novelinnhs Chapter 13! The 7th floor!
Chapter 13! The 7th floor!
"Little Frog, what are you looking at?" Nan Nan followed his gaze. "There's nothing there."
There's nothing there...
That cat... is it fake?
Fang Yuan felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head.
Is it a hallucination created by some strange force?
But... if it was a hallucination, was he just fighting with thin air?
What exactly is real?!
Damn it... he can't tell the difference!
"Alright, little frog, don't cry anymore~ I'm here, you won't get hurt again~!" Nan Nan looked at the dazed Fang Yuan and comforted him, just like her mother used to comfort the frog.
With that, she picked up the frog and walked towards her house.
Fang Yuan did not resist.
Only then did the pain from his injuries gradually begin to surface.
pain……
The pain is real.
The feeling of flesh being torn apart by a cat's claws is real, and the injury is real.
But if all of this is real, wouldn't that mean that those strange occurrences are also real?
Then, why did the tabby cat disappear the moment Nan Nan appeared?
……
quack...
I don't understand.
Fang Yuan couldn't figure out why, so he simply stopped thinking about it!
One of Fang Yuan's greatest strengths has always been his ability to not dwell on things he can't understand.
However, the fact that internal energy is ineffective against strange and evil spirits left Fang Yuan quite frustrated!
Damn it, why is it not working?!
That's not how it's written in those stories about the Ultimate Heavenly Frog and the Mysterious Frog!
If the main character still can't beat the monster after leveling up, they'll get scolded!
hateful……
It must be because I didn't add enough points!
Fang Yuan fiercely opened Deep Blue again.
The indigo-colored interface popped up again...
[Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound] (Fourth Floor)
[Introduction: The Lu Family Clan's rudimentary internal energy cultivation method uses the strength of muscles and bones to promote the internal resonance, a typical example of internal energy cultivation that works from the outside in. Practicing it can nourish qi and blood, strengthen the internal organs, and generate internal power!]
[Stat Requirements: (Fourth Tier) (Requires selecting a different martial art (fourth tier or higher) to continue advancing)]
quack...
It's you again, adding some more requirements!
Why do you always ask for different types of martial arts?
quack!
Fang Yuan glared angrily at the technique.
But at this moment, it seems there are no other techniques that can improve one's skills. Although the modifier rated this "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound" as a rudimentary internal skill…
However... Fang Yuan felt that he probably wouldn't be able to find a more advanced internal skill in the short term.
Therefore, adding this technique is something that must be done.
The only difference lies in how you allocate skill points and what skill method you use to do so...
First, based on the two cultivation techniques I've already added points to, this prompt appears every time I add points to a technique up to the fourth level. In other words, if I want to add points to a technique at the fifth level, I have to use two fourth-level points.
To obtain a sixth-level cultivation technique, you must acquire two fifth-level techniques.
Following this logic, seven levels is equivalent to two six-level levels. If each level consumes 0.01, it's manageable. However, if each level consumes 0.04, one's Daoist essence will be depleted very quickly!
However, although he didn't have a second fourth-level technique, he currently possessed a large number of low-level skills, as well as the fifth-level Tiger Roar Blade Technique and the sixth-level Imperial Writing Technique...
The materials you add won't disappear, which means you can repeatedly add all the basic skills to level four and then stack them together to create a high-level "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound"!
Do it when you think of it!
Let's break through to the seventh level of "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound" first!
quack!
Add some points!
First, as a stepping stone for breaking through to the fourth level of "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound", Fang Yuan chose "Frog Croak".
The advantage is that "Frog Croak" is also a second-level skill, and you can tell from the sound that "Frog Croak" is a skill related to sound!
Therefore, I can reduce the number of frog croaks by one level, and when I break through, they may influence each other and amplify the effect of my "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound"!
Just do it!
The Daoist aura declined rapidly.
"Frog Croaking" Breakthrough!
[Frog croaking (Second Layer)] → [Frog croaking (Fourth Layer)]!
As the [Daoist Rhyme] diminishes, that familiar sense of modification returns.
This time, however, the focus of the reinforcement is on the throat and vocal sacs.
Originally just a vocal organ, the vocal sac, now infused with Daoist energy, seemed to have been tempered and refined, its muscle fibers becoming incredibly tough, and its ligaments being stretched and reorganized.
It itches, but it's still within a tolerable range!
Caw!
[Frog Croak (Level 4)] has been achieved!
Fang Yuan quickly checked his status and, confirming that he wasn't feeling too hungry, immediately focused on the Deep Blue Modifier again!
