103: Chapter 103: Old Lin's Pride: His Son is Ten Thousand Times Better Than His Father Was Back Then!

Leaving tomorrow.

Lin Yuan sat on a chair in his bedroom, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.

For something like going to Starry Sky University, normally, one would hold a celebration banquet or bid farewell to friends and family one by one.

But after thinking it through, he realized his social circle in Jiang City was pitifully simple.

Aside from Old Lin, the only one among his peers who could be considered a close friend was Fatty Wang.

"I'll go say goodbye."

Lin Yuan stood up, changed into casual clothes, pushed open the door, and went downstairs.

Leaving the Spark Military District Sanatorium, he hailed a hovering cab and headed straight for the Jiang City Meat Processing Plant.

The scale of the meat processing plant was now three times larger than it was a month ago.

After the Grand Exam ended, Fatty Wang, relying on his barely-passing score and his title as "Lin Yuan's sole subsidiary god," walked with his head held high in Jiang City.

The Blood Blade Guild, which had originally suppressed him, disbanded overnight, and the major chambers of commerce in Jiang City lined up to send orders.

When Lin Yuan walked into the detached villa in the backyard of the meat processing plant, Fatty Wang was staring at a holographic projection in front of him.

Inside the projection was Fatty Wang's grassland Divine Realm.

The originally lush green grassland had now turned yellow and withered over a large area, the ground was cracked, and dark red blood faintly seeped from the fissures.

"Brother Yuan!"

Seeing Lin Yuan come in, Fatty Wang quickly shut off the projection and jogged over to welcome him.

"Fatty, your Divine Realm has changed quite a bit." Lin Yuan glanced at the spot where the projection had just disappeared.

Hearing this, Fatty Wang's eyes lit up, and his fat jiggled as he spoke, "Brother Yuan, this is exactly what I wanted to report to you! Lately, things in my Divine Realm have been downright spooky!"

He pulled Lin Yuan to sit on the sofa, poured a glass of chilled Spiritual Fluid, and gesticulated wildly as he explained:

"Ever since the Grand Exam ended, I noticed that some blackish-gray aura occasionally leaks through the one-way faith channel connecting our Divine Realms."

"That aura is too overbearing! The grass in my Divine Realm dies the moment it touches it, but after those Black Demon Pigs sniffed it, they all got pumped up like they were on stimulants."

"Not only did their reproduction rate double, but their combat power also skyrocketed. Now, even Bronze Tier pigs can hold their own against Silver Tier Demonic Beasts!"

Fatty Wang's expression became unusually solemn, putting away his usual playful grin.

"Brother Yuan, I know your current strength has already reached a level I can't comprehend."

"The outside world says you're a mutated Genius, but I know in my heart that the Laws you wield are absolutely more terrifying than they can imagine."

Fatty stood up straight, his chubby frame actually exuding a trace of majesty belonging to a deity:

"Although I, Fatty Wang, don't have great talent, I will never settle for just being a logistics captain."

"Since I've become your primary subsidiary god, I will definitely raise this pack of Black Demon Pigs into the most ferocious war beasts."

"In the future, wherever you point, Brother Yuan, my herd of pigs will trample it to the ground!"

Looking at Fatty Wang's solemn vow, Lin Yuan knew this was the result of him fusing with the [End and Origin] godhead.

The high-tier Laws were spilling downward through the contract channel.

The aura of destruction and rebirth was subtly transforming Fatty Wang's Divine Realm.

"Alright, cut the loyalty pledge." Lin Yuan twitched the corner of his mouth, picked up his glass, and took a sip of ice water.

"I'm leaving tomorrow for Starry Sky University. I just dropped by today to let you know."

"Starry Sky University?!" Fatty Wang's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "The highest deity academy in the entire Federation? Holy crap, Brother Yuan, you've literally ascended to heaven in a single step!"

"So, while I'm not in Jiang City, keep your wits about you."

Lin Yuan put down his water glass and looked at Fatty Wang, "It's a good thing your Black Demon Pigs can fight, but remember, back down when you should, and run when you have to."

"There's no need to fight to the death over a little resources or temporary Face."

"Staying alive and keeping your Divine Realm Core safe is the greatest hope."

"If you're dead, what's the use of your pigs being good fighters?"

Hearing this, Fatty Wang nodded repeatedly, engraving these words into his mind.

"Don't worry, Brother Yuan. If there's one thing I am, it's sensible. If I can't win, I'll definitely run faster than anyone."

Lin Yuan gave a light chuckle and got up to leave.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at Fatty.

"Also, stop casually selling my preferences or whereabouts to those girls who come to cozy up to you."

