55: Chapter 55 Gravity Comprehension! Finally, he becomes the disciple of a mysterious powerhouse!
At seven in the evening, Lin Feng returned to his apartment.
He double-locked the door, drew the curtains, and took out the "Earth Profound Truth · Incomplete Manual" from the wanxiang ring.
The dark brown beast-skin cover shimmered with an oily luster under the light.
Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the bed, took a deep breath, and slowly opened the first page.
On the yellowed paper, the scribbled handwriting seemed to come alive, jumping, reorganizing, and evolving before his eyes...
【Earth Profound Truth · Volume One · Gravity Chapter (Incomplete)】
【Content: Elaborates on the connection between gravity and the earth; by using Elemental Simulation of gravitational changes, one can reach a weight of a thousand jun or become as light as a goose feather.】
【Comprehension Requirements: Earth Element Affinity of 80% or higher, Mental Energy of 300 or higher, and relevant experience with gravity.】
【Current Status: Learnable】
“The Gravity Chapter!”
Lin Feng's eyes lit up.
He thought back to the three-hundred-step Gravity Staircase he had climbed within the holy artifact of the sha clan.
That incremental increase from ten times to three hundred times gravity, the pain of his entire skeleton groaning, the struggle of every step exhausting all his strength...
Memories flooded back like a tide.
Simultaneously, the characters on the page began to glow.
A pale golden light rose from the paper, transforming into tiny runes that drifted toward the space between Lin Feng's eyebrows.
Buzz—
Lin Feng felt his head grow heavy.
A massive amount of information, insights, and images poured into his mind!
It wasn't a transfer of text.
It was... direct empowerment!
He saw a desolate land where a figure with an indistinguishable face stood atop a mountain peak, raising a hand toward the sky.
In the next moment, the weight of the entire mountain peak seemed compressed into a single point, crashing down!
The ground collapsed, and rocks were pulverized!
He then saw that person lift a hand upward; the surrounding rubble, sand, and even the air became as light as feathers, slowly floating up...
“Gravity... isn't just downward...”
“Upward, left, right... any direction...”
“Compression, expansion, distortion...”
Lin Feng murmured to himself, his consciousness immersed in that profound state.
The Earth Element within his body began to circulate on its own.
With 94% Earth Element Affinity, his body was like a sponge, frantically absorbing those insights regarding gravity.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the golden tower soul vibrated slightly.
Several runes on the surface of the pagoda lit up—specifically those related to the earth and gravity!
【Gravity Rule insight detected】
【Current Comprehension Progress: 0.1%】
【Effect: Can slightly alter local gravity (Range: 1 meter, Multiplier: ±3 times)】
【Note: You have touched the surface of the Gravity Rule; range and multiplier will increase as comprehension deepens.】
0.1% comprehension progress!
Even though it was just the barest surface, Lin Feng could feel that his understanding of gravity was already completely different from before!
Previously, he only treated gravity as a type of environmental pressure.
Now he understood that gravity was a rule, a power, a... tool that could be controlled!
“If I had this insight back in the Secret Realm...”
Lin Feng imagined being able to suddenly change the gravity around an enemy during battle.
For example, making an enemy's weapon three times heavier so they couldn't swing it.
Or making an enemy's body three times lighter so they would fly away at a single touch.
Combat would become so much easier!
“This Incomplete Manual... is too precious!”
Lin Feng carefully closed the book and held it in his arms like a peerless treasure.
He thought of that White-haired Old Man.
“The old man said that those destined may take the items on the table...”
“This Incomplete Manual clearly isn't something just anyone can learn.”
“It requires over 80% Earth Element Affinity, over 300 Mental Energy, and experience with gravity...”
Lin Feng now had 94% Earth Element Affinity, 658 Mental Energy, and as for gravity experience, he had just endured the three-hundred-fold staircase.
The three conditions were a perfect match.
“Is this really just a coincidence?”
The more Lin Feng thought about it, the more he felt the old man was not simple.
At their first meeting, the old man said he also possessed the Glorious Corona Physique and had even evolved it into the Solar Saint Body.
At that time, Lin Feng felt he had been seen through—it was as if he were standing naked before the other party, with no secrets left to hide.
At their second meeting, the old man directly said that once he came out of the Desert Golden Sea alive, he would tell him the method to upgrade his Physique.
And now he had left behind this Incomplete Manual that happened to suit him perfectly...
“Old man... who exactly are you?”
Lin Feng lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind in a jumble.
Too much had happened recently.
