Chapter 65: Lin Moyi Vs Jiang Feng

Excitement rose within Jiang Feng as he thought about getting the chance to test himself and even though he knew that Lin Moyi wouldn't take him serious due to the massive power gap, he still wanted to test himself out. It was only then that Jiang Feng noticed something different about the elder. "Wait... when did your hair turn black?" he asked, his expression shifting from determination to astonishment.

Lin Moyi chuckled, running a hand through the streaks of dark hair that now wove through the gray. "The further one progresses on the path of cultivation, the more their body reflects their connection to heaven and earth. Once you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, your physical form begins to change. Your body becomes more spirit than flesh, allowing it to communicate with the natural world more freely. Longevity follows—at this stage, a cultivator's lifespan extends to three thousand years, provided they aren't killed by another. Looking a little younger is just a side effect."

Jiang Feng tilted his head, processing this revelation. "Congratulations on your breakthrough," he said earnestly. "No wonder you can fly now. I guess the ability to fly comes with reaching the Nascent Soul stage?"

Lin Moyi's smile widened at Jiang Feng's sharp observation. "That's right. Once the body becomes more attuned to heaven and earth, you can manipulate spiritual energy to sustain flight. It's one of the gifts of this stage."

Jiang Feng grinned. "I'm truly happy for you, old man. You've earned this."

"Enough talking," Lin Moyi said, cutting him off with a grin of his own. He opened his hand, assuming a combative stance. "Attack."

Jiang Feng stepped back, his own grin fading into a look of determination but a hint of dark savagery was mixed in though hardly noticeable. His muscles tensed as he prepared to face the elder, knowing full well that this would be no easy test.

"Remember, you must never release that dragon or use dark energy," Lin Moyi warned, his tone firm as his usual lighthearted demeanor faded. "Even though I've isolated the space around us, those two types of power could still leak through and alarm the city. You must tread carefully."

Jiang Feng nodded seriously. "Got it." He took a deep breath, lowering his stance as his body began to hum with power. His mastery of Infernal Breathing ignited the spiritual energy within him, causing it to heat up like molten steel. Deep within, his Essence lake—a staggering three thousand meters wide—surged with potent energy.

Lin Moyi observed him closely, then spoke. "Consider this your first real training session. I'll suppress my cultivation to the first Essence Condensation stage and gradually increase it as we fight. This will help me gauge your true strength and determine the level at which you can battle effectively."

With a flick of his fingers, Lin Moyi formed a complex hand seal. His aura dimmed, and his once overwhelming presence shrank, settling into the restrained energy of the first Essence Condensation stage.

"Ha!"

Jiang Feng launched forward, the air around him igniting with the intensity of his movement. Each step carried him faster, leaving faint scorch marks on the ground as his blood surged with excitement. His muscles strained and sang with anticipation as he threw a powerful punch, compressing the air into a sharp blast.

Lin Moyi met the attack calmly, taking a deep breath before releasing a gale-force burst of wind from his palms. The two forces collided with a deafening bang, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

The clash didn't faze Jiang Feng. He pressed forward, undeterred, his fiery aura intensifying as he closed the gap.

"Not bad," Lin Moyi remarked, sidestepping at the last moment to avoid the punch. "But remember this—no opponent will stand still and wait for you to land a hit. It doesn't matter how strong you are if you can't lock your target down. Anticipate movement, and plan your attacks accordingly."

Jiang Feng listened intently, his mind absorbing the elder's words like a sponge. Inside his consciousness, a golden book materialized, its pages flipping rapidly as the words fell into place. This mental construct, unknown even to Jiang Feng himself, was the manifestation of the Eternal Flame Codex, heightening his comprehension at an incredible rate.

Adapting instantly, Jiang Feng twisted his body mid-strike, launching a spinning kick. Blue flames erupted from his movement, forming a circular cage of fire around the two combatants.

Lin Moyi's eyes widened slightly. "Hmm?"

The elder dodged the strike but quickly found himself enclosed by the blazing barrier. Jiang Feng pressed the attack, his strikes relentless despite his lack of formal combat techniques or refined footwork. He had no battle skills to draw from, only raw instinct and the memories of survival from his harrowing journey.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The two clashed within the flaming cage, Jiang Feng's aggression countered by Lin Moyi's calculated defense. Each strike was met with a gale of wind as Lin Moyi conjured currents as solid as brick walls to fend off the flames.

'This kid is unbelievable,' Lin Moyi thought, his cultivation subtly rising to the third Essence Condensation stage. Even then, Jiang Feng kept pace, his attacks as fierce as ever. 'He fights with a killer's intent. The experiences he endured between Lin Village and evading the Shadow Church have shaped him into a fighter who prioritizes direct, decisive action. He's not just talented—he's battle-hardened.'

With a sudden burst of speed, Lin Moyi landed a clean hit on Jiang Feng's chest, sending him flying backward. Jiang Feng slammed into the invisible barrier of spiritual energy surrounding the space, the impact reverberating through his body.

Jiang Feng grunted, his chest aching as if struck by a sledgehammer. But just as quickly as the pain came, it vanished. He looked down, startled to see black, scale-like patterns spreading across his body.

"What... is this?" Jiang Feng muttered, watching the scales materialize. Though they appeared physical, they pulsed faintly with spiritual energy, as though they weren't entirely real. "Is this Draconic Resilience? But how did it activate? And when did I learn it?"

Unbeknownst to him, the Eternal Flame Codex had enhanced his comprehension abilities far beyond normal limits, allowing him to instinctively tap into latent powers he had yet to fully understand.

Lin Moyi raised a hand, signaling an end to the sparring session. "We'll stop here. I don't want you using that ability for now. I've gauged your strength—it's remarkable. You can fight effectively up to the fifth level of the Essence Condensation stage without relying on spirit projection and dark energy. That's no small feat."

Jiang Feng sat on the ground as the black scales receded into his body. "Is that a good thing?" he asked, brushing off the dust on his robes.

Lin Moyi walked over to a nearby bench and settled down. A table floated toward him, carried by his spiritual force, before setting down gently beside him. Two cups of tea sat atop it. With a flick of his wrist, one cup floated over to Jiang Feng.

"Tea calms the mind," Lin Moyi said, taking a sip. "It helps you think clearly and develop patience. Go on, try it."

Jiang Feng took a sip but felt nothing out of the ordinary. Seeing his puzzled expression, Lin Moyi chuckled softly.

"The fact that you can fight four levels above your own is incredible," he continued. "Even among the so-called geniuses of Northern Moon, only the most gifted can manage to fight one or two levels above their cultivation. And those are considered the best of the best."

"Oh," Jiang Feng replied, his tone neutral, though he listened attentively.

"You still have much to learn about cultivation," Lin Moyi said, setting his cup down. "Let me explain. The Foundation stage lays the groundwork for everything that comes after. Blood, muscle, and bone, Nine Meridians—these are the pillars of the body that must be refined first. Only when one reaches the Essence stage does the focus shift to strengthening the internal organs.

"This is because, at the Foundation stage, a cultivator lacks the control needed to handle the power required to strengthen their organs. One mistake, and they could destroy themselves from the inside out. But with a strong foundation, you can build on it safely, progressing further than those with weak beginnings."

Jiang Feng nodded, absorbing every word. Though his journey had only just begun, he couldn't help but feel a spark of pride at how far he'd come. Yet, he also knew this was merely the start.

'Wait, we should only cultivate the internal organs at the Essence stage? But I've already completed it and I have twelve meridians not nine!'