Chapter Eighty-Seven: Similar Powers

Hu Mo, caught off guard by her scolding and feeling guilty, turned pale at once. He straightened up hurriedly and tried to explain, “I… actually…”

“No more excuses! It seems if I don’t give you a proper punishment this time, you’ll be stripping my clothes next!” Cang Ling sat up, hands on her hips, looking as if she was about to have it out with Hu Mo.

With a wail, Hu Mo shouted his apologies and bolted from the room. He never noticed Cang Ling behind him, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter, absolutely delighted and smug.

“Such poor self-control. Clearly, I’ll have to train him more in the future,” Cang Ling muttered to herself, lying back on her bed to continue her dreams.

Only after leaving the room did Hu Mo’s heart finally calm a little. That was close—if he’d run any slower just now, Cang Ling would have used any means at her disposal. He slapped his forehead, deeply annoyed, and said, “I really must have lost my mind—how could my self-restraint have become this weak?”

After glancing at the maids in the manor a few times, his mind finally settled, especially that troublesome fire in his lower abdomen, which had now completely vanished.

He had barely taken a few steps when thunderous booms echoed from the Hu Manor’s training ground, followed by waves of cold air sweeping in from that direction. The temperature in the manor suddenly dropped by over ten degrees, clearing his mind at once.

Perplexed, Hu Mo activated his “Lingbo Wind and Cloud” technique and sped swiftly toward the commotion. When he steadied himself, he realized all this was Lin Nan’s doing.

Lin Nan’s body moved like a nimble swallow, sometimes soaring through the air, sometimes leaping lightly as if riding the wind. The power of water rippled from her, sometimes rushing forth like the Yellow River, sometimes biting and cold like the icy rivers of the northern wilderness, sometimes murmuring gently like a brook, sometimes falling with the soft touch of spring rain.

The myriad forms of water found their most perfect expression in Lin Nan. Even Hu Mo, who practiced the Water God Transformation, could not match her.

“Excellent! Truly superb—such a formidable movement technique, such a powerful battle art! No wonder you refused my battle techniques—could it be yours is of the Heavenly rank?” Hu Mo walked over with a smile, obvious admiration in his tone. Indeed, aside from his own Water God Transformation, Lin Nan’s technique was the finest he had ever seen.

Lin Nan turned her head, meeting Hu Mo’s smiling expression. Her face immediately grew cold, and she reverted to her former demeanor.

“You flatter me, Marshal. It’s just an ordinary battle technique, nothing noteworthy,” Lin Nan replied in a low voice, her tone tinged with impatience.

Hu Mo gave a wry smile and said pitifully, “Come on, Sister Lin Nan, do you have to glare at me every time you see me? I haven’t offended you! Yesterday you all tormented me the whole afternoon—almost cost me my life, and I didn’t even blink. Now I just ask a question and you roll your eyes at me like this—how am I not supposed to feel hurt? Sigh…”

As he spoke, Hu Mo turned as if to leave. Truthfully, he was rather downcast. He’d already upset Cang Ling upon waking, and now even meeting Lin Nan, he was met with this kind of treatment—it left him thoroughly depressed.

Lin Nan’s expression changed slightly. Seeing Hu Mo about to go, she felt a sudden, inexplicable panic and quickly called out, “Hey, wait!”

Hu Mo stopped as if frozen in place, slowly turned around with a distressed face, and said, “What is it, Sister Lin? Don’t tell me you’re going to lose your temper with me again. I surrender, is that enough?”

“Ah, no, I…” Lin Nan suddenly felt an odd nervousness. Hu Mo’s words had unsettled her emotions. She stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do, her demeanor making Hu Mo nervous as well.

Hu Mo hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Lin Nan, and wondered if he’d spoken too harshly.

His face showed a trace of apology as he quickly said, “Sorry, sorry, it was my fault. Heh, I was careless to ask such a question out of the blue, it was improper of me. I apologize, is that all right?”

Lin Nan looked at Hu Mo’s apologetic face, and her expression softened a little, her tone easing as she said, “This is the innate battle technique of the Water Primordial Body. I don’t know what rank it is—I only know it’s the most suitable technique for me.”

Though Cang Ling had sealed off the aura of Lin Nan’s Water Primordial Body, she could still cultivate it, and under Cang Ling’s guidance, her progress had accelerated greatly. Just yesterday, she had broken through to the second-level Battle Warrior, and compared to before, her aura had changed significantly.

Although her cultivation was still far behind Hu Mo’s, there was no telling what the future might hold. In the past, even with her innate technique, Lin Nan could only grope her way forward, resulting in very slow progress. But now, with Cang Ling’s guidance, her cultivation was advancing several times faster than before.

Cang Ling had said that once the Water Primordial Body’s cultivation reached the Battle King level, progress would become even faster, very different from other warriors. Difficult at first, easy later; once the Battle King threshold was crossed, Lin Nan’s future cultivation would be smooth sailing.

