Chapter Eighteen: This Time, He Even Duped His Own Father

The chill gradually dissipated in the garden. Everyone stared in astonishment at the leopard behind Linley; its front paws were raised, still in a walking posture, frozen into what looked like a beautiful work of art.

"This ice sculpture is incredible..."

"So this is the power of a cultivator!"

The sorcerers were stirred, their hearts racing; those witnessing it for the first time were especially excited, casting spells to record the moment.

The bear monster in front of Linley remained unscathed, prompting him to mutter, "See, it failed again. Maybe there’s something wrong with the rune."

The earring chuckled; the power just now certainly didn’t count as a failure, though Linley’s control over the direction was indeed questionable.

"I think I understand your situation now," said the earring. "You can't properly utilize the true energy within you. All your internal power is being used to strengthen your body, so when you try to release it externally, errors are bound to happen."

"What should I do?"

"Practice, practice endlessly," the earring replied. "We don’t have the cultivation techniques of cultivators, so controlling true energy is a real challenge. You can only diligently practice."

It suggested, "Next, show me the Blast Spell."

Blast Spell was one of the runes the earring had given Linley, but he had never practiced it. He crouched down and rummaged through his rune pouch.

Taking advantage of the moment, the earring asked, "Where did you learn that Frost River Reflection Fist?"

"Ah, I learned it from the rune you gave me," Linley replied, finding the Blast Spell rune.

"I gave you a freezing rune, didn’t I?" The earring was puzzled.

"The name didn’t sound good."

Linley answered, having changed the name himself. Frost River Reflection Fist did sound much cooler.

"I’m starting now."

He pinched the Blast Spell rune between two fingers, channeling his true energy into it. Soon, the rune was enveloped in a red glow.

"His Highness is practicing Blast Spell."

"What effect will it have this time?"

The sorcerers watched intently as the rune in Linley’s fingers emitted a familiar aura—the aura of flame. Linley had transformed his true energy into fire.

"Blast Spell!"

Linley threw the rune; it flashed by and disappeared.

It vanished without a trace. The sorcerers widened their eyes, searching for a long time, but nowhere could they find the rune.

"Where did it go?"

"How could it just disappear?"

The sorcerers were puzzled, but the earring was the first to notice, "To the left!"

As soon as it spoke, a loud explosion erupted on the left side of the garden.

"Ah!" A sorcerer screamed as he was blasted away.

One of the garden guards thought he saw something flash past. Turning his head, he found a bright red object right before his eyes. He stared blankly, and it took him a moment to realize it was a backside—a backside hanging from a tree, with charred paper stuck to it.

"Why is there paper on this backside?"

While his thoughts lingered there, the sorcerers were already gaping at their colleague hanging from the tree.

"It exploded..."

"What happened?"

"That paper—wait, wasn’t that rune His Highness’s Blast Spell?"

"How did it fly over there?"

"Why did the Blast Spell end up on his backside!"

The sorcerers felt a chill at their backs; apart from profound sympathy for their unlucky colleague, a touch of fear rose within them. Linley’s spell this time wasn’t cast backwards, but to the left. Could his power burst forth at random locations?

Everyone present was a powerful sorcerer, yet aside from the guardian, none had detected the rune’s trajectory in advance. It was unnervingly strange.

Though the rune’s power was limited this time, if all Linley’s spells worked like this in the future, his attacks would be nearly impossible to guard against; no one could predict where his power would strike.

No matter how strong a person is, he will fear such unpredictable forces.

Linley stared blankly at the old man hanging from the tree.

"I did it!" He leapt with joy. "This move is awesome! I smashed someone right onto the tree!"

He took an immediate liking to Blast Spell, picking up the rune and memorizing its inscription. The move was so impressive, he was determined to master it without relying on the rune.

The sorcerers hurried to rescue their companion. The unfortunate sorcerer was not dead, merely unconscious. Another sorcerer dispelled the freezing spell on the leopard, which trembled as it emerged from the icy sculpture, overwhelmed by the bliss of simply being alive.

"Thank you..."

It thanked the sorcerer who freed it—the very one who had given it a book last time.

"What just happened?"

The leopard still had no idea why it had been frozen, or why the garden was now in chaos and the sorcerers were frantically rescuing someone.

The sorcerer explained what had happened. The leopard realized it had been struck by Linley’s fist, and its limbs nearly gave way in terror.

Too terrifying. Is that the power of cultivation? The man had clearly punched forward; how did the blow freeze it from behind?

Upon hearing that Linley had blasted a sorcerer onto a tree with Blast Spell, the leopard grew even more fearful. It had been mistaken all along. Not only was Linley physically powerful, but his magical prowess was equally formidable!

"I was too naive. Until my strength is restored, I can’t make a move against him."

The leopard shook in fright, realizing that any attempt at revenge would be suicidal!

Linley had no inkling of the leopard’s thoughts. He memorized the rune’s inscription, and without waiting for the earring’s instructions, stepped forward of his own accord.

"Ahem, next I’ll practice my ultimate skill."

The sorcerers and the leopard in the garden all froze, casting fearful glances his way.

What would the little demon try this time!

"My ultimate skill is called Blast—no, wait, it’s called Infinite Divine Power."

Linley declared righteously, but the others’ faces fell. Blast Spell—you were just about to say Blast Spell, weren’t you? Ultimate skill? Isn’t this just the same move as before? And you changed the name again!

"I’ll begin now."

Linley took a deep breath, crouched down, struck a pose with both hands, and gathered all his strongest power into his palms.

The sorcerers grew nervous, shielding their backsides and watching Linley anxiously—would the Blast Spell be as unpredictable as before?

"Behold—Vast Ocean Unbounded!"

Linley shouted, pushing forward with both hands. Instantly, a wild gale swept the garden.

The sorcerers’ expressions changed dramatically. Such powerful force! The scene was clearly different from before. What was happening—had he truly mastered some peerless skill?

They closely tracked the wind’s trajectory, but it didn’t linger in the garden; in a flash, it swept onward toward the distance—so it wouldn’t detonate nearby.

The sorcerers relaxed, only to realize the direction was somewhat problematic.

"Isn’t that..."

"The council hall, I think."

Half a minute later, explosions thundered from the council hall.

The palace bells rang out urgently.

"Enemy attack, enemy attack!"

"Royal physician, summon the physician—His Majesty’s backside has exploded!"

The distant shrieks of guards reached them. The garden fell into a deathly silence; the sorcerers stared blankly for a long time, then all turned their gaze to Linley.

Linley scratched his head.

"What a beautiful day. I’m feeling sleepy—I think I’ll go back and take a nap!"

He turned and ran.

Trouble! This time he’d even gotten his own father in trouble!