2: A promising future

Time, like a murmuring stream, always flows away unnoticed.

In the blink of an eye, four years had already passed in a hurry.

“Chen’er, happy birthday.”

Blessings echoed one after another within the Lin Family Villa.

In the villa’s main hall, an exquisite ten-layer cake was placed in the center, with ten candles lit on top, their flickering flames reflecting the smiles on everyone’s faces.

This warm and lively scene was Lin Chen’s birthday banquet.

Actually, birthday banquets were not Lin Chen’s exclusive privilege. In this Lin Family Villa, many such banquets were held every year.

The Feng City Lin Family was prosperous and had a deep foundation.

The family had two first-generation elders: Grandpa Lin Yuan and Grandma Luo Zhiyuan.

There were six second-generation elders: Eldest Uncle Lin Jiang, Second Uncle Lin He, Third Uncle Lin Hu, Eldest Aunt Lin Yiyi, Second Aunt Lin Linger, and Youngest Aunt Lin Shan’er.

As for the Lin Family’s third generation, they were even more numerous, numbering over ten people.

According to family rules, birthdays for juniors under 18 years old were celebrated lively in the Lin Family Villa.

Children over 18 mostly attended universities or served in the military in other cities, and due to busy schedules, they did not have time to return to Feng City for birthday banquets.

“Chen’er, quickly make a wish.”

Grandpa Lin Yuan, with a face full of affection, gently picked up Lin Chen, bringing him close to the birthday candles.

Lin Chen looked at the flickering candlelight, his heart filled with warmth.

He closed his eyes tightly and began to make a sincere wish: “May Grandpa and Grandma be healthy and their paths always smooth; may uncles and aunts have fulfilling lives and eternal happiness; may older brothers, older sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters be exceptionally talented and have promising futures.”

Lin Chen did not make any wishes for himself; in his heart, his current life already made him very satisfied, and he wholeheartedly hoped that the elders who had given him such a wonderful life would fare better and better.

These four years of life had dispelled the indifference brought by the lack of familial affection in his previous life; he had experienced what kinship was, and the bonds of blood had materialized at this moment.

As Lin Chen blew out the candles, the joyous birthday banquet continued amidst laughter and cheer.

The elders gathered around Grandpa and Grandma, chatting and sharing recent news, enjoying themselves thoroughly.

The younger generation gathered together, sharing interesting stories from school and exchanging rumors they knew.

However, happy times are always short-lived. Unbeknownst to them, it was already late into the night, and the elders left with their children.

After bidding Grandpa and Grandma goodnight, Lin Chen returned to his room.

He was about to wash up when, suddenly, a strange warm current surged through his body without any warning.

Immediately after, a mysterious piece of information inexplicably poured into his mind.

“I’ve awakened my talent!”

Lin Chen exclaimed in surprise and joy.

It had been four years; he hadn't waited for the system unique to transmigrators, nor did any special treasure accompany him through transmigration, nor were there any abnormalities.

He had buried his desire for a golden finger deep in his heart, preparing to advance steadily using the unique power of the Blue Star World, combined with his own advantages.

Lin Chen eagerly checked the talent information.

【Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer】: Every 10 years, based on your current state, receive a 10% comprehensive, side-effect-free enhancement.

Lin Chen carefully studied the detailed information of the talent and quickly realized its power.

This was undoubtedly a purely late-game talent; the older he got, the stronger its effect would be.

For example, in the early stage, if the current strength value was 1, a 10% increase would only be 0.1; but once it reached the late stage, when the strength value reached 1000 or even 10000, a 10% increase would mean a huge boost of 100 or even 1000.

Not only that, the phrase “comprehensive enhancement” covered a wide range of aspects: lifespan, comprehension, aptitude, resistance, and so on. Whether it was quantifiable attributes or qualities difficult to measure with numbers, all would receive a 10% increase.

Lin Chen knew in his heart that as long as he could successfully endure until the later stages, breaking through to become a Martial God was not an unattainable dream.

At this moment, the Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer talent had already taken effect.

Lin Chen had just turned 10 this year, and he had not undergone any formal cultivation before, yet his cultivation realm had naturally broken through to the peak of Martial Disciple Seventh Layer.

After the 10% enhancement, he naturally broke through to Martial Disciple Eighth Layer.

This breakthrough brought no side effects, and his foundation was as solid as if he had painstakingly cultivated it step by step himself.

Of course, this was just a small improvement, merely saving him a few months of growth time.

In contrast, the 10% increase in his unquantifiable attributes, such as lifespan and comprehension, was the true key, the fundamental basis for his future survival and success.

“The future is promising, but the premise is that there is a future to speak of.”

Lin Chen’s deeply ingrained insecurity resurfaced, like a bucket of cold water, slightly dampening the joy in his heart.

After all, in this world, accidents were everywhere, and no one could predict which would arrive first: tomorrow or an accident.

Lin Chen sat by the bed, his brows furrowed. Although he possessed such a powerful talent, his worries had not diminished.

He knew that in this seemingly prosperous and peaceful world, which was actually full of hidden currents, countless dangers lurked.

