chapter-17

Lin Haoran sat inside the dimly lit hut, his hands trembling with nervous anticipation. He had finally gathered 1000 Destiny Points—after months of brainstorming, struggling, and hunting, he had enough. It was barely sufficient for even the weakest ability, but right now, it was his only option.

His master, Chun Yijun, lay on the rough straw mat, his breathing shallow. The physician had already left hours ago, not because he was needed elsewhere, but because he had given up. The medicine lay scattered across the wooden floor—remnants of a futile struggle. The wound on his master's severed arm was old, festering for nearly two months, and no herbal remedy could possibly mend it.

Lin Haoran clenched his fists. He had no time to hesitate.

"Wheel of Heaven and Earth" he whispered.

[Shop Interface: Ability Store Opened(unlocked)]

Before his eyes, the world distorted. The cold night and flickering candle vanished, replaced by an infinite expanse of white void. He sucked in a sharp breath, awe-struck at the sight. It was unlike anything he had ever imagined.

Floating before him was an ethereal wheel, its massive form adorned with ancient engravings, symbols of fate and eternity glowing faintly in golden light. Before it, a vast, shimmering panel materialized, displaying an uncountable number of abilities available for purchase. Each ability was categorized according to the ranks!! from the weakest F grade to the highest Universe Horror Grade!!!

For the first time Lin haoran saw what abilities were qualified to called Horrors of the universe!! and he gasp!! instant godhood!! each one of them could led Lin haoran to instant godhood!! there were abilities that allows user to manipulate 'Status' of anything and everything, it could instantly make a beggar a noble , a mortal to immortal and a human to a God!! there were even abilities that everything including matter and events and time to nothingness!! However looking at the point needed to purchase these Lin haoran was stunned

"1 trillion eternity points!! what the hell is even eternity points!!"

Lin Haoran's gaze then swept through the panel and press on the F-rank ability then continue scrolling down then finally found what he was looking for.

[Basic Regeneration] Grade: F Details: Heals wounds at a slow rate.

Cost: 1000 Destiny Points.

It was laughably weak compared to what he had hoped for, but right now, it was his only hope.

"Purchase!" Lin Haoran declared.

The Wheel of Heaven and Earth rumbled. The entry flickered before detaching itself from the panel, transforming into a tiny, glowing orb. It hovered in front of him before surging forward, sinking into his chest. Lin Haoran gasped as warmth flooded his body, spreading through his veins like molten fire. The sensation was overwhelming—not painful, but as if something had just imprinted itself onto his very soul.

A whisper echoed in his mind, neither male nor female, neither kind nor cruel.

[You have acquired the ability: Basic Regeneration.]

The sensation vanished as suddenly as it came. Lin Haoran snapped back to reality, the candle still flickering weakly beside him. He staggered for a moment but quickly regained his footing. Without hesitation, he knelt beside his master, pressing both hands over the stump where the arm had been severed.

"Heal!!" he whisper as he activated the ability.

A faint green glow emitted from his hands. Slowly, the torn flesh began to knit itself together, the blood flow easing, the wound sealing. For a brief moment, hope flickered in Lin Haoran's heart. It was working.

But then—

Something shifted.

The flickering candlelight wavered unnaturally, elongating the shadows along the hut's walls. A deep, oppressive silence settled over the room, suffocating the normal sounds of the night. Lin Haoran's breath caught in his throat. It was as if something had turned its attention towards him—something vast, unseen, and patient.

A cold, crawling sensation slithered up his spine. His instincts screamed that he was no longer alone, that something just beyond his perception had noticed him. A ripple of unease spread through his chest, a weight pressing down on him, subtle yet undeniable.

Then—

A hand grabbed his wrist.

Lin Haoran gasped, his entire body jerking.

His mind snapped back to reality, the suffocating weight abruptly vanishing like mist before a breeze.

It was his master.

Chun Yijun's eyes had opened, and despite his weakened state, his grip on Lin Haoran's wrist was firm.

"What had just happened!!"Lin Haoran thought in shock!

....

Lin Haoran quickly helped his master sit up, supporting him carefully. Chun Yijun winced but steadied himself, taking a deep breath before looking at his lost arms and then at Lin Haoran with a complicated gaze.

"Boy from where did you learn an immortal technique?" he asked to which Haoran shuddered!!

Immortals?!! was this world a world of immortal cultivators??

 However he quickly calmed himself, if his master thinks the healing ability is a immortal skill it was even better for him.

"master it was given by the mysterious expert who saved us back then." he calmly recited the excuse he had made to cover for his outburst.

Hearing this Chun yijun sighed and replied- "I see, I guess to such an expert it is not unthinkable that old world immortal spells are like cabbages to him giving it away hear and there, ha~~ too bad I might not get to thank the senior who save us" he spoke.

On hearing this Lin Haoran was somewhat dejected.

"What are you saying..you are going to fine that senior actually leave a spell..what a mere demonic corpse poison, could it beat an immortal spell?"

