Chapter 2, standing in silence

Gu Tuohai stomped his foot and said angrily, "Is that a mere trivial criticism? I just know I can't make myself clear to a stubborn person like you! Alas, I, Gu Tuohai, was momentarily confused to agree to serve the Empire for another ten years. Anyway, this time I will only do what is expected of me, so don't expect me to take on any major responsibilities. Moreover, good wine and beautiful women cannot be lacking either"

The little boy was unceremoniously dragged out of his small nest, and the remaining half of the bread did not escape either, as it was handed over to the strongest of the older children. These older children were all over ten years old, with the leader already being twelve.

It is designed in the shape of an old-fashioned light boat, complete with masts, a cabin, and a deck. The overall color scheme is a bluish-gray, and at the bow of the ship, there is a bronze relief of a fierce-looking deity, whose expression is imposing, holding a pestle in both hands

"Not at all!" Gu Tuohai shook his head and said, "Having potential is one thing, but the extent to which one can cultivate is another matter entirely. The families that followed the empire to the upper continent all possessed certain special talents; once they activated their cultivation qualifications, the worst among them could advance to the third or fourth level. In contrast, these individuals below are inherently lacking, with twisted dispositions, and the vast majority can only reach the next level at most.

The child's nose suddenly collapsed.

Since I am right, why must I see through it? Look at the flickering sparks below; they are the light of my empire's legacy and the future hope of humanity. My ancestor, Lin, also started from such a place, slaying countless dark races over the century, achieving great feats, rising from the lowest depths of the forsaken land to positions of nobility and honor. In my generation, Lin Xitang, having received the trust of His Majesty, has been entrusted with important responsibilities, and I shall dedicate myself to the empire, working tirelessly until death! As long as it benefits the empire, I will do it! A little criticism does not concern me.

Gu Tuohai let out a heavy snort and said, "It's that same old theory of survival of the fittest from you again! After all these years, you have never seen through it!"

That is a little girl, struggling to move a stone that is quite large for her, as she pushes her way up.

But right in the direction of his finger, a slender red beam of light suddenly appeared

"Hit him! Kill him!" The injured older child covered his face and screamed like a madman

At that moment, a sudden breeze swept through the landfill, stirring up some scraps of paper. The already cool night became exceptionally cold, and everyone still rummaging through the garbage for food suddenly shivered.

The little girl's face instantly turned pale

A piece of bread did not quell the older child's anger; instead, it made his eyes red: "You actually dared to hoard food! There's still half a piece left? Where did you hide it? Not saying? Then I'll hit you!"

Yet a few individuals remained in place, staring in astonishment at their own hands. Their hands had begun to emit a faint glow at some unknown time, appearing particularly striking against the backdrop of the night. Not only their hands, but their entire beings were radiating light, and a mysterious new power had emerged within their bodies

The little girl ran again to the side of the stone that had rolled away, struggling to lift it. The stone was already stained with blood, and the blood smudged onto the little girl's body and face. As that small figure staggered towards the little boy, even the older children felt a chill in their hearts

With a bang, the little boy finally lay still, a pool of fresh blood appearing beneath his head, quickly spreading outwards

The silver-haired man stood there, his sharpness naturally evident, like a sword drawn from its sheath

Upon witnessing this scene, the stout middle-aged man appeared unfazed and said: "Brother Xitang, you really need to correct this habit of yours. The Great Evolution Heavenly Mechanism indeed stands out in stimulating and guiding the potential of primordial energy, but is it really necessary to unleash it on the entire airship graveyard? Could it be that your primordial energy is so abundant that it is inexhaustible? If that is the case, why not give me a direct impartation so that I can also enjoy some of your benefits"

At this moment, inside the floating boat, a man with a head full of silver hair is standing by the window, gazing down at the airship graveyard below

Gu Tuohai was instantly dumbfounded, murmuring: "Is this... could it really be a ghost?"

