While I was chanting a curse, the system said I was Xiao Yan?

Tianyan chuckled: "I look forward to your next challenge, of course..."

"Use polite and courteous methods when making a home visit."

"snort!"

Zenji Naoya, his face swollen, snorted coldly and immediately activated a spell, disappearing from the spot.

"Lord Tianyan! Your move just now was absolutely amazing!"

"Yes, yes! We all saw it; you completely broke through Naoya's projection spell!"

"No wonder he's the most promising sorcerer in our Zen family to become a top-tier sorcerer!"

The members of the team gathered around, chatting amongst themselves, their eyes practically overflowing with admiration.

"I could hear the wind howl when you threw that last punch, even from over ten meters away!"

"I knew all along that Lord Tianyan would win! Young Master Zhizai may have powerful techniques, but in terms of practical combat experience, how can he compare to you!"

"Exactly! I said it during the last test: so what if the spell power is reduced? Lord Tianyan's combat intuition is undeniable; even a near-level one mage is no match for him!"

Surrounded by others, Tianyan's expression gradually changed from helplessness to a mixture of laughter and tears.

So these people were watching all along!

He waved his hand, interrupting the increasingly exaggerated praise: "Alright, alright, stop praising me!"

"My victory this time was also due to a trick. Naoya-kun's technique development is not yet mature enough. If it were a head-on collision, my current curse power wouldn't be able to withstand it."

"Lord Tianyan is too modest!"

"Yeah, a win is a win, who cares what method they used!"

A young team member, his face flushed with excitement, exclaimed, "Those bone spurs just now, they probably exploded directly from inside your clothes, right? We've never seen anything like it! So ingenious... no, so brilliant!"

Tianyan's lips twitched, thinking to himself, "You just wanted to say 'yin,' right? You definitely wanted to say 'yin,' right?"

"Alright, alright."

He cleared his throat and said seriously, "There's no need for you to send Naoya-kun back now. Go back, all of you. Your sword practice isn't over yet, is it? Your godfather will be angry later."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of several team members changed simultaneously.

They knew Zen Temple Fan's temper very well. If he left his post without permission during training, he would have to practice for at least two more hours when he got back!

"Well, we'll be going now!"

"Lord Tianyan, please take care of yourself!"

"You'll definitely be back to Level 1 in the next test!"

The two sisters left.

The group dispersed quickly, and the courtyard became quiet again.

Tianyan watched their departing figures, shook his head, and turned to walk back into the house.

He sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into his mind.

The system notification sounded at the appropriate time.

[Reward detected. Do you wish to accept it?]

"take over."

As soon as he finished speaking, a massive and unfamiliar stream of information surged into the depths of his consciousness.

It's not words, not images, but an almost instinctive understanding!

It's as if someone has etched a memory directly into his bones.

Tianyan's breathing suddenly became rapid.

He could feel the cursed power being guided to flow through his body along a path that had never been discovered before!

That's a more primitive and violent way of circulating energy!

The Eight Extremes Collapse!

Mysterious Rank Battle Technique!

Its core concept is not simply brute force output, but rather the formation of a layered, hidden force within the body through special breathing techniques and muscle vibration frequencies.

When a punch is thrown, the force does not dissipate immediately upon contact, but rather progresses layer by layer within the target's body like ripples in water!

If one cultivates to perfection, all eight layers of hidden strength will erupt simultaneously. With the combined power, the force will be comparable to a full-force strike of a low-level combat skill!

That's truly terrifying!

[If you wish to cultivate combat skills, you need a strong physique, and Elder Yao has already prepared a tailor-made cultivation method for you!]

[Main quest triggered: Find the Elder Medicine Master to strengthen your physical body!]

[Quest Reward: Foundation Establishment Elixir x1]

Looking for the old herbalist?

Tianyan thought the system had replaced Yao Lao, but he didn't expect there really was Yao Lao!

Among those who could serve as the Medicine Master in the Zen family, there were probably only a few of the same generation as his adoptive father, Zen Zensen.

That's not right either. Given the unpredictable nature of this system, it might not be the old medicine, but the young one!

Tianyan shook his head, putting these distracting thoughts aside for now, and decided to start by looking for the most likely current head of the family, Zenin Naohito.

It just so happens that I also need to go to the head of the family to "plead guilty"!

After changing into clean clothes, he stepped out of the room and soon arrived at the residence of the head of the family. He went in, bowed, and explained his purpose.

"To apologize?"

The Zen master, Naohito, was half-lying on the tatami mat, holding a sake gourd, completely lacking any semblance of a head of household.

"Haha, injuries are inevitable in sparring between young people, don't worry about it at all!"

"In the Zen monastery, might makes right!"

"Burp~"

"crime?"

"Hiccup~ I don't have that kind of thing!"

"No, you're guilty! Your crime is not drinking with me, hahaha!"

Seeing the drunken patriarch who had already become unrestrained after only a few words, Tianyan's lips twitched.

Ignoring the patriarch's outrageous words about making a minor like him drink with him, he turned and left.

Tianyan came out of the patriarch's courtyard and stood under the eaves for a moment.

"Not a Zen monk named Jikki..." he muttered to himself.

Thankfully, the system didn't reveal that he was Yao Lao, otherwise it would have been renamed the Dionysus Life Experience System!

I went through all the well-known figures in the Zen family in my mind.

"Never mind, let's go check on my godfather first."

He turned and walked towards the sword practice area.

The training ground is located on the east side of the family territory. It is an open area covered with fine gravel, with several rows of wooden stakes standing around it and discarded wooden stakes piled up in the corner.

Before Tianyan even got close, he could hear the sharp sound of a blade cutting through the air.

Zen-in Fan stood in the center of the field, holding a katana in his hand, slashing at varying speeds.

When the movements are slow, it's like walking in water, but when the movements are fast, it leaves a faint afterimage of magical power in the air, which lasts for several seconds before dissipating.

Seven or eight members of the Tujuliu team knelt on either side, not daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on every movement of the Zen Temple Fan.

Tianyan didn't disturb them, and stood quietly on the sidelines waiting.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Zen monk sheathed his sword and turned to look at him.

"Here you are." The voice was as cold and hard as ever.

"Godfather".

Tianyan stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I just came from the patriarch's place and have already explained the situation to Lord Naobi."

Zen-in Fan handed the katana to the team member beside him and waved for everyone to disperse.

"What did the head of the family say?"

"He didn't say anything, just that it's inevitable for young people to get injured in sparring, and that I shouldn't worry about it."

Tianyan answered truthfully, then paused and added, "They even tried to get me to drink, but I didn't."

Zen Temple Fan's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Zen Temple Fan nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke: "Your fighting style today is different from before."

Tianyan was taken aback, then realized what his godfather was referring to.

"Yes."

He honestly admitted, "My spell power isn't enough; I can't win in a head-on fight, so I have to think of other ways."

"Resolve this as soon as possible!"

His tone carried an undeniable air of authority: "Zen monasteries don't need useless people without magical powers! Nor do I need an adopted son without magical powers!"

Tianyan nodded: "Yes! I will solve this problem! I won't let you down, godfather!"

Zen Temple Fan waved his hand, indicating that he could leave. Then Tianyan bowed and got up to leave.