"If there's a next time, I'll have my Believers take a stroll through your pigpen."

Fatty Wang shuddered all over, his Face covered in smiles. "How could I, Brother Yuan! Absolutely no next time! I swear!"

Leaving the meat processing plant, Lin Yuan didn't linger outside and returned straight to the sanatorium.

Old Lin wasn't home.

According to the guard at the door, he had run off to the Rehabilitation Center early in the morning to brag to his old comrades.

Lin Yuan didn't bother him either. He made himself some high-tier Demonic Beast meat.

After a simple meal, he returned to his room to meditate.

It wasn't until eight in the evening that the villa door was kicked open.

"Yuan'zi! Your dad is back!"

Old Lin's Face was flushed red, and he held two unpackaged glass bottles containing an amber liquid.

Lin Yuan walked downstairs, took the bottles from Old Lin's hands, and placed them on the dining table.

"How much did you win today?" Lin Yuan asked casually.

"Didn't play cards, just spent the whole time chatting." Old Lin pulled out a chair and sat down.

He familiarly grabbed two glasses, unscrewed the caps, and poured the liquor.

A strong, pungent aroma filled the living room.

"This is Frontline Brew, specially supplied within the military. That old rascal Commander Xiao Lie was generous today, approving a whole crate directly to the sanatorium."

Old Lin pushed one of the glasses in front of Lin Yuan. "Have a taste. It's got way more kick than that synthetic alcohol outside."

Lin Yuan picked up the glass and took a sip.

The liquid entered his throat like a ball of fire burning down his esophagus, then transformed into pure spiritual energy that dispersed throughout his limbs and bones.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." Lin Yuan put down his glass, his tone calm.

Old Lin's hand holding the glass froze in mid-air, the liquid sloshing slightly inside.

"Where to?"

"Starry Sky University. An admissions officer is coming to pick me up tomorrow morning."

The air fell silent for two seconds.

Old Lin didn't show any sadness or reluctance.

He drank the liquor in his glass in one gulp, then slammed it heavily onto the table.

"Good! Good boy!"

Old Lin slapped his thigh, his voice booming with heartfelt ecstasy, "Starry Sky University! I fought with my life to get in back then, and you, kid, just got in without a peep!"

He stood up, strode over to Lin Yuan, and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"Do you know what Starry Sky University means?" Old Lin pointed at the night sky outside the window. "That is a true breeding ground for monsters in the entire Federation!"

"Those who come out of there are either generals guarding a Star Domain or Abyss Pioneers leading the charge."

"I thought that with my godhead shattered, I would just have to wait for death in the Slums for the rest of my life."

"I just wanted to raise you, watch you awaken a normal Divine Realm, and live a peaceful life. I never expected..."

Old Lin's eyes reddened slightly, but he forced it down, turning around to pour himself another full glass.

"I never expected you to be ten thousand times stronger than I was back then!"

They drank until very late.

There was no sadness of parting, only the expectations between men.

Old Lin got drunk and started pulling Lin Yuan to brag about his past achievements on the Abyss Defense Line.

"Back then, on the Seventh Defense Line, we were surrounded by legendary-tier Flame Demons..."

Lin Yuan listened quietly, refilling Old Lin's glass from time to time.

He knew Old Lin wasn't just bragging; it was Old Lin's lost youth and glory.

It wasn't until the latter half of the night that Old Lin collapsed onto the table and fell asleep.

Lin Yuan helped him to bed, tucked him in, turned off the light, and left the room.

8:00 AM the next morning.

The low hum of a hovering engine came from outside the villa.

Lin Yuan pushed open the door. Director Su Changfeng was still wearing his light gray Zhongshan suit, standing outside.

"Is everything packed?" Director Su Changfeng pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.

"Nothing much to pack," Lin Yuan said.

"Let's go then." Director Su Changfeng turned and walked toward a small black shuttle parked on the lawn.

The two boarded, and the shuttle ascended vertically.

It turned into a streak of light, heading straight for the Near-Earth Starport outside the atmosphere.

Half an hour later, the shuttle landed inside a military-grade spaceship several hundred meters long.

The spaceship's hull had a black-gold texture with no extra paint, except for Starry Sky University's Sword-Star Emblem printed on the bow.

"Go on in. Head straight to Lounge One, your classmates are inside. I still need to go to the control room to verify the flight path." Director Su Changfeng pointed at the cabin door and then turned to leave.

Lin Yuan followed the corridor into Lounge One.

The cabin door slid open, revealing a spacious lounge area.

Outside the panoramic viewport was the vast starry sky, and in the center stood a circular sofa and a temperature-controlled beverage counter.

Sitting on the sofa were five people.

Three males and two females.