87: Star-plucking hand, sky-treading step

On the deserted island.

In a gloomy, dense forest.

The Emaciated Old Man.

Sat cross-legged on a large rock.

Motionless.

Chen Yang couldn't help but let his mind wander.

The environment here was simply not suitable for survival.

Most likely, this old man accidentally fell into the water.

Struggled to swim ashore.

And then… starved to death.

Weathered into a mummy.

The more Chen Yang thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he prepared to retreat.

Suddenly.

He witnessed an astonishing scene.

The Emaciated Old Man's body wasn't actually sitting on the large rock.

Upon closer inspection.

He was actually sitting three centimeters off the ground, suspended in mid-air!

"Holy crap!!!!!!!"

Chen Yang's legs went soft with fright.

He plopped down onto the ground.

This wasn't a dead person?

But rather… had turned into a ghost?

How could a living person float in mid-air?

It didn't conform to the law of universal gravitation!

It could only be a ghost!

Without weight, floating in the air.

Chen Yang's face was pale, his palms sweating!

His heart was pounding "thump, thump"!

He scrambled and crawled, fleeing the pond area.

Only when he reached the shore did he feel a little calmer.

From his Portable Space.

He took out a row of Wahaha drinks.

"Gulp! Gulp…"

He slurped it down to calm his nerves!

Damn it!

He had scared him to death!

After finishing the row of Wahaha, Chen Yang's mood finally settled down.

That's not right!

The system intelligence clearly said it was a person, how could it be a ghost?

And a master at that!

Could it be—

This Emaciated Old Man really was an otherworldly master?

Chen Yang immediately took out from his Portable Space.

A box of Nongfu Spring mineral water, a bag of ham sausages, a box of instant noodles, and three bags of hand-torn bread.

He scurried back to the pond.

From a distance, he saw.

The Emaciated Old Man was still suspended in mid-air, motionless.

Chen Yang's eyes burned with eagerness.

What cultivation method did this old man practice?

To be able to sit suspended in mid-air?

His lightness skill was simply unparalleled.

It was no less impressive than Bodhidharma crossing the river on a reed!

Quietly, silently.

Chen Yang walked over and placed all the food and water near the old man.

At this moment.

He was less than three meters from the old man.

He could see very clearly.

There was indeed no support beneath the old man's body.

He was just sitting suspended in mid-air.

Chen Yang wanted to speak, to give a reminder.

And curry favor at the same time.

If he could move the old man and be accepted as a disciple.

That would be even better.

At the very least, he had to learn this magical lightness skill.

Then, with the vastness of the world, where could he not venture?

Unfortunately.

From beginning to end.

The Emaciated Old Man remained motionless.

He didn't even lift an eyelid.

Chen Yang was very disappointed.

He sighed softly.

And turned to leave.

Of course, he walked very lightly.

He didn't deliberately make any noise to wake the old man.

When he had walked twenty meters away.

The old man's eyes suddenly opened.

A flash of light, fleeting.

"Come back!"

A deep, ancient voice sounded behind him.

Chen Yang was startled.

He turned around to see.

The old man had "awakened" and was looking at him.

"You're awake?"

Chen Yang ran back in surprise.

The Emaciated Old Man's expression was very serious.

He scrutinized Chen Yang.

"Boy, who are you?"

"Why are you on the island?"

"Did you specifically come to find me?"

Chen Yang answered without hesitation.

"Senior, my name is Chen Yang, an ordinary person. I just moved into the Lakeside Villa today."

"Last night I suddenly had a dream, which instructed me that today on the lake island, I would meet a destined person."

"I didn't believe it at first, so I found an excuse to come up and try."

"I didn't expect to actually meet you."

The Emaciated Old Man stared intently at him.

Chen Yang felt.

If he had any ulterior motives, or even a hint of malice.

He would definitely be struck down by the old man's thunderous power.

Fortunately.

Chen Yang's dream story, though made up, wasn't far from the truth.

He had no evil intentions.

He barely passed the test.