The vast majority of people remain oblivious, immediately resuming their search through the garbage after a brief chill and the - image - book. A few, however, sense something within their bodies that seems to leap a few times, but this feeling is so faint that it resembles an illusion; the sensation of leaping quickly fades, and they pay it no mind, continuing their quest for food to survive the day

In the night sky, beneath the enormous crimson full moon, a floating vessel several dozen meters long glides through the air

The eldest child took a deep breath of the aroma of the bread, unhesitatingly grabbed a large piece and stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing it in one go, causing the other children nearby to gulp in envy

The older children, having grown tired from the fight, began to ease up. However, the injured older child was unwilling to accept defeat and abruptly lifted the small boy off the ground. Just as he was about to say something, unexpectedly, the small boy, fueled by an unknown surge of strength, suddenly leaped up and crashed headfirst into the injured older child's face

Lin Xitang chuckled a few times, pointed out the window, and said: "I am not that bored. Look, if we only consider the proportion of those with cultivation potential, the people in this airship graveyard are no less than the imperial civilian class. As you know, when the empire migrated to the upper continent, it was the families with cultivation potential that went along. Now, after more than 800 years, the proportion of those with cultivation potential among the imperial civilians is still not as high as that in this graveyard. It seems that the good days for the people of the empire have lasted too long"

Finally, the older children grew tired and gradually ceased their actions. They had also searched the little boy's small hideout, but similarly found nothing.

It seems that he ate that half!" said a big child, filled with jealousy and resentment.

In the room, there sat a man nearing fifty, with a square head and large ears, a kind expression, and a physique that had become somewhat portly. At this moment, he was fixated on the chessboard in front of him, unable to place a white piece made of the finest warm jade, no matter how hard he tried.

Brother Xitang, it has been seven years since we last met, and your chess skills are still as formidable as before!" The stout middle-aged man stood up, walked to the porthole, and stood side by side with the silver-haired man, looking down below.

Gu Tuohai, however, was unconcerned. "So what? There are plenty of people with potential. You specifically came to this damned place to find me, and instead of going directly back to the capital, you took a big detour here. Is it just to let me witness your mastery of the Great Yan Heavenly Secrets?"

At that moment, a bright light suddenly radiated from the little boy, and even a red beam of light appeared, shooting up to over ten meters into the sky, standing out remarkably against the night backdrop. Surrounding the beam, several rings of light manifested, moving along mysterious trajectories.

The little boy was kicked to the ground on the spot, surrounded by a group of older children who punched and kicked him with all their might. The little boy was battered and tossed around like a ragdoll.

No one echoed his proposal, but the little boy was knocked down again. This time, the older children were much gentler; they were instinctively afraid and also genuinely tired. Their gains today were minimal, and their physical strength was limited. If it weren't for the frenzy brought on by the crimson moon that needed to be vented, they might have simply taken the bread and left.

The older child let out a terrible scream, suddenly covering his face and staggering backward. His face was covered in blood. During the scuffle, the younger boy had quietly grabbed a piece of metal, and at that moment, the sharp edge protruded from between his fingers, cutting deeply into the older child's face.

All the older children are waiting for the moment when the little boy is bloodied and mangled, some feeling a bit uncomfortable, their gazes shifting to the side, instinctively unwilling to look any longer

Through the porthole, one can see the vast airship graveyard, covering nearly one hundred square kilometers, where faint glimmers of light flicker everywhere, resembling scattered sparks of stars

But the little boy's mouth seemed to be sealed with iron, not uttering a single word, not even a groan, silently enduring the beating.

Lin Xitang calmly stated: "However, it is in desperate situations that potential is more easily stimulated, leading to the emergence of more individuals with potential; this is an undeniable fact"

From a high vantage point, one can see numerous shimmering lights across the vast airship graveyard, resembling a galaxy fallen to the earth

He covered his face and cried out in agony, while the other older children looked at the small boy with the book, feeling a genuine fear rising from the depths of their hearts. They believed they could not endure such pain themselves, and they were left wondering what kind of strength allowed the small boy to stand there, facing them!

