Encounter

"Mm..."

When Lin Dong used every ounce of strength he had to open his heavy eyelids, a youth dressed in a blue robe came into view.

The youth's eyes were deep as the sea, and a keen aura flickered within them, making him unforgettable.

"Who is he?"

A trace of confusion flashed through Lin Dong's eyes. He had never seen such an unusual youth before.

The youth looked about the same age as him, but his whole being radiated an air of coldness and arrogance, as though, in his eyes, everything in this world was insignificant.

"You're awake?"

Lin Ge smiled faintly and spoke softly.

Lin Dong moved his body a little and struggled to his feet. Suddenly, he sensed something new within him and hurriedly closed his eyes to examine it.

"This... I've broken through to the Third Layer of Body Tempering!"

The unexpected stroke of luck thrilled Lin Dong. Then he remembered how Lin Shan had beaten him to a pulp not long ago, and his anger rose.

"Lin Shan, just you wait. If I don't beat you into a pig's head next time, I'll stop being a Lin!"

Lin Dong ground his teeth, his heart seething with frustration.

Lin Shan had already reached the Fourth Layer of Body Tempering. Even among the entire clan, he was one of the most gifted. Lin Dong had only been lucky enough to break through to the Third Layer. How could he possibly compare?

On the path of cultivation, body tempering came first. Everything began with oneself; the human body was the most mysterious and unfathomable thing between heaven and earth.

Body tempering meant strengthening one's body from the outside in. Once the muscles, bones, and marrow within had been strengthened to a certain degree, a Yuan Power Seed would form.

Only when a Yuan Power Seed appeared within the body could someone be called a cultivator.

Body Tempering had nine layers. There was little difference among the first three; one's physical constitution merely grew somewhat stronger.

Only upon reaching the Fourth Layer did the skin become as hard as wood or stone, bringing a qualitative improvement to both strength and speed.

Though Lin Dong and Lin Shan were separated by only a single layer, Lin Shan could still thrash Lin Dong with ease!

But Lin Shan was so much stronger than Lin Dong not only because he had cultivated for far longer. More importantly, his father controlled the Lin Clan's finances.

By contrast, Lin Dong was worlds apart from him. Not only did he lack medicinal herbs to nourish him, but he didn't even have basic healing medicine.

The Body Tempering Realm was a stage of training the body, so injuries of varying severity were common. Without enough healing medicine, one could only recover naturally, wasting precious time.

For all these reasons, Lin Dong's cultivation speed naturally fell far behind Lin Shan's...

"It was just luck. What's there to be excited about?"

Lin Dong's beaming expression made Lin Ge's brows knit together. It was only the Third Layer of Body Tempering. Was there really any need to be so excited?

At Lin Ge's words, Lin Dong's expression turned a little flustered. His cheeks flushed, and unease crept into his heart.

At his age, reaching the Third Layer of Body Tempering already made him a prodigy.

Yet the youth before him looked utterly unimpressed, his words even laced with disdain.

Lin Dong's excitement was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water by Lin Ge.

The martial path meant stealing yin and yang, seizing creation, transforming through nirvana, grasping life and death, and commanding reincarnation.

Beyond that lay the shattering of the firmament and the upheaval of the universe.

The Body Tempering Realm was merely the foundation before cultivation began, and the first three layers of Body Tempering were the very foundation of that foundation. They were nothing worth mentioning.

Lin Dong didn't know how to respond to the unfamiliar youth's words, so he could only remain silent.

"Was it you... who saved me?"

After a moment of silence, Lin Dong finally asked haltingly.

In front of this youth, he felt an immense pressure that made him somewhat nervous.

"It was nothing. You did it all yourself."

Lin Ge shook his head and replied indifferently.

"Thank you."

Lin Dong offered his heartfelt thanks.

Ever since he was old enough to understand, Lin Dong had faced nothing but scorn and contempt. Some people had even beaten him outright.

Lin Ge's kindness made him feel a long-lost warmth, stirring a sense of kinship in his heart.

Lin Ge's brows remained furrowed. Something about the Lin Dong before him rubbed him the wrong way.

"So timid and fussy. Is this really the protagonist? Or is he just introverted because he never got that opportunity?"

For a moment, Lin Ge's mind churned with thoughts.

"I didn't help you for free. You'll have to repay me someday."

Lin Ge felt little warmth toward the Lin Dong before him, so his tone was stiff.

The strong prey on the weak; only the fittest survive.

A drop of kindness today should be repaid with a spring of gratitude tomorrow.

Of course, Lin Ge didn't actually expect Lin Dong to repay him in the future. He said this only so Lin Dong wouldn't feel any unnecessary gratitude toward him.

Lin Ge's blunt words left Lin Dong momentarily speechless, and he stared in astonishment.

The youth's frankness left him at a loss, yet he was still moved.

Whatever the other boy's motives, he had helped him. Even if he expected Lin Dong to repay the favor, that was only fair.

"Don't worry. If you ever need me, I'll help you."

Seeing Lin Dong's earnest expression, Lin Ge felt a flicker of irritation and agitation for some reason. He couldn't help asking, "Do you know why I helped you?"

Lin Dong slowly shook his head, curious as well.

"Because in the entire Lin Clan, you're the only one worthy of my attention."

His calm words held an unimaginable confidence.

Lin Dong was stunned by the words. They echoed again and again in his mind, lingering for a long time.

"I'm the only one worthy? Why?"

Lin Dong didn't understand. He also couldn't figure out why this mysterious youth thought so highly of him.

After all, he was only a youth at the Third Layer of Body Tempering. His strength was merely average among his peers, his family background ordinary, and his cultivation resources just as mediocre. What about him could possibly be so appealing?

"You're a true powerhouse, so you're worthy of my attention."

Lin Ge spoke with an expressionless face.

"A powerhouse?"

Lin Dong pointed at himself, a trace of self-mockery in his eyes.

Clearly, he didn't think of himself as a powerhouse at all.

Lin Ge smiled, his grin radiant.

Lin Dong stared at him in confusion without a word, the bewilderment on his face growing deeper by the moment.

"A true powerhouse is strong on the inside, not on the outside. Do you understand?"

Lin Ge's smile faded, and he spoke with great seriousness.

"Strong on the inside?"

"Exactly. An extraordinary life can forge an extraordinary powerhouse. And you're one of them!" Lin Ge spoke each word deliberately, his gaze fixed on Lin Dong. A force that shook the soul radiated from him, leaving Lin Dong nearly unable to think!