"BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" …
Six massive meteorites smashed down upon six high-ranking stewards. Each of those six stewards had been tearing the earth apart with both hands, trying to burrow underground. Yet the tremors from those six colossal meteorites crashing into the ground echoed across heaven and earth like rolling thunder.
"BOOM—"
Six enormous craters, each over ten meters across, appeared out of nowhere. At the same time, terrifying shockwaves radiated outward in every direction. The ground churned like waves, buildings collapsed, and trees splintered into fragments.
Everything within a radius of several hundred meters was reduced to rubble.
The horrifying rumble echoed throughout Hess City. Whether it was the ascetic practitioners heading out of the city, the people from the Dawson Trading Company, or the other experts — everyone felt the tremors.
The spreading shockwave washed over Lin Lei, but he stood motionless like a fool, letting it rage past him without so much as a flinch.
Lin Lei stood frozen in place, tears streaming endlessly from his eyes.
"Aah… aaah—" Lin Lei seemed to have forgotten how to speak. Trembling all over with pain, terror, and grief, he let out a hoarse, anguished roar, then collapsed helplessly to his knees.
An excruciating sensation of his heart being torn apart engulfed his entire being.
Scene after scene of his time with Grandpa Derinkoort surfaced unbidden in his mind—
That first time, when he saw a streak of white light transform into an elderly man with silver-white robes, white hair, and a white beard. The young Lin Lei had cried out in alarm: "Who… who are you?"
"Hello, little one. My name is Derinkoort, a Saint Realm Grand Mage of the Puan Empire!" That was how Grandpa Derinkoort first came into contact with Lin Lei.
"Grandpa Derinkoort, why won't you say anything? How's my Element Affinity?" That was the first time Lin Lei had tested his magical aptitude.
"Excellent — very, very good. Your Element Affinity is extraordinarily high." Grandpa Derinkoort's face was beaming with smiles. "As far as I know, it would be hard to find even one in a thousand magi whose Element Affinity rivals yours. Truly." Grandpa Derinkoort's praise sent young Lin Lei into a state of boundless excitement.
A Saint Realm Grand Mage from the era of the Puan Empire, and a tiny child. Just like that, with the help of the Puan Empire's Grand Mage, the child set foot on the path of magic…
Stone sculpture carvings of the Flat Knife School, training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Under the elder Derinkoort's guidance, Lin Lei grew at an astonishing pace.
When Lin Lei became the focus of everyone's attention, no one knew that behind him stood the soul of a Saint Realm Grand Mage from the era of the Puan Empire.
"Lin Lei, from now on, you'll have to rely on yourself." Grandpa Derinkoort had caressed Lin Lei's head one final time with tender affection.
As the earth-shattering Forbidden Magic — Meteor Descent — was unleashed, Grandpa Derinkoort's soul had already grown dim.
"Lin Lei… goodbye."
"Remember — live well."
Scene after scene from his childhood with Grandpa Derinkoort kept flooding through Lin Lei's mind. That elder who had indulged him, who had taught him, had become someone Lin Lei could not bear to lose.
"No — no—"
Lin Lei shook his head over and over.
He refused to believe that Grandpa Derinkoort had truly died — and died in such a way that his soul had dissipated into nothing.
"It can't be. Grandpa Derinkoort, come out! Come out!" Lin Lei stared at the Coiling Dragon Ring, shouting at it again and again, then began to beg, tears sliding down the cold dragon scales.
Blood continued to seep from the wounds on Lin Lei's body, but he felt none of it.
"Grandpa Derinkoort…"
How he longed for yet another streak of white light to shoot out from the Coiling Dragon Ring and take the form of that silver-robed, white-haired, white-bearded Grandpa Derinkoort. Lin Lei simply could not accept it — Grandpa Derinkoort had died, just like that, leaving him permanently.
Ever since childhood, when Grandpa Derinkoort had come into his life, Lin Lei had never once been separated from him. Never!
In the depths of his heart, Lin Lei had grown accustomed to Grandpa Derinkoort's presence. Even when he had been imprisoned by the Church of Light, he had never felt this helpless before.
His heart had always been steady, because behind him stood Grandpa Derinkoort.
But now…
Grandpa Derinkoort was gone forever. Forever!
"Why? Why?" Lin Lei's voice trembled. "Heavens — my father is dead, my mother is dead — why? Why must you also take away the last person I have left — my Grandpa Derinkoort?"
"WHY?!!" Lin Lei threw his head back and screamed into the sky.
His voice echoed between heaven and earth.
"Aah… aah…" Lin Lei collapsed weakly to his knees and broke into wailing sobs. But no matter how he cried, that kind-hearted, honest elder would never return.
He was gone forever.
"Grandpa Derinkoort…"
Lin Lei felt a weakness unlike anything he had ever known — a weakness of the soul. No father, no mother, and now even Grandpa Derinkoort, who had always been by his side, was gone.
The only companion still with him was Bei Bei — who had never even known Grandpa Derinkoort existed.
"Boss… Boss Lin Lei." Bei Bei nudged him with a hint of fear in his voice.
Lin Lei turned and looked at Bei Bei.
"Bei Bei…" In an instant, Lin Lei pulled Bei Bei into his arms.
"Boss, you kept calling out for Grandpa Derinkoort — who's that? I just felt such terrifying Mental Power — what was it?" Bei Bei was still dazed and bewildered.
The mere thought of Grandpa Derinkoort sent a piercing pain through Lin Lei's heart.
He lowered his gaze to the Coiling Dragon Ring on his finger. But… Grandpa Derinkoort was gone forever.
"Creaaak~~" Suddenly, a faint sound rang out. Lin Lei turned his head to look.