The spaceship tore through the sky.
Having learned the details of the second round of assessment from the general, Feng Lin quickly left the Cultivators' Association with the principal and returned to Huaxia City.
"There's still a month until the second round begins. Feng Lin, what are your plans?" the principal asked. The further Feng Lin advanced, the greater the benefit to the school, so he had to show concern.
"Next, I'll go into full seclusion and train hard, strengthening my genes, striving to break through to become an interstellar cultivator before the second assessment!" Feng Lin said in a low voice, revealing a bit of his upcoming plan.
"What? You haven't even maxed out your genes yet, and your vitality is already over 90? To what extent have you strengthened your genes? What mythical path are you on?" The principal was visibly shocked, firing off questions one after another. This seemed to defy the principles of cultivation.
Although Feng Lin was his student, he was shrouded in layers of mystery that the principal could never see through.
In response to his inquiries, Feng Lin just chuckled lightly and said nothing more.
The principal knew he had overstepped—no cultivator would reveal their own secrets. Wisely, he stopped pressing. After a moment's thought, he added, "Since you've decided to train hard, I'll grant you an indefinite leave of absence. Just come back for the exams!"
"Thank you, Principal!" Feng Lin nodded in gratitude.
The surrounding classmates from the elite class looked on with envy and jealousy.
The principal had given Feng Lin immense freedom because he knew that true geniuses couldn't be bound by rigid rules. Only by granting them space could they go further on their own path.
This was exactly what Feng Lin wanted.
Once they reached an agreement, the spaceship arrived in Huaxia City, and Feng Lin left on his own.
Next, he would go into seclusion and train hard, preparing for the second assessment.
As long as he could max out his mental genes, he had a chance to become an elite cultivator.
To get through the second round and go further, breaking through in cultivation was urgent.
Otherwise, with his current level, he might be considered top among the younger generation in the solar system, but that wouldn't be enough to compete with the prodigies from across the stars!
When he got home, he was about to tell his parents that he planned to leave for a while to go into seclusion, when he suddenly noticed a familiar figure in the house. His parents were sitting stiffly, chatting with him.
It was the clan leader of the Feng family!
This was a big shot. Why would he show up at my house for no reason?
Feng Lin's mind stirred. There's no smoke without fire. The clan leader's sudden visit might not be a good thing.
But now, he was confident enough to handle any situation, so he wasn't worried.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back!" Feng Lin walked in calmly and greeted them.
When the clan leader saw Feng Lin, his eyes lit up, and he stepped forward. "Feng Lin, congratulations on passing the first round of the Cosmic University enrollment assessment!"
Word travels fast!
But that makes sense—when he passed the assessment, he had seen Feng Li and Feng Jinpeng there. They had clearly also applied to Cosmic University.
Feng Lin raised an eyebrow and said coolly, "Clan leader, you're too kind! I've only passed one round. What's there to congratulate? There's still the second round ahead."
"Exactly! That's why I'm here about the second round!" the clan leader said with conviction.
Nothing good comes from unsolicited favors!
Feng Lin grew wary. The clan leader's personal visit meant the matter was no small thing.
He chuckled without responding.
The clan leader's heart sank. This kid is really hard to deal with!
He forced a smile and said, "What I'm about to say might be a bit of a stretch."
"If it's a stretch, then don't bother saying it!" Feng Lin replied with a fake smile, not taking the bait.
Uh...
The clan leader felt a tightness in his chest, almost coughing up blood. He realized Feng Lin had a knack for driving people mad without killing them.
He could also see that Feng Lin was someone who didn't care about taboos. So he stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point. "Feng Lin, the second round covers the entire solar system, and the competition is fierce. Our Feng family has you, Feng Li, and Feng Jinpeng passing the assessment. Why don't you all team up? As clan members, you can cooperate and have no worries. Wouldn't that greatly increase your chances of passing?"
So that's your game!
Feng Lin sneered inwardly. The proposal sounded good on the surface, but he wasn't buying it. He had his own plans.
He knew he had too many secrets right now. Without the strength to protect them, it wasn't wise to let others get too close.
Who among those who become interstellar cultivators is a fool?
If someone saw through him, it wouldn't end well.
Besides, with a whole month ahead, Feng Lin's seclusion training was aimed at a full breakthrough. If he could become an elite cultivator, why would he need to band together with others?
Feng Lin chuckled and said, "Clan leader, you're too kind! Feng Li and Feng Jinpeng are both outstanding talents in the family. They can help each other out. I'm just a low-ranking clan member. If I tag along, I'd only be dead weight."
His words were polite, but they were a clear refusal, subtly mocking the family's hierarchical system.
The clan leader's face darkened immediately. This Feng Lin was too stubborn, like a rock—hard and unpleasant.
"Feng Lin, let me be blunt. You're the family's top genius. If you agree to lead Feng Li and Feng Jinpeng through the second round of the Cosmic University enrollment assessment, I promise you unrestricted access to the family's treasure trove of cultivation resources for the next month. No limits!" When the suggestion failed, he cut to the chase and started bargaining with Feng Lin.
"Clan leader, you're too kind! I'm not even sure I can pass the second round myself, let alone lead others through it!" Feng Lin had made up his mind and wouldn't change it.
The clan leader's offer might seem generous and sincere to others, but Feng Lin couldn't care less.
His trip to Mars had netted him the resources of Giant Pharmaceuticals. He wasn't short on cultivation materials for now, so why bother with the family's resources?
Taking gifts puts you in debt!
Why would he stoop to petty gains and invite trouble?
"Clan leader, I plan to go out and train hard for the next month to make a full breakthrough. Instead of seeking safety in numbers, it's better to break through quickly and become an interstellar cultivator. That's the surest way to win!" With that, before the clan leader could say more, Feng Lin walked into his room and shut the door.
The clan leader's eyes darkened with anger and frustration.
Feng Lin was already a top-tier interstellar cultivator who had never benefited from the family. At this point, the family could hardly control him.
And it was clear that Feng Lin had little sense of loyalty to the family.
Given Feng Lin's outstanding performance, he was a once-in-a-century genius for the family. If he drifted away, it would be a huge loss for the Feng family. How could they win him over?
The clan leader pondered strategies, his gaze drifting to Feng Lin's twin younger siblings.
Maybe...
What the clan leader thought or planned to do, Feng Lin neither knew nor cared.
After a quick farewell to his family, he left the Feng Building.
Soon, a silver spaceship shot through the sky toward the vast Pacific Ocean, plunging into the water.
That place was...
The Mariana Trench!