The Emaciated Old Man pointed to the food and water on the ground.

"You were scared to death just now, why did you come back?"

"And even brought these things?"

Chen Yang rubbed his temples.

His expression was very unnatural.

"Just now, I thought… I thought…"

The Emaciated Old Man coldly interjected:

"You thought I was dead?"

Chen Yang wiped his sweat frantically!

He dared not answer.

The Emaciated Old Man waved his hand.

"You continue."

Chen Yang's heart felt a little calmer.

"Later, I thought that the talk of ghosts and gods was not to be trusted, and it was very likely that you were that destined person."

"I also worried about you, alone on a deserted island, with nothing to eat or drink, what would you do?"

"So, I brought some over."

The Emaciated Old Man nodded.

"Since you believe I am the destined person, why didn't you wake me up?"

"Perhaps you could have gained some benefits?"

Chen Yang gave an awkward smile.

"At first, I did have that thought."

"But, since you never woke up, I gave up."

"Since you are a master, my every word and action must surely be within your control."

"Everything follows fate!"

"If you didn't speak, there must be your reasons, and I should naturally obey."

Then.

Chen Yang added another sentence.

"What if you were in the middle of cultivating, at a critical point, and I disturbed you?"

"Wouldn't I be harming you?"

"So, I chose to leave quietly."

On the Emaciated Old Man's face.

Finally, a strange smile appeared.

He beckoned to him.

"Come here!"

Chen Yang's heart leaped again.

This old man was unpredictable in his moods, and his cultivation was profound.

If he were to attack him, it would be difficult to even run.

His small life would be inexplicably lost here.

The next second.

He still walked resolutely towards the old man.

The Emaciated Old Man stretched out his hand.

And grabbed Chen Yang's arm.

Immediately after, both hands moved.

He felt around Chen Yang's hands, legs, waist… all over his body.

"Good! Very good!"

"Unusual bone structure, indeed a rare martial arts prodigy!"

Chen Yang felt a chill.

"Senior, you're not going to make me save the world, are you?"

The Emaciated Old Man shook his head.

"I'm not that bored."

"However, if it were my senior brother, that might not be the case."

Chen Yang asked again.

"Then, are you… going to sell me a book? A martial arts manual?"

The Emaciated Old Man shook his head again.

"I don't have any martial arts manuals, and it's even less likely that I would sell them to you!"

Chen Yang still didn't believe him.

"Then you… are you going to take me as a disciple? And I'll offer you a large sum as a disciple's gift?"

The Emaciated Old Man's face darkened.

"What nonsense is this? How could an old man like me be greedy for worldly possessions when taking a disciple?"

Chen Yang finally felt relieved.

Plop!

He knelt on both knees.

And bowed his head in obeisance.

"Disciple Chen Yang, greets Master!"

The Emaciated Old Man was bewildered.

"Boy, what are you doing?"

"When did I say I was going to take you as a disciple?"

Chen Yang was dumbfounded!

"Master, you don't want your disciple anymore?"

"You just said I had an unusual bone structure and was a martial arts prodigy???"

The Emaciated Old Man looked at Chen Yang.

"Indeed, you are a rare martial arts prodigy, seen only once in a century."

"But—"

"My cultivation method is not suitable for you!"

Chen Yang felt.

As if he had stepped into thin air!

His little heart was about to burst!

It was like riding a roller coaster.

Going down one moment, then up the next.

"Old man, what… what do you mean?"

Are you toying with me?

After all that, it was a false alarm?

The Emaciated Old Man smiled playfully.

"Are you very disappointed?"

Chen Yang nodded.

The Emaciated Old Man then said something astonishing.

"I cannot be your master."

"However—"

"I do have two ultimate techniques that I can pass on to you."

"Really?"

Chen Yang was overjoyed!

His fingers trembled with excitement.

"Senior, tell me quickly!"

"Which two ultimate techniques?"

The Emaciated Old Man looked up at the sky, speaking profoundly:

"Star Plucking Hand, Heaven-Treading Steps!"