Ultimate Warrior

An hour later, most of the children were exhausted and slumped over.

The Qi Cultivation Style might look like simple breathing, but it consumed a massive amount of physical energy. Especially with the contraction and expansion of the abdomen and the coordination of the entire body's muscles, doing it a few dozen times was enough to leave one with a sore back and gasping for air.

"Alright, take a fifteen-minute break." Hillman finally relented.

The children felt as if they had been granted amnesty; they collapsed onto the ground one after another. Some lay flat, some ran to the shade of the trees to cool off, and others gathered around the well to draw water to drink.

Linley also stopped to rest, a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead.

He turned his head to look at Lin Yun and discovered that his younger brother was still practicing.

"Lin Yun, take a break." Linley called out.

"You rest first, I'll hold on a little longer." Lin Yun said without turning his head.

His body was trembling—at six years old, his bones and muscles were still developing, and practicing the Qi Cultivation Style for a full hour was indeed an immense burden. But he gritted his teeth and did not stop.

Because he knew that in the Swallowed Star World, Luo Feng was likely also working silently in some corner at this very moment.

Because he knew that this world would never be merciful to you just because of your age.

Because he knew that the path he had to walk was longer than anyone else's.

After practicing the Qi Cultivation Style for a while longer, Lin Yun finally stopped. His legs were shaking and the clothes on his back were soaked through with sweat, but he did not sit down. Instead, he leaned against the wall and walked slowly, letting his body gradually recover.

Hillman had been sitting on the stone pedestal the entire time, observing these two children calmly.

Linley—the eldest son of the Baruch Clan. This child had outstanding talent and a stubborn, unyielding spirit; he was excellent material for martial arts.

Lin Yun—the second son of the Baruch Clan. He was usually quiet and reserved, with a much weaker presence than Linley. But today, during his first contact with the Qi Cultivation Style, his performance had shocked Hillman.

It wasn't just a matter of talent.

Every one of Lin Yun's movements was extremely precise, without a trace of excess; his breathing rhythm was as stable as a precision instrument; he didn't even need Hillman to correct him, as he could adjust himself to the optimal state on his own.

This kind of control, this kind of focus, was completely unlike that of a six-year-old child.

Hillman had spent many years in the military and had seen countless talented youths, but none were like Lin Yun. His method of cultivation didn't look like "learning," but rather "executing"—as if he already knew exactly what to do and was merely verifying his own judgment.

"Interesting." Hillman muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.

Hillman clapped his hands, gathering all the children together.

"Next, we will continue practicing the Qi Cultivation Style. But first, I will tell you something else." He crossed his arms, his gaze calm. "Do you know why you must practice the Qi Cultivation Style?"

The children looked at each other, but no one answered.

"Hadley, you tell me." Hillman called on him.

The dark-skinned boy scratched his head: "To... become stronger?"

"Becoming stronger is the goal, not the reason." Hillman shook his head. "The Qi Cultivation Style is the most basic introductory technique for warriors on the Yulan Continent. Its function is very simple—to strengthen the physique and lay the foundation for cultivating Battle Qi in the future."

His gaze fell on Linley and Lin Yun: "You must all remember, the body is like a container, a wine glass. And Battle Qi is like wine! How much wine a glass can hold depends on the size of the glass. Likewise... a person's ultimate achievement in cultivating Battle Qi also depends on the degree of their physical training. If the body is too weak, even with a powerful Battle Qi manual, the body cannot withstand much Battle Qi, and one cannot become a powerful warrior."

"Of course," Hillman looked around at the other children, "even without a Battle Qi manual, the Qi Cultivation Style is still effective for you. As long as you persist in practicing, your physique will become stronger and stronger. Even if you don't become a powerful warrior in the future, at least you will have a healthy body. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" The children shouted in unison.

"Uncle Hillman," Hadley said, "tell us a story."

Hillman smiled: "Alright, today I will tell you about the legendary Four Ultimate Warriors of the entire continent!"

There was a hint of excitement in Hillman's eyes, though his voice remained steady: "On our continent, thousands of years ago, there appeared the Four Ultimate Warriors. These Four Ultimate Warriors all possessed strength comparable to giant dragons. They could rampage through a million soldiers alone and easily take the head of an enemy general! These Four Ultimate Warriors were the Dragonblood Warrior, the Violet Flame Warrior, the Tiger-Striped Warrior, and the Undying Warrior!"

"Warriors are divided into nine levels. I, merely a Level 6 Warrior, can easily shatter boulders and kick down trees! A Level 9 Warrior, even in our Fenlai Kingdom, would likely be considered the number one powerhouse. Above the Level 9 Warriors are the Four Ultimate Warriors. They transcend the Level 9 Warriors, stand at the peak of warriors, and belong to the legendary Saint Realm!" Hillman's eyes were filled with longing. "The legendary Saint Realm powerhouses can melt massive icebergs, make the endless ocean roar in anger, cause towering mountains to collapse, destroy cities with millions of inhabitants, and make the sky rain down endless meteors! They are invincible existences, supreme existences."

