novelTele Chapter 27: Lin Yun's Decision
Chapter 27: Lin Yun's Decision
The winter sun shone brightly on the campus of Yi'an District No. 3 High School, turning the leaves of the plane trees golden. The national flag fluttered gently in the cold wind from the flagpole in front of the teaching building. The first semester of the first year of high school was drawing to a close, and students in school uniforms strolled in twos and threes along the tree-lined paths, discussing their winter break plans.
Lin Yun and Luo Feng walked side by side on campus. Even in the cold winter, both were only wearing school uniforms, and the difference in their physiques and demeanor made them stand out in the crowd. Fifteen-year-old Lin Yun had already grown to 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a broad back, standing there like a tall, straight poplar tree. Although his face still retained some boyishness, the composure and depth in his eyes made him appear much more mature than his peers. Luo Feng was no less impressive, standing at 1.75 meters tall with a solid physique, exuding a restrained sense of strength.
"Another holiday is coming soon," Luo Feng said with emotion as he looked at the high school students running on the playground. "Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, we're all in high school."
Lin Yun nodded: "Yes, very fast."
The two found a patch of grass by the playground and sat down, gazing at the distant sky. White clouds drifted lazily by, and a few birds flew overhead, disappearing into the distant trees. The sunlight was warm and gentle, carrying the crispness unique to early autumn.
"Lin Yun, what is your current level of strength?" Luo Feng suddenly asked, his tone tinged with curiosity. "Every time I ask you, you say 'not bad.' But I know that you are definitely more than what you show."
Lin Yun remained silent for a while. He and Luo Feng had grown up together since childhood and were true brothers who could confide in each other. There were some things he didn't need to hide from him.
"I should have already reached the level of a martial artist!" Lin Yun said calmly.
Luo Feng gasped. A martial artist! This was simply astonishing for a fifteen-year-old high school student. You have to understand, many adults train their whole lives and still can't reach the level of a martial artist, and Lin Yun was only fifteen years old.
"You rascal..." Luo Feng shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Every time I think I'm about to catch up with you, I find that you've already gone to a much farther place."
Lin Yun smiled but didn't reply. His gaze fell on the distant sky, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
Luo Feng noticed the change in his expression and frowned: "What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"
Lin Yun hesitated for a moment, but still said, "I've hit a bottleneck."
"bottleneck?"
"Hmm." Lin Yun leaned against the tree trunk and said slowly, "My cultivation method is different from ordinary people. I mainly rely on a special breathing method - Qi Gathering Style to strengthen my body, but the effect of this method is getting worse and worse. At the current rate, it will be difficult to break through to the next level in less than ten years."
Luo Feng was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is there any way to solve this?"
"Yes," Lin Yun said. "The Qi Gathering Style is just the most basic cultivation method. To advance further, one must learn the cultivation method of Genetic Energy. This is the inevitable path for all high-level martial artists."
"Genetic energy..." Luo Feng murmured. He had heard of this term before. Genetic energy was the core of martial arts cultivation, the key to surpassing human limits. Only by mastering the cultivation methods of genetic energy could one truly enter the ranks of the strong. And the cultivation methods of genetic energy were controlled by various martial arts schools and forces.
"You mean, I have to formally join the martial arts school?"
"That's right." Lin Yun nodded. "Only after passing the preliminary martial artist assessment can one become a formal martial artist and be qualified to learn the cultivation methods of gene energy."
Luo Feng looked at him thoughtfully: "Then what are you still hesitating about? With your current strength, passing the quasi-martial artist assessment should be a piece of cake, right?"
Lin Yun was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't want to be exposed too early."
"Afraid of causing trouble?"
"Hmm." Lin Yun didn't deny it. "A fifteen-year-old martial artist, that talent is too astonishing. If too many people knew about it, I wonder what kind of attention it would attract. It's alright within the Limit Martial Arts Academy, but other forces..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Luo Feng understood his meaning. There were far too many cases of geniuses being stifled in this world. Some forces, seeing geniuses they couldn't recruit, would choose to destroy them. Lin Yun's concerns were not unfounded.
Luo Feng was silent for a moment, then looked at him seriously: "Lin Yun, do you know why I've been able to improve so quickly?"
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback.
"Because of you," Luo Feng said, "you've been urging me on and guiding me since elementary school. Every time I feel like I've tried my best, I look at you and know I still have a long way to go. You're like a mirror, making me afraid to stop."
He paused, then continued, "But have you ever considered what might be holding you back?"
Lin Yun remained silent.
"You're hiding." Luo Feng's gaze was serious. "You've been like this since you were little. You're clearly very strong, but you always hide it, afraid of being discovered. I used to think this was caution, and that it was the right thing to do. But it's different now. We're fifteen years old now, not children anymore. You're stronger than anyone else, but you're more afraid to stand out than anyone else. If you continue like this, you'll always be stuck in your comfort zone. How will you break through?"
Lin Yun fell silent.
Luo Feng's words were like a key, unlocking a corner of his heart that he had always avoided.
What is he afraid of? Is he afraid of being targeted by powerful forces after revealing his talent? Is he afraid of attracting the attention of the Holy See? Is he afraid of becoming a target of public criticism?
These concerns are all valid, but he forgot the most important thing—the strong are never hidden.
In the world of Panlong, he could cultivate slowly in the academy, where he had Delin's guidance, the inheritance of necromancy, and ample time to grow. But the world of Swallowed Star was different. This world was more cruel, more direct. Without strength, there was no voice. Without sufficient strength, one couldn't even protect their family.
He has already spent too much time on the word "hidden".
"Luo Feng, you're right." Lin Yun stood up, brushing the grass clippings off his clothes. "It's time to make a change."
