88: Chapter 88 There is no turning back in the path of martial arts! A perilous journey to the peak!

"A Four-Element Martial Artist? Brother Lin, have you lost your mind?"

Wang Gu's voice exploded inside the tent, his eyes widened like copper bells.

Gong Ling's expression also shifted.

Even the usually calm Ye Huang furrowed his brows.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly froze.

"Brother Lin, a Four-Element Martial Artist is very dangerous."

"According to the theory classes, a person can have at most two attributes. Some monsters can have three, but that's already the absolute limit!"

"Four attributes? This isn't even a question of being strong or not..."

"If they exist in one body simultaneously, whether your body can withstand it is a problem in itself!"

Gong Ling's voice was urgent.

Chen Lin's expression was calm; he didn't refute them, just watched them quietly.

Wang Gu also spoke up anxiously from the side: "Brother Lin, you're already very strong right now!"

"You are the number one person below the Real Realm, fighting above your rank is as easy as drinking water for you; why take this risk?"

"Exactly."

Gong Ling took over, his face grave.

Everyone knew that if a Four-Element Martial Artist really succeeded, they would be incredibly strong!

Having four attributes in hand meant that besides being able to use skills of different attributes, you could also unleash super-strong combat power in many harsh environments.

For example, in gale-force weather, only wind-attribute martial artists can receive the blessing of nature's power, naturally making them a cut above other martial artists!

Or take a scorching summer; it's the home field for fire-attribute martial artists, and the combat power they unleash is stronger than others.

Besides that, not to mention that a four-attribute martial artist is extremely difficult to counter or restrict.

Because if you want to use water to counter my fire, I can turn around and use earth; wouldn't you be blown away?

Therefore, every martial artist understands the benefits of having four attributes.

That means—

No matter what kind of opponent you face, you can find an attribute to counter them.

No matter what kind of environment you are in, you can borrow the power of nature to bolster yourself.

No matter what kind of tactics you encounter, you can switch fighting styles at will, catching opponents off guard.

A true all-around martial artist.

Truly having no shortcomings.

But the problem is...

The stronger something is, the harder it is to obtain!

By the same token, how difficult is it to fuse four attributes?

A martial artist only has one body; you're asking this body to fuse four different attributes simultaneously—is that even right?

Can the body withstand energy from four different sources?

How strong must that physique be!

Wang Gu and the others knew.

There was a secret about Chen Lin; he could slowly fuse attributes.

Just like when he fused the earth attribute before.

In the blink of an eye, he became a dual-attribute user of earth and lightning.

But back then, Chen Lin was only fusing a second attribute!

Although it was dangerous, by comparison, it was nothing.

Blue Star is so vast; although dual-attribute martial artists are rare, they can still be found.

But the problem is, now it's four attributes!

The difficulty is on a completely different level!

Wang Gu nodded desperately at the side.

"Brother Lin, your strength is already so great, you can fight across so many levels; who wouldn't call you a genius?"

"In this situation, there's really no need to take risks!"

"If the fusion goes well, that's fine, but what if it doesn't? Your body gets damaged, and your path of martial arts collapses."

"In the future, your martial path might even come to a standstill..."

"At that point, you'd truly become a 'genius youth of the past' and turn into a waste today!"

Once these words were spoken, the tent went silent for a moment.

Genius of the past, waste of today.

Everyone understood the cruelty of this world.

How many brilliant martial artists, because of one rash move, one mistake, or one moment of greed, eventually became laughingstocks and faded into obscurity.

Chen Lin was currently infinitely glorious, the number one person below the Real Realm.

Guarding a city alone, his reputation was illustrious.

But if the four-attribute fusion failed...

Then everything would be gone.

A top academy? Don't joke, even a third-rate academy might not want him!

Ye Huang finally spoke, his voice low, with only four words: "Brother Lin, be cautious."

Gong Ling took over, speaking earnestly.

"Brother Lin, it's not that we don't believe in you, we are genuinely worried about you."

"You are already very strong; if you continue steadily, your achievements will definitely not be low."

"Why must you take that most perilous path?"

Three pairs of eyes looked at Chen Lin, all filled with heartfelt concern.

Chen Lin fell silent.

Of course he knew that everything they said was correct.

As a martial general, the old Chen family had been reckless brutes for three generations.

Growing up, the phrase he heard the most was "Just do it."

But at this moment, Chen Lin was indeed wavering.

It wasn't fear.

It was... caution.

He was already very strong now, the number one person below the Real Realm.

This title wasn't bragged about; it was fought for.

Today, he guarded a city alone, killing over sixty martial artists, none daring to step forward.

