This ending was beyond everyone's expectations.
Gazing at the tightly shut door, the head of the Li family's eyes flickered, his heart filled with grief.
Within him seethed resentment towards Lin Yu, coupled with self-reproach for his failure as a father and the agony of losing his beloved son.
He lowered his head to look at Li Yuan, who was kneeling on the ground. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly raised his palm and, with a loud bang, struck towards Li Yuan's head.
*Bang!*
The immense palm force was beyond Li Yuan's ability to resist. Before he could even react, his head was crushed, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.
This scene elicited faint sighs from the onlookers. Perhaps Lin Yu's decision not to kill Li Yuan was because he had already foreseen Li Yuan's inevitable demise.
Killing Li Yuan did not bring the head of the Li family much solace; instead, it deepened his sorrow.
He bowed slightly towards Lin Yu's door, paid his respects, then placed a deed of asset transfer on the ground before turning to leave.
As he departed, the crowd automatically parted to make way for him. Only after he had gone a considerable distance did they begin to discuss the matter.
"Alas, what a pity. Li Yuan of the Li family was the most talented genius of his generation."
"It's all fate. Once dead, nothing remains."
"Who could have imagined Lin Yu's temperament? We must be more careful from now on, not to bully others with our status."
"Keep your own descendants in check, lest one day misfortune befalls us, dragging us old bones down with them."
"Sigh, the thought of my own pampered offspring gives me a headache. I must discipline them thoroughly upon returning home; we cannot let these brats ruin us!"
The crowd felt enlightened, resolving to immediately warn their descendants upon returning home, forbidding them from bullying others or recklessly taking lives.
It had been too many years since an unpredictable genius like Lin Yu had appeared. For so long, they had grown accustomed to arrogance, and once their tempers flared, it was difficult to rein them in.
Now, they lived in fear that their profligate sons might unknowingly offend someone and invite a fatal calamity. Their own deaths were secondary; they feared implicating their families.
With these thoughts solidified, a sense of urgency took hold. They wished to return home immediately. Thus, they carefully placed their gifts, offered a salute, and turned to depart.
After they left, the entire Ji City would soon experience a seismic shift.
All the pampered youths were confined and subjected to months of education. The children of wealthy families became docile. They even began to proactively befriend ordinary people with distinguished demeanors, and they would scrutinize beggars by the roadside, suspecting them to be hidden masters.
This left the citizens bewildered. How had these once arrogant youths become so polite?
How did beggars, once scorned, now become objects of intense scrutiny, suspected of being hidden masters?
Most outrageously, the orphans of Ji City were adopted by various prominent families, emptying the welfare home in an instant, astonishing the teachers and director alike.
However, this was also for the best!
They sensed something significant had occurred in Ji City but were unaware of the true details, resorting to hearsay that twisted and turned, leaving everyone utterly confused.
At this very moment.
Lin Yu brought the gifts into the house. Most of them were checks and asset transfer deeds, a considerable amount that lay scattered across the floor.
Lin Fan excitedly sifted through them: "Brother, the Li family is quite sincere. Look, the Li family directly donated a third of their assets."
Lin Yu also smiled faintly. The Li family's gifts were the most valuable. As one of Ji City's top families, their assets spanned the entire city, and a third represented a substantial sum of hundreds of millions.
"Wow, this is a fifty-million check, Brother! We're rich now!"
"And this item... it's actually a rare spiritual energy fruit. Although it only increases spiritual energy by a tiny bit, it's still very precious."
"This sword looks quite ancient and seems very sharp."
Lin Fan curiously examined the gifts one by one, nearly overwhelmed by the sheer volume.
The Senior Disciple, however, paid no attention to the gifts, continuing to sip his wine from a seemingly small gourd that never seemed to empty.
Lin Fan sidled up and asked, "Senior Disciple, isn't your wine gourd some kind of spatial artifact?"
The Senior Disciple cast him a sideways glance. "Don't disturb my drinking."
"Senior Disciple, isn't this really a spatial artifact?" Lin Yu inquired this time.
The Senior Disciple put down his wine gourd and smiled. "It is indeed a spatial treasure, but it can only store wine. The Dean gave it to me back then."
Lin Yu asked curiously, "Senior Disciple, do you possess any spatial treasures?"
"No!"
"Really?"
"The Dean has a spatial ring. It was a spoil of war from defeating a ninth-tier otherworldly warrior back then. If you want it, kill a ninth-tier otherworldly warrior first."
"Then, perhaps not for now."
The Senior Disciple gave him a look and remained silent.
Lin Yu put away the gifts, grouping the checks together. They totaled sixty million Star Coins, which he planned to convert to cash at the bank later.
As for the other treasures, he intended to consume those that were edible. For inedible items, he would keep the useful ones and store the rest for the time being, setting aside anything he thought Zhao Ke could use.
After sorting the items, he picked up the spiritual energy fruit and consumed it. His spiritual energy increased by a trace, not much, but better than nothing.
He then picked up a fruit with lightning patterns and ate it. He felt a slight increase in his resistance to lightning, also minimal but not entirely insignificant.
Next, he took the ancient sword. He saw the inscription "Sansheng" on it, hence its name, the Sansheng Sword, a rather audacious claim.
"Aside from money, the rest aren't particularly precious. Once you reach the academy, you'll know what true treasures are," the Senior Disciple said nonchalantly.
Lin Fan set down what he was holding and asked, "Senior Disciple, what kind of treasures are there in the academy? Tell us about them."
The Senior Disciple replied, "You're not part of the academy, so what use is it telling you?"
Lin Fan pouted, putting on a pitiful face. "Senior Disciple, can't you pity your little brother?"
"Not at all. You're faking it," the Senior Disciple remained unmoved.
Lin Fan's expression shifted rapidly, his sad face instantly turning into a smile. "Senior Disciple, then I'll enroll in the Supreme Academy too, how about that?"
Lin Fan was becoming increasingly unrealistic. He was an external manifestation, lacking talent, and wanted to enroll in an academy? He should be helping his main body fight monsters.
Lin Yu spoke up, stopping Lin Fan from continuing. "Senior Disciple, you should go out for a bit!"
The Senior Disciple seemed to realize, chuckled, and stood up. "Alright, I'll make a trip to the Li family."
After the Senior Disciple left, Lin Fan looked aggrieved. "Main body, you're not being fair! I'm doing this for your own good. Don't you want to know about the Supreme Academy in advance?"
Lin Yu tapped his head. "I don't want to!"
"Really don't want to?"
"Really!"
"I don't believe you!"
"Believe it or not!"
Lin Fan: "Hmph....."
Lin Yu ignored him and left home to go to the bank, converting the checks into digital currency.
Afterward, it took him considerable time to accept the assets gifted by the Li family. With this, his holdings now amounted to hundreds of millions.
Night fell.
With a creak, the door opened.
"I'm back!" the Senior Disciple's voice echoed.