Secret Realm exploration, spirit Possession, tower soul Awakening, counter-killing the encirclement, obtaining the holy artifact, comprehending gravity...
Any one of these events alone would be enough for an ordinary person to brag about for a lifetime.
Yet he had experienced all of them.
“Since meeting that old man, my luck really seems to have improved...”
Lin Feng rolled over and buried his face in the pillow.
But he knew in his heart that it wasn't just luck.
The old man was definitely observing him in the shadows, perhaps even... guiding him.
“Whatever, sleep first.”
Lin Feng forced himself to close his eyes.
But his mind was like a movie, scene after scene flashing by.
His parents' disappearance, the cold eyes at the Explorer hall, Wang Hao's mockery, Chen Lin's comfort, the slaughter in the desert, the spirit's sinister laugh, the tower soul's golden light...
Finally, it settled on the old man's wrinkled face and those deep eyes.
“I need to become stronger...”
Lin Feng clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
“Without a background, without a backer, without strength... I'm just an ant to be slaughtered at will.”
“Zhou Tianhao dared to send people to kill me because I was weak.”
“If I were Level 50, Level 100... who would dare touch me?!”
He thought of the Dungeon where his parents had disappeared.
That special Level 50 Dungeon that remained unconquered to this day.
In the records of the Explorer Association, information about that Dungeon was sparse, only speculating that it was extremely dangerous, with a survival rate of less than 1% for those who entered.
His parents had entered six years ago and never came out again.
“When I'm strong enough, I must go there and see for myself...”
With this thought, Lin Feng drifted off into a daze and fell asleep.
...
A night without dreams.
At seven the next morning, Lin Feng woke up on time.
The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was check his status.
【Gravity Rule Comprehension Progress: 0.1%】
【Controllable Range: 1.5-meter radius】
【Alterable Multiplier: ±4 times】
【Note: After a night of digestion, there has been slight improvement.】
“Range expanded from 1 meter to 1.5 meters, and the multiplier increased from 3 times to 4 times...”
Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction.
Though the progress was small, it was indeed progress.
This showed that gravity comprehension could be continuously improved!
“When my comprehension is deeper in the future, can I achieve three hundred times gravity like in the holy artifact of the sha clan?”
Lin Feng's heart was full of anticipation.
He rolled out of bed, washed up quickly, and changed into a clean, sharp outfit.
Then he grabbed two pieces of bread from the fridge and headed out while munching on them.
Today's goal was clear—find the White-haired Old Man!
...
At eight in the morning, Lin Feng arrived at the Street Market.
The old man's stall was still empty.
A broken wooden table, an empty wheelchair, and a layer of dust.
“Not here again?”
Lin Feng frowned.
But this time, he didn't plan on leaving.
“I'll wait!”
He found a step next to the stall and sat down, his eyes fixed on the market entrance.
The flow of people coming and going, the noisy hawking, the air mixed with various scents...
Time passed minute by minute.
Nine o'clock.
Ten o'clock.
Eleven o'clock.
The old man didn't show.
Lin Feng's rear went numb from sitting, so he stood up to stretch.
When he got hungry, he took some dry rations from his ring and had a few bites.
He was like a stone statue, guarding the stall without moving.
“Young man, are you waiting for that old man again?”
The middle-aged woman selling potions nearby couldn't watch anymore and handed him a bottle of water.
“Thank you.” Lin Feng took the water and gulped some down.
“I've seen you waiting here all morning.” The woman shook her head. “That old man comes and goes like a ghost; there's no telling when he'll show up.”
“I'll wait for him,” Lin Feng said simply.
The woman sighed and stopped trying to persuade him.
Twelve noon.
The crowd in the market thinned out as stall owners began taking turns to eat.
Lin Feng was still sitting on the step, eyes glued to the entrance.
Just then—
Creak, creak...
The sound of wheelchair wheels turning reached him.
Lin Feng snapped his head up!
At the market entrance, a white-haired elder was slowly approaching, pushing a wheelchair.
It was the same faded old clothes, the same wrinkled face, and the same eyes that looked cloudy but were actually deep.
The old man had arrived!
Lin Feng leaped up and rushed over in a few strides.
“Senior!”
His voice was slightly excited.
The old man pushed the wheelchair to the stall and glanced at Lin Feng, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
“Kid, it's you?”
“It's me!” Lin Feng nodded. “Senior, I've been waiting for you all morning.”
“Waiting for me?” The old man raised an eyebrow, sizing up Lin Feng.
A sharp glint flashed through those seemingly cloudy eyes.
