The evening sunset dyed the streets of Jiangnan City's Lower District a warm orange.
Lin Zhiran walked home with light steps. His schoolbag contained a roast chicken and two bottles of chilled fruit-flavored sparkling water that he had taken a detour to buy.
Defeating Zhao Tai in the combat class today was not just a victory for him, but a transformation of his mindset. He proved that even with an F-Rank Talent, as long as he found the right path, he could still trample those so-called A-Rank geniuses under his feet.
The high spirits of youth were the most moving.
Pushing open the door, a faint aroma of rice hit his face.
"Brother! You're back!"
Lin Qingyu, who was setting the table, welcomed him like a little lark when she heard the door open. Her complexion looked much better than usual today, with a hint of rosiness on her small pale face. Obviously, the High-Grade Qi-Nourishing Potion Lin Zhiran bought earlier had worked.
"Yeah, I'm back."
Lin Zhiran smiled and rubbed his sister's head. Like a magic trick, he revealed the roast chicken and soda hidden behind his back. "Look what I bought?"
"Wow! Roast chicken!"
Lin Qingyu's eyes lit up instantly, and she exclaimed in surprise, "And sparkling water! Brother, what special occasion is it today?"
"Just celebrating." Lin Zhiran changed his shoes and put the things on the dining table, his tone unable to hide his high spirits. "In today's combat class, your brother taught a lesson to that Zhao Tai who is usually the most arrogant. Even Teacher Wang praised my solid foundation."
"Really?"
Lin Qingyu looked at her brother with admiration. In her world, her brother had always been the best. "I knew it! Brother, you work so hard and practice so late every day; you must be better than those guys who only rely on their families!"
"Naturally."
Lin Zhiran unbuttoned his collar, feeling a relaxation he hadn't felt before.
Dinner was exceptionally happy.
There were no heavy partings or life-and-death sorrows, only the siblings laughing and fighting over a chicken leg, and Lin Qingyu excitedly telling funny stories from school. A light variety show was playing on the TV, and the warm yellow light fell on the two of them, cozy as a painting.
Looking at the grease on the corner of his sister's mouth and the bright smile on her face, a warm current surged in Lin Zhiran's heart.
This was what he wanted to protect.
Not struggling for survival, but to make this smile last forever, to make this home full of laughter like today.
"Brother, you will definitely become a Grandmaster in the future, right?" After eating and drinking her fill, Lin Qingyu held the sparkling water and asked with her big eyes blinking.
Lin Zhiran leaned back in his chair, looking at the starry sky outside the window, a glint of confidence flashing in his eyes.
"Of course."
He said softly, his tone firm. "When that time comes, I'll take you to live in the Sky Gardens of the Upper District and eat big meals every day."
"Pinky promise!"
"Pinky promise."
...
After settling his sister down to rest, Lin Zhiran returned to his room.
He didn't slack off because of today's victory and warmth; on the contrary, his condition was now at its peak.
That youthful sharpness of "I can do it" and "I can win" surged in his chest.
"Strike while the iron is hot."
Lin Zhiran picked up the VR helmet, the corner of his mouth curling into a confident arc.
He had reclaimed his dignity in reality, and his rank in the virtual world couldn't fall behind. Tonight, let this fire burn even brighter!
Put on the helmet, connect to the Ladder.
[Welcome back, Silver Tier 5 Warrior, Cold Light.] [Current Status: High Spirits, Morale Soaring.]
"Start matching!"
With Lin Zhiran's command, the door to the virtual world opened again.
First match, second match, third match...
Tonight's "Cold Light" had a style sharper and more unrestrained than last night. If he was a calm assassin last night, then tonight he was a general charging into battle.
The long spear seemed to have a soul in his hands. Every thrust carried an indomitable momentum.
Opponents in the Silver Division were like clay chickens and pottery dogs before him, unable to stop his winning streak at all.
Eighteen consecutive wins! Nineteen consecutive wins!
The popularity of the live stream room exploded again. Countless viewers were infected by the momentum of this newcomer named "Cold Light."
"Too fierce! Did God Cold Light take stimulants today?" "I feel his spearmanship is sharper than yesterday; that confidence is overflowing the screen!" "This is what a young genius should look like! What trash counterattack? This is a genius!"
[Match successful! Promotion Match Critical Game!] [Cold Light (Silver Tier 1) VS Hawkeye (Gold Tier 5)]
When seeing that the opponent was the Gold Rank Gatekeeper, the sniper "Hawkeye," Lin Zhiran not only had no fear but felt his blood boiling all over.
"Gold Rank? Sniper?"
Virtual Battlefield—City Ruins. Lin Zhiran stood behind a broken wall, listening to the gunshots in the distance, the fighting will in his eyes burning like fire.
"Then I'll use you as a sacrifice to my spear!"
If it were before, he might have chosen to develop cautiously and approach slowly. But today, he disdained to do that.
He wanted to win beautifully, win heartily!
"Heart of the Spear God, deduce!"
In his mind, countless attack routes formed instantly. Lin Zhiran didn't choose the safest one but chose the fastest and wildest one.
"Kill!"
He let out a long howl, his whole body rushing out of the cover like an arrow leaving the string.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A thousand meters away, Hawkeye's bullets whistled over.
But Lin Zhiran didn't dodge. The long spear in his hand danced into a ball of light and shadow. Using the elasticity of the spear shaft and the terrain, he performed dazzling "Z-Jumps" in the ruins.
The wind pressure from that extreme speed made him feel as if he were flying.
This was Martial Arts! This was hot-bloodedness!
Closer! Even closer!
Facing Hawkeye's frantic shooting, Lin Zhiran laughed loudly. When he was still fifty meters away from the building, he leaped into the air.
In mid-air, nowhere to leverage force?
No!
Lin Zhiran exerted force from his waist and abdomen, pouring all his strength into his right arm. The long spear in his hand erupted with a piercing sonic boom.
"Take this move of mine!"
"Meteor Throw!"
Xiu—!!!
The long spear left his hand, turning into a dazzling meteor, cutting through the night sky of the ruins.
That indomitable momentum seemed as if it would pierce even the sky.
Puchi!
The long spear instantly pierced Hawkeye's defense, nailing him firmly to the rooftop.
[Battle ended! Winner: Cold Light!] [Congratulations, promoted to Gold Rank!] [Achievement Reached: Twenty Consecutive Wins!] [Congratulations Host, comprehended self-created combat skill in high spirits: [Meteor Throw] (E-Rank, Growable).]
Lin Zhiran landed on the rooftop, watching the data stream gradually dissipating in the distance, and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
Awesome!
This was the battle a teenager should have; this was the life Lin Zhiran should have.
Since heaven gave him an SSS-Rank Talent, he was destined to live brilliantly and passionately, protect that warm little home, and then...
Challenge the world with his spear!
This night, the name Cold Light, carrying the pride of a youth, officially stepped into the Gold Rank, shaking the entire Jiangnan City Nova List.