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Qin De couldn't believe this outcome, nor could Xu Yuan. But how could the people of Cloud Mist Villa dare to deceive Qin De?
"Prince..." Xu Yuan looked at Qin De.
Qin De calmed down, pondered for a moment, and then stared at Xu Yuan, "Those three Inner Power Experts secretly protecting Yu'er can come back now. From today on, there's no need for anyone to protect Yu'er in secret!" Qin De, looking through the window towards the sky, had a trace of a smile on his face and murmured, "Yu'er has grown up; he no longer needs to be under my wings. What he needs is to experience hardships and eventually soar high and fly freely in the heavens!"
"Prince, should Little Yu be involved in the plan?" Xu Yuan suddenly asked.
Qin De's face turned cold, and without any hesitation, he flatly said, "No, although Yu'er's strength is not bad, in battles involving tens or even hundreds of thousands of troops, an individual is of no use once surrounded. Only when one's personal strength reaches the Innate Realm can they save their own life amidst thousands of soldiers. Moreover, Yu'er has never led troops, so... unless he reaches the Innate Realm, he absolutely cannot be involved in the plan."
"Yes!" Xu Yuan responded.
"Xu Yuan, it's almost Jingyi's memorial day, isn't it..." Qin De suddenly became melancholic, and Xu Yuan, standing beside him, just nodded and said no more.
Qin Yu kept training relentlessly, using the "Ancestor Dragon Technique" at night to integrate Inner Strength deeply into muscles and bones, making his entire muscular and skin system increasingly resilient. During the day, he would intensely train his body and practice close combat, continuously perfecting his movement technique and cultivating the 'Yu Family's One Sword'. The only time Qin Yu rested and slept was the nearly three hours he spent soaking in the hot springs each day.
In such intense training, time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, Qin Yu was thirteen years old.
Late at night, under a sky full of stars, Qin Yu, for a rare occasion, was not cultivating Inner Strength but gazing at the stars above. Beside Qin Yu was a frightening Black Hawk, its presence more imposing than ordinary hawks.
Whether it was the crown-like golden feathers on its head or the shiny black feathers and the sharp beak and claws that could easily crush stones, releasing a cold light, all of it made Qin Yu marvel at Little Black's ferocity but he could not determine what kind of bird Little Black actually belonged to.
"Little Black, I took you in when I was seven, and it's been six years now. However, I have never figured out what kind of bird you are. Are you a hawk?" Qin Yu said affectionately as he petted Little Black's head.
Little Black enjoyed Qin Yu's gentle touch, its sharp eyes looking at Qin Yu with strong affection.
Extreme training, for five straight years.
Qin Yu's body had undergone an enormous transformation, if Zhao Yunxing came over, he would certainly be in disbelief. The integration of Inner Strength into muscles had drastically accelerated Qin Yu's physical metamorphosis; five years of extreme training was equivalent to what would take a normal person ten years.
Coupled with the unique hot springs of Cloud Mist Villa, the massage techniques of the medical expert Weng Xian, the application of medicinal wines, and the various precious medicinal meals provided by the powerful influence of Prince Zhen Dong. Of course... the most important factor was Qin Yu's own arduous training.
Regardless of the environment, personal effort is what matters most.
Qin Yu trained diligently with unwavering resolve, and after five years, the thirteen-year-old had become an Outer Strength Expert. Qin Yu, now nearly 1.7 meters tall, had a well-coordinated muscular body with a streamlined appearance. One could not help but think of 'Explosive Power' and 'Speed' when looking at Qin Yu's physique.
"Little Black, it's been seven years since we came to Cloud Mist Villa, and father has also visited four times." Qin Yu, gazing at the starry sky, had a serene look in his eyes.
Five years of extreme training also honed Qin Yu's temperament; anyone would become much more psychologically mature in such circumstances. With age, Qin Yu slowly began to understand his father and to make out some of what was happening.
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"My father, he cares about me. I can feel it. All these years, my father has painstakingly managed that plan, which is why he didn't have time to accompany me, with both my big brother and second brother also involved in it. Only I... alone, carefree, enjoying the good life at Cloud Mist Villa," Qin Yu's eyes revealed a hint of helplessness.
"What that plan is, I don't know. My father won't tell me, and watching him work so hard, yet I can't help at all," Qin Yu said with a shake of his head and a wry smile.
How could Qin Yu help with a plan he knew nothing about?
Especially since his father, Qin De, wouldn't tell him the slightest bit about it.
"My father is with the army in Primordial Wilderness, and so is my big brother, and my second brother went there too. They are all working hard on that mysterious plan, and I cannot help at all." Qin Yu still remembered the words Qin De said during his last visit—'Yu'er, don't ask anymore. When you become an Innate Expert, father will let you join the plan.'
"Innate Realm!" Qin Yu sighed deeply as he looked up to the sky, but then he smiled again, "Forget it, it doesn't matter if I'm not part of it. The most important thing is to concentrate on my cultivation."
Qin Yu's face showed indifference, but what was he really thinking deep down?
Qin Yu looked up at the stars in the sky, with Little Black by his side, also watching.
The long night stretched on, one man and one eagle quietly watching, when suddenly—the sky lit up. One after another, meteors streaked across the sky, at least tens of them, a rare meteor shower.
"It's a meteor shower!"
An excited shout came from Qin Yu, his face full of excitement. Meteor showers were extremely rare, and Qin Yu had never seen one before. Lian Yan had once told Qin Yu about the charm and brilliance of meteor showers.
Indeed—
The meteors were so dazzling, so bright. Their light completely overshadowed the other stars, each meteor bursting with the last light of life, burning its last energy, radiating a glow that trembled the spirit!
Qin Yu watched quietly, with mysterious colors in his eyes.
"Meteors, though brief, burst with the strongest light, brilliant and eye-catching. In life, even an Innate Expert only has a few hundred years, so instead of living a mediocre life, it's better to be like a meteor, burning with passion in the limited time of life, letting the heat in one's veins surge, making one's life shine the brightest. Only then can one die without regrets," Qin Yu mused, watching the meteor shower.
Extreme training ignited the passion in Qin Yu's heart, making him more fond of the feeling of his blood boiling. This was why Qin Yu chose close combat. Now, seeing the meteor shower, his understanding deepened even further.
"Little Black, I haven't visited Yan Capital City for over half a year now. Tomorrow, let's go to Yan Capital City, have a stroll around the city, and by the way, bring the Short Sword—the Fish Intestine Sword from the Prince Mansion," Qin Yu said as he stroked Little Black's head. Little Black looked at Qin Yu and let out a series of eagle cries that echoed through the sky, clearly very happy.
The Fish Intestine Sword was a short sword refined from Outer Heaven Meteorite Iron, and after practicing the 'Yu Family's One Sword', Qin Yu found short swords most suitable for use. Having heard Lian Yan talk about the Fish Intestine Sword, Qin Yu decided to retrieve it from the Prince Mansion.
The sky gradually grew darker, the darkness before dawn. As soon as it was light, Qin Yu would be heading to Yan Capital City.