"If you don't even believe in yourself, who can you believe in? That kind of easily swayed mindset has no martial aptitude whatsoever."

"Martial arts demand single-minded persistence. Someone like you, who doubts themselves so easily, will never achieve much."

"You just tricked me!" Ye Qingshi widened her eyes.

"You fell for such a simple trick—how can you claim you're not talentless? You're utterly lacking in willpower."

"No, I don't believe I'm talentless. Trick me again—I won't be fooled this time," Ye Qingshi declared firmly.

"Do you think this is a brain teaser where you can still back out? What are you playing at?"

Fang Can said speechlessly: "Hurry up and obediently come over to hug me, you idiot!"

Seems like we're hitting the Sanjiang list today, awesome!!!

First time on Sanjiang since I started writing, I'm so excited.

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(End of Chapter)