Chapter 384: The Truth Revealed

Zuan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly said, "Of course, Senior has treated me very well. One could even say you've given me a new lease on life."

After all, without the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra that he provided, Zuan wouldn't have had a foundation for cultivation, let alone been able to activate the keyboard system.

"You're a grateful young man. My efforts weren't in vain," Old Man Mi said, nodding with satisfaction.

Zuan couldn't help but feel curious, wondering what Old Man Mi was getting at.

Old Man Mi continued, "You heard our conversation just now. I've had no adopted sons or disciples in my life. In a way, you could say you are my adopted son, my successor."

Seeing him barely alive, his voice growing weaker, Zuan's heart softened. "Senior, your great kindness is something I'll never forget. If you don't mind, I can take care of you in your old age and see you through to the end."

"It's rare to find such filial devotion in you," Old Man Mi chuckled. "Unfortunately, I won't have that fortune."

"Is your injury really that severe, Senior? With your cultivation, shouldn't you recover after some time of rest?" Zuan even considered offering him healing medicine. He had the instant-recovery red potions and Ji Dengtu's miraculous healing elixir, the "Jade Marrow Rejuvenation Pill," which should be able to cure his injuries.

However, recalling Old Man Mi and Wei Dan's deceptive exchange earlier, combined with some recent suspicions, he decided to wait a bit longer. As long as Old Man Mi had one breath left, Zuan believed he could save him.

"It's no use. I know my injuries best," Old Man Mi said immediately. "Don't waste time. I need to use these last moments to impart all my knowledge to you. That way, even if I die, someone will remember my existence through you in the future."

Zuan frowned. "Senior, you should focus on recovering first. We can talk about the teaching later."

"Good, good. You're a cautious young man; I wasn't wrong about you," Old Man Mi's smile suddenly became stern. "But now is not the time to refuse. If heaven gives, and you do not take, you will suffer for it."

Zuan had no choice but to say, "Thank you, Senior!"

"Listen carefully," Old Man Mi said, sitting on the ground and panting. "I've already taught you 'Sunflower Mirage,' my most prized skill. There's also 'Sunflower Single Finger.' Memorize the incantation."

"When the yang energy of heaven and earth arises, calm your mind, cast aside distracting thoughts, visualize a celestial maiden approaching with incense, and vital energy will emerge from your qi sea, passing through..."

Seeing that the old man was truly imparting a cultivation method, Zuan quickly cast aside distractions, meticulously memorizing the incantation. He also secretly pondered and savored it, finding it truly profound and extensive.

After Old Man Mi finished, he asked, "I've finished the incantation. How much did you remember?"

"I've memorized all of it," Zuan replied instinctively.

"All of it?" Old Man Mi frowned. "How is that possible? Young man, don't lie. While I still have breath, ask if there's anything you didn't remember."

Zuan was startled. He knew his exceptional aptitude allowed him to learn things quickly, but Old Man Mi was unaware of this.

Recalling Jiang Luofu's earlier warning, he dared not expose this fact. He quickly said, "Actually, I only remembered half of it."

"Fifty percent?" Old Man Mi snorted. "If you only remembered that much, why were you boasting just now?"

Perhaps realizing his words were a bit harsh, his tone softened. "Actually, given your aptitude, understanding fifty percent is quite good. Pay attention; I'll explain it a few more times. Make sure you memorize it completely."

"Okay," Zuan said with a shy smile, though he wondered to himself, "He thinks he's dying, does he really have time to explain and repeat it for me over and over?"

Old Man Mi then repeated the "Sunflower Single Finger" incantation several more times, also explaining some of the difficult points.

After hearing it so many times, Zuan had already mastered it. He even felt that if he were to use it now, even if its power was far inferior to Old Man Mi's, he would most likely be able to perform "Sunflower Single Finger."

His eyes suddenly darted around, and he said with an ingratiating smile, "Senior, that move you used to escape Wei Dan's 'Heavenly Net Formation' just now was really cool! Every footprint sprouted a lotus flower."

