[Real World, Site 13]
'This Ye Shen Lin is too quiet. Her expression doesn't even waver when looking at the tower guard. Full marks for the expressionless trait!'
'Little Lin's martial arts uniform is so plain. I feel like the Stars production team is targeting her, specifically making her wear a training outfit that looks loose but is actually tight. This is clearly persecution!'
'She stands there like a little sapling, so quiet and still. Who would've thought she was a top player who collected 90 badges!'
[Rock-Shattering Tower, Training Ground]
"Since you are clear on the challenge rules, then—"
The tower guard, a bearded uncle, began with a low, deep voice that sounded like ground stone.
Then, he raised his hand and flexed his wrist.
The next second, deep grey rock patterns spread across the skin of his right arm, making it look like actual 'stone.'
"—First, let me show you the true meaning of the 'Rock-Shattering' martial path."
Bang!
The bearded middle-aged tower guard took a step. The hard granite floor instantly cracked due to the force of his stomp. At the same time, countless tiny rock fragments shot out in all directions.
The speed of the fragments was easily comparable to ordinary bullets.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Amidst the sounds of air being torn, the dangerous rock fragments arrived before Ye Shen Lin in an instant.
Ye Shen Lin remained calm, as if completely unaware of the danger contained within the fragments.
But just as the fragments were about to hit Ye Shen Lin, her shadow... moved!
The black shadow behind Ye Shen Lin rapidly peeled away like ink, condensing into a human form in a very short time.
While the shadow-stand looked identical to Ye Shen Lin, her attire was distinctly different from the current Ye Shen Lin.
The shadow-stand was clad in a 'Haori' woven from black crow feathers, and several sharp feathered shoulder pieces adorned her neck and shoulders. With every movement, fine black feathers drifted in the air around her.
Black, aloof, mysterious... and handsome.
Watching Ye Shen Lin and her shadow-stand stand one behind the other amidst the swirling black crow feathers, even though she hadn't moved, everyone felt the special aura of a 'strong master.'
Boom!
The shadow-stand gently raised her hand after appearing.
The next second, the crow feathers drifting in the air reversed direction, flying rapidly toward the rock fragments. They easily blocked the tower guard's probe.
Upon seeing this, some viewers outside the tower expressed confusion.
"The martial arts challenge primarily checks if the challenger has mastered the corresponding martial arts style, right? Ye Shen Lin using her Star Source to meet the challenge—shouldn't that be a violation?"
However, immediately after this layperson finished speaking, the people around him gave him strange looks, as if he were something odd.
Before the questioning passerby could figure out the meaning of their gazes, the bearded tower guard in the arena truly attacked.
"Interesting."
With that, the bearded tower guard pushed off with his feet, charging toward Ye Shen Lin like a cannonball leaving the barrel.
Upon reaching a certain distance in front of Ye Shen Lin, the bearded tower guard raised his right fist. Pale grey Star Energy wrapped around the fist, circulating through the meridians in his arm, making the granite patterns condensed on his skin even clearer.
"Be careful, young lady."
The bearded tower guard said politely, then slammed his fist toward Ye Shen Lin's face.
Rock-Shattering Style—Shattering Stone!
This punch was not only astonishingly powerful, but it also created an exaggerated disturbance. The wind pressure stirred up by the fist made Ye Shen Lin's short black hair fly up.
Let alone Ye Shen Lin, who was directly facing the punch, even Liu Ma, who was watching this scene on the big screen outside the tower, felt the power of the strike and subconsciously wondered if he could block it if he were in her place.
The answer was evident: he could not. Even though this punch was merely a test from the bearded tower guard.
Yet, facing this 'Shattering Stone' that shook even Liu Ma to the core, Ye Shen Lin still did not move an inch until the fist was about to touch her nose.
Boom!
To the surprise of countless people, Ye Shen Lin's 'shadow-stand' suddenly moved in front of her, helping her block the tower guard's formidable punch.
The shockwave from the clash of Star Energy sent the sand on the surrounding ground flying, and several more cracks appeared on the hard granite floor.
After the punch, the shadow-stand was shaken back half a step, and several black feathers dropped from her feathered shoulders.
But Ye Shen Lin's true body stood rooted in place, not even twitching an eyelid, as if nothing had happened.
What surprised the audience was that after throwing the punch, the bearded tower guard strangely paused and looked in a certain direction near the shadow-stand.
"Your shadow... learned our 'Shattering Stone' just like that?"
The tower guard's tone was astonished, and even his beard twitched subconsciously.
In response, the usually laconic Ye Shen Lin finally spoke again.
Her voice was very soft, like a breeze blowing through leaves, without the slightest fluctuation.
"You is another me. If she has learned it, it means I have learned it too."
As she spoke, Ye Shen Lin slowly raised her arm.
And in the next second, the exact same rock-shattering patterns as the bearded tower guard appeared on her arm, with the pattern direction precisely the same.
Seeing this scene, everyone, including the bearded tower guard, fell into complete silence.
Because at this point, they all understood Ye Shen Lin's trump card.
And what she—or rather, 'they'—relied on to obtain a total of 90 martial arts badges in such a short time.
She, or 'They,' were bona fide 'monsters.'
[Star Source: Shadow of the Past]
[Type: Control Type]
[Awakening Count: 2]
[Effect 1. Shadow of the Past: Can separate the user's shadow into a physical stand. Maximum range of activity: 100 meters. The stand possesses 80% of the user's base attributes (Strength/Agility/Star Energy). The user and the stand share the five senses and can switch dominant consciousness at any time.]
[Effect 2. Shadow Body: The shadow stand has no fatal weaknesses and only disappears when the user's Star Energy is exhausted.]
[Second Awakening Effect: Shadow Infestation: By seizing the opponent's 'shadow,' the user can obtain a portion of the opponent's memories, behavioral habits, and mastered 'knowledge' (including Star Energy Techniques and other combat skills).]
[Note: The degree of Shadow Infestation is influenced by factors such as the opponent's Star Source level, type, base Star Energy value, and willpower. Failure is possible.]
[Evaluation: 'The shadow moves with the heart, and when the heart comprehends, the shadow comprehends. The past may leave no trace, but the past can cast a shadow. Thus, anyone may betray you, but your shadow never will.' —Ye Shen Lin]