Chapter Eighty-Six: The Realm of Selflessness

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed. Life at Blue Emperor Academy was much like that at Weston Academy, though the competition was far fiercer. Luo Chen was only a mediocre student in his class, but he did not lose heart, continuing to train diligently. Every Sunday, he ventured into the Forest of Fear to hunt. With Tyler’s information to aid him, Luo Chen managed to catch some low-level beasts most weekends, selling them in Miracle City for a few silver coins, sometimes even earning close to a gold coin if luck favored him. Compared to his previous work at the docks, this was a considerable improvement, and it also helped him gain practical experience.

In his courses, Luo Chen was making steady progress, but he had devoted a significant portion of his time to mastering the Mind Unity technique taught by the Butcher. He believed that once he mastered this combat skill, his strength would greatly increase, and so every extra moment spent was worthwhile.

Late at night, in the dormitory for scholarship students, Luo Chen sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, entering a deep state of reflective thought through the Reverse Mind Method. In this state, he shut out all distractions and external information, focusing his mind entirely on a single aspect. This was a super-concentrated form of mental power, making it extraordinarily effective for contemplation.

In Luo Chen’s mind, scenes from memory replayed vividly.

During his escape, a ruffian stole the wild fruit he had painstakingly found. At that moment, Luo Chen clenched his fists, wishing to pummel the villain, but alas, he lacked the strength.

Under the Thunderfall, he was swept away by powerful currents. He clenched his fists, longing to overcome the waterfall’s tyranny, but again, he lacked the strength.

In Weston Academy’s combat class, Kevin, that hypocrite, feigned enthusiasm while mocking him inwardly. Luo Chen clenched his fists, wanting to smash Kevin’s face to a pulp, but once more, he lacked the strength.

Scene after scene flashed through Luo Chen’s mind. Each time, he was willing but powerless. He craved strength, but it always eluded him—he could not reclaim the fruit, could not conquer the Thunderfall, nor could he smash the face of the slanderous Kevin.

These memories flickered past like a film. Eventually, the last scene unfolded abruptly—a small village strewn with corpses, people fleeing in terror, cries and wails echoing, beasts roaring in succession. Luo Chen stood in a corner of the village. A woman, frail yet resolute, shielded him with her body, while not two meters away, a beast lunged at them.

Another hunter, clutching a spear, dashed recklessly toward the beast.

This was the moment when Luo Chen’s parents were killed—a hellish scene etched deep within his soul, never to be forgotten. Yet now, it felt more real than ever before.

“Father! Mother!” Luo Chen once again clenched his fists. Though timid and helpless, a surge of courage filled his heart; he straightened his back and stood determinedly before the woman. Only one belief remained in his heart: damned beast, come forth. Whoever dares threaten my parents’ lives, I will shatter them—utterly shatter them!

A miracle occurred. Luo Chen’s youthful fist suddenly radiated a dazzling brilliance like the midday sun. Boundless power surged from every corner of his body. Then, the light upon his fist shot forth in a dense shower like meteor rain, dozens of tangible energy blasts streaking through the air like shooting stars, brilliant and beautiful, imbued with unmatched strength. The beast was shattered into fragments in a single, agonized cry.

Luo Chen stared at his hand, scarcely believing it, then burst into joyful tears. “Father, Mother, look! I did it—I really did it! I can protect you with my own fists!”

“Yes, Chen’er, our child—you did it. And you’ve grown up!” The hunter and the woman came to his side, gently touching his head. Luo Chen was astonished to discover he was no longer small, but taller than his mother.

How could this be?

As his parents smiled in relief, their forms gradually blurred, dissolving into countless points of light that vanished before him.

“Father, Mother, where are you going?” Luo Chen reached out desperately, trying to hold onto them, but his hands grasped only darkness. He had returned to reality—the previous vision had been merely an illusion.

Yet not everything in the illusion was false. Luo Chen was startled to find that the wall separating his room from Shi Feng’s had, at some point, been half-demolished. In the illusion, Luo Chen’s miraculous combat technique had struck not the beast that killed his parents, but the wall.

“Bang!” Bricks and stones flew as Shi Feng jumped out. “Damn it, you beast! Are you trying to tear the house down?”

To be fair, the stud brother was truly unlucky—suffering a disaster in the middle of the night. He had just been sleeping soundly, dreaming a rare and pleasant dream. In it, countless beautiful women, dressed provocatively and seductively, beckoned to him: “Come, Shi Feng, we’re so lonely—please comfort our empty hearts!”

For such reasonable requests from beautiful women, stud brother naturally felt obliged. He cheerfully ran over, but instead of gentle embraces, he found their bodies hard and unyielding. Then, he woke up—those alluring bodies were, in fact, just bricks.

But when Shi Feng saw the broken wall, he couldn’t help but gasp. Had there just been an earthquake?

Luo Chen’s eyes were brimming with tears. Father, Mother, did you see? I did it—I truly did it! Though time cannot be reversed and I cannot save you, I have mastered my own Mind Unity technique. Day by day, I am growing, becoming stronger! With these hands, I will do my utmost to help those who may lose their loved ones and strive to prevent more tragedies from repeating!

The scene of his parents’ death had replayed countless times in virtual illusions and memories, but just now, for the first time, Luo Chen forgot the past, even forgetting his parents were long gone—he believed the events were happening right then.

This must be what the Butcher meant by a selfless state of mind.