Such strength, among all the new students of Lixian Academy, was in a league of its own.

Now, to take such a huge risk, even the risk of cutting off his martial path, just to become stronger...

To be honest, it was a difficult choice.

Especially when Chen Lin recalled the sensation of fusing the earth attribute back then.

That intense pain of his body being torn apart was still fresh in his memory.

His internal organs felt as if they were being gripped by an invisible giant hand, his bones creaked, his meridians felt like they were about to burst, and every inch of his muscles was wailing.

That kind of pain wasn't simple physical suffering, but a tearing sensation coming from the depths of his soul.

It was as if his own body was resisting that external power.

Fusing the second one was already this painful, and now he had to fuse the third and fourth simultaneously...

It would likely be even more painful, ten times, a hundred times more painful.

Thinking of this, Chen Lin took a deep breath, his eyes becoming grave.

But the next second, screw it!

Chen Lin suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light bursting from them.

Isn't the martial path all about navigating through perils?

Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Today you might be infinitely glorious, tomorrow you could die in some gutter.

This world was never safe.

Today you can fight across ranks, tomorrow you might encounter a stronger opponent.

Now that the opportunity to become stronger was right in front of him, he was actually hesitating?

Damn it!

This is too disrespectful to his own talent!

Not to mention anything else, if he truly fused four attributes, his achievements would rival the founder of Lixian Academy!

Could he give up such an opportunity?

Chen Lin shook his head, his reckless spirit burning.

His personality was just like that; he was unwilling to be mediocre.

Being able to fight across ranks now was certainly infinitely glorious.

But compared to those true top-tier geniuses, he was still a notch behind.

Not to mention anything else, Chen Lin had heard that Lixian Academy had produced a three-attribute genius a few years ago.

That guy's achievements back then were only stronger, not weaker, than his own feat of guarding a city alone now!

In this high-martial world, if you want to be something, be the number one!

What does "good enough" count for?

How can one achieve a glorious life by being content with the status quo?

As a martial artist, one must forge ahead; to become stronger, one must cast aside thoughts of life and death!

"Since I, Chen Lin, am going to do this, I will be the undisputed number one!"

"I will become the strongest person in the few thousand years since Lixian Academy was founded!"

With a shout in his heart, Chen Lin completely steeled his resolve.

At this moment, an unparalleled sharpness exuded from his body.

That sharpness wasn't killing intent, wasn't malevolence, but a kind of...

Aura of "if not me, then who?"

Wang Gu and the others looked at the current Chen Lin and were all stunned.

As geniuses among this year's new students, they considered themselves to have seen plenty of storms and waves, and had seen many brilliant and talented people.

But at this moment, looking at the aura on Chen Lin that had almost condensed into substance, they still felt it was incomparably dazzling!

That dazzling quality wasn't the pressure brought by strength, but a kind of...

Radiance emanating from the depths of the soul.

It was as if standing before them was not a new student of their own age, but a powerhouse destined to stand at the peak of the martial path.

At this moment, although Chen Lin said nothing, everyone understood his decision.

No one tried to persuade him further.

Because they could see that in Chen Lin's eyes, there was no longer any hesitation or wavering.

What remained was—

An unwavering resolve to forge ahead.

Chen Lin turned his head and said to the three: "The wind and fire attributes in my body can't wait; if I wait any longer, they might disappear. I must fuse them now."

"You all go out and stand guard for me."

"From now on, no one is allowed to approach me."

His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable firmness.

"Rest assured, Brother Lin!"

Wang Gu was the first to declare, as if deeply infected by the sentiment; his Source Energy began to riot, and his whole being was like a beast ready to strike.

"I'll put my life on the line here. Forget about outsiders; even if my dad comes, he'll have to wait until you're done before he can get close!"

Gong Ling and Ye Huang exchanged a glance and nodded solemnly at the same time.

They had received many benefits from Chen Lin, and now it was time to repay them.

"Take care."

"Good!"

Chen Lin waved his hand and sat cross-legged.

The three silently walked out of the tent.

They formed a triangular formation, tightly guarding the tent in the center.

And Chen Lin began to fuse.

At this moment, the heavens and earth changed color; the sky above the tent was shrouded by thick dark clouds, and a storm was imminent.

The next second, a terrifying energy shot out from the tent, straight into the firmament, piercing into the dark clouds!

Crackle.

The commotion here made all the teachers and students at the scene turn their heads.

Including Instructor Zhao Tieshan, who was reporting to his superiors in the distance.

He turned back, murmuring in total shock:

"What the f*ck, what are these guys up to again?"