With a light tap of his foot on the ground, Feng Lin's figure blurred into afterimages as he shot forward rapidly.
Seeing that Feng Shaoyou wasn't pursuing him anymore, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
It wasn't fear, just sheer annoyance.
If Feng Shaoyou had kept chasing him, it would have been an endless nuisance.
After all, his opponent was an interstellar cultivator, and Feng Lin wasn't confident of certain victory.
Though he had held the upper hand just now, he hadn't actually inflicted any real damage on Feng Shaoyou.
A cultivator who had trained step by step through their own efforts had a solid foundation and formidable strength, completely different from those man-made Titans.
Honestly, if the fight had continued!
Feng Lin felt the odds were still stacked against him.
Victory and defeat were common in battle; he was open about it, with nothing to hide.
But that's how combat works sometimes—a gap in strength doesn't guarantee a win.
Seize the right moment, and the weak can overcome the strong.
Feng Lin hadn't fully defeated his opponent, but he had at least grabbed that fleeting instant to retreat gracefully, without any hesitation.
Relying on a major rank advantage, Feng Shaoyou couldn't do anything to him, and he believed the man would have no face left to recruit him.
Feng Lin let out a light sigh of relief, finally free from all the family troubles, gaining a space to cultivate in peace.
Now, his focus was on the interstellar college entrance exam and building his own power.
The universe was vast beyond measure; if he only trained in solitude, he'd stand alone and face countless obstacles.
One person's strength is limited, but many hands make light work!
He knew countless paths to godhood, and the gene formula allowed him to realize them. He couldn't use them all himself; it would be a waste not to leverage them for building influence.
It would be like leaving a divine artifact unclaimed, standing before a mountain of treasure and walking away, squandering resources, a sheer desecration.
Feng Lin wasn't about to make that mistake. That's why he founded the Mythic Gene Society—to maximize his greatest advantage, turning it into a force as vast as the Aryan Pure Blood Society, cultivating loyal subordinates, and using their collective power to seize the resources he needed.
The universe was huge, but truly useful cultivation resources and rare treasures were scarce.
So, he had to compete, absolutely had to.
As the heavens move with vigor, a gentleman strives for self-improvement.
Only by constantly facing competition could he obtain the resources he needed and smooth his path forward!
What should he do to make the Mythic Gene Society grow?
Feng Lin's mind raced, searching for a plan.
Interstellar technology had reached its peak, and Feng Lin naturally intended to harness its power. Fighting blindly like a brute would make him no different from a caveman.
Thinking of the possibilities in this interstellar era, a smile crept onto Feng Lin's lips. He had a rough idea, and now it was just a matter of testing it out one by one.
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!...
Fireworks exploded, illuminating the dark starry sky in a blaze of brilliance.
In this interstellar age, these were tech-simulated fireworks, radiating light in all directions.
The vast Huaxia City was filled with jubilation.
New Year's Eve had passed, a new year had arrived, and everything was renewed.
How familiar this scene was!
Feng Lin felt a sense of calm; even across ten thousand years, nothing seemed to have changed.
What had become of his family from ancient Earth?
But the past was gone, and he could never go back...
Feng Lin wasn't one to dwell on sentiment; agonizing over it was pointless.
With the new year, his fate was about to undergo a earth-shattering transformation.
Earth was small, the solar system was small.
Only the boundless sea of stars held the future for an interstellar cultivator.
The road was long, and he had to take it step by step.
Feng Lin knew he wasn't lacking in potential.
But potential was just that—potential. Turning it into real strength required relentless effort.
No matter how talented, if you don't grow, you're not a genius.
Stay true to your original intent, and you'll achieve your goal.
He wouldn't lose sight of that.
Feng Lin cast aside all distractions and headed home.
When one attains enlightenment, the whole household ascends.
Feng Lin had given all the family points from his championship reward to his parents and siblings, upgrading them to third-tier clan members, so they no longer had to live in cramped underground spaces.
Now, the family had been assigned a luxurious suite on the eightieth floor of a skyscraper, over two hundred square meters in size.
This was where upper-tier clan members lived, a completely different environment.
Through the windows, he could clearly see most of Huaxia City, with rolling green hills and clear waters faintly visible in the distance, a sight that lifted the spirits, and natural, warm sunlight streamed directly inside.
Feng Lin used his chip to search for the new home's location. When he arrived, he found his parents and siblings had been waiting for a while. On the table were plates of fragrant food—big, meaty dumplings.
Eating dumplings for New Year's.
This was pure, natural food, rich in nutrients, nothing like the bland, tasteless nutrient potions they'd been assigned before, which were no different from plain water.
The New Year's Eve feast was ready.
The moment they saw Feng Lin return, his parents stood up, smiling, "Feng Lin, you're back! Come eat the dumplings!"
Their faces, worn by the years, lit up with life, brimming with hope for a better future.
His younger siblings rushed to the table, drooling over the delicious food they'd never tasted before.
"Alright!" Feng Lin smiled, a faint warmth rising in his heart—a sense of family harmony and reunion.
"Brother, have one too! These dumplings are so good!" Feng Xin, her mouth full of food, mumbled indistinctly as she obediently picked up a dumpling for him.
Feng Lin chuckled, reached out to pat her little head, and took a bite.
The rich meat flavor filled his mouth, tender and delicious.
Though the meager nutrients did nothing for him anymore.
But at times like this, who cared about that!
Feng Lin smiled and ate dumplings with his family. It wasn't just about the food; it was a feeling—a feeling of happiness.
And this simple thing had once been a luxury.
Feng Lin's eyes grew brighter, reaffirming that the path he'd chosen was absolutely right.
Only cultivation could change fate—not just his own, but his family's too.
As he continued to grow, his family might not keep pace, but as long as they basked in his protection, they could live peacefully and happily for the rest of their lives.
That was all Feng Lin could do for his family. Giving them too much would only harm them.
An innocent man may suffer for his wealth.
That truth held in any era.
Crackle!
Fireworks boomed.
Outside the window, fireworks burst forth, lighting up the entire dark sky as if it were day.
Countless homes lit up, filling the world with the warmth of human life.
His younger siblings' eyes widened, shouting with joy.
Feng Lin smiled at the corners of his eyes, quietly watching the scene.
The family gathered together, harmonious and happy, the air filled with a warm, peaceful atmosphere.
This was happiness.