Old Man Mi laughed, scolding him, "You little rascal, trying to subtly hint that I should teach you that technique! Hmph, it's not that I won't teach it, but your cultivation is too low. That skill is too far beyond you; you wouldn't learn it even if I taught you."

"How would you know if I don't try? Maybe I'm a prodigy and could learn it?" Thinking of how dazzling that move was, Zuan couldn't help but drool. If he learned it and used it in front of many girls, even an ice-cold beauty would have hearts in her eyes.

Of course, with his handsome and dashing appearance, he didn't really need it to charm everyone, but what's the harm in having an extra skill?

Seeing Old Man Mi still hesitating, Zuan quickly said, "Senior, don't you want me to inherit all your supreme skills? How can you leave out the most powerful one, 'Lotus Steps'?"

"You have a point," Old Man Mi sighed. "Alright, I'll impart this 'Lotus Steps' to you."

"However, this skill is beyond your current comprehension. How about this: I'll imprint the skill into a wisp of spiritual consciousness, a seed, and embed it within your body. That way, once your cultivation reaches a certain level, this skill will automatically appear in your mind."

Zuan was surprised. 'That sounds so complicated!'

The thought of Old Man Mi's spiritual consciousness entering his body instinctively made him resistant, but the allure of 'Lotus Steps' made it hard to refuse.

At that moment, Old Man Mi slowly stood up, shaky, and approached him. A purple light glowed at his fingertip, as if holding a seed. On the seed, a faint, small sunflower could be seen.

Although this sunflower was smaller than any other sunflower he had seen before, it was crystal clear and shimmered with colorful light, feeling far more powerful than any sunflower Old Man Mi had displayed previously.

"Relax your mind and body. Do not resist in the slightest, or the transfer of power will fail. In my current state, I cannot condense a second seed," Old Man Mi said solemnly.

Zuan mumbled an "Oh," a faint sense of unease stirring within him, though he couldn't pinpoint what felt wrong.

Old Man Mi's finger slowly moved towards Zuan's forehead. As it drew closer, a triumphant smile gradually appeared at the corner of his mouth.

From the very beginning, he had deliberately pretended to be on the verge of death and seeking a successor, even going so far as to teach Zuan his signature skill, "Sunflower Single Finger," all to gradually lower Zuan's guard.

After interacting with Zuan for these past days, he knew that while Zuan's strength wasn't impressive, he was as cunning as a ghost, so Old Man Mi dared not be careless in the slightest.

One had to understand that the art of possession was extremely dangerous and carried a risk of failure.

The stronger the target's will to resist, the higher the chance of failure.

Conversely, if the target had no defenses, the probability of success was almost 100%.

That's why he went to such great lengths.

Noticing the hint of a smile at Old Man Mi's lips, Zuan's sense of unease grew stronger. When the sunflower was only an inch from his forehead, he didn't know why, but all the hairs on his body stood on end.

It was as if every cell in his body was screaming "extreme danger."

Without needing to think, his body instinctively performed "Sunflower Mirage," retreating dozens of feet away.

Old Man Mi's body trembled. He hadn't expected such a turn of events. He suddenly looked up at Zuan. "You've actually already broken the seal?"

Zuan laughed awkwardly. "Perhaps the restrictions in my body loosened quite a bit when I fell from the tree just now. I unknowingly recovered, and instinctively tried it out, and unexpectedly ended up here."

Old Man Mi's face darkened. "Come here quickly! It wasn't easy for me to condense this seed; it will disappear soon, and then you won't learn 'Lotus Steps'."

Zuan waved his hand. "Uh, Senior, I suddenly don't want to learn it anymore. This supreme skill, perhaps you should pass it on to someone else with excellent aptitude."

Old Man Mi snorted. "At this point, who else can I find? Come here quickly!"

Hearing the grimness and urgency in his tone, Zuan was even more reluctant to let him teach. He chuckled, "No, really, it's not necessary."

Old Man Mi's expression turned cold. "That's not up to you!"

With that, he flashed forward and reached out to grab Zuan.

(Author's Note: I managed to write a chapter at the airport. The second chapter should be ready after I get back tonight.)