Lin Yu hadn't cultivated to the ninth level, unaware if the notion of bodily flight without wings and eternal life was fact or fiction. However, since practicing this form of martial arts in a haze, he sensed a difference from ordinary people. Primarily, it was in his physique.
Despite his exceptional intellect from a young age, he was often frail and sickly. His grandparents were troubled by his frequent visits to the hospital. They were always concerned about how to bolster their eldest grandson's health and shield him from colds, evident in the consistent medicinal treatments he received since childhood.
However, since he began practicing this martial art, he discovered that he often felt a warmth within himself. Even in the midst of deep winter with temperatures plummeting to minus twenty degrees, while other children were bundled up like cotton balls, he felt too warm, often discarding his heavy clothing when out playing with his parents or grandparents. He'd take off his thick pants, only to put them back on when returning home, never feeling the cold. Moreover, from then on, he never caught a cold or suffered any minor illnesses.
At that time, he realized that this martial art was truly unique, centered around something intangible called "elemental power."
He often contemplated sharing this experience with his parents and grandparents. Yet, the martial art strictly admonished its practitioners, warning them never to reveal its existence to anyone else, threatening dire consequences, as if the wrath of heaven and earth would descend upon them.
However, as he grew older, he realized the prudence in keeping this knowledge hidden, even if modern people didn't comprehend its mystique. Revealing it might attract unnecessary trouble. Scientists from some research institution might relentlessly pursue him, eager to dissect and study him. It would be troublesome, even if they couldn't catch him. Constantly living as a fugitive with no peace held no appeal.
Moreover, when he initially began practicing the art guided by the colored light in the Star of Fate, it implanted the notion never to showcase the art before outsiders. Thus, he had never exhibited this martial art, and neither his parents nor grandparents had ever noticed his peculiarity.
So, he continued practicing, unknowingly enhancing his elemental power. As he matured, he discovered the wondrous nature of this martial art. By the time he reached eighteen, he was on the cusp of breaking through to the fifth level. The first four levels established a foundation, promoting physical well-being but lacked significant practical application. Only at the fifth level could one project elemental power for harm or aid.
It was said that breaking through the fifth level allowed for unseen and untraceable harm or the ability to resurrect the nearly deceased, returning them to life with just a breath remaining.
Yet, on the night Lin Yu successfully broke through to the fifth level, tragic news struck—his parents had just encountered a fatal accident.
Rushing to the scene like a madman, he found his parents cold and lifeless. Even with immense abilities, he couldn't revive them. Once a soul dissipates, it cannot be reassembled unless under extraordinary circumstances, and souls don't linger.
Grieving beside their bodies, he suddenly realized, even if he had achieved genuine immortality, what use was it? Despite years of arduous practice, just as he reached adulthood and was ready to repay his parents, they had already departed. He could only watch helplessly, feeling utterly powerless, as if he were the world's greatest failure!
If only he had come earlier or if he had achieved the fifth level sooner, perhaps his parents wouldn't have died. He attributed his parents' death to his own inadequacy, mixing agony with self-reproach, unable to contain his emotions, completely engulfed in this painful state of mind. Consequently, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, squandered the entire inheritance his parents left him, believing that only in this way could he somewhat alleviate his inner anguish, using it as an outlet to relieve his pain.
In less than half a year after exhausting all the family's wealth, he remained trapped in that past torment. Leaving behind a letter, he departed, hoping to seek solace in wandering, resembling a beggar monk, striving to find inner peace amidst that torment.
Six long years passed, and only recently did he finally manage to break free from that excruciating pain. Finally, he summoned the courage to face his grandparents again. Luckily, to his relief, they were still alive, not having departed from this world.
Currently, he had advanced to the middle phase of the sixth-level practice. However, he knew deep down, due to his limited aptitude, unless an extraordinary encounter occurred, his cultivation might halt there. He wouldn't be able to progress further in this lifetime.
Because this martial art demanded exceedingly strict qualifications, and from the fifth level onward, each tier—low, middle, and high—was as difficult to advance as scaling the heavens.
Nonetheless, having attained the middle phase of the sixth level, he felt content. From this point onwards, apart from flying, he was hardly different from a superhero. More crucially, advancing to this level allowed him to heal, prolong life, and aid the sick.
Hence, after years of wandering, returning home was his purpose—he didn't want to repeat the past mistakes. He aimed to employ his abilities fully, granting his grandparents a genuine sense of peace, bestowing them with good health, enabling them to face each day with a smile and relish their lives.
However, thinking about it, he broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he had returned early. Grandma's long-standing illness was beyond conventional treatment methods. Had he delayed his return, even by just a month, she might have passed away.
Wiping away the sweat, he clenched
his fists tightly. "I swear, from now on, I'll never allow anyone or anything to threaten the well-being of my loved ones. I'll use my abilities to gift them health and happiness. I swear!" Lin Yu bellowed on the balcony, gritting his teeth.
"Xiaoyu..." At that moment, he heard his grandmother's voice behind him. Turning around, Lin Yu was pleasantly surprised to find his grandmother standing at the bedroom door, leaning against the frame, staring at him in disbelief.