Chun Yijun looked at his sole disciple and sighed "Kid unfortunately I fear the immortal actually leave that spell for other reasons other than curing the demonic corpse poison" he said.

On hearing this Lin haoran was puzzled, after all there was no such thing an immortal senior who save them "what could you mean master?" he asked.

Chun Yijun hesitated for a moment, his expression clouded with a mixture of exhaustion, then he began narrating.

"Kid you must have met the elder of the county martial court have you?" he asked back to which Lin haoran nodded.

"Then what was their reaction to my condition?" Chun Yijun asked.

Lin haoran sat and pondered for a moment, so far all the elder who Lin haoran had met from county court had little hope in master..it could even be said that they had no hope at all!! on thinking this he was secretly terrified, why was his master so sure that even the county level martial court could do nothing to save him?? what exactly was this demonic corpse poison? is there really no solution to it? but if everyone knew they could do nothing to help his master then what was the physician doing until now? all of this thought entered Lin haoran head and his thought spiralled out of control, it seemed he might have overlooked something big and most importantly-

What in the world was that thing he felt earlier, that terrifying feeling of being looked at, the cold sensation slithering up his spine as if to swallow him whole, and for some strange reason ...Lin haoran felt he had felt that same feeling before, could it have something to do with why the demonic corpse poison has yet remained to be solve?

"they...Are hopeful for your recovery master.." Lin Haoran replied.

on hearing this Chun Yijun was stunned, he looked deeply at his disciple for a moment then chuckled.

"Hahahahaha...cough* Cough*.....Kid .....i am proud to have a disciple such as you in these twilight hours of mine.... Keep that sly behavior of your, it might serve you good one day"

"Master!! what are you saying you are going to live to see three centuries pass" Lin Haoran shouted dejectedly.

"Haha...kid as much as i would like to see you turn the world upside down in the future...this is as far as I go ...unfortunately who knew the corpse demon poison had such a terrifying background" Chun yijun spoke his voice tinged in sadness.

On hearing these words that seems like his last words.. Lin haoran was frightened....Was he really unable to save his master? No!! he refused to believe it, without saying more, Lin haoran raised his hands which bloomed with green light again.

"Heal..heal heal!!!" he whispered, but his time nothing happened anymore...the would that heal with visible speed previously were as if shine by a torch accept that nothing happened....seeing this Yijun looked on with no emotion and without trying to stop nor trying to help..this continued on for a moment until Chun Yijun raised his hands and slowly closed Lin haoran's palm, deactivating the ability...

"Why..Why is it no Longer working.." as if a child being scolded by their parents..Lin haoran slowly cried out.

Chun Yijun looked at the crying boy in front of him—and smiled.

Nine years. It had already been nine years since he picked up this child from the ruins of the burning escort group. And in all that time, this was the first time he saw Lin Haoran cry.

Perhaps… it would also be his last.

At that thought, Yijun felt a strange kind of relief settle into his chest.

He had been many things in life—warrior, wanderer,a homeless old man and sometimes a savior to others—but to this child, he had been the closest thing to family. And in turn, this boy had become something he never expected: his pride.

He knew Lin Haoran better than anyone. Beneath the sharp tongue, the keen instincts, the hidden cunning… was a boy who never let himself be weak. Who had never asked for comfort. Who had never wept, a 9 year old martial master!! who had reach the same realm as him who had practice for more than 80 years!!

And now, here he was—on his knees, tears tracing lines through his face.

Yijun's eyes softened.

"But for now… he's still just a kid."

With the uninjured side of his body, he reached toward the small sachet hanging near his bedroll. His fingers moved slowly as if being afraid of being noticed by Haoran and then took something out.

He than softly pat Lin Haoran in the head, with this hand.

Yijun's voice broke the silence of the night , soft as falling leaves.

"Rest now, my child…"

Haoran's eyelids fluttered.

"…and when you rise again, do not carry my weight upon your shoulders."

A pause. The master's voice trembled slightly, but he steadied it.

"If I am gone—let me be."

Haoran's breathing began to slow, lulled by the calm in his master's tone.

"You were never meant to bear all things. Not mine, not the world's."

A faint wind passed through the trees, as if listening.

Haoran's head tilted, just barely, resting against his master's side now. He didn't speak. He couldn't. But Yijun saw the last glimmer of awareness in his gaze, slowly fading into sleep.

The old master lowered his hand gently onto the boy's back.

"Strength isn't in carrying everything," he whispered, the last of his voice barely reaching the air,

"it's in knowing what to let go… Remember that."

Haoran exhaled—and stilled.

As his breath fell into the deep rhythm of sleep, Chun Yijun looked skyward one final time.

The stars had just begun to pierce through the folds of twilight, their silver light dim and soft, like whispers in the dark. The fire crackled gently nearby, casting flickering shadows over the old man's weathered face.

And with a faint smile on his lips, the master closed his eyes.

And did not open them again.