Proactive Attack

Lin Yi withdrew his finger, and the blue light at its tip slowly faded.

The banquet hall fell utterly silent. Everyone stared at the tabletop, now reduced to dust, as if they had witnessed something that shattered everything they knew.

Chen Yu's mouth hung slightly open. His Adam's apple bobbed as if he had swallowed, but no sound came out.

Zhou Yuxuan's glasses had slipped to the tip of his nose, but he didn't even notice. He just stared at Lin Yi's finger.

"This..."

Zhou Jianjun instinctively took half a step back. The hand that had weathered countless storms and gripped countless weapons was trembling slightly.

But Lin Yi didn't stop demonstrating.

"Source Energy doesn't just enhance your attack power. It improves your physical abilities, too."

As if that still wasn't impressive enough, he added another explanation.

Then he took a deep breath and suddenly dashed toward the wall on the other side of the banquet hall.

Everyone's vision blurred. The black-armored figure had already appeared five meters away, moving so fast he almost seemed to leave an afterimage.

Then he sprang up, leaping more than five meters into the air. He casually hooked one hand around the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, hanging there for a moment before letting go. As everyone cried out, he landed lightly on his feet.

And he wasn't done. After landing, Lin Yi grabbed a sturdy wooden chair beside him. He tightened his five fingers slightly, and the back of the chair groaned under the strain. He had crushed five finger-shaped indentations into it!

"My God..."

The half of a chair leg in Li Jie's hand clattered to the floor. Zhao Xiaowen, standing beside him, grabbed his arm without thinking, her nails nearly digging into his flesh.

Ye Qingyu's eyes suddenly reddened.

She wasn't afraid. Rather, an indescribable feeling had welled up inside her.

She suddenly felt that the figure in her memories, who had always quietly worked through problems, now seemed to stand in another dimension.

"This is only the beginning."

Lin Yi's voice brought everyone back to reality. "I've only just started learning. No, I can't even be called a beginner. I'd be more accurately described as unranked."

He paused deliberately, looking over the older relatives and friends present before finally settling his gaze on Zhou Jianjun.

"Based on what the Guidance Technique says, I've calculated that absorbing around twenty Source Energy Crystals should be enough to complete the initial Source Energy enhancement of the body and reach Stardust Rank. Then you'll truly enter the path of Source Energy cultivation and gain greater strength. You'll also live longer!"

His final four words struck the older generation like a heavy hammer.

Lin Ruiming and Zhou Jianjun's eyes widened at the same time. The pen in Lin Ruiheng's hand clattered to the floor.

Live longer.

For young people, it might have been a vague concept, but to middle-aged people weathered by the years, it held a fatal appeal.

"Xiaoyi, you just said..." Lin Ruiheng's voice tightened. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the cuff of his suit. "That it can extend your lifespan? Is that true? No, your uncle isn't doubting you. It's just... how much longer?"

Lin Yi deliberately looked thoughtful. "The Guidance Technique doesn't give a specific figure, but it does mention that the basic lifespan of someone at Stardust Rank is at least twice that of an ordinary person."

His words immediately caused a stir.

Several middle-aged people exchanged shocked glances.

Zhou Jianjun was a straightforward man. He strode up to Lin Yi and planted a rough hand firmly on his shoulder, asking what everyone wanted to know: "That's some ability you've got, young man! Can you teach it to other people?"

Lin Yi wasn't surprised to hear the question. In fact, he would've been surprised if no one had asked.

He nodded. "In theory, anyone can do it. You don't even need the Guidance Technique; you just need Source Energy Crystals. But the Guidance Technique is too extensive, and we don't have the means to record it right now. It'd be easier to get the crystal that contains it."

In the corner, the white-collar woman who had been silent all this time raised her head. She hesitated, then asked, "Um... what if someone's older?"

"Age isn't a problem," Lin Yi said firmly. "The Guidance Technique mentions that Source Energy prioritizes repairing damage in the body. In theory, older people might actually notice the improvement more clearly."

His answer changed the mood in the banquet hall.

The fear that had been weighing on everyone seemed to ease, replaced by a subtle sense of anticipation.

Lin Yi noticed that even Su Xiao, who had been huddled in the corner, had raised her head. A glimmer of light shone in her reddened eyes.

He nodded to himself.

The main reason he had put on such a show was to draw everyone's attention away from their grief and fear.

The best way to forget pain was to immerse yourself in something else.

And the prospect of growing stronger and living longer held an enormous appeal, whether you were young or old.

Lin Yi looked around, taking in the longing in everyone's eyes. After a moment, he added, "But I should warn you first: everyone has different aptitudes, so it'll take some people longer to get started than others."

He knew that after seeing him get the hang of it in three hours, everyone would think the Guidance Technique couldn't be that hard to learn. The greater their hopes, the greater their disappointment would be, so he wanted to give them a warning in advance.

But judging by their expressions, it was clear no one took his words seriously.

He shook his head inwardly. There was no point dwelling on it, so he got straight to the point.

"So what we need to do now..." Lin Yi looked around and paused before raising his voice. "Is collect more crystals."

He pointed out the window. "Those monsters are terrifying, but killing them would not only reduce the threat to our safety; it might also get us some treasures."

"Kill monsters, get loot!" Chen Yu suddenly slapped his thigh. "Haha, I knew it! It feels just like playing a game!"

Chen Yu's words only made the younger ones, who already envied Lin Yi's display, look even more eager to try.

"No!"

Lin Yi's expression darkened.

Reframing the Doomsday Assessment as a game might greatly reduce everyone's psychological burden, but that wasn't what he wanted.

"Chen Yu, remember, this isn't a game. You can get hurt. You can die." He scanned the group sternly. "And when you die, you don't come back to life. So I plan to deal with the monsters downstairs by myself and see if I can get another crystal containing the Guidance Technique. First, I'll help everyone get started with Source Energy."

As soon as he finished, a wave of objections filled the room, tinged with guilt and unease.

"How can we let you do that?"

Lin Ruiming was the first to speak, his voice urgent and worried. "You're going alone? That's too dangerous!"

"Yeah, Xiaoyi!" Lin Ruiheng added at once, his brows knitted together. "You've only just learned a little. There are so many monsters downstairs. We'd be safer if we all went together!"

Zhou Jianjun shook his head repeatedly, his tone full of disapproval. "No, no. We can't let you risk your life alone!"

"That's right! Brother Yi, take me with you! I'll go!" Chen Yu shouted, excitedly waving the club he had just finished making.

"Count me in, too!" Zhou Yuxuan, who was usually quiet, stepped forward as well.

The others didn't say anything, but all eyes were fixed on Lin Yi. It was clear they felt the same: they couldn't let him put himself in danger alone.