Hearing this, Hu Mo understood. As a cursed existence, the Water Primordial Body would lose all its mystery and uniqueness if it did not possess special battle techniques.

He observed the flow of Lin Nan’s battle energy. With his strength dozens of levels above hers, this was not difficult for him.

The pale blue water energy coursed through Lin Nan’s meridians along a unique path. Before long, a map of the energy’s route was outlined before Hu Mo’s eyes, and his expression suddenly became strange.

“So familiar—how does this resemble the Water God Transformation?” Hu Mo muttered, forming seals with his hands. A faint blue light began to flow before him, tracing the exact path of the Water God Transformation.

Now it was Lin Nan’s turn to be surprised. She stepped forward, appearing before Hu Mo, and studied the blue light carefully.

After a while, her eyes widened. “How is this possible? Why is it so similar to my innate battle technique? No, wait, it’s a bit different…”

Lin Nan spoke in a confused jumble, staring at Hu Mo as if he were a monster.

“Heh, I feel it too—there’s some difference, but the essence seems the same. This is the Water God Transformation from the Five Elemental Transformations, one of my exclusive battle techniques. As for why they’re so alike, I really have no idea,” Hu Mo replied lightly. He had never known the true origin of his Five Elemental Transformations, let alone the even more mysterious innate technique of the Water Primordial Body.

“In that case, we’ll have to ask Sister Cang Ling. She might know,” Lin Nan said quietly, her voice much softer. Realizing she had been overly emotional, she quickly resumed her icy demeanor.

Hu Mo knew she meant well, so he said nothing more. With a grin, he was about to turn and leave when a powerful, familiar sense of danger washed over him.

“Meteor Flame Rain!” Cang Ling’s voice rang out suddenly, nearly scattering Hu Mo’s soul.

“Oh, come on, is this necessary?” Hu Mo hurriedly shielded Lin Nan, slamming his palm to the ground. Instantly, a massive ice wall surged up like a tree, quickly sheltering both of them completely.

Cang Ling always struck with precise control, attacking Hu Mo with the maximum force he could withstand, so every time he would end up gasping for breath, barely able to counter her assault.

“Dear Master, is this really necessary?” Hu Mo panted, squatting on the ground, while Lin Nan remained completely unharmed under his protection.

Cang Ling yawned indifferently and said, “Woke up too early, still groggy—can’t even clear my head! You’re such a disappointing disciple.”

Hu Mo wanted nothing more than to smash a piece of tofu over his master’s head. Just to clear her mind, she subjected her obedient and innocent disciple to such intense attacks—utterly unscrupulous.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Don’t forget what you did this morning…”

“Ah, Master, it was my fault! Master’s strikes are just right, truly wonderful, ha ha…” Hu Mo hastily explained. As soon as he spoke, Lin Nan shot him a strange look—any fool could tell something was off with Hu Mo!

Cang Ling snorted, yawned again, and said, “As long as you know. Your master can’t be bothered to argue with some little brat. So, what were you two discussing? What problem can’t you figure out?”

Relieved at the change of topic, Hu Mo immediately replied, “It’s a small matter, but neither Lin Nan nor I understand it. We wanted to ask for your wisdom, Master.”

He dared not offend this living Buddha—who knew what new tricks she might play on him.

“If you don’t understand something, just ask. Lin Nan, you go ahead,” Cang Ling replied in her usual languid tone, looking truly drowsy.

Lin Nan nodded, “Sister Cang Ling, please take a look.”

Her hands quickly formed seals—the innate battle technique activated at once. Hu Mo caught on immediately, and the Water God Transformation started to surge within him. Soon, both he and Cang Ling were enveloped in blue light, and the similarity in the flow of their energy created a strange mutual attraction.

Both Hu Mo and Lin Nan’s faces changed dramatically. They hadn’t noticed it before, but now that they were close, the attraction between these two energies was incredibly strong.

It was a bizarre pull, as if merging, yet also devouring. Lin Nan’s face turned ashen, because the situation had become a one-sided absorption, with Hu Mo in control.

Cang Ling smiled faintly, and with a light flick of her slender hand, easily severed the connection between them. The two of them flew backward and landed gently on opposite sides.

The blue light around them vanished simultaneously. Hu Mo was unharmed, but Lin Nan clearly wasn’t right. Her face was pale, and she could barely stand until Cang Ling caught her.

“What’s going on? Why did this happen?” Hu Mo shouted, furious and agitated.

Cang Ling gently tapped Lin Nan a few times, sending several streams of potent water energy into her body. Very quickly, Lin Nan’s color returned and her breathing steadied.

“There’s nothing surprising about it. You’re using the same source of power. The five elements may be the same, but their yin and yang attributes differ. It’s as simple as that,” Cang Ling said calmly, yawning again.