Just as his chest heaved, Su Tian let out a sharp shout and threw a punch into the air!
*Bang!*
A crisp sound cracked through the air, like a firecracker exploding from nothingness.
Then, Su Tian began to move, his body fluid and graceful. With his motion, his posture constantly shifted—one moment he was like a soaring dragon in the clouds, the next, a ferocious tiger in the mountains.
Accompanying these shifts were continuous, rhythmic *bang-bang* sounds, like a string of firecrackers, stirring the accumulated snow from the previous night into a chaotic dance.
He practiced for half an hour. When steam began to rise from his entire body, he finally ceased his movements and exhaled a long, deep breath.
*Hoo!*
A straight arrow of air surged forth, instantly melting the snow within a ten-meter radius and turning it into countless rivulets of water.
"Heh, good! This Dragon-Tiger Primordial Chaos Technique is truly worthy of being a marvel that integrates all the martial arts of the world. Coupled with my current Semi-Immortal Body, according to ancient cultivation tiers, I am now a Hua Jin Grandmaster. Records state that a Hua Jin Grandmaster is the pinnacle of human physical potential; on the battlefield, one can hold off a thousand enemies! Moreover, my Semi-Immortal Body can absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, and I possess the Divine Sense Art—I am far stronger than an ordinary Hua Jin Grandmaster. With this power, I have enough to change my destiny."
Su Tian mused to himself, a glint of sharp light flashing in his eyes.
However, just as he was lost in thought, his ears twitched. He turned his head toward a direction behind him.
Two figures approached. One was a middle-aged man in a purple training suit; the other was a young girl in a black training suit, bright-eyed and sharp-toothed.
"So, two martial artists."
Su Tian noted internally. Through his Divine Sense Art, he could see they were no ordinary people. The middle-aged man’s internal organs were robust and his tendons and bones firm—far superior to an average person’s. The girl, while not on the man’s level, was full of vitality with steady, rhythmic breathing; she clearly had an entry-level grasp of martial arts.
The next moment, Su Tian closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, ignoring them. Since they were total strangers, he simply focused on his own practice.
Another half-hour passed. When the morning sun had fully risen and its light spilled over Su Tian, he finally opened his eyes.
"Hee hee, you have some nerve—not sleeping at home in the morning, but coming here to nap instead."
A crisp, laughing voice sounded, startling Su Tian. He looked up to see the girl in the black training suit standing before him, watching him with a mischievous smile.
"Linger, hold your tongue!"
A stern reprimand rang out as the middle-aged man who had been practicing nearby hurried over. He bowed to Su Tian, saying, "My apologies, young man. My daughter is ignorant and has disturbed you."
"Haha, it’s nothing."
Seeing the man’s gesture, Su Tian smiled faintly. The girl curled her lip. "Dad, how did I disturb him? Wasn't he just sleeping?"
The man frowned, appearing ready to flare up, but Su Tian merely smiled and said, "It’s alright. If she says I was sleeping, then I was sleeping. I’ll take my leave now."
Su Tian stood up and began to walk away. The girl, however, had a playful glint in her eyes. She suddenly kicked a palm-sized chunk of ice toward Su Tian’s feet—clearly a prank intended to make him slip.
Su Tian’s smile didn't falter as he continued forward. Strangely, as his foot landed on the ice, it instantly melted away!
The girl froze in surprise. Su Tian turned back and said, "Take good care of your father; his time is running out."
With those words, the girl was stunned. A moment later, she burst into a rage. "You little brat! What did you say?"
The middle-aged man’s expression shifted violently, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Su Tian flashed away, disappearing within a few paces.
"Hey, you brat, come back here—"
"Linger, will you stop it! *Cough, cough, cough...*"
The man tried to scold her, but he was suddenly overcome by a violent coughing fit. The girl’s expression changed instantly, and she hurried to support him. "Dad... Dad! What’s wrong?"
The man kept coughing. After a long while, he sighed. "Sigh... Linger, why must you be so mischievous? That was a true master living among us."
"A master? Him?"
"Of course, it was him." The man said weakly. "I noticed him earlier. Though the young man was sitting still, his presence was like a dragon and his posture like a tiger. That is a temperament only attained after reaching the level of a Hua Jin Grandmaster."
"What? A Hua Jin Grandmaster! Isn't that the level of a legendary master?"
"Correct. He is indeed a master."
The girl was dumbstruck. She knew the weight those words carried—even in the entire province, there were barely a dozen such people. If Su Tian was this young and already held that level of power, it was terrifying.
"Dad, if he said your time is running out, does that mean..." The girl’s face turned pale.
The middle-aged man sighed. "Sigh, I intended to tell you after some time, but since a master has pointed it out, I will hide it no longer. You are right. I made a mistake during my training a while ago and damaged my heart meridian. I can hold on for at most another half-year."
"What! How can this be! *Sob...*" The girl began to cry.
The man patted her head. "There, there, Linger. Don't be sad. Your father has spent his life practicing martial arts; dying for it is nothing. My only regret is that I cannot look after you for a few more years..."
The girl cried even harder, but then her spirits flickered. "Dad, that kid earlier... no, that master—if he could see your condition at a glance, could he cure you?"
The man paused. "He was able to diagnose me with one look, which proves he has the skill. But I don’t know if he can cure me. And even if he could, we are complete strangers to him. Why would he help us?"
"We have to try!" A look of determination crossed the girl’s eyes. "Dad, don't worry. I won't let you die. I will find him and make him treat you."
"Don't do anything reckless! That is a Hua Jin Grandmaster..."
"Dad, I understand. Don't worry, I will beg him properly. Come on, let's go home first."
The girl said no more and helped her father away from the scene. Before leaving, she glanced one last time in the direction Su Tian had gone, her gaze firm.
Su Tian was naturally unaware of the conversation between the father and daughter. He had already returned home, having picked up some steamed buns and fried dough sticks along the way.
When he arrived home with the breakfast, his parents were already up. Fenghua’s eyes lit up. "You bought breakfast for me?"
"You're my boss, of course I have to take good care of you."
Su Tian nodded, and the family began to eat.
At the table, Su Qiang suddenly said, "Xiao Tian, head over to Tengshi No. 1 High School in a bit. Take these things your second uncle sent to your cousin."