Lin Feng felt a chill run through him, as if he were being seen through once more.
“Your Earth Element Affinity is very dense, and you've even touched the surface of the Gravity Rule?”
The old man murmured to himself; his voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Lin Feng's heart like a hammer.
He got everything right!
Not a single detail missed!
“How... how did you know?” Lin Feng swallowed hard.
“I can see it,” the old man said indifferently. “The Glorious Corona Physique has a resonance with those of the same origin. You've made significant progress.”
He pushed the wheelchair behind the stall, picked up a rag, and began wiping the dust off the table.
His movements were slow and meticulous.
“Senior, I...” Lin Feng wanted to say something.
“Don't speak yet,” the old man interrupted. “Let me guess.”
He put down the rag, looked up, and stared at Lin Feng.
“You entered the Desert Golden Sea, had some fortuitous encounters, and now you've come to ask me to take you as a Disciple.”
“Yesterday you took my Earth Profound Truth · Incomplete Manual and comprehended the basics of gravity in a single night.”
By the time he finished, Lin Feng was dumbfounded.
Spot on!
“Senior... you're right, your judgment is incredibly accurate!” Lin Feng's voice trembled.
The old man didn't answer.
He picked up a metal part from the table and toyed with it in his hand.
“My name is Zhao Ritian.”
“Zhao... Zhao Ritian?” Lin Feng was stunned.
That name... was so domineering.
“What, think the name is too arrogant?” Zhao Ritian glanced at him.
“No... I wouldn't dare.” Lin Feng quickly shook his head.
“A name is just a label.” Zhao Ritian put down the part and looked at Lin Feng. “You're quite a surprise, kid.”
“With an F-Rank Talent paired with the Glorious Corona Physique, logically speaking, you'd be lucky to reach Level 20 in this lifetime.”
“But not only did you come out of the Desert Golden Sea alive, you seem to be doing quite well for yourself...”
He paused, a look of appreciation appearing in his eyes.
“It seems I misjudged you; this F-Rank Talent of yours... is not simple.”
Lin Feng's heart tightened.
Fusion Talent was his greatest secret; had it been seen through?
“Senior, my Talent...”
“No need to tell me.” Zhao Ritian waved his hand. “Everyone has secrets; I'm too lazy to pry.”
He pointed to the empty space across from the wheelchair.
“Sit.”
Lin Feng sat down obediently, like a primary school student waiting for a teacher's lecture.
“You came to me this time wanting to ask about the method to upgrade the Glorious Corona Physique to the Legendary rank, right?”
“Yes!” Lin Feng nodded heavily.
“Remember the condition I set last time?”
“I remember! You said as long as I could come out of the Desert Golden Sea alive, you would tell me!”
Zhao Ritian smiled.
There was a hint of gratification and sentimentality in his smile.
“I never go back on my word.”
“Since you've done it, then from today on...”
He paused, looked into Lin Feng's eyes, and said word by word.
“You are my, Zhao Ritian's, Disciple.”
Boom!
Lin Feng's mind buzzed!
Even though he was somewhat prepared, hearing those words for real still made him tremble with excitement.
“Master!”
He fell to his knees with a thud and respectfully kowtowed three times.
“Disciple Lin Feng pays respects to Master!”
This scene left the surrounding people dazed.
“What is that young man doing? Why did he suddenly kneel?”
“Taking a Master? People still do that these days?”
“Who is that old man? He looks so ordinary...”
“No idea, but if he can make that young man so respectful, he must be someone special!”
Discussions broke out all around.
But Lin Feng didn't care.
He knelt on the ground, forehead pressed to the floor, his voice firm.
“Please accept me as your Disciple, Master! Teach me to become strong!”
Zhao Ritian looked at Lin Feng kneeling on the ground, a flash of complexity in his eyes.
There was gratification, memory, and... a trace of nearly imperceptible sadness.
“Get up.”
He reached out and made a lifting gesture.
An invisible force helped Lin Feng up.
“Since you've taken me as your Master, you're one of my own.”
Zhao Ritian pushed the wheelchair, slowly moving out of the stall.
“Follow me.”
“I know what you want to ask.”
“Regarding the evolution of the Glorious Corona Physique, and whatever else you want to ask... it's all fine!”
He looked back at Lin Feng.
“Keep up.”
With that, he pushed the wheelchair toward the eastern side of the market.
Lin Feng didn't hesitate and followed quickly.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long.
One old, one young, one in front, one behind, they disappeared at the end of the market.
Leaving behind only an empty stall and a group of dumbfounded passersby.