The older child kicked the little boy hard and shouted, "Where did the other half go?! If you ate it, then go die!"

The lines of the floating boat are smooth and elegant, appearing rather unadorned. However, whether it is the splicing of the mast and sails or the carvings on the side railings, every detail is crafted with an unparalleled simplicity and refinement, embodying a kind of understated luxury

The young boy fought desperately, yet was quickly knocked down again. He clenched his teeth, curled up to protect his vital areas, neither begging for mercy nor groaning.

This flying vessel has a wing extending from each side of the hull, equipped with propellers. The rotation speed on both sides varies from slow to fast, thereby adjusting the direction of the vessel's movement. It does not have any air sacs for buoyancy, nor are there any visible power devices, and it remains unclear how it floats without descending

The little girl also radiated light, and her strength suddenly increased significantly. The sudden change did not affect her movements; instead, she quickened her pace and rushed to the little boy's side, forcefully throwing a stone at his head

The little boy's lips moved as if he were saying something, but no one could hear him clearly. The older children instinctively leaned closer to the little boy, wanting to hear what he had to say

This time, there was no need for instructions; the older children rushed forward and knocked the little boy down again, subjecting him to another beating. When they grew tired, the little boy stirred and surprisingly managed to stand up, swaying slightly.

"Cut open his belly! Perhaps we can find something!" another thin, dark-skinned child shouted fiercely.

This is an incredibly stubborn child, who would rather die standing than give in.

Lin Xitang smiled and said, "Brother Takumi is still so straightforward. Look, all these people below have the potential to cultivate the original force."

The older children looked at her in astonishment, as her beautiful little face radiated determination and madness. She shook the stone high above her head and then brought it down forcefully onto the little boy's head

The little girl showed a look of panic on her face and quietly took two steps back. She knew that if the little boy mentioned giving her the other half of the bread, she would most likely be killed on the spot

After much contemplation, he finally let out a long sigh, placed the white piece on the board, and conceded defeat

His features do not appear aged; he should be in the prime of his life. His gaze is deep and clear, and his chin is raised in a resolute yet graceful arc. He is dressed in a high-collared black uniform, which is the standard style of the imperial military attire, but lacks any insignia of rank. Only two rows of silver buttons and the embossed pattern of a long sword and flames above the buttons highlight his extraordinary status

Just as the older children were feeling sore in their waists and legs, and were all stopping, a small figure suddenly appeared beside them

The little boy's right fist suddenly flew up and landed a powerful punch on the older child's face

A sound of gasping filled the air, and the older children instinctively took a couple of steps back, distancing themselves from the little girl who could be easily knocked down with a single kick

"Kill him... kill him!" A big child suggested, his voice trembling slightly. He felt that if they did not kill the little boy, he would never sleep soundly again.

The game on the board is nearing its end stage, and the white pieces are desperately struggling to survive with a large dragon.

A heavy stone struck the light, as if it were blocked by an invisible force, bouncing back out. This sudden change shocked all the older children; some jumped up, yet were at a loss as to what to do.

However, contrary to what she thought, the little boy did not speak, but struggled to stand up

They were unaware that an invisible force field had quietly enveloped the entire landfill.

Gu Tuohai saw Lin Xitang merely smiling faintly and remaining silent, which made him slightly angry. He pointed outside the porthole, his voice raised a little, "What you see are countless stars, but what I see is the suffering of living beings! If the Empire had not abandoned the Eternal Night Continent back then, how could this place have turned into a forsaken land? Just look at this unfortunate place, what kind of truly qualified people could possibly emerge here? If there were, it would truly be a miracle!"

Although the beam of light is faint, it stands out remarkably among the numerous glimmers resembling countless stars, unable to be overshadowed even by the blood moon's brilliance that blankets the earth and sky