Chapter 3: The Choices of the Great Ones

The Great Derivation Heavenly Secret Technique of Lin Xitang was unfathomably profound, one of its effects being the ability to guide and stimulate the latent potential for cultivation in humans. Those with truly outstanding talents often produced anomalies when stimulated by the Great Derivation Heavenly Secret Technique.

These anomalies were divided into five tiers. The faint star-like glimmers seen on the garbage dump were the lowest tier, indicating only the potential to cultivate origin power. The highest-tier talent would produce various colored pillars of light, surrounded by unique phenomena, like a moon being cradled by stars, which also foretold the future direction of the person’s talent. The second-tier talent would only have pillars of light without any accompanying phenomena. The third-tier radiated blazing heat, like a raging flame, while the fourth tier had no distinct phenomena, merely a bright, shining light.

Above the first tier, there was an even higher, superlative tier. These were the genuinely gifted, with their anomalies manifesting as vast landscapes, mythical beasts, or precious birds, all lifelike and vivid.

Though the pillar of light under the night sky was red, signifying the lowest sub-tier of the first tier, even so, such individuals were extremely rare—perhaps one in a hundred thousand among the countless cultivators in the empire. Every single one who emerged was worth meticulous cultivation, destined to become a pillar of the military.

This red pillar of light was like a slap to the face, burning Gu Tohai’s cheeks.

“Go and take a look!” Without waiting for the flying boat to turn, Lin Xitang left the cabin and leapt down from hundreds of meters above.

Over a dozen fully armed guards followed him, landing beside Lin Xitang. Gu Tohai, gritting his teeth, slapped the window frame before finally following.

The sudden change in the little boy clearly frightened the older children, but the little girl, after a moment of shock, discovered that her strength had suddenly increased. She then rushed towards a larger rock and, with great effort, dragged it over.

The little boy, dazed, groaned and turned over.

Beside him, a pair of buckskin-soled military boots appeared.

The boots did not touch the ground but hovered a few centimeters above, a subtle force field spreading out, pushing away all the dust, soil, and garbage.

The little girl, startled, stopped in her tracks, staring at the silver-haired man who had appeared. Her eyes, wide and innocent, revealed a naive and harmless expression, but she quickly and secretly dropped the stone in her hand.

A light emanated from the little girl, unnoticed by her, as the sweat on her palms had already evaporated. The silver-haired man, however, didn’t even glance at her.

Lin Xitang frowned at the numerous scars on the little boy, some of which likely affected his internal organs, making his injuries even more severe than anticipated. He waved his hand, and a mist of light appeared in the air, sprinkling drops of blue rain onto the boy, merging with his skin.

These blue raindrops contained immense origin power, and the boy’s wounds began to heal at a visible rate. He groaned and slowly opened his eyes, fully awake.

The first thing the little boy saw upon regaining consciousness was the stern and resolute face of the silver-haired man.

Confused about what had happened, he instinctively struggled to stand, despite his weakened state. Looking around, he saw the older children and instantly remembered the events, his face turning pale.

Lin Xitang followed the boy’s gaze and saw the older children and the remnants of fresh oiled paper, understanding why the boy was so injured. Such things were common in the garbage dump.

Lin Xitang lowered his gaze, then bent down, extending his hand to the boy, gently saying, “Come here, give me your hand. What is your name?”

The little boy hesitated, finally mustering the courage to whisper, “Qian… Qianye.” But his tiny, dirt-encrusted hand stopped halfway, unable to move further.

The hand, covered in mud and blood, had ceased bleeding thanks to the light rain, but the stains remained. He dared not place his hand in the spotless, large hand of the silver-haired man. Yet, in Qianye’s eyes, that hand was the only source of warmth in the world.

Lin Xitang smiled encouragingly, “It’s alright, give me your hand.”

Gu Tohai, who had also descended, usually appeared kind, but now, seeing Qianye’s injuries, his anger was evident. He huffed and glared coldly at the older children.

The older children, now gathered and huddled together, showed fear, but the over a dozen guards blocked all escape routes, leaving them no choice but to stay.

Lin Xitang, bending slightly, extended his hand, patiently waiting. Under his clear, calm gaze, Qianye finally found the courage to place his hand in the warm, dry, and strong one.

Lin Xitang gently held the small hand, closing his eyes and silently perceiving.

Gu Tohai, looking at Qianye, suddenly furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

Lin Xitang, uttering a soft exclamation, opened his eyes. He looked Qianye up and down, then lifted the cloth covering the boy’s upper body, his gaze fixing on something.

On Qianye’s thin chest, marked by visible ribs, was a large scar, starting just below the heart and running to the navel. The ugly, raised mark indicated it was once a horrific, life-threatening wound.