Give me some more!
Fang Yuan did not hesitate at all and broke through to the [Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound] level!
Come on! Merge! Break through!
quack!
[Taoist Rhyme] → 0.94
[Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound (Fourth Floor)] + [Frog Croak (Fourth Floor)] = [Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound (Fifth Floor)]
boom--!
Tremors!
The croaking of frogs was deafening!
If a human were to cultivate this skill, the emphasis would be on keeping the mouth and tongue closed, using the sound of muscles and bones resonating together to temper the body internally, with the thunderous sound contained within.
But Fang Yuan is a frog! A frog's instinct is to croak!
This internal energy is no longer locked inside the body, but rather, with each contraction of the vocal sac, it is brewed, compressed, and vibrated in the throat!
Fang Yuan felt as if he had a thunderbolt stuck in his throat, and he had to get it out!
"Croak—!!"
He instinctively opened his mouth and spat it out.
It didn't take much effort; it was just a soft chirp, and the internal energy involuntarily attached itself to the chirp!
boo.
A transparent ripple was visible to the naked eye as it spread through the air, and the candlelight on the table trembled violently, almost going out!
This is the fifth floor!?
However, it seems no different from when the fourth level user uses internal energy to attach to the frog's croak and attack the water surface!
Fang Yuan looked at the panel:
[Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound (Fifth Floor)]
[Introduction: Originating from a rudimentary internal energy cultivation technique from the Lu Family Village, it has undergone a transformation due to the unique structure of the frog's body. The internal energy resonates with the frog's croak, enhancing its effectiveness.]
not enough!
The internal energy of the fourth layer has almost no effect on the strange creatures!
He's only at the fifth level now, and dealing with that bizarre creature that left him helpless probably won't make much of a difference! He needs to become stronger!
Quack! Keep going, keep going!
Deep Blue, let me see my potential, just how far I can go!
continue!
Fang Yuan's gaze fell upon the [Tiger Roar Blade Technique (Fifth Level)], which he had neglected for several days.
This sword technique had previously incorporated language, becoming somewhat of a hybrid. While called a sword technique, it was more like a spear or sword technique executed with the tongue, yet the user rarely used their tongue to attack!
After all, one's tongue is soft, it's muscle, not wood or steel!
In the end, we need weapons to kill the enemy!
However, since they are all martial arts and both are used to kill enemies, then internal and external skills should be interconnected!
Since that's the case, let's melt them all!
Cultivate both inner and outer strengths, embrace diversity! Give me a breakthrough!
Give me some more!
quack!
[Taoist Rhyme] → 0.90
[Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound (Level 5)] + [Tiger Roar Blade Technique (Level 5)] = [Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound (Level 6)]
Click!
It felt as if something inside my body had shattered.
Immediately following was a piercing pain!
It was an excruciating pain, as if all the bones in my body were being dismantled and reassembled!
This was the first time Fang Yuan had felt such pain since he transmigrated; it felt as if someone had stepped on him twice!
quack!
What's going on?!
This fusion is different from the previous sonic resonance. The Tiger Roar Blade Technique is a pure external martial art that emphasizes power generation, muscle bursts, and strong bones and muscles.
At this moment, the "strengthening muscles and bones" characteristic of this external martial art is amplified a hundredfold or a thousandfold under the impetus of internal energy!
Click, click!
Fang Yuan heard it clearly; it was the sound of his bones growing inside his body.
His muscle fibers were tearing, healing, tearing again, healing again, becoming denser and tougher.
紧！
So tight!
That familiar, suffocating feeling, as if I were stuffed into a tight-fitting suit, came back again, and it was more intense than ever before!
His body was expanding, and his original skin could no longer contain this rapidly strengthening body!
Sizzle—!
With a soft sound, the old skin on his back instantly split open.
Fang Yuan rolled on the ground in agony, kicking his limbs as he struggled to peel off the old skin that bound him.
This time, the shedding process was particularly difficult, as if the new skin was harder than steel and stuck to the old skin.
a long time.
huh... huh...
Fang Yuan slumped on the table, next to a clump of grayish-brown dead skin.
At this moment, his size increased once again, his entire body became thicker, his forelimbs became more robust and powerful, the muscles in his hind legs bulged, and his dark green skin thickened, as if he were wearing a layer of tough armor.
[Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound (Sixth Floor)]
[Introduction: A rudimentary martial art that cultivates both internal and external strength, combining hardness and softness. It incorporates the power of external sword techniques, utilizing sound to strengthen muscles and bones, nourish blood and qi, and thus generate internal energy.]
quack!