Luo Feng also stood up and looked at him: "Have you made up your mind?"
"It's decided." Lin Yun's gaze hardened. "I'll go to the martial arts school tomorrow and register for the preliminary martial artist assessment."
Luo Feng grinned: "This is the Lin Yun I know."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The setting sun painted the sky a golden red, and the plane trees on campus rustled in the evening breeze. On the distant playground, several freshmen were still running, their sweat glistening in the sunlight.
As Lin Yun witnessed all this, an unprecedented resolve surged within him. Starting tomorrow, he would no longer be the boy who hid in a corner, silently cultivating. He would stand up and forge his own path.
The next morning, Lin Yun and Luo Feng arrived at the Yi'an District Extreme Martial Arts Hall together.
The martial arts gym's facade was even more impressive than it had been a few years ago. A tall entrance hall, gleaming marble floors, and a huge emblem hanging in the center of the main hall—a clenched fist—symbolizing strength and resilience. The guards at the entrance nodded to them, clearly recognizing the two boys who frequently trained there.
Jiang Nian, the curator, was processing documents in his office. When he saw Lin Yun and Luo Feng walk in, he put down his pen, looked up, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Lin Yun, Luo Feng? What brings you here?"
Lin Yun stepped forward and said calmly, "Master, I would like to participate in the preliminary martial artist assessment."
The office fell silent for a moment.
Jiang Nian froze for a moment, then suddenly stood up, an expression of disbelief on his face. But quickly, that expression turned into ecstatic joy.
"What did you say? The preliminary martial artist assessment?" Jiang Nian's voice trembled slightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Yes," Lin Yun said.
"Good! Good!" Jiang Nian slammed his hand on the table and burst into laughter. "You've finally got it! I've been waiting for this day for three years!"
He strode out from behind his desk, circled Lin Yun twice, and looked him up and down, his eyes full of admiration. Discovering a young genius was a significant achievement for the head of the Limitless Martial Arts Academy, earning him a large amount of contribution points. Especially for a peerless genius like Lin Yun, who had reached the advanced student level at the age of twelve.
"With your strength, the preliminary martial artist assessment is nothing," Jiang Nian said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "Once you pass the assessment and become a formal martial artist, you'll be able to learn the cultivation methods of genetic energy. At that time, your strength will experience a leap forward."
He took a form from the drawer, handed it to Lin Yun, and patted him on the shoulder: "Fill out this form, and I'll register you. The assessment is scheduled for next month at headquarters. Prepare well during this time, but with your level, you don't need to prepare anything."
Lin Yun took the form and nodded: "Thank you, Master."
"No need to thank me!" Jiang Nian grinned from ear to ear. "You're a genius I discovered. The stronger you are, the greater my contribution. In fact, I should be thanking you!"
Luo Feng, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but laugh.
As they stepped out of the martial arts gym, the sunlight shone directly on them. Luo Feng looked at Lin Yun, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes: "It's finally about to begin."
Lin Yun smiled and said, "Yes, it's finally about to begin."
He looked up at the sky, his gaze piercing through the clouds, as if he could see into a more distant place. There lay a wider world, stronger adversaries, and peaks he had to climb.
The journey to the world of Swallowed Star officially begins today.
When the sun hangs high in the world of Swallowed Star, the moon in the world of Panlong is slowly rising.
In the grove of trees behind Ernst Academy, Lin Yun sat cross-legged on a bluestone and slowly opened his eyes. He had just finished his meditation for the day, and his level eight magical power flowed smoothly and abundantly within his body.
But at this moment, his mind was not on magic.
Lin Lei has been gone for almost a month.
For the past month, Lin Yun had been cultivating in the back mountains every day, practicing the seven elements of magic during the day and studying necromancy at night. Life was peaceful, but he always felt something was missing. The courtyard was no longer filled with Lin Lei practicing magic, and Bei Bei's chattering was gone from his shoulders; even the air felt much colder.
He stood up, walked to the edge of the woods, and looked towards the direction of the Monster Mountain Range. Moonlight shone through the forest, and the distant mountains appeared and disappeared in the night.
"Brother, don't be reckless," he said softly. "If you can't win, just run. No one in the Monster Mountain Range will laugh at you."
The night breeze rustled the leaves, as if in response to his words.
Lin Yun smiled, turned around, and walked back to sit down beside the bluestone. He closed his eyes and continued meditating.
He trusted Linley. He knew Linley's strength—a level six mage, plus Bebe, a powerful partner—as long as they didn't venture too far into the core area of the Monster Mountain Range, they wouldn't have too many problems. Moreover, Linley's personality was much more stable than his; he wouldn't do anything without being sure of success.
But worrying about such things has nothing to do with rationality.
"Come back soon," he murmured, then focused his mind and concentrated on the magical power within his body.
His level eight cultivation was now completely stable. His mental strength was more solid than it had been two years ago, and his soul power was also steadily increasing through his training in necromancy. Although his warrior cultivation had progressed somewhat slowly, his peak level five strength would not be a weakness in close combat.
Late at night.
Ernst College was bathed in the tranquil moonlight. Lin Yun lay in bed, eyes closed, his consciousness gently swaying between two worlds.
In the world of Swallowed Star, his other body is preparing for the pre-martial artist assessment in a low-rent apartment in Yangzhou City. Next month, he will take the assessment to become a formal martial artist and embark on a new journey.
In the Panlong World, his body is consolidating its level eight cultivation at Ernst Academy, waiting for Linley to return from the Monster Mountain Range.
Two worlds, two bodies, both constantly growing stronger.
He opened his eyes and looked at the moonlight outside the window.
At fifteen years old, he exists in two realms simultaneously, is an eighth-level mage, and a quasi-martial artist.
The new journey has just begun.