But how old was Qianye? And how did he survive?

After a moment, Lin Xitang straightened up, saying, “Brother Tohai, you are skilled in medicine. Help me examine him.”

Without a word, Gu Tohai came forward, ignoring the filth, and ran his hands over Qianye’s body. His large hands felt like burning needles, but Qianye, clenching his teeth, did not make a sound.

Gu Tohai’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Such fortitude at this young age! Impressive!”

Standing up, he said to Lin Xitang, “This child indeed had first-tier talent, but the injury is too severe, destroying the foundation. Moreover, I suspect he might have had an origin crystal within him.”

Lin Xitang immediately thought of a forbidden term, origin force robbery. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “You mean…”

Gu Tohai, solemnly, “No, it’s just a guess. You know, that’s a grave taboo. But his injury occurred several years ago, probably when he was less than three. As you can see, his foundation is severely damaged, and even if his talent is stronger than these, it’s no longer first-tier.”

Given the severity of Qianye’s old injury, the fact that he could still produce a red energy pillar suggested he might have had superlative talent. However, considering his current condition, he barely qualified as fourth-tier.

Such a mediocre talent, slightly better than average, held no value to the two high-ranking military figures. Besides, the hidden dangers from his injuries made it uncertain whether he could survive the harsh training.

Gu Tohai sighed deeply, full of regret.

Lin Xitang looked at the small Qianye, who gazed back, perhaps still feeling the warmth in his palm, an unspoken dependency in his eyes.

Lin Xitang’s heart stirred, and he said slowly, “Meeting here is a sign of fate. How about this, I will take you away. Where, you decide.”

He took out several polished jade plaques, swiped them, and text appeared. He placed them face down in his hand and offered them to Qianye.

Hesitating, Qianye chose the middle plaque, revealing two characters he couldn’t read.

Gu Tohai, sighing and shaking his head, saw this.

Lin Xitang softly read, “Yellow Springs,” then took back the plaque, patted Qianye’s head, and asked, “What is your surname?”

“I… have no surname. I am Qianye.”

Lin Xitang nodded, kindly, “Alright, if you return alive from that place, you can use my surname, Lin!”

Qianye, not understanding, listened innocently.

Lin Xitang, not needing him to understand yet, turned and instructed, “Take him back to ‘Green Bird,’ clean him up, treat his injuries, feed him, and get him new clothes.”

With that, Lin Xitang and Gu Tohai rose, gradually accelerating towards the hovering boat.

The older children, watching everything, might not have understood the adults’ words, but the terms “bath,” “food,” and “clothes” were enticing.

Seeing the guards preparing to take Qianye, the leader of the older children rushed forward, screaming, “Take me! Take me! I want a bath and food too!”

He tried to grab the guards’ legs and pull Qianye away.

The injured leader, dragging Qianye’s leg, shouted, “This is my place! Who are you? All of you, beat this little brat! He dared to hit me with his head! The food is mine!”

He attacked more viciously, targeting Qianye’s wounds. In the garbage dump, survival meant killing to take everything.

The burly guards, unmoving, let the leader continue. The little girl, watching, quietly moved closer.

When Qianye’s face showed pain, the guard captain, coldly, “Enough, even Brother Tohai would agree.”

The guard holding Qianye, his face suddenly grim, kicked the leader high into the air!

The kick, infused with dark power, caused the leader to explode into a mist of blood!

Another guard, grinning, stepped forward, stomping heavily, “A bunch of little rascals, daring to disturb Commander Lin’s affairs!”

A ripple spread from his foot, throwing the older children into the air, spewing blood and cracking bones, mangled beyond recognition.

The captain and other guards, unaffected, stood still. The little girl, miraculously, escaped the ripple, fleeing just in time.

Seeing the little girl escape, the guard, blushing, huffed, raising his foot again, but the captain, hearing something, stayed his foot.

The captain, listening, nodded, took Qianye, pulled out a gun, and placed Qianye’s hand on the trigger.

Aiming at the fleeing girl, he said, “She has tried to kill you. Pull the trigger, hard, and she will die.”

Qianye, holding the trigger, watched the tiny figure run, knowing pulling would end her life.

Quietly, Qianye shook his head, releasing the trigger.

On the boat, Gu Tohai laughed, “As I expected, ha! Lin, rare for you to lose! Come on, pay up, your ‘Water Colored Splendor’ is mine!”

Lin Xitang, smiling, his eyes serene, seemed to reflect the world, yet devoid of self.

The guards took Qianye back to the boat, which turned, ascended, disappearing into the blood moon’s glow.

The garbage dump, and the little girl, were forgotten, like the abandoned land itself.