After playing in Tushan for a day, Ling Feng bid farewell to Tushan Honghong and the others, and returned to Teyvat to continue his arduous cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, a week passed, and Ling Feng's cultivation had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, not far from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
In these seven days, Ling Feng had mastered the basic spear techniques that Xiao had given him.
To be honest, this surprised Xiao very much. Mastering the basic spear techniques in seven days was already heaven-defying. Even he could not master the basic spear techniques given to him by Morax in such a short time.
After Ling Feng became proficient in the basic spear techniques, Xiao also taught him advanced spear techniques, which were more difficult to understand and master than the basic ones.
Xiao had promised that once Ling Feng had thoroughly understood the advanced spear techniques, he would formally teach Ling Feng his self-created spear techniques and his divine ability, the Aerial Free Form.
Xiao had also said that his spear techniques were created through countless battles, and only by mastering the Aerial Free Form could the true power of this set of spear techniques be unleashed.
Shen He had also learned a few moves from him, but unfortunately, Shen He could not learn the Aerial Free Form, so Xiao only taught her a few moves that did not require it.
Besides spear techniques, there were also talismans and mechanical arts. In terms of talismans, he had basically learned all the basic talismans recorded in the book, but he was the slowest learner of talismans.
Apart from that, he learned the immortal mechanical arts relatively quickly. With the personal guidance of True Monarch Cloud Retainer, coupled with Ling Feng's usual fondness for building blocks and models, he learned mechanical arts very quickly, gaining entry in just a few days.
Crafting some mechanical birds was not a problem.
Although he had basically learned most of the basics, he still needed to practice them until proficient and should not rush to learn higher knowledge. Therefore, True Monarch Cloud Retainer asked Ling Feng to find True Monarch Jade Chamber.
True Monarch Jade Chamber was a direct disciple of Morax, skilled in the Way of Yin and Yang. He was one of the immortals who sealed the Osial dragon king.
The Way of Yin and Yang could be said to be very powerful. The combination of Yin and Yang energies could generate all things, similar to alchemy. Moreover, the Yin-Yang formation could be used as a sealing formation, which was harder than any other sealing formation.
As long as the Yin and Yang energies were not depleted, they would transform and rely on each other, serving as a very lasting energy source for the formation. It was endless, difficult to break, and even creating a gap would be difficult.
Moreover, as long as the Yin and Yang energies were still present, even if a gap was created, it would be quickly repaired.
The difficulty of mastering the Way of Yin and Yang was far greater than that of mechanical arts and spear techniques. Originally, True Monarch Cloud Retainer intended to have Ling Feng learn immortal techniques for controlling mountains and rivers from True Monarch Lishan Diedi.
However, True Monarch Lishan Diedi was out traveling, so Ling Feng had to be sent to True Monarch Jade Chamber.
Xiao also assigned Ling Feng a test: to clear a Hilichurl camp that frequently attacked passersby.
At the foot of Qingyun Peak, Ling Feng lay on a small hill, observing the Hilichurl camp less than a hundred meters away.
"Six Hilichurl archers, twenty normal or rather fighter Hilichurls, five Hilichurls with rock shields, five Hilichurls with wooden shields, one Hydro Hilichurl Shaman, one Pyro Axe Hilichurl Berserker," Ling Feng calculated the numbers in his mind.
"According to Master, that group of people should have been captured by the foraging Hilichurl hunting party this morning. I need to find a way to rescue them," Ling Feng's gaze shifted to a small hut in the Hilichurl camp. With his eyesight, he could see several bound people inside.
"The greatest threats to me right now are the Hilichurl Berserker and those archers. Although the Hydro Shaman is not a great threat to me, it can restore its allies' injuries and stamina, making it a healer. It must be eliminated first."
Ling Feng thought to himself.
Without further ado, Ling Feng descended the hill and approached the Hilichurl camp at extreme speed.
To avoid being spotted by the Hilichurl archers on the watchtower, Ling Feng had to pay attention to the situation on the watchtower and hide in the shadows.
Otherwise, if he were discovered, he would face the encirclement of thirty-eight Hilichurls simultaneously.
...
In the Hilichurl camp, the Hydro Shaman, protected by two Hilichurls with rock shields, went to a dark corner. He asked the two Hilichurls with rock shields to guard outside and then went inside to relieve himself.
"Rua..." Just as the Hydro Shaman was about to relieve himself, a figure leaped over the camp fence, and a spear with a whistling sound directly pierced his skull.
Everything happened in a flash, and the Hydro Shaman didn't even have time to react.
"I didn't expect such good luck. I was just trying to figure out how to kill you, and you delivered yourself."
The one who thrust the spear was Ling Feng. Ling Feng had originally intended to find an opportunity to sneakily deal with the Hydro Shaman first, but unexpectedly, the Hydro Shaman had bodyguards. Just as he was worried, the Hydro Shaman came to him.
"Rua! Rua! Rua!"
Suddenly, a blue light flashed. It was the staff in the Hydro Shaman's hand. A small dark cloud slowly formed in the sky, and then the rain poured down, accompanied by the Hydro Shaman's sharp cry that echoed throughout the camp.
This commotion was immediately discovered by the Hilichurls outside. Knowing that there was an enemy attack, they immediately grabbed their weapons and rushed towards Ling Feng, including the Hilichurl Berserker. Almost all the Hilichurls, except for a few escorting the captured people, rushed towards them.
Ling Feng naturally heard the deafening noise outside. His expression was now very grim. He couldn't have imagined that the Hydro Shaman was still alive after being stabbed in the head and could still use elemental power and call for help.
It was exactly as the saying goes: remember to finish off your opponent, or there will be trouble.
"Rua! Rua! Rua!"
The two guards outside arrived immediately. Seeing Ling Feng, a human, they rushed up with their clubs and rock shields.
"Damn it."
Ling Feng cursed inwardly, but since he had been discovered, he decided to make a big scene. He applied a strong force to his spear, completely piercing the skull of the Hydro Shaman who was still alive with the treatment of Hydro elemental power.
To prevent what had just happened from happening again, he twisted the spear in the Hydro Shaman's skull.
Then, he looked at the two Hilichurls with rock shields charging at him. Using the spear as a pivot, he kicked both of them in their rock shields.
The powerful force forced the two Hilichurls with rock shields to retreat several steps, almost losing their balance and falling to the ground.
"Jingle!"
Ling Feng pulled out his spear and, without hesitation, moved his feet. Like a fierce tiger, he lunged at the nearest Hilichurl with a rock shield.
If he didn't reduce the number of enemies now, it would bring him more danger later.
Ling Feng did not wear his Star-Patterned Armor. He wanted to know if he could handle a small Hilichurl camp with just his spear techniques at his current level.