It's gotten even stronger!
However, an even stronger feeling of hunger followed.
As before, Fang Yuan quickly swallowed the molted skin, but...
I'm still so hungry...
……
Lu Mansion.
"So boring~!"
Nan Nan was sitting listlessly on the stone steps, her chin resting on her hands, watching the ants moving their nest on the ground.
Fang Yuan was resting in the house because of his injury, and she was too embarrassed to disturb him, but she was really bored by herself.
Originally, Lu would occasionally stay home and play with her, or she could go out to play...
but……
"So boring~!" Nan Nan complained again. She suddenly stood up, patted the dust off her skirt, and her delicate face was filled with the words "I want to go out and play".
Ever since her father left, the servants in the house have been keeping a close eye on her, forbidding her from touching this person or going to that person, which is making her feel suffocated!
"No, I want to get out!"
Nan Nan's eyes darted around, and she ran towards the gate of the mansion.
Just as I passed through the moon gate, I bumped into the butler, who was directing the servants to sweep up fallen leaves.
"Oh dear, my little darling, slow down!" The butler quickly helped Nan Nan up. The moment he saw her, he felt a headache coming on; he had no idea what this little darling was up to this time! "Where are we going?"
"Grandpa Butler!!" Nan Nan hugged the butler's leg, tilted her head back, blinked her big eyes, and said in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Nan Nan wants to go out and play! She wants to buy sugar figurines, and she wants to listen to storytelling!"
Upon hearing this, the butler's smile froze for a moment.
He knew it! This little brat was up to no good!
"Miss, this... I'm afraid it won't work." The butler shrugged.
"Why?!" Nan Nan's little mouth pouted so much it looked like it could hold an oil bottle. "Daddy's not home, so I can't go out? I used to be able to!"
The butler sighed.
A while ago, that would have been possible, but recently Master Lu has given instructions, so what can he do?
Besides, it is indeed dangerous in the city.
The butler knelt down and patiently explained, "Miss, it's not that I'm stopping you. It's just that things haven't been very peaceful in this city lately..."
He lowered his voice: "Recently, there has been a lot of strange happening in the city. The Zhao family has just run into trouble. Before he left, the master repeatedly instructed that you must not step out of the mansion."
"I won't listen! I won't listen!" Nan Nan covered her ears and shook her head vigorously. "That's just for scaring kids! I'm going! I'm practically moldy at home!"
"This..." The butler looked helpless.
Nan Nan faked crying and rolled around on the ground, and even the old housekeeper, who had watched her grow up, was worn down and lost his temper.
However, letting the young lady out is absolutely out of the question.
The situation outside is very strange. He has never seen anything like it before. Since Master Lu is not in the manor, he certainly cannot let her out.
But being tormented by Nan Nan like this isn't a solution!
The housekeeper looked at Nan Nan, who was crying and making a fuss, and his brows furrowed with worry.
Suddenly, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he thought of a compromise.
"Miss, Miss, please don't cry," the butler quickly comforted her. "Since you can't go out, could we let someone else in to play with you?"
Nan Nan's crying stopped abruptly. She peeked at the housekeeper through her fingers: "Has someone else come in?"
"Yes!" The butler slapped his thigh and said with a smile, "Since you find it boring, then I'll have someone send out invitations to invite the young masters and ladies of those families you're on good terms with to come to our Lu residence as guests. What do you say?"
"Our manor is safe, and we have guards watching over us, so you can do whatever you want. I'll have someone prepare some delicious pastries right away, and I'll also invite a dough figurine maker to come here and make some just for you. What do you think?"
Nan Nan lowered her hand, sniffed, and rolled her big eyes.
Invite all your friends over to your house? And have a dough figurine maker come to your home specifically for that?
It sounds... even more impressive than just going out and wandering around by myself!
"Then... I want to call the Wang family's little fat boy and the Li family's older sister over!" Nan Nan smiled through her tears and started counting people on her fingers.
"Alright, alright, whatever you say, I'll have someone take care of it right away!" The steward breathed a sigh of relief. As long as this little tyrant didn't cause trouble by going out, he would accept it even if he caused a huge mess.
Watching the housekeeper's hurried departure, Nan Nan snorted smugly, turned around, and skipped and hopped towards her room.
"Little frog! You're saved! We can get lots of people to come and play with us!"
……
Inside the house, Fang Yuan, who had just eaten a lot of mosquitoes and replenished his strength, pressed that button again!
[Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound] (Sixth Floor) → (Seventh Floor)!