His current cultivation was only Martial Disciple Eighth Layer; he hadn’t even truly stepped onto the path of transcendence. In front of true powerhouses, he was still as fragile as an ant.

Moreover, as he grew older, the powerful strength brought by his talent might attract the covetousness and jealousy of others, bringing trouble to himself and his family.

Actually, Lin Chen was overthinking things. While being prepared for danger in times of peace was a good habit, being overly anxious was also not advisable.

Out of trust in Grandpa and Grandma, Lin Chen, with a mix of apprehension and excitement, knocked on their door.

“Chen’er, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

The door slowly opened, and Lin Yuan and Luo Zhiyuan, dressed in loose pajamas, were walking from the sofa by the balcony, having just been leisurely playing chess.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I’ve awakened my talent.”

Lin Chen said, suppressing his inner excitement.

As soon as he spoke, Lin Yuan and Luo Zhiyuan instantly moved to Lin Chen’s front at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, their eyes full of surprise, staring intently at Lin Chen.

“Chen’er, what talent did you awaken?”

Lin Yuan asked impatiently.

“Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer.”

Lin Chen answered clearly.

In an instant, the surprise in Lin Yuan and Luo Zhiyuan’s eyes grew even more intense, and brilliant smiles bloomed on their faces.

They released their spiritual power and carefully probed Lin Chen’s body.

“Good, good, good! My Feng City Lin Family is about to produce a dragon!”

Lin Yuan said excitedly after his examination.

He then pulled out a highly sci-fi-looking wristband from his storage ring.

Lin Yuan quickly activated the wristband, his fingers rapidly editing a piece of information on it, then clicking send.

Within a few seconds, a holographic projection appeared out of thin air in the center of the room.

“Junior Lin Yuan (Luo Zhiyuan) greets Seventh Elder.”

Lin Yuan and Luo Zhiyuan respectfully bowed to the projection.

Without waiting for Lin Yuan’s reminder, Lin Chen also quickly followed suit, greeting the projection: “Junior Lin Chen greets Seventh Elder.”

“Is it truly the Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer talent?”

In the projection, an old man with white hair and beard but sharp, eagle-like eyes asked sternly.

“Junior would not dare to deceive Seventh Elder. My grandson Lin Chen just turned 10 today and awakened his talent five minutes ago. I briefly checked, and his various aptitudes have indeed increased. The talent name is indeed Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer.”

Lin Yuan answered earnestly.

“Good, good, good. Do not leak the news. I will head to Feng City immediately.”

Seventh Elder Lin Tianchen said with a firm tone.

“Yes, Seventh Elder.”

Lin Yuan and Luo Zhiyuan responded in unison.

Seventh Elder Lin Tianchen was decisive; as soon as his voice fell, he dispersed the projection.

At this moment, his true body had already left the family land, crossing thousands of miles with a single step. At his speed, he was expected to arrive in Feng City early the next morning.

“Grandpa, is my talent very powerful?”

Lin Chen’s eyes were full of curiosity.

“Powerful, very powerful.”

Lin Yuan answered Lin Chen’s question with a chuckle, his eyes full of gratification and pride.

“Chen’er, anyone with a Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer type talent, as long as no accidents occur, is destined to become a Martial God in one to three tens of thousands of years.”

Lin Yuan’s words struck Lin Chen’s heart like a heavy hammer.

Lin Chen’s eyes instantly lit up, feeling as if he had suddenly obtained the qualification to become a god, though it would take one to three tens of thousands of years to truly materialize.

“Our human race has an organization called the Old Deng Alliance. The members of this alliance are all owners of Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer type talents.”

Luo Zhiyuan took over the conversation and began to tell Lin Chen stories about the Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer type talents.

“It is said that the oldest among them, aged 150,000 years, has a cultivation level that is unfathomable, and even among the divine ranks, he is an extremely powerful existence.”

Luo Zhiyuan’s narration made Lin Chen feel as if a door to a new world had opened.

“For example, the founder of the Old Deng Alliance, known as Ancestor Old Deng, is a great existence who lived for 150,000 years.

When Ancestor Old Deng was young, he also awakened the Great Accomplishment Late Bloomer talent at the age of 10. And 150,000 years ago, the human race was still in the era before the spiritual energy revival, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was thin.

At that time, cultivators were rare, and Ancestor Old Deng also spent half his life to find a fragmented transcendent inheritance. It was precisely because he embarked on the transcendent path that he was able to extend his lifespan.

Ancestor Old Deng was like a protagonist in a novel, stumbling along the way, only breaking through to a new realm and extending his lifespan just before his life was about to end.

It wasn’t until he became a god, and his lifespan greatly extended, that Ancestor Old Deng escaped the lifespan crisis and was able to stop and look at the human world.

And that was already 80,000 years ago. Ancestor Old Deng’s story cannot be told in three days and three nights, and many stories have been lost in history. Only Ancestor Old Deng himself knows the truth.”

Lin Chen listened spellbound, his heart filled with both anticipation for the future and a faint hint of worry.

After all, judging from Ancestor Old Deng’s experience, this path was destined not to be smooth sailing.

Over a time scale of thousands and tens of thousands of years, anything unexpected could happen.