"Wow..." The children gasped in amazement, their eyes filled with yearning.

Lin Yun stood behind the crowd, listening quietly.

He knew that what Hillman described was only the surface. The true Dragonblood Warriors were far more powerful than he described—especially Linley. The future Linley would not only awaken the Dragonblood bloodline but also cultivate the seven elements of earth, fire, water, and wind, eventually becoming an existence that transcended the Overgods.

And the current Linley was just a six-year-old child, clumsily practicing the Qi Cultivation Style just like him.

Lin Yun turned to look at Linley and found that his brother was clenching his fists, a burning light igniting in his eyes.

"I want to become a Saint Realm warrior." Linley said in a low voice, as if speaking to Lin Yun, or perhaps swearing to himself.

"You will be." Lin Yun said calmly.

Linley was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "How do you know?"

"Because you are Linley Baruch." Lin Yun said, his tone as certain as if he were stating a fact that had already been verified countless times.

Linley didn't understand why his brother was so certain, but he liked the feeling of being trusted.

"You will be too." Linley said earnestly, "We will do it together."

Lin Yun did not answer, only nodded slightly.

Together.

These two words, in the Coiling Dragon World, meant him and Linley; in the Swallowed Star World, it meant him and Luo Feng.

Parallel worlds, dual bonds; he would not let either down.

At dusk, the first day of training came to an end.

The children left the lawn in twos and threes, chattering excitedly about what they had seen today as they headed toward their respective homes within the territory. To them, this was merely a novel experience; but for Lin Yun and Linley, it was the first step on a long road of cultivation.

Hogg stood at the entrance of the manor, watching Linley and Lin Yun return from their training.

His gaze was complex.

These two children were the final hope of the Baruch Clan. Their mother was already gone, and the clan had declined until only this dilapidated manor and a few loyal servants remained. If these two children could not rise, the Baruch Clan would truly be finished.

"Father." Linley ran over, his face flushed with excitement. "I learned the Qi Cultivation Style today! I held it for over half an hour on my first try, and Uncle Hillman said I did very well!"

Hogg crouched down and patted Linley's head. "Very good. But do not be arrogant; cultivation is a lifelong endeavor."

"I know." Linley nodded vigorously.

Hogg looked toward Lin Yun, who was walking over slowly, a flicker of inquiry in his eyes. "Lin Yun, what about you?"

"One hour," Lin Yun said calmly.

Hogg's hand paused slightly.

One hour. At six years old, on his first contact with the Qi Cultivation Style, he had held it for an hour.

Hogg knew better than anyone what this number signified. When he had first practiced the Qi Cultivation Style, he had collapsed from exhaustion in less than a quarter of an hour; even a genius like Hillman had only managed a quarter of an hour on his first attempt.

"Do not push yourself too hard." Hogg suppressed the shock in his heart and said gently, "Your health is the most important thing."

"I know, Father." Lin Yun nodded. "I have my own measure."

Hogg looked at his younger son, a strange feeling welling up in his heart. This child was too steady, so steady that he did not seem like a six-year-old. He did not wear his emotions on his face like Linley, nor did he show joy over minor progress. He was quiet, like a deep pool of water, impossible to see through.

But Hogg did not ask further.

Everyone has their own path to walk, and even as father and son, one cannot walk it for the other.

"Let's go, let's go eat." Hogg stood up, took each son by the hand, and walked into the manor.

The setting sun sank slowly behind them, stretching the shadows of the three of them long and thin.

Lin Yun walked between his father and his brother, feeling exceptionally calm.

The first day of training was over, but the real challenge had only just begun.

He knew that in the days to come, the Qi Cultivation Style would become his daily, unwavering routine. He would practice it in the Coiling Dragon World, and he would practice it in the Swallowed Star World; he would practice by day, and find time to practice by night as well.

Two bodies in two worlds, cultivating in sync, progressing in sync.

This was his path.

And this path, starting today, had officially begun.

The night grew deep.

In the main house of Baruch Manor, the light in Hogg's room was still on.

He sat at his desk with a yellowed family genealogy spread out before him. On the title page of the genealogy, a line was written in ancient script:

"The Baruch Clan, inheritors of the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline for generations, in the name of guardianship, remain unyielding unto death."

Hogg's fingers gently brushed over the handwriting, his gaze resting on the final pages of the genealogy—where his own name was recorded, along with the names of his two sons: Linley Baruch, Lin Yun Baruch.

"If..." he murmured to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it, "if these two children can truly awaken the dragon blood, perhaps the Baruch Clan still has hope."

Outside the window, moonlight like water spilled over the ancient manor that had weathered so many vicissitudes.

And in a room at the other end of the manor, Lin Yun lay in bed, closing his eyes.

His consciousness swayed gently between the two worlds, as if he were dreaming a very, very long dream.

In the dream, a boy named Luo Feng was in the ruins of another world, just like him, working silently and hard.